RV Home Yet?

More than a campground host - working on the road

See "Think outside the box," a short YouTube video about the possibilities for working on the road, or Workamping, and volunteering as you travel in your RV. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Indiana RV relief bill- savior or sham?

It could be I'm missing something, but the bill passed by the Indiana House and now on the way to the Senate, will lower the cost for Indiana residents purchasing RVs, but I'm not sure it will benefit purchasers from out of state. The bill would exempt out-of-state residents from paying sales tax in Indiana. However, when you purchase a vehicle in one state and then register it in another, the state where you register it is the one that collects all the fees.

Indiana counties can exempt their residents from the yearly wheel tax, which could result in significant savings for Indiana residents. However, that won't help out-of-state buyers. If Indiana had a sales tax on top of what the RVer's state charged, there would be no incentive to purchase in Indiana. And, if it comes out the same, why go to Indiana?

Read the article and see what you think. If you have a different take on this, please leave your comment. As I said, I could be missing something. Don't get me wrong. It would be great if this measure could benefit both the RV industry and the consumer. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Cute trailer for one plus a dog

Appropriately named the Scotty Pup, this 13-foot trailer is just big enough for one person and their pet. It can be pulled by a car since the dry weight is only 1350 pounds and fits in a garage. It is for the person who wants to go camping for the weekend or on vacation.

Last week, driving up I-10 from Casa Grande to Phoenix, we passed Beaudry RV. Out in front of the big RVs were several small colorful TAB trailers. These little guys are appealing in both price and looks and could be a fun starter trailer. The Scotty Pups fill the same niche.

The Pup has a couch that converts into a full-size bed, a toilet, 3.0 cu fridge, stove and sink. The regular version is pretty spare. You need to include extras like a hot water heater and AC for real comfort. Otherwise, you'll be taking a cold outside shower!

The outside looks retro but the inside is clean and modern. You can view interior shots and specifications at their Web site. While you are there, read the history of the Scotty trailers. Quite interesting.

Many of us may have graduated to bigger and better RVs. Still, I see these cute little trailers or teardrops and think how fun it would be to have one. And, it's a way to get started. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Product makes your shower larger

Today's RV Industry News carried a press release about a product made by Stromberg Carlson Products  that gives you more room when you shower. Dubbed a slide-out room for your shower, it is a nifty idea! If your RV currently has a shower with a curtain, this would be an easy replacement. The Extend-a-Shower rod allows more upper body room so you aren't cramped.

In the Lance camper that I had, and George and I traveled in for a summer, that would have been welcomed room. In the older Pace Arrow that my late husband and I traveled in, it would have worked well too. There are many models where this would fit.

I like the idea of hanging clothes up to dry (or to store while traveling) on the rod while traveling or not using the shower. Many RVers use their shower/tub as a storage facility. When we had uniforms to wear, a rod we added to the shower in the Pace Arrow was the uniform closet and dirty clothes went in a basket in the tub. It took less than a minute to make the shower ready for use.

Check it out. You could be enjoying more elbow room as you shower. The price is reasonable too - only $39.95. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Resource for finding health insurance

For those who begin full-time RVing and are not yet old enough for Medicare, health insurance can be the biggest stumbling block. In the past we've recommended The New Health Insurance Solution: How to Get Cheaper, Better Coverage Without a Traditional Employer Plan by Paul Zane Pilzer. It is a must-have resource.

Another excellent resource for finding out about health insurance, health care based on income, and many other programs is the Artist's Health Insurance Resource Center or AHIRC. In describing the site, they say:

The AHIRC database was created in 1998 by the Health Insurance Resource Center (HIRC) of The Actors Fund, with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, as a health insurance resource for artists and people in the entertainment industry. Since then, with support from The Commonwealth Fund, it has expanded to include resources for the self-employed, low-income workers, the under-insured, the uninsured who require medical care, and many other groups.

Take a look. You can click on a state to get specific information about their programs as well as find national resources on laws or programs that affect us all. This comprehensive site has links to primers on health insurance; tax information for medical expenses; organizations that help with drug costs and insurance co-pays; and medical centers offering many free or low-cost services.Some resources are for those in the entertainment field, but many are available to anyone who qualifies.

You'll definitely want to bookmark this site or add it to your favorites.

When my late husband and I began full-time travel, we opted to do without health insurance. Then a routine mammogram showed micro-calcifications. The nurse, who was a breast cancer survivor, insisted they test further. I underwent a very uncomfortable and expensive wireline biopsy. (No, you don't want a description.) My tests came back negative, however, another RV friend with micro-calcifications wasn't so lucky. Hers were cancerous. I decided I needed health insurance. I joined an HMO where we spent time each year. Rates went so high I looked for another policy and found one that covered both Bill and I for about the same as I had been spending for just myself. I was so glad we did that because a few years later Bill was diagnosed with colon cancer. I don't know what we would have done without health insurance. His pain meds alone were $1000 a crack.

There are resources for those without insurance. If you choose to go without insurance, research them now while you are healthy and you are not in panic mode. Or, perhaps either this Web site or Pilzer's book can help you find affordable coverage. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Learning to blog

Dave Barnhart of Business Blogging Pros is in Payson today, putting on a workshop on blogging for the local Arizona Press Women's Rim Country District. I've attended this before but am learning a lot.

He's explaining how to use a blog and get the most out of it and also how it fits in with Twitter and social networking for marketing purposes. I also attending his recent Webinar on using Twitter - that was amazing too. Good stuff! 

For RVers, blogging is a good way to let friends and families and other RVers know what is happening. For RVers with something to sell, blogging is essential. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

More solo women RVers than solo men

Driving your RV

Many women with partners admit their partner does all or most of the driving. When the woman does drive, it is often on the highway or the partner is giving detailed instructions on what to do, never allowing the woman to develop her own judgment, skill and confidence.

Many women hesitate to continue (or start) RVing as a solo because they worry about whether they'll be able to handle their RV confidently in tight situations. Learning what to do before the situation arises is far better than when confronted with it. Getting comfortable with getting into RV spaces and hooking up a tow vehicle or toad before having to do it is a big help.

In our round table discussion at our seminar on RVing from the Woman's Perspective, women shared three places where women - both solo and those traveling with a partner - can get behind-the-wheel instruction on driving their RV. Any RV driver would benefit from this course; even seasoned drivers learn something new.

• RV Driving School: Dick Reid’s driving school, now owned by Dennis and Carol Hill. 
• Des Moines Community College continuing education. Mike is the contact.  
• RVing Women offers driving classes in Drummond, OK. 
  

A driving course can be the solution. Check the Web sites listed for information on when and where you can enroll. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photo: Our friend Becky driving her truck and 5th wheel. (George Bruzenak)

Bad luck selling on consignment

When someone sells an RV on consignment, the RV sits on the consignment lot, the owner/dealer shows the RV and then keeps any money he can get beyond the seller's price. It can be a win-win situation for both parties if the RV sells in a reasonable amount of time.

Warning, though. See what your agreement says and take care. A couple in Knoxville, TN left their 35-foot Pace Arrow at Eagle Automotive Group on consignment. It was taken for a test drive to another state for three days and returned with thousands of dollars worth of damage. It was the manager who took it - with the owner's knowledge. The owners, the Honeywells, had no idea it was going out of state!

Looking at the motorhome after it was returned, it was obvious it was hit, sustaining damage that will run between $3000 and $5000 to fix. Plus the inside also had several things broken or damaged and pet food in the kitchen sink. The manager admitted to the Honeywells that they partied it in.

Like the owner, I would have assumed that a test drive was 10-15 miles, not more than a thousand. With 20-20 hindsight, the owner should have asked him where he was taking it, but who would have thought? Also, whose insurance covers an RV on consignment while on the property or on a test drive? Eagle Automotive will not talk to them about paying for the damage. The Honeywells hope their insurance company can collect from Eagle Automotive.

You can read details and see photos at Channel 6/WATE. 6 On Your Side investigated. Another case of chutzpah! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Women - on living 24/7 in an RV with a spouse

At the Western Gypsy Gathering a week ago in Casa Grande, Alice and I led a seminar and round table discussion on RVing from the Woman's Perspective. Though we had a mixture of married and solo women RVers, a big topic of discussion was having some alone time or "space." Here were a few ideas shared:

1. Don't bottle frustration in: You must express yourself, talk, get things out in the open.
2. Communicate: Tell your partner, “I need alone time.” It is not your responsibility if his feelings are hurt.
3. Develop a signal: I need a “Kay” day (after Kay Peterson’s “Living in a Sardine Can” talks at Escapades). This is an effective, nonthreatening signal that you need alone time.
4. Pack a lunch: Pack your partner a lunch. The number of sandwiches indicates how long he should be gone!
5. Clarify expectations: Make sure he knows he needs to find a way to entertain himself at times.
6. RV layout: If you are choosing an RV, make sure there are separate spaces so you aren't sitting next to each other all the time. Slideouts make a difference.
7. Marriage savers: Headphones for TV or radio allow one spouse to enjoy quiet while the other is entertained. It also helps create two spaces in the RV.

It can be a real challenge going from being apart much of the day working different jobs to being in the same space 24 hours a day. On top of that, the amount of space is a fraction of what a house or apartment is. An RV has a couple of hundred square feet as opposed to usually more than one or two thousand square feet in a typical house.

Shopping, hiking and "I need a Jaimie day" have all worked for me. Anyone like to share what works for them? Any men who have trouble getting alone time? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Detachable RV- wave of the future?

At InventorSpot.com, a detachable RV is being featured. It is quite modernistic looking and is environmentally friendly.

Not much detail is given, but what makes it unique is that the front is detachable. The little car by itself would likely get great mileage. The whole RV has to be light weight.

The living quarters can sleep 4 people and there is a kitchenette and bathroom. It has storage room and natural lighting.

The only disappointing thing is that this is a design from a German student and there are no plans for production. But wouldn't this be a hoot to drive?  Jaimie Hall Bruzenak