Now that 2021 is coming to an end, it’s wise to take a look back over the past 12 months and think critically about how you can make your RVing life, whether it’s full-time or part-time, even better in the upcoming year.

One of the biggest things you can do is choose to focus on your budget. Let’s face it, adjusting your budget isn’t always fun, but living with a financial plan will reduce stress and make your life easier and your RV adventures more enjoyable. Here are some of the best tips for adjusting your budget in the new year so you can spend less time crunching numbers and more time exploring.

Get Ahead of Any Problems

One of the easiest and most impactful steps any RV owner can take is to have a full RV inspection prior to heading out for the season. In doing so, you will learn of things currently needing repair, and ensure there are no unexpected hardware issues.

Having a well-informed outlook on your RV and its current health can help you avoid costly repairs in the future, which in turn will keep you on the road longer–that’s always the goal, after all. Schedule an inspection today at any Camping World Service Center.

Evaluate Your Power

Another way to improve upon your RV experience, as well as save you some money and free up additional funds in the budget, is to evaluate your power sources and usage. Specifically, take a good look at where your power goes, and how much of it you’re actually using when on the road. Campgrounds that charge for electricity makes this all the more important. Propane-powered appliances and usage can quickly cut into your budget. Generators guzzling up gas are costly over time.

Choosing a gift for someone who has everything can be a real challenge. Choosing a gift for a fisherman who has everything is a nightmare. You want to get them something they’ll actually use and you want it to have an impact on their fishing in some way. Whether they’re looking for something to make fishing more enjoyable or for something to help them catch more fish; it needs to be useful, clever and affordable.

Based on personal experience and some consulting with my wife, I’ve put together 12 things I think most experienced anglers would love to have this year. Let’s do it!

1. Nightcrawler Bait Box

Every angler has their crutch and no matter what, some can’t let go of their love of worms. Personally, it’s been a while since I’ve fished with nightcrawlers, but if you have someone in your life who loves bait fishing, this could be a great gift. This nightcrawler bait box is breathable, lightweight, and comes with a door on the top to access everything. The box even comes with natural bedding to help keep the worms alive and well all season.

2. Fishing Line Spooler

Full-timers are not strangers when it comes to a good time and weekend warriors know how to make the most of their time on the road, but when it comes to adventure – nothing compares to living the RV life with your children.

Preethi and Daniel from Local Passport Family know a little (or a lot) about adventuring with kids in tow. They currently document their family travels on their blog and share snippets of their exciting lives through their posts on Instagram.

As of now, they have traveled to 62 countries – 43 of those with their five children ranging in ages from one to ten years old. It should be no surprise that they would have some advice to share for what it takes to RV as a family.

When asked how they got their kids acquainted with the RV life, they answered with a few pro tips they’ve learned along the way.

Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Start

Find a career.Get married.Buy a house.Start a family.

That was the timeline we had for ourselves. Or rather, what society had made us believe was the path to happiness. We all know it, the “American Dream,”–a white picket fence, a nine-to-five job, living for the weekends.

Selling everything and traveling the country in an RV certainly doesn’t fit into this definition of the American Dream, though…Or does it?

RV life is still common among retirees. But actually, singles, couples, and even families are creating their own versions of the American Dream with the help of a rolling home on wheels.

But first, this is my story of finding part-time RV life – my “American Dream.”

Dream Turned Nightmare

Shortly after getting married in 2010, my husband Dan and I decided to travel the world together before having kids. We spent the first five years of our marriage living in Costa Rica for four months, taking trips to Europe, and making fun getaways around the United States. I was teaching Kindergarten at the time, and whenever I was on a break and my husband could take paid time off, we would book a vacation.

When you get settled into your winter RV camping destination this year, naturally you’ll start looking around for things to do. Hiking isn’t easy with a foot of snow on the ground, so here are five guided snowshoe adventures to check out this winter. 

As the saying goes, “If you can walk, you can snowshoe!” So don’t be discouraged if you’ve never tried it before. Most of these companies specialize in teaching beginners the basics of snowshoeing and winter trail etiquette. 

PS Not all of these wintery locations will have a year-round Good Sam RV park nearby, but we’ve included a few options for you at the end of this article.

Guided Snowshoe Adventures

Most companies that offer snowshoe adventures will rent you the snowshoes and poles. Still, you’ll need a good pair of winter camping and hiking boots. Also, make sure you consult the tour company’s website for a full list of what to bring for your snowshoe adventure. 

There are so many great floorplans hitting the lots of dealers near you! Today, we’ll take a look at four of our favorite 2022 fifth wheels with family-friendly floorplans, couple’s coaches, and so much more. Read on to see four impressive floorplans for you and your family. 

2022 Forest River Cardinal Limited 366DVLE

Inside the Forest River Cardinal Limited 366DVLE fifth wheel, you’ll find features that will make your extended stay out at the campground feel like a five-star resort. This fifth wheel comfortably sleeps up for four, but it makes a fantastic couple’s coach if you prefer to travel with just the two of you. There’s a spacious walk-in pantry with all the space you need to store everyone’s favorite snacks and ingredients.

Additional Features:

‘Tis the season for giving! If you’ve got an RVer in your life, you know how difficult it is to give a gift that doesn’t take up a ton of valuable space. The RV life is all about adventure, but everything has to be functional and contribute towards the thrill of the lifestyle when space in your rig is limited. Never fear: this RV gift guide includes items that range from helpful-to-have to just-for-fun.

Camping World’s RV Gift Guide for the Holidays

Whether you decide to gift one or all of the items listed, the RVer in your life will be eager to hit the road as soon as RVing season starts. If you’re an RVer yourself, make a list, check it twice, and treat yourself to a few things for your own RV.

Club Chairs

Big, padded, and comfy, these club chairs fold away nicely to save space. More comfortable than your typical bag chair, these are great in your RV and outdoors. Kick back and nap, curl up and read, or simply sit and enjoy the world around you. Warning: it’s easy to lose complete track of time once you settle into one, so plan accordingly.

States Stickers

For RVers that really get around, wall art like the states stickers will help them keep track of—and show off—everywhere they’ve been and everywhere they’re planning to go. They’re made from weather-resistant vinyl, and they’ll look great on the back of any RV. This set includes all 50 states (but can you really take your RV to Hawaii?).

Bakerstone Basics Pizza Oven

Radiant, 360-degree heat cooks evenly and roundly—especially important when we’re talking about pizza. Not only can you produce pizzas that taste like they came straight from Italy, but you’ll be able to bake fresh bread, roast meats, cook fish, and much more.

Situated on 20 acres of pine forest, Lake Pines RV Park & Campground welcomes visitors with a family-centered retreat away from the busy world in Columbus, Georgia, since 1967.

Lake Pines RV Park & Campground offers full-service hookups, dump station, propane, 30- and 50-amp service and many more amenities to make your stay enjoyable and comfortable.

In 1967, Ralph and Jean Gilbert opened up 20 acres of land to their camping club and other camping enthusiasts, creating a nature lover’s paradise. Fifty years later, Lakes Pines Campground and Event Center has become more than just a campsite shared among friends — it has grown into a legacy for generations of outdoor enthusiasts to love.

With just a short drive, you can visit the many beautiful outdoor attractions the area has to offer. Guests can choose from whitewater rafting the Chattahoochee River, hiking Pine Mountains’ 23 miles of trails, visiting the state-of-the-art National Infantry Museum or ziplining from Georgia to Alabama, 1,200 feet of exhilaration.

When it comes to bagging great winter bass, trout, and panfish, it’s hard to beat ice fishing in Upstate New York. We’ve had a few warm seasons in the northeast and I’ll tell you what, the people around here are itching like never before to get out on the ice.

I’m neither a scientist nor a politician, but it seems like some form of climate change is impacting the way we fish in the northeast. It’s been trending in that direction for many years now. I can remember when I was nine or ten years old, there was no questioning whether or not the ice was thick enough to walk on. If it was December or January, it was thick enough and we all knew it without even measuring.

In fact, the ice used to be so thick that we actually had to put extensions onto the augers to get through the ice. We’d plant our makeshift shelters out there and pretty much leave them there for the entire season until late February or early March, when everything started to thaw out. This isn’t the occasion anymore.

Nonetheless, ice fishing is still a hot topic in upstate New York, and there is no shortage of fishing opportunities, whether you’re fishing the hard water or not. Of course, the list goes on and on about the places you could fish, but here are a few of my favorites as well as some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years.

Moisture in an RV is never a good thing. It’ll make your RV feel cold and damp and can lead to costly repairs if left untreated. If you want a warm, dry, and healthy living space, you need to know how to manage condensation and moisture in an RV.

You don’t have to get the air dry as a bone, but make sure to take these steps to manage condensation and reduce the moisture levels inside your RV.

Ventilation Is Your Friend

Keeping moisture levels in your RV low is in your best interest for several reasons. It reduces mold and mildew growth and other moisture-related issues like rotting wood and rusting of your RV’s metal components. 

Too much moisture will cause a variety of issues in your RV. It can lead to replacing a moldy mattress and reconstructing damaged subfloor and wood framing. Unmanaged moisture accumulation can also lead to a rusted chassis or the need to fumigate your entire RV to remove mold and mildew growing inside the walls and insulation. 

Fortunately, these issues are avoidable and ventilation is your biggest ally in this battle. Your fans and windows allow you to circulate air more efficiently and expel moisture that accumulates when you’re cooking or showering (two of the most common sources of moisture creation in RVs). Use your vent fans to your advantage!

If you’ve never had elote, you’re missing out! This zesty and creamy corn dish is a popular Mexican street food that’s often sold in food trucks and restaurants. Elote transforms your regular, boring corn on the cob into a delicious side dish with lime, chili and cheesy flavors.

Elote is typically grilled, and this recipe can be made with grilled corn on the cob or even corn cooked over an open fire. But for those who don’t have access to a grill or camping in an area that doesn’t allow campfires, you can still enjoy these flavors with instant pot corn.

This is another one of those super easy recipes that are simple to make at the campground. You can even make the sauce ahead of time and store it in a cooler or your RV’s refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. So instead of slathering your corn on the cob in butter, next time try this delicious topping full of sour cream, mayo, lime juice and salty cotija cheese.

Tips for Making Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

While this recipe calls for making the corn in an Instant Pot, you can easily grill the corn on the grill or roast it over the campfire. If you can’t find corn on the cob, you can also just make the sauce and use it as a topping for frozen or canned corn. If you still want that grilled flavor but don’t feel like standing over the grill the entire time, just make the corn in the Instant Pot and throw it on the grill for a few minutes afterward just to get the charred color and flavor.

Where to Fill RV Fresh Water Tank An RV related question that Kait and I get asked frequently is where to get fresh water for ... Read more

The holiday season is in full swing, which means it’s time to get gifts for your family! If you’re looking for some great ways to tell the RVers or outdoorsy people in your family that you care, check out these fantastic gifts available on Amazon. These RV tips for the perfect RVing gifts will make your holiday shopping easy this year!

Man Gift Box

Get the special guy in your life something that he can use whenever he heads out into the great outdoors, whether he prefers camping, hunting, fishing, or hiking, the Man Gift Box on Amazon. Inside, you’ll find a fire starting kit, a Rambo knife, a coffee mug, and more! Order one today for just $54.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter 

The LifeStraw is a fantastic gift for anyone who likes to get out away from the buzz and bustle of city life. This amazing tool fits easily in a backpack and makes it easy to get a drink of clean water no matter how far out in the wilderness you have adventured. The LifeStraw effectively filters bacteria and parasites. You can order packs of 1, 2, 3, and 5! Order today and get something all of your outdoorsy friends will love!

When winter temperatures start plummeting, some RVers outfit their rig for winter RV camping and others prepare to put their RV in storage. If you’re going to brave the winter chill, however, it pays to know about the different types of space heaters for RVs.

Even if you don’t plan on RVing during the winter months, a space heater will help you keep things toasty on cool nights. Let’s discuss the varying types of space heaters so you can choose the right kind for your RV.

Why Space Heaters for RVs Makes Sense

When the temperature drops, you naturally run your RV’s furnace more frequently. Your furnace is the most efficient way to heat your RV and it will certainly do a reliable job, as long as you don’t run out of propane. 

Therein lies the rub of relying solely on your furnace as a heat source. Not only will you burn through propane quickly, but you’ll also use electricity to circulate hot air throughout your RV.

During the coldest months, you’ll burn through propane way faster than normal. If you can’t move your RV to refill or find a propane company that offers a mobile refill service, things in your RV will get dangerously cold dangerously fast. 

Finding the right match for your family when it comes to an RV isn’t always easy, but when you have one of the class C motorhomes, you’ll have everything you need. Today, we’ll take a look at four incredible class C motorhomes on sale and the features you’ll love. Learn more in this class C motorhomes review. 

2022 Coachmen RV Cross Trail XL 26XG Motor Home Class C

Built for a family of six, the Coachmen Cross Trail XL 26XG class C motorhome is an excellent option for family adventures. This unit features a flip-down counter extension that gives you ample space for making your favorite campground dinners. The outdoor entertainment center makes it so you never have to miss the big game or a moment of your time at the campground. Enjoy spending all your time out in the beautiful weather.

Additional Features: 

2022 Jayco Redhawk 31F Motor Home Class C

The bunk beds and over-the-cab bunk provide you with ample sleeping space for the kids in this Jayco Redhawk 31F class C motorhome. The master suite provides you with a dual entry bathroom, queen bed, and enough storage space for all of your clothing and camping gear. You’ll love that the kitchen comes equipped with a dual basin sink, a high-rise faucet, and a three-burner stove. 

If you’ve been repeating to yourself that ‘Someday…someday I’ll get an RV and travel the country,’ journalist and RVer, Mike Wendland, has some wise and sobering advice:

“There is no guarantee someday will come.”

With more than 10 years’ experience RVing on the road, 50 years married to wife Jennifer, and decades working as a world-traveling journalist, Mike’s wise advice comes from a life rich in unexpected twists and turns. “Don’t wait for things to be just right,” he says, “things will never be right.”

Camping World recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mike and Jennifer Wendland, retired RVing couple and the powerhouse duo behind the RV Lifestyle blog, RV Lifestyle Podcast, RV Lifestyle Youtube Channel, and RV Lifestyle Travel Guides.

Ultimate RV show hosts, Sean and Tiffany, learn how the Wendlands first got into RVing and why they continue to travel by RV 10 years on in this virtual interview with the roaming couple.

Stop in and make yourself at home with us at Country Oaks RV Park and Campground. My family and I built this park in 1997 from a section of our 18-acre property.

Our campground is a full-featured destination that is just minutes away from the Georgia coastal waters. You will find the atmosphere friendly and relaxing. All 44 RV sites are full hookups and the campground is surrounded by lush oak and palmetto forest, teeming with wildlife.

Guests at Country Oaks RV Park and Campground aren’t the only anglers to enjoy our fully stocked fishin’ hole. An osprey or two or a great blue heron are regular diners, too.

The convenience of Jacksonville, just across the state border in Florida, is just a few miles south down the road. We’re just off Interstate 95 at Georgia off Exit 1. We’re the last exit before Florida, where you’ll find 2 full-service truck stops. Gas prices traditionally are well below the national average. That’s just one of the many reasons our campground is a great stop-over if you’re just passin’ through, to or from the Sunshine State. Once you’re here though, you might find that you want to stay a spell longer.

Having a secure RV is extremely important when on the road. While instances of break-ins and theft are reasonably rare, at the very least, having someone enter your RV unauthorized would ruin your trip. Nobody likes to think about safety and security concerns when it comes to RVing, but it’s a necessary part of preparing for and planning. 

There are plenty of things you can do to keep your RV safe. If you’re looking for an option that will take things to the next level and help ensure your home away from home stays safe and secure, then you need to consider adding security cameras to your rig. Here’s some way they can help. 

Cameras Monitor Your RV While You’re Away

Cameras provide monitoring of your RV. They’re your extra pair of eyes. That means once you get to a campground and get your campsite set up, you can go off and go hiking, and your security system’s cameras will monitor your RV. 

It’s wise to have cameras both inside and outside your RV. That way, you can see what happens both at the campsite and inside your RV. Because of the RV’s small footprint, a couple of cameras should suffice. 

You’ve arrived at the perfect winter campsite. You’ve parked the RV and settled down to settle in. You’ve gathered around the campfire in your favorite chair, with all your favorite campfire accessories, but something is missing. You’re winter RV camping and looking to stay warm, so you’ll need a drink in your hand.

Whether you’re craving an adult beverage, a seasonal drink, or both, we’ve put together a few options that will hit the spot. So, keep the fire going because these drinks are all easy to make! Simple drinks are the best and, when it comes to camping drinks, we all know refills are inevitable.

Family-Friendly Camping Drinks

Do bedtimes exist when camping? It’s debatable, so have a few family-friendly drink ideas that everyone can enjoy after dinner when the sun goes down.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate 

There’s something perfect about a mug of hot chocolate. Nothing compares to the feeling of cold weather with the heat of a drink in your hand, warming you from the inside out. It’s comforting. It’s nostalgic. It’s perfect.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Boil water over the campfire. Add the peppermint tea bag to steep for about five minutes. Remove the tea bag and add in the hot cocoa mix. Stir until mix is dissolved and pour into your favorite insulated mug. Optional: hook a candy cane over the side.