Category Archives: Travel Trailer

The Business Case for Renting an RV Instead of Buying One

 

The average person can become a multi-millionaire and create a secure retirement. Buying toys like recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and other stuff is a sure way NOT to become financially independent. For most people who like to go camping, renting instead of purchasing is smarter. If you go to a RV dealer, the salesman will likely tell you that a RV is an investment. That is absolutely false – a RV is a depreciating asset. Continue reading The Business Case for Renting an RV Instead of Buying One

The Changing Landscape of Campgrounds

We just got back from a two-week camping trip a few days ago and the changes are plainly visible for Joyce and me – we are frequent campers. No, this isn’t a post about climate change. Over the past four years I have seen dramatic changes in the use of the campgrounds we frequent. Keep in mind that this is an unscientific perspective from my little corner of the world where people can and do camp all 12 months of the year. 

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A History of Repairs to Our Milan Travel Trailer

The biggest problem with travel trailers and RV’s is things rattle and move while traveling on the roads and things get worse if you are a person who is happy to drive on dirt roads to get to the best campsites. This vibration causes things to come loose and sometimes causes things to break. It is inevitable – not a question of probability, but when. Continue reading A History of Repairs to Our Milan Travel Trailer

Sewer Crap

Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

I thought the title might be an attention getter. With a little thought and the proper maintenance procedures, dealing with RV waste isn’t the awful task many make it out to be, and you should never have a Cousin Eddie moment. So I thought I’d share some of the sewer crap accessories we I use. To be accurate, sewage is not a we thing. Sewage is 100% percent my responsibility, except for the task of generating said sewage.

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Does A Weight Distribution Hitch Increase Tongue Weight?

The short answer is, No.

 

Often trying to find detailed information on trailer towing is difficult at best.

When we bought our current trailer and tow vehicle I knew that we would be close to the maximum capacity specifications for both. Most of the self-proclaimed or perceived experts would say buy a bigger tow vehicle if you are going to be close to the tow vehicle’s maximum specification for gross trailer weight and/or tongue weight. In other words, “buy a bigger gun.”

I am not a hunter and I have never hunted. But I know you don’t hunt elk with a pocket knife (too small) or a rocket propelled grenade (too big). You use a rifle with the correct caliber of bullet and other attributes that combined are a match for taking an elk. And so it is with our tow vehicle. The manufacturer (Ford) says we can safely tow a trailer that weighs up to 9,200 lbs fully loaded as long as the tongue weight is between 10% and 15% of the trailer’s weight and the tongue weight doesn’t exceed 920 lbs using a weight distribution hitch also known as a WDH, and at the same time the tow vehicle cannot exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or any Gross Axle Weight Ratings, and the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight.

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