Trailer Park Living. Trailer, RV, 5th Wheel, Motorcoach Resources.

OnTheAvenues SEO

2009-09-23T13:22:00.001-07:00

Great place for information related to SEO, search engine optimization as it relates to web sites, blogs, and using SEO techniques for social networking and more. Latest news, processes and answers to questions to help you perform better on the internet by knowing how to use the proper resources

in reference to: Facebook | OnTheAvenues (view on Google Sidewiki)

Best Forex Program Reviews. Top Forex Software Reviews.

2009-09-23T10:17:00.001-07:00

Unbiased Forex Software Reviews, Forex Program Reviews. Using the best Forex software will net you more in forex returns!

in reference to:

"Best Forex Program Reviews. Top Forex Software Reviews.Unbiased Forex Software Reviews, Forex Program Reviews. Using the best Forex software will net you more in forex returns!"
- Best Forex Program Reviews. Top Forex Software Reviews. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Trailer Life. RV Living

2009-09-23T10:15:00.003-07:00

For People On The Road! Resource Guide For Trailers, 5th Wheels, MotorCoach. Trailer Living honors those folks who enjoy the freedom of being able to pick up and go whenever they wish. From trailer humor, trailer park living tips to useful RV, 5th wheel, motorcoach info to trailer parks and National parks information, RV cooking and so much more. We make trailer living and RV-ing hip, cool and fun.

in reference to: Trailer Life. RV, 5th Wheel, Motorcoach Resources. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Trailer Life. RV Living

2009-09-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

in reference to: Trailer Life. RV, 5th Wheel, Motorcoach Resources. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Turn Your Mini Van Into An RV

2009-08-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

Do-It-Yourself RV. Turning Your Mini Van Into An RV

A 2006 Toyota Sienna minivan can be converted with minimal effort from soccer-mom special to RV Lite

What do you do when your itch to travel extends for thousands of miles, but your budget won’t support all those nights in hotels? For a trip across the United States and back earlier this summer, my husband and I found the solution in an RV Lite — a Toyota Sienna minivan that we converted with little cost or effort into our own smaller, stripped-down version of the old Volkswagen Vanagons we remembered from the 1970s.

For years we’d played with the idea of buying a real recreational vehicle. But price tags were discouraging: $70,000 to $125,000 for either a motorized version we liked or a combination of a small but well-made trailer and a truck to pull it. We didn’t want to buy used, fearing breakdowns. And there was the issue of fuel economy, which loomed large after the oil shock of 2008.

So we downsized the dream.

Our Sienna is a standard 2006 model with three rows of seats. We removed the middle and back rows, which are bolted into place and can be easily reinstalled anytime, and were left with a large open space, about 4 feet 6 inches wide and 8 feet long.

The first six feet back became the cargo area by day and — with luggage moved to the front seats — the bedroom at night. We looked at folding cots and inflatable mattresses but settled on using two flip-out foam beds that we’d bought years ago for visiting children to sleep on. The van has vent-style back windows — good for ventilation at night — and lots of storage cubbies and cup holders that we stuffed with handy items. For lighting, we found solar lanterns that use D batteries as storage cells. Leaving them near a window in the daytime kept them charged up for nighttime use.

The van also has privacy glass: reflective windows that work like one-way mirrors to the outside, so that it’s difficult for anyone to see in. Still, we did put up a couple of curtains at night, hung on pressure rods.

We bought a tiny camp stove but never used it. Moving fast over a lot of territory replete with cheap restaurants, we decided not to fuss with hot meals. For cold food, like sandwiches and breakfast cereal with milk, we carried a picnic-style Coleman cooler advertised as keeping ice for five days in hot weather. It almost did.

And that left just one issue, the elephant in the room: plumbing.

Camping does not have to be primitive. Many campgrounds all over the country, both public and private, have clean, well maintained flush toilets and hot showers. Using Internet sites and camping guides (especially AAA camp books, which worked well for our needs), we stuck to these places. But still, most people also like something of their own.

Behind the area where we made up our beds, our van has a shallow well of space where the rear seats normally fold down. We chose to view this as a separate room: the bathroom. Fortunately, the technology of portable toilets is now impressive in two vital respects: ease of cleaning and discretion, both visual and olfactory. We purchased something called an Envirolet, from Sancor Industries of Toronto, a tad pricey but on the cutting edge of these advances. We also found a portable plastic sink, folding to briefcase size, with separate compartments for clean and gray water and even a tiny mirror.

An RV Lite wouldn’t work for some people: the plus-size family we once saw at an RV show, for example, who squeezed into a small trailer and joked that once in, they’d never get out. But for us, the minivan was cozy and functional. And, running at 25 to 30 miles per gallon, economical enough so that we felt no guilt at all about staying every third or fourth night in a hotel.
By BARBARA IRELAND Published: August 30, 2009

RV Breakdown. Be Prepared For RV Breakdown Check List

2009-08-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

RV breakdown 101: Don’t let this happen to you! Be Prepared For RV Breakdown Check List

It happens to everyone at one time or another. Your RV or towing vehicle breaks down and you are hundreds of miles from home…now what are you gonna do? Hopefully, you are not driving when something goes wrong. That would be a disaster. You can’t hide but you can be prepared! Here are a few things to have along for the ride, just the basics now; you can’t take the whole garage or workshop:

• Set of combination wrenches open and box ends
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Screwdrivers, flat and Phillips, several sizes
• Spare electrical wire in different gauge sizes, wire crimper, connectors and wire splicers
• Ratchet & socket sets
• Pliers, needlenose, regular, slip-joint water pump, locking pliers
• Heavy duty jumper cables, the longer the better
• One pound hammer
• Spark plug socket (get one that fits your engine’s size)
• Electrical test light or volt-ohm meter

Okay, you have the tools, but they won’t do you any good unless you have a small arsenal of spare parts. It’s a good idea to take along:

• Roll of duct tape and rags
• Can of radiator stop-leak
• Fuel filter just in case you get a tank of dirty or water-contaminated gasoline
• Engine drive belts, very inexpensive, and if one breaks, you are stuck
• Upper and lower radiator hoses, clamps and a few feet of heater hose
• Fuses and fusible links
• Motor oil and automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze
• Last but not least a starter

Are you wondering why anyone would need to take a “starter”? Well, if you sorta, kinda think that your starter could just may be on its last leg you better replace it before you leave or carry a spare. If it sounds like the voice of experience here, you got that right! We were overnight in Tennessee on our way to Florida, got up at 5:00 a.m. to be on the road early, and click, click, no starter. Lucky for us it gave up while we were parked at a campground and not on the side of the road, or at a restaurant. And since I never go RVing without my handy-dandy-hunky mechanic (a.k.a. husband) our delay was only about 45 minutes long. Fortunately for us, we had a junior mechanic along to help out!

The moral of this story is, if you sorta, kinda think something could go wrong you may just want to fix it before you leave home!

Cleveland RVing Examiner

How RV Trailer Hitches Work

2009-08-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

How Trailer Hitches Work

Whether you have a compact car or lifted diesel-powered 4X4, a trailer hitch is a vital part for towing any load. It is crucial to have the right tow-setup for your vehicle, so today I'm going to cover the basics of towing and the different types of trailer hitch setups to simplify your search for the perfect hitch.

If you own a car, your towing capacity will obviously be lower than if you owned a truck. The first thing you need to know is the towing capacity of your vehicle. This information can be found in the owner's manual. Most cars can tow around 3,000 pounds safely, while some trucks are built to tow loads of up to 30,000 pounds! The second thing you need to know is how much weight you need to tow. If you don't know the exact weight, you can try to estimate it to see if the total weight you'll be towing is within the specifications set forth by your vehicles manufacturer. If you can't reasonably estimate it, get some help and have the load towed to a scale so you can get the exact weight.

It is important to remember that safe towing involves a number of different elements: not only does your vehicle need to get the load up to a safe speed, but it also needs to be able to control that weight. When towing a load, brakes are just as if not more important than engine horsepower and torque because if you can't safely stop the vehicle, then you shouldn't be towing a load that heavy. So you need to evaluate the current condition of the brake system on your car or truck. Have the brakes been maintained properly? When was the last time you had the brake fluid changed? The last thing you want when towing is a brake system failure. You also need to think about where you are going to be driving. Are you going to be towing up or down hills? How windy do you expect it to be? Will the pavement be dry or wet? How much traffic do you have to navigate through to safely reach your destination? For the safety of you, what you're towing, and everybody else on the road, all these questions should be thought about and answered before you ever hitch something up to your vehicle.

For cars, towing setups are fairly simple because you can't tow that much weight. You'll need a trailer hitch, also known as a trailer hitch receiver, a trailer ball mount, and a trailer hitch ball. Hitch balls come in three sizes: 1-7/8", 2", and 2-5/16". A 2" ball with a 1" diameter shank is the most common size used for towing small and medium sized trailers. However, double check the size of the ball you need for towing and make sure the balls shank fits snuggly in the ball mount you are using. You will also want the trailer-hitch connection to be near level, but with a slight downward angle toward the car. This will help evenly distribute the weight and reduce trailer sway. Trailer ball mounts come in different sizes, make sure to choose one that will work well for your situation.

For trucks, there are far more towing accessories to choose from. In this article, I will only be covering the most common types used today. Some trucks have trailer hitches built into their rear bumper, others have a normal trailer hitch installed on them from the factory, and others will lack a trailer hitch all together. You'll need to evaluate what your truck has and go from there. Hitch ball sizes are the same: another tow option usually found on trailers which are intended for heavy loads use what's called a pindle hitch. A pindle hitch is basically a donut or ring which is made of thick steel that can handle the extreme torsional stress. Larger trucks also have 5th wheel mounting points in the bed of the truck, to which a 5th wheel hitch can be mounted. 5th wheels are used for hauling very heavy loads because it uses a much stronger hitch connection and because it centers the weight on the vehicle between the axles. This keeps the truck from tipping over backwards once it's loaded. Similar to a 5th wheel is the gooseneck hitch. A gooseneck hitch also attaches to the bed of the truck and thus centers the trailers weight, but a gooseneck hitch uses a traditional ball-style hitch rather than the 5th wheel-style of hitch connection. If you are towing a really heavy load, you might want to purchase a weight distribution system or stabilizer bars to help reduce or eliminate trailer sway.

I hope this article helps clarify the different types of trailer hitches and makes you think about some important aspects of towing loads. Remember, safety is the name of the game.

Click on the following links for more information about trailer hitches, 5th wheel hitch, gooseneck hitch, trailer hitch, or hitch bike racks.

RV Tire Failure 101

2009-08-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

RV Tire Failure 101

RV are by far the most important and most neglected link in the system. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard people say that the tires on their RV were defective, or my tires only had 12,000 miles on them when I had a blowout. In the majority of cases the truth of the matter is that tire maintenance has been neglected. The only thing between your RV and the road surface is your tires and the air that is in them. This is the weakest link.

What are some of the leading causes of premature tire failure?

• Overloading the tires

• Under inflated tires

• Ozone and UV rays

• Age of the tires

• Rotating tires

Tire failure can be extremely dangerous and can cause extensive damage to your RV. There are no guarantees, but by practicing good tire maintenance you can feel much safer and secure that the weakest link on your RV will do its job while you’re out exploring this wonderful country we live in.

Happy Camping,

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Mark Polk is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. In addition to owning and operating RV Education 101, (based in North Carolina) since 1999, Polk also has a very extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management. Polk has a degree in Industrial Management Technology and his 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Polk

How To Build A 5th Wheel

2009-08-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

How To Build A 5th Wheel

Great video on how a 5th wheel was personally built. Watch this step by step video on building your own 5th Wheel

RV Stabilizer Installation. RV Stabilizer Installation Video

2009-08-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Do I Need a Caravan Stabilizer? RV Caravan Stabilizer. RV Stabilizer Installation and RV stabilizer installation video

Anyone new to towing a caravan will feel a little nervous the first time out and will undoubtedly be a little slow and exaggerated in their actions like reversing and turning corners. But as you gain more experience you will become more confident with towing and what exactly you are able to do with the caravan behind you. This learning curve is something all new caravanners had to go through but by attaching a caravan stabiliser to their van it can make the experience a little less hair raising. This is not to say that if you have a stabiliser fitted you will become experienced at towing and it defiantly doesn't mean that if you have a caravan stabilizer fitted you can do more things with your caravan.

To better understand why a RV stabilizer is a good purchase for new and experienced caravanners alike you should first understand the 3 main causes of instability.

The first and most common cause of instability is snaking. Most if not all caravan owners will have experienced snaking at one time or another and in different grades of severity. Snaking is when your caravan moves side to side behind the car and is most often caused by excessive speed but speed alone won't cause snaking. It usually takes an external force like the change in pressure caused when a lorry over takes added to excessive speed before snaking occurs.

The second cause of instability is caravan roll which happens when one wheel of the caravan leave the ground. This rocking from one wheel to the other is commonly seen when snaking becomes uncontrollable and really needs to be kept under control for obvious reasons. There are other occasions when a caravan is in danger of rolling other than snaking including for example when it has been packed poorly with heavy items at the top or all on the one side, but these can easily be avoided by taking time and being sure you pack the caravan properly.

The third cause of caravan instability is pitching which basically happens when the caravan starts rocking backwards and forwards at the hitching point. Pitching isn't really that but like other forms of caravan instability you need to know what it is and how to minimise it while towing. It is normally caused by potholes and severe dips in the road and speed ramps, not something that is easy to avoid in modern day driving.

Caravan stabilisers were designed primarily to help stop snaking as this was the most common problem when towing high sided trailers, like caravans. As far as the other forms of insatiability and preventing them, the stabilizer will also help out. Caravan roll often happens in an uncontrollable snaking situation, therefore if you reduce the effects and occurrences of snaking you'll help stop roll. Pitching is something different all together but with modern 4 pad ball type stabilizers or blade type stabilizers pitching can often be reduced hugely.

So to answer the original question asked in the title, well that's really easy a simple yes always does but with an added word of caution. A caravan stabiliser is a great way to add an extra layer of safety and stability when towing a caravan and it will help a great deal with driver comfort. However it should never be used as a way to skip the need for good caravan towing skills.

Karl is a keen caravanner and blogs about the caravan stabilizer among some other things. At present he has an Al Ko Stabiliser but writes about more than just the one.

Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as Your RV

2009-08-05T15:31:00.001-07:00

4.5 Secret Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as Your RV

All of us have been through this before... you decided to get an RV but are overwhelmed by the sheer number of styles- let alone makes and models. There are too many "ifs, ands & buts" to make a clear decision this early in your learning curve. So, how do you choose the best one?

In my opinion, the 5th Wheel (or Fifth Wheel) offers a lot of advantages that the other styles do not. Actually, I believe there are 4.5 compelling reasons to consider a 5th Wheel over the main competitors; Class A B and C's, Travel Trailers, Campers, Camper Vans, Slide-Ins, SURV, or Buses.

Without further ado, here are the 4.5 Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as your RV:

1. You don't have a cabin ruining your space.

You are only using the cabin while you are driving, which is a rare time in most RVers vacation. So, why have your whole RV built around your cabin? Why not make better use of that space and put a couch or desk up there instead? In a 5th-Wheel, you can!

2. More layout options:

Since you don't have all of the engine, transmissions, and more, you can design your space to work better for you. There are so many ways a fifth-wheel can be set up, you can find a style that suits you better than in a classic RV.

3. No Need to Tow Another Vehicle:

You have a separate vehicle already with you all the time. All you have to do is unhitch your 5th Wheel and you are off the grocery, a restaurant, or a night on the town. Never worry about your tow dolly, a car-in-tow, or pulling a second vehicle like you would have to with an RV.

4. Provides Better Value:

You already have a truck, so why buy a whole new engine, transmission, and all of that? Using your truck to pull means there is one less vehicle to worry about in your life. Less worry means more time to sit back and enjoy your new 5th Wheel.

4.5 Easier to Inspect and Buy:

You don't need quite as much information when looking to buy one of these used. Actually, as long as you use your noggin and a good Used RV Buying Guide , you should have no trouble getting a good deal on one of these. But, make sure to get a good buying guide or you might get a lemon!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Fairview

How To Buy Repossessed RVs at RV Auctions

2009-08-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

How To Buy Repossessed RVs at RV Auctions

If you've ever been interested in buying a repossessed RV, now is the time. The sudden turn in the economy has led to foreclosure on thousands of high-quality RVs. There's an abundance of RV auctions taking place all across the country. Many people dream of owning an RV, and right now there isn't a single reason to hesitate because the opportunity to purchase the perfect RV has never been better.

Like any savvy consumer, you'll most likely have questions how to buy repossessed RVs. Repossessed RVs are similar to repossessed cars-they've been repo-ed by the lender after the owner has defaulted on payments. When this occurs, the RV goes to a live or silent auction. But like you would with any great deal, you'll need to know where to find the auction RVs. Repossessed RV auctions can be found by asking a local RV dealer or looking online or in the newspaper. Most of the time at these auctions, you will be given the opportunity to check out the repossessed RVs and inquire about their features. Another added benefit of buying a repo is that you don't have to pay much extra for the added features. And one notable thing that sets repossessed RVs apart from repossessed cars is that they don't lose their value as dramatically.

The most important thing to do when you're bidding on repossessed RVs is make yourself as knowledgeable as possible so that you get exactly what you're looking for and nothing less. You'll want to research the market value of new RVs, so that when you're making your selection. We recommend using the Kelley blue book and the Nada value guides for determining the value. And you'll also want to inspect both the interiors and exteriors, particularly for signs of water damage and unusual amounts of wear and tear.

There are many ways to prepare for an auction, from reading guide books, to cruising through RV lots, and of course relying on friends and family members who have experience buying RVs as well. Repossessed RVs will bring you savings that can't be beat. Just decide what you want, how much you're willing to pay, and find an auction where you can bid on repossessed RVs. You'll be on the road in no time.
For more information on buying Repossessed RVs at RV Auctions come visit our site!

Search Engine Optimization Sock Troll On The Loose

2009-03-01T22:27:00.001-08:00

Search Engine Optimization Sock Troll Alert!!

What is a search engine optimization sock troll you may ask. Well, it is not a what, it is a he. A man, who likes to to do seo (search engine optimization), loses his socks in the dryer and is far from troll looking. Sure, he may be in the same biz as I am. But that doesn't man I can't respect him as a human being, even if he is a search engine optimization sock troll.

You see, not all SEO professionals are alike. Some, like me with far to many years of experience need to help and guide out underlings, such as my dear friend the search engine optimization sock troll.

So, with great pride, I introduce you to my fellow SEO guy: his name is not important, but his seo identity is: search engine optimization sock troll, and you can visit him at ArteWorks

Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009

2009-02-24T09:13:00.001-08:00

The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009
Builder, in conjunction with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, debuts its metric for determining markets with the best and least potential.
By: Boyce Thompson

With most economists and builders expecting a national market decline this year, this may not seem like the best time to be selecting the "healthiest" markets in the country. Virtually every market was down last year. But a close look at the numbers reveals that some markets have way outperformed others during the last four years and are likely to continue to do so this year.

When the housing market stages its official recovery, the markets listed on the following pages are likely to lead the parade. It may take a year or more for the weakest markets--where burgeoning foreclosure sales are still pounding new home values, making building and selling new homes an exercise in futility-- to finally stage a turnaround. We’ll present that list next week.

The healthiest markets have many things in common. Most of them are great places to live, either close to the ocean, mountains, or major universities. Most of them didn’t have a huge run-up in prices during the boom and aren’t experiencing rampant deflation during the bust.

To compile these lists, we analyzed the top 75 housing markets in the country. We ranked them based on population trends and job growth, perennial drivers of housing demand. We also examined what’s happened with home prices; many of the healthiest markets have managed to hold the line on home values. And finally, we considered the rate building permits, which may be the single best ongoing indicator of builder confidence in a market. We combined all these metrics to produce a score for each market. Here are the top 15, in reverse order.

15. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
2008 total building permits: 3,211

Though permit activity dropped sharply last year, Myrtle Beach remains one of the hottest markets in the country, especially when you analyze the number of permits pulled per resident. Only 263,287 people live in the Myrtle Beach metro area, which until recently had been growing its population by nearly 5 percent a year. That means builders pulled one permit for every 82 residents. A steady influx of people, many of them retirees, are drawn by close proximity to the ocean and 117 golf courses at last count. That has helped keep home prices steady; they fell only 10 percent last year to a very affordable $174,800. Most of the home building is split between Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Jobs are dependent on the tourist industry, though, and the metro area was rocked last year when a $400 million rock-and-roll themed amusement part, Hard Rock Park, opened and then filed for bankruptcy. Myrtle Beach added jobs last year, but as of December employment was decreasing at a 4.2 percent rate compared to a year earlier.

14. Wilmington, N.C.
2008 total building permits: 3,551

Wilmington has the second highest ratio of permits pulled per resident, behind only Myrtle Beach. The population here, 352,919 by Census estimates, has been growing at a 4 percent annual rate for the last five years, well above the national average. Primary residents are drawn by a four-season climate, close proximity to Atlantic beaches, and affordable housing. Median home prices, at $198,700, are just about the national average. The area gave back 1,000 jobs last year, after gaining 19,000 the previous three years. Wilmington has had a 60 percent decline in permit activity since 2005, around the national average, but its track record for population growth helps it make this list.

13. Charlotte, N.C.
2008 total building permits: 12,231

People and businesses must love Charlotte, because they are moving there at a high rate. The metro area of 1.74 million has grown its residents by 4 percent annually over the last five years, one of the highest rates in the country. They are drawn by relatively affordable housing for the east coast—median home prices are only $210,900, and they’ve only "corrected" downward by only 4.2 percent in the last year. A strong fourth quarter helped Charlotte record 12,231 permits last year, only a 44 percent decline since 2005. Charlotte’s strength relative to other markets led the investment banking firm UBS to predict last year that it would be one of the first markets to recover from the housing downturn. Charlotte is still a single-family market, with 62 percent of the residential activity in stand-alone homes. The job market in this banking hub contracted last year, after growing 3 to 5 percent annually the previous three years.

12. Denver, Col. 2008 total building permits: 8,800

Denver has been all over the home building news of late, with Beazer and Centex leaving town, then Village Homes of Colorado declaring bankruptcy. But the market hasn’t been hit as hard by the home building recession as other Western markets, in part because it didn’t experience rampant price appreciation during the boom. That’s partly because there’s lots of land available to develop in Denver. The median price of an existing home here was still an affordable $225,100 in the third quarter of last year, down only 11.4 percent in the last year (through 3Q 08). Denver enjoys one of the highest population growth rates in the country--2 percent annually for each of the last five years. Builders pulled 8,800 permits in Denver last year, down from 20,864 in 2005, a percentage decline that’s close to the national average. Denver is buoyed by a strong commercial real estate market.

11. Nashville, Tenn. 2008 total building permits: 8,142

Nashville, the 20th largest home building market, operated under the radar of the national housing boom. It didn’t ramp up wildly during the boom years, and it’s not contracting viciously during the bust. Median home prices remain an affordable $152,100, propped up by a growing job base. Eighty percent of the residential construction is single-family. Some of the market’s resilience stems from above-average population growth of about 2.3 percent a year. Back in the day, 2005, Nashville accounted for 16,654 permits; it now runs at about half that level. But that’s a better performance than most major markets.

10. Washington DC 2008 total building permits: 11,693

Washington D.C. showed signs last summer that it might be emerging from the downturn, then it turned south again. Even so, the area produces a ton of jobs—an estimated 35,000 in the last year—that fuel a vibrant housing market, the 11th largest in the country. Many of the jobs stem from contracts with the federal government. Washington D.C. remains a relatively unaffordable place to live, with a median home price of $332,700 in the third quarter of last year. But values have fallen only 24 percent in the last year in part because the population continues to grow—an average of 1 percent annually over the last five years. Home building patterns have changed dramatically in the nation’s capital with builders mothballing subdivisions well beyond the beltway and focusing on infill opportunities. The region remains one of the worst in the nation for commuters.

9. Fayetteville, Ark. 2008 total building permits: 2,989

Fayetteville has made some important lists in recent years. Located in the foothills of the Ozarks and within an easy drive of Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters, it has recently been named one of the best places to live (by Kiplinger) and to do business (by Inc.). Employment, which had been strongly positive since 2005, dropped somewhat in the fourth quarter of last year. Recent layoffs at Wal-Mart’s corporate office sent tremors through the market. But several Fortune 500 companies that sell products to Wal-Mart have established offices here, and they have helped Fayetteville achieve one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, 4.1 percent in the fourth quarter. The University of Arkansas is also located in Fayetteville, and it has helped attract start-up businesses. Residents are drawn by an affordable housing stock; median prices average only $139,400, below the national average, and they’ve lost only 2.4 percent of their value in the last year. Builders pulled only 2,989 residential permits last year, down from 7, 449 in 2005.

8. Indianapolis, Ind. 2008 total building permits: 7,004

Builders are still pulling permits at a relatively healthy rate in Indianapolis, despite a virtually flat job market. Unlike other major markets that have become multifamily-oriented, single family still accounts for two-thirds of home building activity. Ultra-affordable housing accounts for some of the activity—the median price of a home here is only $117,900, making it one of the most affordable markets in the country. As a result, home prices have declined only 4.5 percent in the last year. At the top of the market in 2005, builders in Indianapolis took down 15,619 permits, so activity is down 55 percent, slightly better than the national average. Unfortunately, the relative health of the market wasn’t enough to keep Davis Homes, one of the area’s largest private builders, from going out of business last year.

7. Seattle, Wash. 2008 total building permits: 13,021

Seattle, a city of 3.4 million people, last year weighed in as the eighth largest home building market. Residential construction activity here, as measured by permits, is off only 50 percent since 2005, much better than most markets. Seattle has steadily transitioned during the last 10 years from an affordable to an upscale housing market, with the median price of an existing home reaching above $350,000. Even so, existing home prices fell only 11 percent in the last year. One of the secrets to Seattle’s success is that it has added lots of jobs in recent years; and held on to them last year. Some builders there have even stepped up their land buying in anticipation of a market recovery. As the city has become more urban, the share of single family to multifamily permits has reversed; multifamily now accounts for 58 percent of activity.

6. Raleigh, N.C. 2008 total building permits: 11,386

Another state capital with multiple universities, Raleigh was still adding jobs at a 1.9 percent annual rate though the third quarter of last year. With a population of more than 1 million, it also has one of the highest rates of population growth of any top metro market in the country over the last five years: nearly 5 percent annually. Though the price of a median home here, $221,900, is above the national average, it is well below other cities in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The metro area has added roughly 68,000 jobs since 2005, and employment held steady last year. With a glut of national builders in the market, locals such as Dixon Kirby have experimented with different looks and styles to keep sales alive.

5. Dallas, Texas 2008 total building permits: 26,145

In a year when permits declined 35 percent nationally, Dallas only experienced a 9 percent fall-off. With a population of 4.2 million, Dallas was the third largest home building market last year, as measured in permits pulled. Employers in Dallas, a popular place for corporate relocation and expansion, added 42,000 jobs last year, a growth rate of 2 percent. Existing home prices have held steady, falling a paltry 2.3 percent in the last year, Interestingly, the face of residential construction has changed dramatically in Dallas in recent years; 58 percent of the activity last year was in multifamily, compared to a five-year average of 23 percent. The relative stability of the market, though, wasn’t enough to prevent Wall Homes from filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. On the other hand, former Meritage co-CEO John Landon recently started a new Dallas-based home building company.

4. San Antonio, Texas 2008 total building permits: 10,261

San Antonio is another Texas market that is still adding jobs, about 15,000 last year. A city of more than 2 million people now, its population is also growing, at a 2.8 percent annual clip through the third quarter of last year. Existing home prices are barely declining in San Antonio, down only 1.8 percent in the last year, leaving the median price of an existing single-family home at an affordable $154,400, 25 percent below the national average of $200,500, according to the National Association of Realtors. The upper end of the housing market was hurt recently when AT&T announced it would be moving its corporate headquarters to Dallas.

3. Fort Worth, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 10,388

Fort Worth, always operating in the shadow of higher profile Dallas, nevertheless can currently claim to have a slightly healthier housing market, based on its employment growth, relatively strong permit activity, and inexpensive housing. Now the 14th largest home building market in the country, Ft. Worth’s builders pulled 10,388 permits last year, roughly two-thirds of them single-family. That may be half as many as 2005, but many other major markets showed much sharper drop-offs. The relative strength of the Fort Worth market in recent years stems from its ties to the oil and gas industries, which has fueled above-average job growth. The metro area added 17,300 jobs last year.

2. Austin, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 14,250

Nine years ago, during the tech bust, some builders felt that Austin was too crowded and left. The bloom is back on Austin’s yellow rose now; it moved up the leader board to become the sixth largest home building market last year. Job creation explains the move. While other markets lost employment, Austin added 17,400 jobs last year, 2.31 percent growth rate. It helps that Austin is home to both a major university, The University of Texas, and the state capital. Existing homes cost a little bit more in Austin than other Texas markets, roughly $190,900, but that’s still below the national average. Also, Austin is one of the few metro areas in the country where median prices actually rose in 2008--1.4 percent through the first three quarters of the year. Amazingly, Austin now generates more home building activity than Chicago, which has six times more people.

1. Houston, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 42,697
They like to do things big in Houston. Now the metro area, home to nearly 5.8 million people, can lay claim to being the largest home building market in the country, with 42,697 building permits. The market is still benefiting from an influx of population and jobs and rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Employment rose 2.2 percent last year, representing the addition of an incredible 57,000 jobs. Home building activity in Houston has only fallen 31 percent since 2005. Also, existing home prices actually rose in Houston last year, 2.8 percent, to $160,200, still a very affordable level. Roughly one third of the home building action is in Harris County, followed by Houston proper and Fort Bend County. One of Houston’s largest builders, Royce Homes, shut down last year, and Kimball Hill, one of the biggest builders in Texas, closed its doors this year after it failed to find a buyer.

RV Mobil Satellite Dish Mount System

2008-12-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

RV Mobil Satellite Dish Mount System

Are You Tired Of The Unreliability Of RV Satellite Dish Tripod Systems? The RV Mobil Satellite Dish Mount System From Delsand . Is The Easy-To-Use System For You

If you have an RV satellite dish Tripod style portable satellite stand, you have probably experienced a great deal of frustration trying to get your device to work properly and consistently.

Unfortunately, these devices typically use the built-in gauge in the antenna in order to set up the elevation, as well as skew or tilt. As a result, you will have a harder time finding a good satellite signal with an RV satellite dish Tripod system – and this can make setting up and enjoying satellite television much more difficult.

Are You Looking For The Best Portable Satellite Dish Stand In The Industry?
The Delsand Satellite Stand For Dish Antenna Offers Quality And If You're Not Completely Satisfied, We Offer A Flexible Return Policy

If you want a reliable system that will provide a great signal every time you use it, the Delsand RV mobile satellite dish mount is the ideal system for you.

Although there may be occasions when a direct line of sight cannot be established, the Delsand RV mobile satellite dish mount will provide you with an excellent signal in most situations. In addition, with the integrated Line of Sight Tool (LOST), you can easily and quickly determine where your portable satellite stand will receive the very best signal. This enables quick, easy and less frustrating setup than with other more cumbersome systems such as the RV satellite dish Tripod system.

When you select the Delsand RV mobile satellite dish mount for your satellite reception needs, you will also be happy to find that the system works with all of the following systems…

Many DirecTVs (including the SlimLine 5 HD)

All Dish Networks

Many other satellite networks with a 1 5/8 or 2 inch OD post

As you can see, virtually any satellite system is compatible with the RV mobile satellite dish mount system from Delsand. Enjoy easier satellite television viewing today with our helpful mounts and locators.

To learn more about the Delsand RV mobile satellite dish mount, please visit our products page.

If you have any questions about our systems or are uncertain about which one is right for you, use our handy online contact form -- or call us at (425) 879-2929. One of our customer service professionals will be more than happy to help!

Made in the USA

Patent Pending
Designed and Patented by Delsand LLC in Lake Stevens, WA
Tooling Designed and Made by Ideality Inc. in Stanwood, WA
Injection Molding in Nylon-6 Done in Mukiteo and Everett, WA
Assembled, Boxed and Shipped in Stanwood, WA

Trailer Park RV New England Fish Chowder Recipe

2008-05-12T09:21:00.001-07:00

New England Fish Chowder

1 T butter

1 medium sweet onion - chopped

6 small or 2 large potatoes - cubed

appx 2 c liquid - can be chicken or fish stock or water (enough to completely cover potatoes)

1 bottle clam juice (if using all chicken stock or water)

1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless firm fish - chunked

8 large shrimp - cleaned with tail on

8 sea scallops - muscle removed

1 can high quality chopped clams w/juice

1 can evaporated milk

Garnish with paprika, pepper, parsley (if desired) and a pat of butter

Saute onions in butter (could use bacon fat) until translucent - appx 5 minutes. (You can add

celery with the onions if desired.) Add potatoes in single layer on top of onions.

Cover completely with liquid. Add clam juice if using all chicken stock or water.

Boil appx 10 minutes or until potatoes are slightly cooked. Layer fish atop potatoes placing the firmest on the bottom and working up. Top with clams and their juice. Simmer for appx 10 minutes. Add evaporated milk and stir gently. Allow milk to heat.

Ladle into bowl and top with garnish. Serve with sourdough bread.

Feeling ambitious? Hollow out a sourdough round and serve in the bread bowl for an extra treat!!

Enjoy - it's delicious!

Rocky Mountain National Park. RV - Trailer Vacations

2008-05-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

Rocky Mountain National Park
This park delivers opportunities for breathtaking scenic beauty and adventures

The vistas may be too accessible to appreciate and too beautiful to comprehend. To experience the grandeur of Rocky Mountain National Park's terrain, visitors only have to drive two hours from Denver, Colorado, a trip that deposits them on Trail Ridge Road. This paved feat of engineering balances for 10 miles on a ridge that exceeds 11,000 feet in elevation. Sights such as the 78 peaks that poke their way above 12,000 feet throughout the park should have to be earned, requiring a slog to Alaska, for example, or a Himalayan trek.

Yet tourists can easily stand at the Forest Canyon Overlook and stare at the Continental Divide to the southwest and the Mummy Range to the north. They can take in the spire of Longs Peak, the 14,259-foot sentinel that impresses even from 11 miles distant, then gaze down into the canyon dense with trees and the Gorge Lakes glimmering in the distance. And this is but a single viewpoint within the park's 265,873 acres. Visitors, however, may be tempted only to scan the vistas the way they look at photos: A few second's worth of perusal and contemplation. Rocky Mountain National Park, though, deserves to be lingered upon, explored and delved into.

The peaks that grant the park its name are at least the third iteration of mountains in the region, the first and second ranges having succumbed to erosion over millions of years. The current range, carved by glaciers, is capped by rock that is nearly 2 billion years old. As much as the mountains impress visitors, however, it is the park's 6,625-foot range of elevation that creates four distinct habitats, which make the park truly special. This quartet of life zones delivers a stunning array of natural possibilities for visitors to explore.

Low-lying grassy flats, known as montane parks, lure mule deer to its fodder-filled expanses. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspen also thrive in the lowest of the park's ecosystems, and beavers display their industriousness in these montane and riparian areas. Next on the ascent comes the subalpine region, where colorful wildflowers thrive and broad-tailed hummingbirds combine lichen and cobwebs to build their nests. Bands of stunted tree islands help define the krummholz region, where elk find relief from summer's heat. Despite harsh conditions, flora such as the purple sky pilot and fauna such as the pika manage to exist above tree line in the cold, windy alpine tundra. Hikers, however, need not be highly adaptive to endure such climates; they simply need to be in good shape and to possess adequate equipment.

Visitors with less vigor but just as much love of the outdoors can explore the easier trails among the park's 350 miles of them. The half-mile Bear Lake Nature Walk makes a fine ambulatory introduction, Green Mountain Trail delivers an easy 3.6-mile roundtrip and the easy 4.6-mile roundtrip along the Cub Lake Trail meanders through terrain inhabited by plenty of birds and abundant wildflowers.

Four of the park's five campgrounds accommodate RVs, without hookups.

Rocky Mountain National Park, (970) 586-1206, www.nps.gov/romo

Becoming A Full Time RVer. Lifestyle of RV Living

2008-05-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

The Full-Timing Experience
Making the decision to become a full-time RVer is one of life's 'big ones'

Making the decision to become a full-time RVer is one of life's "big ones." Only in a few other instances will the average person have the opportunity to choose a new direction for his or her life that will have the impact this one does. The change from a conventional life to a full-time life on wheels has outcomes as dramatic as going from single to married, from being childless to becoming a parent, or from an idle life to fully employed. It affects where you are, what you do, how you do things, who you are associated with -- in short, it's a whole new ball game. For that reason, it is definitely a question that deserves your very best attention and thought before you take the plunge.

It is a fact that not everyone is suited for full-timing. True, anyone can do it, but not everyone can do it successfully. For example, theoretically, anyone can jump out of an airplane with a parachute; anyone can raise goats on a farm; anyone can live the life of a hermit in a shack in the desert; but the reality is that most people don't want to do those things.

By the same token, from the standpoint of being physically able to, anyone can get a motorhome and live it it full-time, but not everyone wants to.

Psychological makeups are the deciding factor; not everyone has the attitudes necessary.Which takes us to the question: How do we know if we are suited for full-timing? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could simply take an attitude test and the score would tell us whether or not we should go for it? However, there are some characteristics of successful full-timers that are readily apparent to anyone who observes such people carefully. A review of some of them might help a person who wonders about his or her prospects for the full-timing lifestyle.

Anyone considering making the dramatic change in lifestyle that full-timing calls for should ask him/herself these basic questions:

Am I dissatisfied with the way I am living? If you are completely happy with the life you are living, why make a big change in it? If you get up happy, spend the day happy, love the people around you, enjoy your home and where you live, why on earth would you want to change it? On the other hand, do you have the feeling that you would like to go more, do more, see more -- a feeling that you want something more in your life than what you have and that something has to do with seeing other places, other people and other things? If your answer is "yes," then you are beginning to fit the full-timer mold.

Do I like adventure and excitement? Surprisingly, not all people do, but it is definitely a characteristic of most full-timers. They're the people who are always looking at maps and seeking new roads and places to visit. They're curious and have enough daring spirit to tackle the unknown. They listen to others tell of wonderful places they've been to, and it makes them want to go, too. Most have some of Daniel Boone's genes!

Am I a daring person? Very simply, you have to be rather brave just to tackle driving a motorhome or pulling a big trailer. Most full-timers' motorhomes are quite large because they serve as homes, so it isn't unusual for the rig to be 30-plus feet long and weigh 10-plus tons. Getting behind the wheel of such machines and joining the traffic in a city or on a winding mountain road isn't a task for a timid person. Successful full-timers are people who don't mind a challenge.

Am I a gregarious person? Full-timing is definitely a "people-intensive" lifestyle. The best illustration of that point is that RVers talk to each other. They don't need formal introductions, they don't even need reasons to greet each other and start chatting; they simply do it naturally. RVers live close to each other in parks; they have to be good neighbors in order to get along. On the other hand, if you are shy and reticent around strangers, you might find that you have a problem fitting in with the RV crowd.

Above all, do I have a good relationship with my spouse? Full-time RVers live very close to their spouses even in the largest motorhomes. It takes real understanding and the ability to compromise for a couple not to get on each other's nerves. In a house, they can get away from each other relatively easily by going into another room. But in an RV, another room is only a few steps away. Most successful full-timing couples are good friends.

Most of the good aspects of full-timing can also be considered bad aspects. For example, getting rid of a house means getting rid of the chores associated with maintaining a house, but there are new ones in maintaining a motorhome Instead of housecleaning, lawn mowing and cleaning up after the neighbor's dog, there's windshield washing, RV cleaning -- inside and out -- and fixing the multitude of little things that break. And it means getting rid of some of the expenses associated with having a home: property taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, utility bills; but the substitution of others, like big fuel bills, licenses, campground fees and entrance fees to attractions. One of the nice things about being in a house is that you have friends, neighbors and relatives nearby to associate with and enjoy. On the other hand, in a sense, you are "stuck" with whoever they are. You're in a fixed place for better or worse. Being able to change locations quickly and easily in a motorhome is a great feature of the RV lifestyle. If for any reason you are dissatisfied with where you are -- sweather, neighbors or whatever -- all you have to do is fire up your engine and go somewhere else.

Deciding what to do with a house is probably the single biggest question that most prospective full-timers face. Three scenarios are possible:

Both want to sell it, in which case there is no problem; they simply sell it;
Neither wants to sell it, in which case it is necessary for them to figure out how to keep it and full-time too; and
One wants to sell and the other doesn't, in which case there is a dilemma.

In case no. 2, the answer depends on your financial circumstances. If you can afford to keep an empty house, get someone to watch out after it and go. If you cannot afford to keep it empty, the answer has to be to rent it to someone -- bearing in mind that being a landlord carries with it potential problems, such as tenants who tear up your property, don't pay the rent or vacate while you are in Mexico. In case no. 3, a possible compromise is to arrange to keep the house for a period of time while you test the waters. Perhaps after six months or a year, the solution will appear obvious: You either decide to sell it or return to it. The important thing is that your house is there if you want it, and your mind will be at ease if you decide to sell.

The second big question that a couple ready to start full-timing faces is what to do with all their things. You can't take it all. The accumulation of things that we have in our houses simply won't fit in our motorhomes, even if they had the payload capacity to haul it. Obviously, you have to get rid of a lot of it. Suggestions offered by those who have "been there, done that" generally include a careful choosing of the things that are essential.

Among those suggestions are some recommended guidelines:

Don't take anything you haven't used in the last year -- particularly clothes.
Give each person "veto power" over what the other packs (you have to like each other to play this game without rancor).
Weigh your coach and determine how much weight you can add without violating the gross vehicle weight rating. What is left over can be stored if your plan is to return to "regular life" at some future date. However, in most cases it is advisable to get rid of it. Offering it to your children, your grandchildren or other relatives is the most common way of disposing of possessions. One of the benefits of giving it to your close relatives is that you can still see those things when you visit them.

Do people who have gotten rid of their things to travel full-time often regret their actions? Full-timers give a resounding "no" to that question. After the immediate pain of seeing your accumulation of things go, there is a rapid recovery. Very few full-timers would take those things back if they were offered.

Those who are trying to decide whether or not to become full-time RVers face a number of formidable questions. No one can give you the answers. You have to figure things out for yourself and you can do that if you follow some of the sensible suggestions that have proved successful for the thousands of happy people who have chosen to make theirs a life on wheels.

RV Holding Tanks. RV Tips for Holding Tanks

2008-05-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

RV Tips for Holding Tanks

Today we're going to talk about RV holding tanks. To start with, I wanted to mention something about RV holding tanks that I don't think a lot of RVers are aware of. Many of the free dump stations available to RVers are closing because of chemicals that are harmful to septic systems and because RVers are abusing these dump stations. If we want to have access to these dump stations it is absolutely essential that we use septic safe chemicals (no formaldehyde), and that we clean up after ourselves and do not abuse dump stations.

Your RV has what is referred to as a gray water holding tank and a black water holding tank. The gray water holding tank collects dirty water from the kitchen sink, bathroom sink and shower. The black water holding tank is for the toilet. These tanks terminate into one main outlet used to empty the holding tanks. This is where we connect our sewer hose.

Make sure you have the required couplings and connectors. It may be necessary to attach two hoses together to reach the sewer connection. I recommend you only use heavy duty sewer hoses. Their not that expensive and they hold up much better. Keep a 10 foot hose and a 20 foot hose available. Do not pull or drag the sewer hose on the ground. This will cause it to tear or get pin holes in it.

To hook up the sewer hose make sure both valves are closed and remove the sewer cap. Make the connection by putting the hose adapter over the outlet and turn it clockwise until it locks securely in place. Take the other end of the hose over to the campground sewer connection. Use the necessary adapters to make the connection and get a good seal. It's a good idea to place some weight over the hose so it doesn't jump back out when you drain the tanks. It may be necessary to use some type of sewer hose support to get a good angle from the RV to the campground sewer connection so the tanks drain properly when you empty them. The small valve is for the gray water tank and the large valve is for the black water tank.

One golden rule for RV holding tanks is to never dump the black water tank until it is at least two thirds full. You want the tank nearly full so the weight and the gravity will force the contents of the tank to drain properly. Another golden rule is to never leave the black tank valve open at the campground and expect the toilet to drain or flush like the toilet in your home. It won't work.

When the tanks are full, or nearly full always dump the black tank first, followed by the gray tank. The gray water tank should also be at least two thirds full. Dumping the gray water tank last will help to flush the sewer hose out.

When you're at the campground for an extended period of time you can leave the gray tank valve partially open so it drains as you use it, but remember to NEVER do this with the black tank. If it's time to leave the campground and your holding tanks are not full you can finish filling them with water and then dump them. Never use your drinking water hose for holding tank maintenance or cleaning purposes. RV drinking hoses are normally white. Take a different color hose for others uses so you can distinguish the difference.

After you dump the tanks you need to thoroughly flush the tanks out. Some RVs have a built in system for flushing the tanks out. If not there are other ways to do it. You can use a tank wand designed for cleaning and flushing the black tank. The only problem is you don't know when or if the black tank is really clean and you can't rinse or clean the gray tank with a wand. I use a product called the Flush King. It's a reverse flush valve that connects directly to your sewer outlet and rinses and cleans both holding tanks in one simple operation. It's easy to use and it has a see through barrel so you know when the tanks are really clean.

Every time you dump the black tank you need to treat it with holding tank chemicals to assist in controlling odors and to break down solids. You should always use environmentally safe chemicals. Enzyme based chemicals use the good bacteria to digest waste and control odors. Formaldehyde based chemicals destroy the bacteria that's needed to break down waste and they can be dangerous to humans and pets.

The first step is to add enough water to completely cover the bottom of the tank. Four or five toilet bowls full should be enough depending on the size of your black tank. Water will assist a great deal with controlling holding tank odors. You always want the contents of the tank to be covered by water. Next, fill the toilet bowl and add the proper amount of holding tank chemicals, usually four ounces for every forty gallons the tank holds. Flush the toilet. Repeat this procedure every time you empty the black water holding tank. Some holding tank chemicals like RV Trine also contains valve lubricants to keep the valves operating properly and extend the valve seals life.

You should always use toilet paper designed for use in RVs. This toilet paper breaks down and dissolves in the holding tank chemicals preventing potential problems with the holding tank, the RV sewer system and the dump station septic system. False holding tank readings on your monitor panel are caused by the holding tank probes being covered by toilet tissue or other debris. If flushing the tank doesn't solve the problem add some water and a couple bags of ice cubes to the empty holding tank. Drive or pull the trailer so the ice cubes can scrub the sides of the tank. Proper holding tank chemicals will also keep the holding tank probes clean.

Over time grease and residue builds up in the gray tank and it causes a foul odor, not to mention how it is affecting the tank and valve assembly. Periodically treat the gray tank with environmentally safe holding tank chemicals to avoid odors from the tank. When the tank is empty you can also add some dish washing liquid down the drains to help break down grease and residue build up.

Following these simple holding tank tips can prevent problems and provide you with long lasting trouble free holding tanks. This is one problem we can all do without! All of our RV walk-through videos cover information on RV holding tanks, the water system, LP gas system, electrical system and more. Check out our new “RV Essential Items” DVD to show you what items you will want for your RV to make all of your RV experiences more enjoyable.

Source: RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Trailer Towing Tips. Towing A 5th Wheel Trailer Check List

2008-05-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

Trailer Towing Tips. Towing A 5th Wheel Trailer Check List

Towing a trailer is not as simple as just hooking up and going. To be responsible and have a trouble free trip, there are a lot of things to think about.

Here is a list of trailer towing tips -- hopefully as a gentle reminder:

Secure all bolts and fasteners in vibration resistant ways – use things like Nyloc nuts, Loc-tite, cotter keys or wired nuts. Be sure the methods are appropriate for the situation.

Check bolts, fasteners, lights and brakes prior to towing.

Inspect the trailer regularly to assure there are no cracked welds, loose bolts, or other issues that can create problems.

Inspect the tires carefully – especially after storing for some time. Dry rot is the # 1 failure mode for trailer tires. (Keeping tires covered when stored will help reduce rot and cracking.)

Inspect the spare tire (if used) to be sure it is inflated properly and in good condition.

Double-check the hitch to be sure it is connected securely.

Use tow chains and secure them to a sturdy part of the hitch.

Use tow chains that are adequate for the job -- not wimpy, flimsy chain.

For stability, distribute the load on the trailer evenly – not disproportionate on one side or the other.

For stability, the trailer should be loaded such that 10% - 20% of the weight is on the tongue.

If you have a problem with swaying or instability, re-distribute the load. Most instability issues come from improper trailer loading. Other issues come from improper assembly (things not lined up or square) – so, take time and care when building a trailer.

Don't overload the trailer. Also, be aware of the towing limits of the pulling vehicle and the hitch.

Don't overload the tires. Tires on trailers often have a lower capacity than the axle they are mounted on. This is a great way to have a blow-out.

Secure the load so it won't shift or move in transit. Keeping a low center of gravity is also good.

If loads are tall, realize that wind loading can be very strong. Make sure everything is securely fastened to the trailer. You wouldn't want something to blow out or break off.

You are responsible for the load in your trailer. Anything that blows out or falls off is your responsibility. Not just as litter, but flying items can injure or kill others. Be sure things are secure!!

Double check tie-downs, tarps, ropes, etc. to be sure nothing will be "flapping in the breeze" or dragging the ground.

It's a good idea to stop and double check the load, the tie-downs, and the overall situation after driving a few miles from the start. The load will "settle in" with the vibrations and bumps of the road.

Set tire pressure appropriate for the load. When is traveling empty, tire pressure may be reduced to 10 or 15 psi. This will allow the tires to absorb bumps and other anomalies, keep the trailer from bouncing around, and shaking the tow vehicle. Full tire inflation pressure is needed for a full load.

If the trailer has high sides or a tall load, avoid traveling when high cross winds are present.

Allow added distance for acceleration and braking. Even if the trailer has brakes, it can take (sometimes) a lot more distance to stop.

Allow more girth around corners -- take the corners wide -– to avoid hitting the trailer tires on a curb, because the trailer makes a shorter radius than the tow vehicle. Also, the longer the trailer, the more space it takes. Hitting curbs and posts may cause big damage and costs.

Drive with a greater awareness of what is happening around you on the road. Any maneuvering on the road requires more time, more care and more space when a trailer is attached –- and the larger the trailer, the more it takes. Please drive carefully.

10 Reasons Motor Homes are Better than Planes

2008-05-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

10 Reasons Motor Homes are Better than Planes

1. Stewardesses are evil. At some point in the history of air travel, "stewardess" went from being this sexy, glamorous job to crabby drink server. Which makes sense, because it's only a plane. But since 9/11 each one thinks they're the last line of defense to the cockpit. Any complaint, no matter how rational, means you could spend the rest of the flight on the ground in flex-cuffs.

2. Planes are cramped. I don't care how much faster they get you there, it is not fun having to sit on a glorified bus for an hour to five hours, surrounded by people you would happily ignore any other time, even if they were on fire.

3. Motor homes can take you more places. The idea that travel is just about going to another city for a few days is limited. What about pro or college football tailgating? You think a Packers tailgate party would be less fun or more with an RV that has a kitchen, tables, TV and bathroom? I'm thinking it would be more - one trip to a Port-a-san in Green Bay and you'll think so too. (A people raised on cheese AND beer AND bratwurst? Are you kidding me?)

4. Motor homes have beds. That you can stretch out is one thing. That you or your passengers can move about the cabin as much as they want is another thing. But when everyone can pile on the couch or bed and not have to worry about any strangers - or smell them - motor homes win. You can use motor homes as portable temporary housing if you need to. Can the airlines claim that? Why don't you ask one of the Jet Blue passengers that had to sleep in an airport terminal last year.

5. Recreational vehicle rental opens up traveling. If you need to get to a meeting in another state by tomorrow, yeah, flying is your best option. But if you're heading out to see something new, the road offers as much as your destination. It's part of the thrill of the open road, the places you hardly ever hear about but dot the landscape. Cafes, historical monuments, natural wonders. There are even special destinations like Disneyland RV parks or Yellowstone Park. Which leads directly into reason #5...

6. You can't get an airline to land in the middle of Yellowstone Park. A motor home not only replaces a plane, it replaces your hotel room and your rental car. It's everything you need packed into a single vehicle.

7. Motor homes don't have security checkpoints. When you travel by motor home, you are not only more comfortable, not only allowed to bring as much carry on luggage as you feel like - but you will never have a minimum wage employee root around in your bags to see if you are carrying more than 4 oz. of hair gel.

Because if you want to bring down that Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, all you need is a full bottle of Listerine and the will to do so. Are these people for real?

8. Motor homes do not fall flaming from the sky. That one's relatively self explanatory though.

9. Planes can leave without you. With air travel, you are entirely at the mercy of the flight schedule. If you really like being insulted, try this on for size: If you are late, the plane will leave without you, but the airline is free to be as late as they please - and they usually are. As a result you can be late for your all-important connecting flight in Pittsburgh... which will leave without you.

10. Planes smell bad. Face it, they do. Have you ever seen what the cleaning crew on a plane does? They fold a blanket or two and swab off any vomit they might find. But since air travel is all about turn around, they don't have time to do much of anything else. The design on the seat cushions sure looks like they haven't updated since the mid 80s - so how much butt do you think they've had rubbed on them?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Starkey

RV True Story. RV Trailer Traveling Tales

2008-05-12T16:00:00.001-07:00

A cautionary tale for the new RVer

My husband Bill and I have been full-time RVers for quite a long time now and we love the lifestyle. We do not, at this time, want to go back to the more traditional way of life which we enjoyed for over 33 years. We lived rather typically, in a nice home, which took almost every spare penny we had in life to improve, maintain, repair or pay taxes on. Our life was filled with the constant job of raising children, working to earn a living, and having maybe one day a week to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Well, those years are behind us now and we are truly loving the life of the full-time RVer. Everyday is a new adventure. We love the fact that we are free to move in a few hours if we don't like neighborhood, we really love being able to see this beautiful country of ours from the inside out, and meeting new people is one of the most wonderful joys of our life.

We have, what we think, is the best of both worlds. We can travel and still have our home and our belongings with us. If we don't feel like moving around, we can just park it for a while.

There are a few pitfalls which, if you are entertaining the thought of becoming full-time RVers, you must be aware of.

When you leave a house for vacation or a trip, all you normally have to do is take care of securing the house so that you avoid being robbed or burned down while you are gone.

In a motorhome, fifth wheel or trailer, you must prepare your home for travel. Breakables are to be safely stored. Cupboards, TV's, computers and furniture, etc. must be well secured prior to your picking up your house and placing it on a fast moving freeway or bumpy country road. You also need to remember to put down that TV antennae so that you don't chop it off at the next overhead bridge. And if you forget to empty the water out of your toilet prior to leaving, you may spend the next few days trying to dry out your bathroom carpeting. The RV park where you have been staying would also appreciate it if you don't drive off with their electrical boxes in tow. We use a checklist for all of the items we need to take care of, but even then there is a small amount of stress related to the moving process.

Also, remember how you used to be able to be a part of the fast moving traffic on the freeway? Well, be prepared. You may now be one of the slowest vehicles on this fast moving, potholed, always under construction, racetrack of a highway, filled with people whose brains are at the bottom of their shoes.

Another advantage of living the life of the full-time RVer is that if the weather is bad you don't have to travel. You can just sit in your little home on wheels and wait until the weather clears up. No reservations or deadlines to worry about.

However, if you have never been in 50 mile an hour winds in your RV, you haven't lived. The first time we had this experience I was sitting at our dining table in our slideout and the wind whipped up to gale force speeds. One burst of wind came up, lifting the slideout up a couple of inches, and throwing an H20 train set we have at the top of the slide clear across the room (landing in a 100 pieces all over the floor). I was OUT OF THERE looking for the nearest building. We were staying at a park that tended to be very windy.

We did not want to leave the park for a while, and soon learned to live with the sounds of the wind howling through our fiberglass sides and awnings. The wind doesn't bother me as much now, although I do get a bit jumpy when it kicks up.

If you enjoy cooking you can still accomplish all of the things you want to while living in an RV. Just choose the appliances you want to carry with you with space in mind. Everything should be in miniature form including some of your furniture. You would not want to place a 12 foot sofa in the living room of your 30 foot trailer. And, your refrigerator is too small to keep a large stock of food on hand. You cannot fit a watermelon into a 8 or 10 cubic foot refrigerator no matter how hard you try!

If you enjoy gardening then you will have to understand that your garden may consist of nothing more than a few potted plants or herbs. If this is your garden on wheels, don't forget to place them on a towel in your bathtub while traveling or you will soon be feeling the earth under your feet while inside of your RV. Do remember, however, that most of the RV parks you will be staying in have a lot more greenery than your old back yard. And, no more lawns to mow!

Life on the road is very peaceful most of the time. Sometimes a little too peaceful. Especially if you have children and grandchildren that live far away. I would say that the worst thing, for me, about traveling the USA, is that sometimes we travel for several months without seeing our family. I miss the noises, the touches, the hugs and kisses that are showered upon us when visiting our grandchildren.

And, when you are not traveling and sightseeing, you must keep yourself busy, or life will become one book after another or one TV program after another. Get out, meet your neighbors, volunteer your time for something worthwhile, or write a book like I did. Bill and I have created a whole new career with the publication of "Your Home On Wheels".

One of the advantages of living in an RV, is that everything, if you do it right, is right at your fingertips, including your spouse. Bill and I love being close and knowing what our partner is up to at any given moment. However, you must also prepare yourself for the difficulties of living together with someone in such small quarters as an RV. If you are not considerate of each other's space, you will find that you will be frustrated and sad for the loss of your own space. No matter how much you enjoy being with your partner, you must spend some time away from each other if you live in the small confines of an RV.

A few of the other pitfalls to be aware of are the inconsistencies of your service related needs. Phone and television are not always available to you. You may have to visit a different mechanic or beauty shop every month and not have a chance to build a relationship with your service people. Health issues also must be addressed because you can no longer visit your regular physician when a problem arises.

Motorcoach - RV Luxury Resort In Oregon

2008-05-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Motorcoach - RV Luxury Resort On The Oregon Coast

Motorcoach and RV owners love Pacific Shores for its breathtaking location on the Oregon coast and endless supply of activities. Stroll along scenic beaches. Explore lighted nature trails and tide pools. Watch the whales. Lounge in the heated indoor pool. Relax in the spa and sauna. Or play golf at our chip and putt course. Another must is a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium where you'll come face to face with all kinds of marine life, from sharks to sea otters

Amenities

213 fully landscaped sites - 269 upon completion
Individual cement pads and patio tables
State-of-the-art hookups for water, sewer, electric, telephone and cable TV
2 heated pools, 3 saunas and 2 Jacuzzis
6 holes of chip and putt golf
Clubhouse with billiard room, video games, two lounges, fireplace, big screen TVs
Heated indoor pool, spa, sauna and fitness center
Convenience store, deli and gift shop
Beach access, nature trails, pets welcome
Two laundry rooms; plenty of hot showers
Host help program available
24-hour security and dedicated on-site staff
Free wireless Internet provided by Charter Communications

Local Attractions
Newport Bayfront. Walk along the pier by the fishing boats and visit the many shops and restaurants. Bay and ocean tours, fishing excursions, are also available.

Historic Nye Beach, NewportThe historic oceanfront beach area of Newport features ocean walks, gift shops and restaurants.

Chinook Winds Casino Resort, Lincoln CityGaming, entertainment, convention center, lodging and more. Includes an entertainment schedule.

Performing Arts Center, NewportLocal theater, dance and music groups. See schedule.

Oregon Coast Aquarium, South Beach/NewportOne of the country's finest aquariums is located just south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Hatfield Marine Science Center, South Beach/NewportLocated next to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the Center has touch tanks, a movie theater, and many hands-on exhibits and activities for people of all ages

Visit: http://www.outdoor-resorts.com/ps/index.html

Ozarks RV Resort. RV and Motor Coach Luxury Resorts

2008-05-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Ozarks RV Resort. RV and Motor Coach Luxury Resorts

Stay on beautiful Table Rock Lake and enjoy various outdoor activities. Troll for trophy fish. Cool your toes in the swimming pool. Hit the fairways and greens of the golf course. Lounge in the whirlpool. Relax in the sauna. Watch the sunset from the boat dock. More excitement lies beyond the property. Ride the roller coasters in Silver Dollar City. Visit the restaurants and quaint shops in the town of Eureka Springs. Or head to nearby Branson, Missouri, and enjoy live entertainment morning, noon and night!

Restrictions:
No Vans, Pop-ups, Truck Campers, or Class B Motorhomes. Minimum RV Length of 26'

Amenities

164 fully landscaped sites - 350 upon completion (available for ownership and rental)
Individual cement pads and patio tables
State-of-the-art hookups for water, sewer, electric and telephone
Clubouse
Tennis courts
Wireless high speed Internet
Swimming pool and Whirlpool - 3 upon completion
9-hole, par 3 golf course
4,000 feet of frontage on Table Rock Lake
24-hour security and dedicated on-site staff

Visit:http://www.outdoor-resorts.com/ozarks/index.html

RV Boondocking. Motor Home Boondocking

2008-05-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Motor Home - RV Boondocking

What's the fun in driving your motor home to a crowded campground on the edge of a city (exactly the kind of place we'd all like to escape!), plugging in and listening to your neighbors watch TV all night? We could have just stayed home for that.

If you have an RV, you really have to go out there and get away from it all. The great advantage of having one is that you can get far from civilization, but still have all the comforts of home. Instead of kids yelling outside, you can have the music of nature. Sounds like a good deal to me!

That's why boondocking has become so popular among motor home owners. Boondocking means going out and camping in complete wilderness! You can drive your RV right out into the woods, mountains, or deserts (whichever you prefer) and stay there where your nearest neighbor is miles away. You can do this at most national parks, and there are also campgrounds and recreation areas designed specifically for this activity, where you can stay for as little as $3 a night or pay a small annual fee.

Is it legal is always the first question that you might ask. The answer is yes or no, depending on where you decide to park your motor home. If you park where it's not okay, well, that's called "trespassing" I'm afraid and quite illegal.

Before you go on your trip, you should check to make sure that it's okay to boondock where you're headed. To give you an idea, there are yearly guides put out that you can pick up at bookstores and camping supply stores. You can also find up-to-date listings of areas online.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has designated wild areas all over the country where boondocking is permitted. This includes most national parks. There is one restriction, however, that you can only stay for up to 2 weeks. After that time, you just have to move, and exactly how far is far enough is open to debate.

There are lots of places for boondocking in the desert southwest. This is an area with lots of wild, natural places for the most part untouched by tourists. Most of the best locations are in Arizona and southern California.

Recently, some places have been set aside as boondocking campgrounds. Usually they have a small fee, something like a couple of dollars a night, or you can get a 6-month permit and stay there anytime. They still have the 2 week rule, but you can always "move" somewhere else and more or less stay in the same area. The 6 month permits cost as much as $150 in some places, but it's still cheaper than camping for that long, or paying rent.

There are now communities that meet at certain times of the year. These turn into big motor home festivals, with boondockers and RV drivers from all over the country getting together when it's too cold to camp up north or back east.

At some of these communities, they have activities, grocery stores and other businesses that open during the busy season. A few of these places include Quartzite, Arizona and Slab City, California, which is a ghost town when the boondockers aren't there.

But, wait a minute... I thought this was your chance to get away from it all? Well, that's true too. The best thing about boondocking is that you can set up anywhere and just let life crawl by. Nowhere to be, nothing to do, and no neighbors to listen to.

Boondocking is flourishing in the unsettled parts of the country. It allows you to take your motor home and get away from the bustle of the city.