1. Make Sure that Your Dog Can’t Get lost

It’s one thing if your dog gets free in your neighborhood. It’s another when you’re at a rest stop, nine hundred miles from home. Either train your dog to come when called or make absolutely sure that they’re on a leash at all times.

2. Get All of their Vaccinations Up to Date

If your dog gets into an altercation with another animal (or a person), the central issue will become their rabies shots. If you stay at a campground that has a demanding pet policy, you’ll need to verify your dog’s vaccination records. If you cross into Canada, you’ll have to confirm that your dogs have had their shots. You get the idea.

3. Make Your Dogs Easy to Identify

If your dog does get lost (unfortunately, it happens all the time), the ability to easily identify them will become critical. For permanent identification purposes, consider tattoos or microchips. At a minimum, make sure they wear tags that show their name, your current phone number, and the date of their last rabies vaccination.

4. Clean Up After Your Dog

The biggest complaint about dogs has nothing to do with their bark, their bite, or their behavior. If you pick up after your dog, you’ll be helping dog owners everywhere.

5. Learn How to Provide First Aid to Your Dog

If a medical crisis occurs while at home, you drive to your local veterinarian. But if you’re heading down a dark highway in a strange town, it will seem like a bad dream. Although there are ways to get help while on the road, it always takes more time. In the meantime, your ability to provide competent first aid could save your dog’s life.

6. Involve Your Dog in Everything You Do

If you really want your dogs to have a good time, include them in your activities. Take them with you on long walks. Buy a cheap plastic wading pool and let them play in the water. Throw a ball. Cook them up a hamburger. If you do stuff like that, they’ll do cartwheels the next time you decide to take them camping.

7. Call the Campgrounds Before You Go

Even if a park claims they’re pet–friendly, always call ahead to confirm their policy regarding your dogs. We’ve arrived at parks (with our two German Sheppard dogs) after a long day on the road only to discover that “pet–friendly” meant dogs weighing under 20 pounds.

8. Plan Ahead for the Unexpected

Have a plan (for your dogs) in case of a flat tire, a serious accident, or a fire in your RV. Start with a few extra leashes, a pet carrier, and an extra fire extinguisher. Then have a fire drill to identify potential problems.

9. Learn about Your Camping Environment

The U.S. is a huge country with a vast assortment of dangerous wildlife, treacherous plants, unpredictable weather conditions, and demanding environmental challenges. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you might inadvertently be putting yourself and your dog in danger.

10. Recognize and Respect the Views of Others

while some of us can’t imagine traveling without dogs, others can’t image traveling with them. If you keep your dog under control and clean up after them, you won’t give others much to grumble about.

Happy Camping with Rover!

From http://rvtravel.com/publish/article_697.shtml

● Travel shorter distances

● Stay in the same place an few extra days

● Enjoy free entertainment around you – hike, walk the beach, read a book

● Shop at non-conventional places for groceries – discount stores, flea markets, roadside produce stands, etc.

● Find a hobby that pays – make and sell crafts, sell your photographs, repair neighbors RVs

● Start your RVing experience by buying a used RV

● Learn to do things yourself – such as change your oil, pack your wheel bearings

● Travel the shoulder seasons – at the beginning or end of the tourist seasons, when peak rates are not in effect

*Info taken from http://www.workersonwheels.com/general/frugal.html

Winnebago Industries’ top executive warned Thursday that tough times remain ahead for the Forest City-based motor home manufacturer, but Bob Olson remains optimistic about his company’s future even after a pessimistic quarterly financial report. Winnebago reported an operating loss of $16.9 million, a net loss of $9.6 million, for the first quarter which ended on Nov. 29. During the same quarter a year ago, Winnebago reported income of $13.6 million.

Source -- http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2008/12/19/news/local/doc494b26954d86d034783409.txt

By BOB FENSKE, For The Globe Gazette

WELCOME TO A NEW ERA OF RV FLEXIBILITY. Automotive performance meets residential comfort in the all-new Era™ from Winnebago Industries. A Mercedes diesel engine powers this go-anywhere RV that comes in two trim packages to fit your style, Limited and Touring. Go where you want, when you want, and the fun starts the moment you hit the road. Welcome to the new Era from Winnebago Industries.

For more info visit http://www.winnebagoind.com/products/era/

There are approximately eight types of RV classifications. Before buying a new or used RV, it is important to get a handle on what this new lingo means.Getting a bit of knowledge here will save you some confusion and embarrasment in the future.

8 Types of Rvs:

1. Class A Motorhome: You start with a stripped chassis, sprinkle in a suspension, some instruments, and let the manufactuerer build the whole thing up from there. The biggest and most expensive rigs are usually Class A Motorhomes.

2. Class B Motor home (Camping Van Conversion): This is a small motor home built on a van chassis. Usually you keep the same van body but raise the roof for more interior space.

3. Class C Motorhome: This is a motor home with a van front but a cut-away chassis. A shade bigger than a Class B, and is often built on top of a Commercial Freightliner, General Motors, Ford, Sprinter, and International chassis.

4. Travel Trailer: This is a tow-behind camper that includes almost all sizes and price points. What sets the travel trailer apart is that is fits to a normal bumper-level hitch.

5. Fifth-Wheel Trailer (5th Wheel Trailer): These are like travel trailers except they require a pick-up truck and a special (huge) fifth-wheel trailer hitch in the bed of the truck. There are all different sizes of fifth-wheel trailers, but many of the biggest and most luxurious RV’s are 5th wheels.

6. Folding Camping Trailer: Usually one of the first trailers someone gets. They fold down and are light and easy to move. Once at the campsite, they open up into a surprising amount of space.

7. Truck Camper: This is a small living space that can be slid into the back of a pickup truck. These are sometimes called Slide-In trailers.

8. Sport-Utility Recreational Vehicle (SURV): This is a typical motor home but with a garage all it’s own. You can take your motorized toys along with you… something like a dirt bike, motorcycle, or quad.

Now that you know the 8 types of RV’s, why not go out and see if you can spot the difference!

If you are selling your RV or travel trailer, we can help! We have researched a few guidelines for selling your RV and options that are available. Follow the steps that we have laid out to make sure the selling process goes smoothly.

 1.     Get Your Papers Together 
 Make sure you have copies of all service and maintenance records. Many buyers are wary of purchasing a vehicle, and especially an RV, without some sort of proof that you consistently serviced and maintained it.

 2.     Make Sure Your RV Works
Sure it seems like an obvious step but many people overlook the simple things. Always be sure to do a thorough inspection before presenting to a buyer. If you encounter a large problem, either fix it or let the buyer know what the cost to fix it will be. Never try to hard any problems or malfunctions, that will only sour the relationship when the buyer discovers it.

 3.     Getting Your RV Ready to Show
Clean everything out of your RV before you show it. Wash, polish, clean up and do minor maintenance before showing your RV to any prospective buyers. When a buyer is looking at your rv, give them a quick tour and then leave them alone for a bit. Buyers will feel more comfortable poking around when you are not there. This gives them a greater sense of security and trusts in what they are about to purchase and can turn a prospective buyer into a serious buyer. Make sure to take plenty of photos of your RV. Photography everything on the unit, special features, options, etc

 4.     Finalizing the Sale
Sometimes everything will seem perfect to you but the buyer is hesitant to close the deal. Make sure to ask them why. Find out if there is anything you can do to help with their decision. This will help you find out if they are just a dreamer or if they actually have a problem with the sale and just haven't told you about it. If they absolutely don't want to purchase your RV ask them if their is anything you could do differently for the next buyer.Follow these simple guidelines and get the most out of your RV!

Source: http://www.starcraft.com/article/Selling-Your-RV-Guide/