Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Whenever you’re planning a getaway, you’ll want to do so without worrying that your campers are going to feel crowded. Traveling with one of these mid-bunk RV floorplans will help you to make your dreams of RV adventures with your entire crew come true. Learn more about the top seven mid-bunkhouse RVs below.

Multi-family vacations are a great way to spend time away from home with the ones you love. When you travel in a CrossRoads Cameo CE3961MB fifth wheel, you’ll have all the space you need to give your friends and family the space they need. This floorplan offers two bedrooms and a loft so that you can sleep up to eight comfortably.

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Today, save over $39,000 on this Dutchmen Astoria 3553MBP fifth wheel with a loft bed and a mid-bunkhouse. This floor plan offers dual opposing slides in the living room with a kitchen island and stainless steel appliances. You’ll find that the multi-purpose room is ideal for giving your family plenty of space during your stay.

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Recently, the RV lifestyle has seen an increase of people jumping at the opportunity to hit the road and become part of the RV community. With RVs now offering more of the comforts of home than ever before, it’s not a surprise to see so many taking the path less traveled in the spirit of adventure.

Among the comforts included in RVs these days are RV washers and dryers. While it may be tempting to leave the laundry until you get home, the ability to do a load or two during your journey is a lifesaver.

Plus, with the RV washers and dryers available today, the chore isn’t nearly as cumbersome as it sounds! Here’s everything you wanted to know about RV washers and dryers.

RV Washer & Dryer Types

While there are alternatives to doing laundry in your RV, like campground facilities and laundromats, nothing beats the convenience of having your own washer and dryer. You can fit laundry into your lifestyle instead of planning your excursions around the necessity of spending half a day at a laundromat.

When it comes to RV washers and dryers, there are three types: portable, stackable, and combo models. Depending on the type and class of your RV, one of these options will suit your needs.

RV life is much more comfortable when your RV air conditioner works efficiently. A functional AC unit is also essential for keeping the temperature inside your RV safe for pets and humans, especially in hot and humid climates.

Like all RV appliances, your AC unit requires you, the RV owner or renter, to operate and maintain it properly. This guide will teach you the basics of air conditioner use and maintenance by answering the most commonly asked questions about RV air conditioners. 

How to Use an RV Air Conditioner

The basics of safe AC operation begin with ensuring you have ample power supply to run your air conditioner. Before moving on, let’s answer a few questions: 

Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner on 30-amp Power?

If your RV requires 30-amp service, that will be enough to run your RV air conditioner. If your RV has multiple AC units, you’ll likely need 50-amp service to run both (or all) units. If your RV requires a 50-amp service, you may be able to use a 30-amp adapter to run a single air conditioning unit, but not multiple.

Your best bet for safely running your RV’s air conditioner is connecting to the electrical service your RV is designed for.

Tiny but mighty! Smaller RVs are becoming increasingly popular among RV enthusiasts as tiny living continues to trend upwards. Whether you’re in the market for your first RV or want to downsize from your current one, there are several RVs that marry the RV lifestyle and tiny living — good things really do come in smaller packages.

What is a Small RV?

A small RV is typically less than 30 feet in length. There are both drivable and towable RVs that fall into the small RV category, so you have plenty of options. Just because they’re small, doesn’t mean they lack amenities. In fact, many of the features like bathrooms, sleeping spaces, and kitchens can still be found inside a smaller RV.

Small Class A RVs

Starting with the largest of the small, Class A RVs often dominate when it comes to size. However, if you want to go smaller without changing class, check out these small Class A motorhomes.

Coachmen Pursuit 27XPS

Packed with all the features expected from larger RVs, the Pursuit 27XPS is the perfect RV if you’re looking to downsize a little, but not all at once.

Pursuit 27XPS Specifications

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Cleaning your holding tanks is one of those RV maintenance chores that needs to be done on a regular basis. If you don’t keep them clean, RV black and gray tanks can start to smell really nasty. In addition, if you don’t keep your tanks free of buildup, your tank sensors will get covered with crud and they won’t function properly. 

You can’t get around having to clean your holding tanks at least once a month when they are in use. A quick Google search reveals many methods for getting RV holding tanks clean. However, we wanted to find the most effortless, simple method that anyone can use for cleaning their RV holding tanks.

What you need to know about RV holding tanks

Here are a few things that will help you keep your gray water and black water tanks clean and performing at their best. In general, you want to keep things from drying out to avoid buildup on the bottom of your holding tanks. With this in mind:

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Easy Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Usage 

The use of plastic has become a part of nearly every aspect of our lives. Plastic is used to wrap and package almost everything we buy. We can wrap leftovers in plastic wrap, drink beverages from plastic cups, and eat from plastic plates with plastic cutlery. We might wear shoes made of plastic products or at least tie them with plastic shoelaces. Even the computer I am writing this article on is made with plastic components. 

There is no doubt that plastic in all its forms is handy stuff. While plastic has many valuable uses, single-use plastic makes up half of all the 380 million tonnes of plastic produced every year. Plastic is now a part of everything humans do, and it’s having severe environmental, social, economic, and health consequences.

In this article, we’ll discuss why you should consider cutting back on the amount of plastic you use in your RV, whether you’re on the road or at the campsite.  

RVing with my dog makes every day more fun. But if she got sick in a campground or on the road, we’ve got problems. Staffing shortages in the veterinary field are making it harder than ever to get pets into a clinic—especially when you’re visiting unfamiliar areas. This doesn’t mean you need to leave your adventure pets home. But you should know what to expect if your cat or dog needs care on the road, and how to avoid urgent care visits in the first place.

RVing Pets and Current Vet Care Obstacles

Like many industries, veterinary clinics have a huge staffing shortage problem right now. As a result, most practices are not taking new patients. If they do, it often means waiting for weeks to see a vet for non-urgent matters. And when things do get serious, emergency clinics manage clients by queuing them up in the clinic parking lot. Waits can be seven or eight hours just to get a pet into the clinic.

This is a huge traveling pets health care issue that didn’t hit home with me until July, when we adopted Nellie. She is our first dog since 2020, and she came to us with some health issues that needed attention. As full-time RVers since 2007, we thought we knew how to get great vet care on the road.

Getting Vet Care for RVing Pets is Totally Different Today

Before the pandemic, the biggest challenge was to locate a high quality, accredited veterinary clinic near us. Sometimes we traveled directly to a veterinary teaching hospital for serious pet health issues. We almost always got an appointment when we wanted, where we wanted.

Glamping is the name of the game at Yosemite Pines in Groveland, California. Bring your own RV or rent a luxurious Conestoga wagon, enjoy a cabin, chill in a yurt or opt for a retro trailer as your preferred choice for a unique adventure. Grab the family or friends and make a reservation in August, taking advantage of one of our Specials at Yosemite Pines!

A television reporter with a Sacramento ABC affiliate recently enjoyed camping in a Conestoga wagon at the campground and he shared his experiences here.

Yosemite National Park’s west entrance is approximately a 22-mile scenic drive away! Fill your days with hiking, strolling, biking, paddling, fishing or just enjoying those breathtaking, awe-inspiring views throughout the park. Make your park entry reservation at www.recreation.gov; it is good for three consecutive days beginning with the day of arrival reserved and includes one vehicle and all occupants. Remember, this year, a reservation is required to drive into Yosemite National Park.

Learning how to work on your RV has many benefits, including saving you time when you’d otherwise be waiting to schedule an appointment at an RV service center. Of course, there are certain maintenance tasks you should know how to do yourself and others that require more expertise. 

Figuring out how to install an RV roof vent isn’t rocket science. But it also needs to be done correctly to prevent roof leaks and water damage to your RV’s interior. Here’s everything you need to know about RV roof vents. 

What is an RV Roof Vent?

An RV roof vent is essentially a hole in your RV’s roof. Don’t be alarmed when you do an RV roof inspection, however, as this hole is intentional. RV roof vents are typically square and the opening is protected by a screen and a vent cover. Some also have a fan component between the lid and the screen. 

Why Have an RV Roof Vent?

Airflow is important for comfortable RV living. In addition to your AC unit, roof vents promote healthy airflow throughout your RV’s living space. Good airflow prevents mold and mildew in hot, humid climates, assists with temperature control, and keeps undesirable bathroom and kitchen odors from lingering. 

RV roof vents also let natural light into your RV’s interior. While they aren’t as effective as the skylight in most RV bathrooms, they’re still useful in lighting up your space during the day. Of course, there are roof vent shade accessories you can install if you want to reduce that allowance of natural light. 

Upgrading your sleeping space is an excellent way to make camping a better experience for everyone. If you are looking for RVs with king beds, we’re here to show you six of our favorite floorplans on sale today. See all the ins and outs of these incredible options and pick the best fit for your needs today!

The dual opposing slides throughout this Dutchmen Yukon 321FL fifth wheel ensure you have plenty of living space to enjoy. You’ll find that the walk-through bathroom makes the best use of your space, giving you a large bathroom to get ready in the mornings. There are two fireplaces throughout the RV to ensure you can stay cozy no matter when you go camping.

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Long-distance adventures just got easier with the Coachmen Mirada 315KS class A motorhome. This unit is easy to drive; you’ll look forward to how comfortable the cock pit is, thanks to the captain’s chairs, touchscreen controls, and more. The living space in this RV provides you with a spacious kitchen, plenty of seating, and a TV on a lift so that it stores neatly away when not in use.

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National parks get a lot of love in the United States. They also get a lot of crowds and a lot of expensive entry fees. State parks, on the other hand, offer a glimpse into a state’s own, personal views of beauty and nature. Here are ten that you should put on your list as you’re planning your next getaway.

Lime Kiln Point State Park, Washington

In the upper, can’t-really-get-much-farther-northwest corner of Washington State, there sit the San Juan Islands. They’re known as a great vacation spot for the beauty that comes with the Pacific Northwest. Lime Kiln Point State Park, a daytime-use park, is a favorite spot among travelers to catch a view of Orcas, Gray Whales, sea lions, porpoises, and other sea life. Best of all, ferries can take your RV (with size restrictions, obviously) across the water to the island.

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Adirondack Park, New York

Perhaps more forest preserve than state park, Adirondack Park is unique in that a bulk of the land is privately held—albeit strictly controlled by the Adirondack Park Agency. That said, the park contains multiple towns and villages. It’s particularly well known for its stunning views of the Adirondack Mountains, especially in the fall. Plus, there’s a significant chance you catch sight of a moose, black bear, or a number of other critters that call the area home.

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Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

Some state parks do get their share of love, and one of those is Fall Creek Falls State Park. In the heart of Tennessee, it’s got a total of six waterfalls across its 26,000 acres, including one that’s so spectacular (it drops 256 feet) they named the park after it. This park is somewhat of a resort, and also offers golfing, a pool, and tennis courts, in addition to amazing hiking and fishing. Plus, you can go for a nice, cool dip in some of the many swimming holes.

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Itasca State Park, Minnesota

Ever wish you could walk across the Mississippi River? Crazy though it seems, it’s possible. You just have to go up north to Itasca State Park in Minnesota, where shallow water begins its journey down to the Gulf of Mexico. Itasca is the country’s second-oldest state park and draws thousands of visitors every year to wade roughly 30 feet across the headwaters. After you’ve done that, you can hike or ride a bike through the rest of the 32,000-acre park.

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Interpreting An Internet Speed Test Isn’t Difficult

Many RVers require stable internet for work, streaming, travel planning, finding local attractions, and more. This is why we have incorporated the internet speed test feature into RV LIFE Campgrounds and the RV LIFE RV Safe GPS app. So what is a speed test, and how do you interpret speed test results?

Internet Speed Test Basics: What Do The Numbers Mean?

Speed is typically measured in units over time. A car going 60 miles an hour (mph) will travel 120 miles in two hours. Water leaving a hose at one gallon per minute (GPM) will fill a five-gallon bucket in five minutes. In the case of internet speed, the “unit” that is measured over time is data. So internet speed is simply the amount of data that is transferred over a given amount of time. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Download speeds

For most users, download speed is the most important part of the speed test. It tells you how fast you can receive information from the internet. Streaming, browsing the web, and checking your email requires you to download information. Unless you are only checking email, a good minimum speed for a pleasant internet or streaming experience is at least 5Mbps for a single user.

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Sponsored by Trippy Outdoor

This Unique Camping Chair Shows Off Timeless Engineering

RVers are always looking for that next cool product they can buy to enhance their camping experience, improve their RV, or make themselves more comfortable. I recently discovered a local company right in my backyard that creates beautifully crafted camping chairs that are as unique as they are innovative. 

Trippy Outdoor camping chairs

Trippy Outdoor, a Texas company based in the DFW area, builds hand-crafted, laminated outdoor chairs based on the simple principle of opposing force. The result is an incredibly strong, lightweight, and surprisingly comfortable camping chair. Weighing only 8-10lbs themselves, these camping chairs can hold up to 1,000 pounds. 

The Trippy camping chair consists of two pieces that come together in just 4-seconds. It doesn’t take a scientist to see that the Trippy Outdoor camping chair is different. It is science however that makes this chair so strong. Regarding the great strength of these chairs, the Trippy team mentioned that they have run over the camping chairs with cars and tried to “smash them with metal plates”, in what was apparently Office Space inspired “testing”, yet the Trippy outdoor chairs held their own.

Creating a great camping chair

After shaping, layering, laminating, and lacquering American Sugar Maple to a finish that Tony Hawk would appreciate, the sleek wooden frame is then outfitted with a durable aluminum powder-coated socket that doubles as a storage sleeve. High quality stainless steel hardware holds it all together.