Woodall's Monthly Tips and Wisdom

August 2007

Hello,

This month, Julee Meltzer gives us some tips on getting along with pets in an RV, we get some tech tips for keeping in touch while you're on the road, and we'll be taking a loop tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Hope everyone is enjoying summer!

Ann
Associate Publisher

Associate Publisher

Tell me what you think!

Issue Contents

	RVing with Humans
	RV Tech
	Michigan's Upper Peninsula
	Personal Travel Journal
	Cooking on the Road
	Driver's School
	Printer Friendly Version

Book of the Month

Cooking on the Road with Celebrity Chefs

With unique recipes for soups and salads, easy one–pot stews, and even delicious desserts and breakfasts, this book will inspire you to spice up your cooking on the road.

"Cooking on the Road with Celebrity Chefs provides a delicious contrast from ordinary cooking. The imagination and creativity in this collection will inspire you to create everything from delicious family meals to intimate dinners with friends." – Linda Hulsey, Trail Manor RV

Order Today!

Camping Blooper
All's well that ends well.

While in Florida, I parked my Class C RV, and I put my emergency brake on. However, the road was a bit slanted, and the RV started slowly moving towards some people that were gathered about 30 feet away in front of the RV.

The driver door was locked. Imagine my horror when I realized that those people would get hit by the RV! Since it was moving slowly, I synchronized my running speed with it while unlocking the door, then I jumped in — just in time to slam my foot on the brake pedal! The RV stopped about 8 feet from the people — and they didn't even notice! All's well that ends well.

Sarah Roman, OR

RVing With Your Pet
RVing with Humans
By Julee Meltzer

When we first looked into the possibility of full–time RVing, we read every book we could find on the subject. After all, why learn everything the hard way? While there wasn't a lot of written material available at the time, we did notice that virtually all books on the subject stressed the need for a "good working relationship" with family members. Apparently, if you haven't worked out most of the bugs in your relationship with fellow travelers, your dreams of life on the open road will turn into a slow motion nightmare that gets worse with every mile.

After living in an RV for a number of years now, I would probably agree with this advice. Let's face it. Most full–time RVers tend to operate in a life without the rigid schedules, formal deadlines, and typical routines that make up most people's lives. Accordingly, most full–time RVers must develop the resources, the discipline, and the creativity to live in a world that is far less structured than most. Furthermore, RVs are normally much smaller than conventional homes or apartments. Consequently, many full–time RVers find that the cramped lifestyle is simply too hard to adapt to – especially if they aren't getting along with each other.

Read More

RV Tech
Tech Tips for Keeping in Touch
By Alan Lidstone

RVers on the road for more than a few days may be interested in determining their options to stay in touch with family, friends, and their job when traveling away from home. We've come a long way from a roll of stamps ,a phone card, or a roll of quarters to keep in touch.

The wireless mobile phone is now the primary communication tool for RVers and travelers as a result of the tremendous growth in coverage, features, and services for wireless mobile products in the last ten years.

To get real nationwide wireless mobile coverage and access, there are two environments that require different ways to maintain effective voice and data (Internet) connections, including:

Communicating on the beaten path – RVing and traveling in areas with locally available communications, including wireless mobile phones and broadband service, and Wi–Fi access or modem availability in campgrounds and RV resorts.
Communicating off the beaten path – RVing and traveling outside the normal range of wireless mobile phone and broadband data service towers, with no telephone landlines, and no modem or Wi–Fi Internet access available.

Destined to Travel
Bird's–Eye Tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula
A mapped guide around the U.P.
This article courtesy of Midwest RV Traveler

When planning your trip, be aware that many area attractions and activities are seasonal. Most of the peninsula is in the Eastern time zone; the western tip and part of the southern area are in the Central time zone.

To explore the U.P., which is 320 miles long and 125 miles at its widest point, do a loop tour, beginning and ending in Sault Ste. Marie.

Michigan's oldest city, Sault Ste. Marie is one of the busiest inland shipping channels in the world. On a Soo (Sault) Locks boat tour, you will experience the locks firsthand.

Read More

Mark… My Words

Mark

Hi All. I hope your RVing summer is going well. Here are a few summertime–inspired questions and answers for you. Stay cool, and I'll see you next month!

Dear Mark,

I have a '91 Bounder with two air conditioners and a 30 amp plug. I need information on how to split A/C's to run both at once on shore power. My genset will run both at the same time. Thank you.

Vic

Hi Vic,

Your genset is probably capable of producing 6500 or 7500 watts. That means you can draw between 50 and 60 amps from your genset, almost twice what you can draw from shore power. The 30A limit really makes it tough to support two roof airs! Some 30A RVs with two roof airs will have a selector switch or controller that allows only one compressor at a time to operate when both units are in use on shore power. My ‘89 Southwind has such a switch from the factory. Check your manual, as you may also have one in your rig. They were fairly common in RVs of that era. Even if you don't have a controller or switch, you may still be able to run both at the same time (depending on the size of your roof air units), but you'll have to put them on low fan and turn the temperature control to "coldest". The idea is to keep the compressors from cycling on and off. Running on low fan, with the compressor operating, each A/C is probably drawing around 13 amps. However, if either compressor cycles, the compressor starting load will push the amp draw well above what the 30A breaker will hold. In order for this to work, you'll also have to shut all other A/C loads off. Switch the refrigerator to gas, turn off the electric water heater, the converter, and don't use the microwave. If you have a good 30A hookup, you will probably be able to squeak by this way. If you are looking for a more permanent solution, your best bet is to have your rig converted to 50A service. This will allow you to run both air conditioners along with other appliances as long as you are plugged into a 50A hookup.

Read More Questions

Do you have a question for Mark?
Please submit your question via email to woodalls@escapees.com

Please remember, material will be edited. Because of the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, individual replies will not be possible, nor can we acknowledge receipt of your material. Selected questions will be answered in future issues of the Woodall's Wisdom newsletter in the Mark, My Words column. The Mark, My Words column also appears in Escapees magazine, a bi–monthly publication of the Escapees RV Club. For more information visit www.escapees.com/magazine

Submit Your Question

My Trip Journal

Follow along with RVers and travelers just like you by reading their trip journal. We've selected the best websites of people who have traveled in North America. These travelers have agreed to let us feature their website. Take a look.

View this months featured personal website, Fish RV Travels 2006 & 2007 or browse other locations.

Camping Blooper
All's well that ends well.

While in Florida, I parked my Class C RV, and I put my emergency brake on. However, the road was a bit slanted, and the RV started slowly moving towards some people that were gathered about 30 feet away in front of the RV.

The driver door was locked. Imagine my horror when I realized that those people would get hit by the RV! Since it was moving slowly, I synchronized my running speed with it while unlocking the door, then I jumped in –– just in time to slam my foot on the brake pedal! The RV stopped about 8 feet from the people –– and they didn't even notice! All's well that ends well.

Sarah Roman, OR

Submit Your Camping Blooper

Cooking on the Road
Grilled Steak with Caramelized Onion
and Goat Cheese
Chef Harry

Serve these steaks with a side of Grilled Asparagus (Cooking on the Road with Celebrity Chefs page 154) along with Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes en Papillote (Cooking on the Road with Celebrity Chefs page 155).

four servings

4	tablespoons butter
1	medium onion, thinly sliced
1	teaspoon sugar
2	tablespoons extra–dry Vermouth
2	shell steaks, about 12 oz each
1	cup crumbled goat cheese
	Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the grill to medium–hot.

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium–high heat, add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until soft and translucent. Reduce the heat to medium–low and sprinkle the sugar and vermouth over the onions. Continue cooking, stirring once in a while until the onion is very soft and turns caramel in color. Keep warm.

Generously season the steaks with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the steaks on the grill and cook for 5 minutes without moving. Turn on the other side and grill to taste. Transfer to a serving platter and let steaks rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Top the steaks with the onions and the goat cheese and serve.

Tip: The warm caramelized onions and goat cheese mixture is delicious on its own. You really don't need a steak to enjoy it! Toast some French bread slices and serve with the mixture for a wonderful appetizer or supper! Or use it as a topping for grilled pizza (Cooking on the Road with Celebrity Chefs, page 112).

For more great recipes & campsite cooking tips, visit Woodall's Camp Cooking!.

Driver's School For New RV Owners
By Bill Siuru

A few years ago, Dick Reed saw a need and filled it. The challenge was that people who purchased a huge Class A motorhome, large travel trailer or fifth–wheel often had not driven anything bigger than a large sedan, SUV or pickup truck. With no training beyond a few instructions from the RV dealer, they joined the world of the professional 18–wheeler and bus driver. They probably realized this deficiency the first time they tried to back into a tight spot in an RV park.

Professional drivers need formal training to obtain their commercial driver's license (CDL). Owners of large RVs share the road, and many of the same challenges, with professional drivers, but without any training. Incidentally, a few buses tow a "dinghy," boat or maybe both!

According to Reed, no state requires a CDL to drive most motorhomes or tow trailers, provided they are used for personal travel. Some states do require a Non–Commercial Driver's License (NCDL). Check with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

Reed had an extensive background as a truck, bus and heavy–equipment driving instructor when he founded the RV School LLC in 1991. He is also an avid RV enthusiast. From a modest start, the RV School now has thousands of satisfied graduates nationwide.

Read More

RV Buying Tip

Get a detailed statement from the seller that specifies whether the RV is being sold to you with a warranty or "as is". This can be in addition to the receipt, or included on the receipt.

More info & photos

Featured RV
2006 Winnebago Itasca Ellipse
Price:~~$199,982~~ $189,982
Description: opposing flat–floor slideouts in the
living room …continued

Yr	Make	Model	Length	Price
2006	Gulf Stream	Yellowstone Cruiser	29	$98,686
2006	Four Winds	Northshore	30	$27,995
2007	Pilgrim	274RLSS–5	29	$18,950

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