Camping Out, Plugging In
Resources for Full-time Rvers.

The New American Dream

No one knows how many RVers young and old have turned their lives into permanent vacations. But everyone agrees the number of people living the American dream by hitting the road is on the rise, with The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) estimating there are currently at least one million full-time RVers.

The good news is full-time RVing isn't a lifestyle just for the rich and famous.   Many full-timers do it affordably, with most and the typical full-timer is living off about $1,500 to $2,000 a month, including lodging, meals and attractions.

That means even people who aren't retired can enjoy the open road. In fact, people under 40 are one of the fastest-growing segments of full-time travelers, says Stephanie Bernhagen, author of Take Back Your Life! Travel Full-Time in an RV. "People are getting stressed out with their careers," she says. "They're realizing that they don't have to have all the material things, that they'd rather experience life."

In fact, the average age of an RV owner is now 48 and RV-owning boomers with families outnumber the traditional core market of those older than 55, according to RVIA.  

You're not alone in your love for RVs-- RV ownership is at an all-time national high, with an estimated 9.3 million on the road, accounting for nearly 10% of all vehicle-owning households in the United States. And ownership among 45- to 54-year-olds has grown by 25% since 1993 - more than any other age bracket.

Whether you're already a full-timer or making your plans to do so, this resource guide can help you avoid some of the bumps on the road to happiness.

Considerations Before Hitting the Road

RVs GAIN POPULARITY

Recreational vehicles are growing in popularity.

Shipments per year:
1995 247,000
1996 247,500
1997 254,500
1998 292,700
1999 321,200
Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association

Full-time RVing has it's challenges, but none are insurmountable.  Here are some common considerations, along with a few ideas to help make your life easier.

What will you do to keep in touch?

Thanks to technology, it's getting easier. Improved mobile phones and e-mail allow full-timers to stay connected, even while on the farthest reach of road. Handheld devices will download e-mail from pay phones anywhere. Messaging services allow travelers to leave recordings on their whereabouts. Since the introduction of national one rate cellular phone service the number of full-timers carrying phones has rapidly increased. Now full-timers are anxiously awaiting satellite Internet.

Where will you get your mail?

Many commercial mailing services will receive mail and hold it until full-timers call to have it sent to them. Typically, full-timers have their mail sent to a General Delivery address where they will be in a few days.

Some firms specialize in providing mail services for full-timers. Escapees RV Club is one of these firms. With more than 11,000 member families using this service, they are the largest mail service in the United States and possibly the world.

What if you get sick?

This is a major concern for many full-time travelers because many health insurance policies don't make it convenient for people who are away from home. Some even deny coverage. And while it's no fun to see the doctor at home, it's even worse when you're on the road.  Always carry your medical records with you and try to visit the same doctors by occasionally returning to the same city.  Also, do your best to prevent accidents and injuries.  One way to prevent back strain is to invest in a motorized cord and hose management system, like the Shoreline Reel line offered by TDI Products. www.tdiproducts.com

What will you do for storage?

Many full-timers agree that one of the hardest parts about life on the road is finding where to put the stuff you have and resisting the temptation to add more. Many people start out storing household items but most unload it all except for a few sentimental treasures.

Taking the Kids?

Letting kids miss school for an extended trip was once a big no-no. But not only is it becoming more acceptable, it's becoming easier.  If the kids are of school age, home schooling is a great alternative for practical learning experience.

If you're considering including children on your adventure, be sure they understand the etiquette of the road.  Begin by reviewing the campground rules as a family (these are usually provided on the back of the campground map or brochure received when you check in), and making sure everyone follows them (including yourself!). Be sure to respect quiet hours (usually from 10 pm-8 am).

Here are some other tips from experienced RVers:

• Impress upon children that RV sites are like yards, and that they shouldn't run between parked RVs in a campground.  Stay on trails, roads and empty sites.
• Make sure children know that restrooms and laundry rooms aren't play areas. Also, don't let them run water faucets indiscriminately.
• RV sites are generally close together, and RV walls are thin, so it's important to respect the park's quiet hours, which are generally from 10 p.m. till 8 a.m. If you pull into a campground late at night, or leave early, your neighbors will appreciate you doing so as quietly as possible. The children must understand that it is not appropriate to make noise during quiet hours.
• Practice common courtesy.  Abide by the golden rule and leave sites like you found them (or even better).

For more information:

http://www.familiesontheroad.com

National Homeschool Association.
513-772-9580 or www.n-h-a.org

Homeschooling for Excellence by David Colfax and Micki Colfax (Warner, $12.99).

Special Considerations for Disabled Travelers

If you or your traveling companion are disabled or have a chronic disease, trip preparation demands special skills and patience, particularly during the busy summer travel season.

Once adapted, a RV offers comfort and advantages for special-needs travelers, and may help avoid many challenges that air travel presents.

If you're traveling with your wheelchair or scooter, make sure your equipment is in good working order before you leave home. It's a good idea to have your chair serviced at home rather than trying to locate a repair shop in a different city.

Be sure to put your name and address on your wheelchair and on all removable parts before leaving home (you can use a sticky return address label covered by a piece of clear tape). Also be sure to bring any spare parts or a repair kit, especially if you have pneumatic tires).

Resources for Disabled Travelers

http://maxpages.com/enabledrver
an informational site for disabled RVers.

http://dbyeaw.com/htc/
The Handicapped Travel Club.

For more information contact Merle Young, 12555 antern Road, Fishers, IN 46038.

Mailto:mry@netdirect.net

www.disabilitytravel.com.
 

www.access-able.com
Access-Able Travel Service, P.O. Box 1796
Wheat Ridge, CO 80034. Phone: 303-232-2979

www.gimponthego.com
"Gimp on the Go," founded by Adam Lloyd, a quadriplegic since a 1983 sporting accident.

www.sath.org
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality
347 Fifth Ave., Suite 610, New York, NY.
Phone: 212-447-7284.

www.wildernessinquiry.org
Wilderness Inquiry
808 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.
Phone: (800) 728-0719.

www.miusa.org
Mobility International USA
P.O. Box 10767
Eugene, OR 97440
Phone (voice and TDD) 541-343-1284
Mailto:info@misua.org

www.nscd.org
The National Sports Center for the Disabled, offers winter and summer outdoor adventures.
(970) 726-1540.

Handicapped Travel Club5
929 Our Way, Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 966-7090.

A directory with information on RV accessibility for the disabled can be obtained by writing:

RVIA
P.O. Box 2999, Department P
Reston, Virginia 20195.
http://www.gorp.com/gorp/eclectic/disabled.htm

Other Books

Take Back Your Life! Travel Full-Time in an RV by Stephanie Bernhagen (Bernham-Collins, $19.95 plus S/H).  Call 800-247-6553 or amazon.com and Camping World. Other ways to order the book are listed at www.rvhometown.com.

Living Aboard Your RV : A Guide to the Fulltime Life on Wheels  by Janet Groene, Gordon Groene $16.95

Movin'On Living & Traveling Full-Time in a Recreational Vehicle by Ron and Barb Hofmeister (R&B Publications, $16.95).

Frommers Exploring America by RV, 1st Edition by Shirley Slater, Harry Basch (Paperback - May 2000) Price: $15.29 at www.amazon.com

2001 Trailer Life Directory : Campgrounds, RV Parks and Services (Trailer Life Directory, 2001) by Tl Enterprises Inc (Paperback ) Price: $19.36 at www.amazon.com

Your Home On Wheels, a Beginners Guide to Part Time or Full Time RVing by Carol Ray (Spiral-bound ) $12.95 at www.amazon.com

Home is Where You Park It by Kay Peterson (RoVers Publications, $12.95). Order at 888-757-2582 or www.escapees.com.

RV Owner's Handbook: The Complete, Illustrated Guide To Preventative Maintenance & Repairs (Woodall's) $21.95

Cooking Aboard Your RV by Janet Groene (Paperback - July 1997) $14.95

RV Having Fun Yet? : Comic Adventures in a Recreation Vehicle by Ray Parker (Paperback - October 1994) $12.95

Spirit of the Open Road by Peggi McDonald (Spiral-bound) $15.95

The RVer's Bible : Everything You Need to Know About Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Your RV by Kim Baker, Sunny Baker (Paperback - April 1997) $20.90

RVing Basics by Bill & Jan Moeller (Paperback - January 1995) $14.95
RV Repair & Maintenance Manual by Bob Livingston (Paperback - March 1998) $31.46

Other Resources

http://www.nps.gov/parks.html
National Park Service "Park Guide" that offers reservations, passes and volunteer information.  You can also search by your interests-there's something for everyone, from boating to dinosaurs to the Civil War.

www.escapees.com
Escapees RV Club. Help for people who travel full time in RVs.
888-757-2582

http://www.goodsamclub.com/
Good Sam Club

http://www.rv.net/resources/
Serving enthusiasts of the open road.

www.pocketmail.com
PocketMail. A service ($9.95 per month) that allows travelers to receive e-mail on a handheld device from nearly any phone in the world.
800-762-5386

www.coastresorts.com
Coast to Coast. Billed as the largest network of outdoor RV resorts and campgrounds. 800-368-5721

www.rvadvice.com/pets.html
www.petswelcome.com
for helpful information about traveling with pets.

http://www.rversonline.org/RV4Safety.html
for a wide range of safety tips.

www.rvsafety.com/state.htm
provides state-to-state towing laws.

http://www.rvnetlinx.com/
A source for RV-related information and links

www.maps.com
Maps.com is the premier online map store. Featuring over 3,500 maps, including travel maps, folded maps, wall maps, atlases, driving directions, address finder, and even digital maps for web and desktop publishing. If your looking for a map, Maps.com has it.

http://www.mapquest.com/
For maps and directions...world wide: Search for airports, US National Parks, area code maps, driving directions and scenic routes in the USA, and highlighted destination cities. Also, live traffic reports.

http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/
Check the weather report anywhere in the world. Intellicast World Weather. This site is owned and maintained by Intellicast.

Magazines

RV Companion
www.rvcompanion.com
800 382-0860

RV News
http://www.rv-news.com/

Bus Conversions Magazine
www.busconversions.com
714-799-0062

MotorHome Magazine
http://motorhome.tl.com/

RV Life
http://www.rvlife.com/

Trailer Life
www.trailerlife.com

Highways (Good Sam Club)
www.goodsamclub.com/highways

RV View
www.rvview.com

Brand Name Camping Clubs

Alpenlite Travel Club
P.O. Box 1726
Clackamas, OR 97015
(503) 698-4461

American Clipper\Owners Club
322 Cavanaugh Street
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 344-3750

Avion Travelcade Club
P.O. Box 624259
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96154
(530) 544-8285

Beaver Ambassador Club
P. O. Box 6089
Bend, OR 97708-6089
(541) 389-1144

Bounder United
3298 Anniston Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45248
(513) 922-3131

Carriage Travel Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 246
Millersburg, IN 46543-0246
(219) 642-3622

Cortez National Motorhome Club
11022 E. Daines Drive
Temple City, CA 91780-2901
(626) 444-6030

Country Coach International
135 E. First Street
Junction City, OR 97448
(541) 998-3720

Fireball Caravaners, Inc.
16339 Septo Street
North Hills, CA 91343
(818) 892-0861

Georgie Boy Owners Club
8650 S. E. 66th Circle
Trenton, FL 32693
(800) 262-5178

Foretravel Motorcade Club
1221 N.W. Stallings Drive
Nacogdoches, TX 75964
(800) 955-6226

Gulf Streamers Int'l RV Club
P.O. Box 1005
Nappanee, IN 46550-0905
(219) 773-7761 x3521

Holiday Rambler RV Club
600 E. Wabash
Wakarusa, IN 46573
(219) 862-7333

International Allegro Family Motorhome Club
P.O. Box 1457
Red Bay, AL 35582
(256) 356-0210

International Coachmen Caravan Club
P.O. Box 30, Hwy. 13 N.
Middlebury, IN 46540
(219) 825-8245

International Skamper Camper Club
220 Church Street
St. Marys, PA 15857
(219) 875-3246

Jayco Jafari International Travel Club
1660 Nash
White Cloud, MI 49349-9594
(616) 689-6370

Lazy Daze Caravan Club
4303 Mission Blvd.
Montclair, CA 91763
(616) 689-6370

National Collins RV Club
6575 Thames Drive
Gilroy, CA 95020-6774
(408) 842-6159

Newmar Kountry Klub
355 N. Delaware Street
Nappanee, IN 46550-0030
(219) 773-7791 x3251

SOI Club
3550 Foothill Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91214
(818) 249-4175

Starcraft Camper Club
P.O. Box 176
Osceola, IN 46561-0176
(219) 258-0591 x43

Supreme Travel Club
58800 Executive Drive
Mishawaka, IN 46544
(219) 258-0571

Wally Byam Caravan Club International (Airstream)
803 E. Pike Street
Jackson Center, OH 45334
(937) 596-5211

Wings RV Club
P.O. Box 171
Osceola, IN 46561
(800) 262-5178 x25

Winnebago Itasca-Travelers
P.O. Box 268
Forest City, IA 50436-0268
(515) 582-6874

Special Interest RV Clubs

Escapees RV Club
100 Rainbow Drive
Livingston, TX 77351
(888) 757-2582
www.escapees.com

Family Motor Coach
Association
(Motorhome owners only)
8291 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244
(513) 474-3622
www.fmca.com

The Good Sam Club
2575 Vista Del Mar Drive
Ventura, CA 93001-3920
(805) 667-4100
www.goodsamclub.com

Loners on Wheels
P.O. Box 1355
Poplar Bluff, MO 63902
FAX: (573) 686-9342

Family Campers and RVers
4804 Transit Road, Bldg. 2
Depew, NY 14043
(716) 668-6242

RV Elderhostel
75 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-1941
(617) 426-7788

National African-American RVers Association
P.O. Box 341
Somerdale, NJ 08083
(856) 784-6897
www.naarva.com

RVing WOMEN
P. O. Box 1940
Apache Junction, AZ 85217
(602) 983-4678

S*M*A*R*T
Special Military Active Retired Travel Club Inc.
600 University Office Blvd., Suite 1A
Pensacola, FL 32504
(904) 478-1986

The International Family
Recreation Association
P.O. Box 520
Gonzalez, FL 32560-0520
(904) 477-7992

The National RV Owners Club
P.O. Box 520
Gonzalez, FL 32560-0520
(904) 477-7992