Traveling with pets can be difficult and expensive. Extra fees for taking them on airplanes and deposits at hotels (if they allow pets at all) can be cumbersome. Not to mention if you leave them at a kennel, the cost of your trip can skyrocket. RVs allow for more freedom when it comes to pets, although it is necessary for you to properly prepare yourself and your RV to have them as travel companions. Pedata RV Center has recently released a list of 8 safety tips for you and your furry friends.
1. Can your pet travel? If your pet has never traveled try a short road trip before heading out on a long vacation. Some animals have a hard time traveling and will actually become sick. Discover this before you are hours from home
2. Check your pet’s tags. They need to be updated prior to departure if any of the information is old.
3. Make sure that your pet’s tags include a cell phone or other number that will actually be accessible to you while on the road.
4. Consider other identification devices like the chips that can be implanted in order to find a lost pet.
5. Have the appropriate health certificate. Taking your pet across state or international border lines requires a health certificate signed by a veterinarian.
6. Verify that your pet will be welcome at your final destination before leaving on your trip.
7. Bring a portable kennel for times when your pet will be left unattended.
8. Always keep your pet leashed. If you have a pet that you frequently allow unleashed remember that you are in new territory with unknown distractions and stimulants. Introduce a leash in unknown circumstances. Better safe than sorry.
Do you bring your pets along with you on your trips or board them somewhere local? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Planning a trip across the country or just to a place too beautiful to fly over? Maybe traveling in a RV is the way to go. There are a number of benefits to traveling long distances in a motor home. Benefits include, however are not limited, to convenience and general comfort.
Even with all the wonderful stories people read about RV excursions, people seem to still be wary of this pastime. One of the biggest concerns is the cost of buying an RV. If you are interested in traveling by RV, although cannot afford the cost of owning one, you may want to think about renting one. Keeping that in mind, if you are not careful motor home rentals can get expensive. Below are a short list of some tips to think about when renting an RV:
Be aware of All Of Your Options
First, knowing all of your options is of the utmost importance. Exhaust all of your options in terms of local RV rental providers. They usually have multiple businesses to pick from.
Next, inspect the kinds of motor homes available for rent. For comfort, as well as safety, secure a large enough RV that can comfortable seat everyone in your group. For example, you wouldn’t try to fit a party of nine people into a RV built for six. Also look at features, such as number of electrical outlets, onboard television, movie players, and so forth to maximize the enjoyment had on the trip.
Research Rental Costs
If you want to reduce the cost of your next outing, always compare prices. In addition to comparing the average rental price for different businesses, also look at the various motor homes. You want to get the most out of your money, so after choosing the size of the RV, being selective on additional features may allow you to trim in areas you don’t need.
Read All Fine Print
When renting an Motor home, you’ll be required to sign a agreement. This agreement is comparable to one that you would sign if you were renting a car. With that being said, never believe that all rental contracts are the same. Always fully read an RV rental contract, including the fine print. Never sign anything that appears too suspicious. When in doubt, ask to take the contract home and review it first.
In keeping with reading all fine print, it is important to know all Motor home rental rules and restrictions upfront. Often, these policies and restrictions are highlighted on a rental contract, although there is nothing wrong in getting additional information. Make sure to be aware of rules that limit the number of people allowed , age requirements for children, and so froth.
Be Cautious With Use
Being cautious is an essential piece of renting an RV. If you are not watchful, you may be financially responsible for any damage that occurs. Some tips may be to keep food and drinks covered or in spill proof containers while moving, don’t make foods while driving that may cause harmful stains, and so forth. Also, for those who have kids, be sure to set some ground rules. Making sure you are cautious on the road is very important, especially dealing with underpasses and stopping at your campground.
Returning On Time is Important
Returning your rental on time will allow you to keep the cost of your rental low. Late rentals may incur late charges. These late charges, should they exist, should be outlined on the motor home rental agreement. If you know your behind schedule and won’t make it in time, be sure to contact your motor home rental company to inform them of the delay as soon as possible.
In closing, RV renters are encouraged to look at all of their rental options, research prices, examine rental contracts, use caution, and return their RV rentals on time. These steps, when properly executed, can not only help to improve the overall quality of your next RV trip, they can also help to keep the expenses associated with that vacation a little more reasonable. How have your experiences been with renting RVs. Share your stories below in our comment section!
Have you ever pulled up to your campsite after a long day of driving, get ready to start cooking and remember you forgot the foldable table or utensils? Just like in your kitchen at home, there are many parts and pieces that can be forgot or go missing if not properly cared for. Certainly can be frustrating. In comes a new product designed for RVs and camping in general to help out with such an instance. The “My Camp Kitchen”, is a one stop shop for all your cooking and grilling needs (minus the grill of course). Compact design and the ease to assemble should make this a very popular holiday gift this season. The following is a video put together by the website in order to show how portable and easy this outdoor cooking set is:
No more dragging a picnic table over or worrying about the sturdiness of your favorite folding table anymore. Not only that, but this wonderful package also has storage for tupperware and even non-perishable foods. As you can see in the video, this piece also has room not only to prepare your foods, but also for a single burner for those jobs that cannot be completed on the grill.
How well do you see this product fitting into your RV travels? Leave a comment below and let the rest of us know!!
Entertainment is a huge part of the RV experience. In the world of constantly changing technology, it stands to reason that you will at some point have to switch to a flat screen in your RV at some point. While basic tube TVs took up a lot of room, the newer thinner ones most likely are in a different shape than your previous one. In an RV, this could be a bit trickier than switching out your TV at home. Even though this change might seem like a big task, once completed it will only increase the enjoyment that you get out of your RV. Check out the video below for some helpful hints on upgrading you entertainment system from a standard tube TV to a newer, flatter one.
On first observation of a new or used RV before we buy, we tend to focus our attention to such things as floor plan, room size, closet and space for storing, number of slides, appliances, entertainment and communications equipment, function of plumbing and electrical systems, heating and cooling capacity, etc. Trust me, all of these things are very important when taking the steps to buy an RV. But while these things are important, you need to make sure you focus on other aspects of the vehicle as well. So when you’re shopping for an RV, don’t forget to check out these small but critical features:
Lie on the beds to see if they’re comfortable and long enough. RV manufacturers are forced sometimes to shorten the length of normal measurements in order to satisfy the amount of space they are dealing with. Take the case of the queen size RV bed. While a normal queen is 80 inches long, in an RV, that same bed might be only 74-75 inches. While you might not think thats a huge deal, if you happen to be over 6 feet tall, it certainly could cause problems.
Along with the bed size, make sure you are comfortable with the size of the couch. Couches may also be undersized to fit the compact space of an RV. If you enjoy stretching out on the couch to watch TV or perhaps a movie, this could be a problem.
It may also be wise to check out the dimensions of the shower inside the RV. If your elbows constantly bump the walls or you need to crouch down to get your head under the shower head, you’ll wish you’d chosen an RV with a larger shower. Same goes for the toilet. It is important to test these areas out so you don’t run into problems after you have purchased your RV.
It doesn’t need to be overstated that comfort in these areas are really important. What were the other things you looked for when you bought or were searching for an RV? Leave a comment below and let us know!
As the 100 year anniversary of the RV is upon us, its time to look back on all the aspects of RV life that have allowed for the continuing success of the recreational vehicle. In commemoration of this milestone, a Texas author named Evada Cooper has put together a collection of 100 recipes from all over that encompass the life inside an RV. Evada and her husband, Terry, run an online RV academy called MobileRVacademy.com that offers a variety of web seminars and instructional DVDs. Along with the recipes, the book also includes many tips and stories from their vast knowledge of RVs. They set out to make a book that men and women could both use in the RV or at a campground.
She started soliciting recipes from the RV community this spring for inclusion in the cookbook. Whether they are old-time family favorites or non-traditional camping fare, she said she wanted any fun recipe that RVers would like to share.
In addition to recipes, RVers were asked to submit brief bios extolling their love of RVs and roaming the nation. She targeted the members of national RV clubs and organizations, the people who would most appreciate a centennial celebration of the lifestyle.
So along with all of the recipes she gathered there is a wealth of information to be had by all. RVing is a culture within itself and deserves to be celebrated on this historic occasion. But with the help of Mrs. Cooper, the stories she tells should allow for future RV users to not only cook wonderful, RV-friendly meals, but be able to get a feel of this wonderful pastimes history.
Do you have any RV recipes you would have submitted had the author asked? Share them with your friends at RVing With Pleasure! Leave them below in the comment section.
Owning and maintaining an RV can become very expensive. Between the purchase, upkeep and escalating gas prices, it can be difficult in these tough times to save the money necessary to enjoy what is supposed to be a “recreational vehicle”. Another caveat added lately has been the rising prices of staying at a public campgrounds. While staying at a public campground has been popular due to these costs, the rising costs added in with the lack amenities has begun to rub RV owners the wrong way. Last week, a survey was done for the RVtravel.com newsletter regarding the escalation in prices of these campgrounds. While the figures might surprise you, it is fairly obvious that these prices are beginning to become a hindrance to travelers.
According to the RV News Service, the survey was prompted by RVtravel.com Editor Chuck Woodbury’s recent experience of coming upon two California state parks where the fee for primitive campsites — those with no utility hookups — were $35 a night. “My reaction was that it was too much,” he wrote. “The park system, of course, is trying to raise more money to keep its parks open. But I wonder if they have priced themselves out of the market.”
More than 95% of the recreational vehicle enthusiasts who responded to the survey said they would never pay — or probably never pay — that much to stay in a public campground. “Look at it from this perspective — $35 per night equals $1,050 per month,” one reader commented. “Would you pay that to rent a house with no walls, no water, no electricity, no toilets?”
While the point is made that it is necessary for the parks to raise revenue to continue to provide the space for such vehicles, Mr. Woodbury’s statement regarding pricing RV owners out of the market is a valid one. How can a part-time RV user justify these costs added on to the plethora of other charges incurred by owning your dream?
Would you spend $35 a night to stay in what is described in the article as a “primitive campsite’? Do you have personal stories or comments about a situation like this you would like to share? Share your comments below!
I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to start my day without a nice hot shower followed by a nice breakfast. Many modes of transportation and trip taking make these things difficult if not impossible without the security of a hotel room. But that is why you have an RV, so you don’t have to worry about these things. Along with this luxury comes great responsibility. Maintenance of your RVs water heating system, while tedious at times, is imperative for its functionality and preservation. In Mark Polk’s first edition of Mark’s RV Garage, he discusses this topic in depth. When the water system is not in use, it is necessary to drain the stagnant water in order to keep bacteria and other minerals from corroding your system. In the episode, he uses a product called the Tank Saver in order to clean out the sediment from the system. I stumbled across this video and wanted to share the tips he gives on maintenance of the system and how to avoid such problems.
Do you do your own regular maintenance or do you have a professional look at it? Make sure to leave a comment below!
RV campgrounds are a great place to have fun, park your RV, relax, or go on an adventure. Although if you are unfamiliar with these places they may be confusing, but don’t let that ruin all the wonders they have to offer. We can’t guarantee that every campground will be the same, but here are some things you should look for when choosing where to park your RV.
There are two main styles of campgrounds, private or public. Public campgrounds are usually at state parks, national parks and forests, BLM areas, and Army Corps of Engineers. The reputation and offerings are pretty consistent within these similar types of campsites. As opposed to private campgrounds which may have more amenities than its public counterparts, but may also be more expensive to counteract these upgrades.
Something to keep an eye out for at both types of campsites, is what kind of services do they offer. Do they have electric and 50amp hookups? Do they offer clean water and sewer removal? These are probably the two more important questions to find the answers to. With others offering onsite pools, wireless internet and cable TV, please be sure to ask as many questions as possible to know your campground. Don’t forget about Fido! Even though these days it’s rare to find, some campsites still don’t allow pets of any kind! Be prudent though. Look around and determine if the owners take care of the grounds, keep their site clean and waste-free, and don’t be scared to ask some of the present tenants about their experience.
If you are still not sure about your selection, several organizations are dedicated to rating campgrounds, such as AAA, Trailer Life, Woodall’s and Wheelers. See what the experts have to say about your choice in campground. According to www.about.com, AAA “maintains a continuous program to examine and evaluate every campground listed in its AAA CampBooks. Unfortunately, only Private camps are typically rated, but as we mentioned earlier, public camps are reliably consistent.
Still lost? We can help you decide where to stay! Leave us a comment below about your recent campground experience and let us know which type you prefer.
Storage space can be difficult to maneuver whether you are a weekend RVer or a full-timer. With everything we bring along with us to knickknacks we pick up along the way, there always seems to be a little less room than we need. While we do our best to keep things tidy and in order, it can become very difficult to achieve this goal. So when we find us in this situation, it becomes important to come up with some efficient ways to make the best of your space. I compiled a couple tips to help you out with the clutter in your RV.
1. Think vertical. Find ways to use space vertically in your RV. Try reorganizing your cabinets and closets that utilize the space vertically.
2. Removable adhesive hooks might be our most favorite invention in the last couple of years. They do wonders organizing utensils, hanging small boxes to organize papers and the best part, they don’t do any damage when you’re done with them.
3. Multi-use containers – try to find items that can be used for more than just one thing.
4. Collapsible Storage Containers – these are great to use when you’re doing laundry, but when you’re done they collapse and don’t take up much room.
5. One In, One Out Rule – this is a pretty good rule that has helped keep our RV with minimal clutter. When you bring something new into the RV, something must go!
6. Use non-slip liners to keep your stuff in place and from sliding all over the place and getting messy.
7. Clean out the RV four times a year if you’re a full time RVer. I know this sounds like a lot, but with your best efforts, stuff will still add up.
8. Get some Space Bags to store items that are seasonal – these are the giant bags that you vacuum air out of and will save tons of closet space.
9. If you haven’t used an item in a year, toss it. Or rather, donate it. Chances are if you haven’t used something in a year you won’t be missing it.
10. Put all of your cleaning supplies in a basket. This will keep them secure as well as travel very handy when you need to clean different parts of the RV.
As useful as these tips are, you will need to keep an eye on the weight of your RV. It is important that you do not exceed the maximum weight guidelines for the safety of you and others on the road. Do you have any other organizing tips for the rest of the readers? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Hi, my name is Dan Pearson and I am the Owner of PleasureLand RV Centers based out of St. Cloud, MN. We have three other Minnesota locations to serve all of you RV needs. I look forward to providing you with all your RV information from buying an RV to tips and maintenance. If you would like to contact me, be sure to leave a comment.
