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3 HOMEMADE TRAIL MIX RECIPES
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22
departments
CONTENTS
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EDITOR'S LETTER
Welcome TO RV
04
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H
i everybody! I am Mike from RVBlogger and the creator of RV Camping Magazine! We have a great lineup of exciting and helpful articles this month!
In this issue, we meet Marc and Trisha Leach from Keep Your Daydream! Marc and Trish have been full-time RVers for nearly 6 years. They have an amazing YouTube channel with over 450,000 subscribers that features RV lifestyle videos covering all sorts of topics like full time RVing with kids, cooking on the road and much more. We had the chance to interview them in this month’s issue. We also feature an article from Julie Chickery about how to plan your budget for full time or vacation travel in an RV! Julie and her husband Sean were full time RVers for many years and the information they share about budgeting for your RV travels is invaluable!
CAMPING MAGAZINE!
In this month’s RV Renovation section, we catch up with Amy Farrell from Flipping Farrell. They share all about how they purchase vintage campers and renovate them into gorgeous works of art! In this article Amy walks us through how she got started flipping campers and also shows us how she remodeled a 1976 Coachmen Cadet. This camper renovation is truly amazing! In our Are We There Yet? department, Craig and Bryanna Royale (Crazy Family Adventure) show us a little known beach town on the Florida gulf coast called Port St. Joe! The photos alone will have you making plans to visit the white sand beaches and clear blue waters of this hidden gem in Florida. With the chilly weather setting in The National RV Training Academy provides us with an article called 3 Hot Tips for Cold Weather Camping. If you enjoy camping in the late fall, winter or early spring you won’t want to miss this article and video! The folks at the NRVTA are real pros, and they are committed to training people how to service and use their RVs safely! And finally, in our RV Kitchen department we feature an article from Amanda Christian (Amanda Outside) who provides us with some easy to make trail mix recipes perfect for any camping or hiking trip! We hope you enjoy the Magazine and share it with your friends! Mike at RVBlogger
CONNECT WITH US AT RV CAMPING MAGAZINE DISCOVER EVERYTHING RV ON THE RVBLOGGER WEBSITE EMAIL RVBLOGGER LEARN SOMETHING NEW WEEKLY ON OUR RVBLOGGER CHANNEL SEE WHAT WE’RE DOING ON FACEBOOK CHECK OUT OUR RV CAMPING FOR NEWBIES GROUP FIND US ON INSTAGRAM
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OCTOBER 2021 VOL.1, ISSUE 5
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3 HOT TIPS FOR COLD WEATHER CAMPING
S
ome folks like to extend their camping season into the late fall and even winter! But what if you end up in a sudden freeze like we experienced in Texas in February of 2021? This was a situation where freezing rain fell quickly and coated the outside of RVs with a layer of ice. If this happens your dauber screen could be covered by ice and not allow any exhaust from the furnace. A dauber screen is a screen that keeps mud dauber wasps and other insects from entering into your RV. When this happens, your furnace will come on for about 15-20 seconds and shut itself off because of the air blockage. If the dauber screen has frozen over before the furnace can come on, there is a safety mechanism in place preventing the furnace from coming on and staying on if there is no air flow. So be sure your dauber screen is free of snow and ice before you turn on your furnace. Now let’s talk about getting water into the RV. Your fresh water hose is not protected, and you’ve only got about 1/8” wall encasing the water, so it’s going to freeze. The best thing to do while camping in cold weather is before the water hose freezes, fill up your fresh water holding tank. When your holding tank is full it takes much longer for that amount of water to freeze. Of course, if you have tank warmers you’ll definitely want those switched on, and of course turn on your furnace. You can also purchase a heated water hose! There’s an old adage we follow in our homes when the temps go below freezing, which is to open up our faucets and allow them to drip. The problem we encounter with constant dripping is we can slowly fill the gray tank. But, if we open up our gray tank valve to avoid overflowing and allow it to drip through the sewer hose, then the sewer hose will freeze too. The best thing that we can do (aside
OCTOBER 2021
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NUTS AND BOLTS
“To keep your D.O.T. propane cylinder warm, we can wrap them in Reflectix along with a blanket to keep the propane tank as warm as possible. ” from allowing the water faucets to run all night), is put water in the fresh water holding tank, open up the cabinets and use the furnace as much as possible. Keeping the furnace on will keep the water lines inside the RV warm and help prevent a freeze up situation. What if we run out of propane trying to heat our RV? If you’ve got a motorhome, you have an ASME tank, and we can use what’s called an Extend-A-Stay to connect to an extra propane tank to get additional propane into the furnace system. The question is, how do you get additional propane whenever you run out without unhooking everything and driving to a location where you can refill your propane tank? You can hook up an Extend-A-Stay and run it off a D.O.T. cylinder but you need to keep the tank as warm as possible to get proper propane flow. RVBLOGGER.COM
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To keep your D.O.T. propane cylinder warm, we can wrap them in Reflectix along with a blanket to keep the propane tank as warm as possible. As we all know, propane will not release from the tank when it’s very cold outside. And when it’s really cold the furnace can actually outrun the rate of propane vaporization from the tank. If you would like to be able to fix the majority of the problems on your RV, or let’s say you want to open a business and become a certified technician or inspector? Head over to our website at www.nrvta. com, select the programs tab and get started today!
The National RV Training Academy
The National RV Training Academy is the premier licensed career school for RV Technicians and RV Inspectors and provide training for RV Owners. For more information about the National RV Training Academy, Call (903) 386-0444 or visit www.nrvta.com.
OCTOBER 2021
RV GEAR
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P
ortable campfire devices are becoming popular with public and private campgrounds. They harmonize with the Leave No Trace Principles the National Park Service adopted in the 1980s. Propane versions are allowed during Level 1 fire bans. In the past few years, up to 90% of all wildfires started from human influence, so finding the right enclosed fire pit for your budget, storage bay, and RV lifestyle lets you enjoy the campfire tradition while minimizing the risk of a wildfire.
PORTABLE CAMPFIRE IDEAS
WHAT ARE PORTABLE CAMPFIRE DEVICES? Portable fire pits create controllable fires that are virtually smokeless and minimize the impact on the environment. They come in wood-burning, propane, or other alternative fuel sources and have a variety of sizes. Many have attachments and accessories that make them useful for cooking.
BY RVBLOGGER
Backpacking hikers can use a wood-burning portable fire pit the size of an 8-cup coffee carafe with a raised pan holder to make breakfast. Those living the #VanLife can hook up a modest-sized propane-burning version when boondocking to enjoy the night. A fifth wheel RVer can set up a tub-sized enclosed fire pit for the camping club to gather around for the weekend. Wood-burning versions prop up the wood on a grill platform. This allows the device’s air openings to oxygenate the fire underneath. Wood pits also have aeration openings at other levels for further air support. They let the fire fully breathe, minimizing smoke and requiring less wood. As a result, your fire will give you those tall yellow and orange flames efficiently. Propane-burners hook up to 20-30 pound tanks. The hose has a regulator on it to adjust the amount of gas to flow through. You’ll find aeration openings on the side of the device and the brass fitting by the regulator for the flame height. The natural-looking OCTOBER 2021
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log piece not only helps with a realistic look but also helps with heat distribution. Propane-burners can still be used during level 1 fire bans unless the campground or other authorities tell you differently.
GREAT EXAMPLES OF PORTABLE CAMPFIRE PITS AND STOVES 1. CONTAINED WORD-BURNER: SOLO STOVES In 2011, Solo Stoves launched in Dallas, Texas. Using their mantra, “Create Good,” they developed stainless steel portable fire pits and camping stoves for outdoor spaces. Their unique design aerates a wood-burning fire above and below, making it efficient and producing low to virtually no smoke. The fire pits come in three sizes: the small Ranger, popular Bonfire, and massive Yukon.
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• Fire pits come in different sizes. The biggest one is best! • The company offers bundles and accessories for cooking and storage. • A buy-good-once level price, but your grandkids can use it when they buy their first RV
2. COMPACT ALTERNATIVE FUEL BURNER: CITY BONFIRES During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Maryland Natives, Chris McCasland, and Michael Opalski reignited their careers by turning chafing dish warmers into soy wax burning mini bonfires. You can buy their products in various scents or in tabletop s’mores bundle kits that include the ingredients, roasting sticks, and mini bonfires. • It comes in S’mores bundle kits. • They offer a variety of scents. • Designed and priced for a weekend excursion
“During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Maryland Natives, Chris McCasland, and Michael Opalski reignited their careers by turning chafing dish warmers into soy wax burning mini bonfires.”
OCTOBER 2021
3. BIG NAME PROPANE BURNER: CAMCO LITTLE RED CAMPFIRE Camco’s Little Red Campfire is a propane burner that measures 9.5 inches in diameter. Inside the metal lid carrier, you’ll find the raised fire pit with a realistic log display. The eight-foot-long hose with an adjustable regulator connects to a 20-30 pound propane tank. For a bigger display, choose the Big Red Campfire that measures over 13 inches in diameter. • Works on a 20-30 pound LP tank • Has a stovetop attachment to hold a pot or pan • Built and priced to last years
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KITCHEN
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rail mix is a classic hiking and road trip snack!
Not only does it taste delicious and satisfy all the crunchy, salty, sweet cravings at once, but it’s also easy and fun to make your own combinations.
3 Homemade TRAIL MIX RECIPES
Store-bought trail mix can get expensive, and it’s often loaded with far too many peanuts in my opinion. When you make your own trail mix, you can make it exactly how you like it. Between these 3 trail mix ideas, you’ll have a really good variety of flavors and combinations to choose from for your next adventure. Let’s get started!
WHERE TO BUY TRAIL MIX INGREDIENTS? I like to get my trail mix ingredients in the bulk section of my local grocery store.
BY AMANDA CHRISTIAN
Shopping in the bulk section allows you to get the amount that you need and it’s often a lot cheaper.
Tip: I
like to use these reusable Re-Zip bags for storing homemade trail mix! They’re lightweight, durable, and they seal really well.
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If you live near a Sprouts grocery store, they have the best bulk section! All of these recipes are totally customizable, so feel free to experiment and change the quantities of ingredients. Love mango? Add in more dried mango! Don’t like cashews? Swap in macadamia nuts! Homemade trail mix is great to have as a snack on hikes, but it’s also perfect for a quick snack on busy days at home too. EVEN MORE TRAIL MIX RECIPES FROM THE BLOG: •Tropical Trail Mix •Maple Cheddar Trail Mix • Strawberry Banana Coconut Trail Mix Make a big batch today and enjoy!
About the Author Amanda Christian runs the outdoor blog and YouTube channel Amanda Outside where you’ll find tips for car camping, tons of delicious camp recipes, and resources for planning your next hike or camping trip. Go from confused and overwhelmed, to confident and adventurous in the outdoors! Learn more on her blog at Amanda Outside.
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1. Classic Trail Mix GORP (good old raisins and peanuts) gets a little boost with some pretzels, walnuts, and peanut M&M’s. MAKES: 3 cups INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup peanut M&M's 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts 1 cup mini pretzels (or “tiny” pretzels) 1/2 cup walnuts halves, raw DIRECTIONS: 1. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and toss to mix. Store in an airtight container.
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2. Fruity Trail Mix This trail mix is packed with dried fruit and nuts. The dried fruit is sweet and energizing while the nuts have some protein and fat to keep you full on the trails! MAKES: about 3 cups INGREDIENTS: 1/3 cup banana chips 1/2 cup dried mango, chopped 1/3 cup dried apricots 1/2 cup almonds (use can use raw or roasted) 1/2 cup yogurt covered raisins 1/2 cup cashews, raw
DIRECTIONS: 1. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and toss to mix. Store in an airtight container.
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3. Dark Chocolate Pecan Trail Mix Calling all dark chocolate lovers - this one is for you! MAKES: about 3 cups INGREDIENTS: 1 cup chocolate covered almonds 1 cup pecans halves, raw 1/3 cup dried cherries (or cranberries, or raisins) 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, raw 1/3 cup dark chocolate chunks* (or chocolate chips)
DIRECTIONS: 1. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and toss to mix. Store in an airtight container.
Tip: Since
there’s chocolate in this trail mix, it’s possible that it will melt on hot days outside! Skip it, or swap in some dark chocolate M&M’s instead, if you don’t want to deal with melted chocolate!
OCTOBER 2021
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Meet Marc OCTOBER 2021
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
& Tricia
FROM KEEP YOUR DAYDREAM BY SARAH KUIKEN
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OCTOBER 2021
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
M
arc and Tricia have always done things a little differently—like when they moved into a travel trailer with three teenagers and a dog and set out to see the country (before it was cool). Today, they’re well-known in the RV community for keeping things fun, flexible, and fresh. They currently travel in an Airstream and—as of recently—a 1984 Blue Bird Wanderlodge, but they’ve had every type of towable you can think of, from tiny teardrop to fifth wheel toy hauler. Their YouTube channel Keep Your Daydream has almost 450k subscribers and millions
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of views. They’ve created a podcast, an online course, and a supportive online community of RVers—and that was just the beginning. In the past year alone, they started a free health challenge for RVers (KYD55), produced an online educational resource (E3 Camping), and launched a new cooking venture (TriciaLeach. com). In other words, to say that they’re busy people is an understatement! They sat down with us to share the latest about what they’ve been up to, and what’s next for KYD.
YOU TWO HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON! WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT THESE DAYS? We just launched Tricia’s cookbook, Small Space, BIG Taste. We’re thrilled to have this cookbook out in the world because it was a huge labor of love. Everything we do comes from our community, and the concept for this cookbook came directly from them. Tricia cooks a lot, and whenever people see her food in our videos, they ask us to
“In other words, to say that they’re busy people is an understatement !” OCTOBER 2021
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“Marc and Tricia have always done things a little differently— like when they moved into a travel trailer with three teenagers and a dog and set out to see the country (before it was cool).” OCTOBER 2021
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share the recipes. We didn’t realize until after we started working on the cookbook just how hard that project would be! Usually, Tricia will just use what’s in the kitchen or available fresh at a farmers’ market to create our meals. Once she had to start measuring ingredients and writing things down, it became a whole new challenge.
term travel literally comes from the food you eat. Since we’ve basically been fulltime RVers since 2016, cooking healthy meals is a big part of how we travel. For us, good food is a way to keep our energy going. And when you have a family with lots of different people and energy levels, especially when three of them are kids, keeping your energy going is critical.
New Orleans, that kind of thing. But that got expensive fast— especially buying snack food and meals for five people when we were out exploring. So we had to reel that in. Cooking and eating healthy helps us keep our budget in check.
YOU’RE CLEARLY VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD AND TRAVEL. HOW DO THOSE THINGS COMBINE FOR YOU?
SPEAKING OF CHALLENGES, EATING HEALTHY ON THE ROAD IS A STRUGGLE FOR LOTS OF RVERS. HOW HAS YOUR FAMILY TACKLED THAT?
DID YOU ALWAYS APPROACH FOOD ON THE ROAD THAT WAY, OR DID YOU ADJUST OVER TIME?
RVing is a sensory experience. You’re using all five senses, and your endorphins are running high. One of the things that keeps you going is taste.
For families who camp once a month or a few times a year, there’s usually a vacation mindset. People want to eat hot dogs cooked over a campfire and that kind of thing. But vacation eating is different than all-thetime eating, and the fuel for long-
We’ve always cooked a lot at home, but we ate out quite a bit during our first six months on the road. We wanted to try all the different regional specialties we’d heard about: deep-dish pizza in Chicago, lobster rolls in New England, beignets in
We’ve also found that local grocery stores and farmers’ markets are a great way to experience a town and get to know the people there. You can learn so much about how locals live from what they eat.
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MEET MEETMARC CHADAND ANDTRICIA TARA
Understanding a place through food is a really unique and fun way to explore an area, especially a place where the traditions are very different than what you’re used to at home.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP FOODIE DESTINATION SO FAR? Mexico, hands down. Everything
is so fresh that it’s just an explosion to the taste buds. Cooking is done with just a few ingredients, so you have to get really creative with how you combine them to create new flavors. Margaritas are a great example. After being in Mexico for a few weeks, we started making them
“Mexico, hands down. Everything is so fresh that it’s just an explosion to the taste buds.”
RVBLOGGER.COM
with just honey, limes, sparkling water, and tequila. They’re incredibly simple, and they taste amazing!
YOU’RE MAKING US HUNGRY! ARE THERE ANY MORE FOODRELATED ADVENTURES IN THE WORKS? There’s definitely more to come! We have a lot of hobbies, and we’re really excited to share this one. We just launched Tricia’s YouTube channel, which is all about tasting wherever we’re going. We’ll be working with people to create new recipes and explore different places through
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food, which is something we’ve enjoyed as RVers. We’ve got lots of videos planned where we talk to people who do what they do with food very well. We boil everything down (pun intended?) so you can get these really fun, bold flavors in a tiny RV kitchen. It’s a way to take part of a place away with you when
outdoor kitchen
you leave. You can check out the cookbook and KYD Spice Blends at TriciaLeach.com.
LOTS OF NEW RVERS HAVE TROUBLE ADJUSTING TO A SMALL KITCHEN. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT COOKING IN A SMALL SPACE? OCTOBER 2021
Honestly, the challenge makes it fun. You have to get creative about how you prep and what you make in a small space. Plus, cleanup is easier! You’re only using one small little square of countertop instead of an entire home kitchen, so there’s less mess. Also, grilling outside and sitting
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
“Grilling outside and sitting around a picnic table is pretty hard to beat. Since RVers can chase good weather, we can do that year-round.”
around a picnic table is pretty hard to beat. Since RVers can chase good weather, we can do that year-round.
WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU ABOUT COOKING?
family all together. Part of the reason we launched when we did was that we only had two more summers with Victoria before she graduated from high school. So those moments with our kids felt extra precious.
The smiles! We’re all just trying to steal moments in our lives, especially with kids. Dinner is the time that we can steal with our
For us, meals are that moment of connection that’s hard to find in everyday life when everyone is RVBLOGGER.COM
so busy. Cooking and RVing are both about stealing moments together.
SPEAKING OF TOGETHERNESS, FULL-TIME TRAVEL CAN BE ISOLATING AT FIRST. HOW HAVE YOU FOUND WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER RVERS? We’ve been fortunate enough
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WHAT RESOURCES DID YOU FIND MOST HELPFUL WHEN YOU WERE RV NEWBIES? Honestly, just talking to knowledgeable people. We’ve made a lot of mistakes (which you know if you watch our channel). We don’t try to hide them because we think it’s such a valuable learning experience, for us and for anyone watching. Hopefully our viewers won’t have to make the same mistakes we did! What we’ve tried to do with E3 Camping is to create a source of information online where people can learn everything they need to know about RVing in one place. There’s a lot of information out there, and not all of it is equally valuable. We want to help people start off on the right foot and learn everything we wish we’d known when we got started.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP PIECE OF ADVICE FOR ASPIRING RVERS? Start Small, Start Now. We say that all the time. As Jim Rohn says, “Life is brief, even at its longest.”
“What we’ve tried to do with E3 Camping is to create a source of information online where people can learn everything they need to know about RVing in one place.” OCTOBER 2021
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
RVBLOGGER.COM
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OCTOBER 2021
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
“We want to see and explore all this beautiful world has to offer.”
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“Start Small, Sta all the time. As Ji brief, even at its lo OCTOBER 2021
art Now. We say that im Rohn says, “Life is ongest.”
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
RVing can look however you want it to look: weekend warrior, part-time, full-time, or anything in between. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing, and you don’t need the “right” RV or the “right” moment to get started. Now is the right moment. We get emails all the time from RVBLOGGER.COM
people who have spent decades planning the perfect trip in the perfect RV, and then suddenly someone has a health issue and travel isn’t possible anymore. When you start now with what you have—even if it’s just a few weekends a year in a car and a tent—you start making memories.
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OCTOBER 2021
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
“When you start now with what you have—even if it’s just a few weekends a year in a car and a tent—you start making memories.” RVBLOGGER.COM
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Moving your dreams forward isn’t about perfection. It’s about action.
WHAT DOES RVING MEAN TO YOU AFTER 6 YEARS ON THE ROAD? We’ve always said that your RV should serve you. At first, RVing was about places for us. Now it’s about people and experiences. An RV is a tool to help get you closer to the things that make you happiest. For us, that’s exploring new places and spending time together as a family.
DO YOU LIVE BY ANY PIECE OF ADVICE OR MOTTO? Did we mention Start Small, Start Now? That’s what Keep Your Daydream is all about. Sometimes it just takes someone in your corner cheering you on and telling you it’s okay to do something outside of the box. That’s what we strive to do with every project we take on. We hope that people feel like they can handle whatever life throws at them, because they’ve seen someone else go through it. They’ve seen the ups and downs RV life through someone else’s eyes. That’s why we show everything that happens to us, including the embarrassing and not-so-fun stuff, like tearing off our awning in Season 1 or breaking two OCTOBER 2021
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MEET MARC AND TRICIA
“ An RV is a tool to help get you closer to the things that make you happiest.”
windows in New Zealand. (For the record, only one of those was our fault!) Also, we’ve learned a lot from YouTube about not making things a bigger deal than they need to be. Understanding that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and being okay with that, has kind of become a superpower for us.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR KYD? Being with the community and just figuring out how we can get out there and help people make important moments happen in their lives. That’s been our mission since the beginning. We love RVing and travel—and we love a lot of other things, too. At the end of the day, we want to cheer people on. We want to help them get out there and make their dreams happen. We’ll always be working on new ways to do that, because that’s our dream. RVBLOGGER.COM
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HOW to
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BY BRIAN NE
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How to
Budget
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FOR RV TRAVEL BY JULIE CHICKERY
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oney. We all need it, but we hate to talk about it. In fact, most people are worried about being judged for having too much money, not making enough money, or not managing their money well. That’s why when you search around the internet for how to afford fulltime travel, you get a lot of very basic information that just skims the surface without any deep dives into the topic. And that’s where this article is going to be different. I’ll talk about budgeting, saving, earning, and putting a little away for a rainy day. By the time you finish reading this, I hope you’ll have no doubts about how you can manage to live your RV travel dreams whether they include full-time travel, extended trips, or weekend getaways.
CREATING A REALISTIC BUDGET A budget is only helpful if you use it, and the best way to do that is to make it personal. What that means is you are going to have to spend some time thinking about what your RV travel dreams look like. Everyone is different. We all have our preferences and if you don’t consider them when you create your budget, you’ll never be able to stick to it.
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So, let’s take a look at some of the expenses that every RVer has and how they may vary from person to person. The Most Variable Expenses: Fuel, Campgrounds and Entertainment Every RV traveler experiences these three costs: fuel, campgrounds, and entertainment. However, the amount you spend in each category can vary quite a bit. The first is fuel. Motorized RVs aren’t known for great fuel mileage, neither are trucks that pull towable RVs. Typically, the larger the RV, the less miles per
gallon you’ll get. But it doesn’t stop there. Budgeting often works best if done in advance on a monthly basis. So, ask yourself when planning for your fuel allowance, how many miles do you plan to travel in a given month? Then you can use an app or website like Gas Buddy to estimate how much gas will cost in the area you plan to travel to next month. This is highly variable. Right now, the difference between regular gas in Tampa, Florida and San Diego, California is $1.67 per gallon. In a 30 – 50-gallon tank, that adds up! You can also use Gas Buddy to check the price of diesel and propane. OCTOBER 2021
Free Entertainment - Tucson Bike Paths
Don’t forget your “driving around town” mileage as well. We have a fifth wheel, which means we have the extra expense of a gas guzzlin’ truck as our daily mode of transportation. Our fuel expenses range from $300 – $800 per month. The good news is we are always in control of that and there are ways to save, which I discuss later in this article. The next variable expense is campgrounds. Now you might be thinking, “I’m not going to stay in campgrounds. I want to boondock!” We really enjoy boondocking too. However, I don’t know many people who do it exclusively so you’re probably going to need a line item in your
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“Every RV traveler experiences these three costs: fuel, campgrounds, and entertainment.” in advance by making a list of activities for each destination and then we prioritize so we can stay within our allotted budget.
RV life budget for campgrounds at least some of the time. The cost of campgrounds also varies significantly. You have public campgrounds like state parks, national parks, and Corps of Engineer campgrounds that can be fairly low cost, typically around $20 a night. I say typically because it also varies depending on the part of the country. For example, two state parks in the Florida Keys are $48 a night. Privately owned campground prices typically vary depending on location, amenities, and season. We’ve stayed at a small mom & pop campground with no frills in Arkansas for $26 a night and Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness
Resort for $136 a night (and that isn’t even their most expensive site). I think entertainment expense is one category that ends up busting the budget for many RV travelers. That is because you’re traveling the country, ending up in a bunch of really cool places and if you’re like me you want to do ALL the things you can! One of our first RV trips was in Sarasota, Florida. We went zip lining and parasailing, we visited the Ringling Museum, and we paid $10 a day to park at the beach. Needless to say, that did not continue after we tallied the receipts. Now we budget RVBLOGGER.COM
The great thing about the budget is that YOU make all the decisions. You decide how far you want to travel, how often you want to boondock or splurge on RV resorts, and how much you want to spend on fun and games. The most important thing is that you make these decisions in advance. The Most Overlooked Expenses: Storage & Maintenance When planning for RV ownership there are two expenses that are often overlooked and those are storage and maintenance. And it is important to know that neither are cheap. If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association or even a city with strict
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parking ordinances, you may be disappointed to learn that you can’t park your RV at home. This means you are going to have to find a place to store your RV. As with all the other expenses mentioned so far, there are variables in storage as well. A basic space in a fenced lot with no power can run you as little as $50 a month, but if you live in a population-dense area it can be more than $100. We learned this when we purchased our first fifth wheel while living in the suburbs outside of Washington DC. If your storage includes power or is located indoors, you’ll want to budget a lot more money for this expense. Also, if you haven’t purchased your RV yet it is worth noting that many storage places charge by the foot. So, the larger the RV, the greater the storage bill.
Even with repairs that are covered by warranty you may have outof-pocket expenses that aren’t covered. Be sure to read the fine print on your insurance policy and extended warranty. There is Waterfront for $26 a night at COE CG
Maintenance is an expense category that is overlooked because of manufacturer and extended warranties. The thing you might not realize is that it is highly unusual for a warranty to
“The cost of campgrounds also varies significantly. You have public campgrounds like state parks, national parks, and Corps of Engineer campgrounds that can be fairly low cost, typically around $20 a night.” OCTOBER 2021
nothing like a big repair bill to ruin a good vacation. In addition to preventive maintenance and repairs, don’t forget annual winterization and dewinterization. The bottom line is, make sure to include a line item in your budget for maintenance. You can estimate your annual cost, divide by 12 and put that amount away each month.
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REDUCING YOUR EXPENSES At this point, you may be feeling a little discouraged thinking that you might not be able to your RV camping dreams. Never fear! There are many ways to reduce some of these expenses. • FUEL – The biggest tip I give
people is to use Gas Buddy. This will allow you to find the best deals on gas, diesel, and propane in a local area. When we were in Tucson last year, the price of diesel varied by $0.80 a gallon in a 5-mile area. We also saved significantly on propane by driving a mile instead of filling it at the campground. Remember, if it is convenient,
it typically costs more. When you are on the road, you can save on fuel by slowing down. There are some studies that show if you cut your speed by 10 miles per hour, can improve fuel efficiency by up to 25%, particularly with a diesel engine. • CAMPGROUNDS – You can
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RV CAMPING obviously save on campgrounds by avoiding them and boondocking. But if you’re a glamper like me that won’t work all year. We save on campgrounds by staying a little longer. Many privately-owned campgrounds have discounted weekly and monthly rates. And I’m talking BIG savings. One RV resort we really liked was regularly $60 per night, but with the monthly rate, the cost was $21.33 per night! Some campgrounds have different rates depending on where you are located within the park. Sites at Boyd’s Key West Campground vary by $46 a night based on if you are waterfront or not. • ENTERTAINMENT – One great way to save on entertainment is to find the free stuff. Go hiking or bike riding, enjoy free outdoor summer concerts, and always Google “free museum nights” for the city you’ll be near. Most have a night a month with free or reduced entry. Some do it weekly after 4 pm. You can also use the Groupon app or website to find discounts on activities in every city in the country. My favorite activity on the coast is going to the beach, but parking can really add up, so we try to stay at state parks that have their own beach or stay at a private campground close enough to ride our bikes.
MAKING MONEY ON THE ROAD This section is for those folks who want to hit the open road full-time
or take extended trips without having to return for work. Unless you’re independently wealthy or win the lottery, you’re probably going to need to continue earning some income. The good news is that it has never been easier to work remotely. Here are just a few examples to show you how realistic it really is. • KEEP YOUR CURRENT JOB – This is what I did when we decided to sell our house and OCTOBER 2021
live in our RV for several years. I was not working remotely at the time, but I knew it was possible. I went to my boss with a proposal about six months in advance so we could give it a trial run while I was still in the local area. Now that so many people have been working from home due to the pandemic, it might be even easier for you! • FIND A REMOTE JOB – If you aren’t currently in a position
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“A popular and often seasonal way to earn money on the road is by working for campgrounds or seasonal employers like Amazon, Pumpkin Patches, and even farming (ever heard of the Sugar Beet Harvest?).” businesses. Just know that starting a business usually entails many more hours in the beginning than you may be working in your 9-5. It is very rewarding and will ultimately result in more freedom and flexibility, but it doesn’t typically start that way.
Work Remotely While Traveling
that can be performed remotely, do a skills assessment to determine what might be a good fit for you. This is what my husband did. He was managing a hospital laboratory and obviously couldn’t do that from halfway across the country. So, he updated his resume with the skills and experience he had accrued over the years and found a remote laboratory quality control position.
• START A BUSINESS – If you want your time to be more flexible, you may want to consider starting your own business. I did this after 3 years of working from the road as a proposal manager. Basically, I started my own LLC and started doing contract work for the same company I had been working at. Some people use their skills to work as a consultant in their field. Others start completely new RVBLOGGER.COM
• WORK CAMP – A popular and often seasonal way to earn money on the road is by working for campgrounds or seasonal employers like Amazon, Pumpkin Patches, and even farming (ever heard of the Sugar Beet Harvest?). There are both full-time and part-time positions to be found across the country. You choose what works best for you.
BUDGETING RESOURCES Hopefully, this article has helped you see that you can afford RV travel no matter what type of camper you are. All you need to do is just a little planning, and you’ll be able to create a realistic budget that fits your RV lifestyle. If you’d like more detailed resources to help you prepare, you’re in luck. I’ve created two different programs:
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• BUDGETING FOR RV VACATIONS - This guide is filled with more than 30 pages of tips and worksheets to help you create build memories that will last a lifetime without breaking the bank. Whether you rent or own, plan to travel for weeks at a time or enjoy weekend outings, we can help you get on the road to adventure!
your relationship with money, create a strategy to control your finances more effectively, customize a realistic full-time RV budget, and develop a strategy to get out (and stay out) of debt.
• FULL-TIME RV FINANCE This is an in-depth financial management program for those who want to live a life of full-time RV travel but aren’t sure if they can afford it. It is designed to help you explore
About the Author Julie Chickery and her husband, Sean, started traveling in their RV full-time after they each served 20 years in the US Air Force. Having lived in more than 10 states and 4 countries, the Chickery’s decided it was time to explore the rest of the United States. They manage Chickery’s Travels, an educational and inspirational blog aimed at helping people realize their RV travel dreams.
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HOT, STICKY & SWEATY IN YOUR RV? YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE. You have boondocked, guest-docked, or lot-docked on hot, humid nights. And before now, to stay cool, you needed a big, noisy gas generator (that kept you awake all night) to reliably activate your RV’s A/C units. Those days (and nights) are over! Now, you can start up your RV air conditioning easily, consistently and quietly with a SoftStartRV™ soft starter! Typically, a 2200-2500 series gas generator puts out 2.2-2.5 kilowatts of power and runs small and medium-sized appliances like dorm-style refrigerators, coffee makers, and small microwaves. With the SoftStartRV A/C power management system, you can use small gas generators like the Honda 2200i to power an RV’s A/C unit when you directly plug in your travel trailer.
Will SoftStartRV run my RV A/C on low power? Yes. A SoftStartRV high-performance soft starter powers up all RV A/Cs with smaller gensets – meaning less cost and less weight for your RV travels.
Key SoftStartRV advantages: • Start two A/Cs* on one 30-amp hook-up • Start one A/C with a small generator • Start your A/C on a 20-amp house circuit • Start your A/C with an onboard inverter * Requires one SoftStartRV unit per air conditioner.
The SoftStartRV is a smart, effective, lightweight, low-cost solution that keeps you cool and reduces the “clunking” compressor start-up noise. Its energy management technology reduces air conditioner start-up power demands by an amazing 70%. Since your Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) is always an issue, the SoftStartRV measures 6”x3”x3” and only weighs 2 pounds.
The best SoftStartRV features based on customer reviews • Starts RV A/Cs with a small generator (2200 series generators) • “Best In Industry” warranty included in the price • Small and light, barely affecting your CCC • FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the USA & Canada • Complete installation kit with all needed parts to fully integrate the product • Free online installation videos, guides and directions • LIVE tech support, real-time installation, and tech install ticket support • LED status lights: start, run, and fault • Built-In start capacitor • Waterproof case
Can I use SoftStartRV on my Motorhome or Travel Trailer?
huge energy spike required to activate the compressor.
may see a reduction in your A/C power shedding too.
The SoftStartRV works on any rooftop RV air conditioner. You could have a teardrop camper with a single 11,000 BTU air conditioner, a luxury Class A diesel motorhome with three 15,000 BTU A/C units, or anything in-between. The SoftStartRV power management system makes cooling your coach easy, allowing you to run more appliances.
Typical 13.5 or 15K BTU RV air conditioners can jump to 52 amps at activation. The massive amount of power is like flooring your gas pedal on your motorhome. Doing this to the A/C snaps the compressor awake, kick starts the fan and other A/C components. That’s why you hear “thumps” and feel the trailer “shake” when the unit starts.
The SoftStartRV comes with a RiskFree 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee of Satisfaction. It also comes with a 1-year Manufacturer’s Warranty.
Why RV Air Conditioners Need So Much Power Mike Sokol of RVelectricity.com, a long-time electric specialist in the RV world, compared a typical RV air conditioner start-up to an A/C unit with the SoftStartRV. He proved that the product drastically reduces the
By registering your SoftStartRV product online, the warranty can be extended for an additional year. The second year of warranty protection gives you the same manufacturer’s warranty protection during the first year.
With SoftStartRV, the power management technology gradually increases power, peaking around 24 amps. Then the compressor wakes up gently, the fan activates at its mid-cycle amperage, ultimately reducing power usage up to 65-70%. You
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7 Steps to
Winterize YOUR RV PLUMBING SYSTEM BY MARK POLK
RVBLOGGER.COM
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The RV plumbing system is the most vulnerable system to damage caused by plummeting temperatures. The good news is it is easy to protect the RV water system from this potential threat. Here are my top 7 steps to winterize your RV plumbing system. Before you get started there are a few items you will need. These items can be found in most RV parts stores: • Non-toxic RV/Marine
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02. 01. Drain Water Heater 02. Low Point Water Drains
antifreeze. The amount depends on the layout and length of your plumbing lines. Two to three gallons will normally do the job. • A water pump converter kit or tubing to connect to the inlet side of the water pump. • Basic hand tools to remove and install drain plugs. Step # 1: If you have any inline water filters remove and bypass before OCTOBER 2021
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t is always sad to come to the realization another camping season is winding down. Depending on where you live, part of this realization is preparing the RV for winter storage so it will be ready to go camping again next spring. A major part of winterizing your RV is to protect the RV water system from potential damage, caused by exposure to freezing temperatures. Frozen and damaged water lines are in fact the most common problem related to not winterizing your RV, or not properly winterizing your RV.
BE SURE TO READ YOUR OWNER’S MANUALS FOR UNIT SPECIFIC WINTERIZING GUIDELINES. FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW THAT APPLY TO YOUR RV.
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“The RV plumbing system is the most vulnerable system to damage caused by plummeting temperatures.” not forget the toilet flush valve and outside shower if equipped. Locate and open the low point water drain lines. Use the water pump to help force most of the water out of the system but turn it off as soon as the system is drained to prevent damaging the pump. Recap all drains and close all faucets.
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Step # 3: By-pass the water heater. If you do not by-pass the water heater it will fill up with RV antifreeze before it goes through the water lines, wasting six or ten gallons of RV antifreeze.
CAUTION:
04. NEVER DRAIN THE WATER HEATER WHEN HOT OR UNDER PRESSURE. WITH NO WATER CONNECTED TO THE RV AND THE WATER PUMP OFF, OPEN A HOT WATER FAUCET TO REMOVE ANY PRESSURE ON THE SYSTEM. ALLOW THE TANK TIME TO COOL BEFORE DRAINING.
starting. Drain the fresh water holding tank. Drain and flush the gray and black water holding tanks at an approved RV dump station. If the RV doesn’t have a built-in tank flushing system clean the black tank using a tank cleaning wand. Drain the water heater. Open the pressure relief valve and remove the drain plug. Step # 2: Open all hot and cold faucets; do RVBLOGGER.COM
03. Pump antifreeze from jug 04. Antifreeze at bathroom faucet
Step # 4: Install a water pump converter kit or disconnect the inlet side of the water pump (the line coming from the fresh water holding tank) and connect tubing from the water pump inlet into a onegallon jug of RV antifreeze. Step # 5: Turn the water pump on and pressurize the system. Starting with the closest faucet to the pump, slowly open the hot and then cold valves until the red colored RV antifreeze appears.
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“Consult your owner manuals for winterizing icemakers and washing machines.” 05. Replace the antifreeze container as required. Repeat on all faucets from the closest to the farthest away. Do not forget the outside shower. Step # 6: Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears. Pour a cupful of antifreeze down each drain. Pour some RV antifreeze in the toilet and flush into the holding tank to prevent any remaining water in the tank from freezing. If your water heater has an electric heating element, turn it off, this will protect the element if the unit is plugged in while in storage. Make sure all faucets are closed.
05. Antifreeze at toilet
About the Author RV expert Mark Polk coowns and operates RV Education 101, an RV video and information company that produces and sells RV online video and e-book training courses. Since 1999, RV Education 101 has helped educate millions of RV owners on how to safely and properly use and maintain their RVs.
Step # 7: Consult your owner manuals for winterizing icemakers and washing machines. The plumbing system is winterized. Now, next spring when it is time to head out in the RV you won’t have any unpleasant, not to mention costly, surprises waiting for you.
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any of us have an index of must-see RV bucket list destinations, right? We certainly do! Chances are there’s a pile of places that you’ve always dreamed of visiting but never imagined would become a reality.
Port St. Joe FLORIDA’S LITTLE KNOWN BEACH TOWN BY BRYANNA, CRAIG, CARSON, MELIA, CANNON AND KNOX
Below we share our top recommendations on what you will want to do when you visit Port St. Joe located in Gulf County Florida. This area is also known as the Forgotten Coast and we see why. The beaches were empty, and it was nowhere near the crazy busyness you find in other beach towns in Florida. Port St. Joe is located on the Florida panhandle about an hour east of Panama City. Gulf County includes Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Port St. Joe, St. Joe Beach and Wewahitchka. Below is our list of things to do in Port St. Joe so you can relax and enjoy this hidden gem of a beach town!
BONFIRE ON THE BEACH Having a bonfire on the beach always sounds like a great idea but the hassle of doing it may make it not happen. Not in this case! A company we found called Going Coastal Cabanas and More gets everything set up for you on the beach. Chairs, a cabana, fire pit, logs, fire starter and even s’mores. All you have to do is show up!
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ALL ABOUT FUN CHARTERS Head out with Captain Charlene from All About Fun Charters for an awesome boat adventure on the bay! We went out in December so it was a bit chilly, but perfect when the sun came out and no one else was on the water. If you go in the warmer months, Captain Charlene will take you to her favorite snorkeling spot where the kids can snorkel in 2 feet of water and find all sorts of sea critters in the crystal clear water! We also saw a pod of about 15 dolphins when we were out on the water and they stayed and played and put on a show for us for 20 minutes. Captain Charlene is also able to put together custom tours if you would like her to take you to a picnic spot only accessible via boat or if you had something else in mind. Just give her a call and you can figure it out!
HAPPY OURS Rent kayaks or paddle boards from Happy Ours and put them in right at their house/shop located on St. Joe Bay. We didn’t realize that the water was so clear and shallow which made us, and the kids, feel totally safe on the kayaks. OCTOBER 2021
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Plus, you can see everything right in the water! Our guide was able to tell us all about what we were seeing and to teach us about the history of Port St. Joe! They also rent bikes – which would be fun to take on the bike trail that runs along the Cape.
KAYAK FISHING PORT ST. JOE Ever been kayak fishing? We hired a guide named Brad from Kayak Fishing Port St. Joe. He can take you on an ecotour in the kayaks or take you out fishing! He was super knowledgeable and it was a great way to learn more about the bay and the area.
OFF THE MAP EXPEDITIONS Head out to Wewahitchka, Florida and Dead Lakes State Park! This is a really interesting lake with trees growing straight out of the water. You can head out on a pontoon boat with Off the Map Expeditions for a tour to check it out. Or you can go on a guided kayak tour. I highly recommend doing a guided tour. It turns into a maze back there and I can see how you could easily get lost. You can also see osprey, eagles and a variety of other birds. When the weather is warm you may see an alligator or 2 too!
SEA TURTLE CENTER The Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center is new to the area and it is exciting to visit and hear what they are planning to do. There are a lot of sea turtles in the bay and the RVBLOGGER.COM
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gulf side is a big nesting area for them from May through October. You can learn more about the sea turtles in the area and how we can all protect them. Plus, they share a variety of volunteer activities that you may be interested in participating in.
ST. JOSEPH BAY GOLF CLUB If golf is your thing you will want to head over the St. Joseph Bay Golf Club. The course was nice and also challenging. We were easily able to get a tee time on a Sunday at 11am and had a great time one the course.
CAPE SAN BLAS LIGHTHOUSE We checked out the lighthouse from afar but did not go up it. It is definitely a Port St. Joe landmark and it was fun to point it out when we were out on a boat on the bay too!
GENERAL STORE AT WATERS EDGE RV If you are looking to pick up a few supplies for the day you will want to check out the General Store at Water’s Edge RV Park! They have a good beer and wine selection along with supplies you will need for fishing or playing at the beach.
BEACHES When you are here you will want to explore all of the beaches. Both on the bay side and on the Gulf of Mexico side. You will find waves crashing and shells to search through. Here is a breakdown of the beaches in the area: OCTOBER 2021
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“When you are here you will want to explore all of the beaches. Both on the bay side and on the Gulf of Mexico side.” RVBLOGGER.COM
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ST. JOSEPH PENINSULA STATE PARK You know we always love a State Park and this one did not disappoint! St. Joseph Peninsula State Park offers a hiking trail and also 2 beaches. One on the Bay side and one on the Gulf of Mexico side. They have restrooms and a shop by the beaches. This is a great place to spend the day.
WINDMARK BEACH Located just east of Port St. Joe, Windmark Beach has a nice paved walkway to get to the beach and the water was very calm. It has beautiful white sand and is perfect for hanging out at the beach for the day and then grabbing dinner at one of the restaurants in the area.
ST. JOE BEACH Another option is St. Joe Beach which is located further east. It is across the street from a playground and the Gulf County Veterans Memorial Park. The shore of St. Joe Beach is beautiful and has that nice soft sand.
SALINAS PARK BEACH This is a public parking spot where you can choose to park on the Bay side or the Gulf side. We definitely prefer the Gulf side when we are beaching it! The beach is huge and filled with so many amazing shells. Better
“It is a great place to catch a sunset too. I have also heard it is great for a dark night sky capture.”
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than any shelling I have done anywhere else!
DONNA KAY SHIPWRECK From Salinas Park beach you can walk 5 1/2 miles round trip to the Shrimp Boat Shipwreck. It is a nice hike and you can do shell hunting the whole way. It is a great place to catch a sunset too. I have also heard it is great for a dark night sky capture. If a 5 ½ mile hike seems a bit far you can also access this from a beach further up the road. It is not marked but on the left hand side of the road if you are driving on the cape towards St. Joseph Bay State Park. There are a bunch of big rocks and a small opening where you can see the water and the beach. You can park on the side of the road here and walk to the shipwreck from there. I would say it is about 1/2 a mile to the shipwreck from here. This is also a cool beach since it is filled with tree trunks!
WHERE TO EAT IN PORT ST. JOE There are a variety of great restaurants in the area. We highly recommend trying Oysters while you are here and any of the local caught fish.
UPTOWN RAW BAR AND GRILL While in this area you have to try the oysters and Uptown Raw Bar and Grill is the place to do RVBLOGGER.COM
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it. They offer oysters raw, baked and grilled along with shrimp and other seafood options. It is located on the main street in downtown Port St. Joe. We tried the oysters and they were delicious! We recommend getting them baked.
KRAZYFISH GRILLE A popular spot off of highway 98, Krazyfish Grille offers indoor and outdoor seating. They have a variety of different seafood options – Craig really liked the fresh caught Snapper.
They also have a kids menu and a good selection of burgers and salads.
PETER’S PIZZERIA If you are looking to feed the whole family with a couple pizzas, Peter’s Pizzeria is the place for you. The pizza’s and slices are huge – which OCTOBER 2021
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got a passing grade from our kids! On top of being a huge pizza it was also yummy and they have a variety of unique flavors.
SAND DOLLAR CAFE If you are looking for a southern comfort food style breakfast, then Sand Dollar Cafe is the place for you! When you come in, they have servers right there and you can tell them what you want and they get a plate together for you so can start eating right away. They also offer a “to go” option. The breakfast was great, and our kids’ plates were clean when they were done!
They also have a lunch menu and both indoor and outdoor seating.
SHAGGY B‑AY SUPER CLUB The Shaggy Bay Super Club is located at the St. Joe Bay Golf Club mentioned above. You can sit inside or outside – overlooking the golf course. They have a good selection of sandwiches and salads and a full bar. We also heard they have a very good Sunday morning brunch option. RVBLOGGER.COM
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PIGGLY WIGGLY When in Port St. Joe you will most likely want to do a picnic on the beach at some point. Piggly Wiggly is the perfect place to pick up all your supplies. They also have a delicious Sushi shop inside so you can grab a prepackaged order or place a custom order for sushi.
WATER’S EDGE GENERAL STORE If you are heading out towards Indian Pass, Water’s Edge General Store should be a stop you make. You can pick up some snacks, beer, wine and also fishing and beach gear. The general store is also part of the Water’s Edge RV Park. It is always nice to have a store like this at your RV park!
WHERE TO STAY IN PORT ST. JOE PRESNELL’S RV PARK If you are coming in with an RV, then Presnell’s RV Park is an awesome place to stay! We got a spot right on the bay and the sunsets we saw at night right from our RV windows were amazing. They also have a heated swimming pool and the location is great since you are just 5 minutes from downtown Port St. Joe and about RVBLOGGER.COM
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5 minutes to Cape San Blas for the Gulf Beach. Our spot was also a good size and nice and level and our hookups were in good condition! If you want to stay in the Panama City Beach area (about an hour away), check out Emerald Coast RV Resort.
About the Author Bryanna, Craig, Carson, Melia, Cannon and Knox sold everything, bought an RV and have been traveling fulltime around North America since May 2014. If they aren’t out climbing mountains, hiking to a waterfall or playing at the beach they are most likely at the local donut shop trying to find the best donuts in the US! They write about things to do with kids at the destinations they visit, road trips, full time family travel and working from the road at www.crazyfamilyadventure.com. Bryanna published a book: Full-Time RVing With Kids - An Insider's Guide To Life On The Road to help other families get on the road.
They also have a Podcast where they talk about their life of full time family travel and a YouTube channel where you can see what their life is all about and the cool places they visit. Bryanna also started: www. VirtualPowerhouse.com where her and her team do Pinterest and social media for small businesses. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
OCTOBER 2021
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GORGEOUS
Vintage CAMPER
RENOVATION!
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t all began in 2017 with a weird idea to flip a camper before it was the “cool” thing to do. The previous year, I left my O.B. nursing career to work with my husband at our family-owned auto garage. Working in the office allowed me the flexibility to be home with our five children. However, the transition from working the overnight shift for three years in the fast-paced nursing field to sitting in an office had me craving more. Initially, I thought flipping small campers would be easy to manage and cheaper than flipping houses. I still remember a few nay-sayers laughing at my idea, but that didn’t stop me. Instead, it lit a fire inside of me, making me want to do it more.
Earning Our Stripes With a 1981 Shasta My first camper restoration was a 1981 Shasta. Once I listed it for sale on my personal Facebook page, it went viral. I had hundreds of people from all over the U.S. contacting me. The response was overwhelming; people reached out to our business, my husband, and even our older children wanting to buy the travel trailer. As a smalltown Iowa girl, I never thought I’d receive national interest and loving support.
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Despite Wanting a Break, My Husband Caught the Restoration Bug After the Shasta project, I was ready for a break, but my husband Ryan caught the RV restoration bug and was already looking for another RV project. We found a 1976 24-foot Coachmen Cadet for sale. The listing said it had many new updates (although when you look at the initial photos, “new” is not the word I would use). When we looked at it for the first time, we saw that it had good bones. After our Shasta restoration experience, I could tell that this Cadet had tons of potential.
The History of the Coachmen Cadet The Cadet Series was one of the first models Coachmen made when Coachmen made its debut in the RV Industry. For the 1967 and 1968 model years, the Cadet came in two 14-foot floorplans. There was a three-year hiatus, but from 1972-1979, the Cadet Series became one of Coachmen’s best travel trailer series for middle-income families. The RV manufacturer offered between 1-4 fifth wheels in the Cadet Series in the last four years. In 1978, three mini Class C motorhomes carried the series name. The Cadet came in 10 mini Class C floorplans, 4 fifth wheels, and 13 travel trailer layouts for the series last year of production in 1979. Coachmen offers an electronic copy (PDF) of the original owner’s manual on their website for their RVs going back to 1967.
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“Initially, I thought flipping small campers would be easy to manage and cheaper than flipping houses.” Demolition Doesn’t Mean Destroy When we first started demolition, we labeled everything we removed, even those parts and materials we weren’t planning on using. So when you mark cabinet doors, knobs, screws, hinges, dinette benches, etc., it saves a lot of time and frustration when you’re putting the puzzle pieces back together. I can’t stress this enough; save everything since it’s difficult to find replacement parts for older RVs. People reach out to me all the time because they have gutted their rig and can’t find new parts for windows, doors, tables, etc. They didn’t save the original OCTOBER 2021
materials or ruined them in the demolition process.
Replacing Damaged Pieces Once we pulled out the kitchen cabinetry and the dinette, we discovered that the Cadet needed more work than we anticipated. The original metal underbelly rusted through in a few spots, so we ordered aluminum sheets to save on weight. First, we removed the rusted-out metal and reinforced what was still in good shape. Then we placed the aluminum on top for additional protection.
Guarding Against Leaks As we continued forward, my husband and I worked on the
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travel trailer when our schedules allowed. Ryan spent a lot of time replacing rotted wood pieces that had water damage and sought out openings where water could seep through. It can be discouraging chasing down all of the active water leaks, but we played it safe by re-sealing every seam. First, we removed all of the old and loose caulk around the air conditioner, vents, and edges on the roof. Then, we added a fresh rubberized roof coating and new caulk around every edge and seal for the most secure seal. The windows are another big concern for water intrusion, so we always clean out the old caulking and give them fresh sealant. If you find caulk globed on year after year, it’s best to remove it all and reapply a new coating. We use a clear paintable caulk when resealing RVs, but other versions, like silicone caulk, work just as well.
An often overlooked easy maintenance tip for windows is cleaning out the weep holes with an air hose. Dirt and debris build up in the opening, causing water leaks. Adding additional layers of butyl tape between the sidewall and window frame may be necessary to solve an active water leak too. Chasing down active water leak sources can be a daunting task. It’ll take some trial and error to find where the water is coming from and how to fix it properly. I make it sound simple, but it took us a few months to find them all. However, we never rush a restoration project, especially when searching for water seepage issues. Once we knew we sealed them all, we moved on to the next step in the rebuilding process.
Rebuilding the Interior Weight plays a large factor when rebuilding classic campers, so it’s always a critical factor when OCTOBER 2021
choosing new materials. We used paneling and ¼ inch plywood strips for the shiplap kitchen section for the interior walls. It weighs less than the original RV panels. After adding new insulation, wiring, and plumbing, Ryan installed the new walls and ceiling. Meanwhile, I was in the garage preparing the kitchen cabinets and cupboard doors for paint.
Prepping and Painting Painting anything on the interior of your RV is a huge undertaking. I can’t stress enough the importance of properly preparing all the surfaces correctly. In fact, you’re going to spend more time doing prep work before adding the final touches that you want. Sometimes I have to force myself to complete the prep work (sometimes I have to use my “nagging mom” voice on myself), but I look at it as an RV vacation; the journey is part of the trip.
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RV CAMPING Every RV restorer has their own methods and favorite products, so here’s what I use and what works best for me. 1. I begin by lightly sanding the cabinetry, doors, hinges, knobs, and interior walls with medium-light grit sandpaper to rough up the surface. 2. If the cabinet doors have any cosmetic damage, I fill the area with wood filler and resand it. 3. I wash everything sanded with TSP (Trisodium Phosphate). It comes as a powder that you mix with water. 4. Once dry, I wipe everything down with a dry cloth to ensure there isn’t any dust or residue. At any point, if I feel like my work is getting sloppy or I start cutting corners, I stop what I’m doing and take a break. Renovating travel trailers is a hobby, so if I start to become overwhelmed, I take a step back. When we listed the 1976 Coachmen Cadet (sorry, it’s no longer for sale), the advertisement included new paint as one of the updated features. Only the easily accessible areas were painted with two coats of Zinsser brand oil-based primer. Hard to reach spots, behind the cushions, the top of the walls, and the bottom near the floors didn’t get primed. We did replace most of the walls, but looking back, I would’ve primed everything the right way. I like using Sherwin Williams oil-based paints because OCTOBER 2021
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it finishes rock hard. You don’t have to use oil-based versions, but I’ve used it for other projects, so I go with what I know.
primed it, painted it black, and added a heat-resistant clear-coat with chrome accents. We finished up the restoration in quick order installing the furniture, appliances, and other main components. Ryan focused on the rear, while I completed the front section.
When it’s time to paint, I always take temperature into consideration. Much of our work is done in humid summers or frigid winters. Humidity and extreme cold affect the drying time for paint.
Restoring the Restroom
At this point, I can see my vision come to life. For the Coachmen, the stove was in great shape, but the passe 1976 gold oven/range combo clashed with the paint and new countertops. As a moneysaver, I sanded off the gold, then
I love all of my restorations, but I absolutely adore how the bathroom turned out on the Coachmen Cadet. We used Dumawall interlocking PVC tiles that are lightweight and waterproof; making them perfect for bathroom walls. We applied OCTOBER 2021
Simply painting the aged yellowed features in the bathroom, updates the space with a fresh clean look. It’s a budget-saving technique that lasts for years.
the tiles to the new ¼ inch plywood with Liquid Nails and used brad nails in the corners. While Ryan created the bathroom walls as my canvas, I prepared and painted the vanity, toilet, and sink that became the focal points of my decor artistry. Simply painting the aged yellowed features in the bathroom, updates the space with a fresh clean look. It’s a budget-saving technique that lasts for years.
Finishing Inside With the Flooring Our last task was installing the flooring. We chose the peel and stick vinyl wood laminate. It’s
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“If you plan to get into RV restoration as a hobby or want to go pro, my best piece of advice is to research everything.”
Now for my favorite part, DECORATING!
Conclusion People always ask how Ryan and I work all day at the garage together, come home, work on the RVs, raise five children, and do other businesses together. My answer comes naturally: We are a great team until we try cutting shiplap together, that’s where we draw the line (lol).
a great weight-saver, comes in every color imaginable, but like painting, the adhesive sticks best in an ideal temperature range. To ensure the best adhesion, we rolled a very thin coat of additional glue on the subfloor before we laid out the tile and placed weights on the slats to get the best bond possible.
Shining Up the Shell With the interior complete, we moved on to updating the exterior with a fresh coat of paint. You read that correctly; you can paint the outside of your rig! We removed the decals with a decal remover wheel and used a heat gun occasionally for those stubborn
spots. If your RV has a glossy shine to it, it could have a wax coating that you’ll need to sand off. The Cadet’s paneling was in rough shape, so we started with a light power wash and scrubbed it with a large brush. Our younger kids like to help with this part since it gives them an excuse to play with bubbles and they get to feel involved in the project. Once it’s dry, we continued with two coats of extreme bonding primer from Sherwin Williams. Then, we moved on to 2-3 layers of paint (depending on the color) of Sherwin Williams Super Paint Series (again, during ideal temperatures). OCTOBER 2021
I’m currently working on a 1979 24-foot Winnebago and 1960 13-foot Texson. We also have three other travel trailers waiting for their turn, so there’s a lot more coming up. If you want to see more, check out our website Flipping Farrell to see the before and after pictures of our restorations. As we complete each RV project we list them for sale. You can also find some of my work in Sarah Lemp’s book, All Things Camper Renovating. If you plan to get into RV restoration as a hobby or want to go pro, my best piece of advice is to research everything. I watched countless YouTube videos, read blogs, tutorials, etc. I took lots of notes from a lot of different sources.
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The Newest
We had a chance to catch up with Ryan Brady, coowner of Alliance RV, to learn all about the newest line of their 5th wheels. When we spoke with Ryan, we learned that they developed this product after crowdsourcing with their loyal and devoted product owners, known as Allies.
ALLIANCE RV BY
y now everyone knows that Elkhart, Ind.based Alliance RV has expanded its product lineup with the introduction of the Avenue, a mid-profile fifth wheel.
Ryan explained that many of the design innovations in the Avenue were the direct result of their customer driven approach to listening to their customers experiences, wants, needs and desires to guide the design of the all new Avenue 5th wheel. Ryan discussed its unique 101-inch-wide body construction, fully laminated floor, Azdel sidewalls, performance running gear enhancements,
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innovative storage solutions, carpetless interiors, flush-floor slides, HVAC upgrades, and a fresh interior décor as key differentiators. The Avenue ranges from 9,500 to 11,700 pounds (UVW) and offers a unique combination of luxury and towability. The initial floorplan lineup consists of three floorplans, with plans to expand the lineup in the future. Ryan was kind enough to do a video walk through of the Avenue 30RLS with us. The bright and open design is unique and refreshing and the video shows it off along with many other great features! We continue to be impressed with Alliance RV’s excellent designs, customer service, attention to detail and unwavering determination to, as Ryan puts it, “do the right thing.”
OCTOBER 2021
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