A Christmas Wish List for RV'ers

With Christmas right around the corner, we have five great suggestions for last-minute shoppers with no clue what to buy for their RV'ing friend, co-worker or family member.

RV GPS Navigation System
Specifically designed for RVs, this GPS Navigation System (with Rand McNally lifetime maps) allows you to select the type of unit you are driving/towing and takes into account propane restrictions and even whether or not you prefer to make right-hand or left-hand turns. It can receive Weather-Dynamic weather data, giving you "current and forecasted information for your current location, destination and anywhere along your route". This unit also has a fuel log, allowing you to track your fuel purchases including where you bought it, how many gallons you bought and total cost. It can also organize this information by date or state.



Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Power inverters convert DC power from a battery to the AC power used for things like appliances, tools, electronics, and lights. Unlike modified sine wave inverters (MSWI), pure sine wave inverters (PSWI) create cleaner, quieter power that is almost the same as the electricity you would get from a utility provider. Tools and electronic devices that are difficult (if not impossible) to power on a MSWI will more than likely work on a PSWI. While PSWIs are a bit more costly than MSWI, you will get better results with it. Both MSWIs and PSWIs are available in multiple power grades (we have highlighted the 2000 watt model on both).



Digital Compass
w/ Temperature & Volt Meter
This item, though small in size, provides several highly useful features in one - a temperature gauge that gives both inside and outside temperatures, a digital compass and a built-in volt meter. It also has a LED indicator that will warn you of any black-ice road conditions.



RV Travel Guide
The Good Sam RV Travel Guide and Campground Directory combines over 16,000 park listings with more than 1,900 Good Sam discount locations and various trip routes with destination recommendations. In addition, this guide provides basic maintenance tips, coupons and a lot more! It is one of the few (if not the only) book that caters specifically to RV'ers.



LED Light Fixture for Small Spaces
Perfect for lighting small spaces (such as closets and cabinets), these light fixtures use LED light which draws less power than conventional halogen lights. They are available in several sizes and are typically low profile for a more sleek, compact design.



There are plenty of other great gift ideas for the avid RV'er, such as patio mats, space-saving collapsible kitchenware, back-up sensors and satellite signal finders. Whatever the item, RV'ers are sure to love an item that enhances their camping experience!

Green RV'ing - Ways to Make Your RV More Environmentally Friendly

When you go RV'ing it's all about getting back to nature; taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily city or suburban life.  As you imagine where you will go, perhaps you think of snow-capped mountains far off in the distance with clear, unbelievably reflective lakes in the foreground.  Maybe you think of a grassy area, thick with trees.  Whatever your dream getaway entails, your desire remains the same:  You want to get away from noise, crowds, car exhaust, bills, phone calls, etc.  

We're willing to bet that as much as you love RV'ing and the outdoors, you also love finding ways to be as 'green' (environmentally conscious) about your adventures as you can, keeping nature beautiful for future generations.  With a few changes here and there, you can make your RV more environmentally friendly.

Solar Power
Solar power kits and panels allow RV'ers to harness the power of the sun for heating small amounts of water and for cooking.  They are available in varying sizes and power capacities.  Price varies accordingly.  In addition, there are adapters that allow campers to use solar power to charge their electronic devices (such as cell phones, laptops and camera batteries in case you can't completely disconnect from civilization).

Changing Lights
Lighting in RV's tends to come from standard halogen bulbs.  You can reduce your electric usage by up to 75% by simply switching to power-saving bulbs or using LED lights.  The bonus with LED lighting is that there is no heat produced, unlike other types of lighting.

Water Conservation

One of the best ways to save water during an RV excursion is to upgrade from a standard shower head to a shower head with an on/off feature.  This allows you to stop the flow of water when soaping up or shampooing, greatly reducing the amount of water used and letting you enjoy a bit longer of a shower!  Another type of shower head, the Airfusion, uses a mixture of air and water to create a mist that allows you to take 20% of your water consumption without giving up your water pressure!

Eco-Friendly Waste Products
Unless you go with a composting toilet (which may be more trouble than it's worth unless you are full-time RV'ers!) you will need to use products to keep waste under control.  One of the products we recommend (and yes, there are others) is Pure Power Waste Digester which is chemical-free, safe to use in all septic systems, and harmless to children and pets.  Pure Power, combined with Softness 2-Ply RV toilet paper (which is made to break down easily) keep your holding tanks in good condition and have a much lower impact on the environment than other products

Using these few tips, you can reduce your effect on the great outdoors and save yourself some money on electricity and propane in the meantime!  Nothing tops being environmentally green while keeping monetary green in your wallet!

Meet the Wolf Pup - The Little Camper That Can

Wolf Pup Travel Trailer - Model 16FB

At first glance, the Wolf Pup travel trailer by Cherokee doesn't seem like much.  With one unit around 17ft in length, three around 20 ft. in length and one around 24 ft. in length one might wonder why anyone would get a unit so small when they could just go with a larger unit.  

While it is true that the Wolf Pup is small in size, it definitely serves a purpose!  Before the Wolf Pup, folks looking into camping without the ability to tow with a truck were fairly stuck to folding campers.  The Wolf Pup allows them to upgrade to an enclosed trailer (no canvas!) that offers many of the same amenities available in a full-size travel trailer without having to upgrade their tow vehicle as well.  

The Wolf Pup, depending on model, offers the following features:

• A comfortable sleeping area that can consist of one of the following:
• A twin-bunk area, sleeping up to 2 people
• A queen bed, sleeping up to 2 people
• A twin-over-double bunk area, sleeping up to 3 people
• A booth dinette that converts into a bed (approximately full-size), sleeping up to 2 people.


• A kitchen/dining area that consists of a booth dinette and appliances as follows:
• Mini-Refrigerator
• Cook-top
• Microwave
• Sink


• A bathroom area with a toilet and a tub/shower area.


• A 20,000 BTU furnace and a wall-mounted air conditioner for climate control.

A Peek Inside the 16FB

(NOTE: The 17RP has a much different floor plan than other models due to the fact that it is the only Wolf Pup unit that is also a toy hauler!)

So, if you are a person looking to upgrade from your folding camper or to downgrade from a family-sized camper to one that is 'just right' for you, this is the unit you've been looking for!

Recreational Vehicles 101 - Types of Campers, Part II

We've introduced you to the types of campers that you drive from one location to another.  Now we will introduce you to the types that are towed - pop-ups, hybrid expandables, travel trailers, sport utility RVs, and fifth wheels.

Pop-Up Camper (a.k.a. "folding camper")
These units are typically the least expensive type of camper available (barring spectacular sales, of course!).  Considering the economical price, you do get a fairly good bang for your buck.  They are lightweight, which means they can usually be towed something as small as an SUV.  Newer models come with cook-tops, mini-fridges, a small sink and booth dinettes.  As their name suggests, the sleeping areas are canvas-covered pop-outs at the front and rear of the unit.  Pop-Ups are the closest thing to tent camping, providing a bit more protection from the elements.  For the novice camper, a pop-up is one of the best ways to get into and learn about camping first hand.

Travel Trailer

Perhaps the most widely used type of camper there is, conventional travel trailers offer all the comforts of home in an average sized package.  These units typically run from between 25 ft in length to 33 ft. in length (give or take a few feet).  Travel trailers offer a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen area, dining area and living

room/entertainment area and offer a wide variety of floor plans.  They also usually (but not always) have slide outs to expand the living space.  These units are towed by trucks 9 times out of 10.  There is the occasional smaller travel trailer that can be pulled by a larger SUV, but it's always best to check with your salesperson regarding the towing capacity of your vehicle to maintain safe towing!

Hybrid Expandable
These units take the best of both the pop-up camper and travel trailer and combine them in one unit.  The main body of the hybrid is used to provide the same amenities as a travel trailer - a normal sized refrigerator, cook-top, microwave, dining area, entertainment/living area.  Because the sleeping areas pop out as they do
in a folding camper, space is saved that would ordinarily be used for a bedroom space.  This also makes these units lighter to tow,  making it possible to be towed by a larger SUV, depending on the weight of the unit.

Sport Utility RV (a.k.a. "SURV" or "toy hauler")
SURVs provide a living space with all of the same amenities of a travel trailer, but they come with an extra storage area that allows the unit to carry 4-wheelers, motorcycles and similar "big boy/girl toys".  The back of a toy hauler can be lowered and forms a ramp which allows the loading of the additional vehicle(s).  Some units have slide outs which expand the living space of the RV, and some items (like the table area) can be folded up to make more space in the storage area.  Because these units can carry extra weight, it is very important to confirm what type of vehicle would be needed to tow it.

Fifth Wheel
The fifth wheel camper is one of the most (if not THE most) luxurious towable units availabe.  These units almost always have slide outs to expand the already spacious living area.  Fifth wheels have the same amenities as travel trailers - kitchen areas (with cook tops, ovens, microwaves, and full size refrigerators), dining areas, bedroom(s), living rooms and entertainment centers, often with fire places and at least one flat screen TV included in the deal.  Newer models have AM/FM/CD stereo systems with iPod/MP3 player hook-ups.  To tow these units, a truck is required as the front end of the fifth wheel sits over the bed of a truck and their weight alone makes it so that only a decent sized truck could carry the weight.

With any of these types of campers, as always, check with your salesperson to verify the towing capacity of your vehicle and compare it to the tow weight of the camper you're interested in.  Don't let price deter you - most dealerships (ours included) accept trade-ins (which lower the cost of the unit you upgrade/downgrade to) and financing is available.  Make sure you get a unit that you fall in love with, just as you would with a car or a house.

If any of our readers have any questions about types of campers, you can always send us an e-mail using the contact form to the left or you can message us on Facebook by liking our page (that link is ALSO to the left).