Blog

Exploring the Local Life is a Latino RVing family of four (Robert, Jessica, Daniel, and Nadia) that learns and travels together in their 2016 Forest River Grey Wolf 26DBH Travel Trailer.

They are balancing life, fun, and roadschooling while handling unexpected RV and truck repairs and rainy days. Keeping a positive attitude is key and they are reminded every day why they are doing things differently.

You can follow their journey at exploringthelocallife.com.

** Subscribe to Stories from the Road on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Play **

Some topics we covered:

• 1:34 – Shifting lifestyles
• 4:24 – Exploring the Local Life’s RV
• 6:54 – The impact of RV life
• 9:20 – Roadschooling
• 15:50 – Learning to RV (the ups and downs).
• 19:15 – Going nomad
• 25:30 – RV community experiences
• 30:25 – What’s next for Exploring the Local Life?

Source link

When planning an RV trip, whether you know it or not, the trip’s success depends upon your vehicle’s tires. Tires are important for safety reasons, but they can also be the difference between a stress-free trip and not making it to your destination at all.

Some knowledge and planning can help ensure you find the right tire for your vehicle. Here’s a look at the basic RV tire information you need to know:

Tire Types

You wouldn’t use the same tires from your car or SUV on a huge motorhome. Knowing that you have the proper tire for your RV is a priority. If you use the wrong tire on your rig, you’re going to be facing some serious issues, and likely before you get very far down the road.

A blowout can ruin your trip fast, and getting the right tire can help reduce that risk. Check your owners manual for the proper tire type to use on your rig. Never make an assumption and only use what the manual recommends or a certified tire professional suggests. With that said, here are the tire types out there:

Passenger Vehicle Tires

These tires are designed for a comfortable ride and good grip on the road for a variety of weather conditions and road surfaces. The weight limit on these tires is considerably lower other types of tires, and generally, you should not use them on your RV. 

Light Truck (LT) Tires

These tires accommodate heavier loads with reinforced sidewalls. The design supports good traction on the road and the tires can handle heavy loads. This type of tire is a lot tougher than regular passenger tires, but they usually aren’t the best option for trailers.

LT tires are suitable for a variety of RV applications, but you need to be sure that the LT tires that fit on your vehicle are rated properly when it comes to load capacity. If the tires you choose can’t handle the weight, you will have serious issues.

Also, most LT tires are rated for a maximum speed of 75 mph. If the tire can handle speeds higher than that, it will be expressed. 

Special Trailer (ST) Tires

The characteristics for these tires differentiate them from other tire types as they are designed to offer a durability level that accommodates seriously heavy loads and the rigors of tires attached to a trailer axle. They’re designed specifically for trailers and should only be used that way.

Also, most ST tires are only rated for 65 mph top speed. Some are rated for higher speeds, but that rating will be expressed. If there’s no speed rating listed, assume 65 mph is the fastest you should go. If you do exceed the recommended speed, you will hurt the longevity of the tire and could experience a blowout. 

Load Capacity

On every tire, you will see a numeric code that reflects the maximum load capacity recommended for the tire. Always know what tire load capacity is recommended for your RV and do not exceed it. If you do exceed that capacity, you could experience a blowout. Where’s the best place to find the rating suitable for your RV? Your owner’s manual. 

Your RV’s owner’s manual should have the proper load capacity per tire listed. This makes it easy when shopping for new tires. You either meet or exceed the load capacity listed in the manual.

It’s important to note that this number should be related to your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR is the most weight the RV can carry at any time. This includes the water in your tanks and all the clothing and gear you bring with you.

If, for example, your owner’s manual lists a 3,500-pound GVWR, then your tires need to be able to meet or exceed that weight (you should try to exceed that weight to be on the safe side).

If you have a travel trailer with a single axle and a single tire on either side of that axle and it has the 3,500-pound figure used above, you should buy a tire that has a load capacity of at least 1,800 pounds. That’s 1,800 pounds per tire. That means, combined the two tires could support up to 3,600 pounds. (Just to be clear, these numbers are based on nothing real and are only for the sake of simple math.)

Tire Sizes

The tire size is also something you need to pay attention to. Proper RV tire sizes will be printed in your owner’s manual and will also be included on the side of your current tires. The proper size is listed as something like ST225/75D16.

In this example, the ST is the tire type and stands for Special Trailer. The 225/75 means the tire is 225 millimeters wide and has a height ratio of 75 percent. The D means it has a bias ply construction, and the 16 is the interior diameter (the part of the tire that the wheel fits into).

Your owners manual may have a couple different acceptable sizes listed. Any size listed in the manual should work fine. However, just because a tire fits on your rig, doesn’t mean it’s properly rated for the weight of your RV. Double check that a tire you’re considering has the proper size and proper load capacity before trying to use it on your RV.

Tire Inflation

Proper inflation is key to getting the most out of your tires. An improperly inflated tire can’t carry its maximum load capacity, could hurt your rig’s efficiency going down the road, or even cause a blowout. Overinflating or underinflating your tire is never a good idea, and either condition could spell disaster for your rig.

Check your tire pressure before every trip and keep in mind that temperature changes and changes in elevation can impact your tire pressure. A good rule of thumb is to add a tire pressure check to the pre-drive checklist that you go over before you leave on a trip and before you depart from a campsite.

Go to a Professional

With the wide variety of tires out there and the weight and size concerns, we highly recommend going to a professional tire expert for your RV tire needs. They will be able to ensure you receive good service and get you the tires you need.

You should also make sure you know some of the basic specifications recommended in your owner’s manual. That way if the tire specialist suggests a different tire, you can ask why. Understanding the reasons behind certain tire choices can help you better understand your rig and how it operates.

Camping World’s service department is happy to provide you with the help you need when it comes to your RV and its tires. Stop in and let one of our service technicians help you.

---

What tires do you use on your RV? How did you come to use them? Leave a comment below.

 

 

Source link

In this episode of Life on the Road, Crazy Family Adventure checks out Lake Tahoe, Russian River, and Fort Bragg. The family takes advantage of all the cool trails, adventure activities and watersports opportunities to be had while visiting these beautiful locations.

You can watch the rest of Crazy Family Adventure’s Life on the Road series by clicking here.

Source link

Many RVers dream of traveling to Alaska, considering it the ultimate destination on their bucket lists. So we’ve created a series of articles to help you navigate the Last Frontier in a motorhome or travel trailer, in hopes that you can enjoy exploring the 49^th state, as well!

Denali National Park

The tallest mountain in North America is the flagship of Denali National Park. At 20,310 feet, Denali (“the high one” in Athabaskan) dominates the landscape, as surrounding mountains are no taller than 11,000 to 14,000 feet. The 6 million acres surrounding the peak was designated a national park in 1917 to protect the area from the reckless abandon of gold rush miners and big game hunters in the early 1900s.

Getting There

Getting to this most unique park is easy. You can actually see the peak from Anchorage, but take the Glenn Highway (Alaska #1) north and east from the city 30 miles to the Parks Highway (Alaska #3). Then follow it about 200 miles north to the park entrance. Or, if you’d like to enjoy all of the scenery along the way, take a trip on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage. The video below will give you a good idea of what you can see from the rail car.

Today the national park has one road venturing 90 miles into the wilderness, which is closed to private vehicles at mile marker 15. So you can park your RV and let someone else do the driving!  Visitors ride park shuttles to experience the prolific wildlife and spectacular beauty of the region. There are 37 species of mammals in the park, but most visitors are anxious to see the five big ones: grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and wolves (they call this the “Denali Slam”).

Outdoor Activities Abound

As with most destinations in Alaska, there are any number of outdoor activities within the park. Bus tours (both transit and narrated) are a great way to see the park and its ‘residents.’ Many visitors opt for an overview of the area as flightseers. A large number of commercial flight operators abound around Denali and in the small town of Talkeetna, so you should have no problems booking a reservation to see the park from the air.

Camping

Backcountry camping permits are free and required for backpacking. There are six campgrounds in the park, but only two are available to RVs. If those fill up remember that Alaska is full of national forest land, where dispersed camping is allowed.

In summer many park visitors enjoy whitewater rafting on the Denali River to Healy. Fishing is practically an Olympic sport in this state, with salmon, halibut and trout as the main draws. Obviously, if you are an experienced mountain climber, Denali will offer a robust challenge!

But for those of us who are a little less driven, the months of June, July and August also provide the perfect weather for day hiking in this immense wilderness, and Autumn is not to be missed, as the golden hues of quaking aspen sparkle on the backdrop of spruce and pine trees.

Winter Fun

Denali National Park and Preserve is open year round, and those who partake of its pleasures in winter find the perfect setting for dog sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In fact, the winter visitors center offers free snowshoe rentals for those wanting to get into the backcountry. Winter biking has also become a popular pastime, and even though most of the park is closed to snow machines, there are some exceptions for their use when snow cover is good.

Night Lights

One of the most amazing benefits of visiting during fall or winter is the opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis while in the park. Because full darkness doesn’t return to this part of the world until September, this phenomenon isn’t easy to see at night during the summer tourist season. If you can possibly schedule a fall or winter trip to Denali, you might be overwhelmed with a visit from the Northern Lights while there!  For me, that was the icing on my “Visit Alaska” cake!

It is easy in either season to spend several days in this remote wilderness, exploring the varying landscapes and watching such an amazing array of wildlife at your doorstep. At some point, you may feel as if you are the animal on display in a zoo, with grizzlies, moose, and caribou ogling your every move. You definitely won’t find an experience of this magnitude in the lower 48.

With any visit to Denali, we must remember the star of the show. Many times the biggest hurdle in actually viewing the mountain is the weather. The peak is so large that it creates its own weather system. So plan to stick around for several days, just in case the clouds envelope this stunning mountaintop for part of your visit. Like any great stage performer, Denali sometimes enjoys making a dramatic appearance!

Visiting Denali National Park is like adding a crown jewel to your itinerary. Be sure to pencil it in on your trip list, then check out several other destinations to the Last Frontier as we post them here on the Camping World blog in the coming weeks!

Author’s Note: If you will be driving through Alaska and/or Canada please consider purchasing a current copy of “The Milepost.” It is a travel guide that will list necessities (like gas stations) and amenities (like lodging) throughout Alaska and the western Canadian provinces by milepost marker. This is a prerequisite for traveling in the area, as distances between service stations and grocery stores can be hundreds of miles in many cases. Another piece of knowledge gleaned from “The Milepost” are the hours (and seasons) of operation of businesses along the route, as many close down during fall and winter.

---

What are your thoughts of Denali National Park? Have you ever been? Leave a comment below!

Source link

Walking into an RV dealership can be intimidating. There are literally hundreds of makes and models. Every detail seems to matter: kitchen layout, bathroom details, front living vs. rear living, and then there’s the age-old debate of new vs. used.

If you’re leaning towards buying a pre-owned RV, you’re in good company. So did I. Here are some major reasons my family decided to buy a pre-owned RV.  And some tips on how to get the most bang for your buck.

You Can Save a Significant Amount of Money

This is the most obvious reason to buy used.

A lot of people save up the money to buy a used RV outright and never have a payment. Others just don’t like the idea of financing such a large amount of money and opt for something slightly older to make their payment low. I fall into the latter category.

With my family’s first RV purchase, we were completely new to RVing. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money only to find out we didn’t like it. We decided to buy used because if we changed our mind about the rig, we would not be in a large amount of debt.

We also decided to buy something with a price tag so low we could pay the RV off within a few years on a mildly-aggressive plan. The idea of paying the debt off quickly was appealing to us.

Of course, there are other things to consider when thinking about an RV purchase and saving money.

RVs depreciate. Just like cars, it’s an unavoidable fact. Buying a used RV helps combat this issue. Our first RV was 10 years old and we got it for $15,000. When we sold it the next year, it was worth the exact same amount and we were able to trade it in for more than we owed. 

You Can Renovate, Restore, and Rebuild to Your Liking

If you’ve spent any time on Instagram looking at other people’s RV adventures, you know that renovating campers is a very popular and fun activity among the RVing community.

While a used rig may not initially look attractive, there are lots of ways to transform the space into a true “home away from home.”

Here are some reasons for transforming your camper is a great advantage to buying used:

It’s a Family Friendly Activity

The kids will love to help pick out paint colors, put together the new floor, and transform the closet into a bunkhouse.

Imagine how much more fun you’ll have at the campground with your spouse, partner, or family knowing you worked on your RV together.

You Make It How You Want It

No camper is ever perfect. There’s always one little thing you’d tweak, one color you’d switch out. This is a process that usually happens over time, and it’s one of the best things about owning a used RV, because you don’t have to worry too much about how making changes will impact the price. If you choose to buy used and renovate, you can build it exactly how you want.

You can completely gut it and make a new floor plan like my friend did with her Airstream Arogsy. You can also take a simpler approach by just adding some color with pillows, a rug, and new curtains. It’s all up to you.

When we bought our 5th wheel, we changed up the entire galley. We replaced the carpet with a dark brown laminate, painted the walls and cabinets, and even built a loft for our daughter. We loved our little space.

Your Camper will be Truly Unique

It’s not a secret that RVs are mass produced. If you want something that is “just you,” buying pre-owned and renovating is definitely the way to go.

When you renovate, you’re making something truly unique to your personality or family’s style. And it’s always fun to show off your hard work at the campground and online.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to renovate your used RV, get my free book 101 RV Renovation Ideas to Go From Camper to Glamper.

Insurance is Cheaper

If you’re considering buying a pre-owned RV, chances are keeping costs low is a priority. Lucky for you, getting insurance on an older RV can be a significant way to save on your monthly RV costs.

Typically, a Class A motorhome is the most expensive RV to insure. Afterall, it’s usually rather large and has a powerful engine in it. You can expect to pay around $1000-1500/year depending on the year and features. Travel trailers and 5th wheel incur the lowest RV insurance costs, which can go as low as only $500/year.

Personally, we have a full-timers package for our 2007 Class C. This is a very comprehensive plan that covers the RV and the tow vehicle (when towed) 365 days a year. We pay only $800/year.

You Can Get Quality and a Good Price

The truth is the best RVs are the most expensive, but that doesn’t mean you should go in search of the highest price tag. There is a way to get quality and a deal when you buy an RV. 

I honestly believe buying an older luxury RV is the best deal you could ever get. 

I know a lot of RVers that have bought a 10 to 20-year-old very high-end RV and could not be happier. The rig is still in great shape as well as their bank balance. These older luxury models are often roomy, too. This means you aren’t sacrificing space to save a few bucks either.

Some examples of luxury manufacturers that are built to last

• Prevost
• Tiffin
• Wanderlodge
• Newmar
• Foretravel

If you’re thinking of buying a used RV, I hope this article helped you in your decision. See you on the road.

---

What kind of used RV are you thinking of buying? Leave a comment below. 

Source link

Kyle and Olivia live full-time in a 16′ vintage travel trailer. They left their jobs and sold everything to pursue life on the road.

Their mission is to live minimally and deliberately, by removing the clutter and fostering relations with the community and the natural world. Their current project is a renovation of a vintage Airstream Argosy.

Follow their journey at drivinvibin.com.

** Subscribe to Stories from the Road on iTunes, Spotify, or Google Play **

Some topics we covered:

• 0:56 – Airstream Argosy renovations
• 3:21 – Renovations ups and downs
• 8:14 – Free camping
• 12:37 – The Vibe Tribe
• 13:49 – RV beginnings
• 18:34 – Nomad life
• 21:40 – Favorite parks

Source link