WEnRV travel news, products, and industry trends

Your RV’s holding tanks need to be maintained properly for you to enjoy camping to its fullest. This is especially true for your source of fresh water in your RV. Your freshwater system not only needs to work right, but it needs to be clean too.

How Often Should You Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water Tank?

Each year, usually in the spring when you get your RV out of storage, you should sanitize the fresh water system. This is a routine maintenance task to guarantee you have safe water for drinking, showering, dishwashing, and doing laundry on the road.

While you can pay a professional to sanitize your RV fresh water tank, there’s really no need. It doesn’t require any special tools and you can do it with bleach or a more environmentally-friendly cleaning solution if you prefer. 

How To Sanitize RV Fresh Water Tank with Bleach

To sanitize your RV water tank, all you need is a measuring cup, a funnel, and some household bleach. From there, just follow these step by step instructions:

Step 1: Turn Off Your Water Heater and Water Pump

Draining your freshwater system with the water heater on can damage the water heater tank. Turn off your water heater and let the water in the tank cool before you drain it. If your RV is equipped with a water heater bypass switch, use it to prevent the bleach solution from entering your hot water tank. 

As North America reopens, we’re taking shorter trips and savoring the little things along the way. Travel restrictions may pose some obstacles, but they also give you the chance to Explore your Region, discovering new adventures in our own backyards.

That’s why you should check out your neck of the woods. Find the destination close to you in North America and start your RV travel adventures! Stay at nearby Good Sam Parks during your travels.

Winter will be a distant memory before we know it, and there’s never been a better year for RVing to the best flower festivals in the U.S. Mother Nature is preparing for what promises to be the most vibrant and cheerful flower festival season yet. It’s time to seed your road trip itinerary with some ideas from our cross-country RV flower festival tour through the blooming landscapes of Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Washington and Oregon.

Tulip Festival, Skagit Valley, Washington
April 1-30

If you miss the famous daffodil bloom in March, don’t worry. Springtime presents one spectacular wildflower show after another in the fertile aggie lands lining the riverbanks just south of Bellingham. Come and enjoy endless flocks of swans, snow geese and ducks zoom fly across the skies. But keep an eye on the ground too, because local farmers grow more tulip and daffodil bulbs here than anywhere else in the U.S.  The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates the colorful harvest in area-wide events that keep the region hopping between April 1 – 30. Designed as a driving tour through vibrant fields lining the hills between La Conner and Mount Vernon, the month-long festival spotlights local flower farmers and their endless fields of technicolor beauty. Tourists are welcome to view and photograph their crops as long as Mother Nature cooperates. Meanwhile, local communities celebrate the coming of spring with tulip-themed art shows and family activities including a street fair, barbecues and dinners, a parade and more. Create your home base on the water at La Conner Marina & RV Park, and you’ll be within walking distance of local events, restaurants and outdoor activities that take advantage of the region’s temperate climate and the Pacific Northwest’s prettiest scenery.

Azalea Festival – Wilmington, North Carolina
April 6-10, 2022

Come for the annual Azalea Festival but plan on staying longer to experience this undiscovered Atlantic Coast gem. There’s so much to see and do in Wilmington during springtime. Start with the annual festival to get a feel for this welcoming community. The Azalea Festival shines a spotlight on the region’s native Azalea plants that bloom each spring. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sea, azaleas paint the terrain with a welcome sign that spring has arrived. This is the best time to enjoy cool mornings and nights, with humidity-free days and bright, sunny skies. Celebrate like a local and when you need a break from the concerts, art fairs and garden tours, spend some quality time at Wilmington area beaches. Cast your line from the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic, paddle around the Intercoastal waterway and step back in time for amusement park fun on the Carolina Beach boardwalk. Set up base camp at nearby Lanier’s Campground and you’re just a few minutes from all the best springtime fun in Wilmington.

Mojave National Preserve is a 1.6 million acre park in Southern California. Interstate 15 travelers between Nevada and California will have seen road signs for ... Read more

When most people think of wine regions to visit in an RV, places like Napa Valley in California or the Columbia Valley in Washington come to mind. Colorado attracts millions of outdoor enthusiasts and ski bums every year, but many people miss out on the hidden treasures that the state has to offer–like its wine.

I was surprised this past summer when I discovered a secret wine region that I had never heard of, despite being a Colorado native. But then again, that’s one of the many benefits of RVing – taking spontaneous detours and experiencing adventures you may have otherwise missed.

In this article I’ll share this secret wine region in Colorado and why it quickly stole my heart. In fact, my husband and I loved it so much, we returned not only once but twice in one year!

Where Is This Colorado Wine Region?

This secret wine region is located in the southwestern part of the state. Driving along scenic highway 133 between Hotchkiss and Carbondale you’ll find the charming little town of Paonia. It’s tucked away in the North Fork Valley. Although it’s relatively remote, Paonia is less than a two-hour drive away from one of Colorado’s most popular ski towns–Crested Butte (when Kebler Pass is open).

Why is This Wine Region Special?

You’ll immediately notice how green and lush Paonia is, which is unique from much of the rest of the state. In addition to its vineyards, the area is more known for its orchards, which produce pears, peaches, apples, plums, and even cherries. Orchards and vineyards are beautiful enough on their own, but when you combine them with sweeping mountain views, it’s absolutely stunning. Paonia sits at the base of 11,400 foot Mount Lamborn and is known as having some of the highest vineyards in North America.

Every RVer needs to have a plan in the event of a flat tire or a blowout. Putting on your spare tire is the easiest way to get back on the road, but you’ll need to keep your spare tire healthy so it’s ready if you need it. An RV spare tire cover keeps your spare in good condition so you’re not replacing a flat or blown-out tire with a questionable backup.

Is your RV’s spare tire ready for action? When was the last time you looked at it? Do you have a spare tire cover for it?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it’s time to check on your RV’s spare. Before discussing the benefits of RV spare tire covers, here are some basic RV tire checks you should include in your regular RV maintenance schedule. 

Basic RV Spare Tire Checks

Even if you have never used your RV’s spare tire, it is recommended to replace it if you notice signs of damage or your tire is more than 10 years old. Please check the original date of manufacture for most tires using the last four numbers in the Department of Transportation (DOT) stamp on the tire’s sidewall. The first two of these final four digits denote the week and the final two denote the year of original manufacture. 

Also, please note that you cannot use spare tires from trucks, SUVs, or other small vehicles as replacement tires for your motorhome. A camper spare is made for the heavier weight of your coach and spares made for lighter vehicles should never be substituted for an RV spare. 

Many travelers discover Fossil Basin, Wyoming, on a trip to visit the state’s national parks and monuments. But the destination is worthy of more than just a quick stop. Plan to spend a couple days in the Kemmerer-Diamondville area and uncover all that the Fossil Fish Capital of the World has to offer!

Day 1

Fossil Butte National Monument

After you arrive in the area and get settled, head to Fossil Butte National Monument. Your first stop should be the Fossil Butte Visitor Center. Inside, you’ll find exhibits featuring more than 300 fossils, including some really unique specimens. During the summer, you can visit the Research Quarry, watch fossil preparation demonstrations at the visitor center’s scientific lab, and listen to park rangers talk about the geology of Fossil Butte and the surrounding area.

The hiking trails at Fossil Butte National Monument are another great way to see and learn more about the wildlife, geology, and history of Fossil Basin.

To get some incredible views of the area’s landscape, take the scenic drive up past the Nature Trail and picnic area. Visitors should be aware that beyond the Nature Trail parking area, the scenic drive is a narrow, steep, gravel road so RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should not be driven past that point.

Traveling the country with the person you love the most sounds like a dream lifestyle, but it’s a dream come true for David and Amanda Boles. Along with their dog, Bailey, the couple has been traveling full time in their RV for the last three years and have no plans of stopping any time soon.

After living in their home in Nashville, they quickly realized they would rather spend all their time traveling instead. What fun is a large house if you never want to be in it? So, they sold their home and most of their belongings to hit the road in their RV.

Why Choose the RV Lifestyle?

With David working on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico, the couple wanted to maximize their time together by traveling and adventuring as much as possible. What’s the best way to do that? In an RV! David consistently works three weeks on and three weeks off, so traveling in an RV allows the two to thoroughly enjoy their surroundings during their downtime.

“Traveling in an RV,” David says, “is just so much easier, so much less stress, just a slower pace.”

It’s that slower pace that keeps David and Amanda on the road. Every day is an adventure and can be just like the day before it or completely different if they want. Amanda enjoys that a typical day can range from hiking to soaking in a hot spring or off-roading in their Jeep.

Are you looking to maximize your time outdoors on your next family vacation? Take your family RV camping in Citrus County, Florida, and experience hiking, boating, paddling, scalloping and fishing in a beautiful natural setting. Here are some of the top places to go RV camping on your next visit to the soul of Florida:

Crystal Isles RV Resort: Close to the Gulf beaches, this RV Resort offers plenty of amenities, including a pool, waterfront sites, on-site laundry and boat rentals.

Rousseau RV Resort: On beautiful Lake Rousseau, the sites at this RV Resort are shaded by ancient live oaks. Guests will enjoy the waterfront views, swimming pool and access to both saltwater and freshwater for plenty of fishing.

Nature’s Resort: Situated on the Homosassa River, this 97-acre resort offers RV sites and also cabin rentals. There’s a swimming pool, game room and access to the Gulf for fishing and boating.

In January 2020, Kait and I took delivery of our Four Wheel Campers Flatbed Hawk pop-up camper and in this post I will share a ... Read more

We chose the RV lifestyle for one important reason: we wanted to spend more time with our dogs!

And because our lives are centered around everything full-time RV and dogs, we want our dogs to be comfortable in their home on wheels too. Having a comfortable RV interior is just as important as where we park it. So we recently made some RV interior updates with our dogs in mind. A full RV makeover isn’t necessary to give your coach a cozier feel for you and your pet. Put Rover in the car and head to your nearest, dog-friendly Camping World location to find some of these budget-friendly RV enhancements your fur family will love.

Stair Hugger Rugs

As our dog Brickle has gotten older, he is more unsteady. The inside RV steps into the bedroom have proved to be a challenge for our senior dog. Simply adding carpet runners to the stairs make it easier for Brickle’s paws to grip, and provides him with more stability and confidence. An added bonus was that now we won’t slip when we get up in the middle of the night! Yes. That has happened. The stair hugger rugs are easy to install, securely fastening to most stair surfaces. It also adds a classy, decorative touch to your RV interior as well.

Blanket

I am all about being cozy in my home on wheels. Chilly nights call for a dog or two on the couch and my favorite blanket. Brickle and Fruitycake love to watch TV on the couch with us with their blanket too! But a blanket has to be almost as cute as our dogs! They are certainly happy campers when it comes to their blankies. Your dog needs a spot to call their own, especially in the RV. A blanket is often just the thing that they need to provide that source of comfort we all long for. We also like using a blanket on top of their dog beds to catch any dirt and fur and then wash the blankets regularly to control pests naturally without chemicals. Make the space even cozier with matching throw pillows.

Cookie Jar

Treats are a requirement in our RV for persons and dogs alike! Keeping the treats accessible for us yet out of reach of the dogs is important. We love our cookie jar to keep our peanut butter cookies and Fruitycakes fresh. Adding Velcro to the inside of the canister for added security during moving days is easy and secure. Our favorite cookie jars are those with a retro decorative touch that really highlights the appeal of camping throughout the years!

Pinch Pond Family Campground, in the heart of Amish Country, offers the perfect combination of camping fun and the convenience of touring.

Pinch Pond Family Campground is family owned and operated for over forty years! If you are on vacation touring this area, we can help. We are centrally located, in the foothills of Northern Lancaster County – home of the Pennsylvania Dutch, between Hershey Park, Gettysburg, Philadelphia and the Chesapeake Bay area. We are close enough to these major tourist areas for you to visit during the day and return to our campground for the night, then head in another direction the next day. We offer reservations by the day or month to assure your ability to stay in this beautiful centrally located facility.

If you are looking for a place to stay and enjoy the campground, Pinch Pond offers a wide variety of activities to enjoy during your stay, as well as great restaurants and attractions nearby. We offer fun for the whole family; pets are welcome!

Pinch Pond Family Campground has accommodations for everyone

We offer very spacious sites, sunny or shaded, for campers from the largest RVs to the smallest tents. All sites include a campfire ring and picnic table. RV sites also include water, electric, sewer and cable tv hookups. Pop-up sites include water and electric hookups. WIFI hotspots and ethernet connections are available for a small fee. Cottages and Cabins are available for rent to non-campers.

Pond Family Campground strives to make your experience both memorable and fun for everyone. We offer a 30×60-foot pool, a large fishing pond, a large indoor video game room with the latest games, three clean, modern restroom buildings, a laundry room and a large recreation building for indoor events. There is a large office and well-stocked camp store on the premises, which offers everything from RV supplies to candy bars to gifts. We have many scheduled activities for all ages, including crafts, fishing and sporting events, pool parties, bingo, wagon rides, hayrides and events to celebrate the seasons – culminated with our famous Haunted House. We offer the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful vacation without even leaving the campground.

It’s about that time. It’s the part of the year when all your new year resolutions start to fizzle out – old habits die hard. I get it, and it’s okay! Don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us. How about a solution to lift the spirits? Instead of a “new year, new me” mantra, let’s scream out “new year, new RV” instead.

I’m not talking about purchasing a brand new RV, although that’s always an option if you’re in the market for one. There are ways to make your existing RV feel brand new – starting with furniture. Here are a few new RV furniture pieces that will revive an old RV.

Flip-Top Sofa Table

When it comes to the RV lifestyle, nothing speaks the language more than a piece of furniture that’s versatile. With the flip-top sofa table, you not only get something versatile, but you get a piece of furniture that’s perfect for dining, crafts, games, laptops, and more. Two flip-up side panels give you extra space when you need it and fold down, out of the way, when you don’t. The best part? The extended base is designed to slip under your sofa or chair, making it perfect for tight spaces.

Quilted Reversible Furniture Cover Protector

It’s not a new piece of furniture, no, but it does have the power of making your furniture feel like it’s new. Perfect for those times when a new sofa, loveseat, or chair isn’t in the budget, the quilted reversible furniture cover protector breathes new life into your existing furniture. Guarding against spills, stains, and pets that shed, this cover is reversible and covers your furniture from top to bottom. It’s also machine washable! Stretch a few more years out of your current furniture and save up for an extensive renovation down the road.

Kathy Ireland Easy Out Sofa

If a new sofa is in the budget, let me introduce you to the Kathy Ireland Easy Out Sofa. It’s a space-saving solution for any room. Have a surprise guest that needs to stay the night? No worries. This sleeper sofa transitions quickly and conveniently by removing the back cushions and expanding the sofa into a bed. It’s so easy, you can do it with one hand. Designed to match any décor-style, you’ll fall in love with its clean lines and versatility – and the fact it will take your RV from old to new in an instant.

How to Get Teens Onboard for Your RV Travels

As teenagers enter the time in life when they start pulling away from family to spend more time with friends, RVing can be a great way to stay connected. However, if you want your teenager to engage in your travels, you should be mindful of their lives and preferences.

We started RVing when our sons were 11 and 14. Over the next few years, they grew a lot taller, got involved in school activities, started their first jobs, and then one of our sons went off to college. These changes in their lives affected many aspects of our travels! However, we continued to look for ways to keep them involved without giving up on our travel dreams.

Here are 11 tips for traveling with your teens:

1) Include teens in the RV travel process

Big Bend National Park had been on our list of places to visit for years before we finally had the chance to check it out ... Read more

The RV industry is used to twists and turns which is exactly why you’ll see them making every effort to stay ahead of the curve. When it comes to advances in technology, RVs are sporting more features and high-tech gadgets than ever before. The comforts of home are included, as always, but we’re seeing more and more that RVs are starting to feel like high-end luxury apartments and not just a home on wheels. So, buckle up as we hit the ground running with our favorite cool new RV tech features.

All Things Solar

It’s rare to find a new RV these days that’s not solar prepped. Many have solar panels already installed and are ready to soak up the sun right off the lot. But for those that don’t, solar installation is an easy upgrade to make. The benefits of having solar panels established on your RV continue to grow. Solar power can operate your interior lights without any drain on your battery, prolonging battery life and your camping experience. Solar panels are popular for good reason. Learn How to Get the Most Out of Your Solar Panels This Summer.

Let’s look at the 2022 Hideout Travel Trailer, for example. Solarflex 200 is standard on all new Hideout Travel Trailers. We’re talking 30A solar roof port with MC4 connectors and a 10 AWG MPPT solar charging circuit, a 200-watt solar panel from Future Solutions, an inverted 110-volt loop prep with up to seven outlets, and a Zamp Solar portable solar panel charging port. It also comes with a 15A Victron SmartSolar MPPT controller that can be used with an app on your phone. Smart solar tech–how’s that for cool?

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Nothing stops you in your tracks quite like a tire blowout. They’re not only inconvenient, but they’re dangerous. Losing control of an RV while it’s in motion is scary, so it’s better to plan ahead. How you ask? With an integrated new tire pressure monitoring system.

When you’re covering a lot of ground, having a tire pressure monitoring system (TPM) to monitor your RV’s health makes maintenance easier. If you’re wondering why tires are such a big deal, read through the RV Tire Basics You Should Know. How TPM systems work? Sensors are placed directly on your tires that send information back to a monitoring screen typically mounted on your dashboard. The newest systems monitor the pressure in your tires and trigger an alert if the pressure falls below a designated threshold.

Looking to attend a van life gathering or meetup this year? In this post, you’ll find a list of our favorite van life meetups along ... Read more

Whether you’re craving a couple’s getaway or a family adventure, there are so many places in this beautiful country to go and see that it can be hard to choose sometimes. The planning stage can often be the worst part, but don’t let the stress keep you from hitting the road. We’re here to help! One of the things that I have never regretted doing is going to visit some of our country’s national seashores.

These protected areas are so stunning that you’ll have a hard time leaving once your visit is over, at least that is always the case in my experience. Imagine the sea breeze in your hair, the smell of saltwater in the air, the sand between your toes, and the rush of waves as they roll over the shore – it’s practically heaven on Earth, so why not visit whenever the opportunity presents itself. I know I do.

While most of these areas don’t allow you to visit with your RV, unfortunately, you can leave your RV at one of the many parks nearby and still take advantage of the gorgeous views without your RV. I highly recommend doing so. After all, soaking in the shores is best done on foot. You will not regret it. Here are the national seashores I recommend that are sure to take your breath away.

Cape Lookout National Seashore – North Carolina

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the Cape Lookout National Seashore often get overlooked by people heading to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore that’s located a little to the northeast. However, that’s their loss because this place is amazing!

The lighthouse is designed with a distinctive black and white pattern that scales the height of its sides, and you can easily get tickets to go inside and walk up the impressive structure. The seashore features several beautiful areas where you can watch the wildlife, sink your toes in the sand, and relax completely. If you want, you can also check out Porstmouth Village, which is a ghost town on a nearby island.

Woodland Park Campground is located a short walk from a unique 7- mile stretch of natural sand beach on the clean blue shallow waters of Lake Huron, famous for excellent swimming and spectacular sunsets.

Woodland Park Campground is one of Good Sam’s Top-Rated 10/10*/10 parks. The Park has over 770 total sites, with 155 being overnight/transient sites, plus tenting sites. Each site includes a large cement patio, paved roads, free cable TV, picnic table and fire ring. High-speed WiFi is available. The indoor heated pool and hot tub provide family fun – rain or shine.

For those who do not have a camping unit, the family can still enjoy the camping experience in one of Woodland Park Campground’s 2- or 3-bedroom Trailer rentals. Trailers include all dishes, plates, pots, pans, glasses, cutlery, microwave, toaster, coffee-maker, TV, and FREE CABLE.

There are supervised children’s activities and two playgrounds for the younger members of the family. If you have some spare energy, hit the courts to enjoy a game of basketball, get some sun playing sand beach volleyball or play a game of ping pong or billiards.

Camping and RVing are great ways to get away from it all, to decompress and unplug for a bit while soaking in all the beautiful views nature has to offer. However, roughing it doesn’t have to be rough at all. In fact, today’s modern RV electronics can not only make your RV camping experience more convenient and enjoyable but also much, much safer, all at the same time.  

RV Driving Electronics

Driving an RV isn’t exactly easy, and neither is towing a trailer or fifth wheel. Like most things in life, practice makes perfect. You don’t get brownie points for doing it alone either, so check out these RV-specific electronics that make going from point A to point B as easy as 1-2-3.

RV Specific GPS 

In order to get away from it all, you’ll need to know exactly how to get there. Maps and compasses were great a century ago, but technology has advanced and so have we. Consider getting an RV-specific GPS. Unlike a map app on your phone or a standard GPS unit, an RV-specific GPS will alert you to factors specific to RVing like bridge heights, downhill grades, and sharp turns. Once you’ve taken a trip with one, you’ll never hit the road without it again.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System 

RVing is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and travel, but if proper safety precautions aren’t taken, it can be dangerous. Especially when it comes to tires. RVs and motorhomes rest on tires and, they’re like the foundation of your home. In the unfortunate event a tire blows while in motion, a dire situation can occur. That’s why it’s so important to monitor tire pressure levels. With a tire pressure monitoring system, you can electronically monitor each individual tire at all times to ensure they are at the recommended level. This will also optimize fuel efficiency, so it not only keeps you safe but saves you money.  

Trailering Rear View Camera System

Towing something as large as a fifth-wheel or trailer is no easy feat. Mirrors can only do so much, and blind spots are everywhere. That’s why you should invest in a trailer rearview camera system. Let a series of cameras mounted on the trailer show you what would otherwise be impossible for you to see with just mirrors alone.