RV TODAY 010 Apr/May 2023

Owning an RV is very much the same as owning real estate—it's all about location, location, location. With RVing, it’s also about improving the experience of your time spent camping. Before 2016, I would do what I considered “real” camping—the kind with a tent, sleeping bags, and no bathroom. I thought taking an RV wasn’t the same, and I also thought tent camping allowed you access to way more and better locations. Well, I was wrong on both counts. In fact, most places that allow tent camping allow RV camping as well, as long as you can get to the location with an RV. Now that I’m an experienced RV camper, I’m amazed at how much better camping is with an RV—and I’m not just talking about the bathroom situation!…

Jennifer Vickery-Smith Brooke Edwards Jessica Rider Ronald McClain Lisa Warfle Scott Russell Rick Nullmeyer Steven and Carmen B. Mendoza Caleb Barnaby Crystal Davis Desiree and Nathan Fairchild Stan and Rhonda Wijnhamer Lacey and Dustin Reichwald Roxanne and Gary Brooks Jill Remington Kathryn Frazer Patty Gill Mac Blackout Emily Pack Jessica Samuels Nancy Walters Andy Greaves Contributor Spotlight Kevin Skelton @_neverstopadventuring Camping Without Hookups Kevin and Christine have been traveling with their three children in a fifth wheel for over four years while working remotely, homeschooling, and exploring the country. They share budgeting tips, the best places to travel and RV projects on their Never Stop Adventuring YouTube channel and website at neverstopadventuring.com Brenda Huynh @rv_lifestyle_asianfamily Creating a Community Brenda and her family love to bring others into their journey by sharing RVing…

This vintage rig may look like a bus, but it’s an RV made by a school bus company. Lacey, Dustin, and Althea Reichwald fell in love with the 1984 Blue Bird Wanderlodge named Mother Ship, and it’s easy to see why. Retro features including the round headlights, paint job, and overall boxy shape make this vehicle stand out, and there’s even more to love inside. Quirky elements like the built-in countertop blender and musical horn also make this RV unique. “Picture an ice cream truck music maker, but as loud as a fire truck siren,” the family said. “The musical horn plays more than 30 songs, from ‘America The Beautiful’ to ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.’ Our favorite? ‘On The Road Again.’” During the 2.5 years the family traveled full time, they really learned…

FOLLOW THESE EASY STEPS TO PREPARE YOUR RV FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF TRAVEL Inspect hitch connection and wiring Inspect slides and awning Inspect roof for leaks Check holding tanks and gauges and test for leaks Clean and test appliances Check for propane leaks Test water heater Inspect battery fluid levels and functionality Check tire pressure RVING TIPS FOR KICKING OFF SPRING CAMPING SEASON Be flexible Weather can change at the last minute, so keep an eye on the forecast and be flexible with your itinerary and destination. Double-check campground dates Most campgrounds close for the winter, so it’s important to verify their opening dates. Spring Break Destinations Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cumberland Island National Seashore Grand Canyon National Park Arches National Park Joshua Tree National Park Death Valley National…

One of the unexpected blessings of parenthood has been the joy of having a front row seat to watch our two sons fulfill their dreams. Our youngest, Conner, age 22, is a country music artist and spent the summer and early fall touring with country music superstar Thomas Rhett. Conner started writing songs at the age of 7 after a family visit to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, signed a publishing deal for songwriting at the age of 16, and a record deal right out of high school at 18. His brother, Cooper, age 24, is a videographer. He travels with bands such as Alabama, and artists including his brother, creating content and shooting video footage on the road. When we realized this tour would take Conner literally across…

Most RVs are designed to be used in campgrounds with some combination of electrical, water, and sewer hookups. But what happens if you want to take your RV someplace with no hookups at all? Maybe your destination doesn’t have great campgrounds nearby, or the campground you’re visiting doesn’t offer hookups. Or maybe you want to get away from it all and park in a beautiful area where you can’t see your neighbors! There are many terms for camping without hookups: wild camping, dry camping, dispersed camping, free camping, boondocking, and even just overnight parking. They all have slightly different meanings, but boondocking is the most commonly used term with RVers. It derives from “being out in the boondocks,” but it applies to any situation where you have no hookups. Electricity…