I get a lot of questions from blog readers about RVing, what’s happening in our lives since we hung up the keys, writing and self-publishing, and all kinds of other things. While I try to answer all of them individually, sometimes I also share some here.
Q. At one of your rallies in Ohio there was a vendor that was from a local RV repair shop. He fixed a problem with my air conditioner and told me how to do it the next time myself to save on a service visit. All this time later the problem has come back. And for the life of me, I cannot find the instructions he had me write down. Do you remember the name of the company and how to contact them?
A. That would have been Kevin at Cruising America RV Repair. Their website is https://www.cruisingamericarvserviceco.com/ and their phone number is (419) 852 – 0791.
Q. I remember that you installed all LED lights in your Winnebago to replace the florescent tubes. Did you find it was worth the expense?
A. It was definitely worth it in my opinion. The LEDs provided much better light, used a lot less power, and were not as hot as the regular florescent bulbs were.
Q. Stop teasing us! Did you buy that hot looking Mustang that you had a picture of in yesterday’s blog?
A. No, I started to write the check and that’s when I became aware that when your wife says “do whatever the hell you want,” she doesn’t really mean “do whatever the hell you want.” Seriously, a car like that is only a dream for me. Its way out of my budget, and I don’t see how we can squeeze much more into the garage.
Q. I don’t want to sound like a grumpy old fart, even though my wife says I am, but please tell me that once school is back in session things will be a little more peaceful at the campground? At least during the week? Every day it’s screaming kids and barking dogs. I didn’t expect fulltime RVing to be like this.
A. Traditionally things do slow down once the kids go back to school. But be aware that campgrounds can still be busy on the weekends as long as the weather cooperates. Some people like the sound of kids playing and enjoying the great outdoors, and I do, too. But there’s difference between doing that and being allowed to run wild in a campground.
Q. I hear a lot of bad things about Camping World on different RV forums online. I’ve only dealt with them once and I really had no complaints. What are your thoughts on them for service and RV parts and supplies?
A. When we first started fulltiming, Camping World was our candy store. And while they always have a nice selection of RV accessories, it didn’t take us long to learn that we could buy just about anything they had at a lower price from independent RV parts dealers or online. We have had RV service done at Camping World locations in Arizona, Alabama, California, and Oregon. Never once did we have a satisfactory experience with their service departments. The work was always substandard, required return visits because they didn’t do things right or took shortcuts, and we learned later that we could have had most of it done at less expense somewhere else.
Q. Having spent most of the hot summer in Florida, do you miss the Pacific Northwest now? Do you wish you and Miss Terry had settled there instead? I know you really liked the Oregon coast.
A: We do love it up there, and we miss it, no question about that. But the coast is not open only for RVers and we will see it again. We will just stay in hotels or some other rental accommodation. As for our decision to settle in Florida instead of there, we are still happy with our choice. We can stay inside and enjoy the air conditioning here. And while we have had some marvelous times up in that area, I have spent some cold, damp summers and winters on the Pacific Northwest coast. I prefer this.
Q. We just bought our first RV, a 36 foot Class A gas powered motorhome. It did not come with a spare tire. Is that common for RVs?”
A. Most big motorhomes don’t have a spare tire because of the difficulty in mounting one somewhere, and the fact that due to their size and weight, most RVers are not going to change a tire themselves on the side of the road.
Q. I know you took one trip a few weeks ago, but do you and Miss Terry have any other summer travel planned?
A. Just like when we were RVing, our schedules are always in Jell-O. So while we don’t have any immediate plans yet, that could change by this afternoon or tomorrow, or next week. There’s a lot to be said for whimsy and impulse.
Q. Do you still sell your 8-in1 CDs with the books on free campgrounds and fairgrounds camping and RV dump stations and RV repair people and all of that? My copy has saved me hundreds of dollars in the last six years, but I’m wondering if it’s time for an update? Is it available for download or do I have to wait for the CD to be forwarded to me from my mail service?
A. Yes, it is still available and I continue to do updates as people tell me of them, like always. There is a link on the left side column of the blog where you can order it. Delivery can be by regular mail or we can email the files to you.
Q. Do you ever think you’ll put on another Gypsy Journal RV rally? We sure do miss them and all the fun we had. Maybe you and Terry and John and Kathy Huggins from Living The RV Dream can go together and sponsor one someplace there in Florida.
A. Rallies are fun, but they are also a tremendous amount of work. While we miss putting them on and seeing all of our friends, I think we’re done holding rallies. We kind of like this semi-retirement of ours.
Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an audiobook of Birdsongs, the first book in my friend Jason Deas’ excellent Benny James mystery series. To enter, all you have to do is click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening.
Thought For The Day – Please don’t invite me to outdoor events. It’s hot and I’m fat.
