Tag Archives: Travel Tips

Trailer Maintenance Tasks Every RV Owner Should Know

07 Wednesday May 2025

Posted by in Tech Tips, Tips & Tricks

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It’s finally time to pull the travel trailer out of storage and get back out on the road to enjoy some camping! That said, you will want to make sure to take care of some basic maintenance tasks before you head out.

Not sure what kinds of maintenance tasks you need to be doing? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, I will discuss all of the most important trailer maintenance tasks that my husband and I try to make a point of staying on top of.

Resealing the Seams and Roof

Easily the most important travel trailer maintenance task there is, resealing the seams and roof of your trailer is a must-do at least every 12 months. This is so, so important because those seals are what keeps water out of your RV walls and roof. Water damage happens quickly and is difficult and expensive to fix. Fortunately, resealing is relatively easy.

To reseal the seams on the roof and sides of your trailer:

  1. Clean each seal to remove dirt and loose bits.
  2. Apply RV sealant over each seam, making sure to cover the entire seam.
  3. Allow to cure.

Slide Maintenance

You’ll also want to take good care of your slides. Make sure to lubricate the slide mechanisms every couple of months. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the slide seals. These rubber pieces wear out over time, but replacing them is as simple as sliding them out of place and sliding a new set in.

Maintaining the Water System

Your RV water system does need a bit of maintenance from time to time as well. For one thing, it is super important that you winterize the system before the first freeze of the year. Replacing the anode rod in your water heater (if it has one) is also a must-do. Additionally, you’ll want to use a back-spray tool to clean the waste tanks after each trip and clean the fresh tank and lines once a year.

To clean the fresh system:

  1. Pour a bleach-and-water mixture (¼ cup bleach to 15 gallons of water) into the tank.
  2. Pump it through the lines using the RV water pump.
  3. Allow it to sit for 12–24 hours.
  4. Drain the system completely.
  5. Add clean water to the tank.
  6. Run it through the system.
  7. Drain it all again.

Checking the Tires

Your RV tires are crucial. Without them you aren’t going anywhere, and if one happens to give out while you’re on the highway, it can be incredibly dangerous.

  • Check tires before every trip, looking for cracks, bubbles, etc.
  • Install a trailer TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system).
  • Replace tires at least every six years.
  • Use tire covers when parked for long periods of time.

Greasing the Wheel Bearings

Many trailer owners are not aware that they should be greasing the wheel bearings once a year. Now, I’ll be honest and say I’ve never done this particular job myself, because we always take it into a shop to have it done. That said, we have friends who do the job on their own and they don’t seem to have an issue.

The video below explains the process:

Brake Maintenance

Last but not least, I have to mention brake maintenance, which is very important for obvious reasons.

  • Inspect the brake pads, rotors, and drums for issues at least once a year, replacing worn parts as needed.
  • Test the brakes before hitting the road each trip. If they don’t engage properly, skip the outing and address the problem first.
  • If your trailer has hydraulic brakes, look at the brake fluid before each trip and top it off as needed.

As you can see, owning a travel trailer does require quite a bit of maintenance work. That said, we find that it’s totally worth the freedom that comes along with it! I think you’ll probably agree.

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.

Road Trip Tips For Families

07 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Kids and Camping, Tips & Tricks

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Heading out on an RV trip with kids may feel overwhelming, but it really doesn’t have to be. I’ve been all over the country with my two kids, and we have an absolute blast. Of course, we have had to learn some tricks along the way in order to reach the point where traveling with kids is actually fun. Here are my top road trip tips for families. 

Choose Short Drives 

The first thing we had to learn was to keep travel days short. When we started RVing, we would sometimes drive for 8 or 10 hours a day. As you might imagine, nobody was very happy after so much driving. It didn’t take long before we shortened our average travel day to 200 miles or less. 

Yes, this does sometimes mean stopping for a couple of nights in different places before reaching our final destination, but it’s so worth it to have peaceful travel days. 

Leave Early 

The earlier you leave, the earlier you’ll arrive. If you pair this tip with the one above, you could easily be set up in your destination campsite by mid-afternoon, giving you hours before the sun sets to play outside and cook a good dinner. Considering how important regular schedules and consistent bedtimes are for some kids, this might just be a lifesaver for those who travel often.  

Pack Snacks 

I don’t know about your kids, but my kids are not fun to be around when they’re hungry. (To be fair, I’m not very fun to be around if I haven’t eaten either.) For this reason, one of my top road trip tips for families is to pack snacks: 

  • Grab some reusable, resealable containers and create individual servings to make passing-out snacks easy.  
  • Pick up some spill-proof straw cups so there are no big spills in the back seat. 
  • Consider placing a small cooler between the two front seats for cold snacks and drinks.  
  • Avoid chocolates, yogurts, and other snacks that might melt or make a mess. Instead, pack carrots, berries, cheese sticks, and/or cheese crackers. 

Carry Entertainment 

Obviously, you’ll want to have some ways to keep the kids entertained as you drive down the road. Tablets can fill some of the time, but it’s probably best to offer other options first.  

Some of our favorite ideas for road trip entertainment include:  

  • Window clings 
  • Beads 
  • Audiobooks (Rohld Dahl books are great!) 
  • Podcasts (check out Story Pirates) 
  • Music (We love the Pop-Ups band) 

Keep the Backseat Clean 

Even under regular circumstances, we have a terrible time keeping our backseat clean. When travel day rolls around, all bets are off. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this, but we haven’t had time to implement many of these strategies.  

Here are some ideas I’ve had: 

Trash Can 

Okay, so this one we do use. If you don’t already have one, put a trash can in your vehicle. While trash doesn’t always make it into the trash can, it sometimes does, and as long as we have a trash can in the truck, it really cuts back on the backseat mess. 

Pocket Organizer 

This is one I’ve been meaning to try. The pocket organizers that go on the backs of the front seats look so handy for holding toys, books, and other stuff that would otherwise be scattered across the backseat. 

Middle Seat Basket 

In our truck, the middle seat is where the emergency jackets live. Unfortunately, these often end up pushed off the seat and into the floor. To fix this problem, I plan to buy a basket to put in the middle seat. I will buckle the basket using the middle seatbelt and put the jackets inside. If I’m really lucky, this will keep them contained.  

Plan for Potty Breaks 

Bathroom breaks are an annoying reality. In order to ensure you spend more time driving than stopping to potty, I recommend planning bathroom stops along the route ahead of time, and choosing places that are easy to get in and out of. It also helps tremendously to insist that all passengers try to use the restroom at every single stop, whether or not they think they have to go.  

Include Fun Pit Stops 

If you can, include at least one pit stop in each travel day plan. Smaller NPS sites, state parks, and playgrounds all work well for this. We’ve also used McDonald’s restaurants with PlayPlaces and rest stops with playgrounds. Anywhere that the kids can get out and stretch will help make the drive more enjoyable for all.  

Be Prepared for the Worst 

Last but not least, I cannot stress enough how important it is to be prepared for issues to arise. Leaving early is one way you can do this. It is also crucial that you carry good insurance and RV-specific roadside assistance, as well as tools to fix things on your own. Traveling with friends can also be super helpful when it’s possible! 

These are my top road trip tips for families. Hopefully, these tricks help you enjoy smooth travel days so you can get the most out of your RV trips with your kids! 

May contain affiliate links. 

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.

5 Tips For Finding Affordable RV Campgrounds

12 Wednesday Jun 2024

Posted by in RV Information

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The cost of everything—from rent to groceries and beyond—seems to have skyrocketed, and the price of camping has gone up right along with those things. This is a major bummer for those of us who prefer to pick affordable RV campgrounds to keep travel costs low.

The good news? While they are few and far between these days, it is still possible to find affordable RV campgrounds. Here are my tips for doing just that.

Look Into Memberships and Passes

First, I highly recommend looking into the many different camping memberships and passes out there. Some allow you to camp in various places with no additional fees. Others provide a steep discount on camping spots. Some are state- or region-specific, and some cover the entire country.

Depending on your camping style and how often you can get out, camping passes can be an excellent investment.

Some of my favorite camping passes include:

  • Thousand Trails — We personally have a big expensive membership due to our full-timing lifestyle, but even just the zone camping pass can be extremely helpful if you camp often in a particular region.
  • Passport America — This is a cheap membership that gets you deep, deep discounts on certain campgrounds.
  • Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts — Both of these are inexpensive memberships that give you access to campsites on privately owned land. Some have hookups, some don’t, but all provide unique experiences.
  • State Park Passes — We’ve had a few different state park passes over the years. Many of these come with a camping discount of some sort. The best one is probably the New Mexico State Park Pass.

Get Set Up for Dry Camping

Dry camping can save a ton of money. Many boondocking spots across the country are totally free (you can find them on Campendium), but there are also dry camping campgrounds that provide some amenities while remaining super cheap.

The thing is, you will want to be set up for dry camping before you dive into it. Having a generator and/or solar panel setup is crucial, and things like water bladders and “blue boys” are incredibly helpful.

Stay Longer

Many private RV parks charge less per night for long-term stays. If you are full-time or on an extended trip and need affordable RV campgrounds to make your travel affordable, try staying in one spot for a month or more and taking advantage of monthly rates.

Try Workamping

Another thing you can do if you’re full-time or are out camping for a while? Seek out working opportunities! Most “workamping” positions include a campsite, and most offer some sort of pay as well, so you can actually get paid to camp!

Search for Government-Run Parks

Depending on where you are, government-run parks are often less expensive than privately owned parks. Instead of RV resorts or parks run by big companies, look for the following:

  • State Parks
  • City Parks
  • County Parks
  • Forest Service Campgrounds
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Campgrounds
  • Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Campgrounds

State park camping fees vary wildly from one state to the next, but are often very affordable. Likewise, county and city park camping fees range from totally free to $75+ per night. Forest Service, BLM, and Army COE parks are almost always super affordable RV campgrounds, and some are even completely free, but you might have to sacrifice some amenities in exchange for that low price.

To find affordable RV campgrounds run by these government agencies, try using the search features on Campendium or RV Life Campgrounds—both are useful tools that make it easy to search for campsites you can afford.

There you have it, five ways to find affordable RV campgrounds. Try putting some of these suggestions to use this summer to see how much you can save!

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.

From time-to-time, we have guest bloggers post on our site. The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the authors. 

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The 4 Best Florida State Parks

08 Wednesday May 2024

Posted by in National Parks, The Great Outdoors, Travel Destinations, We Love It. We Live It.

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One of my favorite things to do while traveling in my RV is to visit the various state parks across the country. Last winter, we spent several months in Florida, and thanks to an annual state park pass, we spent much of that time exploring the state parks. Guys, these parks are some of the best our family has found! 

Here are our favorites!

Homosassa Spring State Park 

This pretty park is a wonderful place to learn about Florida’s amazing animals. It was once a privately owned zoo-like tourist attraction that changed hands multiple times before becoming a state park in 1989. At that point, the park switched focus, providing habitats for injured and disabled animals native to Florida. The exception? Lu, the beloved hippo, is not a Florida native but still calls the park home.  

I absolutely loved the manatee talk offered at this park and highly recommend arriving in time to hear it. It was the perfect addition to our road schooling day, and our whole family learned some new things about these magnificent creatures.  

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park 

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is another privately owned attraction later bought by the Florida State Park System. This one features super fun mermaid shows performed within the spring itself. An underwater viewing theater allows guests to watch the mermaids as they swim and dance in the spring.  

We visited this park with friends. The kids in our group appreciated the mermaid show, and my youngest loved the mermaid meet-and-greet. As a road school mama, I thought the ranger’s talk about reptiles was an excellent addition, and the whole group had fun on the boat tour. 

Note: This park is also home to a small water park. Unfortunately, this part wasn’t open when we visited, but it looked worth checking out, mainly if you see it in the summer.  

Honeymoon Island State Park 

Unfortunately, much of our winter time on the west coast of Florida was chilly. Nevertheless, we loved visiting Honeymoon Island State Park and even went multiple times to see as much as possible.  

Of course, the beach here is absolutely gorgeous. Our four-year-old loved playing on these huge mounds of sand, and watching the sunset over the water was a treat. In addition to the beach, we enjoyed the playground and the many walking trails in the park. 

Our favorite part? We saw owls high up in the trees! 

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park 

Our final favorite state park is in the Florida Keys (actually, we liked a lot of the state parks in the Keys). Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park was probably our favorite place when we went to Key West. This park is home to an old fort with quite the story behind it. Wandering the fort and reading the signage are great additions to any roadschooling curriculum. 

After we explored the fort, we went to the beach area. This beach is a bit rocky, so I recommend water shoes, but on a calm day, there is decent snorkeling out by the big rocks in the water. Additionally, watching the cruise ships leave the port from the beach is pretty magical. 

Note: Other state parks in the Keys are also well worth visiting. Bahia Honda, Curry Hammock, and John Pennekamp are particularly excellent! 

If you plan on heading to Florida at any point in your RV travels, I 100% recommend visiting these state parks and any others you may come across. If you will be in the state for a while, the annual state park pass is definitely a worthwhile purchase, but even if you pay to visit a few spots individually, these parks offer incredible value.  

Which one will you check out first? 

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the fantastic opportunity to participate 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 world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area to visit the Disney parks. Still, 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.

James O. ~ “All the agents were very friendly and followed up with phone calls to check the service provider’s arrival. This is our third request regarding our coverage, and we have been very pleased with the service!!”

10 Camping Safety Tips

10 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in RV Safety

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Camping safety is an incredibly important part of RV travel. After all, you certainly wouldn’t want your fun family road trip to remember to turn into a dangerous disaster you’ll never forget. Fortunately, you can easily reduce the risk that something might go wrong by using some basic camping safety tips.

Not sure where to begin? Here are our top tips.

Always Tell Someone Your Plan

First and foremost, it is important that you always communicate your plan with a loved one. Let them know where you plan to go, what you plan to do when you get there, and when you plan to return home. If you don’t return when you say you would, your friend or family member will know something is amiss and can do something about it.

Check the Weather Forecast

Severe weather is especially dangerous when in an RV or out hiking. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you leave home to make sure you won’t be caught in tornado weather, ice and snow, heavy winds, or heavy rain. All of these things have the potential to be devastating, and it’s better to postpone your camping trip or head elsewhere than to take the risk.

Learn First Aid

You never know what might happen while out exploring. While you might have access to doctors and hospitals most of the time, all it takes is one injury out in the middle of nowhere to create a major catastrophe. Prevent this by learning basic first aid so you can take care of most injuries on the spot no matter where you happen to be.

Just be sure you have a first aid kit with you as well so you have the correct tools to use your first aid knowledge!

Have a Way to Communicate

Cell phones are amazing and will allow you to communicate with family and friends and/or contact emergency services if necessary in most places. Unfortunately, there are some areas of the country that are completely devoid of cell service. For this reason, we recommend always carrying a second way to communicate.

Starlink Internet is great for this if you have a generator or battery bank to run it. Satellite phones are also good in emergency situations.

Never Approach Wildlife

Wild animals are…well, wild. You never know what they may do, and even those animals that seem docile and friendly could turn on you. On top of that, when you’re out in nature, you are in their home, not the other way around.

Respect these facts and keep your distance when viewing wildlife. This will help ensure you return home injury-free, and will also help keep the animals safe.

Know How to Make Repairs

If you’ve been RVing for any length of time, you probably know all too well that things are going to break from time to time. When you’re camping in the middle of the city, you have access to all kinds of supplies, mobile techs, and shops that can help.

That said, when you decide to escape into the wilderness, you don’t have such conveniences. Because of this, it is always a good idea to know how things in your RV and vehicle work, and how you might fix them should they break.

Of course, you’ll also need to make sure to have a good basic tool kit to accompany your knowledge.

Carry Roadside Assistance

Last but definitely not least, it is super important that you carry good RV-specific roadside assistance. Coach-Net Roadside Assistance will be there to help you, even if you happen to find yourself on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Knowing this is definitely reassuring as you head out into the great unknown, and you’ll appreciate the service even more if you ever have to use it!

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.

Lynn B. ~ “Coach-Net was excellent from beginning to end. I highly recommend this service!”

10 Pro Tips For Planning Your Trip In 2024

07 Wednesday Feb 2024

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A new year is here, and that means a whole new year of fun RV adventures awaits! Many people use these colder months to start their RV trip planning for the spring and summer. Why not join them in getting excited for warmer weather, outdoor adventures, and time spent around the campfire?

Not sure how to begin your RV trip planning? No worries, we’re here to help. Below, we will give you our top tips for planning amazing RV travels for the upcoming camping season.

Choosing Where to Go

First things first, you have to decide where you want to go. If you aren’t the type to stick around your home and stay in the campground for the entire trip, this can be a bit overwhelming. There is so much out there to explore, and picking just a few options can feel nearly impossible. Here are some ways to narrow down your options.

Plan Around Your Bucket List

Do you have an ongoing list of things you’d like to do and places you’d like to see? Use this list to guide your travels. Pick the options that matter most to you and do your best to work toward those trips. If your top picks simply aren’t feasible right now, you can also choose a few that are within the realm of possibility and start planning those trips.

Stick to Your Budget

Obviously, you will want to keep your travel budget in mind. If you need to keep things inexpensive, staying relatively close to home might be your best bet. You can also consider trying boondocking to save on camping fees or pick destinations with lots of free things to do and see. If you have a senior national parks pass, national parks can be an incredibly affordable camping destination.

Follow Friends

Have friends who enjoy RVing as well? If you really can’t decide what to do, you might ask them what their plans are. Camping is always more fun with friends, and planning a few trips with your RV friends will remove the need to choose a destination, and it helps ensure you have an amazing time no matter where you end up going.

Mind the Weather

Weather is an important factor when planning an RV trip. Staying in an RV when it is extremely hot or cold outside simply isn’t comfortable, and not being able to get outside because of constant rain can leave you feeling cooped up. We recommend looking for destinations that, if possible, will offer sunny weather with very little rain and no extreme temperatures.

Picking a Route

How you get where you’re going is important when you’re traveling by RV. You’ll need to consider which route is the safest for your big rig and which roads will be downright impossible for your larger vehicle to navigate. You’ll also want to look at what there is to do and see along whatever route you end up choosing.

Put Tools to Use

Luckily, there are tools that can help you choose an RV-friendly route. RV Trip Wizard is one such tool, and it does an excellent job of showing safe routes using the info you give on the size of your RV. It can also show you places to camp, get gas, and stop for sightseeing along the way.

We do recommend cross-checking any route RV Trip Wizard gives against a Trucker’s Atlas to ensure it truly is a good route for big rigs. While RV Trip Wizard is pretty fantastic at choosing good routes, it is not without faults, so double-checking is always a good idea.

Add Destinations

If you’re driving a long way to reach your destination, it just makes sense to add in some stops to see and do things along the way. RV Trip Wizard can help you find fun stops, as can Roadtrippers.

Google Maps can also be helpful if you have an idea of what sort of attraction you’re looking for. Just type it in and see what pops up along your route on the map.

Getting Trip Ready

Once you know where you’re going and the route you want to take, you’ll need to ensure you’re 100% ready to hit the road. Here’s what you need to do to get ready now so you can hit the road as soon as the warm weather rolls in.

Make Key Purchases

You might need to make some purchases before you hit the road. If you plan to do more boondocking than usual, a solar setup or generator might be needed. Certain outdoor adventures will require gear like kayaks, hiking boots, and so on. It’s also a good idea to check and make sure your RV roadside assistance is up to date and that you’re still comfortable with your insurance plan.

Get the RV Ready

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure all of your RV maintenance is done so your rig is in tip-top shape and ready to hit the road. Reseal the roof and side seams, check the slide seals, take a look at the tires replace any that need it, and make sure all of your appliances are in good working order. This will help ensure your first trip out goes off without a hitch and you can fully enjoy your entire camping season.

There you go! Everything you need to know to start your RV trip planning for 2024. Now start planning and getting excited so you can jump into the camping season feet-first when the warmer weather rolls in!

May contain affiliate links.

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.

Douglas M. ~ “The concern displayed by the call agent was awesome. The response was fast by the service provider and was terrific. Thanks so very much for this fantastic coverage!” 

Pros & Cons Of RVing In National Parks

03 Tuesday Oct 2023

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

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RV camping is great no matter where you do it, but in our opinion, camping in national parks is one of the very best RV camping options out there. There are a number of benefits to camping in national parks that make the in-park campgrounds really desirable. That said, there are also some drawbacks to staying in these campgrounds.

If you’re thinking about camping in national parks, we encourage you to go for it, but we also think it’s a good idea to do a bit of research before diving in. That’s where this article comes into play. Below, we will tell you everything you need to know before you stay in a national park.

The Benefits of Camping in National Parks

First let’s talk about the pros of camping in national parks—the reasons we love it and recommend it to all RV campers out there. Once you read through these benefits, we’re guessing you’ll be itching to get out there and try it yourself.

Ideal Locations

Clearly, the best part about national park camping is the fact that you are camping right in the middle of the action. This makes it easy to get to whatever it is you want to see or do in the park. It also makes it easier to attend early-morning or late-night events and talks.

Awesome Wildlife

Pretty much every national park plays host to local flora and fauna, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see these critters as you hike and explore. That said, it’s even better when those animals wander right through your yard. When you’re camping in national parks, this happens often.

Beautiful Views

Another thing that goes hand in hand with national parks? Beautiful views, of course! Camping in national park campgrounds means you will be treated to amazing scenery right outside your window. You can enjoy mountain views while drinking your coffee, and gorgeous sunsets while cooking dinner.

No Day-Use Reservations

A few national parks require day-use visitors to make reservations. Sometimes, these can be very difficult to snag. When you’re camping in a national park, you no longer need day-use reservations to visit. That said, you might still need a reservation to enjoy certain activities within the park.

Discounted Stays for Some

National park campgrounds are generally pretty affordable. They are even more budget-friendly if you happen to have a national parks access pass or senior pass. People with these special cards can camp for half-price in any national park campground (as well as a number of other government-run campgrounds).

The Cons of Camping in National Parks

Of course, there are also a few cons you’ll want to keep in mind when deciding whether camping in national parks is right for you. Below, we’ve listed the two major drawbacks to national park campgrounds so you can be prepared before you head out.

Rig Size Matters

In many cases, national park campgrounds cannot accommodate big rigs. Instead, these campgrounds are made with shorter sites and often require campers to drive on narrow and/or winding roads. Therefore, you should consider purchasing a small trailer or van rather than a large fifth wheel if you plan to do a slot of camping in national parks.

Limited Amenities

On top of the small sites, many national park campgrounds also have very limited amenities. Rarely will you find a campground in a national park with any electric hookups at the sites, and sewer connections are nearly unheard of.

That said, there are a number of national campgrounds that provide potable water, dump stations, and restrooms with flush toilets.

Booking Your National Park Campsite

Ready to book a national park campsite? All you have to do is head to the recreation.gov website and reserve the campground you think will work best for you. Generally speaking, reservations open six months in advance at 7:00 AM Pacific Time, and we recommend booking as soon as your window opens up, as many of the more popular campgrounds do fill up.

Some national park campgrounds are first-come, first-served only. Other campgrounds have some sites that are similarly on FCFS basis but do have a separate set of sites that can be reserved. We recommend making reservations whenever possible.

If you do decide to try for an FCFS site, we recommend arriving about an hour before check-in time on a weekday in order to give yourself the best chance of snagging a spot. Of course, going during off season is also helpful!

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.

JACQUELINE J. ~ “I absolutely love Coach-Net, and the call center is so amazing! We have used the service twice now, and in both cases, the issue was resolved or the next action was recommended. We are very satisfied with our overall experience!”

10 Outdoor Shower Improvements You Should Make Immediately!

19 Monday Jun 2023

Posted by in Tips & Tricks

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Nearly every RV out there has an outdoor RV shower. That said, there are many, many RVers who never bother to pull the thing out and use it. This is a shame because outdoor RV showers can be so handy!

Not only is an RV outdoor shower good for rinsing your feet or your muddy doggo before you head inside, it’s also a great place to give the family pet a full-fledged bath or even give yourself a quick scrub when boondocking and trying to save space in your gray tank.

Yeah, outdoor RV showers are pretty awesome. That said, they can be a bit fussy to use. Therefore, if you’ll be putting yours to use regularly, there are some things you might want to do to improve your outdoor showering experience.

Change Out the Shower Head

First and foremost, we highly recommend switching out the shower head on your outdoor RV shower. The shower heads that are put on at the factory are simply not very good. They don’t provide much pressure and they go through water like nobody’s business. Meanwhile, a nice Oxygenics shower head will give you excellent pressure while using significantly less water.

Note: You will want to make sure whatever shower head you choose will actually fit in the outdoor shower storage box on the side of your camper.

Mount the Shower Head

With a new showerhead in place, the next step is to figure out how to mount it. This will allow you to shower without holding onto the shower head the entire time, making the whole process a lot easier.

Our recommendation? A suction cup shower head holder. This will hold your shower head in place while you wash off but is easy enough to take down if needed when moving day rolls around. It’s also super easy to install and doesn’t require you to screw into the side of your RV.

Add an Outdoor RV Shower Enclosure

If you plan on taking actual showers outside, you’re probably going to want some privacy. This is where an outdoor RV shower enclosure comes into play.

Some people create such an enclosure by hanging a suction cup U-shaped shower curtain rod and adding a shower curtain. Others pop up an outdoor privacy tent.

Put Down a Raised Shower Floor

One of the biggest problems with showering outside is that you end up standing in a mud puddle by the end of the shower. The best way to fix this problem is by putting down some sort of raised shower floor that gets you up off the ground.

We really like using a folding bamboo shower mat for this purpose. It looks nice, does the job well, and folds up small for easy storage.

Consider Suction Cup Shelving

Finally, you might consider adding some suction cup storage options such as shelves and a soap dish. This gives you someplace to put your toiletries while you shower and keeps them from getting muddy from sitting on the ground. Of course, it’s also nice that you don’t have to bend over and pick things up off the ground throughout your showering experience.

This set of suction cup shower caddies and soap dishes might be just the thing to finish your RV outdoor shower project!

As you can probably tell, we really like our outdoor RV shower and we’re betting that if you make some of the improvements above, you’re going to fall in love with your RV outdoor shower as well.

Why not get started today? These projects are easy enough that anyone can do them, and you should be able to finish before your first camping trip of the season without issue.

May contain affiliate links.

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.

Nathan T. ~ “Thanks, Coach-Net for taking care of my needs! You are very responsive and thorough in the help you provide. It is exactly what I signed up for.”

One-Pot Meal Ideas for RVers

07 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Favorite Recipes

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Cooking delicious and healthy meals while RVing can be difficult, especially with limited kitchen space. However, with some ingenuity and planning, you can savor scrumptious meals without cluttering your RV kitchen with an abundance of cookware. One-pot meals are a smart solution for RVers who want to save time and space while cooking.

In this post, we’ll offer one-pot meal ideas covering a variety of dishes, including breakfast, pasta, soup, stew, vegetarian, seafood, and comfort food recipes. Additionally, we’ll provide tips for cooking in small kitchens and advice for using minimal cookware.

Tips for Cooking in Limited Kitchen Spaces

Cooking in an RV kitchen requires some strategic planning to make the most of your limited space. Here are some tips for making efficient use of your kitchen:

  1. Make a list of the ingredients you’ll need for your one-pot meals so you don’t overbuy or forget anything at the store.
  2. Invest in versatile and durable cookware that can be used for various meals, such as a pressure cooker, cast iron skillet, large pot, or handheld immersion blender.
  3. Store cookware and ingredients strategically. Stack pots and pans and use nesting bowls to save space.
  4. Clean up spills and messes as you cook to avoid clutter and make it easier to move around your kitchen.

One-Pot Meal Ideas Perfect for RVers

One-Pot Breakfast Hash

  • Cook chopped potatoes, onions, and diced breakfast sausage in a cast iron skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through.
  • Create small wells in the mixture and crack an egg into each well.
  • Cover the skillet and cook until the eggs are set to your liking.
  • Serve hot with a sprinkle of cheese on top.

Tips: Use pre-chopped vegetables and pre-cooked sausage to save time and space. A cast iron skillet is a versatile and durable cookware that can be used for many meals.

One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta

  • In a large pot, cook pasta according to package instructions.
  • In a separate pan, sauté sliced mushrooms and diced onion until browned and tender.
  • Add garlic, cream, and grated Parmesan cheese to the pan and stir until combined.
  • Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce.
  • Toss to combine and serve hot.

Tips: Use a large pot to cook the pasta and sauce together to save space and reduce clean-up. A hand-held grater is a compact tool that can be used to grate cheese and garlic.

One-Pot Lentil Soup

  • In a large pot, sauté diced onion and diced carrot until softened.
  • Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add lentils, vegetable broth, canned diced tomatoes, and your choice of spices to the pot.
  • Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and let simmer for 30-40 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

Tips: Lentils are a great source of protein and fiber and cook relatively quickly. Use canned diced tomatoes to save time and space. A handheld immersion blender can be used to blend the soup if you prefer a smoother texture.

One-Pot Vegetarian Chili

  • In a large pot, sauté diced onion, sliced bell pepper, and minced garlic until softened.
  • Add canned beans (black, kidney, and pinto beans), canned diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and paprika to the pot.
  • Simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve hot with grated cheese and sour cream.

Tips: Use canned beans to save time and space. A wooden spoon is a versatile tool that can be used for stirring and serving.

One-Pot Seafood Paella

  • In a large pan, cook diced onion, sliced bell pepper, and minced garlic until softened.
  • Add diced tomatoes, saffron, paprika, and Arborio rice to the pan and stir to combine.
  • Pour in seafood stock and bring to a boil.
  • Add seafood of your choice (such as shrimp, mussels, and calamari) and let simmer until the rice is cooked through and the seafood is cooked.
  • Serve hot with lemon wedges on the side.

Tips: Arborio rice is short-grain rice commonly used in paella and can absorb a lot of liquid. Use pre-cooked seafood to save time and space. A large pan with a lid can be used to cook and serve the paella.

One-Pot Beef Stew

  • In a large pot, sauté diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery until softened.
  • Add diced beef and cook until browned on all sides.
  • Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil.
  • Add diced potatoes and canned diced tomatoes to the pot.
  • Let simmer for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve hot.

One-Pot Creamy Tomato Soup

  • In a large pot, sauté diced onion and minced garlic until softened.
  • Add canned diced tomatoes and vegetable broth to the pot.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Use a hand-held immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth.
  • Add cream and stir to combine.
  • Serve hot.

One-Pot Shrimp Scampi

  • In a large pan, sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant.
  • Add white wine, lemon juice, and peeled and deveined shrimp to the pan.
  • Cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.
  • Add cooked pasta to the pan and toss to combine.
  • Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Tips: Use pre-cooked pasta to save time and space.

One-Pot Mac and Cheese

  • In a large pot, cook pasta according to package instructions.
  • Drain the pasta and add it back to the pot.
  • Add milk, shredded cheddar cheese, and your choice of spices to the pot.
  • Stir over low heat until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy.
  • Serve hot.

Tips: Use a large pot to cook and serve the mac and cheese. Shredded cheese melts more easily than sliced cheese, making it a good choice for one-pot meals.

Simplify Your RV Cooking with One-Pot Meals and Efficient Kitchen Practices

One-pot meals are an excellent solution for RVers who want to save time and space while cooking. By using multi-functional cookware, planning your meals ahead of time, and cleaning up as you go, you can make efficient use of your limited kitchen space. Try out the one-pot meal ideas we’ve shared in this post, and don’t be afraid to experiment with your own variations and substitutions. Happy cooking!

About The Author: Natalie Henley

Natalie Henley is a freelance writer and has also been full-time RVing with her husband and pets since 2015. She covers a wide range of topics, including RV lifestyle, RVing tips, DIY projects, RV news, and more. You can follow their adventures and RV-related tips on their blog, henleyshappytrails.com, as well as their YouTube Channel, also called Henley’s Happy Trails. In addition, she writes for various RV-related blogs and marketing outlets and is the co-author of Seasonal Workamping for a Living: How We Did It, available on Amazon.

Stuart G. ~ “We can NOT say enough GREAT things about Coach-Net’s roadside service!”

RV Connectivity Part 2 | Television         

03 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Tech Tips, Tips & Tricks

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When it comes to the term RV, so much has changed over the past 20-30 or even 40 years. Some people still go RVing to get away from it all and don’t want any type of “connectivity” while others go out in rigs that have 5 televisions! I don’t watch a lot of television when I go RVing, however, I do like to be able to check the news and local weather.

Over The Air Antenna (OTA)

Even in today’s high-tech world of streaming, satellite signals, and other pay-per-view options, there is still the old-fashioned signal coming from a local TV station via towers. This is called Over The Air transmission which emits a digital signal from one of the stations’ towers. When the first TV signals hit the airwaves they were analog until 2009 when everything switched to digital. Most RVs up until that time had the old crank-up antenna that was on the top of the rig which we coined the “Batwing”. You had to crank it up and turn it in the direction of the strongest signal which you did not know until turning off the TV and trying to find a station, usually with several attempts.

This old antenna will be able to receive a digital signal however it has a very short reception distance and with digital, it has to be full strength or it will pixelate and drop off. To enhance the old Batwing, Winegard has introduced an add-on piece called the “Wingman” which will double the distance it can receive. You still have to turn the antenna to get the right direction and crank it down when you leave the campground or it will eventually come down on its own!

Other roof antennas are now available such as the Winegard Rayzar or the King Controls “King Jack” both of which are mounted on the roof and do not have to be cranked up or down but do require rotation for the best signal.

A new introduction by Winegard for OTA antenna is the Air 360 which is a dome unit permanently mounted to the roof and once it is turned on, the unit will automatically search and find all signals in the area and then a channel search on your TV screen logs them in automatically. It easily replaces all older model roof antennas. I have installed over 6 of these units and they are easy to install and pull in about twice as many stations as the other models.

Satellite Signal

Another option for television entertainment is getting satellite programming from a provider such as Dish Network, DirectTV, Hughes, and others. You will need either a roof-mounted antenna or a portable antenna that gets a line of sight to the satellite. My preference has been Dish as they have three satellites in the Eastern Sky, and two in the West so getting a line of sight has been superior in my opinion. Plus their “Pay As You Go” program allows you to only pay for the months you need.

The Traveler antenna by Winegard is mounted to the top of the rig and can be configured for either Dish or DirectTV and automatically cranks up and finds a High Definition (HD) signal. The only downside is it can not be used while actively traveling.

There are some options for satellite antennas that can be used while driving down the road such as the Winegard Roadtrip dome which handles Dish, DirectTV, and Bell Television and has an internal “Gyro” with refined algorithms that will track the signal as you go down the road.

I have found that many people prefer portable units even though they are a little more difficult to set up initially. The advantage is being able to get a camping spot in the shade to keep things cooler however that typically blocks the line of sight to the satellite. A portable unit lets you get the ideal spot and run the antenna out to the best location. Most RVs have an exterior coax connection in the service center or outside of the rig so you can set the portable unit out in the line of sight, connect the coax cable, and switch the feed inside to external.

What I also like about the Dish system is the Wally receiver as it is durable enough to handle the banging RVs get going down the road and temperature changes. It also has an OTA adapter that allows you to hook up your OTA antenna to it and all the local channels come up on the screen rather than needing to switch inputs of your TV. You can also do this for any “streaming” program you have!

Streaming TV

Now this is where it starts to get pretty foggy when I try to explain this to my folks who still have 12:00 blinking on their VCR! Streaming is a method of using an internet signal either hard wired or wireless (WiFi) and using a program such as Hulu, Paramount +, Prime, Apple TV, Netflix, and many others. You’ll need a good internet connection, pick the program you want, and pay a monthly fee for said streaming service.

You also need a Smart TV that can receive an internet signal either by hard wire or Wifi or purchase an adapter like a Roku. Essentially, you are getting television programs from the internet even though you can get local channels with your package.

Two years ago we decided to “Cut The Cable” at home and went with an internet-based streaming program and use Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. The only issue I have encountered is when we travel, which is not much in RVs these days but motels for shows, our Hulu account requires us to change locations and states that we can only do this 3 times a year. This may or may not be ideal for you. However, when using a portable device like a phone or laptop, it doesn’t require the relocation so I developed a workaround using my laptop and connecting an HDMI cable to the TV, which works for now.

Ultimately, there are now several ways to enjoy TV while you’re RVing and everyone has their own preference as to what avenue fits them best. From OTA to streaming, to going completely without TV, what options do you subscribe to?

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.

Randy & Angel ~ “I called the on-call service technician due to having a few questions and potential issues. They were very knowledgeable and helped us get through things we were having problems operating. They were absolutely amazing and very helpful!”