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Camping season is upon us and that means it’s time to dust off the camping gear and start planning, including what meals you’re going to have at the campsite. My parents used to take my siblings and me RVing to national parks. The most memorable part, aside from seeing the national wonders, was always the food.

Mom and dad would cook up the best Korean dishes that would inevitably lead campground neighbors to our campsite asking what we were cooking. The aromas of grilled meats on the camping griddle like pork belly, marinated beef, vegetables, and kimchi were hard to resist. And I think most people are surprised by the variety of Korean dishes that can be made at the campsite.

As most outdoor enthusiasts know, food always tastes better outdoors. Korean food particularly tastes amazing while sitting around a campfire. The smokey smell and all of the flavors meld together perfectly.

To recreate some of my favorite dishes, I fired up the Blackstone Griddle which has been a practical addition to our RV cooking lineup. There’s a lot of real estate on that griddle top so it’s a great way to cook for a crowd or make meals to last a few days. Plus the powerful, adjustable heat allows me to sear, saute, fry, and keep food warm. There really is no limit to what you can cook on a flat top griddle.

Here are four easy, delicious Korean-style recipes that you can cook on a griddle. Acquire your own griddle for your campsite and save these recipes for your next trip.

RV owners like us are lucky. Finding the coolest camping destinations in July and August is pretty easy. With a tank of fuel and one turn of the key, our homes on wheels carry everything we need for a summer escape away from hot spots to a cool river, mountaintop or breezy beach. Endless choices make pinpointing a destination tricky, but these trip ideas can help you winnow down your options.

Where Are the Coolest Places to Camp in July and August?

Finding reasonable summer weather is tough. Most of us will put in a few hours of driving to reach the coolest place to camp in July and August. Historical weather data shows the five coldest summer states in the U.S. also happen to be filled with excellent RV camping destinations, too. The five best places to stay cool camping in summer are: Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and Alaska.

These cool summer states are geographically immense. Each state gives you tons of camping choices from busy national parks to remote coastal destinations. Whether you can only book a quick getaway somewhere in the west, or you’ve got time for a longer journey to the far north, one of these great summer RV destinations is practically guaranteed to keep you cooler than where you’re standing now.

Oregon

I can’t help but feel grateful when I look out my window today. As I write this story, it’s nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit just a few hours south of where I’m camped in Oregon. But out here, the dense tree canopy is protected by gray and cloudy skies that keep me cool and happy.

Navigating RV dealers can be intimidating. There are hundreds of RVs for sale in different makes and models. Every detail seems to matter: kitchen layout, bathroom details, front living versus rear living, and then there’s the age-old debate of buying a used RV versus spending top-dollar on a new model.

If you’re leaning towards buying a used RV, you’re in good company. There’s plenty of value in used RVs, and some look like the previous owner barely took them camping. If you buy a used RV from Camping World, you’re assured that the RV has gone through a thorough reconditioning program, which we’ll highlight below. 

Why Buy a Used RV?

But first, here are some reasons to buy a used RV and tips on how to get a good deal. And to help with your search, you might enjoy this checklist for buying a used RV!

1. Used RVs Can Save You Money

This is the most obvious reason to buy a used RV. You can save money by buying it outright and avoiding monthly payments altogether. Or, you can save by financing a smaller amount and lowering your monthly payment.

Financing is a part of the RV buying process that can be stressful, so check out this guide to RV financing to prepare and reduce that stress! 

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Where are they going? Well, they’re probably going to the bathroom. It happens to all of us. Honestly, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in any home and RVs are no exception. So how do you make sure the room that works harder than any of the others stays fresh? Yes, with air freshener, but also by updating it. Check out these 10 RV bathroom renovation ideas that will have everyone lining up for their turn.

White Oval Bathroom Sink

17″ x 20″ Oval Bathroom Sink

A dirty, outdated, old sink that you just can’t seem to scrub clean is a real RV eyesore. Update your bathroom with this white oval bathroom sink. Remember to always measure your existing sink before replacing it. This one comes in at 17-inches by 20-inches. The fresh white basin will have your bathroom looking crisp and clean immediately after installation. Instant gratification – it’s a beautiful thing.

Shop all RV sinks.

Dura Faucet Classical Arc Spout RV Lavatory Faucet

Dura Faucet Classical Arc Spout RV Lavatory Faucet, Brushed Satin Nickel

With a new sink comes a new faucet; upgrade yours with the Dura Faucet Classical Art Spout. Designed with the classic two-lever, dual handle style so adjusting the temperature and water flow is easy and straightforward. The brushed nickel finish dresses up an otherwise bland area of the bathroom. Even if you’re not updating your sink right away, simply switching out hardware, like the faucet, can give it a brand new look and feel with very minimal effort and a small budget.

Shop all RV faucets.

Choosing a campground will be one of the first things you do when starting to plan an RV road trip. But it can be hard to know where to look for a campsite, and many factors can dictate where you can stay: your RV’s length, the duration of your stay, campsite amenities, and how much you would like to spend will influence your campground selection.

Fortunately, many campground options exist for all budgets and travel styles—each with strengths and weaknesses. Let’s discuss where to begin as you determine how to choose a campsite. 

How to Choose a Campsite

Write down the specifications of your RV.Write down your “must-haves.”Include all travelers in your plans.

Start by putting your RV details on paper. How long is your RV? How tall is your RV? What amp plug does it take, 15, 30 or 50?

Then elaborate on what you “must-have” at your campsite. Water hook-up? Beautiful views? A firepit? Sewer hook-ups? Privacy from neighbors?

Finally, bring together who you’re traveling with to finalize your search parameters in campground selection. Make sure everyone’s needs are heard and considered. Will someone want a hot shower at the end of a long day? Keep this in mind when looking at campgrounds and search for shower facilities or water hookups so your party’s needs are met. Maybe you’re traveling with young kids. Think about looking for campgrounds that have fun things to do on property.

As with any home, I’m sure at some point you will want to customize and upgrade certain features. There are endless things that you can upgrade and the prices can vary. While full-time RVing over the past four years, we’ve found several items that have made RV living more convenient and enjoyable.

We made a list of our top 25 recommendations for the best RV upgrades and modifications ranked by both monetary price, and convenience and value.

Monetary Price

Everyone has a different budget, so consider your own finances and what you can set aside for upgrading your RV by choosing to make the best investment to suit your specific needs. Since prices vary from time to time, you will find each item on our list paired with a certain number of $ next to it ranging from the least expensive upgrades ($) to the most expensive ($$$$$).

$$$$$ Ratings (Values Approximate)

$: under $50$$: $50-$99$$$: $100-$199$$$$: $200-$399$$$$$: $400+Chase & LIndsay RVing as Travel Nurses

Importance Value

Aside from monetary value, there are certain RV upgrades that, despite the cost, may be extremely beneficial and valuable for you to have. We rated each modification based off of how important and valuable we think this item is. Keep in mind that we are full-time RVers, so we may feel that some of these are well worth the cost.

Star Ratings

One Star = it makes a differenceTwo Stars = It’s worth itThree Stars = we use it all the time/highly recommend

Here are our personal ratings for the 25 best RV upgrades, based on cost and benefit, in no particular order.

As an experienced RV owner, I often get asked for tips from people who are buying their first camper. One of the first things I suggest is that they go to Camping World.

Camping World has well over two hundred dealerships conveniently located all across the country, so there’s typically a dealership within a short drive from everyone. They also have a large inventory so you can walk through as many units as you desire, giving you the best idea of which one is right for you. And lastly, you can’t beat their prices – you’re sure to find a good deal.

Perhaps you’re ready to purchase an RV and aren’t sure where to start. Here’s a general breakdown of what to expect when you buy an RV at Camping World.

Image by Camping World

Pick a Date

A lot of people think the first step is to just stop by their local Camping World and check out some RVs. However, this can not only be a waste of your time but can also overwhelm you if you don’t go to the dealership with some direction. As I mentioned, they have a huge inventory, so walking around the lot aimlessly isn’t a great use of your time.

I’d first recommend that you spend a little time considering how you plan to use a camper — Will you be working remotely? Will you be going off-road? Do you need bunks for the kids and their friends? — and why you’re interested in purchasing one? You want to be very clear on your needs, as well as your budget, before even allowing yourself to shop. Your budget will also dictate whether you’re in the used or new market.

Relaxing and exciting times await you at the Choctaw RV Park! We offer you the serenity of camping under the stars while just steps away from the excitement and high energy of Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.

You can spend the day at one of our premium 77 campsites while enjoying the beautifully landscaped park. Family fun awaits you! You might decide a dip in our sparkling pool is just the thing to start your getaway. The kids can burn off some of their energy at our playground, or if indoor activities are more to their liking, they can take in the fun of our game room. You can rest or read by our cozy fireplace or join the kids in the game room for some friendly competition! Then it’s back to your site to sit at your covered picnic table and take in the beautiful sunset as the chef in the family prepares something on the grill.

For a different kind of excitement, you can hop on our free shuttle and take a quick ride across the street to Choctaw Casino & Resort. The best in gaming, dining and entertainment awaits you. Find your lucky seat at one of our 7,400 slot machines, 106 table games or our poker room with over 30 tables. Enjoy fantastic dining at one of our 16 restaurants, such as our award-winning culinary destination 1832 Steakhouse, round-the-clock eatery Salt & Stone or sports hotspot The League. Grab a drink and relax at one of our 20 bars and lounges located throughout the property. Kids of all ages will enjoy the 70-game arcade, bowling alley and 6-screen movie theater.

One of the benefits of owning a Class C RV is that it can tow a car or toad behind it. This adds to the list of things you can do once you reach your destination. But you’ll need to make sure your RV is rated to handle the weight of the vehicle you want to tow. 

Why Tow a Vehicle Behind Your RV?

Photo by Camping World

If you’re looking to upgrade your motorhome experience, adding a toad to your setup might do the trick. Towing a toad behind your RV can help in many ways:

Avoid the hassle of packing up your campsite if you need to run into town for supplies.Drive your toad to any nearby attractions or parks—no need to find parking for a motorhomeSave gas on local tripsEmbrace the “spoke and wheel” setup—use your motorhome and campground as a basecamp and take your toad to explore all the area has to offer

If you’re ready to try a toad with your motorhome, here are the questions you need to ask to make sure you’re towing safely.

What is Your Class C’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)?

Image by Dometic

Your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the total weight your motorhome can hold. Along with other towing and rating specs, it can be found on your vehicle identification label (a sticker on the inside of one of your door casings) or in your RV owner’s manual. 

When looking at GVWR, you’ll need to include your vehicle weight, the weight of everything in your motorhome (don’t forget water weight, occupants, and everything you’re bringing for your trip), and the hitch weight of your tow vehicle.

RVing is a convenient and affordable way to travel. Paying for flights and hotels on a traditional vacation can really add up, especially if you have a large family. With any type of travel, staying within your budget requires foresight and creativity.

Fortunately, there are many ways to plan and execute a budget-friendly RV trip, from dipping your toes into the exciting world of boondocking to enjoying membership discounts at luxury campgrounds. Plus, there are ways you can change your RV habits to keep extra cash in your pocket.

Here are five ways to save money on RV trips:

1. Plan Ahead

Photo by Camping World

Choosing your destination and season wisely can significantly lower the costs of any RV road trip. Certain tourist locations, such as New York City (yes, you can RV to the Big Apple!), are much more expensive than others.

Plan your RV trip during shoulder season if your dream is to visit a more costly destination. Many RV parks and tours offer a discounted rate during their low season, saving you a lot of money.

Today, we’ll dive into some of our favorite floorplans from CrossRoads RV’s fifth wheels! These RVs blend luxury and affordability to ensure you have everything you need to enjoy the campground at a price you’ll love. Learn more about these four amazing CrossRoads fifth wheels below!

Find more CrossRoads RV fifth wheels for sale near you!

CrossRoads Cameo CE2901RL

The master bedroom in this CrossRoads Cameo CE2901RL fifth wheel features a spacious wardrobe and a slide-out king bed. You’ll find that the living room is equipped with opposing slides and a large entertainment unit to make it easy to watch the big game at the campground. In the kitchen, the bar with stools makes serving food to friends and family a breeze!

Additional Features:

Front Private BedroomBar StoolsDual Entry BathroomRear Living AreaExternal Docking StationSleep like you’re staying in a five-star resort wherever you go.

CrossRoads Cameo CE3891MK

The CrossRoads Cameo CE3891MK fifth wheel provides a luxury experience for a price you’ll love. The dual fireplaces ensure you’ll always be able to keep away the chill, and the TVs in the living room and master bedroom make it easy to watch your favorite shows wherever you’re most comfortable. In the living room, you’ll love the power theater seats that provide a cozy place to rest at the end of the day.

Additional Features:

Whether you’re in the market for a tiny trailer or a sprawling motorhome, shopping for a recreation vehicle involves a lot of choices. One of the main considerations is the selection of a floorplan that accommodates the owner’s requirements and preferences. In many cases, it may be necessary to change to another model, or perhaps a different make, to obtain the desired interior design. But regardless, a suitable floorplan is a key ingredient to the shopping process.

Slides are an integral part of the floorplan if the chosen unit is so equipped. These space expanders actually provide two floorplans: One for in-camp accommodation and living space and the other for stops that do not lend themselves to the deployment of slides.

So let’s first look at the in-camp configuration with all slides in the extended position. This is what is shown in the brochure.

Dinette Type

The most common RV dining configurations have a fixed-booth or wall-connected table setup. Some comprise a free-standing table with separate chairs. While the fixed location type is the most popular, the free-standing arrangement has some advantages. First, it can be moved slightly out from the wall providing more elbow room. Larger people may find this more comfortable.

*Please consult a veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet. These recipes are meant as treats and not regular meal replacements. We do not make any health claims related to these recipes and these recipes do not reflect professional veterinary advice. Remember that not all dogs know to keep away from fire or heat sources. You do not want your dog’s paws or body to be injured. Always supervise your dog while grilling.

Time with our dogs is never wasted! The entire experience of grilling and making food for you and your dog makes for some great memories on the road. Don’t we all enjoy total experiences? The smell of a fire, a sizzling grill, your dog’s favorite tunes, and relaxing together with a special meal make your dog feel special too! It’s a joy to know How to Plan A Dog-Friendly Road Trip.

Although we lost our beloved dog Digby a few months ago, the memories we have together of grilling at our campsite are some of our favorite. When I look at pictures of our time by the campfire and grilling up our favorite meals together, it is not the destination I recall first. It is the look in his eyes when he knew it was grill night and that he and Brickle would be included.  

Start with the Basics

Image: 2 Traveling Dogs

Space is limited on our RV, so we only have room for the basics! To grill up the ultimate meal, you will need metal tongs, a metal spatula, a meat thermometer, a grill brush, cooking spray, heat-resistant cooking gloves, aluminum foil, and yes, a fire extinguisher. Camping World has not only the basics to build your ultimate grill kit, but has those little extras like tablecloths and cookware.

Of course, to grill, you need a grill! Camping World has every option for the novice or expert griller. Learn about all the Great Portable Grills for RVers. Remember that your dog is an expert in taste. So make sure to pick the right grill and ask questions from a friendly associate to help! You can even bring your fur family along to a Camping World near you to help you choose. Some options at Camping World include portable gas grills, charcoal grills, electric grills, and smokers!

With windswept coastlines, rugged mountains, thick forests, and alpine meadows, Acadia National Park is one of the premier wilderness destinations in the entire US.

Located on the coast of Maine on Mount Desert Island, the park covers more than 49,000 acres and includes a small chain of islands that are unique and wild in their own right. This gives Acadia some of the most diverse landscapes and ecosystems of any national park, which is why it attracts more than three million annual visitors. 

Acadia is easily accessible and accommodating to every traveler, despite its remote location. It offers roadways to explore by vehicle, trails for hiking and biking, and plenty of water to canoe and kayak. There are also multiple campgrounds found within its boundaries, with even more options located nearby. 

If you’re searching for outdoor adventure and breathtaking views, point your RV towards Acadia National Park. Here’s what you need to know before you go. 

Why Visit Acadia National Park in an RV?

Photo by Alexey Stiop via Shutterstock

With 27 miles of historic roads and three RV-friendly campgrounds, Acadia is an excellent destination for RVers, although patience is sometimes required.

The past few years have drastically changed how people work, live, and travel. Now, more than ever, workplace flexibility is making the daily cubicle a thing of the past. Don’t believe it? Check out these 10 Awesome True Life RVer Jobs.

Hybrid and remote work is becoming popular as more companies embrace the evidence that a flexible workplace is as productive, if not more, than in-person office environments.

With the option to work anywhere, anytime, it should come as no surprise that people are opting to do so on the road. Having the ability to travel has long been a perk many look for in a career, especially for the traditional 9-5 roles.

Have you longed to explore a new landscape, coast, or city? Working remotely from an RV might be the answer to your wish. But which RV?

Check out the best RVs for working remotely and use these tips for finding the best RV for you.

If it wasn’t for the RVing dads of this world, many of us would be clueless about the joys of the RV lifestyle. Outdoorsy fathers introduce us to nature’s beauty, the joys of RV travel and the rewards of a well-maintained rig. Father’s Day is our annual opportunity to thank our adventure-loving dads, with great camping and RV gear that makes their life easier and fun.

Give Thanks Where Rubber Meets the Road

From the moment any RVing dad buys the family camper, he makes safety a priority. Most start where rubber meets the road, by purchasing top-quality RV tires. But too many dads put off the added expense of a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). They simply don’t know that even the best tire brands are sometimes casualties of tough RV driving conditions.

We learned this the hard way during our Alaska Highway adventure. Endless potholes and frost heaves triggered two flat trailer tires on that summer trip. If we didn’t own a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to keep tabs on our wheels, those situations would have been much worse.

A TPMS is a smart buy. It looks out for your safety by audibly warning you about deteriorating tire conditions. Your dad will instantly know when a tire is too low, too hot or quickly losing air. The newest TPMS systems have high-tech features that can catch tire problems before they happen. These warnings can help him avoid serious highway accidents commonly caused by tire failure.

Part of the joy of RV travel is the wonderful places we discover by serendipity. Over the years, we have found a lot of them, almost always by following our curiosity and getting off the main roads. Here are 10 quirky museums we have found that are worth re-routing the RV for:

1. The Tupperware Museum, Kissimmee, FL

Image: Vince360 / Shutterstock

The Tupperware Confidence Center,  located just behind the main lobby at the Tupperware Brands Global Headquarters in Kissimmee just south of Orlando, is one of those quirky little looks at American culture sure to fascinate. There you can see the lettuce keeper and the celery keeper and the snap-top salt and pepper shakers you remember, as well as all the new Tupperware products.

Yes, Tupperware is still very much in business. You can watch demonstrations in the on-site kitchen and visit the gift shop for an eye-popping array of colors and uses. Earl Tupper was a prolific inventor, and received hundreds of patents, but will always be remembered for Tupperware, which had sales of nearly three billion dollars last year.  Women around the world are still selling Tupperware and attending jubilees.

A new look at old ideas, some historical tidbits you never knew (but probably should), and just the right thing to solve that storage problem in your RV—they’re all waiting for you, out in Kissimmee.

Good Sam Campgrounds Nearby

Sherwood Forest RV ResortTropical Palms RV Resort

2. The Castle Dome Mining Museum, near Yuma, AZ

Image: T-I / Shutterstock

When we find something that catches our eye, we’re more than willing to change directions and check it out. That’s what happened in Arizona when we saw a small, dusty sign for the Castle Dome Mining Museum. We were on our way somewhere else but, hey, what’s a detour? It had to be close, right? Wrong.