RV Home Yet?

Using your credit card could cost you

A settlement reached with credit card companies will now allow merchants to charge customers an additional fee to use a credit card as opposed to paying with cash or check. Art Lieberman, who has a credit card processing company for campgrounds, summarizes it:

Retailers have long desired to charge customers who pay with plastic rather than cash. These charges would defray the transaction costs to retailers which, of course, increases the costs of goods and services since these charges are passed on to consumers. But Visa and MasterCard had banned the practice and part of their rules required that retailers follow those rules or lose the card services altogether. It was permitted to discount prices for cash, but they may not add charges for credit card transactions.

The settlement allows just that, though the fees may not exceed their actual costs. Also, those fees cannot be charged when you use a debit card. The rules will not affect users of Discover and American Express.If you get a cash reward for using your credit card, that  could be negated by the additional fees when making a purchase.

It may pay for RVers to shop where they can get cash back or to bank at a national bank where they can get cash without the fee to pay for RV park stays and fuel. (Fees, fees, fees!)

The ruling hasn't gone into effect, but could very soon. The question is whether merchants will charge the additional fee or continue to absorb it. Time will tell. You can read more of Art Lieberman's explanation at RV Daily Report. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

An RV Hobby That Pays

I came across this blog post, "An RV Hobby That Pays." This couple has turned selling vintage jewelry into a viable business. Arlene finds old jewelry, repairs it, then sells it to antique dealers as well as directly to consumers in one of her two online stores.

As the business developed, they modified the RV to accommodate her jeweler's bench and storage cabinets. They now have a van to go jewelry hunting. The van serves as a "guest house" for company.They have both taken courses on jewelry repair and her husband on jewelry photography. Check out Arlene's sites at  rubylane.com and rubyplaza.com.

If you are looking for a way to make money working on the road - without working for someone else - this story may inspire you! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

 

A good reminder- Be aware of low overpasses

An RV lost its AC when the owners drove under an overpass without being sure of the height. It wasn't marked so they took a chance. Apparently the sign was off to the side of the road.

In RV Traveling Tales: Women's Journeys on the Open Road, Mary Campbell writes in "Stockbridge" about coming up to a overpass and not remembering the height of her rig! She backed up. Embarrassing, but she didn't lose any pieces.

You can read the article in Journal Pioneer. No photos, though. The couple was lucky.

If you can't remember the height of your RV, write it on a piece of paper and tape it somewhere in view of the driver's seat. And when in doubt, stop and go around. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Biosphere2

Could you live with the same people (like them or not), grow your own food, and be confined to about 3.4 acres for two whole years? The inhabitants of Biosphere2 endeavored to do just that. There small world was supposed to produce its own oxygen from exchanging carbon dioxide with plants. Water was recycled through rain, filtering into the earth to be purified. They raised crops- rice was the main one. They had chicken or pork once a week, with fish every three months. They lived in what looked like a large college dorm room; that was their only privacy. 

The experiment at Biosphere2 hoped to have scientists living in a totally self-sufficient world. The first group was sealed in and lived there for two years. Perhaps because the plants were not mature, oxygen levels were low and scientists had to give oxygen infusions. The second group was only sealed in for about six months due to political going-ons. Wikipedia has an account of the experiments.

The tour takes you through the various ecosystems plus underground to see the piping and lungs. A tropical rain forest was dense with vegetation. The ocean with coral reef, a mangrove wetland and savannah grassland lay between the rainforest and this fog desert where Chris is taking a photo with his tablet.

 

When we went below, we could see fish swimming in the ocean and around the reefs.We could see where they had grown crops. That area is being used for a new experiment to see what happens to water as it rains in the desert. They are constructing it and will begin experiments soon. As we walked along the outside, looking into the ocean and other areas, to the south, clouds over the Catalinas foretold of the rain that would drench Chris and me in about a half hour!

Biosphere2 is now run by the University of Arizona and all sorts of experiments are being conducted. This is a unique environment because one variable can be isolated and tested. For example, they have plants of the same species living in slightly higher temperatures than the other so they can see effects of global warming.

This is a fascinating place and one you should see in your RV travels. Look for discount coupons in tourist booklets. We happened to catch a Groupon special. From Tucson, you drive out Oracle or Highway 77 to milepost 96.5 almost to the town of that name. There is room to park RVs. Catalina State Park is on the way for camping as well as commercial RV parks. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Crazy home-built Chinese RV!

Chinese ingenuity! This RV was built out of a car. This 60-year-old man from the Sichuan province, bought a car and then modified it so he can take his mother on trips around China. The original car has been modified so it has a bed. A box on the back is for her medical supplies and the medical worker he plans to hire, and the tent on top is for his wife and him to sleep in. What a setup!

He has taken her to several places, though an official says it is illegal and he will have to turn it back into a regular car. No mention of toilet facilities, or whether they stay in RV parks or park alongside the road.

You can read more details and see additional pictures of this unusual RV and RV lifestyle in the China Daily. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RV Lifestyle Ezine: Fun activities in Tucson with Grandkids

The latest issue of RV Lifestyle Ezine is out. Jaimie and George have been in Tucson with their 12-year-old grandson, Chris. Are we nuts? Yes, it is hot in the desert in the summer, but there is AC and there are pools. We've had a fun time visiting places with him and giving him new experiences.

In their column, Tom and Nancy talk about the factors that determine how many soloar panels you need. Plus apps, resources, RV news and the winner of the set of Space Bags. You can read this issue in the archives. You can subscribe at RVLifestyleExperts.com. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in summer

Visit the desert in summer? Are we crazy? Maybe a little. My grandson Chris is visiting for a week so we decided that Tucson would have some interesting things to see and do. On last year's visit, we saw a number of things in Northern Arizona. We have lucked out weather wise. Tucson is getting a wonderful monsoon season so we've had thundershowers every day plus clouds that cool down the temperature for part of the day too.

One of the must-sees on our list was the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. During the summer they are open on Saturday night. We went over in the late afternoon, saw most of the exhibits. The museum is part zoo, part botanical garden. We got glimpses of the mountain lion and bobcat. The ocelot was asleep but visible.

 

The bear was out, but behind a bush. The coyote posed for us. The grey fox was asleep but in view; the bob cat's back and ears were visible. We could not see the Mexican wolves. We also saw no sign of the coatis.

The hummingbirds were in an enclosure and buzzed by quite close. Good place for photos of them.

 

 

After following the paths through the mountain woodlands, desert grasslands and riparian areas, we went to the restaurant for dinner. The Saturday night program this week was an astronomy program but clouds meant no stars were visible. Chris helped make a comet out of dry ice and then we went back to see some of the animals to see if they had come out.

We should have brought a flashlight, but there were enough others, plus small lights along the paths, that we were ok. The two Mexican wolves were out. The ocelot was still sleeping, but had turned over on his other side. The bob cat was out and about and the bear sat huffing and puffing in plain view. He looked like he needed to be on a diet. We saw a burrowing owl, who did not like lights shined on him. He scurried behind a bush each time a flashlight illuminated him. No sign of the coatis. We had missed the prairie dogs earlier, and they apparently went to sleep when the sun went down.

In addition to these, there are plenty of birds, reptiles and fish. A very interesting place.

Chris enjoyed the whole experience but one of his favorite animals was a baby jack rabbit, hoping around on the path, free and wild. Go figure!

There are options for RVers close by. The Gilbert Ray Campground is just a few miles to the south. Bar J is a small park at 4340 S Palant Dr, off Kinney, then Bopp. It only has 13 spaces but a nice place. Snyder Hill is off Ajo Highway and a good place for boondocking. And, there are all sorts of RV parks and resorts if you want to park your RV and then drive your tow or toad to the museum. Just don't take an RV over Gates Pass. It is a short cut, but not suitable for RVs. Take Ajo Highway to Kinney Road.

It was a tad warm, but quite doable. It's a great place to take visitors - old and young. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George Bruzenak

Beware of online RV scams

An advertiser at RVclassified.com bilked a woman out of $37,000 posing as a dealer in Beebe, AR. She's not the only one who lost money. Others came to see the RV, using GPS coordinates to locate Wesley Truck Sales. When they arrived, there was no business by that name anywhere in sight. Not only were they out the money they wired as a down payment on the RV, but they were out time and airfare.

This story is a reminder that scams abound on the Internet. You should not send any money until you have seen the RV. It would be a good idea to check out the title and make sure that person actually owns it. And, of course, have someone knowledgeable go over the engine as well as the structure before purchasing. Caution, caution, caution is the word.

To read more about this scam, see the story at Fox 16. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

 

Cute option for hanging up the keys

RV Daily Report mentioned an article about park "cottages." RV parks are adding these to their offerings and then renting them out or allowing them to be placed on lots that are leased to buyers. While they are recreational vehicles, because they have an axle, trailer hitch and can be moved, they are designed to be put in place and left there. Some are quite cute.

For the RVer who can no longer travel or is ready to get off the road, this can be an alternative that may be less costly than moving back into an apartment or stix 'n brix house. RV parks and resorts that cater to snowbirds or the over 55 group often have many facilities and activities for their residents. You can stay very active living in one of these places and still live some aspects of the RV lifestyle - in a small, cute house that doesn't look like a trailer. Generally they are under 400 square feet.

This little cottage on the left is pictured in the article at HamptonRoads.com. They are called park models, but also can be called "recreational, transportable homes," "park trailers," "cabins" or "cottages." Here's one from the TinyHouse.blog.

Size varies as does style. Some have lofts, which visiting children will love.

Nice to have options! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Guest post: 5 Ways to Keep Pets Happy on the Road

By guest blogger Jack Payton

Fifteen years ago, my wife and I rented an RV for the first time and decided to hit the highway like we always dreamed of. We honeymooned in Europe, and for a few summers we did the whole island-hopping thing. Then some friends of ours purchased an RV and decided tour the states. We thought this sounded like a fun way to start planning our summer trips, and after our first rental experience, we saved up bought one of our own, and now RVing is our favorite way to get away.


We have a couple of Cocker Spaniels, Dede and Spade, who travel with us wherever we go. The first time we took them on the road was actually an accident because the kennel was overbooked, and were unable to find another place to board them. Needless to say, having them on the road with us was a real joy, and they have come along for the fun ever since. Along the way, we have learned a thing or two about traveling with pets-lessons learned from our own pets and from others we have seen around the campsites. Here are five tips to consider when taking Fido along for the ride.

1. Know the park or campground pet policy: Take time to call ahead, or look at the campground website to learn what their policy is on pets. These policies can differ from site to site, so never assume they are uniform to the last campground you were at. These are policies you need to abide by, so be respectful to your fellow campers and RVers by following the rules.
2. Keep your pet health records handy: As you know, there are hazards with traveling. Should something happen to Spot on the road and you have to make an emergency trip to the vet, they will want to see your pet's health records. Check with your vet office, they will be happy to print out a copy for you to have with you.
3. Do not leave your pets unattended: You brought the pets with you, so you should keep them with you. If they are crate trained, it's probably all right to leave them inside the RV if you have the AC or heater running, depending on the climate. If they start barking or causing a stir the moment you leave, there is a good chance you might be asked to leave the campground when you return.
4. Train your pet to be social and friendly: You are not the only one traveling with pets and you are certain to encounter other animals, as well as kids and adults around the campground or park. It is a good idea to be sure your pet is trained to be social and friendly. If your dog bites or attacks someone or another pet, you will find yourself with a whole mess of problems that will cost you more than any sort of training.
5. Microchip your pet: Lets face it; you will be in strange places far from home. If your pet does get lost, a microchip will make things much easier, and it is much more likely your pet will be returned. Most vet offices can scan a lost pet and check the database for your contact information-so be sure to keep everything up to date. A collar can be lost or easily removed, where a chip cannot.

Traveling with your pet can be a great way to share your vacation with your little family members, but make sure the task doesn't become a burden. These tips can help you out, and always remember to have fun and enjoy your time on the road.

Jack Payton is a car nut in the purest form. He loves to write about everything gear related, and rebuilt his first engine at 15. He works as the online publisher for the online tire retailer, tires-easy.com. In his spare time he enjoys cruising, attending car shows, and collecting vinyl.