Monthly Archives: December 2023

Your Guide To Camping In The Everglades

18 Monday Dec 2023

Posted by in The Great Outdoors, Tips & Tricks, Travel Destinations

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Winter is here, meaning those of us who prefer to camp year-round are heading south so we can keep warm. One of the options? Camping in the Everglades!

Located in southern Florida, the Everglades offer a lovely, warm escape from winter snow and ice, as well as some seriously beautiful plants and animals. Here you can enjoy the great outdoors without even breaking out a coat, and you won’t have to worry one bit about winterizing your RV.

Not sure how to begin planning your trip to go camping in the Everglades? Here’s what you need to know.

Best Spots for Camping in the Everglades

First, let’s talk about the best places to stay while camping in the Everglades. These campgrounds are perfect for RVers and offer easy access to all of the amazing things the Everglades have to offer, as well as plenty of amenities to keep you comfortable.

Long Pine Key Campground

Offering both reserved sites and first-come, first-served sites, Long Pine Key Campground is located in Everglades National Park, meaning you’ll be able to reach all the park has to offer quickly and easily. The sites here do not include any kind of hookups, but there is potable water, a dump station, and a restroom with showers.

Flamingo Campground

Want to have hookups while staying in the national park? Flamingo Campground is the perfect place for that. This campground has 27/4 campsites and 41 of those offer electric hookups. There are also dump stations, solar-heated showers, and potable water available onsite. Just be sure you make a reservation in advance!

Midway Campground

If you don’t mind staying outside of the park, Midway Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve is another good option. This campground is about 30 minutes away from Everglades National Park and offers electric hookups, potable water, a dump station, restrooms, and easy access to all the area has to offer.

Our Favorite Things to Do in the Everglades

Now that you know where to stay, the next question is what to do while camping in the Everglades. Luckily there are plenty of options, and it would be really hard to get bored while visiting this amazing place.

Explore the Visitor Centers

I always recommend visiting visitor centers when visiting national parks, and this is just as true in Everglades National Park as it is anywhere else. In my opinion it’s best to start at a visitor center, as this will introduce you to the park and all it has to offer. If you can, visit more than one center, as each one has unique exhibits and different information to offer.

The visitor centers in the park include:

  • Gulf Coast Visitor Center
  • Shark Valley Visitor Center
  • Ernest Coe Visitor Center
  • Royal Palm Visitor Center
  • Flamingo Visitor Center

Take a Hike (or a Stroll)

The best way to really connect with the Florida Everglades? Go on a hike or a walk. This allows you to get up close and personal with the amazing plants and animals that call the park home. We especially love the Anhinga Trail, which puts you on a boardwalk through the wetlands. There are a wide variety of birds found along the path at any given time, and often you will find alligators sunbathing along the way as well.

Attend Ranger Programs

Ranger programs are always a good way to learn more about any given national park. In Everglades National Park, we really like the nighttime ranger walk along the Anhinga Trail. Because it takes place at night, this walk often allows guests to see alligators in their most active state, something you certainly won’t soon forget.

Hop on an Airboat

No trip to the Everglades is complete without a ride in an airboat. Yes, these boats are loud, but the airboat tours offered in the Everglades give you the opportunity to go where visitors cannot normally go while seeing all kinds of awesome animals in the beautiful wetlands.

…or Opt for a Tram (or a Bike)

Don’t want to ride an airboat? You could hop on the Shark Valley tram instead. This tram takes you on a tour of the park, so you can see lots of awesome scenery in a short amount of time.

Alternatively, you can ride a bike along the Shark Valley Tram Road to see the same awesome scenery at your own pace while getting some exercise.

As you can see, camping in the Everglades is an awesome experience that every RVer should have at least once. Why not start planning your trip today?

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Dickie N. ~ “You had us on the road within two hours on Christmas day! The follow-up by Coach-Net to assure we were taken care of was great! Thank you!”

What You Need To Know About Towing Capacity

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

Posted by in RV Information, RV Safety, Tech Tips, Tips & Tricks

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One of the most popular questions I get is “What can my truck actually tow?” It ranks just below my refrigerator isn’t cooling, my batteries are dead, my roof air conditioner isn’t running efficiently, and my slide room doesn’t work. OK, so it’s in my top five but I do get it asked quite often!

In the past, we could just look up towing capacity in the Trailer Life towing guide or the truck manufacturer towing guide. As long as we knew the cab configuration, bed length, and engine size, we could get the towing capacity at the tip of our fingers.

Then The Math Changed!

Somewhere around 2010, Toyota came out with the first half-ton truck that had a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs while all the others were at 5-7,000 lbs. My 2002 Silverado had a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs which meant I did not have a very large selection of trailers that I could tow. Truck manufacturers scrambled to reclassify towing capacity using the new math Toyota had developed. My 2002 had a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 7,000 lbs and the towing capacity was 5,000 lbs which meant I had a Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 12,000 lbs. The new math is taking GCWR and subtracting the Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) which is an empty truck and adding a 150 lb driver to determine towing capacity. This shifts payload weight from the tow vehicle to the trailer towing weight. Here is an example; my 2016 has a GVWR of 11,500 lbs and has a dry weight of 5,730 lbs. This means I could theoretically put 5,770 lbs of cargo into this truck which would include any passengers and cargo which is a lot of “stuff” I can bring. So with the new math, we take the 5,730 lbs of dry weight, add a 150 lb driver and it comes to 5,880 lbs, subtract it from the 11,300 lb GVWR and we have 5,620 lbs of extra weight that can be added or shifted to the trailer towing capacity. In the past, you could load your tow truck up to GVWR and then tow the published towing capacity.

What Is The Truth?

It’s hard to wade through all the postings, forums, and blogs when it comes to actual towing capacity, especially with AI and the fact that anyone can write or post anything on the internet without verification or authenticity. What I do know is that I have been working with the RV Safety and Education Foundation (RVSEF) for the past 25 years and trust them to be the authority when it comes to weights and towing. They have been weighing rigs for over 3 decades and working with tire manufacturers, RV manufacturers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to develop weight information and even convinced the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) to require weight stickers on all units.

There still are towing guides published by Woodall’s, Good Sam, and the truck manufacturers however, they are estimates at best and do not take into account payload, cargo, and passengers. In fact, the towing capacity listed is for a standard truck with a driver of 150 lbs! According to RVSEF you need to know the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of your truck as well as the tongue weight that is on the back axle. Other factors include the GVWR of the truck as well as the GAWR of the rear wheels.

This all means taking the truck and trailer to a CAT Scale and getting it weighed which is not an easy thing to do especially if you are still in the shopping stage. To start with, I went to the RVSEF site that has several towing guides here.

The challenge I had was finding the correct specifications for my truck to look up the information in the various guides. I found the GVWR and GAWR ratings on the data label located on the driver door pillar.

I found the engine size on the label in the engine compartment that stated it was the 5.3L and it is a double door standard bed model. However what I could not find was the axle ratio and the GCWR. I went online and a Chevy source indicated the eight digit of the VIN indicated axle ratio and stated it was the 3.08 axle ratio and had a much lower trailer towing capacity as well as GCWR! To verify, I asked the Executive Director at RVSEF and he stated that most online sources do not take into account all the options and model variations. He stated the true information is found on the options label inside the glove compartment.

Going through all these three digit codes and matching the one to the RVSEF guide I found mine had the 3.42 and according to the owner’s manual, had a trailer towing capacity of 9,200 lbs and a GCWR of 15,000 lbs which I found on line and confirmed in my owner’s manual. Next I needed to weigh both the truck and trailer to make sure I wasn’t overloaded in any of the weight ratings.

Here Are The Numbers That Are Important

GCWR – Gross Combined Weight Rating

The weight of the truck with everyone and everything that will be travel plug the weight of the trailer with all cargo must not exceed the GCWR.

GVWR – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

The weight of the truck with all passengers and cargo can not exceed the GVWR. Also, the total weight of the trailer loaded with all cargo and water must not exceed the trailer GVWR.

GAWR – Gross Axle Weight Rating

Both axles have a GAWR and must not exceed the poste GAWR for front and rear with all passengers, cargo, and the trailer connected to determine how much weight the tongue of the trailer is applying.

Tongue Weight

Drive off the scale, disconnect the trailer, and weigh the truck or tow vehicle with all passengers and cargo. Subtract this from the original GAWR of the rear axle and this will tell you how much weight is on the hitch which should be somewhere between 10-15% on trailers.

Here were the ratings I found for my truck with a 1996 Salem trailer connected.

Hitched To Trailer

AxleGAWRActual AWR
Front5,000 lbs.3,300 lbs.
Rear7,050 lbs.3,240 lbs.

Trailer weight – 4,340 lbs.
Combined weight, truck and trailer – 10,880 lbs.

Unhitched truck

Front – 3,400 lbs.

Rear – 2,580 lbs.

Hitch weight or payload from trailer – 660 lbs.

The scale has three platforms which allows you to put the front axle on the first pad, the drive or rear axle on the second pad, and the trailer on the third which provides individual weights. This confirms that you are not over any of the weight ratings and can safely tow.

I also took the comprehensive RVSEF Matching Truck To Trailer Training Course here.

I would recommend anyone towing a trailer take the course and they are offering a discount for RV Lifestyle and Repair and Coach-Net members by using this code: RVLRTOW24

About the author: Dave Solberg: Managing Editor, RV Repair Club

For the last 25 years, Dave has conducted RV maintenance and safety seminars, developed dealer and owner training programs, written RV safety and handyman articles authored an RV handbook reference guide, and logged over 100,000 miles on the road in an RV.

RV Repair Club

RV Repair Club is your go-to online resource for enthusiasts who want quality RV maintenance, repair and upgrade information – a community where passionate RVers can come together to gather knowledge and share their experiences.

Learn more about RV Repair Club.

Ray M. ~ “We’ve had a service plan with Coach-Net with 2 different RVs and we’re so glad we do.  Twice in less than a month, we’ve called with tire issues.  Both times your representative helped us to get back on the road in a short amount of time.  Thank you from two happy campers.”

Amazing Reasons To Try Off-Season Camping

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

Posted by in RV Information, Tips & Tricks

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Cold season is here, and in many places, this means the slow travel season has hit as well. For some RVers, this is the time when the RV gets winterized and put into storage, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Off-season travel is totally doable, and in some cases, it even has some perks that you just don’t get when traveling during peak season.

Want to keep the RV adventures going this winter? Here are a few reasons why we think off-season travel is awesome, and why winter RVing is just as amazing as RVing during the summer.

Snag Better Campsites

Have a place you’ve been dying to visit but you can never seem to get into? Have a certain section of your favorite campground that you’d like to stay in but can never seem to grab? Off-season is the time to do just that.

During the slow season, the crowds have cleared out, meaning you have a much better chance of snagging those coveted campsites for yourself without all the hassle of keeping track of booking windows or arriving early.

Avoid Crowds

Fewer visitors in a place means fewer crowds. Traffic jams in touristy spots will be basically non-existent when you’re enjoying off-season travel, and you’ll find that fighting large crowds while walking through shopping areas or popular attractions is unnecessary this time around. You’ll also find there are fewer lines to wait in, and getting to the front of a crowd to read plaques or see a specific piece of art will be a cinch.

Take Advantage of Discounts

One thing we absolutely love about off-season travel? The discounts and lower rates that come along with it. You see, when the hordes of tourists leave, many attractions and campgrounds lower their rates or offer special discounts that they wouldn’t offer during peak season, in order to encourage people to visit. This means you’ll likely be able to stay in a campsite for less money and see all the things you want to see without breaking the bank.

Stay Longer

Cheaper campsites make it a whole lot easier to extend your stay in a place, and since you won’t have to fight for a site, you should be able to stick around as long as you like. Provided you don’t have obligations back at home, we encourage you to take the opportunity to stay in one place longer and really immerse yourself in the culture and community of the place.

Have Unique Experiences

Off-season travel is extra cool because it presents opportunities to have some unique experiences that you’d never get to have when a place is packed with other tourists.

Visiting when there are fewer crowds makes it possible to really connect with the locals. This leads to suggestions from the locals, meaning you’re more likely to try things that are a bit more off the beaten path. Additionally, if you’re able to take advantage of cheaper campsites that are more readily available, you’ll have time to dig a little deeper and really get a feel for what the culture and community of the place is all about.

The Exceptions to the Rules

It’s important to realize that there are exceptions to the rules. While the vast majority of the country sees a slow season during the winter months, there are certain areas that actually have more traffic during the winter. These include ski resorts, as well as snowbird havens such as SoCal, Arizona, and Florida. If you want to enjoy the slow-season benefits in these locations, you might want to consider visiting during the late spring, summer, or early fall.

Drawbacks of Off-Season Travel

It’s also good to understand that off-season travel does have its drawbacks. For instance, you’re more likely to encounter foul weather when visiting a place during the off-season. Additionally, some tourist attractions will close down completely when the crowds disperse for the season. Nevertheless, we continue to enjoy off-season travel and don’t plan to stop any time soon!

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Samantha R. ~ Amazing customer service they kept checking in after we called them to make sure the problem was taken care of we had 2 tires blow in one day and the next day the truck needed to be towed they helped out so much and took care of both situations very professionally definitely recommend it!!!!