Hey everybody! Dan here again. During our recent trip to Gulf Shores State Park in Gulf Shores Alabama I took some time to talk about what we consider 5 must have RV accessories. RV’s these days come loaded with fantastic features and creature comforts. That being said there are always things you can do to improve your experience. It may be protecting your unit with a surge protector, or adding a water pressure gauge.
So, you’ve bought your first RV and are all insured and ready to go on your first trip. What next? Well when planning your trip, 
plan your destination first. Figure out how accommodating your site would be to enable you to park your RV properly and safely. You’ll need to know the length of your RV and the amount of AMPs it needs to hook up to. *Note: the model number does NOT represent an accurate length, so please refer to your brochure on that.*
Next, you’ll need to figure out your route. This will ensure that you are able to see whatever sights that may interest you and have the best opportunities for your family’s needs. Now, some tips while traveling:
Now, once you’ve arrived at your destination you’ll want to get your RV set up. 
Remember while leveling your RV, the less you require your jacks to come down the more stable your RV will be. If you need to, try building up from the ground a bit with Lynx Levelers like our Parts Department has available or cinderblocks for example. Just don’t forget while setting up that you’ll want to ensure your RV is level, all contents are still properly put away, and all doors are still shut before running out any slides.
As silly as it may seem, be careful what you cook or bake in your RV while on your trip! Your RV will end up smelling like whatever you fix. Try instead to cook on an outdoor grill or stove. I recommend trying a Traeger Grill if you’re looking for a nice, new grill. You can fix a variety of dishes on one! There are of course pleasanter aromas that you won’t mind having linger around such as cookies, muffins, or biscuits. A word of advice on these would be to keep in mind the location of the heating element. Due to the confined space of the smaller oven, what you have baking (like cookies that are in rows) will bake thru faster over that element.
Once your trip is over and you’re getting ready to leave, check for any debris that may have fallen on top of your slideout. Any sticks, acorns, etc… may start to damage the slide seal over the course of time. Don’t dump the rest of the ice onto the ground! Instead put it down the commode. The ice with help to clean the black tank while in motion.
Now this is not the “end-all, do-all” of how-to-camp. These are just some friendly reminders of things that may be forgotten or overlooked or maybe even a new tip all together for you.
As a dealership that takes pride in providing service after the sale we are dedicated to ensuring you get the most out of 
your RV. This includes helping you to plan a trip of a lifetime out to Yellowstone and the West. We will be hosting a class on Saturday April 25th in our learning center building. This class will be taught by an experienced RVer (Larry Gallagher) who has made countless RV destination trips including Yellowstone. He will be able to tell you the tips and tricks to tackling this adventure and provide you with worthwhile stops to make along the way. He will discuss the importance of preparing ahead and what supplies you need to bring with you as well as showing you some must see sites.
If you have ever considered taking your RV for such a memory making, exciting, and worthwhile trip then you should certainly take advantage of this classroom opportunity. Space will be limited to be sure to register soon! Call or email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Finding a campground that has it all is not an easy feet. Sometimes the sites themselves are too cramped or there isn’t much to do. And while I have all too often 
ran across some of these types of campgrounds I can attest to the fact that Jellystone at Lake Monroe is a campground that is sure to please the entire family. There are so many fun and unique activities to partake in such as; 2 outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a water park area, an arcade, a gem mining sluice, an inflatable bounce area, a putt-putt course, playground, sandbox, and the list goes on an on. In addition to the permanent activities the staff really takes great pride in their scheduled activities such as the doughnut decorating, dance party with Yogi, and tie-dying t-shirts that the kids absolutely enjoyed. The best part is that these activities are well organized and the employees seem to genuinely enjoy interacting with the kids. And while it is certainly not a rare thing to have fellow campers be friendly, we felt like the campers here were exceptionally helpful (even 3 separate regular campers coming by to help us start our fire after a long rain.)
Another great aspect to this campground is that you can enjoy it with fellow RVers and those who do not have an RV alike. All too often we want to enjoy a fun weekend getaway with another family but don’t quite have the room for them to join us in our RV. At Jellystone they have small but well equipped and comfortable cabins that are placed right along with the RV’s. This is ideal for the kids to continue to play together and the adults can gather around the campfire! The only downfall was the wi-fi strength is low throughout the park but when you are out enjoying nature a day or two without being connected is not all bad.
I hope you get a chance to take the kids to this stand-out campground and make memories to last a lifetime!
Maneuvering and towing an RV can be tricky but when done right you can safely and effectively get to your destination or travel the countryside. Here are a few 
tips that can help you along your way.
* Mirrors: The more mirrors you use the better! Make sure you set up ones that are large enough and set out far enough that you can see down the entire length of the vehicle. You will also benefit from adding blind spot fish eye type mirrors so that nothing will sneak up on you where you can’t see. Remember to keep your mirrors clean at all times. The mirror won’t do you any good if its spotted and dirty.
* Be aware of the weight: You need to always be conscience of the amount of weight that you are pulling therefore your movements need to be slow, steady, and deliberate. This is especially important when breaking. Remember that despite having electric trailer brakes you still need to give yourself more than ample space to stop.
* Pay attention to your tires: One problem that trailers (especially 5th wheels) can face is tire blow outs. Before every tow it is highly recommended that you check your tire pressure, lug nut torque, and visually inspect the sidewalls and tread.
* Practice: It sounds obvious but one of the best ways to get better and more in control when towing is to practice as often as possible.
* Know your route: While it may not be a big deal to stop and turn around when you are driving a car it can prove a much greater task when pulling an RV behind you. If you can map out your route, your stops, and the type of terrain you will be crossing you can eliminate some of the headache of backing up or turning around in your trailer.
Sometimes all it takes is someone not from Indiana to remind you all of the wonderful things to see and do right here in your own back yard. All too often we 
take for granted some of the beauty that is only minutes, not hours away. One such place is Turkey Run State Park. I had been there a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed myself but for some reason we hadn’t been back. A distant relative wrote me and told me about all the fun they had camping down there and it brought back some fun memories. Turkey Run has over 200 class A modern campsites with electrical hookup and modern restrooms and showers. The best part of the park is the limitless activities there are to do ranging from hiking, fishing, and canoeing, to horseback riding and swimming. In addition there is a restaurant, playground, and lots of picnic areas. So next time you are trying to find a fun and beautiful place to take the family for the weekend be sure to check out Turkey Run!
Many of you reading this right now may be lounging by the beach or relaxing in your hotel room, all the while secretly wondering 
how you are going to pay for this much needed spring break vacation. While still many more of you may be sitting at home wishing you could have taken the kids somewhere fun but knowing that it just wasn’t in the budget this year. While I am all for vacations, Spring or otherwise, I struggle with the fact that it is so expensive and these resorts are able to charge you whatever they want simply because it is a resort. Not only do you have to pay for a way to get there (either airline tickets or gas) but then the real money comes in when you have to pay for a hotel room. Once you are back home you spend the next 10 months paying off your credit cards you over-used while you were there only to do it all over again when March rolls around.
How about getting off of this money sucking cycle and explore the idea of RV vacationing? By purchasing an RV you then open yourself to an entire world of vacationing opportunities. While there are countless fun campgrounds to visit across the country there are also resorts that cater to RV’s. Even in Disney World there is a specific area just for RVers to enjoy. While there is an initial investment in purchasing the RV you will undoubtedly save money in the long run. Think about how much you would fork out for a 7 night stay at the beach…. $1,400? $1,500? $1,600? This amount of money would make a wonderful downpayment on an RV or cover many months of payments. The best part about owning an RV is that you are no longer limiting yourself to one vacation a year. Instead you can sneak away on a long weekend, go visit family over the holidays, and still rendezvous with the spring breakers without breaking the bank. So take control of your finances and make an investment that will give back to you and your family not just once but for years and years to come!
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