Causes of RV Fires:

• 70% engine compartment related
• 20% brake and tire related
• 10% other

Prevention:

• Smoke Detectors in Working Order and Replaced on a regular basis
• Fire Escape Plan:
  Include two escape routes with assembly area safely away from the motorhome
  Class A-In this order, main door, drivers door (if equipped), followed by emergency exit windows
  Class C- Main Door, then two front cab doors, followed by emergency exit door
• Keep pet leashes next main door and train pets to immediately come to the door when called
• Each member of the family should know how to dial 911 and a cell phone should be kept available in a easily accessible convenient regular place where it can be quickly and automatically grabbed when leaving the motorhome.
• Three or Four Fire Extinquishers with one at the entrance, one in the galley, one in the bedroom and one outside in a unlocked storage compartment. If towing a vehicle there should also be one in that vehicle. Regularly check them for pressure and make sure every member of the family knows and is comfortable operating them.
• Schedule a monthly fire prevention motorhome check up where you go through and check hoses, connections, clamps, and remove and replace any cracks, leaks, and grime and grease that are build up which causes engines to run hotter.
• Check tire pressure and use an infrared sensor to test heat readings on tires.
• Check brakes that they are secure and in proper working condition and not hanging where they can be the cause of a friction fire.
• Turn off the main LP valve to the motorhome when motorhome is in movement to reduce the chance of fire if motorhome is involved in an accident
• Keep accurate records and photos of all personal items for insurance purposes along with all maintenance records and improvements made to the coach. Keep these records in a safety deposit box or give to a trusted family member to be kept away from the motorhome.

With the above rules along with the main rule of protecting people first and property second you are well prepared to deal with any fire emergency.

Some parks will offer a combination of paid hours plus free camping while others offer free camping for a set number of agreed upon hours per week. Some of the duties may include, checking the campground, visiting with the campers and providing local and campground information, and planning or assisting with various activities. You may in charge of handing out sports and fishing equipment, planning a craft with adults and/or children and hosting a coffee hour. In some cases you may also be asked to preform minor maintenance or cleaning duties. In most locations you will be provided with a training program, but the length of that training is determined by the host site. There will also be an application process, along with work and personal references and a criminal background check.

Generally, what most camp hosts have in common are the love of camping and socializing with people. Camp hosts are the ones campers approach when they need to know where the nearest store, church or repair facility is located. They will also be asked where the best places to eat are for that night out. Camp hosts are also where the campers will go with complaints, but check with your administrative people as to what level you are to get involved. Since you are a volunteer and not an employee of the park, don’t be surprised if administrative levels tell you to contact the ranger or local police and to NOT get involved in any disputes. That rule is there for your protection as well as for the park’s.

Camp ground host sites also vary from park to park. Some include full hook ups, some with just electricity (no water or sewer) and some with nothing- just a place to park your rig and all services need to be hauled in and out. Think about your requirements prior to making any commitment to a park. If you do not want to drive out once a week to a dump station or to fill with water look for only parks with full hook ups.

Camp ground hosts also work for various lengths of time. Some work for a one month stretch or others for an entire season. Most parks though do request a minimum of a one month commitment. It is easier on them and also it takes a week or two for you to get into the ebb and flow of the requirements for that particular park.

Camp hosting is fun, makes camping more affordable and also allows you to meet and mingle with a variety of people, some of whom will become life long friends! Check with your local or favorite park and find out about becoming a camp host today!

Check it out for yourself!

We bought a beautiful motor home, from a dealer, and yes,everything worked when we pulled it out of the dealer but 100 miles down the road a plastic hinge on the awning broke and the awning started to unroll.  We had to stop, have it repaired before we could continue on.  Could we have found it before we left the dealer?  Maybe or maybe not.  But next time I will roll and unroll the awning 20 times while I am considering our next purchase. 

We purchased our unit from a reputable dealer in Texas who told us it went through a 100 point check list to make sure everything work.  Do I believe him, of course, but then again, why didn’t they notice the diesel fuel cover was missing (I caught it) and that the central vac holder was overflowing with debris (I also caught that)?  Minor details, of course, but it does make you wonder about the 100 point check list.  Next time I will be more thorough.

Here are just some of things to look for and if you talk to other owners, I am sure they will have some additional suggestions.  Do your slides move in and out with having to move any fixed furniture, such as swiveling chairs.  Can you fully function in your motor home if you can not open the slides?  Does your toilet cover fully snap closed after opening and closing so that no odors seep into the coach?  Can you reach the bathroom and the refrigerator and microwave with the slides closed?  How close is the bottom step to the ground upon entering and leaving the coach and does it sag when you step on it?

Lets talk comfort level.  Are the sofa, chairs and table all comfortable to sit and relax on for extended periods of time?  Is there room to move around in the bathroom and shower or are you confined in one position? 

Kitchen cabinets, cupboard, and closets.  Are there any spots on the walls that look like water damage?  Are they large enough for what you really want to bring?

Take your time, check it out, think about what you really need ahead of time and write it down and then go through the RV bit by bit and check it out. For more information on what to look for in your motorhome Click Here!  If there is anything you are unhappy with that can be fixed make sure they fix it prior to your giving them any money or if not walk away.  There are plenty of units on the market and by taking your time you will be sure to be as happy as possible with the vehicle you purchased.

The Hall of Fame not only features traditional RV’s but also trailers, tent trailers,  vintage RV accessories and memorabilia, exhibits and publications over the years.  Upon entering the museum you are greeted by a host or hostess that will explain the museum’s orientation and featured exhibits.  You then can head into a wonderful exhibit that is set up just like a campground loop with each site being a different RV’s dating from 1913 to the 1970′s.

The exhibits complete with photos of people and camping was like can not help but make you smile. How about camping in a long dress or riding along on wooden wheels? We complain about dust, traffic and road noise now but just imagine what it was like 70 years ago. Can you also imagine what the national parks must have been like in their early days without all the RV’s lined up waiting to get in. Just you, your RV and nature!

As you wind around the camping loop in the museum you can’t help but focus on such wonderful items as a 1935 Bowlus Road Chief, the inspiration of the now famous Airstream brand. As you peek inside each of the displays you see remnants of family life on vacation in their motor homes.  You see dishes, pots and pans, games, clothing and shoes all reminiscent of a family enjoying a few moments in the great outdoors all thoroughly enjoying their version of the motor home.

As you proceed upstairs you will notice tributes to the publications and people who have advanced the motor home industry.  They include invoators, designers, distributors and organizations.  There is an area designated for suppliers  and how the items in your motor home have evolved.   Little by little year after year the motorhome industry continued to grow.  There were good times, and bad times such as the Great Depression and just lately in 2008, but the industry although changed has survived.

The RV/MH is a charming museum, chocked full of history and memories.  It is a special place that all RV’ers should take some time to visit while in Elkhart.  You will be pleasantly surprised by the rich detail, history and evolution of the motor homes on the road today!

There is a boat ramp, docks and fishing right off the bank. The park, to say the least is well kept, with many trees that are carefully trimmed in order so they do not interfere with the sites, buildings, roads in and around the park. There are benches along the bank where one can view gorgeous sunsets and enjoy the skylines of both Marble Falls, and Horseshoe Bay.

The rest rooms are clean and are cleaned daily and there is also a laundry room with two washers and two dryers.

Most of the RV’ers that pass through here stay for at least a few days and some even a month or longer. During our visit in October they seemed mostly to be seniors on their way to or from somewhere else. In the summer months, which they consider their peak season, the park probably comes alive with families as it a great place for water activities, such as boating, swimming, and jet skis.

The City of Marble Falls is just a few miles down the road where a major chain grocery store, HEB, and a Walmart can be found.  There are several wonderful restaurants including the BlueBonnet Cafe, which is known for its great pie. By the way, when you stay at the park you are given a coupon for a free piece of pie at the cafe.  Try the pie… you won’t regret it.  Another restaurant worth mentioning is the River City Grill, which has an outside deck for watching the lake while enjoying some delicious food.

Nearby attractions include Vanishing Texas River Cruise which is a cruise up the Colorado River showcasing Texas wildlife and geology, Inks Lake State Park, a wonderful state park right on a beautiful lake and Longhorn Cavern State Park, which features a cave tour.

We really enjoyed our stay at Sunset Point but just to present all aspects of the park we will comment on the issues that were annoying.  First of all there was the internet, which is free, but it works  sometimes better than others. The internet drops all the time, most of the time for no reason.  It also seems to drop whenever the park starts to fill up.  We noticed the consistency of it dropping at around dinner time, on the weekends, starting on Friday, and on morning hours around 8AM.  The park furnishes you a telephone number to call in case of problems but it is little consolation.  The response when you call is that they are working on it and to wait a few minutes and try again. The park management takes no responsibility and could care less.

The other thing that really annoyed me was the constant noise of grounds keeping.  Yes, the park is well kept but to them it means running either a lawnmower, blower, or weed wacker  just about dawn till dusk  7 days a week.  They have a couple of golf carts with a trailer they pull around with their equipment and zip around the park all the time.  It is sort of comical to watch.  With better organization and a whole lot less dust and noise everything could be accomplished 2 days a week not 7.

Other than that we really liked the park.  It is not a park where people gather and meet but more like a stop along the way where you say hi if you pass and just keep going.  There is no central meeting room nor gathering place.  There is a small building that can be used as a meeting facility but it is locked and must be  reserved.  There is also one area that has fire rings but we never saw anyone use it.

If you are looking for a lovely spot to stop on your way through Central Texas, this is surely the place but I would not want to stay longer than a week or so.

It is a lovely park with  202 large sites including 140 pull through sites  and the park is located on the banks of the Guadalupe River.  There are sites that are close to the river but there is always a large park like area between the actual sites and river.  The park area is quiet, tranquil and has wooden swings where you can sit and watch the river flow by.

Kerrville is an area full of winter texans and many senior citizens.  Go in any store and you readily see the mature population is a large majority of the makeup of the city.  As a result Kerrville offers many activities that attract seniors and is a great place to enjoy a home away from home.  It is also an easy drive to Frederickburg, a german settlement and tourism city, and Bandera which calls itself the Cowboy Capital of the World.  Bandera has western style restaurants and shops.  Kerrville is also 65 miles from San Antonio for those wanting to visit the Riverwalk, a sporting event or one of the many events happening in the city.

They do have paid wifi and it is great!  They have 12 towers throughout the park so there is ample signal for all.  The park is large, has 3 pools including 1 indoors. There is a large pavilion and meeting room.  They offer a bar with live music on weekends. There are bathrooms and shower facilites located throughout the park.  They are clean and regularly maintained.

The office people are very professional and friendly.  It is a very busy park with travellers constanly going and coming.

The rates are divided into basic, premium and river sites and range from $34-44 per night, $210.00-$270.00 per week and $395.00-$535.00 per month.  There is an additonal metered charge for electricity when staying monthly.  Guadalupe also offers rentals of cabins and cottages within the park.

No matter what season of the year you visit the Hill Country there is something for everyone.  If you are looking for a nice, clean modern park the Guadualupe RV Resort should be at the top of your list.  You will not regret your stay!

The park is located in a naturally scenic area and the views are lovely.  It is very quiet and scenic and wildlife abounds.

The sites are spacious but it is really hard to find one that is level.  Although some are on a slight grade the biggest problem is the unevenness of the sites.  While we stayed at the park we saw people searching out sites not by view, but looking for sites that are level.

Parkside Riverview does have wi fi that can be purchased but it leaves much desired.  It is slow, and just does not have enough power for a good signal.  Many complained and the response from management was it all that could get.  It was very frustrating.  The park also is very dark.  Several people fell over the fire pits on the grounds as they returned to their sites after an activity in the clubhouse.  The response from management was that people complain if there is too much light shining in their coaches and that folks should carry a flashlight.  I guess they never considered ground lighting.

The bathrooms and shower are immaculate and cleaned on a regular basis.  They are centrally located but becuase of the layout of the park they are more or less in the center of the park.

The people who work for the owner, and the owner, are very friendly.   During the winter months they park is home to many winter Texans and it seems like it is pretty close knit group.   When we were there two distinct groups were making Parkside Riverside RV their home.  The first were the regulars that return year after year and the second were the golfers.  There is a new  lovely golf course within a couple miles of the park and a whole group came in to stay and golf for the winter.

The nearest town in Leakey which is 7 miles away.  In Leakey there are several restaurants and a couple of small convenience type stores.  The nearest big town is Uvalde which is a 35 mile drive.

The rates are divided into  Non summer and summer.  In the winter the daily is $32.00, weekly $173 and monthly $370.00 for the first month, decreasing $30.00 each month after that. The Summer rates are $46.00 and $278 weekly.  They do offer a 10% discount on daily rates for Passport America members.

The park itself is nice, the sites are nice but not overly spacious.  There are 88 sites.  They are level and have shade trees.  There  are sites that are on the boundary of two highways but the noise is not overly obtrusive.

The bathrooms and showers are only located in one central area by the office.  Because this park is so large that means it is a trek from almost everywhere to use them.  The bathrooms are clean and well kept but again they are far away from all corners of the park.

They offer free internet but it is not the strongest available.  When we checked in the office folks said they were working on the internet and we may have trouble.  They suggested we come to the office with our lap tops as “sometimes”  the internet works better at that location.  We did have trouble last night with the internet but today it seems fine, even though we only have two bars.

We chose this park because it is the only one with pull throughs in the area.  When we were checking for rv parks that are located on our route through Oklahoma we found them few and far apart.  Most did not have quality facilities for larger units and also not many sites.  It seems RV’ers are of little interest to the tourism trade in Oklahoma,  We came up from Texas and even though Texas and Oklahoma border each other the types, quantities and amentities of the RV parks in the two states are vastly different.  We booked ahead here and we were fortunate to get one of the last spots available for a week in the park.  Part of the reason for the park being so full is that it is the only one in the area that has full service hookups.  There are rustic parks nearby but nothing if you want full hookups and 50 amp.

Our next stop was going to be Tulsa but in checking on RV parks available we found there was even less available and nothing with pull throughs.  Therefore we decided to keep going and our next stop will be somewhere in Missouri.

The nightly rate is $36.00, weekly $225.00, and monthly $575.00.

For 7 months we have been living in a 35  foot Montana 5th wheel which was pulled by a  F350 dually.  We were fortunate enough to find a great deal from an individualwho was selling both as a result of the death of her spouse. It was a wonderful experience and we throughly enjoyed it but it was an experience.  This was all new to us so we had the 5th wheel checked out prior to our taking off for the winter.  We spent about $1000 getting things “fixed” that you could not see or notice when driving but were definitely needed.  We had some interesting moments driving down some country backroads trying to navigate the narrow turns with no side strips.  We also missed our car as everywhere we went we had to drive the truck which is a gas or in this case a diesel hog.  It did however have no problem pulling that 5th wheel.   The biggest pain was leveling, hooking and unkooking each time we moved.  The 5th wheels have so much living space they are great for staying in one spot for a long time but a nuisance when you have to level, hook and unhook every few days.  It was also not the most insulated trailer as we could feel drafts around the windows  and slides.  Taking all that into consideration and after 7 months on the road we decided to move up to a diesel pusher and make our travels easier.

That being said we bought a used 2008 Damon Tuscany with 17,000 miles on it.  It is a beautiful coach with lots of amentities.  The downside is the cost compared to a 5th wheel.  A year or so ago it was easier to get a great deal on a motorhome but now with the economy rebounding the deals are becoming less and less.  I will say, if you do not already know, don’t trade your trade in at the dealer.  They give you WAY less than its worth and a song and a dance to go along with it.  If you can walk in with cash you can get a good deal but trading in anything you will lose.

The motorhome is quieter, better insulated, drives quietly and smoothly and is easy to set up and level.  It is all a matter of pushing a few buttons.  We really enjoy it but we already have had few clitches with it and we have only had it a week.  Be sure to look everything over throughly.  The dealership takes you through a program and shows you how everything works but there is so much to absorb and they go so quickly things get missed.  If I had to do it over again I would open and close each slide several times, try every appliance several times, move all the curtain again and again, set up the hoses, turn the knobs, and look at each and every awning, opening and closing them to see how they maneuver.  Take your time, you are spending big bucks to get a nice motor home and you do not need to take the dealership at its word that everything works “because they have a 250 check off list” to ensure the coach is operating correctly.  They may have a 25 check off list but they might also forget to reattach a nozzle or install a cord or fix a screw that holds up a awning.  If the coach is over a year old there is no warranty, not even 30 days on the coach or its parts.  In some cases there is a power train/engine warranty but there are many more things that can go wrong other than the engine which can all add up to one big mental, financial and time drain.

When choosing your 5th wheel  or motorhome think seriously how you  are going to use it, how often, where you intend to go and how long you will stay in each spot.  If you start there you have at least some idea of the pros and cons of each type of RV.  There are many individuals selling used RV and it may be wise to see if you can find one of those that you really like instead of going to a dealer where things are never quite like they should be.

The RV lifestyle is great.  You just have to be aware that things can and will go wrong and take it all in stride and have fun on the road!

The spaces are large, with plenty of room to spread out. We have a 40 foot motor home, with a car dolly and a car and there was room enough for everything in our pull through. Rustic Creek is right of I-35 at exit 32. It is by the Interstate but we did not find the traffic noise to be a nuisance. Yes, we did hear some noise but it was not excessive. Maybe though if you were in a spot right next to the road, which is the service drive parallel to I 35,  it would be louder.

The showers, restrooms and laundry facilities were immaculate and there were plenty of them! Each section of the park had their own so they were in easy walking distance to any place within the park.  The decor in the park, is rustic, just as it name indicates.  However, the rustic is rustic and not primitive.  The decor is top notch and makes you feel you are staying at a park where the owners really care how their guests are treated.

The people in the office were very friendly and there were several working the front desk at a time.  So many times, at other parks, when we have tried to check in or ask a question we were always waiting for the office people to finish with other guests or phone calls.  Not here.  You walk in and you are taken care.  What a nice change!  The office also has a small gift and snack shop so if you need a quick bite to perk you up it can be found right in the office.  Behind the office is a large meeting room with plenty of tables, a fireplace, and nice decor.  Outside the meeting room is a sparkling clean swimming pool and jacuzzi.  There are also several other meeting rooms scattered across the park so if more than one activity is going on it is comfortable for everyone.

The park also has cottages with Jacuzzis available along with meeting and party facilities.   The park offers facilities for events including weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or just about anything thing you can think of.   The place is just down right charming. They have themed weekends for the entire family on a regular basis making it fun no matter what your age is.  Just plain young or young at heart you can find something fun going on.

For those looking for RV service or dealerships there are two within 10 miles of the park.  Ancira and Motorhome Specialists are just 8 miles S on I35 in Alvarado.  There is also a Camping World just 6 miles North on I35.

The nightly rate (4/10) is $28-$42, weekly $168-$250 and monthly $295-$450.  We were in a large pull through and our rate was $205 for the week.

If you are staying in the Fort Worth area, I highly recommend this park.  It was one of the nicest in the 8 months we have been on the road.