Proposed fuel tax hike makes for strange RV bedfellows

If one Congressman gets his way, RVers will soon be among those shelling out a bit more at the gas pump, and oddly enough, some members of the RV industry are behind the idea.

With a shortfall of funds for highway construction and maintenance, House Resolution 3636 (a.k.a., The Update, Promote, and Develop America's Transportation Essentials or UPDATE Act), would jack up fuel taxes by 15 cents a gallon over three years. UPDATE is the hope of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and would boost federal taxes up to 33.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and to 42.8 cents on diesel.

Here's the problem: Taxes on automotive fuel are directed to the Highway Trust Fund, which primarily works at road construction and other transportation infrastructure. Federal taxes on gas and diesel haven't been raised in several years, and inflation has taken a cut in the buying power of tax revenues. Now add in the success of the push for greater fuel efficiency in cars and trucks. Great fuel economy spells less fuel purchased, and that much less fuel tax collected.

UPDATE now sits in a House committee waiting further action. So far, nobody in Congress wants to be a cosponsor, considering how unpopular the notion of more taxes is to the average American voter. But that doesn't mean that the bill doesn't have its friends. Enter the ARC, or American Recreation Coalition. The ARC sees the potential for driving some portion of tax revenue into the forests and parks around the country. 'Earmark some of that money,' seems to be ARC's gambit. Called a "Penny for Parks," ARC sees the possibility of taking some of that new revenue stream and helping out with roads and bridges in national parks and forests.

Since RVers typically spend more per mile traveled than the average American driver, it's easy to see the wallet affect on RVers should the bill pass. One might imagine that the RV industry would see a hike in gas taxes affecting their customers in an adverse way, and hence, not exactly favoring UPDATE. But here's a partial list of bill supporter ARC's membership:

Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association, Good Sam Club, Family Motor Coach Association, and Kampgrounds of America. All of these are "sustaining" members. Other members include Coachman Industries, Jayco, Inc., and Thor Industries.

Granted, in the dollar-tight world of federal funding, tough decisions do have to be made. But it is interesting to see just who's hiding in the woodwork.

Fitting out the RV without busting the bank

For many, owning an RV is like owning a second home. Your rig has a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. Unless you crave the thought of toting stuff back and forth though, you'll need to "fit it out," for your RVing trips. Is there a way to handle outfitting your rig without busting the bank? Most assuredly!

Start in the kitchen: While paper cups and plates are "easy clean up," there are certainly times when they just don't "make it." We've found having "real" dishes in the RV is great. But what about the weight--and what about breaking stuff? You'll find plenty of RVers who swear by Corelle brand dishes. These things look and feel a bit like china, but they're lightweight and it takes a lot to break them. Drop 'em on the floor, they just bounce. The great thing about Corelle is that it's been around so long you'll find plenty of it second hand.

Which leads us to the point: Fitting out your RV doesn't mean you need to buy everything "new." Outfitting the RV galley is a snap with a visit to a thrift shop or by combing through a few garage sales. Take a look at your kitchen in the house, note what you regularly use, and make a list. You'll soon find you'll have just about everything you need for a fraction of the price of buying it new. With those gadgets installed in your RV galley, you'll never have to worry about forgetting something you need for a road trip.

What about those other things you'll need? We've found that when outfitting the rig with linens, it's best to buy new, but hit the bargain linen joints. Why new? We like everything in the rig to match in color--and in a color we don't use at home. It makes it easy when returning from an RV trip to simply toss it all in the wash, and when it comes out, sorting is a snap. In fact, we have a laundry bag for the RV, and when we're done with the washing, we just put all the RV linens back in the laundry bag to tote back to the RV.

The family repair guy has a similar plot. We keep a few tools in the travel trailer in our "junk drawer," including screwdrivers, a few wrenches, hammer, etc, that have a frequent call. You could put hit these with a shot of colorful spray paint to identify them as "RV resident" tools.

We also keep the rig fitted out with cleaning supplies so we don't have to trot back and forth to the house with them. A broom hanger keeps the sweeper in the corner of the shower stall (ours is deep enough that it doesn't get wet with the shower). A used Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner that we picked up for three bucks at a garage sale hides away in the corner of a closet. Small, powerful, just the right size for the small area of carpet we have in the bedroom.

Since we work on the road, we even dedicated a computer printer to the travel rig. We built a plywood shelf, stained and finished it, and mounted it under the dinette table on the wheel well. The printer lives on the shelf there, out of the way, but close to where we work when using our laptops. To complete our "office" we bought a high school "locker organizer" that has multiple pockets for pens, stapler, note pads, etc. We hang the organizer on the wall by the dinette, next to a cork board where we can pin lists.

Are you a music lover? We installed a new automotive-type stereo system to replace the old cassette/radio unit in our rig. The new one allows us to play music recorded onto USB flash cards. We simply build out own "mix" of music from our CDs at home and carry the tiny flash cards in the RV loaded up with our favorite tunes.

Household living suggestions are a favorite topic around the campfire. Next time you get a chance, ask your neighbor RVer their tricks for the rig.

How do your camping habits compare to the "average American"?

How do you stack up against the "average" American camper? Industry minds are always looking for trends that they can capitalize on, and it's not surprising that what RVers and other camping fans do are the subject of research microscopes. A new study, sponsored by the Coleman Company and The Outdoor Foundation (an industry sponsored group) took a look at campers and their habits and compared it to earlier studies to see which way the figurative wind blows. Are you anything like the 42,000 folks surveyed?

Camping – up or down?

This study looked at what campers did (or didn't) do in 2012, and compared it to 2011. Here's something that probably made camping gear manufacturers gulp: Nearly four and a half million fewer people went camping in 2012. Depending on your age group, that may be typical. The biggest loss was among young adults – in 2011 17 percent of these Americans went camping, but by 2012, only 13 percent did so.

Tent, bivouac, or RV?

Ah, it's the battle of the sexes. If you're a woman, you more likely camped in an RV than a man, 57 percent of women, to 43 percent of men. When it comes to tent camping, the numbers begin to flip, with tents populated by 53 percent male, 47 percent women. For those who utilized bivouac shelters or just 'did it under the stars,' 94 percent of campers were men. and only six percent women.

When it comes to age group and a preference for RVs, the numbers are a bit different. Of respondents who camped in an RV, only 5 percent of ages 18 to 34 did so. But as ages increased, so did RV use: Ages 35 to 44, 13 percent; ages 45 to 54 showed 22 percent; and ages 55 and up saw 36% of campers use an RV. An interesting quirk though, in the 18 to 34 bracket, nobody reported bivouac or "no shelter" camping. Maybe the young aren't as tough as they claim to be.


Long time gone?

The survey asked campers how long their camping trips usually lasted. Here's the responses: A short, one to two nights, 63 percent. Three to four nights, 26 percent. Five to six nights, 6 percent. And more than six nights? Down to 5 percent.

Where are you going?

When doing a "camp out," here's where folks stayed: 

Public campground, 74 percent.
Private campground, 12 percent.
On private land, or at a cabin, 7 percent.
In a wilderness or backcountry setting, 7 percent.
At an event venue, 3 percent.
In a backyard, close to home, 1 percent.
Some other place, 1 percent.


What's your favorite activity while camping?

There's evidently plenty to do while visiting the great outdoors. Here's the responses, and the percentages of those who do these various activities.

Hiking, 70 percent. Outdoor cooking, 32 percent. Fishing, 27 percent. Trail running, 18 percent. Kayaking, 16 percent. Road biking, 16 percent. Photography, 13 percent. Canoeing, 12 percent. Running or jogging, 12 percent. Mountain biking, 11 percent. Climbing, 11 percent. Card games or board games, 11 percent. Triathalon, 9 percent. Yard games, 7 percent. Boating, 5 percent. Rafting, 4 percent. Hunting, 3 percent. Stand up paddling, 2 percent. Surfing, 2 percent. And that big catch-all, "other," 14 percent.


For those reducing their number of trips, why?

Among RVers who said they'd take fewer camping trips, here are the reasons, ranked in order of why.

Lack of time due to work or school commitments: 39 percent.
Lack of time due to family commitments: 32 percent.
Price of fuel: 17 percent.
Other: 7 percent.
No one to go with: 4 percent.
Poor weather: 2 percent.
Just too expensive: 0 percent.


What about future camping trips?

Plenty of campers are excited enough about their trips that they're planning on going again. Planning to go 1 to 2 times in the next year, 19 percent said they would. Go three to five times? The biggest response, 44 percent. How about six to ten times? 22 percent said yes. And the big trip planners, more than ten times? 15 percent. We wish they'd broken this down into tent campers versus RVers.

Want to see more? You can check out the entire survey report findings here.

The ABCs of RV camping at Walmart

RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury explains the "unofficial rules" for spending the night in an RV in a Walmart parking lot. The price is right: free. But there is a right way and wrong way to do it. Learn the right way here.

Coping with an "orphan" RV

With the economic crash is largely over, there's still a bit of fallout: Some RVers are finding themselves in the unenviable position of owning an orphan. Some very "big" names in the RV trade--those who've been building rigs for seeming ages--are simply no longer in existence.

Where does that leave you if you have a relatively new rig, still "under warranty" on paper, but no in practice. Or how about those whose venerable geriatric rigs are way out of warranty, but still going strong?

Did your RV's manufacturer go out of business, or did they file for bankruptcy? There is a difference. Some companies have filed for "reorganization," meaning they're trying to stay alive by cutting deals with creditors to get some relief. You may still have hope of getting warranty service--talk to your RV dealer. But if the company is under reorganization, this is not the time to dally if your rig has a problem that needs fixing.

If the manufacturer has truly closed its doors, then your manufacturer warranty could very well be valueless. RV dealers who do factory warranty service get paid by the manufacturer. No manufactuer--no payment. Happily, in the interests of good will, some RV dealers will work with customers to provide warranty service, even when the mother company is dead and gone. It never hurts to ask your dealer.

A major concern in terms of warranty service are those expensive gee-gaws that RV manufacturers spiff up our rigs with: Appliances and high tech! Happily, most appliances are warranted directly by their manufacturer. If your flat screen TV goes on the fritz, it's most likely covered by a separate warranty by its own manufacturer.  Providing that company hasn't gone belly-up, and the warranty is still in date, even though the RV builder itself is dead, you still should be covered.

But what if there's a problem with the RV itself and the dealership can't help you? Ah, friend, you're on your own. Hopefully your bank account is big enough to handle the out-of-pocket, or else your skills as a do-it-yourself RV technician are strong enough to bail you out of most trouble. (Shameless self-promo: Remember, your friends here in the Tech Tips column are here every single month to help you refine your skills!)

What About Parts?

Being orphaned puts parts availability into an interesting nether world. If a part you need for repair was made by the RV maker itself, you could be 'in a world of hurt.' Happily that's a pretty rare situation, as most RV builders by their components from part suppliers and build the rig to their own specs.

These components range from stuff in the plumbing line like faucets and toilets, to appliances like gas ranges and refrigerators. Most of the major component makers are still viable. For example, Dometic and Norcold, the two big makers of RV refrigerators, are still alive and well, and that's a cool thing. Smaller outfits making stuff like door hardware, faucets, and light fixtures may come and go. Fortunately, other manufacturers usually build items like these that are "close enough" that you won't have trouble filling your needs for replacement units and individual parts.

But then, what about those times when you can't seem to find the part you need? Maybe it turns out to be a part truly unique to your orphan RV, what then? You'll need to turn to the RV parts orphanage.  Think about it, they’ve got wrecking yards for automobiles, how about RVs?  Those old hulks have gotta go somewhere.  In addition to RV wrecking yards (many of whom do business by mail), there are also RV surplus stores, many located in RV manufacturing hubs where all those “leftovers” go when there’s been a change on the assembly line. And what do you think happens when an RV manufacturer croaks? They don't just walk away and leave all the stuff just sitting behind the fence--they have a close-out auction and folks line up like buzzards in a Warner Brothers cartoon.

So how do you find an RV salvage yard? Or an orphan parts supply? An Internet search using the search terms "RV salvage" can bring a vast display of material to search through. One recently verified site that's a "must see," is one that lists salvage yards, RV surplus dealers, and other outfits that also sell new parts you might need. The list is found at www.myrvparks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1656.

A few words of caution are always in order: If you do decide to go hunting for used parts, it's always best to do so in person. Yes, some outfits will ship an order to you, but it can be difficult to ascertain just what condition the part is in over the phone or Internet. If you can't go there, ask plenty of questions, see if the seller will send you photos of the ACTUAL item you're considering (not one "just like it,") and find out if the seller will warrant the part.

When shopping by Internet, be prepared for some frustration. Few RV salvage yards have a web presence, and those that do probably spend more time pulling parts then they do posting current listings and photos. A telephone call is apt to get a much faster (and more gratifying) response than an e-mail inquiry.

What other resources are available? Don't hesitate to turn to a friendly RV forum on the Internet. There are plenty of other folks out there who've suffered the same fate as you--finding themselves with an RV orphan. It won't be surprising to us at all to see more and more "RV support groups" springing up in the web to help one another find parts, manuals, and advice as we deal with the fallout of the great RV crash of the decade.

Update your RV: Install your own carpet

One of the biggest ways to make your older RV feel new is to install new floor coverings. Face it, after full time living in your RV, those, "show every spot of dirt" carpets that manufacturers so thoughtfully install begin to look a bit doggy.  Can you replace it, or will you need a professional to help? Much depends on the design of your rig.

Rigs without slideouts aren't usually too difficult for the careful do-it-yourselfer. Slide outs can create problems, depending on how they operate. In our rig, where our slideouts drop down even with the main floor, an overlap of carpet from the slideout covers over the seam where the two floors meet. The overlap is a factory hemmed edge--if we replace the carpet, we may need to get someone to install a hem for us.  Your rig may have entirely different setup; it's best to examine everything cautiously before undertaking a carpeting job.

If you decide to make a go of carpet replacement, here are some tips. You'll likely find that when your rig was built, the carpet was laid on the floor platform, then partitioning walls laid over the carpet (and kitchen vinyl, too). You'll need to cut out the old carpet, cutting right along the edges of cabinets and walls. A specialized carpet cutting tool can help in most areas; a sharp utility knife will be needed in tight corners. If you carefully cut as close as you can, you can use the old carpet as a template to cut the new one.

In our fifth wheel, when we replaced the living room carpet, carpet tape and tack strips never entered the picture. Rather, the carpet was laid out flat and stapled along the walls. A metal termination strip was placed between the kitchen flooring and the carpet, and it's never been a problem in several years of living. Some RVers have found that often a carpet really doesn't need to be tied down at all. If fit properly, then "held down" with furniture, it stays in place, and then occasionally it can be lifted and dirt and sand (which invariably finds its way through the carpet fibers) vacuumed out. 

Is carpet really the way to go? It's up to your taste. We HATE the light colored carpeting in our current big trailer. It shows every spot of dirt. When replacement time comes, we may opt to install laminate flooring. In our fifth wheel, the manufacturer had carpeted throughout the rig. Have you ever dreamed of a shag carpet in your kitchen and bathroom? We installed laminate flooring in both kitchen and bath and have never looked back. It's wonderful stuff. True, it's cooler on the feet than carpet, but it's a whiz to clean up, and no more stains. In our fiver living room we installed low pile commercial carpet in a dark blue that appealed to us. It's been down for years, and we've used an extractor to clean it. We were happy with that choice, oh so much better than the current stuff in our "big" trailer.

Whatever choice you make, be sure when you shop, check out the "remnants" section of the floor covering retailer. Many RVs are small enough that you can often find small lots of laminate flooring, or "end" portions of carpeting that will fit just fine, and save you a bundle.

Are pre-paid debit cards right for you?

RVers, like most everyone else, have different backgrounds and needs. But traveling, particularly for those who fulltime or snowbird, can added certain complications to the lifestyle, and the area of finances can be one of them. Some RVers find it difficult to maintain a relationship with a bank. Add to that, the tough economic times have wiped out some RVers credit scores. Some wonder, "Maybe a pre-paid debit card is the answer." You're not alone – according to one source, last year Americans pumped $82 billion onto pre-paid cards. But not all plastic that glitters is the right kind of gold.

While getting a pre-paid debit card is easy – anyone, regardless of their credit-worthiness can get one – these cards to stab you in the back – right where you carry your wallet. Most of the problem lies in the fees. There may be an initial fee to get your hands on a card. A pre-paid card from Walmart can cost you between $3 and almost $5. One card, supposed to be popular for the kid-crowd cost $100 for a year's purchase. But beware, the fees don't stop after you've gotten into the card. Here's the fee structure if you buy a card from Walmart.

Monthly service fee: $3.00
Reload fee at Walmart: $3.00 (yes, they charge you to put money ON your card).
ATM cash withdrawal at non-preferred ATM: $2.00
ATM balance inquiry: $1.00

Some card issuers charge you if you don't use your card – say $3 if you haven't spent any money in three months. All in all, fees can add up in a hurry.

But other problems exist in the market. Americans accustomed to having checking or savings accounts insured against loss may be in for a shock if their pre-paid card company goes out of business. The FTC does not insure deposits on pre-paid cards, and you could be out all of your money if your issuer goes bust.

For those who are trying to rebuild their credit, a pre-paid debit card won't help. Unlike a pre-paid credit card, the debit cards don't go toward any sort of credit rating. While pre-paid credit cards are a whole different subject, if you are trying to get your credit back, you're better off looking into a pre-paid credit card. These too, have advantages over the pre-paid debit card. With the credit card, if you have a dispute with a seller over a purchase, you have leverage and can, in some cases, file a claim against the card. With the pre-paid debit card, got a beef, you're out your money.

Aside from "pin number" protection for your money, a pre-paid debit card will probably do little to advance you financially, and could cost your plenty in the long run.

Forwarding mail: US Postal Service or private mail box service?

A full-timing couple we know spends the bulk if their time in Arizona. Come summer, the northern climate is a bit more conducive to their needs. They need mail service on "both ends," and for them, mail forwarding is a necessary evil. So which service to rely on? This little story may hold an answer.

Carl and Ann can tell you they've got experience with both. In Arizona they have a mail box at a local US Post Office. In Washington, they've hired a private mail box service. When in Arizona, the Washington facility forwards mail to their post office box; in summer the government boys and girls are supposed to reciprocate. Admittedly, the cost for the private service is a great deal more expensive. Renting a private box and the "service" that goes with it costs them $90 a year; the box rental on a similar sized box from the USPS costs about $40 a year. And "Uncle Sam," offers to forward all of their first-class and priority mail for free. From an economic standpoint, it sounds like the taxpayer funded arrangement should be a winner.

Here's where it can get sticky. Let's call it the case of the real snail mail. On leaving Arizona, Carl filed a "temporary change of address," with the Postal Service, asking for the family mail to be forwarded to their Washington address. That was in mid-July. After several weeks of checking the private service in Washington, finally, a single letter came through -- originally mailed in Southern California on July 25. It took four days shy of a month for a first class letter to make its way from California to the Washington address.

Thinking this a bit odd, Carl called the Postal Service to inquire. A half-hour of frustration and wait time later, Carl was told that the service's toll-free customer service people couldn't even find a forwarding order on file. Carl called back to the local post office in Arizona -- they found the order, and as far as they could tell, everything was A-OK. If you consider waiting A month for your mail, well, OK.

The couple has had the same private mail forwarding service in Washington for years, and with one or two minor exceptions, they've had their mail forwarded to them quickly and reliably. A phone call to the outfit, a minute or two on the phone, and their mail wings to them wherever they need it. Yes, they have to pay postage to have the mail forwarded to them -- that's courtesy of a government directive -- but like they say in the credit card commercial: "Six months mail box rental, $45. Postage for forwarding a week's mail, $3.50. Knowing where your checks and bills are, priceless."

RV trailer tire balancing: Is it worth the expense?

Tire balance may be one of the most hotly debated subjects among RVers. Motorhomers will agree, balancing tires on their rigs is critical--after all, it's a motor vehicle. But trailer tires? Perhaps the most frequent argument is: "I've never balanced my trailer tires, and I haven't seen a bit of difference. It's just a waste of money!"

Let's back up to why tires--in general--need balancing. Tires (and wheel assemblies) aren't perfectly symmetrical. There may be just a bit more weight here, or there. As the wheel assembly rotates, those slight differences can cause the tire to hop or wobble. Since this disturbance is caused by a lack of balance, the faster the wheel rotates, generally the worse the hop or wobble becomes.

In a car or truck, the driver may perceive the out of balance condition in the steering wheel. If the situation is severe, even the passengers may detect the out of balance condition. Since we rarely (if ever) carry passengers in a towed trailer, it's not likely to be noticed. But just because vibration and hop isn't noticed, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

An out of balance wheel that causes shaking, vibrating, or "tire hop," can have some nasty consequences: First damage comes in the form of tread wear, often seen in unusual tread wear patterns. The possibility of tread separation from the tire itself can't be ruled out, and tire separation at freeway speed can have some serious consequences -- we know, we "totaled out" a tow vehicle when a tire separated and tore apart a wheel well and did extensive body damage to one of ours.

Besides tire wear issues, out of balance tires can also negatively impact the axle spindle, wheel bearings, and suspension components on your trailer. Damaged spindles or bearings can lead to visually funny, but too often tragic, wheels coming off your chariot.

Finally, shake and vibration will be transmitted into the coach itself. Imagine having your kitchen cabinets hooked up to a paint shaker. Maybe the illustration is a bit extreme, but prolonged shaking and vibration can actually shake the interior components of your rig apart.

The few bucks charged for a dynamic spin balance on your tires can go a long way to reducing the bad consequences of out of balance tires.

Is Walmart out of touch its customers?

Is it just us, or does it seem that Walmart isn't as friendly a place as it used to be? We're not talking just about allowing RV overnighting in the parking lot. Much of that is dictated by forces outside of Walmart's control. We're talking about inside the store.

While the media carries the occasional rumbling about Walmart management having problems, it seems like a walk inside any Walmart proves up the problem. Got a product you regularly buy? Take their house brand sodas – Sam's Cola for example. We swore off caffeine and sugar in our soda's long ago. "Sam" drew us in with their sugarless caffeine-less brand. The taste took a bit of an adjustment, but after a while, it kind of grew on us, and pretty soon, it was a favorite. That was a few years ago.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago, and on our Wally shopping trips, tucking a half-rack of the cola on the cart was routine. That is, until Diet Sam's Cola started playing hide and seek. There was not particular scheme to the matter – in some stores there'd be an "open hole" on the shelf where the stuff should be, in others not even a shelf tag. Stockers would shake their heads, didn't know where it was. And it wasn't just cola that became elusive. Cereals, meats, non-food items, every department seemed to have spot-shortages of items we'd normally buy.

Sadly, store goods aren't the only things that seemed to have vanished at Wally World. One of us spent 20 minutes just waiting for a clerk in the electronics department the other day in a store in Arizona. A stocker suggested we ask for help in the photo department – and seemed mystified when she couldn't find anyone in the photo department or electronics either. With high-end tech stuff just waiting to be sold, it seems management would want to have somebody on hand to see to it the money gets taken.

But management, it seems, has its own problems. Needing an adapter for our computers, we checked on-line on the walmart.com site first, and happily the adapter we needed was "in stock" 40 miles away. We drove the trip, walked in, and after finally finding help, handed over a print-out showing the item we needed. The young man hoofed off and returned a few minutes later, confirming the adapter we needed was indeed on the shelf, but at almost double the price shown on the Internet. We took the item up to the "service desk" and asked about the discrepency.

We were told bluntly, and with no warmth, that the price on adapter was the higher one, unless we ordered it for store pickup. Of course, we'd have to wait several days for the item to be shipped from the warehouse. When we pointed out that the item was "ready to day," we were told, "You can order it today, sure, but it will take several days to get here," and basically told, "Take it or leave it." A Walmart computer right by the desk proclaimed we could order it (and obtain it "today"), but when we tried to complete the order, Walmart had disabled the payment options. Had we not really needed the adapter then, we would have taken the option of "leaving it." Instead, we paid the double-the-price.

In the parking lot we encountered a friendly door-greeter who, while on his break, went out of his way to offer to take our cart back to the store. We told him how much we appreciated the help that the store employees had given us, and wished that management was as helpful. "Hate to say it, but your managers are just plain rude," we commented. He looked heavenward for a moment, then returned his gaze and said, "Yep. And they're the ones that are supposed to be teaching us what to do."

In a different Walmart store we visited, one of our party couldn't hike the store on foot, he needed one of those handy electric rider carts. While the disabled parking spaces outside the store were largely vacant, inside we couldn't find a single "operational" rider anywhere. Sure, several "dead ones," but nothing in working order. When we went to the "service desk," to inquire, we got anything but service.

A frankly crabby service desk attendant who later identified herself as the store manager brusquely waved off our inquiry. They had plenty of carts, and if we couldn't find one that worked, too bad. "The carts are just a convenience for the customer," she told us in dismissal.

Is that so? It seems that with other places to go, maybe shopping at Walmart is just a courtesy to Sam and company.

We'd love to hear your thinking on this one. Are we being a bit harsh? What are you finding out about Walmart in your travels? Drop us a line at russ "at" rvtravel.com.

Show your support for farmer-to-consumer farmers' markets in the "I love my farmers market celebration"

Washington, DC, July 18, 2013 — Up-to-the-minute current state standings, as well as the top three markets celebrated in each state, are available today at www.farmland.org/rankings for American Farmland Trust’s I Love My Farmers Market Celebration.

Your pledge can help your farmers market earn national recognition. In addition to seeing which states are in the top five today, markets with the most pledges will be featured on an up-to-the-minute “100 Most Celebrated Farmers Markets” leader-board by the end of July.

The I Love My Farmers Market Celebration encourages consumers to pledge to support family farmers by visiting www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org and signing an online pledge form. A pledge is a commitment to spend $10 at your farmers market. Each week one participant and their favorite farmer will be selected to receive a free No Farms No Food® hat.

As Todd Gray, famed chef and spokesperson for the Celebration states, “It is critical to ensure our nation’s farmland is protected. By taking the pledge to spend $10 at your local farmers market through the I Love My Farmers Market Celebration, you are helping to ensure that family farmers are able to stay on the land. As someone who understands the value of fresh foods, I am proud to collaborate with American Farmland Trust to save family farmers and farmland.”

Just as Americans begin to embrace the advantages of local farmers markets, many of these markets may be in danger of disappearing. American Farmland Trust’s I Love My Farmers Market Celebration draws attention to a stark reality — once farmland is paved over, it is lost forever. Moreover, the farmland closest to urban centers is at the highest risk of being bulldozed.

American Farmland Trust’s I Love My Farmers Market infographic helps local food consumers go beyond their appreciation for fresh local food and see the bigger picture of how keeping farmers on the land benefits us all. The infographic can be downloaded and viewed at www.farmland.org/infographic.

I Love My Farmers Market Celebration is part of American Farmland Trust’s No Farms No Food® Campaign. The celebration marks the fifth year that American Farmland Trust has hosted a summer-long event to honor our nation’s hardworking family farmers and to raise national awareness about our bountiful farmers markets.

For more information on the I Love My Farmers Market Celebration or to pledge, visit www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org.

Find free events near your RV

When out and about in your RV, there always seems to be plenty to look at. Scenery pours by our windows, squirrels steal our lunch, neighbors back their brand new motorhomes into trees. But sometimes you want to do more than just look out the window. Sometimes you want to DO something.

If finances are standing in the way of DOING, then here's a trick you may want to latch onto. Find out what's FREE and DO IT. All across the U.S., plenty of outfits from museums to gardens, comedy clubs to live theaters roll out free stuff. It's just a matter of finding it.

Here's a sample of some FREE things around the country:

San Diego: Free comedy club routines. "The best up & coming comedians come to San Diego every Tuesday night! Here's the chance to see who's next in Comedy for absolutely no cover charge before 7pm. (Only $5 after) Hosted by Byron Bowers with new comedians every Tuesday!Full Bar & food available at great prices, come laugh the early week stress away!"

Chicago: Looking for a fun evening of FREE classical music concerts in the Chicago area?  Why not check out the Park Ridge FREE CONCERT include five concerts by Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony, a 50-piece ensemble made up of the finest free-lance professional musicians in the Chicago area.

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New Orleans: Who can think of "Naw-lins" and not think jazz? The Snug Harbor Jazz Club on Frenchmen Street frequently offers free shows on weekends. Acts include the Sweet Home New Orleans Trio at 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and other free gigs on Friday and Saturday at midnight. Check the monthly calendar before you go.

Seattle: They don't just guzzle coffee here, they do boats, too! Check out the Center for Wooden Boats because every Sunday the center offers free wooden boat tours (all run by volunteers) that will take you around Lake Union. On our ride, we got to stop to check out boats around SLU and, of course, the boathouses in the area.

Houston: Funk meets junk (cars?) in Texas. This free museum will make you feel instantly hip when you traipse on in.  The exhibits, including the cars, rotate every few months so you never know what you'll see.  The front is staffed with the sweetest, aging hippy volunteers who are only too happy to talk your ear off about art car culture and how the cars are put together.  

We could go on talking about free industry tours (and plenty of free eats and drinks where produced), music events, arts events, and whatnot. Finding them is all at your Internet equipped fingertips. Hit your search box and type in "free events" and the name of the closest larger city of interest. You may be able to drill down to smaller cities, but the likelihood of finding free events grows with the size of the town. You can also ring up the tourism center or Chamber of Commerce in nearly any town and ask away about what's for free in their area.

RV traveling? Bargain shop at Goodwill outlet stores

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Ever wonder what happens to the stuff that doesn't sell at a Goodwill Store? Wonder no more. After a few weeks, things that don't sell make their way to an outlet store. Sometimes these warehouse-like places are called Goodwill Outlet Stores, or they may go by another name. But why should any of this interest you? Because if you like digging for real bargains (and "digging" is sometimes literal) then an outlet store is your bag.

A lot of the stuff sold in  the outlet stores are sold, not by the item, but by the pound. Take clothing, or "textiles," as they're listed. You'll pick up all kinds of clothing and other textile items, often for less than $2 a pound. And hey, it's not all junk, among the tons of clothing that Goodwill processes every week, there are plenty of "missed" designer items and fabulous bargains. If not by the pound, then Goodwill whacks off a huge amount of the original, already-pretty-low, price. We're talking 75% less than "normal" Goodwill rates.

Depending on the outlet location, you may find the items sorted, but most often, you'll just find BINS of items. If you have the "digging for treasure" personality, you'll love digging around in the bins. If you're more of a "Felix Unger" sort of shopper, you're probably best advised to stay away from the outlets.

If you're ready to dig, here are tips from the "Bin Shoppers."

* Wear gloves and bring hand sanitizer. You never know what might be lurking in a bin that might be disagreeable.

* Set aside plenty of time, at least a couple of hours, to make your search fruitful.

* If you're clothes shopping, be aware, there are no fitting rooms to try on your treasures. Experienced bargain shoppers say they wear form-fitting clothes like tank tops and shorts and "try on" their finds right over their clothing.

* Don't limit yourself to the front of the store. These are the most picked-over bins, as it seems folks tend to be a bit lazy. Starting at the back of the store and moving forward may be more fruitful.

* Keep your "treasures" close at hand. Aggressive bargain hunters have been known to grab other shoppers finds.

* Be sure you like what you found – Goodwill has a NO RETURN policy.

These Goodwill bargain outlets are found all over the country. Visit this site for a state-by-state list.

Too good to be true? Rent a motorhome for a buck a day?

Ever wonder how RVs get from the manufacturing plant to the dealer? Most times the manufacturer hires a "transporter," a person who drives (or tows) the unit to where it's headed, and gets paid for his time.

Here's a twist on the scenario. RV rental firm, Apollo, wants skips hired transporters and is making an offer it hopes you can't refuse: Travel to the manufacturing plant on your own dime, and then pay them to let you drive the rig back to one of their rental locations in the west. Depending on your situation, it might be worth the effort.

Although touting, "As little as a $1 per night," this time of year, your rental under the Apollo "relocation program" will typically run $10 a night when picked up in May, and jump to $29 a night for motorhomes picked up in June. A glance at the company web offerings does indicate some rentals for $1 a night -- if you jump on the deal in a hurry.

Customers choose from for motorhome models, ranging in size from 25 feet to 31 feet in length. All are “ready-to-go” and come with a full tank of gas, kitchen items, including pots and pans, dinnerware, silverware and more, plus two sets of bedding items, including bed coverings, sheets, pillows and towels. A full propane tank is provided, as well. Drivers are allowed up to 2,500 free miles with a  maximum rental period of 14 days.  Additional days will be charged standard fees per night. Run over your 2,500 "free" miles and pay 40 cents a mile for the extra miles. And the company adds, "Other fees and charges may apply." Just what those could be aren't specified on the web site.

Right now Apollo is looking specifically for folks who'd like to pick up rigs between May 1 to 4 and June 2 to 4. In some instances, the company offers to rebate up to $500 in fuel charges for your trip, based on receipts in hand. To sweeten the deal, they offer an allowance for travel expenses from the airport to the pickup point in Decatur, Illinois, up to $100. We checked with a local hack driver, he said he'd lug a passenger from the Fort Wayne airport to Decatur for $35.

Interested? Count your expenses and visit the website here.

Save bucks on RV parts

If you do your own RV repairs, you know that RV parts can be pricey. It seems the minute those two letters, R and V are added to any kind of part, the price goes up. How can you squeeze your buck when part shopping?

First, don't be afraid to do a bit of comparison shopping. We have our "favorite" parts supplying guys, but we've found that our favorites aren't always the least expensive on everything. A recent foray into shopping on an RV toilet project illustrates it well.

We've had to "flush" our cranky old bathroom throne with a tin can of water ever since we bought the rig – a couple of years ago. Call it stubbornness or just not enough time, but getting around to replacing the flush valve just wasn't high enough on the priority list. Finally, after we had to do a floor job in the bathroom and the toilet had to be removed "anyway," we decided the flush valve just ought to be replaced. At the same time, we decided to stick a riser under the pot to make it a bit easier on tired knees when ascending from the throne.

In Quartzsite RVers flock to a "discount" RV parts seller called The Gambler, and we've been happy to do the same thing. A quick call to the outfit quoted $35 for the flush valve. This is the first half of the comparison part of the story. We'll put that on hold on roll out the second part: Think alternatives.

Knowing the specific part number we needed (looked it up on the Thetford web site), we then poked the part number in our Google search engine, hitting the "shopping" tab, and what came back? The usual RV-parts-on-line vendors, but a different contender. Amazon. Who would've thought the Internet bookstore would offer RV parts? Folks at The Gambler told us we'd better hurry to get their $35 "bargain," as they only had two left, Amazon called their bluff and offered us the same valve for $19.93. They also listed the toilet riser we needed for $40.00.

The price was right on that valve – if we could wait to install it for a few days. Now here's the second part on comparison shopping. Having been stung before by another local RV parts dealer, RV Lifestyles, we weren't so keen on another fruitless trip down the lane with them. But again, what's a phone call cost? "Lifestyles" had the flush valve for $17, and no waiting for delivery. We'd already abandoned the idea of the riser, deciding we could "wait" before spending another $40, but on picking up the flush valve at RV Lifestyles we found that riser for $29. 

And that "think alternatives" idea? Those little ancillary parts we needed for the install, the RV plumbing elbows, connectors, etc? Rather than buying them at an RV specialty dealer, a quick trip to Herbs Hardware Store found all we needed for excellent prices.