If you’re planning to visit some of our magnificent national parks this summer, knowing what national parks require reservations is important. In certain locations, if you show up without a national park reservation, your plans may be ruined when you’re turned away from the park, and you’re forced to move to Plan B. So, we’re …
Travel & Miscellaneous
When friends & family gather ’round the campfire, there’s nothing quite like singing campfire songs to stir the spirit and make some lasting memories. We recently published a post on campfire games and, with the new camping season just around the corner, we thought we’d whip up a post with a list of some great …
We’ve read a number of articles about 12V coolers, but most of them conflate them with portable refrigerators, which are not the same thing. They combine 12V compressor refrigerators and fridge/freezers in the same article. A 12V cooler is <strongnot a compressor fridge. 12V coolers use a different cooling method than 12V compressor fridges do, …
When your RV holding tanks are nearly full, the most prominent thought in your mind becomes, “Where’s there an RV dump station near me?” If you’re camping at a campground or RV park with a dump station, or you’re connected to the sewer at your full hook-up campsite, then you’ve got nothing to worry about. …
It’s that time of year again when many people are considering upgrading their RVs ahead of the new camping season, and consulting the NADA RV guide for assistance with pricing, both to sell their RV and to buy a new one. But is the information in the NADA guide all you need to consider when …
Sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, talking, singing, or telling stories can be loads of fun for the whole family. But, campfire games can take it to another level. So, as this year’s camping season looms on the horizon, we’re tossing out a few ideas for campfire games for kids, campfire games for …
There are lots of ways to light a campsite, but when we’re boondocking under the stars, harsh lighting can be more of a hindrance to the setting than anything. That might be why camping string lights are so popular. Moderate, muted lighting options are best in camping settings. They create a nice ambiance without overwhelming …
As we head into a new camping season, we know there are lots of people who’ll be renting an RV for the first time. So we thought we’d share some first-time RV rental tips to save some time and trouble. Although we’ve owned and lived in an RV full-time for over 20 years, we’ve also …
If your RV has a diesel block heater and you never use it because you only travel where it’s mostly above freezing, you may want to consider the information in this post. A diesel engine block heater is designed to heat the block in cold conditions in order to help the engine start. Many people …
There’s nothing like the versatility of a pickup truck. But there are times when an owner wishes they had more enclosed space. Enter the Flated truck topper inflatable pickup truck cap! The problem with traditional pickup truck caps is where to store them when you’re not using them. Well, we’re pretty sure we’ve landed on …
Is your RV (or home) carbon monoxide detector beeping? This post is all about why it’s beeping, what to do about it, and what not to do… ever! A carbon monoxide detector’s chirping sound in the middle of the night may seem annoying when it’s occurring, but it’s a small price to pay for the …
That’s right… truck bed camping. It’s a hidden gem of truck ownership! Everyone knows that a pickup truck is a versatile vehicle, especially for hauling stuff from place to place or for towing. Many RVers use a truck to tow a camper, like a fifth wheel or travel trailer. But even if you don’t have …
As we head into a new camping season, you may be considering RV memberships in an effort to save some money on campgrounds. Today we’re taking a look at the Passport America membership. Is it as good as it seems? We’ve used Passport America, so we can weigh in here based on our personal experience. …
The dawn of spring means the height of camping season is just around the corner. We’ve been at this for 20 years now, so we know that when you’re getting your RV ready for travel, a checklist can come in very handy! The anticipation of a new camping season means that getting your RV ready …
In certain camping scenarios, there are times when a small propane heater is the perfect remedy to chilly weather. The Little Buddy propane heater is exactly the right size for a personal camping heater, but is it the best option available? In this post, we’re taking a good look at the Little Buddy, a portable …
In the early 1970’s, General Motors released into the wild one of the most iconic RVs in history. From there, the GMC motorhome would change the trajectory of the motorhomes of the future. The distinctive capsule that brought the front-wheel-drive home-on-wheels to market not only retains a place in history for GM’s motorhome innovations, but …
We’ve seen our share of interesting homes on wheels. In fact, we’ve lived full-time in a pretty nice one ourselves for 20 years. But there are some really cool school bus conversions (“skoolies”) out there. So we wanted to share our thoughts on these different, whimsical, and even elegant skoolie conversions. Are they for everyone? …
No matter how much people enjoy camping, there’s literally no one who enjoys sharing the activity with mosquitoes. Plainly stated, mosquitoes suck…literally and figuratively. That’s why today we’re checking out the value of a mosquito net for camping. We dedicated an entire post to mosquito repellent for camping, and shared some other ideas for repelling …
Garmin is a big name in the GPS world and the company has made a wide variety of GPS units and other products since 1989. In today’s post, we’re talking specifically about the Garmin RV GPS. We’ve been on the road full-time for 20 years and we’ve used a lot of different navigating and trip-planning …
As RVers and campers, we tend to cook on grills, griddles, and even over open fires at campsites. A grill mat is something that many people use for cooking or baking both outside and in a home oven. But, why would you need one? Are they expensive? What are they made of and could they …
There’s nothing like outdoor cooking when you’re camping, and a camping griddle can take your breakfast and burger games to a whole new level. So, just in time for your next camping trip, today’s post looks at 7 of the best portable griddles for easy cooking AND easy clean-up! Let’s get the bacon sizzling, the …
If you’re an RVer, but not familiar with the benefits of the Escapees RV Club, this post is for you. The Escapees is among the most comprehensive RV membership organizations. Because an Escapees RV Club membership offers so many benefits, we’ve decided to dedicate a post to letting fellow RVers know what they’re missing if …
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of reading a book or falling asleep in a hammock outside in a light summer breeze, you’ll understand why a portable hammock is a favorite piece of gear among campers everywhere. The great thing is that you can pretty much use a hammock anywhere. They can be used tree-to-tree …
Camping lanterns have long been considered essential pieces of camping gear. A good camping lantern, after all, is what lights up the dark as we enjoy evenings in the great outdoors. And whether you’re an RVer, a tent camper, or car camper, isn’t one of the points of getting away from home to spend time …
In May of 2021, Love’s Travel Stops introduced Love’s RV Hookups. But what exactly does this mean and what are the pros and cons of using them? In this post, we’ll sort through the details and give you the scoop from our perspective as well as those of other RVers. Let’s jump right in! Can …
Have you ever heard people’s descriptions of the Jeep death wobble? “Uncontrollable shaking.” “The epitome of white-knuckle driving.” “Terror on the road.” But, what causes the so-called “Jeep death wobble”? What should you do if you experience it? And is there a way to fix it? In this post, we’re looking at the death wobble …
Have you heard the chatter about a California generator ban? Well, in this post we’ve got some fact-based details to share that we hope will clear up some misconceptions about the use of an RV generator as a power source in the State of California. In December of 2021, the California Air Resources Board approved …
RVers can be at risk of highway hypnosis because of the temptation to drive especially long distances. It can be a particular danger for weekenders who are eager to maximize their vacation time by getting to their destination as soon as possible. It can also be a risk/temptation for those of us with very large fuel …
What’s an RV honey wagon service, you ask? That’s a great question, and we’re about to answer it in this post! Before we do (lest you be disappointed as you read on), we want to let you know right up front that a honey wagon for RV use is not a wagon that delivers honey …
If you’ve got a diesel RV, it’s important to understand something about RV DEF. What exactly is DEF for a diesel RV and where are you most likely to find it? What happens if your rig runs out of it, and does RV DEF go bad? In this post, we’re covering all these questions and …