Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Water is essential to all facets of our lives, which includes RVing. Whether you have a used motorhome or a new motorhome, you’ll need fresh water to cook, clean, bathe, and stay hydrated. That means ensuring your RV’s fresh water tank is sanitized and filled or connecting to city water.

This podcast episode is about the importance of filtering water from these connections, but you should also be worried about the water pressure. Too much water pressure increases the risk of damage to your RV’s plumbing and hoses. Luckily there’s something you can do: add a water pressure regulator.

Let’s take a closer look at what a water pressure regulator can do for you and why you need one for your RV.

How Does an RV Water Pressure Regulator Work?

A water pressure regulator is simply a valve that reduces the water pressure from a city water source (they aren’t essential for filling your freshwater tank). These regulators are designed to reduce water pressure to an acceptable level that’s safe for the plumbing systems in modern RVs. but they also protect your RV’s water hose and filtration systems.

Do I Need a Water Pressure Regulator for my RV?

Drinking water from city water connections will offer varying pressures depending on the campground or RV park you’re staying in. Additionally, water pressure at each campsite isn’t something that campgrounds routinely monitor. This means you might have a low-pressure connection that’s perfectly safe for your RV at one location, but your next location could have a high-pressure connection that creates issues for your RV’s plumbing.

Just like an automobile engine, you must keep your generator clean and free of dirt and debris to keep it running properly. The oil must be changed regularly, and the air filter should be replaced. We have compiled a step-by-step tutorial on how to change the oil and air filter on Honda portable generators, the EU1000i and EU2000i. 

The process may vary slightly for other Honda generators. Consult your owner’s manual for your generator’s exact oil and air filter maintenance procedures.

How to Clean a Generator

To clean your generator, simply wipe it down with a moist cloth. For best results, clean your generator when it is completely cool. Never pour water on or into your generator for any reason.

Here are a few more safety tips for using and maintaining portable generators.

How to Change the Oil on Honda Portable Generators

It is best to drain used engine oil when the oil is warm, not hot. If you’ve recently been running your generator, shut it down and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes before changing the oil. It can also be helpful to place the generator on an elevated platform to make it easier to tilt and drain the oil when you reach that step.

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Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a Kelley Blue Book for RVs? You could look up your RV model and year and instantly know your RV’s value.

Unfortunately, the RV industry doesn’t work like that. When you consider all the different variables of RVs in the marketplace, you quickly realize that RVs are more like houses than autos. That’s why there isn’t a Kelley Blue Book for houses, either: there are too many variables. 

The Blue Book model only works if there are limited variables within any asset class. So, how can you learn what your RV is worth? Is it really that important to know your RV’s value?

Why you should know your RV’s value

If you intend to sell your RV, it is important not to guess what your RV is worth or to just assume that it is worth about what you currently owe on your RV loan. Its actual value and what you owe are unrelated facts.  

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Can AARP RV camping discounts save you money? The simple answer is yes, but exactly how much is the bigger question.

With a membership, however, you can receive a ton of other benefits that could just make it all worth the money. Let’s take a look at an AARP membership and see if it is worth paying for an additional RV camping discount membership club.

What is AARP?

AARP was founded in 1958 and is an influential lobbying group in the US, focusing on issues affecting older adults. The AARP membership program provides many discounts and perks to its more than 38 million members.

So you’ve made the decision to list your RV for rent to make a little (or maybe even a lot) of extra money. Good for you! Regular use is good for all types of RVs and why not make some money instead of letting your RV just sit in storage anyway?

Listing your RV for rent with Good Sam is simple and you’ll find that they guide you through every step of the process from setting up your account to getting paid for your first rental. I personally found it to be a very straightforward process and now, after three successful rentals, I’m so glad I decided to rent our travel trailer out.

I’ve compiled a list of things I have done that I believe have been helpful in getting me more bookings and therefore, more money. Here are ten tips for making your RV rental listing stand out.

Create an Approachable Profile

After creating an account at RVRentals.com you’ll need to set up your profile. This is often something that RV owners will skip over because they are anxious to get their RV listed and start getting bookings. However, having a profile can deter renters from wanting to rent your RV.

Renters are often just as nervous about the idea of renting an RV as owners are about letting someone use their RV. Both parties may feel uneasy about who the other person is and what to expect. Providing an up-close photo of yourself smiling or having fun in nature can help ease that uncertainty. Even more so, providing a friendly and playful description about yourself can make a renter feel a sense of comfort in moving forward with a rental.

Getting the RV of your dreams doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re looking for a great deal on your next camping trip or looking for an RV renovation project to take on, these RVs under 30K for sale are a great place to start. You’ll love that these new and used RVs give you a variety of styles and amenities to choose from for your perfect fit.

Looking to save big on your family RV? Take home a Coachmen Clipper Camping Trailers 107LS pop-up camper for just $14,699 and get sleeping space for up to six. The two large bed tents give you ample space for the family, and the compact size makes it easy to store when not in use.

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If simplicity is what you crave, this Braxton Bushwacker 10HD travel trailer is the way to go. It offers a sleeping space for two inside with plenty of storage space. The outdoor kitchen allows you to make delicious meals around the campfire!

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Your RV’s generator takes care of you whenever you’re not plugged into shore power. But are you doing enough to take care of it? Generators are durable and designed to last for years, but they still require routine maintenance if you want yours to continue running safely and efficiently. 

Fortunately, most generator maintenance falls into the category of RV maintenance tasks you can do yourself. If you’re still learning the ins and outs of RV maintenance, check out our downloadable RV ownership and maintenance booklet!

That booklet contains an overview of all the maintenance items you should consider. For now, let’s focus on how to maintain an RV generator. 

What is a Generator?

You’re probably familiar, on some level, with portable generators for RVs and built-in generators. The latter is more common in larger motorhomes, but all generators require maintenance. 

When they’re correctly maintained, a generator provides an external power source for your RV. While your RV batteries provide power for lights, refrigerators, water pumps, and other small RV appliances, plugging into an appropriately-sized generator gives your RV its full functionality, including the ability to run your air conditioner. 

No boat? No problem. Shore angling is great and it’s something I’ve done for a number of years. When I recently moved, I had to sell my boat, so it forced me to get a little more creative about where I fish and whether or not I can actually cast from the shore. 

In many cases, this is how we all got our start. We went out to the lake with a parent or grandparent and they showed us how to fish. It all happened from the shore and I’ve had some incredible experiences standing on land so I want you to know that you don’t need to buy a boat to catch big bass. 

Learning how to bass fish from shore will help you increase your chances of pulling in a lunker. 

Here are my best tips for catching bass from the bank:

1. Cast Parallel 

One of the best things about fishing from the shore is the fact that it’s so much easier to place your bait where you actually want it to go. That’s the funny thing about shore fishing. People with boats will always make it sound like you’re not a real angler if you don’t have one. 

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Which SoftStart Is Best For Your RV Style?

It’s hot outside and uncomfortable in your RV. You want to run your air conditioner(s) but are on a limited power supply. You may be able to run one A/C on 30-amp but not on a small generator. And when you turn the second one on, you start tripping breakers. What do you do? 

Until the advent of a soft starter, there wasn’t much you could do. And until this year, your only option was installing a soft starter directly on each of your air conditioners. That all changed when NetworkRV (the makers of SoftStartRV) debuted their new plug-and-play SoftStartUP device and gave the RVing world another SoftStart option. But which one is right for you?

Why have a soft starter at all?

The major draw of RVing is living how and where you want to live. Staying cool while doing that requires power. Whether that’s boondocking with solar or a generator, moochdocking at a generous friend or family member’s house, or staying at an RV park, you need electricity to run your air conditioners. And without a soft start device, you need a large surge of it to get each air conditioner started. Therein lies the problem.  

The startup power needed to get your air conditioner going can be anywhere from four to eight times the power needed to run it at a steady state. Even newer, more efficient models require four to five times the power. That surge of power is what trips breakers or your generator. For example, if you’re on 30-amp service, and each air conditioner requires 11-13 amps to run, theoretically you can run them. But if each of them takes 50-60 amps to start, you’re at risk of tripping a breaker.  

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From Cannons To Creepy Cats, Harvest Hosts Members Share Their Best Camping Stories

Regardless of age, we all love good camping stories. As kids, we remember spooky stories around the campfire. As adult RVers with a firmer grasp of the supernatural, spooky stories tend to revolve more around slides that won’t extend and leveling jacks that won’t come up than they do about things that go bump in the night. 

RV LIFE recently partnered with Harvest Hosts to hear a few camping stories from Harvest Hosts members. The winners were awarded RV LIFE Pro subscriptions and Harvest Hosts membership extension. Here is a recap of those stories and more.

Of China Bombs and Corn Cannons

Our 1st place contest winner related the following story that is both frightening and humorous. Every RVer can relate to the fear, and relief, in this story.

Funniest Camping Stories 1st Place Winner

By now, everyone has probably heard of “China Bombs”—those tires that come with a brand new camper that most RV buyers feel you should change out before taking any long trips with your new RV. Well, we did not replace the brand new tires and were in the midst of our second long trip. As I was very aware of potential issues, I was very careful with maintaining correct pressures and monitoring the RV tires while traveling. I was also very wary and paranoid that something was going to go wrong.

Hello! I’m Kirsten from @fifth_wheel_living. I’ve been living in an RV full-time with my husband, Devin, and our dogs since January 2018. We are beating the cost of living in Nashville, Tennessee because of our RV lifestyle. I’m going to share how we do it and how you can too.

Deciding to Move to a Large City

One night in 2017, while I was waiting for Devin to get home from work, I had a thought – ‘We needed to move to Nashville, Tennessee.’ It was a very random thought because Devin and I had never talked about moving to Nashville before. We were living in Dover, Delaware at the time. I thought it was odd, and I was actually a little overwhelmed thinking about it. Then, in that exact moment, Devin called. He said that he had just finished listening to a podcast and that he felt like we needed to move to Nashville, Tennessee. I told him about how I just had the exact same thought, and that I was all in.

So, we told our families the next day. They thought we were being rash and “a little crazy”, but that didn’t deter us. We decided to continue to pursue moving to Nashville. But, after looking at the housing market options for both purchasing and renting a home, we felt like maybe we were being “a little crazy.” Both options were so expensive! We started to doubt if we should even go anymore. But, despite our uncertainties, we continued to feel pulled to Nashville. We had faith that God would provide a way for us. Soon, Devin discovered RV living.

Our RV Journey Begins

Devin found Kevin and Mandy from @188sqft on Instagram. He told me about how they were traveling America while living in a renovated fifth wheel full-time. He asked me if living in an RV was something that I would want to do. At first, honestly, I was skeptical and a little hesitant. I basically assumed that all RVs were small and didn’t have kitchens or bathrooms. But Devin showed me their photos and story, and I saw how they were saving money, paying off debt, and experiencing new, beautiful, amazing things.

Watch Kevin and Mandy of 188sqft Renovate a New RV Into Their New Home

It's time to tell the truth about RV solar and lithium batteries. Not that they aren't great to have. It's just that too many RVers have been talked into getting solar/lithium packages by unreasonable claims by RV salespeople who just don't understand the limits of the technology.

Let me be very clear: We've been using RV solar and lithium batteries since 2015. Jen and I love RV solar and lithium batteries. We wouldn't have an RV without a robust systems and, indeed, we just did a major upgrade of the RV solar package and lithium battery bank on our Keystone Arcadie fifth wheel.

But the key is having enough RV solar and lithium to do what the salespeople promise.

This week, we talk to two experts as we explore the capabilities of our new system and learn about battery draw and what is reasonable and not reasonable to expect from it.

Continue reading The Truth about RV Solar and Lithium Batteries at RV Lifestyle.

If you’re ready to take home an RV that’s lightweight and easy to tow, it’s time to consider some of these RVs with fiberglass exteriors. This design keeps the RVs durable without making them heavy, so it’s an excellent way to give you the best of both worlds. Learn more about our seven favorite RVs with fiberglass exteriors below.

Take your family on unforgettable vacations when you have one of these lightweight Coachmen Apex Nano 194BHS travel trailers with a spacious interior with sleeping for up to five. The outdoor kitchen lets you make delicious meals for your crew without missing a moment of the action. Lastly, the full bathroom provides a simple way to avoid the campground bathhouse during your stay.

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Sleep up to five comfortably in this Cruiser Hitch 17BHS travel trailer, available for $24,995. You’ll fall in love with the way this floorplan gives everyone a space of their own, thanks to the bunks and the large queen bed with storage underneath. Outside, you’ll enjoy a power awning to give you plenty of shade no matter how sunny the day.

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Go RVing In Vermont To Discover Natural Beauty, Outdoor Fun, And Historial Landmarks  

The 14th state to join the union is rich in history and a modern-day marvel for anyone who ventures into its borders. If you and your traveling crew decide to go RVing in Vermont, be ready for an adventure filled with natural beauty, endless outdoor fun, delectable staples, long-standing traditions, and much more!

From covered bridges to snow-covered mountains to maple syrup, the Green Mountain State has everything you need in any season. Enjoy cross-country skiing, hiking, apple-picking, cheese tasting, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and maple-covered pancakes. And that’s just scratching the surface.

When is the best time to go RVing in Vermont?

This is a tough question for the state of Vermont. They tout all kinds of activities and events every month of the year. Ultimately, it depends on what you enjoy doing and what you want to experience. Here are some of the types of things you can see and do, based on the season:

People have been escaping the city to camp in the woods for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years. But innovations in the RV industry have made camping considerably more glamorous and more accessible in recent decades. So, if you’re new to the trend and you’ve been hearing the term ‘RV’ thrown around, it makes sense to wonder: what does RV stand for?

What Does RV Stand For?

RV stands for “recreational vehicle”, which encompasses many different RV types and classes. That includes towable RVs such as pop-up campers, fifth wheels, travel trailers, and toy haulers.

It also includes motorhomes, such as gas and diesel Class A RVs, Class B camper vans, and Class C and Super C motor coaches. Truck bed campers sort of exist in a class of their own, but they’ve grown rapidly in popularity over the last few years too. 

The “Unofficial” Meaning

For many, RV also stands for adventure! Recreational vehicles provide the comforts of home in a mobile unit that can be in Tulsa tonight and Albuquerque tomorrow. In that way, they also signify freedom – freedom to roam, freedom to sleep almost anywhere, and freedom to experience America’s cultural and environmental diversity. 

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that RV is also synonymous with embracing self-sufficiency. Life is different in an RV, and it requires an awareness of how to provide for our basic needs; an awareness that we often take for granted in everyday life.