The Complete RV Handbook: A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Life on the Road

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Your Guide to Buying an RV, Living on the Road, and Loving Every Minute of it!

The The Complete RV Handbook combines RVing fundamentals with road-tested wisdom for part-time and full-time RVers.

After living on the road for eight years and interviewing hundreds of other veteran road warriors, full-timer Jayne Freeman is uniquely qualified to help you get the most pleasure from your RV with the fewest hassles.

She helps you select the home-on-wheels that's right for you; plan, load, and stock for excursions of varying durations; and arrange to be away for a week or a year. Jayne offers hundreds of tips for dealing with unexpected situations, such as breakdowns, severe weather, border crossings, health and safety issues, and more. This must-have guide includes the advice and know-how you need to:

• Get the best deal on the RV of your dreams
  
  
• Travel with safety and confidence
  
  
• Keep your RV in top shape, inside and out
  
  
• Master the art of camping in comfort and style
  
  
• Get the best TV, phone, mail, and Internet service on the road
  
  
• Select a home base to optimize your taxes, licensing, and registration
  
  
• Prepare for and deal with emergencies
  
  
• ...and much more

TABLE of CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE: GETTING STARTED

CHAPTER 1. WHY RV?
Convenience | Affordability | A wider range of choices | The chance to travel with family | Flexibility

CHAPTER 2. CHOOSING AN RV
Truck campers | Motor homes | Towables

CHAPTER 3. CHOOSING THE FEATURES AND OPTIONS YOU WANT
The RV kitchen | Bathroom | Washers/dryers | Bedrooms | Electrical features | Awnings | Slideouts | Storage space | Diesel vs. gasoline engines

CHAPTER 4. BUYING A NEW (OR USED) RV
How much is it worth? | Financing | Making the best deal | Taxes, registration, and insurance | The walk-through


PART TWO: USING YOUR RV

CHAPTER 5. DRIVING BASICS
Driving forward | Turning | Highway driving: entering, exiting, and passing safely | Driving safely | Parking, backing, and leveling your RV

CHAPTER 6. TOWING AND HITCHING
Towing a car | Hitching and unhitching a traler or fifth wheel

CHAPTER 7. UNDERSTANDING AND CARING FOR YOUR RV, ITS SYSTEMS, AND ITS FEATURES
The RV toilet | Gray- and black-water drainage | Freshwater supply | Stove | Refrigerator | Washer/dryer | Heating and cooling | Power supply/electrical systems | Awnings | Roof | Floors

CHAPTER 8. ENGINE, TIRES, SUSPENSION, BRAKES, AND TRANSMISSION
Light maintenance and tune ups | Tires | Suspension | Brakes | Transmission

CHAPTER 9. FINDING PLACES TO STAY
County, state, and national parks | Membership campgrounds | Dry camping

CHAPTER 10. PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO DISASTERS
Dealing with roadside mishaps | Personal safety | Fire safety | Propane safety | Preparing for medical emergencies

CHAPTER 11. LEAVING YOUR RV
Choosing the right storage location | Preparing your RV for storage


PART THREE: THE JOYS OF THE OPEN ROAD

CHAPTER 12. LOADING THE RV AND PREPARING TO LEAVE
Getting it all in | Departure checklist

CHAPTER 13. ARRANGING TO BE GONE
Mail services | Getting cash | Internet banking | Cellular phone service | Medical care

CHAPTER 14. TRAVELING WITH KIDS AND PETS
On the road with pets | RVing with kids

CHAPTER 15. TAKING LONG TRIPS
The advantages of a long stay | Becoming a snowbird

CHAPTER 16. CROSSING BORDERS: TAKING YOUR RV TO CANADA OR MEXICO
Visiting Canada | Adventuring in Mexico

CHAPTER 17. TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TRAVELER
Television | Audio entertainment | Internet access | Digital cameras | Using GPS: never get lost again

CHAPTER 18. GOING FULL-TIME
Getting started at full-timing | The frugal full-timer | The full-timer's social life | Citizens of everywhere: selecting a domicile | Start your engines

APPENDIX: RESOURCES FOR THE RVer


About the Author...

Jayne Freeman has lived and traveled in her RV for the past eight years. She writes extensively for magazines and newspapers and contributes a monthly column on RV travel to Western RV News.