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Born in the UK, Robert has been traveling in his camper with his white lab for the last three years, visiting approximately 33 states, Canada, and Mexico.

Prior to going full-time, he had his own consulting business involved in mergers and acquisitions along with integrating global companies.

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Some topics we covered:

• 3:56 – Robert’s travel beginnings
• 8:10 – Traveling in Mexico
• 10:50- International RVing
• 12:29 – Biking and tent camping in Europe
• 15:00 – Safety on the Road
• 17:30 – Robert’s RV
• 22:06 – Shifting tides in the RV community

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Are you planning to head south this winter and enjoy a few months on the beach or in a warmer climate? Taking the time to ensure you’re well prepared will help make your seasonal winter travel that much more enjoyable.

Follow the tips provided below to help you prepare for a stress-free snowbird season.

 

Sign Up For Mail Forwarding

Most campgrounds allow seasonal travelers to receive mail. If you’re going to be at one location all winter, your mail solution may be as simple as signing up for mail forwarding at your local post office.

If you will be traveling to more than one location, you may want to use a service that will hold your mail and only forward upon request.

Plan For Health Care & Medicine

Check with your physician in advance for any prescriptions that you will need to be refilled while you are away. In most cases, you will be able to get enough refills ordered that you can just have them filled as needed at chain pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS. However, some controlled medications will require you to see a doctor at your seasonal location.

Make a list of your doctor’s and dentist’s contact information in case you need to contact them while you are away. Keep this handy in your RV while you’re on the road.

Check your health insurance plan to verify portability. You will want to know in advance what the rules are for any required medical care at your seasonal location.

Manage Your Money

Consider using automatic bill payment for recurring expenses. That way you don’t have to remember to pay it on time every pay period. Also, let your bank and credit card companies know you’ll be traveling.

Another good thing to do is to sign up for paper-free statements so you can access them online and have one less piece of monthly mail to worry about. You want to be able to easily see where you’re money is going while on the road.

Prepare Your Primary Residence

You want your home to be just the way you left it, don’t you? Well, then follow the tips below to ensure you’ll come home to a beautiful home once the weather warms up.

• Install motion-sensitive exterior lights and interior lights on timers and set them to come on at varying times to discourage prowlers. This is one of the best ways to deter would-be thieves.
• Stop newspaper delivery. You’re not going to be around to read the paper anyway. Consider subscribing to an online version you can read anywhere.
• Arrange for snow removal.
• Perform routine maintenance like having your heating system inspected and serviced.
• Clean your home thoroughly to help discourage pests from moving in while you’re away. Also, be sure to inspect your home for openings that animals could use to enter.
• Store valuables that you are not taking with you in a safe deposit box or other secure offsite location.
• Ask a trusted neighbor or family member to keep an eye out for your home. If they’re heading south too, consider hiring a property management service.

Give The RV A Thorough Inspection

If you haven’t taken your RV out in a while, you’ll want to take a little time to get it ready for the long trip. Here are some things that you should definitely take a look at before heading out.

• Make sure your batteries are fully charged your batteries and have the correct water level. If they were removed for storage make sure they are reconnected correctly.
• Check the tires. Inspect them for any signs of damage and ensure they are inflated to the recommended PSI.
• Sanitize your water system and check for leaks.
• Connect your RV to power and test all your appliances.
• If your RV is motorized, follow the vehicle preparation steps below.

Don’t Forget Tow Vehicle & Driving Considerations

If your RV is motorized or you have a tow vehicle that you don’t regularly drive and maintain, then you need to take some time to ensure that the vehicle is in tip-top condition. The last thing you want is to set off for a relaxing time in your RV only to end up stranded on the side of the road.

• Get a tune-up to be prepared for the lengthy drive.
• Check fluid levels (transmission, engine coolant, oil, windshield washer, and brake fluid).
• Have tires, brakes, and axle bearings inspected on your RV.
• Make sure your registration and insurance are up to date and won’t expire while you’re away.
• Consider joining a roadside assistance program, like Good Sam, for those unexpected problems.
• Make sure you know where you’re going. Even if you have a GPS to help you with directions, having maps as a backup doesn’t hurt. Speaking of a GPS, be sure it is the RV type so you can avoid low clearance bridges.
• Don’t overdo it when driving. Take frequent breaks, and take your time. A well-rested and alert driver is a safe driver.

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Is there anything left out that you think should be placed on the snowbird preparation checklist? Share your best tips and tricks to help others.

 

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Fall is a great time of year to go camping and Halloween is no exception! Changing leaves and cooler temperatures are perfect for making fun family memories around the campfire.

Many campgrounds offer weekends of chills and thrills during the month of October. Check out these tips for enjoying your Halloween RV adventure and make your plans now.

Hayrides & Haunted Trails

These two activities are found at many campgrounds during October. Hayrides are fun for every member of the family, young and old! They often stir up nostalgia and memories of Halloweens past.

If you’re looking for something a little more spooktacular, many campgrounds host haunted hayrides after dark or even haunted trails in spooky woods. Scenic Ridge Campground in Whitewater, Wisconsin, has been hosting a haunted trail for over 10 years.

Campfires

Let’s face it, campfires are so much more fun when the weather is a bit chilly. Combine that with Halloween and October is the perfect time for telling ghost stories around the campfire.

For a special treat, substitute the marshmallows in your s’mores with Halloween Peeps. If you want to be more elaborate, prepare some Halloween candy bark in advance for your s’mores. Just melt chocolate chips, pour on a cookie sheet, and add candy corn, candy eyes, and M&M’s. Let cool, then break into s’more size pieces.

Trick or Treat

Don’t forget to bring your costume to the campground! Halloween themed events typically include costume contests and trick or treating. If you’re going to a rustic location without planned events, bring your own goodies and surprise the other campers with treats!

Halloween Camper Décor

You can easily make your own inexpensive Halloween decorations like banners, flags, paper ghosts, and goblins. Carving pumpkins and creating your own jack-o-lanterns is a favorite family activity. Bring enough for everyone in your group, and you’ll have a friendly competition on your hands.

If making your own decorations isn’t your thing, you can go all out like the campsite contest winner shown below with inflatable decorations and lights.

Find Your Halloween RV Camping Destination

By now, I’m sure you’re convinced to go camping for Halloween. Here are a few suggestions for a great camping destination:

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at River Bottom Farms in Swansea, SC

This park, which has six consecutive Halloween-themed weekends, features a haunted house. The attraction is set up inside an old 400-foot long barn with 20 to 25 actors and animatronics. Three of the Halloween-themed weekends are “no scare” weekends designed for families with younger children.

Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA in Stroudsburg, PA

The entire month of October boasts Halloween activities at this KOA. Join in the fun that includes site decoration, costume contests, campfires, and pumpkin decorating.

Ponca State Park in Northeast, NE

Annual Hallowfest offers a variety of unique activities that have made this event a fall tradition for many families. Activities include campsite and cabin decorating contests, a pumpkin roll, pumpkin carving contest, haunted hayrack rides, seasonal crafts, and much more.

Lums Pond State Park in Bear, DE

Harvest weekends include enjoying hayrides and making mini scarecrows. Halloween Hoot camping boast music, games, pumpkin decorating, crafts, trick-or-treating and more.

Harbortown RV Resort in Monroe, MI

Halloween fun at this campground lasts the entire month! Every weekend they host a pumpkin bounce house, costume party, haunted house, costume dance with DJ, and costume and campsite decorating contests.

Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground at Walt Disney World in Florida

Guests go all-out with site decorations at this popular campground. They also have an annual golf cart parade, pet parade, and pumpkin decorating contest. Weekly screenings of the 1949 Disney animated classic film “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” are held at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch Stables. On movie nights, guests are warned to watch out for galloping ghosts and be ready for an up close and personal encounter with the Headless Horseman.

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As you can see, there is plenty of Halloween fun to enjoy on your fall camping trips. So tell us, where’s your favorite Halloween camping destination?

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Looking to get out on the road full-time, but not sure where to start? Liz Wilcox, Julie Chickery, and Camille Attell joined us to talk about their online event, developed specifically for aspiring full-time RVers.

Full-Time Freedom Week is a 5-day online event with over 30 speakers and industry experts giving you all the best RV information and inspiration in one place. Learn how to get and stay on the road, what RV you should buy, how to save money, how to make money on the road, and much more!

Register today at fulltimefreedomweek.com.

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Some topics we covered:

• 3:43 – Assembling their “Dream Team”
• 7:16 – The start of something bigger
• 14:36 – Full-Time Freedom Week
• 22:36 – Changing lives of RVers
• 31:09 – Tips for starting your own group
• 34:01 – Favorite experiences

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RV interior design and technology have made plenty of advances over the years, but just because you have an aging RV doesn’t necessarily mean you need to trade it in for a new model. There’s plenty of steps you can take to modernize your rig and make it feel like new.

Here are five ways you can spruce up your current RV and make it look and feel showroom-ready.

Get New Furniture

Furniture is one of the key items that you should look at when thinking of updating your rig’s interior. If it looks something like the picture above, you should be able to do some updating or altering to give your RV a more modern, brightly colored, and homier feel.

The couch, chairs, and table are the first things you may want to turn to. Adding in more modern furniture is a surefire way to change the way you feel about your old rig.

Even if your RV isn’t too old, changing up the furniture to better fit your needs can make the whole space feel new. If you have a single large couch, consider replacing it with a couple of comfy recliners. Try updating the seating around the kitchen table or even replacing the table with something more functional or better looking.

You don’t have to replace every piece of furniture either. Try going one piece at a time. That way you can build the modern-feeling living space you want.

Replace the Flooring

The floor of your RV takes a true beating. It’s designed to, but eventually, you’ll need to replace it. A new carpet in your living area or some more modern tile or vinyl flooring in the bathroom and kitchen can completely transform the look and feel of your RV.

Take a critical look at your floor. Is the carpet showing signs of wear beyond just dirt and grime you and your visitors track in? If so, it’s probably time to remove it and replace it.

With your RV being such a small space when compared to a typical home, the cost to replace the flooring is often pretty reasonable. If you’re handy, you can even do the install yourself.

Redecorate and Update

It can be easy to set your decorations and forget about them, but everything ages. That trendy wall art you put up five years ago might not look so cool now. It’s easy to gloss over these items, but redecorating your RV’s interior can completely change the look and feel of the space.

Don’t just stop with wall art. Think about all-new décor. You can replace curtains with something new, consider reupholstering couches and chairs if you don’t want to replace them, and even paint walls or cabinets if needed.

If you don’t want to do anything that extensive, just go with small things. Try some flameless candles, new throw pillows or a small accent rug. It’s amazing how small changes can make a big difference.

Update the Tech

It’s not 1985, and your RV should reflect that. Unless you want to live in a time capsule, you should update the multimedia system or add one if your RV is without one. Add in all the necessary connections for a modern TV and gaming console if you’re into that sort of thing.

Even if you don’t want to update your RV’s entertainment features, you can always update other aspects. Consider adding in a smart thermostat, new lighting, or switching your old manual awning to a powered one. Taking steps to modernize the electronics in your RV can do wonders to make it feel newer.

Get New Appliances

How old is your stove, HVAC system, or refrigerator? Do any of your appliances look like they belong in a museum? If so, it’s probably time to get something new.

Even if your old appliances work well, age can take its toll on how efficiently they run. Upgrading could reduce your energy consumption, save you money in the long run, and let you stay out at certain faraway locations longer.

Also, new appliances can go a long way to modernize and improve the look of your RV’s interior. Many older RVs have off-white appliances that don’t age well. A newer appliance with a stainless steel or black exterior can do wonders to spruce up your RV’s galley and add some much-needed visual style to the interior overall.

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How do you keep your RV looking great? Leave a comment below.

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On the first leg of the trip, Crazy Family Adventure stops in Disneyland, Los Angeles, and Morro Bay, making memories while hitting some of the most iconic spots in California’s Southern and Central Coast regions. Watch as they discover these fantastic locations.

You can learn more about the whole family on their blog.

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