Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Fishing and RVing go hand-in-hand, at least it does for our family. It’s hard to beat a campsite next to a pristine lake surrounded by the wilderness or the salty air and open ocean while being just a few steps away from a favorite fishing spot.

My husband and I have our own styles of fishing. He prefers trolling for big fish while I enjoy the slow but exciting moments brought by bobber fishing.  But we do have something in common in our shared hobby: we like our fishing gear somewhat organized, especially when we are RVing. Between the two of us, our 3-year-old son, 1-year-old daughter, and little Yorkshire terrier, there’s a lot of stuff to pack for each outing (including the kids’ fishing gear). It feels like we are packing up the entire house anytime we travel.

Getting our fishing gear packed in an organized fashion is essential, especially with limited RV space. Plus, fishing rods are fragile. The goal is to avoid tangled and damaged rods during transport and make sure hooks and any sharp objects stay secure. It saves us time and headaches. Organized gear means more time fishing and less time rummaging around for fishing gear.

To pack fishing gear swiftly and securely in an RV, here are some simple tips seasoned anglers and casual fishing folks can live by.

Store Fishing Rods and Reels in a Carrying Case

Lucky for anglers who are always traveling, there are plenty of rod carrying cases made specifically for fishing rods. These cases protect your fishing gear and are easy to grab and go, whether you’re packing up the RV or taking out your gear to head to the next fishing hotspot. Rod carrying cases usually come with compartments made to fit multiple rods and reels, are easy to store, and are very portable. You can find durable fabric cases as well as sturdy waterproof hard cases. Rod carrying cases can easily be stored inside your RV or pass-through storage.

There is a lot of jargon in the RV world. One term you’ll come across, but might not be familiar with, is “fifth wheel” or “5th wheel.” Fifth wheels are a type of towable RV that require a large pickup truck to tow because of the type of hitch they use.

But why are fifth wheel trailers called that? Let’s explore that question, and a few other fifth wheel basics, to help you decide if this is the right type of recreational vehicle for you.

How They Got Their Name – The Fifth Wheel Hitch

Fifth wheels use a U-shaped hitch coupling that’s bolted or welded to the frame of your tow vehicle—usually a pickup truck—through the truck bed. The connection point, also known as a pin box, places the trailer’s weight directly over your tow vehicle’s rear axle.

While hitch technology has come a long way, this basic design is responsible for the fifth wheel name. Old carriages in the 1800s had a horizontal ‘5th wheel’ that allowed the front axle to pivot. The name’s use was continued with the modern-day design for the 5th wheel truck hitch.

It’s similar to the type of hitch used on semi-trucks, which means it’s safe, sturdy, and rated for heavy loads. At the front of the 5th wheel, there’s a “king pin” that locks into the U-shaped pin box in the bed of your truck, allowing you to safely pull the trailer.

There’s more to July than fireworks on the Fourth. This is the month to really celebrate your travel independence, and that means going where your desires take you in some of America’s most beautiful landscapes.

Southeast Idaho is a treasure trove of adventures. Roam otherworldly landscapes then go for a relaxing soaked in soothing hot springs.

Explore and Soak

Close to Fort Hall, the American Falls Reservoir offers 87 square miles of almost every imaginable type of water recreation. Go boating, waterskiing and windsurfing on the water, or explore the 100 miles of shoreline. Anglers will fill their fishing nets with cutthroat trout, crappie yellow perch and channel catfish.

Cruise Craters of the Moon

Ready for out-of-this-world adventure? Craters of the Moon National Monument to the northwest preserves three lava fields, more than 25 cones and 60 lava flows ranging in age from 15,000 to 2,000 years old. Big Cinder Butte is one of the oldest basaltic cinder cones in the world. To the southwest is the “Niagara of the West” At 212 feet tall, Shoshone Falls are even taller than their famed cousin back east. Experience the spectacular sight up close and personal. The best place is to start is at scenic overlook that extends from the opposing cliff face. There are also hiking trails and a swimming area, so you can easily spend an afternoon experiencing everything the falls have to offer.

The adventure of owning an RV never ends, with new and exciting turns along the journey. After a few trips, it’s natural to assess how you can add to your experience and upgrade your RV’s interior to better suit your camping style. 

Don’t stress! An upgrade to your RV experience doesn’t require an entirely new unit or a full overhaul. You can easily upgrade your entire space with advice from the specialists at a Camping World’s Design Center.

Why An RV Interior Upgrade Might Be Right For You

If there are parts of your RV that you’re “living with,” don’t be shy about making changes. Here are a few reasons to consider RV renovations:

Your Enjoyment and Comfort are a Priority

Your RV is your home on wheels and should be comfortable, useful, and inviting. After all, the lifestyle is what’s enjoyable. So why not take your travel space and make it your own?

RV floor plans and interiors are designed to support a variety of lifestyles, functions, and activities. With tweaks between product lines and models, manufacturers do their best to accommodate as many different aspects as possible within the space.

Well, when you spend a lot of time traveling in your RV, like Jennifer and I do, taking a shower can be like one of the comforts from home. It makes those adventurous activities like hiking, biking, and camping, especially when it's muddy outside, a lot less problematic.
But, more importantly, a good shower head will help you conserve water... an important thing for boondockers.
Here are the best RV shower heads to keep you feeling clean while living on the road! 

Continue reading The 5 Best RV Shower Heads (2022 Reviews) at RV Lifestyle.

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As we move into the hottest part of summer, it’s important to consider the environmental risks that RVers, campers, and other outdoorsmen face. Heat exhaustion is a very real threat to anyone who spends a lot of time in the sun. Even though it’s not always obvious from the get-go, there are several heat exhaustion symptoms that can let you know there’s a problem. 

As someone who has experienced heat exhaustion myself, it’s not a fun time! It interrupted my whole day and left me feeling weak, nauseous, and shaky. Thankfully, we were able to address it before it evolved into heat stroke, but this condition can be quite serious. 

Below, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide to heat exhaustion, including its symptoms, treatment options, prevention, and the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun, it’s important to know what to look out for!

What are the most common heat exhaustion symptoms?

First things first, you need to know the warning signs for heat exhaustion. This usually builds up over time and doesn’t hit you all at once. Some people might experience every symptom, while others only have a few. If you experience a combination of the following, it’s time to consider that you might have heat exhaustion. 

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Thinking about the lifestyle of a full-time RVer often evokes images of seniors living in free and easy retirement. The truth is, many full-timers are middle-aged and younger people who aren’t nearly ready to retire yet.

For this younger group of RVers, employment and income is still very much an important part of life. Working at seasonal jobs in different places can be a great way to earn an income. 

An added bonus of a seasonal job is that working in one location gives you a great opportunity to meet people and explore an area of the country in your free hours. Seasonal jobs for full time RVers are easy to find when you know where to start looking.   

One of the things that excite me the most as a bass angler is walking up to a flooded lake loaded with vegetation. As I stare out over the lake, I can’t help but think about all the opportunities for catching bass that lie beneath. 

The problem is getting a lure into the water without getting hung up on every cast. Having to dodge lily pads, low-hanging trees and standing timber is a serious challenge for a lot of anglers, but it’s even more challenging when there isn’t a lot of open water. 

These are the types of ponds I really enjoy so I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on this type of fishing, what lures to use, how to cast and how to pull the lunkers out of their hiding spots. 

Here are some of my biggest tips for finding bass in heavy cover. 

Back Off 

If you’re fishing from a boat, most people think you need to get right on top of the cover to prevent a miscast and getting hung up on something. This is where perfecting your cast really comes into play. 

I travel full-time with my two dogs, and because we’re gluttons for adventure, we frequently find ourselves boondocking or dry camping. We don’t like to disturb other campers, so we rely on our solar setup more than our generator. And, as northern portions of our country start to experience warmer summers, the dream of escaping the Texas summers we know becomes more of a challenge.

This has led us to get exceptionally creative about how we stay cool while camping in the heat.

We have altered schedules – we only go on walks/hikes/adventures in the mornings and evenings when the sun is a little more bearable, we get out of the rig and seek shade or waterfront parking spots at the hottest portion of the day and we, of course, pack up and leave when temperatures get into the high 90s/triple digits.

Keeping pets cool in the summer is especially important considering that pets don’t generally have sweat glands in the same way that humans do, and are more susceptible to heat stroke and overheating. Plus, no one enjoys marinating in the summer heat wearing a fur coat.

If you travel with pets, it feels like a given that you love them like family and want the best for them. That includes keeping them safe and comfortable as they accompany you on your adventures. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for six of my pups’ favorite summer must-haves for making travel bearable during the warmest months of the year.

Every camper will tell you that there’s never a dull moment when you’re camping. Whether you’re visiting a campsite for the first time or reclaiming your beloved spot at the campground you visit every fall, camping is full of adventure.

We wanted to hear your stories, so we asked and you answered! Spark up the campfire, have a seat in your favorite camp chair, grab a beverage, and check out the coolest and craziest things real campers have seen while camping.

Close Encounters with Wildlife

Lions, tigers, and bears — oh, wait. There aren’t any lion or tiger encounters to share, but there are plenty about bears. It seems one of the most common wildlife animals to run into while camping is none other than a bear.

From thieving bears who steal food, backpacks, and clothing to a mama bear watching over her cubs, these close encounters are just a reminder that we aren’t always camping alone. Of course, practice smart bear safety when camping to keep you and the wildlife safe and unharmed.

“While backpacking in Sequoia [National Park], I came across a mama bear and four cubs. I was about 30-feet away from them but separated by a large log. I watched the cubs play like kittens chasing each other up and down the tree. I sat and watched them for about 30 minutes while mama bear made sure I did not come any closer. It was a real National Geographic moment.” -Bill W.

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Non-Profit ‘National Parks Traveler’ Creates New Digital Guide for RVers

RVers love national parks. A visit to one or more of our nation’s wonderful national parks is on every RVer’s bucket list. National parks connect us to our nation’s past, provide a safe way to experience nature and enjoy the land, and are a great excuse for a road trip. The old adage, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” doesn’t really apply to our national parks, which are not only a great destination, but often a journey within themselves. For RVers especially, the journey is often equally as important as the destination. National Parks Traveler has just made visiting National Parks even easier.

Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

While there are a few popular printed guides for our National Parks, they aren’t geared towards RVers specifically, and they aren’t digital. This important distinction was noticed by the folks at National Parks Traveler. National Parks Traveler is the world’s top-rated, editorially independent, nonprofit media organization dedicated to covering national parks and protected areas on a daily basis.

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The West Coast is a beautiful place to travel and camp. It’s populated by lush forests, beautiful mountains, and of course, miles of open ocean.

If you want to explore this area, you may want to look into coastal campsites with easy access to the beach and hiking trails. There are too many parks to count, but some stand above the others in terms of quality.

No matter what you’re looking for on your next adventure, there’s sure to be a campground that fits the bill. Some are close to cities, while others are remote and secluded. Below, we’ve selected 10 fantastic coastal campsites to keep in mind. These campgrounds were chosen due to their excellent location and high ratings. You can find more campsites with a quick search on RV LIFE Campground Reviews or the RV LIFE App. Let’s get started!

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RV gray water is called gray water because the used soapy water in it gives it a grayish hue. Gray water is flushed from the sinks and shower and is stored in the gray water tank until it’s dumped. A separate gray water holding tank is handy to have, especially when you are RV camping without access to sewage hookups. 

The one problem with an RV gray water holding tank is that it fills up a lot faster than the black water holding tank. This is because we tend to use more water for showering, washing, or cooking food than we do for flushing the toilet. 

When the gray water tank is full, it tends to back up into the shower or the closest sink. So, what can you do when the gray water tank is full? Is it okay to just dump the water on the ground?  

The smallest of the motorized RV types is the Class B RV. Lately, they’ve surged in popularity among RVers.

Class B Motorhomes are built on cargo van chassis like the Mercedes Sprinter, the Ford Transit, or even the Ram ProMaster. They don’t often have slides, so they’re lighter, and they’re typically less than 30 feet long. This makes driving a Class B easier than driving a Class A or Class C RV for some people.

Class B RVs are popular with those who wish to focus on spending more time outside their RV rather than inside, prefer a quick travel pace, or those that adventure out of it rather than live in it full-time. They’re also popular with solo RVers as well as couples who are looking to switch into a rig that may be more comfortably driven by both partners.

As popular as Class B RVs have become, they’re not right for everyone. Motorized RV owners of all ages, might prefer Class As or Class Cs, and RVing with a toad.

So how do you know if a Class B RV is the one to buy? We take a look at the pros and cons of a Class B RV as well as a compromise to help you decide which RV is the one for you.