My adventure, like many adventures, began with the Internet.  I looked, queried and searched from one end of the Internet to the other for the magic answer to the malady of the leaking camper toilet – discovered late night in a campsite away from home when bare feet met an unpleasant moistness coming from under the bathroom door.  Ewwww!  The Internet yielded little information other than a leaking toilet was a common problem that could be solved by a trip to the local RV repair shop and $150.  If the toilet in my home were leaking I would not call a plumber, so I reasoned there was no need to part with my hard earned cash for the sake of a dry floor…there had to be a cost effective solution!

My first break in solving the mystery came when I found a parts list for Thetford toilets, the Thetford Aqua Magic V – king of RV toilets.  If there was a parts list, someone figured a non-technical RV enthusiast like me could actually fix the leaking toilet…there was hope!  I called the local RV supplier to gain intel on the possible cause of my leak.  When I mentioned my problem over the phone, it was clear they knew the cause…and for a mere $150 they could fix it.  I pressed for more answers – initially they avoided my questions, refocusing on their professional repair staff, but I persisted.  The long interrogation, the dance of dances between between the RV shop and I did little to solve my problem, until I heard over the phone, “bring your camper by before 5 and we’ll have the water module fixed by tomorrow.” They revealed their cards, it was the water module that needed to be replaced.  “How much is the water module from your parts department?” I asked.  There was a long uncomfortable silence on the other end of the phone. “$27.89 plus tax.”

Replacement parts in hand, purchased from the crestfallen RV dealer, I rushed home to begin the repair.  To my surprise, I found clear easy to understand instructions in the package written in English by someone living in an English speaking country.  I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Step 1 - Turn off the water, turn off the water pump, hold the flush handle on the toilet to empty the bowl and release the water line pressure.

Simple enough! I knew this was going to be a breeze!

Step 2 – Unbolt the loo from the floor. Wait? Where are the bolts, I thought? Cleverly, Thetford concealed the bolts on the base of the toilet on either side under plastic covers.

Step 3 – Disconnect the water hose at the back of the toilet.  It sure was hard to get to, but once I figured out how to wiggle my hand back there it was easy to disconnect the water supply.

Step 4 – Get the toilet out of the bathroom – everyone knows a phone booth is bigger than an RV bathroom, so do yourself a favor and find someplace with some actual room to work. (you do know what a phone booth is, right?)  Cover the opening down into the black water tank with a towel.  That way, you’ll at least convince yourself that the bad odors are “trapped” and won’t waft up into the camper.

Step 5 – Find the water module on the back of the toilet…it’s right there, at the top where the water line connects to the toilet…that’s the annoying thing that has been leaking that you never could see because it was cleverly hidden from view and made impossibly difficult to reach.  Remove the water module from the toilet: pull the hose off on the side, then unscrew the water module, and finally depress the plastic clip that holds the water module on the toilet.  As the water module pulls away from the toilet, unhook the metal rod that connects to the flush handle.  The metal rod stays assembled to the broken water module and separates from the working toilet.

Step 6 – Reverse the steps you just completed…wait! hang on! one thing first, apply at least 2 full wraps of Teflon tape to the threads of the replacement water module.  Ok, once you’ve got that covered reverse the steps – place the replacement water module on the toilet connecting the flush rod, snapping in the plastic tab, reconnecting the flush hose, and screwing the water module to the toilet.  You’re almost done.

Step 7 - Put the toilet back in the camper, right? nope.  One thing you have to take care of first is replacing the compression seal between the commode and the black water tank.  The parts bag came with a new seal and you must remove the old one and seat the new seal so nothing leaks.  I keep gloves in my camper for emptying the black water and gray water tanks – this is a perfect opportunity to use them.  While you’re looking at the base flange (that’s the black metal ring that is secured to the floor and is what your toilet is bolted to) check out the bolts for corrosion.  In the photo you can see I have a little corrosion, but nothing that is severe or would require replacement.  If your connections to the floor are corroded, change them out now.  I do not recommend waiting until the toilet breaks away from the floor unexpectedly at 2 in the morning when you’re half asleep.  That’s generally a bad time to plan replacement of the flange and the corroded hardware.

Step 8 – Bolt the toilet back to the floor, connect the water supply line, turn on the water, check for leaks.  You have done it!

So was the adventure worth the effort?

Parts from the RV dealer = $27.89 plus tax
Cost of my time 15 min x $200/hr. = $50
Seeing the long face of the RV dealer when he knew I was going to do the job myself = Priceless!

Yep…definitely a worthwhile do-it-yourself project!

Instructions provided above are done so as a general guide and do not replace the instructions of the toilet manufacturer or RV manufacturer.  Always consult qualified help if you’re ever in doubt.

Go South – if you’re a full-time or semi full-time RVer you can just go way south for the winter. California, South Texas, Southern Florida are definitely places where it is usually warm enough to be camping this time of year. Many of us are still tied down with those pesky day jobs though, so when the first freeze is coming, the RV is winterized, the cover is put on, and it takes a long winter nap.

Travel locally – this is something we have been trying to do more of this winter. There are always those things you never go see in your own town or region. Go see them now. Make a day trip of it. You’re out, seeing new things and sleeping in your bed at home at night. This is also a good time to visit relatives. We have some in weekend visit range. In the summer we are so busy exploring new places we don’t usually make a stop there. And, while pulling the trailer, the going is slower. So, now we can hop in the car, zoom to their house and spend a nice weekend visiting and seeing their local sights.

Lace up your boots – go hiking in your local state or city park, or try out geocaching. Geocaching can actually be a little bit easier this time of year (if there’s no snow) because there are fewer leaves to hide the cache when you do get close. If you’re in Texas, try out the Texas Geocache Challenge.We all seem to need a little more fitness this time of year anyway.

Fix it – if you have gear that needs to be repaired, spend some weekends now doing it, so you are ready that first weekend it feels like camping weather again. If you don’t know how to fix it, look for instructional videos on You Tube or check your local library for books on the topic. Also, if you have been wanted to add a small bookshelf, change the door handle or do some other type of upgrade to your RV now might be a good time to do it too.

Plan – if you can never go to the campground or state park you want to because it is always booked, get online or call and make some reservations now. Put it on your cell phone calendar or other calendar with an alert to remind you a week before so you don’t forget. Having that reminder a week before will also give you time to cancel the reservation without penalty in most cases. If you’re planning a longer vacation somewhere, start looking for resources. Send for the state travel information guide, see what books are available at the library and start checking the used bookstore. By planning now you should have plenty of time to gather the information you need. Some people get out the seed catalogs – we can get out the travel guides!

By miscellaneaarts on flickr

While browsing the internet one day, I stumbled onto the journal page submissions featured on The Travelers Notebook. Immediately, I was jealous. In an ongoing effort to capture a place and share it, I take photos, I make notes, I put flags in guidebooks, highlight phrases in neon yellow but never, ever do I draw. My drawing is awful, 100 times worse than my handwriting. Childish, kindergarten level stuff.

I’ve made travel collages that weren’t too bad. My first was on a family trip to Washington, D.C. when I was 8. My Mom gave me “The Kids Guide to Washington, D.C.” which suggested saving ticket stubs, brochures and other travel ephemera and putting it together into a scrapbook. I wrote page after page of what we did and glued everything, including the airsick bag the Secret Service gave me at the White House, into the book. Every family trip thereafter, I was in charge of the scrapbook.

I have a journal from a trip I took to Michigan in 2002. It was my very first, on my own, grown-up vacation. I was camping, by myself in Northern Michigan and revisiting sites I had seen as a child. It somewhat captures the trip, but uses my Mom’s style of journaling – she’s an accountant – of recording prices, odometer readings and where I ate. There are a few glimpses of travel writing in amongst the prices though.

“…The final stop of the day, after driving forever out to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, was Leelanau State Park. It has primitive camping – no electric, no showers, and outhouses. I am camped right on the beach though, which makes it all worthwhile. For the first time on my lake vacation I can fall asleep to the sound of waves on the beach.”

My only excuse for the boring journal is that I was on vacation from my day job as a newspaper reporter, so perhaps I was not in the mood to write. I remember that trip vividly – the journal entries could’ve been so much more. A journal that we currently keep in the camper is extremely similar though. I record where we are, if it’s a good campground or bad, gas prices and things we visit and if we enjoy them or not. I’m kicking myself. Am I a writer or not?

I can certainly share with you the places we go, how much the campgrounds or hotels cost, if we liked the restaurant and the best things to do in a city. But so can many other people. It will be so much more if I give you the sense of the place – whether it is a campground, an historic site, or a restaurant and what it feels like to be there. Whatever your travel style, there is a good way to record what you do. A way that works for you. My combination that gets me to these blog posts involve pen and paper notes, a “Passport to Your National Parks” book and the “1,000 Places to See Before You Die in the USA and Canada,” my camera, my iPhone, brochures – it’s messy and needs to be streamlined, but it works for me. I encourage you to branch out from what you normally do. To just sit down and look at a place and write, type or photograph until you capture what that place makes you feel. That is the best way to preserve your travel memories. What is your current method of capturing your travel memories? What would you like to try? Please, share in the comments so we can all get some new ideas to get that creativity flowing!

*Click on any of the photos to go to the original flickr page for each one. All of my old journals are at my parents house and were unavailable for photographing.

**This post originally appeared on July 30th, 2009.

First up, and the app we’ve had the longest is the Eukanuba Off-Leash Dog Park Locator. It’s a simple database that pulls your current location and then tells you the closest dog parks to where you are. It’s great when you need to find someplace for your dog to play while you’re traveling. We have found some definite holes where there is no information – that could be because there are no dog parks in the area or because they just haven’t been entered yet. If you do find a dog park not in the system, it’s easy to hit the “suggest a park” button and email off the information to get it listed.This is a free app.

Via Twitter we recently learned of the Fido Factor iPhone app (thanks @FidoFactor!). It’s full of dog-friendly places in San Francisco and users are adding new dog-friendly locations every day. It’s pretty easy to go to the website and set up an account that you can then use on the iPhone to suggest places you find or check for dog-friendly stuff where you are. Overall, the service features all kinds of dog-friendly stuff, not just dog parks. That is always great if we are on the road and need a place to eat lunch where we can bring our dog on the patio or something. The part we really like is that in the lodging section, there is a category for campgrounds.

Most campgrounds are technically dog-friendly but some have restrictions on sizes and/or breeds or advertise having a “dog park” that is really just a tiny fenced in area (and I do mean tiny). A heads up on those with really nice dog areas or that really are welcoming to dogs is a nice thing to have. Fido Factor doesn’t have a ton of stuff entered yet, but we’ll certainly be entering anything we find in our travels and we hope you will too. This is a free app.

Finally, I’m going to suggest you use the notes feature of your iPhone or another notetaking app that you like, and keep important dog information handy. There are apps you can buy for a few dollars to do this but, you don’t really need to. You want to have the name and address of your vet (keep the phone number in your contacts), the dates of shots your dog has received, names and dosage information for any medications they take, the microchip ID number if you have one and anything else you might need to know in an emergency. Also, make sure you have a photo of your dog in your camera roll.

It may seem silly, but if your dog is hurt and you can’t remember what types of meds he takes or the last time she had shots, you may have trouble at a new vet. And if your dog wanders away from your campsite, that photo is going to help you find him much sooner. For an extended trip you should consider having actual photocopies of vaccination records in the car with you, especially rabies shot information. If something happens it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your dog.

Have you found a dog-friendly iPhone app that works for you? Please share it in the comments. We’re always looking for more options.

by looseends on flickr

Keep in mind, everyone’s cooking style is different and what we need may be nothing like what you need. We really enjoying cooking, and cooking from scratch at that. So, our list reflects that.

• Dishes. Of course you will need dishes to eat off of. We travel with just the two of us, so we have 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates and 2 bowls. This is enough to get us through one day usually and requires dishwashing each day so we have enough for the next. I picked up the dishes on clearance at Target. They are melamine so they are nice and sturdy and we don’t have to worry about them breaking. They aren’t exactly pretty, but I was more concerned about price. You can also use paper plates and bowls if that’s your thing, but you might include at least one more sturdy plate for everyone in your family in case you have steak or something that requires some cutting. Corelle dinnerware is usually a good choice too, as it is nice and sturdy.
• Silverware. We have a random assortment of old silverware. There are a few pieces from a picnic set, some mismatched stuff, some handme downs. I don’t think we spent any money on silverware. You want something sturdy, probably enough spoons, forks and knives for a whole day of meals at least, as well as some serving spoons and steak knives. With only two of us this means we should have at least 6 spoons, forks and knives and 2 steak knives. We have slightly more than that.
• Glasses and cups. You can go the paper or plastic route here, but we prefer things we can reuse. I pulled four coffee mugs from the collection in the house for coffee, tea or hot cocoa. They also get used for things like mixing up salad dressing or marinades on occasion. We also have 4 large plastic tumblers – I think they are 4 for $1 at Walmart. We also have 2 wine glasses, also pulled from the house. They are pretty sturdy, and we have plenty, so if they break I won’t be heartbroken. We usually bring soda in aluminum cans so that reduces the amount of cups and glasses we use. If you want to pack 2 liters of soda, or you drink lots of water, iced tea, etc. you may want to have more cups available. We also have 2 water bottles which we frequently drink out of.
• Pots and pans. This is an area where we were able to re-use some of the gear we had from tent camping. Our basic set of nesting pots – a deep skillet, a large (6 qt maybe) soup type pot and a smaller 1 qt. pot are all great and something we already had. Also the coffee percolator – now used more as a tea kettle, a 4 qt. enamelware pot, an old nonstick skillet from the house and some cast iron give us plenty of options. There are other pots and pans I would like to use, and I would like to have something besides our old tent camping gear since it is relatively thin but, my theory here is to use what we have. When we upgrade something in the house, we can transfer the old one into the camper. This makes it much more affordable. The cast iron works great in the camper, on the campstove, or even on the campfire so it is nice to have along.
• Bakeware. We have a tiny little oven, so I did end up buying new bakeware for it. 2 quarter sheet pans and one 8×8 baking pan fit in the oven and give us options for all types of cooking. Though I’d hate to make cookies since I think I could bake about 4 at a time!
• Serving pieces. As far as bowls or platters for serving food, we have none. We dish things up out of the pots it was cooked in. We culled several serving spoons, spatula, large knives, etc. from the house. Generally, our big cooking time is dinner, so we only need one or two spatulas, some tongs, and a wooden spoon to accomplish most things.
• Miscellaneous. Cutting boards – we have two small ones and a few of the large flexible ones. The small ones fit perfectly in the microwave for storage. Mixing bowls – we have a set of 3 nesting bowls, that also have lids. Nice for mixing, storing leftovers or even serving popcorn. We also have one ceramic bowl. It works as a nice dog water dish in a pinch and was an extra from the house. Vegetable peeler – if you are into peeling vegetables with one normally and think you may be using fresh veggies this is nice to have. Measuring cups. Measuring spoons. Coffeemaker – a small one works great for us, not a necessity, but a very nice thing to have along. Toaster – nice to have and we got a new one for the house and passed this one out to the camper. Can opener.

If you use extra items from your home, and shop for deals on clearance you can really outfit your RV kitchen cheaply. If you need something and you don’t have it, ask around too. Maybe friends have a spare toaster or a coffeemaker they just don’t use. If you currently tent camp and lot of things from your current chuck box can easily be used in your RV kitchen.

We also have a pretty good collection of outdoor cooking gear, but I think that will be better served in a separate post. And maybe by Robert since he is the outdoor cook for the most part! What do you pack? And what do you cook with it? Share your favorite camping recipe in the comments. If we get enough we’ll do a recipe round up soon!

Melissa Maples on Flickr

Before you pull your camper or RV out of the driveway or you hit the open road, it’s really important to check out the equipment you will be bringing along on your trip – a pre-trip inspection can save a lot of heartache down the road.  Start with your pull vehicle (if you’re pulling a camper) or your RV.  Check all of the fluids – engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, wiper fluid – and make sure everything is topped off.   Be sure to check your tire pressure on your tow vehicle or RV and anything you’ll be towing as well.  While you are inspecting tires, check your spare tires too.  Nothing ruins a good day camping like a flat tire followed by a flat spare.  I know all of this sounds like it should go without saying, but more than once I’ve found myself along side the road wishing I had aired up a spare tire or had topped off my wiper fluid before I departed.

For small repairs and quick fixes to anything that might break or leak along the way, bring along a small tool box in your camper or RV.  You don’t need to bring along tools to rebuild the engine, but a few simple tools can save you from a bad trip experience.  Here is what we carry in our tool kit: screw drivers, adjustable wrenches, pliers, locking pliers, wire stripper, electrical tape, teflon tape, wire ties, hose clamps, hose washers, butt connectors, 12v fuses, and a few bungee cords.  With this handful of tools we have fixed a multitude of problems from leaking water hose connections to a broken door knob.

If you do break down or have to stop along side the road, there are a few safety items that can make a big difference for you, especially at night.  This summer, Chris and I lost the tread on one camper tire while driving across the Mobile Bay causeway late at night.  The bridge was narrow and had we needed to stop on the causeway we would have blocked a traffic lane on the Interstate highway putting our camper, our tow vehicle, and us in jeopardy.  Fortunately, we were able to limp off of the bridge, but we now carry a few reflective traffic cones and ANSI Class 2 reflective safety vests to increase our visibility if we have to stop alongside the highway.  Skip the road flares (fusees), at best those will burn out before help arrives and fusees can be a safety hazard.   Instead we like collapsible traffic cones that store easy, take up little room, and are light weight.

Chris and I hope that you will never encounter a breakdown or equipment problem with your RV or camper when you hit the road.  Making a pre-trip inspection and bringing along some basic tools and safety items can reduce the impact of a problem, should you encounter one while away from home.  Tell us your story…how did you cope with a travel emergency while out camping?  Share your experiences in a comment.  Best camping wishes and safe travels everyone!

On December 25, 1776, Washington and his troops crossed from Pennsylvania into New Jersey in order to get a sneak attack on Hessian soldiers (hired guns for the British) at Trenton. The icy river was challenging and it took 10 hours to get all the troops, horses and cannons across the river. Washington, hoping for a night attack, could’ve turned back, but fearing his men would revolt if forced to go back over the river they just crossed, they pressed on, starting the march to Trenton at 3am.

The bridge is in the spot where Washington crossed the river in 1776.

The troops surprised the Hessian troops and had a victory – the first American victory in some time. Several other victories followed and turned the tide for American forces. Some historians say that Washington’s crossing of the Delaware that Christmas night and the resulting victory at Trenton is the event that kept the Revolution from being lost.

Replicas of the boats that were used by Washington & his men.

If the Revolution had been lost, we might still be citizens of Great Britain, without the rights and freedoms we enjoy as the United States of America.

That history makes the river, the parks and the bridge seem so much more significant. George Washington was right there. George Washington! There are some things to keep in mind to get the most out of your visit to Washington Crossing though.

• The New Jersey Washington Crossing State Park has one of those museums – old stuff crammed into glass cases with tiny cards telling you what it is. Somewhat cool to see actual Revolutionary War stuff, but, only for a few minutes. The New Jersey side has a new movie depicting Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River and events surrounding it though, which I found very interesting.
• The Pennsylvania Washington Crossing Park has a better feel to it – a small bit of the town is recreated as it would’ve looking during Revolutionary War times. You can see the replica boats that the town uses to cross the Delaware on Christmas night each year. And if you collect postcards, patches T-shirts or whatever from the places you visit, the PA side actually has a gift shop.
• Both sides are worth visiting, but if you can only do one, read up on some of the history first, and then go to the PA side – especially if you have kids. You can easily see both sides in one or two hours though.
• There is a bridge that spans the river between the two parks. If you are driving an RV, do not, under any circumstances, try and drive across that bridge. I took our pickup truck across and when I met another pickup in the middle there was not even 5 inches between our trucks. A pickup can do it (if it doesn’t have dual wheels) but when they say 6 foot wide lanes, they mean it. Fold the mirrors in and hope you only meet up with compact cars coming from the other direction! There are other, much wider, easier bridges you can cross within 10 or 15 miles in either direction.

A view of the crossing site from the New Jersey side. Again, with the very narrow bridge.

The museum takes you on an interactive journey through Lincoln’s life, starting with walking through a replica of the cabin Lincoln grew up in. You progress from the cabin into Lincoln’s early adulthood as a shopkeeper and finally, his move to Springfield to open a law office. Each phase of life is depicted with life-sized dioramas – the cabin, Lincoln’s store, his law office – along with illustrations and information. After Springfield you move along through his campaign, election and finally the Lincoln family’s move to the White House. Every step is brought alive by audio, video and clever staging of items. At the end of the walk through there is a room with a more traditional museum feel which houses one of Lincoln’s stovepipe hats, a handwritten draft of the Gettysburg Address and many more artifacts of Lincoln and his family.

The Lincoln Museum, which was redesigned in the years leading up to the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth in 2009 is a very modern museum. You don’t just read plaques on the wall or index cards next to items in glass cases. In one section you watch a TV special in which news anchor Tim Russert talks about the various candidates running for office in 1860, and shows the possible campaign commercials. Nearby you also see a map depicting the Civil War in 4 minutes. And I have to say – it was the clearest picture of the Civil War I have ever had. As the seconds tick by, you see the red and blue dividing line slowly undulating across the middle of the country. You see major battles pop up and all the while you see the death toll slowly climb. I have certainly learned about the Civil War in several history classes over the years. But this was like all of them rolled into one, shrunk down into 4 minutes, and completely crystal clear to understand.

Now, some important things to know about visiting Springfield:

• We arrived pulling our travel trailer. Apparently there is bus and RV parking at the Lincoln Home, but we sure didn’t find it. We ended up parking down a few blocks in an open parking lot. It was early in the morning so there was space. But if you are arriving in your RV, I would take a few minutes to call the visitor center and find out where you can park, before you are in town. You can call the Visitor Center at (217) 391-3226.
• We visited the Lincoln Home and the Museum on a Sunday. When it came time to have lunch, we discovered that all of the many restaurants downtown, near the museum, were closed. Even the chain restaurants in that area were closed. So, if you visit on Sunday, pack a lunch, come after lunch, or make some type of plan. The only thing open was the café inside the museum.
• Wear good shoes. It’s not a long walk from the Lincoln Home over to the Museum and Library, but it’s about 6 blocks. Wear comfortable shoes, find a good (free) parking spot and pick up a map at the Lincoln Home Visitor’s Center. Then, you can just walk around the historic downtown without worrying about moving your vehicle.

I think this is a pretty common thing, and nothing to worry too much over. If you begin to have thoughts like this about your own RV, no worries – most can be dealt with fairly easily. I think the two biggest issues with our new RV are a soft spot in the floor and a full sized mattress where there used to be a queen. The spot in the floor is tricky. We didn’t notice it when we were looking at the RV but it’s right at the corner of the bed so it’s something we will have to address. Our plan is to ask someone with more RV knowledge than us, and to be brave, peel back the linoleum and fix it. It is a bit scary to really cut into your RV or make major changes, but it can be done if you are careful and ask for advice from people with more experience. In our last RV the fridge didn’t work. Rather than spending $1,000 on a new one, we dug in, pulled it out and built a small closet area in it’s place.

The full sized mattress was something we should have caught while looking at the RV. For once, we didn’t lay down on the bed together to make sure there was a decent amount of room (something we usually do). There was also space all the way around the mattress, which should have been a visual tip-off that something was not quite what it had originally been. We thought it would be relatively simple – we’d just go buy a queen sized mattress. Unfortunately the camper originally must have had a short queen because there is not quite enough room for a full length mattress. So, what to do? Sleep on the full-sized mattress? Not likely. We both need some room to stretch out when we sleep. Our old camper had a queen sized bed in one of the pop-outs and since it was still in the driveway, we grabbed the foam cushions from it and placed them in the bad space in the new camper. Perfect – length and all. I added a foam egg crate to the top, then a mattress pad and finally sheets and we have a cozy bed. Of course, this is temporary since we intend to sell the old camper – cushions and all.

After doing some research I located a place where I can buy foam so we will most likely buy pieces that will fit into the space and I will sew a slipcase for them (to hold it together firmly and keep it clean.

When I was a kid my parents discovered on the first camping trip in their Class C motorhome that there was no silverware drawer and a definite lack of towel bars in the bathroom. Dad retrofitted an existing cabinet with a little drawer at the bottom and installed some towel bars on some free wall space. My Grandpa was never happy with the chairs in his various Fifthwheel trailers, so he would simply take one out and replace it with his favorite Lazyboy recliner.

It would be rare, I think, to find an RV that was absolutely perfect unless you had one custom built. And even then, you might forget something. RV camping is about taking the best of home – a comfy bed, a roof over your head, the fridge, and space to relax – on the road with you. When buying a new RV you can frequently find many of the things you are looking for. When buying used, it will take patience and compromise to get the best RV for your money. It will not be perfect, by any means, but there are plenty of things you can do to make it just what you want.

We started out both searches without a clear idea what exactly it was we wanted. We had an idea about the number of people we wanted to be able to sleep, some amenities we wanted to have and the weight our truck could pull. We kept ourselves open to folding trailers, pop-ups, pop-outs, fifth wheels and we even looked at a motorhome or two. We really covered the gamut of options.

A 33 foot trailer with a slideout was great but really pushing what the truck could handle. A tiny Toyota class C motorhome was interesting but the top speed was 55 mph and the ceiling was about half an inch over Robert’s head. We looked at something called a hi-lo which is the height of a pop-up when closed, but when you push a button the roof raises, giving you the feel of a more traditional travel trailer (interesting but not so useful if you want to stop and have a sandwich along the way). We looked at trailers with bunkhouses, trailers with only one bed, and pretty much everything in between.

There is so much to think about and look at it’s hard to stay focused and not just fall in love with a nice kitchen or pretty upholstery. These are some things we saw that were definite no’s in our book. Any sign of water damage. A camper that obviously had not been well cared for – stains, not cleaned before we saw it, dirty outsides are signs that maybe the owners aren’t so great at the regular maintenance stuff either. Campers with obvious broken stuff – sometimes we were told and other times we could see, but we wanted something road worthy, not something we had to take home and fix first.

Some things to make sure you do – have the owner or dealer plug the camper in so you can turn on anything electric and make sure it works. Ask if there is propane in the tanks. If there is, try out any propane appliances (oven, stovetop, water heater, fridge). If there is not propane, you can ask that they either fill at least one bottle up so you can try things out or give you a guarantee if things don’t work. Walk all over the floor, and even step in corners checking for soft spots. If you know you want to use the awning, you might have them open it up so you can see that it is in working order. Open drawers, unfold sofa beds, get in and try stuff out.

You can also look for things like if the closets are deep enough to actually use a regular, standard hanger if hanging clothes up is important to you. If you have a tall person in the family, have them see if they can stand up in the shower if you plan to use it instead of campground bathhouses. If there are no towel bars in the bathroom see if there is a place you can put some (again if you plan to use the shower). They are easy enough to add and not necessary for the first trip but if there’s no space, they can’t be added on. Make sure even if the layout is not perfect or the cabinets are not just what you hoped for that there are good bones. You can do a lot with good organization and some creativity but only if the space (and the price) are right.

And finally, if you have saved cash or gotten financing and you are buying a used trailer, try not to spend every penny on the purchase of the trailer. There may be maintenance that needs to be done right away, propane tanks to be filled, a few odds and ends to buy and many little costs for things you’ll want to have done before you go camping the very first time.