Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

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The Best Campgrounds With Boat Access

Sometimes, an RV road trip needs to be near water. Whether it’s for fishing or recreation, a good boat outing is just a must. While there are plenty of lakeside RV parks with boat access, five of the top-rated locations are highlighted below. You can find more campgrounds and resorts with boat access on RV LIFE Campground Reviews or while planning your trip with RV LIFE Pro. 

1. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina

Between the beachfront RV resort and full range boat launch services, this California-based resort really does offer it all. More than a marina, Newport Dunes supplies ocean access, clubhouse amenities, and storage facilities, along with Orange County’s premier boat launch.

The reality of trailer life is that you won’t always have access to shore power. That means you’ll either need a solar panel setup or a portable generator to keep your batteries charged. That’s not all portable generators do though. They also allow you to run larger appliances, like your AC unit. 

When you’re camping in a travel trailer, whether it’s a new travel trailer or a used camper, having a portable generator makes a big difference. That’s because many travel trailers don’t come with built-in generators, as you’ll find on most Class A Diesel RVs. 

Why Choose a Portable Inverter Generator?

An inverter generator provides electrical power you can use in your RV so you can utilize your RV air conditioner and other important features. You can buy non-inverter generators, but the power isn’t the kind you want for RV appliances and household electronics. Make sure you’re looking at an inverter generator and you’ll be good.

What Size Portable Generator Do I Need?

Before purchasing your generator, you should think about the power output you’ll need. If you get by without many electronics, you can probably buy a smaller portable generator. These are generally less expensive and have a lower power output. 

If you have a somewhat high power demand, you’ll need to get a generator that offers a moderate to high power output. These are usually larger in size and come with a higher price tag.

Before you hit the road, it’s best to ensure your RV, truck, and boat batteries are in good working order. Otherwise, you risk waiting for a tow truck to get you jump-started. To power an energy-hungry home away from home, RV batteries must reliably perform several jobs.

They not only have to start the engine, but they also run lights, water pumps, heat, appliances, and more. Given this tall order, installing the right batteries and maintaining them properly is imperative to problem-free RV excursions.

Basic RV Battery Terminology

RV, truck, and boat batteries are typically broken into two main uses: starting batteries and house batteries. 

Starting Batteries

The battery used to start and run the engine is referred to as a starting battery. Starting batteries deliver high bursts of power over short periods of time. 

These batteries are rated in Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). CCA is the number of amps the battery can deliver at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 seconds without dropping below 7.2 volts. The power level you need depends on the cranking requirements of your engine. 

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There are many scenarios where RV drivers need a spotter’s help. Whether you’re backing up a trailer or navigating a Class A RV in a crowded parking lot, your spotter needs to know how to guide an RV effectively. 

Without a spotter, you risk running into obstacles, denting your RV, or damaging critical components like your AC unit because you couldn’t see overhanging branches or other unforgiving items in your way. 

Spotters and drivers yelling back and forth in any campground can be a daily occurrence. Effective communication is critical when navigating your RV and goes a long way toward protecting your investment. 

So let’s discuss some tips to help spotters more effectively guide both motorized and towable RVs. 

As travelers with dogs who are part of our family, we would like to think that all campgrounds welcome dogs. But the fact is, many campgrounds do not welcome our family members with fur.  

If you travel with dogs, like us, you know the unique joy and excitement that our dogs bring to any trip. So finding a dog-friendly campground that our dogs will be happy with is of utmost importance to us. Not only do we do our research ahead of time when planning a trip in an area, but we do our research on the campground we choose.

Finding dog-friendly campgrounds is possible if you know what tools to use.

What Does Your Dog Want in a Campground?

Just like people, all dogs are different. What one dog is comfortable with and enjoys is different from another dog. This is a serious question to consider before searching for that first dog-friendly campground: What does your dog want in a campground? 

Our dogs Brickle and Digby were certainly different. Brickle likes his space and is protective. A campsite that is more private with adequate space and not noisy is a must for Brickle. Digby enjoyed howling at all times of the day, but especially at dinnertime. A campsite away from others worked best for us. Many campgrounds have quiet hours, so try your best to keep barking to a minimum.

When planning an RV trip, it’s natural to focus on the destination. But many RV enthusiasts often find the journey to be far more exciting. The trick is making the journey exciting for the RIGHT reasons instead of due to unexpected issues.

Whether you’re a full-time RVer, a weekend warrior, or just bought a new travel trailer, your journey will be smoother once you master hitching and towing. Fortunately, Camping World has everything you need to hitch and tow your RV so you can soak in each mile as you travel toward your dream destination.

Hitch Receivers

A must-have for anyone towing an RV behind their vehicle, a quality hitch receiver is the connection point between your tow vehicle and your towable RV. Hitch receivers are typically bolted or welded to your tow vehicle and they provide a way to attach the ball mount or other hitch accessories needed to tow.

Choosing the right hitch receiver requires an understanding of RV weight ratings. Hitch receivers are separated into five main categories depending on how much they are rated to tow safely. There are also several types of hitch receivers, but two of the most common are bumper-mounted hitches and gooseneck hitches (common for 5th wheel towing).

You might also find our Towing Calculator useful when selecting the right hitch receiver.

On the banks of the Arkansas River in the heart of the Sunflower State, the city now known as Wichita has served as a crossroads for travelers ranging from Native Americans to high-powered aviation pioneers. Today, the largest town in Kansas celebrates trailblazers, with restaurants, museums and art galleries that express the town’s dynamic sense of adventure and accomplishment. Walking and biking trails are plentiful throughout the city and the waterfront, and sports fans can cheer for everything from a professional Double-A baseball team to minor league hockey to a flat track roller derby league. But Wichita hasn’t lost touch with its trading post roots, lovingly preserving its rough-and-tumble past.

Come Fly with Me

Discover how Wichita, “Air Capital of the World,” helped end World War II. This was where nearly 1,650 Boeing Superfortress bombers were built — the most B-29s manufactured during WWII. A restored B-29 can be seen at the Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center at Eisenhower National Airport. “Doc” is one of only two B-29s still airworthy and visitors can pay for the ride of a lifetime in this rare warbird. Once you’ve touched down, soar into the Kansas Aviation Museum with three floors of aerial displays and learn why Kansas manufactured 67% of all general aviation aircraft in the world.

Located within the Historic Airport Terminal, the museum also devotes exhibits to Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart, the dashing aviator heroes of the 20s and 30s who set records and frequently landed in Wichita.

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The transition to full-time RVing can reduce the cost of living, but it doesn’t make life free. We need money to eat, travel, and for all the other expenses on the road. However, with few exceptions, traditional jobs are not an option for RVing. So, what can you do to make money while RVing?   

People have come up with some amazing solutions that typically involve a lot of creativity, know-how, and confidence. In this article, we’ll discuss creative ways to make money while RVing that you might not have even thought of.  

1. Do your present job remotely 

The ongoing pandemic has seen many companies move jobs online so employees could work remotely. If your job is (or could be) done online, you should speak to your employer about your plans to hit the road. Make a list of ways your productivity will be better and detail how it will benefit the company when you work from your RV.

2. Work at a campground to make money while RVing

There are many possible campground jobs that you can do while camping in your RV. Private RV parks, national and state campgrounds, and regional campgrounds all need people to staff positions. You could work as a campground host, concession worker, interpretive guide, or groundskeeper.

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9 Top-Rated Lake Superior Campsites 

The Great Lakes attract visitors all year long. They are the perfect destination for anyone who loves fishing, swimming, boating, or just enjoying the beautiful scenery. Lake Superior campsites are easy to find, but some stand out above the rest.

Lake Superior borders several US states and Canadian provinces. Because it has such a large border, there are lots of places to set up camp. If you want to spend time in Canada, make sure you have your passport ready!

Below we’ll cover the details of a few Lake Superior campsites with great reviews. These have all been rated 8/10 or higher from guests on RV LIFE Campground Reviews, and there is a good range of places to visit. Whether you’re in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, or Ontario, there’s a campsite for you. Plan your travels with RV LIFE Pro to find more great campsites and points of interest along the way.

1. City of Houghton RV Park

Tailgating in an RV is one of the best way to enjoy the sports or racing seasons. Whether it’s a home game or away, we can all agree that RVs have a tendency to take things to the next level!

Three Cheers for the Home-Away-From-Home Team — RVs

Tailgating in an RV means you have all the amenities and comforts of home. Here are a few features of an RV to use to amp up your next tailgating event.

The RV Kitchen

Pack up the coolers, utensils and condiments and start dreaming up the ultimate tailgating menu. You can grill outside or bake inside — your meal and your preparation options are nearly endless thanks to your RV’s indoor and outdoor kitchen setups.

The RV Bathroom

If you’ve tailgated before then you know how valuable having a personal RV bathroom nearby is. No more missing out on the fun while standing in line for 30 minutes at the port-a-potties. You won’t miss a minute of the action or the fun. But beware of others wanting to use your RV bathroom too. If you plan to allow it, have hand sanitizer available and a patio mat or rug so people don’t track mud, sand, or dirt on your RV flooring.

The RV as Shelter

You can bring the party inside when inclement weather crashes the parking lot party. Inside the RV, you’ll have a TV that allows you to watch other games before the big game starts. Many people even decide to the game from their RV versus buying expensive stadium tickets.

Traveling with our pets adds to the experience of any destination. We can see the world through their eyes and our pets can teach us many lessons about travel. They teach us to slow down and notice the little things. They teach us to take it all in. They teach us that life is meant to be lived to the fullest every day!

But traveling with pets adds an extra layer of responsibility while on the road. We have to ensure their safety at all times, and that includes the temperature inside our RV. The reality is that pets can suffer from overheating and heat stroke. But with a little preparation and planning, we can have peace of mind that we are doing all we can to ensure a safe and comfortable RV temperature.

Regulating the Temperature Inside Your RV

One of the biggest dangers to our pets that travel with us in an RV is overheating due to high temperatures, or the dangers of freezing temperatures due to cold weather. None of us would leave our pets alone in the sun during summer or in the snow during winter. Although your RV is a home on wheels with a completely different environment than a regular house, it is still a home that your pets will live in.

As pet parents, we must protect our pets at all costs. But how do we know what RV temperatures are safe for our pets? How can we make preparations to ensure their safety? After over six years on the road with our dogs, we have learned many lessons. Some lessons we have learned from mistakes, but when it comes to RV temperatures, there isn’t any room for mistakes — one mistake can be fatal. 

Protecting Your Pets on the Road

On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car or RV can soar to 100 degrees in minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes. Pets cannot sweat like we do, they can only rely on panting to cool themselves.