Can you live in an RV full time?

Those who dream of living year-round in an RV might find it’s easier than they’d imagined. Here’s how to hit the road in a permanent home on wheels.

Have you ever thought about chucking it all and taking to the road full time? Well you can, you could join some 1.3 million Americans who are full-time RV’ers.

To find out what it takes to afford becoming a full-timer,  “living the RV dream”  (Podcasts are available here.) . “Talk Credit Radio.” Here are the Huggins’ financial tips for a life on the road.

Get organized

While you’re traveling, you’ll need to have someone receive and forward your mail to you. That could be a friend, relative or a mail service. The Huggins use a mail service located in South Dakota (more on that choice later) that forwards their mail twice a month.

They also rely on online banking and bill pay. Their phone, credit card and satellite dish bills are all paid online. If there is a bill that can’t be handled that way (“a hospital bill, for example,” says Kathy), “I leave them a note that I only get my mail twice a month, that I may be late and please do not charge me (a late fee),” she explains. She’s never had a problem, she adds.

What to look for when buying an RV

For banking, they use direct deposit and a debit card. To avoid ATM fees, they chose a bank that refunds ATM fees and often get cash back at the cash register when they make a purchase on their debit cards.

Have a (flexible) budget

Does living in an RV cost less, or more, than living in a traditional home? For the Huggins, it’s less. Kathy rattled off her monthly expenses: rig payment, phone bill and satellite television, for starters. Campsite fees can range from free to $60 to $70 per night, though she says they try to keep theirs at $20 per night.

To keep your electric bill down, avoid staying in one place for months, because long-term campers usually have to pay for their own electricity.

“Stay for less than a month, and they pay the electric bill,” she says. Even when the Huggins do pay for electricity, it’s pretty inexpensive: about $40 per month, or $80 a month if it’s cold and the electric heaters go on.

“Remember, we’re living in 400 square feet,” she adds with a laugh.

And while many campsites have free Wi-Fi available, the Huggins spring for their own wireless Internet connection because they need Internet access for their website and blog.

Cooking their own food and limiting meals in restaurants also saves them a bundle.

As with any budget, there are always surprises. For the Huggins, it’s been rising gas prices, which went from $2.99 a gallon to almost $4 a gallon at the time we spoke. “That’s been a big change in our lifestyle,” Kathy says, “but we just spend more time in a campsite. We’ll travel maybe 250 miles a day at the most, and we might stay (in one place) three or four weeks. We use our car, which we tow, to go see all the things that are around here.”

Save up for your rig, shop for the loan

Kathy was asked what it costs to buy an RV that would be comfortable to live in year-round. She says a used motor home will run “right around $100,000 if it’s a diesel pusher and about $80,000 for a gas rig. And they’re pretty comfortable.” The other option is to buy a “fifth wheel” that is pulled by a truck. “You’re talking about $40,000 to $60,000,” she says, but “then you have to buy a truck to pull it, which can be up to $40,000 for the truck.”

Before hitting the road, the Huggins sold their Florida home at the height of the market, which allowed them to get rid of all their debt and put a healthy down payment on their rig. Still, they took out a 20-year loan at 4.35% for the balance. That was a few years ago, though, and since then, full-time RV’ers have found it more difficult to get loans.

“Try a credit union,” suggests Kathy. Or buy your rig before you quit your job. “If you’re going to be a part-timer, they don’t seem to have a problem giving you a loan,” she notes.

Get a tax break

One of the advantages of living on the road is that you can call any state home.

The Huggins, like many other full-timers, chose South Dakota as their home base because of the tax benefits. There is no state income tax and, as Huggins points out, no property tax since they don’t own a home. “South Dakota probably has half a million people that don’t live there but are full-time RV’ers because of taxes,” she says, laughing. Tax rates and other details are available in the book “Choosing Your RV Home Base.”

Bring in some bacon

You don’t have to stop working when you start traveling. Many RV parks hire full-time RV’ers to handle reservations or park maintenance. Kathy was working as a reservationist while her husband was doing pool maintenance, which earned them a free site and an allowance of $100 a month toward their electric bill, plus enough spending money to cover their food budget.

Around Yellowstone, she notes, you can work at a hotel and have a parking spot for your RV while employed there. “Even Alaska has jobs for you,” she says. “You (can) guard the schools during the summer. Park your RV in the schoolyard with two or three other RV’ers, and you just keep an eye for the schoolyard, and that’s it,” she says. She recommends the website Workamper.com for employment opportunities.

Entrepreneurial opportunities abound as well and are limited only by your imagination. A couple that Kathy suggested: Watch other full-timers’ pets while they fly home for holidays or take day trips. Or make jewelry to sell.

Don’t wait too long

Do you have to be out of debt to take to the road? It helps, says Kathy. But even if you aren’t, you may still want to find a way to make it happen.

“I think almost anybody can do it,” she says. “The cost can range from $200 a month to $12,000 a month, depending on what you want to do and how you want to spend your money. That’s the best part about this — it’s your choice about . . . how big of a rig you actually buy, how much money you want to spend.”

The Huggins’ only regret? That they didn’t do it earlier. ‘”Most full-time RV’ers,  said the same thing: ‘I wish I’d done it 10 years sooner.'”

Barbara Andrews.

Daytona Bike Week & Toy Haulers

Everybody needs a Break | Bike Week Get Away!

Daytona Beach is gearing up for bike week where thousands of bikers sporting their Harley Davidson, Choppers and Crotch Rockets either race or rumble to East Central Florida sporting millions of dollars in cycling hardware and thousands of beautiful biker chicks. Bike Week has been a tradition since 1937 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Spring Break and Bike Week are big events for the March time of year.

Daytona Bike Week, also known as Daytona Beach Bike Week, is a motorcycle event and rally held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. Approximately 500,000 people make their way to the rally area for the 10-day event. The festivities include motorcycle racing, concerts, parties, and street festivals. The event is usually held on the first full week of March 9-18, 2012 and contends with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as the most popular motorcycle rally in the United States. Daytona Bike Week 2012 Schedule

People who go to Daytona Beach, by car this weekend will probably wish they hadn’t — they’ll definitely stand out in a crowd. The city is taken over by half a million motorcycle enthusiasts enjoying Bike Week. The economy may not be at its best, but bikers aren’t passing up the chance to soak up some sun and rev up their engines for the biggest motorcycle event in the country.

It’s more fun when you actually have a motorcycle to be part of the roar, the noise, to get out there and ride alongside people. Not only is Bike Week becoming more family-friendly, but it’s more diverse as well, with more women participants. There’s even a “sisterhood bikeride” in which 35 to 50 women ride together. Right On Sister’s!  Everybody should go whether you have a bike or not, at least once, just to take it in and see what it’s all about. I have been several times and it is AWESOME!

Heartland Road Warrior Toy Hauler | A luxury Fifth Wheel with a Garage

Load up the bikes and head to Daytona. You don’t have to worry about hotel accommodation’s. There is a whole lot going on at the RV Parks and Campgrounds. You can always dry camp because the toy hauler has a generator and a gas station for your toys. Heartland toy haulers has a reputation of RV designs that inspire, construction that endures and value that is always affordable. Heartland protects your investment with one of the highest RV resell values in its class. This is why Heartland has been featured in so many major RV magazines over the years like Trailer Life, RV Lifestyles and Gypsy Journal.

We are living in a time where it has become increasingly important to take care of what we have been given. Heartland is doing our part to reduce waste, increase efficiency and minimize any negative impact to our environment from our building processes.

Heartland’s Patented 88 Degree Turning Radius Design is perfect for short-bed, extended-cab trucks Eliminating the need for expensive slider hitches! You never need to pass up the perfect camp site again for fear of not being able to back in safely.

A place for everything and everything in its place. Heartland’s Diamond plated tool box is the perfect solution for holding loose tools to keep them from rolling around or it is even large enough to accommodate some commercial tool cases/trays or tool rolls.

One touch operation of our power awing makes set-up a snap. Enjoy spending time on your patio area, not spending time fighting with a manual awning.

Heartland engineers RVs to maximize headroom everywhere possible. We feature a full six foot plus ceiling height in the bedroom area. Taller ceilings equate to taller showers, wardrobes and overhead storage possibilities.

There is truly no comparison between traditional electric jacks and Heartland’s Hydraulic Landing Gear. Faster, Stronger and more convenient than traditional electric jacks. Be sure to watch the video of a head to head race between our Hydraulic VS their electric.

Nothing looks worse than an ugly bare fifthwheel hitch sticking out from under a well designed front cap. Our hitch cover looks great and helps protect the hitch from the elements while also improving aerodynamics.

Never drag your garden hose inside again to rinse down the black tank from inside. Keep your hose outside where it belongs and enjoy the built-in Black Tank Flush to assist in flushing all the solids out of your black tank without all the mess and hassles.

The right tire for the job. You wouldn’t put the wrong tires on your car or truck, so why wouldn’t you put properly rated Radial Tires on your trailer. Enjoy safer towing, longer wear and a better ride for your belongings.

Enjoy the sleek, modern looks and functionality of Heartland’s slam baggage doors. Oversized pull latches open easily. The tight automotive rubber seal protects your belongings from moisture and Heartland’s compartments are keyed for security using unique keys and locks.

One of Heartland’s most famous innovations, this docking center holds all of the coach’s system hook-ups including the satellite; phone; cable; city water fill; black tank flush; exterior hot and cold shower; winterization valves, and all-tanks pull handles (no more crawling under slide-outs to reach the handles!).

The wall structure is made of Welded Lightweight Heavy Gauge Aluminum and all the empty space between structural members is filled with block foam insulation then sandwiched between layers of luaun plywood and fiberglass in a lamination procedure that ensures a strong, lightweight, durable sidewall protecting your investment for years to come.

Enjoy the beauty of your Heartland Hardwood cabinets without unsightly exposed hinges. Our Hidden Hinges are Spring Loaded to assist in opening and to spring/snap closed. Our hinges are also easily adjusted for perfect operation.

Heartland’s steel ball-bearing drawer guides not only provide the smoothest possible operation, but are able to hold more than 30 lbs. as witnessed by this cinder block!  You will not find any of the cheap, import drawer guides like the competition offers in our coaches!  These deeper drawers are designed to fully extend past the cabinet faces, so no more scraped knuckles trying to get to the back of them.  It’s simply the best drawer system in the industry!

How can you get a good nights sleep on the thin, springy or saggy mattress found in most RVs. Sleep like a King or Queen on our Country Rest Pillow Top Memory foam mattress. Did we mention it measures 12 inches tall and fits standard sheet sets.

Protect your family with Food Preparation Certified Non-porous solid surface countertops. Other countertops can stain easily and more importantly absorb germs that can then be transferred to your family and guest making them sick. Heartlands solid surface countertops virtually eliminate this risk.

There are many more features on the Road Warrior to list but, I will end it here and say hope to see you at Daytona Bike Week.

Barbara Andrews.

The RVing Lifestyle Appreciates You!

A Special Thank You For Your Comments!

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I appreciate all your comments, you’re sharing, and you’re support. I have so many comments that I can’t possibly reply to everyone with my work schedule so I will try to answer all questions in this post. I use a free WordPress blog with a simple theme called Spectrum. I do not and will not have ads on my site but, I do not mind WordPress or Adwords using a text line for their ads. This is a free information site that I started for my customers at work to help them, I am very happy that everyone else enjoys the information. I work for General RV Center in the Jacksonville Florida area; I’m a Sales Consultant with 12 years’ experience. I’m also a computer technician with many years’ experience rebuilding, repairing and upgrading computers.  I am knowledgeable in Microsoft software and Operating systems, htlm and xml with that being said it does not make me an expert just knowledgeable and happy to help anyone that need it.

I have had several comments from people having issues opening my site with the text, images and format. I can assure you it is not on this end. It has to do with your browser settings, multiple browser usage on your computer. You could have a Worm or Trojan or both. If you have a hacking problem, it will be with your computer and not WordPress.  You may have a Keylogger Worm that your virus program will not notice because it has been corrupted. The only way to get rid of a worm is to reformat your operating system, you cannot restore it because it will also restore the Worm or Virus. I use only one browser, Firefox as my default and Google as my search engine to have fewer problems. You also have to limit the cache, which is your Offline Storage. I limit it to 250MB that’s it and I clean it at least 10 times a day. I do not have a theme on my browser or do I change color or text.

Blogging Tips

Keywords, Tag Clouding, and Pinging are important to your traffic. Here are some free SEO tools and Ping-o-Matic that have really helped me. WordPress has just about every plugin you can think of, Google it. I like WordPress blog themes the best. The WordPress dashboard is fairly easy to use and has many tools that you will need to learn, it’s not that hard. For those that do not know htlm, WordPress would be best for you, it is free take advantage of that until you get to know your way around. I always have my keywords in every articles in bold letters especially the first and last sentence, and at least 3 keywords linked to my home page.  I link related sites to the article. I think the most important tip is to follow other blogs and leave a comment. That will link you with the crawlers. Good Luck to you all and thank you very much! All my contact information is listed on my “About” tab on the Home page. Please keep the comments coming; they are appreciated. 

Barbara Andrews.

Upgrade Your Life by Camping!

Camping as a Family Bonding Activity

Reserve a week end to connect to the people who mean the most to you–Your family. When outdoors, sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows, family’s become close in a way that you can’t possibly at home with the distractions of TV, phone and computer. Whether your are in a RV or tent the results are the same. Every kid loves sleeping in a tent under the stars – and every adult likes the break from their BlackBerry.  The importance of family bonding, whether it be with family, friends, or any acquaintance. Bonding is so important for success and happiness at all levels.

The world is in hyper-speed, and we all need to slow down and work on our bonding. From the simplest of things, like an all out weekend adventure, and anything in between, like playing kids games, or any other kids activities. The future of our children and everyone’s happiness depends strongly on this one simple task, and yes, family bonding is that simple and very do-able. Have fun and let the kid in you out! Who knows what might come of it.

Do you sometimes feel like you hardly know your family members anymore? With each one of you leading busy lives: dad spends 10 hours slaving away in the office, mom spends 8 to 10 hours at her  job, and the kids are each busy with schoolwork and after-school activities. It’s about time you found the time to do something enjoyable together as one tightly-knit family unit.

National parks are always a good place for camping as they offer plenty of amenities and are always dramatic. No matter where you live, you should be able to find a camping place that suits you. Keep track of the weather if you don’t want to spoil the fun. Schedule out your activities beforehand as it will also help to avoid your family from getting fed up. Ensure to arrange your activities so that all ages can partake. You can do all sorts of activities together such as hiking, animal or tree spotting, fishing, crafting with nature, treasure hunts, in addition to playing games.

Ensure to have a backup indoor activities plan, in case of  poor weather. There is nothing more annoying than having your camping adventure destroyed by the rain. Starting a custom of camping with your family will  inspire them, a lifetime love of the outdoors and a strong respect for Mother Nature. Moreover, you will be building plenty of memories that they can treasure for life, and a strong craving to pass this type of family togetherness and union, to their own children.  Don’t forget the marshmallows.  Barbara Andrews.

Good Clean Dirty Fun!

Western North Carolina in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

If you are looking for something to do with the family. Plan your next Vacation or Trip to Franklin  North Carolina mining for gems. Here is a link to several RV campgrounds.  A good place to start for the basic information is at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Gem Mining Page. However, there is other information that is important to know as well. First, know that at only a few of the mines will you be mining in native dirt. Most mines are “salted/seeded” with the tailings from other mines overseas. About the only completely native operations remaining that I know about in the area are Mason’s (not to be confused with Mason Mountain) and Cherokee. Some of the others will offer a combination of native and salted material, while with others you may be dealing with entirely salted material.

What does this mean for you, and how should you base your decision on where to go? Personally, I prefer to go for the native stuff at Mason’s, I have not been to Cherokee yet but, plan to this May. Although you will not find nearly as much, you have the chance of finding something VERY good. This option is best for purists, serious rockhounds, and those with good attention spans. With the salted material, you will find much more, but as it is stuff that has already been gone through, your chances of finding something extremely valuable are quite slim. However, it isn’t to say it is all junk (especially if you buy some of the more expensive salted buckets), and you may get more than your money’s worth. Keep in mind, however, that with salted it is more of a grab-bag than true mining. But if you only have a little time and are just interested in the experience and coming home with some souvenirs that look neat, and particularly if you have children in your party, the salted operations may be a better choice.

Mason’s Ruby and Sapphire Mine

Mason’s Ruby and Sapphire Mine – My favorite mine! This is the only dig-your-own operation where you are allowed to go into the mine itself to dig your own dirt… this place can be a lot of work (especially in the early spring when things can be very muddy), but tons of fun and definitely worth it! For adults, it is $30 a day with no admission fee, $15 for kids, and once again, bring cash. They also have food and drinks for sale at very reasonable prices. The water is very cold as their site mentions, but they do have extra gloves on hand, which really come in handy. This mine is in a really beautiful location, but is a bit out of the way– be sure to look for the yellow signs directing you to the mine, as the area is very easy to get lost in. This mine is actually open all year round, weather permitting, but be careful about attempting the roads (Airport to Olive Hill to Upper Burlington) if the weather is snowy or icy.

This mine was opened to the public in 1942, and a long time before that, it was once mined by Tiffany & Co. The sapphires that come out of here are mostly in the lavender to pink color range (it is mostly sapphires, rubies seem very rare. Though of course they are the same mineral, corundum crystals, only true red ones are called rubies, the rest being sapphires). You can get some very valuable stones out of here– the small facet quality pink sapphires that come out of here can run up to $400-500 a carat or more. Most of the stones you will find here will have a hexagonal shape, often enlongated. Most will have some coating on them, but keep your eyes out for any hint of that pink or purple coloring. As the mud here is quite tough, you will have to put extra effort into making sure your stones are cleaned. Good material in the mine tends to run in horizontal layers. Look for lighter grey soil, rather than the deeper red, and if you find a good location– keep an eye out for lots of mica in the screen, and sapphires in the vein material– dig around there in the same layer. The staff is very helpful– you may come across some older reviews bashing the place, but since the new management has taken over, things are agreed to be  MUCH better.

With regards to the mining itself, be SURE to completely clean your dirt in your screen. Most operators at the mines will pound this into your head, anyways, as it is something that causes many to miss seeing gems. You may be on the lookout for different things at different mines, so if you have no clue, ask for help or to see some samples before starting (and at many places the staff will also help you by looking through your “tailings,” i.e., the stuff you have already gone through). As an important rule of thumb though, bear in mind that rubies and sapphires will often have a six-sided shape and are heavy compared to other stones. You may want to bring a container for holding your finds, even though mines will usually provide them if needed; a Ziploc will work just fine, as will film canisters and medicine bottles for smaller stuff.

I’ve found that it is a good idea to bring a small hand shovel, as well. Some mines provide them, but some don’t, and they really come in handy for getting dirt from the buckets into your screen. Depending on the time of year and the weather, things like sunscreen and insect repellent can be useful to bring too. Basic materials like the screen, and shovels at dig-your-own operations, will be provided. Be sure that you know your destination mine’s accepted methods of payment– if it is cash only, you may find yourself backtracking quite a ways to find an ATM. Though it might seem obvious, be sure to find out the hours and season of the mine you wish to visit; April-October is the usual season, but  Mason’s Ruby & Sapphire Mine are open all year. Bring plenty of fluids and snacks.  Barbara Andrews.

Lifestyle of the Not So Rich And Famous

Where Strangers Become Friends & Friends Become Family

RVers and Family campers are known as the “Friendliest People in the World”.  Strengthening family bonds through shared activities in the out-doors!  For some, home is where they park their RV. I love to see the joy in people when delivery day has come. The tedious RV research and search is over finding that perfect unit or close to perfect unit to meet the family needs and wants. The vacation or outing has been carefully planed schedules have been shuffled to get away from it all. Picking up the RV is truly a happy occasion especially for the first time buyer trekking into new territory.

I would like to feature the Pime Time LaCrosse bunk house since it is one of our biggest sellers at General RV.

LaCrosse Features

ETERNABOND CONSTRUCTION
LaCrosse Luxury Lite is built with Prime Time’s Eternabond Construction Technology. Every wall, floor and slide-out roof is made up of welded aluminum framework that is then laminated together in order to build a stronger, longer lasting Recreational Vehicle.

WALK ON ROOF
LaCrosse has a fully walkable roof system with 5″ crowned trusses. A one-piece insulated air conditioning duct system is blanketed with a generous layer of R-14 fiberglass insulation.

THERMAL PACKAGE PLUS
LaCrosse’s enclosed underbelly is heated with a 2″ heat duct vented from your furnace to protect your enclosed holding tanks, water lines, and dump valves from the elements during colder weather.

BUS STYLE SLAM BAGGAGE DOORS
You don’t have to buy a Diesel Motor Home to get the security and convenience of Bus Style Slam Baggage Doors.  These 1″ thick doors also have a uniquely keyed lock that won’t be the same as your neighbors.

ELECTRIC AWNING
You will love the push-button convenience of Prime Time’s electric awning.  Complete with adjustable arms to allow for water drainage, you will find this feature standard on LaCrosse models.

ELECTRIC STABILIZER JACKS
Prime Time takes the work out of leveling your trailer with the convenience of Electric Stabilizer Jacks.  Luxury and value are combined with this LaCrosse standard feature.

30″ WIDE ENTRY DOOR
LaCrosse offers one of the widest entry doors on any Lite Weight travel trailer. This 30″ wide model makes it easy to carry large items like coolers without banging and scraping your hands.

MAX SLIDE
No sacrifices are required with LaCrosse.  Incorporating over 13 feet of floor space, the MAX Slide Room offers a full size Air Mattress Hide-A-Bed and the industry’s largest U-Shaped Dinette.  Live (and sleep) like a king with MAX Slide.

UNIVERSAL DOCKING STATION
LaCrosse provides Best In Class convenience of having all your water connections, cable connections and outside shower in a lockable, all-in-one, easy to use compartment.

“EZ TOW” AXLES
LaCrosse offers EZ Tow – another Prime Time innovation designed to minimize the vertical “bouncing” effect that is transferred to the tow vehicle when traveling over rough road surfaces, potholes, or railroad crossings.

ALUMINUM WHEELS
We think you will agree, LaCrosse Luxury Lite will look awesome pulling into the campground with it’s automotive styled aluminum wheels!

OUTSIDE KITCHEN OPTION
Outside entertainment and dining is easy and convenient with Prime Time’s innovative Outside Camp Kitchen.  You’ll find a sink with running hot and cold water, a large refrigerator, a slide-out stove, and tons of storage for all your essentials.

DSI GAS/ELECTRIC WATER HEATER
The Atwood 6 Gallon Gas/Electric water heater is designed to provide a maximum amount of hot water. This remarkably efficient model recovers water at the rate of 18 gallons/hour!

EASY ACCESS LOW POINT DRAINS
No more crawling under your trailer and trying to unscrew awkward cap fittings. With a simple ¼ turn, these easy to reach drain valves allow you to quickly and easily drain your water lines and fresh water tank.

LP QUICK DISCONNECT
Hooking up an LP gas grill or other LP burning appliance is convenient with the LP Quick Connect fitting that runs to the back of every LaCrosse.

OUTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
Your entertainment options are multiplied with LaCrosse’s exterior television hook-ups and stereo speakers.

SOLID SURFACE COUNTERTOPS
LaCrosse’s E-Stone countertops are a uniquely engineered product that combines an amazing residential look with lightweight durability specifically designed for use in a Recreation Vehicle. E-Stone is certified to meet strict UL flame spread and impact requirements.

POTS and PANS DRAWERS
The amount of galley drawers in a LaCrosse is “second to none”. You will find in every floorplan a 12″ Deep X 19″ Wide pot and pan drawer underneath the gas oven. In the case of the 318BHS model a second pot and pan drawer is located underneath the refrigerator!

LARGE KITCHEN PANTRY
LaCrosse’s abundant kitchen storage is complimented with extra convenience by making the kitchen pantry shelves removable so you can decide what goes where when “loading up” for your next trip.

HIDE-A-BED WITH STORAGE DRAWER
Without a doubt, the style, comfort, and convenience of LaCrosse’s air mattress Hide-A-Bed is tops in the industry. Customer’s love the huge, additional storage drawer built in under the sofa seat.

AIR MATTRESS SOFA
Your comfort and convenience is ensured with this Air Mattress Hide-A-Bed.  Plus, the engineers at Prime Time have incorporated a highly convenient storage drawer and worked closely with our suppliers to create a folding mechanism that eliminates pinch points.

MAX SLIDE
No sacrifices are required with LaCrosse.  Incorporating over 13 feet of floor space, the MAX Slide Room offers a full size Air Mattress Hide-A-Bed and the industry’s largest U-Shaped Dinette.  Live (and sleep) like a king with MAX Slide.

87″ BOOTH DINETTE
Because of the additional room that MAX slide provides LaCrosse is equipped with a GIGANTIC 87″ booth dinette. There is plenty of room for the whole family to enjoy meal time or game time!

FREE STANDING DINETTE OPTION
With LaCrosse’s MAX Slide, the free standing dinette and chairs are a popular option. LaCrosse offers so much more room to maneuver the chairs and dine in comfort verses the competitor’s free standing dinettes!

“DO MORE” DINETTE
LaCrosse’s dinette table drops down to the perfect height to serve as a coffee table or it can easily fit through the entry door for use underneath the awning!

SLEEP & PLAY
Upright it’s a comfortable lounge area complete with drink holders.  Laid down, it’s an extra large sleeping area.  There’s no need to accept a simple bunk room when you can have the industry’s most versatile accommodations – Sleep & Play – found in select LaCrosse models.

Here are some videos from Prime Time I believe you will enjoy if you are looking for that perfect travel trailer bunk house. Barbara Andrews.

The LaCrosse 296 BH

2012 Prime Time RV Tracer 2900BHS

Family Campers Loving Life!

Strengthen Family Relationships

Whether you are tent camping or RV camping the results are the same. Today’s fast-paced life often leaves busy parents searching for opportunities to spend quality time together as a family. Increasingly, families are discovering that vacationing in an RV is the best way to cement family relationships while having a great time. Bringing the family closer together was the top answer for parents when asked what are the most important benefits of family RV camping. Other highly ranked responses were providing a learning experience, teaching kids to respect nature, broadening their horizons, and developing wholesome values.

In a recent research study conducted by Louis Harris and Associates, nine out of 10 current RV owners said RVs are the best way to travel with the family. Perhaps even more significant, 62 percent of survey respondents who have never owned an RV said they also thought that an RV is the best way to take a family trip.

Why do RVs appeal to so many families? Most importantly, RVs allow parents to reestablish relationships with their children by removing life’s daily distractions. On an RV trip, families are not faced with the interruptions of routine home life, yet they have all the comforts of home. RVing families are able to enjoy each others company and kids are free to be themselves, without the distraction of soccer practice, swim team or piano lessons. Owning an RV also means every weekend can be a vacation, allowing quick getaways with minimal preparation and planning.

It takes a lot of energy to cope with the hectic pace of everyday life. The entire family has to have time to put everything on hold, except the family relationship. The RV provides the means to hit the road, leave the daily routine and enjoy quality time together. Many parents also supplement their children’s learning during their RV travels.  43 percent of families cite visiting a historic location for educational purposes. Science and nature centers, zoos and museums were also frequently mentioned. The RV provides the means to hit the road, leave the daily routine and enjoy quality time together.   Barbara Andrews

The Ultimate RV Downsize

Talk about innovative, this shopping cart pop-up would have to take the prize.  Shelter comes in many shapes and sizes as you can see but I totally get it. If our economy continues to decline we will see more of the camper kart pop-ups.

State of Homelessness in America 2011

Since the release of Homelessness Counts: Changes in Homelessness from 2005 to 2007, the Alliance has chronicled changes in the levels of homelessness in the nation and in individual states and communities to chart the progress toward the goal of ending homelessness. This comprehensive examination not only reveals national and state level homeless counts, but also delves into economic indicators and demographic drivers – taking an in-depth look at risk factors for homelessness. Built upon the most recent nationally available data from the federal Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Justice, and other public information sources, this report analyzes the effect the recession has had on homelessness and how it has contributed to an increased risk of homelessness for many Americans.

• The nation’s homeless population increased by approximately 20,000 people from 2008 to 2009 (3 percent increase). There were also increased numbers of people experiencing homelessness in each of the subpopulations examined in this report: families, individuals, chronic, unsheltered.
• A majority – 31 of 50 states and the District of Columbia – had increases in their homeless counts. The largest increase was in Louisiana, where the homeless population doubled.
• Among subpopulations, the largest percentage increase was in the number of family households, which increased by over 3,200 households (4 percent increase). Also, the number of persons in families increased by more than 6,000 people (3 percent increase). In Mississippi, the number of people in homeless families increased by 260 percent.
• After population reductions from 2005 to 2008, the number of chronically homeless people in the country remained stagnant from 2008 to 2009, despite an 11 percent increase in the number of permanent supportive housing units.
• While most people experiencing homelessness are sheltered, nearly 4 in 10 were living on the street, in a car, or in another place not intended for human habitation. In Wisconsin, twice as many people experienced homelessness without shelter in 2009 as did in 2008.
• It is widely agreed upon that there is a vast undercount of the number of young people experiencing homelessness. Underscoring this is the fact that 35 percent of all communities reported that there were no homeless youth in their communities in 2009.

In recognition of the reality that homelessness is most often caused by job loss and other economic factors, this report explores economic indicators for homeless people and people at risk of homelessness. The economic indicators examined in this report point to worsening conditions across the nation and all states. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and RealtyTrac, this report chronicles the changes in four economic indicators from 2008 to 2009.

Half of all states have multiple risk factors for increased homelessness; that is, they have rates worse than the national average on at least two of five indicators (unemployment, foreclosure, doubled up, housing cost burden, lack of health insurance).
• The presence of multiple economic and demographic risk factors is associated with higher rates of homelessness. In particular, states with high rates of cost burden among poor households exhibit higher rates of homelessness. Ten of the fourteen states with rates of homelessness greater than the national rate also have levels of cost burden greater than the national average.
• California, Florida, and Nevada – states known to have been disproportionately impacted by the recent housing crisis – have both high rates of homelessness and high levels of unemployment, foreclosure, housing cost burden, lack of insurance, and doubling up.

These findings project a disquieting picture of what depressed wages, stagnant unemployment, unrelenting housing cost burden, and the lagging pace of the economic recovery could bring about: increases in homelessness and heightened risk of homelessness for more and more Americans. As the new Congress and the Administration consider steps to revitalize the American economy with jobs, extension of benefits, and access to health care, it would be prudent to take note of these increased risk factors and incorporate homeless interventions into their recovery strategy.

As I have mentioned before their are more first time RV buyers than ever before. It is a very hard choice to give up your big home to downsize to an RV or Tiny House for shelter, and I feel for you but times are changing and if we are going to survive we must change with the times until it gets better.  Barbara Andrews.

Every Dream Has A Theme

What exactly is this elusive thing called theme?

The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave.  In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself.

Most of us dream picturing ourselves in a theme that we long for before it becomes a reality. So what exactly is an RV lifestyle anyway?   All sorts of things: RV camping trips, full-service tailgating, a great way to follow NASCAR races, extended vacations, a seasonal home, fulltime RV living…and the list goes on. In fact, there is no list. Your RV lifestyle is what you want it to be.  Its your dream and your theme.

Ask Yourself What You Want

We’re not talking about any in-depth evaluation of inner motives here. Just a little time thinking about what you want out of your RVing experiences. Try the drill of “Who, What, When, Where, How & Why?”

Who! Who else is in this theme with you?  What’s important to them?  Let’s say you’re thinking about buying a camper for affordable RV vacations. Enjoying the great outdoors. Bringing the family closer together. Fishing in peaceful solitude. Just Good Old-fashioned fun. Before you get too carried away… make sure the rest of the family is on the same wavelength. Continue that mental picture in your mind. The specific questions you ask yourself will depend on your circumstances.

What are you going to use an RV for?  How often?  To go where?  For how long?  Will you stay in one place awhile or move every couple days?  If you’re changing to a new RV, what do you want to be different?  What has to be the same?  Are you looking for a change in rig or RV lifestyle?  Are you considering upgrades or accessories (solar panel, awnings, RV furniture, camping supplies)?  What features are important to you?

When do you want to do this?  What time of year, at what point in the future, does it matter?

Where are you going to keep the RV?  Where do you want to go?

How does this fit with other hobbies and interests you have or want to explore?  Do you need to take golf clubs, bicycles, motorcycles, ATV’s, or fishing gear with you?  How are you going to afford it?

Why are you thinking of RVing?  As your everyday lifestyle, or a family vacation, or a way to winter in warmer climates?  Is this for retirement, for now, or a bit of both?  Is the RV to make your NASCAR passion or tailgating more enjoyable?  Is it to try something new and see if you like it?

This is not a test.  Enjoy all this world has to offer. There are no right and wrong answers. You don’t need answers at this point. But Asking yourself some questions starts momentum. It triggers possibilities. It gets ideas rolling around in your brain. Some conversations held with the people who are in this theme with you.

Learn. You have probably heard the expression “Getting there is Half the Fun”. A perfect theme for the RV lifestyle itself. Well, it’s also appropriate in the context of checking things out. The learning about RVing, the anticipation – is truly half the fun so enjoy every moment and good luck with your dream.  By the way, don’t think you have to figure it all out. You will learn as you go  it’s part of RV living.  And it all starts when you take ACTION. So, go ahead and ACT and enjoy your RV lifestyle.

Barbara Andrews, Orange Park, Florida

FAMILY VACATION COST COMPARISON

FIRM QUALIFICATIONS
PKF Consulting is a management consulting firm with a network of ten primary offices
located throughout the continental United States and is a member of Pannell Kerr
Forster Worldwide, a network that includes over 250 affiliated offices in 75 countries
around the world. PKF serves clients worldwide, with a staff that consists of nearly 100 professional consultants and specialists. PKF has over 90 years of experience and recognition in all phases of professional assistance and counsel to service industries and specifically to the tourism, hospitality, and recreation industries. The Alexandria, Virginia office of PKF Consulting prepared this study.

FINDINGS
In a Summer 2008 study, PKF found typical family RV vacations on average to be 27
percent to 61 percent less expensive on a per day basis than the other types of
vacations analyzed (not including the cruise vacation). A list of the types of vacations,
by mode of transport, and their costs is presented. Type A diesel
motorhome vacations were found to be slightly less expensive than air/hotel vacations,
but more expensive than car/hotel and airline/rental unit home/condo vacations. It is
significant to note that the data used in this analysis factored in vehicle ownership costs.
In many cases, the RV vacations were more economical than the other vacations
analyzed, regardless of trip duration, trip distance, or region of the country where the
vacation takes place. Including ownership costs:
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a folding camping
trailer was found to be about 45 percent less expensive than the cost of
comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 61 percent less than
the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 47 percent less
than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo vacation.
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a lightweight
travel trailer was found to be about 37 percent less expensive than the
cost of comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 55 percent
less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 39
percent less than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo
vacation

.
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a Type C
motorhome was found to be about 27 percent less expensive than the
cost of comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 48 percent
less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 29
percent less than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo
vacation.
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a diesel Type A
motorhome was found to be about 31 percent more expensive than the
cost of comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 7 percent less
than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 28 percent
more than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo vacation.
In addition, the 2008 study found the most expensive camping vacation to
be approximately 54 percent less expensive than the cost of a budget
cruise getaway.

Cost Comparison of Vacations Using Recreation Vehicles
Versus Other Types of Vacations Mode of Travel

Family traveling in personal car, towing their
folding camping trailer, staying at
campgrounds, and preparing all meals in
the folding camping trailer or outdoors at
campsites.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
•  $652        $1,439     $2,050      $2,994

Family traveling in light-duty truck/SUV,
towing their travel trailer, staying at
campgrounds, and preparing all meals in
the trailer or outdoors at campsites.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
• $730        $1,658     $2,359      $3,449

Family traveling in a personal motorhome
(Type C), staying at campgrounds, and
preparing all meals in the motorhome or
outdoors at campsites.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
•  $837         $1,940    $2,761       $3,937

Family traveling in a personal motorhome
(Diesel Type A), staying at campgrounds,
and preparing all meals in the motorhome or
outdoors at campsites.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
• $1,512      $3,490     $4,975     $7,038

Family traveling in personal car, staying at
hotels/motels, and eating meals in
restaurants.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
• $1,052      $2,684    $3,876      $5,358

Family traveling in a personal car or airline
(as appropriate), staying at a rental
house/condominium, and eating the majority
of meals in the rental unit.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
• $1,709      $2,983    $3,764      $4,884

Family traveling by airline, renting a car at
the destination, staying at hotels/motels,
and eating meals in restaurants.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
• $1,949      $3,828    $5,339     $7,187

Family traveling to and taking a cruise from
Orlando (7-day vacation) and incurring
transportation cost to and from staging area.

• 3 Days      7 Days    10Days      14 Days
• N/A          $7,544      N/A           N/A

It is significant to point out the volatility in fuel prices in the current world market, often
on a day-to-day basis. PKF has considered the impact of fluctuations in fuel costs on
our findings by testing theoretical increases in fuel costs in one of our hypothetical
vacations. It is significant to note that fluctuations in fuel costs economically impact all
of the vacation types analyzed, both RV and non-RV vacations, to varying degrees. For
this analysis, we have utilized the 10-day vacation from Phoenix to Napa as an
example. We have conducted this analysis on projected increases of 25, 50, 100, 150,
200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 percent in fuel costs.

While fuel costs are a component of the overall vacation cost, it is
not significant enough to materially affect the outcome of our analysis. It would take
between a 100 percent and 150 percent increase (approximately 125 percent) in fuel
costs for a Type C Motorhome vacation to be more expensive than the least expensive
non-RV vacation. Furthermore, it would take between a 200 percent and 250 percent
increase (approximately 240 percent) in fuel costs for the Lightweight Travel Trailer
vacation to be more expensive than the least expensive non-RV vacation. Additionally,
as the data shows, none of the fuel increase scenarios utilized results in the Folding
Camping Trailer vacation being more expensive than the least expensive non-RV
vacation.
For this 10-day vacation from Phoenix to Napa, the average fuel cost per gallon at the
time of our research was $3.63 for regular gasoline and $4.27 for diesel. Regular
unleaded gasoline for a rental car was calculated using the cost of fuel for the
destination city, or $3.87 per gallon. Based on the above analysis, fuel costs would
have to average approximately $8.18 per gallon for a Type C Motorhome vacation to
exceed the cost of an air/rental home or condo vacation (the least expensive non-RV
vacation for this trip duration). Furthermore, fuel costs would have to average
approximately $12.36 per gallon for a LightweTravel Traileright  vacation to be more
expensive than the least expensive non-RV vacation, and fuel costs would have to
average approximately $22.71 per gallon for a Folding Camping Trailer vacation to be
more expensive than the least expensive non-RV vacation.

We are of the opinion that fuel costs will likely not approach these levels in the
foreseeable future. As such, RV vacations tend to be significantly less expensive than
the non-RV vacation types, with the exception of the diesel-powered Type A
motorhome vacations in comparison with those by car. Therefore, price spikes in fuel
costs should not adversely affect the decision on whether or not a family takes an RV
vacation versus other types of vacations. It is significant to note that while our example
utilizes a 10-day vacation for illustrative purposes, the findings are generally the same
regardless of vacation duration with regard to increases in fuel costs.

The hypothetical travel party used in the vacation cost analysis was a family composed
of a mother, father, and their two children – one child under 12 years of age and one
child over 12 years of age.

I hope this information was useful in your purchase decision.   Barbara Andrews.