RV Home Yet?

What's your style of RV travel?

2010-03-09T06:49:12-08:00

What sort of RV tourist are you? Meandering? Purposeful? Working? Read more about the styles Judy Farrow and Lou Stoetzer describe in RVers: How Do They Live Like That? in the latest RV Lifestyle Ezine.

You can vote, telling us what type of tourist you are:

Also, a correction supplied by Cool Judy. The link to the article about testing solar panels should be http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_14419424?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com. Thanks, Judy! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RV transporters needed

2010-03-06T13:46:19-08:00

Workampers looking for a paying assignment could easily get a job delivering RVs now. They would need a CDL plus a truck, if they are delivering trailers or 5th wheels. A couple could do fairly well if one delivered a 5th wheel while the other drove a motorhome. Drivers are in short supply.

RV Business reports that "Classic Transport, Elkhart, Ind., is backlogged six weeks on deliveries, according to CEO Bill Garvey. ''Drivers aren't crazy about coming to IN in the snow.'"

Wave Express, on the other hand, has capitalized on the backlog by working directly with the dealers and had an easier time recruiting drivers in those markets rather than in Indiana.

Transporting RVs does have its downsides. You will wear out your truck much faster. Even Garvey admits, this is not full-time work. "We recruit part-time drivers, 50-70 year-olds. We are not able to recruit full-time drivers because when you sit down and do the math it doesn’t work out to full-time income.”

One way to add to your income is to team up with your spouse. Another is to get assignments where you take an RV in the opposite direction after you deliver the first, though that may not be easy to arrange. You'd probably be on your own for this and how many RVs are heading to Indiana?

If you are looking to break into this type of work, now would be a good time. Drivers who respond when the company has a backlog will be at the top of the list when deliveries aren't as plentiful. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Would you pay for Wi-Fi in an RV park for better service?

2010-03-05T10:07:26-08:00

Take the poll below.

A company that places Wi-Fi service in RV parks says, in a press release aimed at RV park owners, that charging for Wi-Fi is better for them - and their customers- than offering free Wi-Fi. Not only will charging for Wi-Fi add to their bottom line, but customers will get better service because their company has an incentive to provide Wi-Fi that works.

RVers do often complain that the "free" Wi-Fi service is less than desirable. Service may not reach all parts of the park and, when it stops working, the owner cannot be found or may not rush to restore service. Some RVers do download large files, slowing the service down for everyone. An outside provider might respond more quickly, or at least that is the theory.

In your RV travels, would you be willing to pay for Wi-Fi access in an RV park or would you choose the park with free Wi-Fi? Or, does Wi-Fi access not matter? Possibly you have your own equipment like satellite Internet or an Aircard? Vote below and see how you stack up. Jaime Hall Bruzenak

Would you pay for Wi-Fi in an RV park to have better service?trends

FEMA trailers turn up for sale in Oklahoma

2010-03-04T15:21:41-08:00

At RV Daily Report, I saw a story that Wheeler Rental and Mobile Home Sales in Oklahoma bought hundreds of FEMA trailers at auction and is now offering them for sale. According to KOFR.com, "A regional FEMA office spokesperson says the units now being auctioned have passed safety guidelines, regarding formaldehyde concerns which developed after Katrina." Some have never been lived in and are still in the original boxes.

Shana Wheeler, owner, says that they will fit in older mobile home parks where space is an issue. They have some on display at their business, others are advertised on Craig's List.

Better they get some use than deteriorate and fall apart on the airport parking lot where they were being stored. I do wonder how much the taxpayers lost on this whole deal, though. I'm sure the prices they got at auction were much less than what FEMA originally paid for them. Maybe they will get to people who need low-cost housing at a lower price. We can hope. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Top-ten most visited national parks in 2009

2010-03-01T20:55:55-08:00

RV Daily Report quoted a National Park Service press release naming the top-ten national parks visited last year. More than 285 million people visited national parks and other units of the National Park System during 2009, up from just under 275 million in 2008. This fell just short of the all-time visitation record of 287.2 million in 1987.

The Blue Ridge Parkway was the most visited unit of the system with nearly 16 million visitors, but the top-ten parks were:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 9,491,437 visitors
• Grand Canyon National Park, 4,348,068
• Yosemite National Park, 3,737,472
• Yellowstone National Park, 3,295,187
• Olympic National Park, 3,276,459
• Rocky Mountain National Park, 2,822,325
• Zion National Park, 2,735,402
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 2,589,288
• Grand Teton National Park, 2,580,081
• Acadia National Park, 2,227,698

Entrance fees were waived three weekends and there was more publicity about national parks, possibly accounting for the increase. While the Great Smokies is easily accessible, visiting some of these parks, like the Grand Canyon, Zion, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, mean getting off the beaten path.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said employment and visits to our national parks contributes nearly $14 billion in economic activity across the country.

We are so fortunate that this land has been set aside. We can only hope that we do not have such financial trouble at the federal level that we close or privatize parks at the state level because of the economic conditions. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos

George at the Grand Canyon
Patriarchs of Zion

KOA goes homeless

2010-02-28T21:45:05-08:00

Well, maybe - if Colorado Springs city planners don't block it. Paul “Pak” Koscielsk has plans to buy a former KOA and use it for transitional housing for the homeless. It could serve two missions: giving people a place to stay as they gear up to enter a program or treatment shelter, and giving those coming out of a shelter a low-cost residence as they transition back into society. Cost would be around $400/month. Though Koscielsk would partner with a nonprofit, the park would be a profit-making venture.

A no-camping ordinance goes into effect this week, so that would give the homeless an option. The campground would have toilet facilities,showers and laundry facilities, a step up from camping. Though not determined exactly how the property would be used, there is room for 160 RVs, 40 mobile homes plus an acre and 1/2 for tent camping.

The article doesn't make clear where these RVs and mobile homes are coming from. Would he be providing them for people to rent? Is he expecting to get city funds or grant money to subsidize this housing? Perhaps he bid on FEMA trailers? (That's from out in left field, but they would be cheap.) I do wonder why this would be more lucrative than keeping it a regular commercial park. Or, perhaps he would really like to make a contribution in this area, as long as he can make a profit at the same time.

Anyone from that part of the world that can shed light on the politics of this? It is a positive that affordable housing could be made available to those in need. Let's hope it works out as a win-win situation for all concerned. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Solar Systems - a good time to buy?

2010-02-24T20:42:55-08:00

See Tom and Nancy Vineski's column on Solar 101 on advances in solar systems and why now may be a good time to buy them for your RV in this issue of RV Lifestyle Ezine.

Sign up to receive this ezine at RVLifestyleExperts.com and receive your free copy of "Tip of the week: 52 ways to save money living the RV lifestyle."

Back to Arizona Rte 66

2010-02-23T18:07:29-08:00

Last week was George's and my anniversary. We decided to celebrate at one of our favorite places, La Posada in Winslow. We had been in Snowflake for an appointment so drove up to Holbrook to head west on I-40 and parallel Route 66.

We passed several Route 66 icons. We drove by the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook with its old cars parked outside the teepees. You not only get the romance of Route 66, but the sound of trains all through the night. Rebekah (daughter) and I and her two boys spent the night in a Wigwam shortly after Bill passed away. It wasn't luxury but it was fun, especially for the grandkids, to spend the night in one.

We stopped at Jackrabbit Trading Post for a photo of each of us on the giant jackrabbit. Lots of souvenirs and snacks await you inside.

We drove on by the Twin Arrows. It's hard to get close to them and the diner is closed. They have been spruced up, though. The arrow shafts are actually telephone poles.

Winslow itself is working at sprucing up Main Street to draw visitors back downtown. A new park is right next door to the "Standing on the Corner" park commemorating the Eagles song that brought Winslow to the attention of the world. Both "Standing "on the Corner" and La Posada Hotel received "Save a Landmark" signs from the Route 66 Caravan and Hampton Inn's Save A Landmark Campaign. Due to a blurb in the Escapees magazine, I was there that day in 2003! My late husband, Bill, and I joined the Caravan of RVs and went the rest of the way to Chicago. What a way to see Route 66.

The La Posada Hotel is a Fred Harvey Hotel, designed by architect Mary Colter. It served passengers and crew on the railroad. It has been lovingly restored. The Turquoise Room, run by owner/chef John Sharpe, has wonderful food. Most of their food is purchased in Arizona. It is a great place to celebrate a special occasion. There's RV parking on the lot by the train station too.

Arizona has many stretches of Route 66 you can drive. Often there is more than one alignment. As more funds were received, often the road was rebuilt in a different place. The stretch east of Flagstaff has trading posts and other stops designed to attract tourists eager to see the wild West. If you are crossing Arizona on I-40, take the time to get off see these icons. Drive a stretch of Route 66 and step back in time when this was the main east-west route. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Help with blog

2010-02-22T10:37:40-08:00

I enjoy blogging but sometimes blogging every day gets to be a bit much. And, it might be for you too! If you're like me you have a ton of things to read, demanding your attention. So, I'm asking for your help in deciding how many days a week to blog. Vote at the poll below and/or leave a comment.

Many thanks! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

How often would you like to read new blog entries?(opinion)

Tip: Free pancakes on Tuesday! (well almost)

2010-02-21T18:13:37-08:00

Tuesday is National Pancake Day and IHOP is celebrating. In return for a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, they are requesting you consider donating to Children's Miracle Network or other charities.

Tuesday is Fat Tuesday or the day before the start of Lent. According to the Web site, pancakes were made to use up butter, eggs and milk, which were prohibited during Lent, hence the name Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday, by the way, is the past tense of shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by confession and penance. So now you know the rest of the story!

There are some restrictions, of course. So if you want to check them out, go to the IHOP Pancake Day site. Enjoy your pancakes! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak