RV TODAY RVT 004 July/Aug 2022

When RVers start planning their vacations or weekend getaways, it seems like the majority are drawn to locations with waterfront views or access. I’m no exception—if I had my choice, I would always boondock near the ocean, in a state park with lake views, or at a small pond on a farm. And when I stay at an RV park, I’m always curious to see if they have a pool. There really is something magical about camping near water. I’ve been able to park the RV so close to the water that when you look out the window, that’s all you see. It almost feels like you’re on a boat! And falling asleep listening to the ocean waves truly can’t be beat—there’s no better sound for sleeping. If I’m being honest,…

Alexis Nascimento @neversaysomeday Water Safety for Kids Alexis is a writer, digital marketing strategist, wife, and mom of two young boys. She and her family traded a traditional life for one on the road. She enjoys hiking, reading, good food, and everything about living tiny. You can find her family’s adventures and travel guides at neversaysomedayfamily.com. Christina Stawiasz @thyme.and.timber Cooking Your Catch of the Day Christina is the creator of Thyme + Timber. She currently travels with her husband Bramdon in their 21-foot Coachmen Expedition. You can find her thriving in nature and catching all the local markets along the way to create meals for thymeandtimberlife.com. Lynn and Danny Spain @rvamerica59 Whoops, Did I Do That? Lynn and Danny retired in June of 2021. They call themselves “most-timers,” as they travel in their Forest River Forester…

The combination of increased demand for RVs and a constricted supply due to the pandemic is the perfect storm for RV buyers, creating a challenging marketplace for even the most savvy shoppers. Limited Supply Buyers are finding fewer new and used RVs at the dealerships, and dealers are having trouble obtaining enough inventory to fill their lots. The demand is so high that many RV buyers are making deposits on new RVs that won’t even be built for another 12 to 14 months, while used RVs on dealer’s lots vanish quickly. These conditions are driving buyers to the private marketplace to meet their RV needs. Buyers are searching for used RVs through online databases, some of which claim to have up to 100,000 RVs for sale at any given time. While…

Everyone traveling with kids knows that once they’ve reached their limit for drive time, the day is over. The key to long road trips, then, is to keep them occupied and entertained long enough to avoid a meltdown and get to point B. We all rely on tablets and movies, and there’s no shame in that! But mixing in some fun games and activities can break up the screen time and make your day of driving go by in an instant! Activity Books include mazes, dot-to-dot drawings, word searches, and many other brain games. There are so many to choose from based on your child’s age and interests! From travel to zoo animals to science, there is a theme for every kid out there. Reading with Usborne are popular books for beginner…

Pros: Advantages of Lithium Batteries ■ Lithium batteries are lighter, cleaner, safer, and need no maintenance.■ Weigh about half as much as traditional batteries■ Are completely sealed■ Never have a corrosive build-up on the terminals■ Don’t off-gas harmful fumes The old phone lithium batteries that could catch on fire in your pocket are not the same technology as today’s RV lithium batteries. Consequently, they are not a fire hazard and they’re safer than lead-acid batteries, which can explode under certain conditions. Finally, lithium batteries require no maintenance, there are no fluids to replace or terminals to clean, and once they are installed with a battery management system, they require no additional care. Lithium batteries have a superior power storage capability, and deliver more power to your RV. Traditional lead-acid batteries…

I found Flo, a 1978 Millard Pop Top Caravan, on Facebook Marketplace. She looked modern and I thought she would only need a few projects before she was ready to hit the road—but I was so wrong. Once we had her in front of us, my husband and I started to take a closer look and realized that while the structure and condition were great, the work done inside was not. For instance, the underside of the ceiling was rotten, so it was only a matter of time before it would have fallen in. The previous owners had covered this up and said there were no leaks. Ultimately, we decided we would need to do a full renovation inside. For six months we chased a mystery leak that would come,…