How To Mount A Flag On Your RV

Above, flying my Gadsden flag at the Lava Hot Springs KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I am camping at a campground for more than one night, I usually put my flag up on the rear RV ladder bracket.

There are many ways to displaying a flag while camping. Do It Yourself RV shows the many ways of doing so.

They begin with:

A flag can make an RV campsite easier to spot, more personal, or just a little more fun. But once you move beyond a tiny garden flag, the question gets trickier: where do you safely mount the pole?

RV walls are not house walls, rear ladders vary in strength, and a tall pole with a full-size flag can catch more wind than people expect. That is why RVers have come up with so many different mounting solutions, from ladder brackets and hitch receivers to under-tire bases, pin box mounts, and homemade PVC setups.

To read more, go here.

Fight RV Crime! Install A GPS Tracker

Above, a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whether it is a motorhome or a towable RV, there are crooks out there who would love to steal it.

RVs are big investments and if yours gets stolen, there's one device that would help getting your rig back: a GPS tracker.

RV Travel has posted an article on stolen RVs and GPS trackers.

They begin it with:

The opening image is just a handful of the stolen RVs we’ve posted here on RVtravel.com in our Saturday newsletter. For every one we write about, there are probably dozens more that we don’t hear about. Suffice it to say, crooks want to steal your RV. The question is, if they do, how can you get it back? One way that can increase the odds of finding a stolen RV is by installing and using a GPS tracker. They’re inexpensive. Service fees are relatively low. And nearly any “RV handyperson” can install one in just a few minutes.

To read more, go here. 

Solo RVing: Are You Ready To Take It On?

Above, at a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One advantage to being an only child, we learn at a young age how to entertain ourselves and learn self-reliance. The extends into adulthood and doing things solo, including RV travel. 

While it is nice to have company, the operative word on that is...sometimes. It depends upon where one's going and doing. I enjoy solo travel as the time spent is on my own and I can do things on a whim while on the road. I had a great time in 2017 when I went to Idaho solo for the Great American Eclipse. After the eclipse, I headed into Oregon and Northern California with no particular schedule. One can travel with a lot more flexibility traveling solo.

Do It Yourself RV has posted an article on solo travel, which is gaining in popularity. 

They begin it with:

Solo travel has been gaining popularity, and with good reason. RVing on your own has lots of benefits and, of course, a few challenges. Don’t let solo travel stop you from getting out there; it might be the best decision you’ve ever made!

 To read more, go here.

KOA Adds Multi-reservation Shopping Cart

Above, The Beast at the Lava Hot Springs West KOA Holiday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has updated their online reservations system to allow people to make multi-reservations. 

Previously, their reservations system only allowed for reserving one park at a time.

According to RV Travel:

Campers staying at Kampgrounds of America parks will no longer have to make individual reservations for each stay along the way.

KOA just released a multi-reservation shopping cart function on its website. With this new functionality, guests can complete multiple reservations at one campground or across multiple campgrounds in one transaction, making booking faster and easier across KOA locations.

“The goal of our multi-reservation shopping cart is to make booking easy for our guests,” said Whitney Scott, Chief Marketing Officer of Kampgrounds of America. “With this enhanced functionality, campers can plan and reserve a week-long road trip or even an entire summer of camping in one seamless transaction.”

To read more, go here. 

Signs That Summer Travel Is Rebounding

Above, The Beast at a Lava Hot Springs, Idaho KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Do you really think that summer travel is rebounding?

Well, AZFamily has posted six signs that summer travel is rebounding and, in some ways, in a big way.

The article posted begins with:

(CNN) - The summer travel season, which was all but written off just weeks ago, have some peeks of sunshine after all. 

Demand is rising across several segments of the industry as coronavirus restrictions ease in the United States. While people aren't taking elaborate international vacations this year, they are renting home shares, flying domestically and even taking RVs to explore the wide open road. 

Here are some cautious signs that travel is returning:

Here's one of the signs (you'll have to read the full article to see the other five):

RVs 

RV sales and rentals are booming, with demand swelling in recent weeks. 

Enthusiasts say the vehicles are thriving because of social distancing concerns. Air and train travel have become less appealing. With an RV, there's no need to share a hotel elevator or airplane bathroom, and meals can be prepared inside the vehicle. 

Jon Gray, CEO of RVShare, laid off 10% of his staff in March and furloughed 30% of his remaining employees. Business started to pick up in mid-April as states loosened travel restrictions, and he's since brought back all the furloughed workers, and sales in the last week are more than double the same period last year. 

A competitor, Outdoorsy, said its bookings last week have grown 300% when compared with the same period a year ago. Airstream's parent company, Thor Industries, said this week that demand for its products are "very strong."

To read more, go here. 

Don't Cancel Your Summer Road Trip

Above, The Beast at the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Already, some of us are thinking about a summer RV vacation trip. A friend and I are planning a trip in the Four Corners region of the U.S.

Others, on the other hand, made plans already but have canceled them.

Do It Yourself RV says, "Don't Cancel Your Summer Road Trip". They give five reason why people shouldn't cancel.

They begin their article with:

Things are pretty up-in-the-air due to the pandemic right now. It’s hard to know what things will look like on a day-to-day basis, let alone in several weeks or months. The same goes for what the summer will be like: will travel be allowed? Will national parks be open to receiving visitors? Will campgrounds be open? 

According to Market Watch, half of all Americans have canceled their summer travel plans. If you’ve had a summer road trip planned or want to start planning one now, here are five reasons to keep those plans. Of course, we advocate making sure that the spots you are visiting are open to visitors and self-quarantining if you begin to present any symptoms of COVID-19.

To see the five reasons, go here. 

RV Travel: Taking It Slow

Above, the river behind my campsite in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I went to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho to camp at a KOA Kampground in town while in the state to view the Great American Eclipse, I stayed there three nights as I had reservations at a RV park near Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. I should have stayed in Lava Hot Springs at least an extra night as there were things there to see that I missed and the campsite was right next to a small river, which was very enjoyable. It is one of my top ten favorite campgrounds since I bought The Beast.

At the time, it didn't seem like I was rushing, but it turned out I was. I should have slowed down as I had plenty of time (being retired). The campsite, weather, location and close proximity to the town were ideal.

Above, the campsite at Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Which brings me to the subject of a new article in Do It Yourself RV: "5 Reasons You Should Travel Slower".

They start it with:

One of the number one things we’ve learned during our years traveling full-time is to slow down. This may sound crazy to some. After all, there’s a whole world to explore and we have the freedom to explore it! 

I understand this mindset, truly, I do. When we first started out, we hopped from one place to the next at lightning speed. However, we soon discovered that there are some major benefits to slow travel, and we’ve found that these benefits far outweigh the negatives. We now take our time in all of our travels and we are far happier for it. 

Wondering what kinds of benefits slow travel might provide? Below are the top 5 reasons we choose to take it easy and see the country at a more relaxed pace.

To read more, go here. 

Keeping Cool While Camping

Above, the City Center KOA is next to the Portneuf River in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first day of spring came yesterday and that means we're now in camping season.

For those in warmer climates who need to find ways to staying cool while camping, Do It Yourself RV has some tips.

The begin with:

Camping season is finally here, and while this is great because it means plenty of s’mores and swimming, it also means we’ll all be dealing with heat—lots of heat. 

RV camping is nice because it means we have air conditioning during those dog days of summer. That said, RV air conditioners aren’t always able to keep up. In fact, in the heat of the day, those A/C units do very little to cool down a trailer or motorhome that’s sitting in the sun. 

Fortunately, it’s entirely possible to enjoy summer camping despite this fact. All it takes is a bit of creativity and some know-how, and you’ll be beating the heat and having a blast in no time.

To read more, go here. 

Navigating Through Types of RVs

Above, The Beast in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho during my Great American Eclipse trip. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is RV show season and people are beginning to think about what they're going to do for this year's vacation season.

Some are considering buying a RV. A lot of RV experts suggest renting one first to decide what type they want or even see if they like camping in one.

But if people are somewhat experienced with RV travel but cannot decide what they want, The Spokesman-Review has an article on the different types of RVs there are to choose from, along with pros and cons for each.

They begin with:

Perhaps you’re ready to buy a RV for travel or camping. That can be a journey in itself to choose from among multiple RV types in a range of prices. 

Finding a good match depends on how you plan to use the RV along as well as the amenities you consider “must haves.” Is it mainly for weekend jaunts or longer trips? Do you need more space for kids, or for those ATVs? 

Many RV newbies start outdoor adventuring with a tent trailer, also known as a pop-up trailer. It’s a budget-friendly way to discover if you like to go vagabond for a few days. Seasoned travelers or retirees might move into a fifth-wheel or Class A vehicle, if the budget allows.

Like the article states, I people started out with a tent trailer (or pop-up trailer) and then moved up.

To read more, go here.

RVing 101 For Beginners

Above, The Beast at the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Recently, I joined the RV Advisor and occasionally I receive email updates on different aspects of RVing.

Today, I received one on "RVing 101 Beginners Course" with a lot of useful tips.

They begin it with:

New to RVing? No problem we are here to help! Check out this quick tips to becoming an expert in no time.

For me, a lot of is is "old hat", but for some who are reading this, it may be a big help in getting familiar with operating your RV and enjoying the RV lifestyle.

To read it, go here.

Lava Hot Springs A Year Ago

Above, The Beast in Lava Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since I, and Sierra, took the trip to Idaho to view the Great American Eclipse.

Above, the Portneuf River with the KOA to the left. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was one year ago today that I arrived at my "base camp" in Lava Hot Springs at the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. It was a nice campground situated next to the Portneuf River where people floated by on tubes and rafts. In the campground next to me, was a family from Santa Clarita, California. I had a nice riverside campsite.

Above, the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was the next day, August 21, that I headed north to view the eclipse.

RV Types Explained

Above, The Beast, a Winnebago 22R Class C, at a KOA in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you should be well-versed on the kinds of recreational vehicles that are available on the market.

If not, a "definitive guide" by Curbed.com should get you up to speed. Here, they describe each kind and class of RVs.

They begin with:

There’s a lot to love about campers and RVs (That’s why we started a new community group just for camper addicts, join us!) But even the most enthusiastic camper aficionado can get confused: What makes a Class C different from other RVs? Why is a fifth wheel trailer called, well, a fifth wheel? And are camper vans considered an RV or...something else? 

Whether you’re looking to buy a new camper or just want to level up your camper vocabulary, this guide is a good place to start.

To read more, go here. 

RV Industry Producing Record Numbers

Above, The Beast at the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In some respects, this is a good thing as well as a bad thing.

It is great that the RV industry is producing (and selling) record numbers of recreational vehicles. It is also a warning that with more people on the road, it will be harder to find open campsites. More RV parks and campgrounds need to be created to meet the rising demand.

But here, we'll accentuate the positive.

The South Bend Tribune reported:

ELKHART — At the RV Industry Power Breakfast, the politicians were touting how they work for the recreational vehicle industry. 

Presidents of RV and camping organizations were upbeat about the potential untapped markets. 

An official in the Department of the Interior highlighted how the industry is creating jobs and experiences for American families. 

The breakfast, just like RVs, is more popular than ever. While 260 people attended the first one, more than 900 gathered Thursday in the building that also houses the RV/MH Hall of Fame. “RV Business” magazine facilitates the annual event. 

While workers were back at the factory making fifth-wheels and toy haulers, higher ups gathered for the event bringing together government leaders with those who work in and lead the industry. There’s reason to be upbeat these days. This industry is making and shipping units in record numbers. 

March was the first month in history that the industry shipped 50,000 units to dealers, up 13.4 percent over 2017. Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the RV Industry Association, said that’s big, but even bigger is that the industry has shipped more than 40,000 10 of the last 12 months, only the second time that’s happened.

To read more, go here.

Affordable RV Travel

Above, campers at Lava Hot Springs/City Center KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If traveling around in an RV appeals to you, but you wonder how affordable it is, TravelPulse has some tips on how to save money.

They begin with:

Many people love RV travel because of the freedom it inspires. 

You can pack up and head out wherever you want. You can drive longer than you planned, stay somewhere new or drive all night. You aren’t bound to hotel reservations or other travel plans. You can go where the road takes you, or heck, you can go absolutely nowhere. 

Unfortunately, RV travel isn’t cheap. A new RV can easily cost $50,000-$100,000 or more. Renting an RV lets you escape the long-term costs of ownership, but it’s not inexpensive, either. For example, a five-night stay in a $99 per night rental could cost around $800 if you drove 600 miles and paid a mileage rate. 

If you want to enjoy the freedom of RV travel without all the costs, consider these tips to save some cash.

To see what the tips are, go here. 

California Motor Vehicle Registrations

Above, The Beast at camp in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Governor Jerry Brown and the Democrat-controlled legislature passed a bill this year raising the gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees in California.

They claim that the money generated will go towards road maintenance. This flys in the face that we've had tax money taken for this purpose but the money was diverted to their liberal social programs.

I just received my registration renewal notices in the mail for The Beast (the 2015 Winnebago 22R) and the 1989 Mustang. The Mustang's registration jumped up to $129 and the registration for The Beast went up to $517.

Thankfully, both are due during the latter part of February and I should be completely moved out of California at the beginning of February.

If people wonder why so many people are leaving California, this is a good reason.

Vacations and Travel, A Key Component of Retirement

Above, The Beast at a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I retired two years ago, there has not been a single moment where I regretted the decision.

I already preplanned on what I was going to do and went ahead and am doing it: travel. It is a great opportunity to see new places and things and enjoy the benefits of ordering "geezer slams" (their senior menu) at Denny's while on the road.

That is exactly what the Buffalo Reflex recommends for seniors to do in their retirement years and they provide some ideas on how to go about it.

The article begins with:

When the time comes to bid farewell to conference calls, meetings and daily commutes, retirees have open schedules to fill with whichever activities they choose. Travel is one exciting way to pass the time. 

Traveling can be a rewarding prospect for active seniors, particularly those who successfully preplanned for retirement and have the income to fund various excursions. Many seniors, both in the United States and Canada, find that travel tops their to-do lists once they retire. According to Senior Travel magazine, new travel options are emerging for newly minted retirees looking for something a little different from the status quo.

The list of destinations retirees have at their disposal is limitless. The following ideas are some of the more popular ways retirees choose to travel.

To read more, go here. 

Flag Pole Buddy Information

Above, at the Peter Lebeck clampout at Camp Okihi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At the recent two clampouts I attended, I received some admiring looks at my flagpole set-up on The Beast and some queries.

Above, at the Platrix clampout on the Keene Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those (and others) who are interested, the flagpole set-up is the Flag Pole Buddy. I purchased it online from Camping World. The Flag Pole Buddy comes with a flagpole that extends 22' and mounting hardware and a U.S. flag.

It mounts on an RVs roof ladder. I first used it during my August Great American Eclipse trip to Idaho.

Above, at the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I recently attended the California RV Show at the Fairplex in Pomona and there was a booth for the Flag Pole Buddy in the big accessories tent.

With those inquiring Clampers and others in mind, I picked up some literature and have scanned it. It is posted below.

5 Types of RVers

Above, The Beast in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho in August. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Several months before retiring, I bought The Beast to travel around in during my leisure years.

So far, it has been a good two and a half years of RVing and I plan to continue.

Along the way, one notices different kinds of people out traveling. Do It Yourself RV has also taken notice of the kinds of RV people out there and has classified them into five groups.

Before going into the five categories of RVers, they wrote:

If there is one thing that I could say about all RVers, it would be that they are a diverse mishmash of folks.  When the non-RVing public thinks about who RVers are, the idea of someone’s parents or grandparents driving around a fancy Class A rig usually comes to mind. 

In reality, RVers come from all socio-economic classes, own everything from tiny teardrop trailers to half a million dollar (or more) Class A RVs, and everything in-between.  There really is no such thing as a “typical RVer.”  That being said, the people who RV generally tend to fall into five distinctive groups.

Of the groups listed, I probably fall into the first group,  1. The Post-Retirement Crowd.

To see what the five groups are, go here.

Some RVers Don't Like KOA

Above, The Beast at the Cedar City, Utah KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every so often, a member of the iRV2 Forum will start a rant about Kampgrounds of America (KOA), the nation's largest campground/RV park chain.

Usually, they complain that KOAs are "large, crowded and expensive" in comparison to other privately-owned campgrounds.

I never found all KOAs  as being "large", some are and some are not. On average, they are about the same size as any other private campground or RV park.

Also, I never found KOAs any more "crowded" any other private RV park or campground. It depends upon the time of the season and location. KOA does have an excellent online reservation system.

As far as expensive, with two exceptions, the West Entrance/Yellowstone KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana (near Yellowstone National Park) and the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, KOAs average about the same as other privately-owned campgrounds. The two cited KOAs are considered "destination" campgrounds and, as such, charge a little more.

Above, The Beast at the Diamond Lake RV Park in Oregon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the fun of it, I ran an average in nightly costs between KOAs and non-KOAs. I used the last nine stays during my most recent trip and some from last year's trip and came up with the averages. For KOA Kampgrounds, they averaged $40/night. This may have been lower had not the $72 charge at Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA been in the mix. For non-KOAs, the nightly costs averaged $33.67/night. Only a $7.00 difference.

With KOAs, one pretty much knows what to expect in regard to service, sites, amenities, etc. It is more of a crapshoot with non-KOA campgrounds. Some campgrounds are nicer than others, and that goes for KOA and non-KOA campgrounds.

I will use whatever campground that is available. If it is a KOA, fine. If it is not a KOA, that's fine too.

Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA

Above, a street view of the front of the KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The best commercial RV park/campground that I stayed in during my Great American Eclipse trip had to be the Lava Hot Springs City Center KOA.

Above, the Portneuf River with the KOA Kampground at left. The
 Olympic pool and water park are at right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is located in the town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho and is within a block from supermarkets, shops, restaurants, hot springs, Olympic swimming pool/water park and float tube rentals. It is also situated next to the Portneuf River.

Above, the Portneuf River was right behind my campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was fortunate enough to be assigned to a campsite on the bank of the river. It was a little more expensive than I expected, but I enjoyed it. It was also roomy enough so that there's some space between campsites. Trains come through the town during the day, but stop at nights.

Above, the main road of the campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People with children will love this place as there's plenty of things for them to do. This campground would be a good destination even without the draw of an eclipse. The kids can play at the waterpark or river while their parents can relax and soak in a hot spring pool.

Above, these have got to be the fanciest Kamping Kabins I've ever seen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's many restaurants (and bars) nearby so that visitors can skip cooking in camp and just enjoy a meal cooked by someone else.

My grade: A.