The Full Wheelingit Database Of US-Based RVing Topics
Another few weeks have passed and I’ve spent most of it back in the USA, at least in blog-land. You see I’ve been doing a very necessary Spring Cleaning of the blog and re-organizing it into what I think will be the new look going forward. It was a bear of a project, but I “think” I’ve finally found a general format that makes sense, at least for the now (things can always change, right?). So I figured I’d write a quick post to introduce it to you all.
First things first ALL my US-based blogs & articles will remain available and accessible on the blog. I know that many of you were concerned the “old stuff” would disappear from the web-sphere but fear not, it’s all still there! However I have made some changes. In order to make space for our upcoming European travels, I have consolidated my categories which means I’ve significantly reduced the number of tabs in the 2 banner menus at the very top of the page. So in case you’re reading this via e-mail or RSS, the blog now looks like this:
As you can see, all my US-based items are now exclusively on the upper menu of the blog leaving the bottom menu open for my (hopefully lots of) upcoming Europe stuff. Also there are now only 5 main US- based categories:
- US Maps (detailed maps of each travel year and everywhere we went from Mar 2010-Mar 2018)
- US Camping (links to my master camping map & all my campground reviews, sorted by State)
- US Travel Tales (links to my master travel map & all the stories I wrote along the way, sorted by State)
- Boondocking (everything about camping in the wilds)
- US RVing Tips (literally everything else related to RVing)
The last category (US RVing Tips) is probably one of the meatiest, especially for newbie RVers since it contains literally everything we ever learnt about the RV lifestyle from our 8 years on the road. So I cover things like finances, maintenance, technology, entertainment, solar, RVing with pets and volunteering etc. There’s lots of juicy stuff here, and I’ve broken it into sub-catagories that (hopefully) make it easier to sort through. The “overview” page is a good place to start since summarizes it all, but for those that would like to keep a reference copy of this in their files I’ve re-created that page directly below (plus I’ve added a little blurb about boondocking at the bottom). Hopefully you’ll find this useful.
That’s about it for the current version of the blog. Now, back to writing about Europe stuff…
Below is a recreation of my “Overview (All Topics) US RVing Tips page. It is always accessible HERE:
All my general articles about the RV lifestyle from detailed financial costs to buying warranties to how to caravan with friends. I’ve written about general maintenance, driving (tolls, low clearances), and planning your RV travels. I’ve got posts on selling you house items (before you move into an RV) and even a few posts how to handle the BAD side of RVing (yes, it does happen). Lots here….
A sample of my most popular posts
- 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Fulltime RVing…
- The Costs Of Fulltime RVing (Part I) – Budgeting & Planning Your Spend
- The Costs Of Fulltime RVing (Part II) – Specifics & Links
- RV Driving In The East -> Tolls, EZ Pass & Low Clearances
- 5 Tips On Handling RV Maintenance, Repairs & Downtime On The Road
- RV Camping Club Memberships – Are They Worth It?
- Does It Ever Get Bad? Our Top 6 Road “Incidents” & How We Survived With Our Sanity In-Tact
- The Darker Side Of FullTime RVing? 5 Thoughts To Ponder Before Making The Leap..
- 3 Tips To RV Caravaning With Friends (Without Driving Each Other Nuts)
- 4 Tips For Tackling Humidity & Moisture In Your RV On The Coast
- Planning RV Travels Part I -> 4 General “Rules” For Planning Where To Stay & When To Go
- Planning RV Travels Part II -> Selecting Pace, Map Routing & Campsites
- Planning RV Travels Part III – Maps, Resources & Links
- 3 Simple Steps To Protect Your RV During “Downtime”
- The Ins & Outs Of RV Extended Warranties
- RV Tank Sensors &The GEO Method
- Fulltime RV Insurance – What’s the Difference?
- Free Overnight RV Parking = Finding “Freebies”
- Our 5 Favorite Kitchen Items For RV Cooking
- Lessons in Cold-Weather Dry-Camping = Our Sierra Nevada Week-end
- 6 Tips To Survive Being Together 24/7 In An RV
Adding solar to our RV was one of the very first things we did to “the beast” back in 2010 and we loved it so much that we upgraded to an ever bigger, better system in 2016. Plus we switched our batteries from AGM to lithium which we absolutely LOVED!! If you’re at all interested in solar, this is the section for you!
- The Big “Beastly” Solar/Battery Upgrade Part I – Why?
- The Big “Beastly” Solar/Battery Upgrade Part II – Component Details
- The “Big Beastly” Solar/Battery Upgrade Part III – Installation
- The Big “Beastly” Solar/Battery Upgrade Part IV – Summary
- An Early Christmas Present -> Our New MSH3012 PSW Inverter
- RV Solar Part IV – Panel Tilting & Winter Solar Optimization
In this category I’ve got detailed posts about all the other cool upgrades and mods we’ve done over the years from installing WiFi extenders to interior decor & replacing the fabric on our valences.
A sampling of posts:
- Easy RV Mod -> Slide Topper Replacement With Tough Top Toppers
- RV Tow Bar Upgrade -> Our Snazzy New Roadmaster Sterling All-Terrain!
- Easy RV Mod -> Re-Cover & Update Your Window Valences (For Under $100!)
- Easy RV Mod -> Install MCD Shades
- RV Electrical Fire (Almost!)-> Our Automatic Transfer Switch Failure & Replacement
- RV Surge Protectors = Protecting “The Beast” Against Bad Power & Surges With EMS-HW50C
- 4 Tips For Creating Instant Indoor RV Coziness
Wondering how to RV with pets including 2 cats AND a dog? Our pets were an integral part of our travels so naturally they became a big part of the blog too, and it wasn’t all smooth sailing either. During our 8 years on the road we dealt with the whole gamut of pet issues from adapting our cats to RV life to serious health problems, emergency & surgery. Plus just figuring out where we could go that was pet-friendly (Pro Tip: if you click on my camping map you’ll see EVERYwhere we went that was!)
Some of my biggest posts on traveling with our paws:
- Handling Pet Medications On The Road
- Handling Pet Care & Emergencies On The Road
- 5 Tips For RVing & Camping With Cats
- Taggart’s I-131 Treatment & Radioactive Kitty Update
- Summer Plans Change Again (This Time It’s The Dog)
- Polly 3-Week Post-TPLO Surgery Update
- Polly 7-Week Post TPLO Surgery Update
- Polly 3-Month Post TPLO Update
We volunteer hosted almost every year we were on the road. Our specialty was hosting at lighthouses as docents (although we also did a few other gigs), and we absolutely LOVED it! Not only did it provide a way to indulge our lighthouse obsession, but it also allowed us to spend several months for free in absolutely stunning coastal locations. If you’re spending significant time on the road I HIGHLY recommend picking up a few gigs like this. It’s super fun, it’s social and it’ll save you money.
A smattering of the topics covered:
- Volunteering On The Road Part I – Why Do It?
- Volunteering On The Road Part II – Where To Look For Openings
- Volunteering On The Road Part III – 4 Steps To Securing Your Dream Job
- Top 10 FAQ -> Lighthouse Volunteering/Hosting
- Volunteering as Lighthouse Hosts -> What Do You Actually DO?
- Volunteer Hosting at Cape Blanco Lighthouse, OR
- Volunteer Hosting at Mount Constitution, Orcas Island, WA – What Do We DO Here?
- On the “Job” At North Head Lighthouse – Cape Disappointment, WA
- Workamping & Volunteering As A Solo RVer
Health care can be a major hassle on the road, and one of the biggest obstacles to going fulltime RVing. Not only can health insurance be very expensive (especially pre-Medicare) but with insurance laws changing all the time it’s hard to keep up. Plus how do you keep a network of doctors when you’re traveling all the time? I don’t have all the answers, but in this category of blogs I’ve got a few:
- Health Insurance Time -> 2018 Considerations For Pre-Medicare RVers
- Self-Medical Care Part I – Why Do It?
- Self-Medical Care Part II – Self-Testing Links
- Self-Medical Care Part III – Negotiating Doctors, Hospitals & Clinics With Cash Pay
- Getting Dental Work In Mexico Part I – Clarifying Myths & Facts
- Getting Dental Work In Mexico Part II – Our Los Algodones Experience
Like the idea of camping for FREE in the wilds? Well so did we! It was the whole reason we installed solar back in the day, and we loved it so much that it became an integral part of our yearly travels. We boondocked almost every fall in the Eastern Sierras and spent at least a few months boondocking in the SW desert every winter. I’ve written a bunch of articles about boondocking from detailed “how to’s” to reviews of many of our fav boondocking sites (which are also viewable on my interactive camping map). So, if you’re curious dig in here!
A sampling of posts:
- Boondocking For Newbies Part I -> Finding Where To Go
- Boondocking For Newbies Part II -> Prepping Your RV
- Boondocking For Newbies Part III -> Geting Your Rig Into The Site
- Boondocking For Newbies Part IV – Enjoying Your Time In The Boonies
- 4 Ways To “Glamp Up” Your Outdoor Boondocking Area
- 6 Great Resources For Finding Boondocking Spots in Arizona
- 7 Tips On Boondocking Etiquette -> Rights, Wrongs & Plain Common Sense
Wow this is a keeper to read later…… Glad you all are doing good….. All is as well as it can be here on the West coast…..
Have a Blessed adventure….. Lee and Shelia
Thanks for keeping the US info. Looking forward to reading about your travels.
I love the Map with all the pins and links. It’s incredible and so amazingly helpful. It gave me ideas of where to stay when visiting family that were not possible in my mind being new the RVing. Thanks so much for your incredible talent to detail! Happy trails as we are also considering traveling in Europe with a small dog.
Wow! Unbelievable amount of work! Without a doubt-your blog is the best! Love the new look. Can’t wait too read about your new adventures. Thank you for keeping the US information.
With all you’ve had to deal with and are still dealing with, you’re thinking about us, your readers. You put so much effort and time for us. God bless you. A huge thank you , Nina, for everything. I don’t usually write but my husband and I always read and appreciate your wonderful writing and pictures.
THANK YOU!! So glad you are keeping this not only available – but accessible!!
Nina, you are such a generous, thoughtful, kind person – there’s definitely a special place in heaven for you 🙂 I wish there were more people like you in this world, it would be so much of a better place.
We are in Chinook, WA, right now and at last the weather is improving, I could see “your” lighthouse last night from our window! We will be visiting Cape Disappointment SP later today, and will say hello from you and Paul 🙂
OH, you just gave me a HUGE pang of nostalgia there. We spent so many wonderful summers at that lighthouse, and it really does hold a piece of my heart. ENJOY the area for us please!!
Nina
Will do 🙂
Nina, you are the absolute master of this blogging thing. Thank you again for this amazing resource. Brenda and I read and learned so much before our RV walkabout, then we were fellow RVers and became buds – YAY! – and now we are looking forward to learning about Europe from you. THANK YOU.
By the way, how long does one have to be in France before you start growing your cone heads?
Awwww, thanks so much Hector. We MISS you guys terribly. And I’ll have to get back to you on that cone thing (I’ll let you know)….
Nina
This is Great! Thanks!
You are so generous with your time! I know it had to take LOTS and LOTS of time and effort to make these changes and get things together in an easy to read, and easy to find manner. I’m sure all your followers and lurkers are very grateful, as am I. Thank you!
What an amazing service you have provided for so many people from so many different lifestyles! I am thrilled that you kept it all current and easily accessible for those of us who might want to jump in somewhere and find something important to us specifically. I hope that any new RVr would find your blog and learn so very much, all in one place. Truly an amazing resource, Nina. Amazing, and thank you so much again.
Nina, you truly deserve some kind of award. Your always fantastic blog has become even better and thevwork you’ve put in to it is phenomenal! Theough the last 4 years since I discovered it your blog has been immensely helpful. When I see questions from newbies I just tell them to go to WheelingIt, watch the RV Geeks and read Technomadia and they’ll be all set.
Thank you. I look forward to your travels in my favorite country.
We’re friends & HUGE fans of RV Geeks & Technomadia too. I think you’ve got a great combo there 🙂
Nina
WOWOWOW !!! Beautiful job changing the format. Some of my family is going to start RVing and I gave her your web site to check out !!!!! Yours was the best with information. Thank you for all that you do for us.
Wonderful! Hope the info is useful for them (and good travels!)
Nina
You Rock!!! What an amazing amount of work went into this! Did you have time for anything else? How are the pups and tabbys? Thanks to you and others I have survived my first 3 month trip and made mods and repairs on the Bounder that I may not have tried without watching what others have done. I fixed my exhaust, put on a new alternator, added SumoSprings for stability on the road, updated the bath with tub coating and new surround and new fixtures and completely redid the dash air! In a week we head out for southern Utah for a month. Then park it there and book back to Scottsdale for my wife’s hip surgery. When we get released to travel, we’ll rejoin the RV and head northeast to the UP of Michigan. Thanks to you and others for sharing your experiences and expertise. Safe travels! Jim and Patty
WOW! You’ve already been through a ton. That’s a lot to have going on at the very beginning of your RV travels, but looks like you’ve handled them beautifully. Hope all goes easily with your wife’s surgery and that you have some great travels ahead!
Nina
That’s a LOT of work!! Thanks much for that. I’ve saved the post for the perfect reference. Hope you’re also having family fun :-))))
Nina, thank you. I know I’m repeating what’s already been said — only to emphasize that *many* of us appreciate what you’ve written, and now to have it organized and filed — Wonderful!
— Anne P
Such a treasure trove of information!! Thank you for sharing so much of your experience and life!
Thank you so keeping everything. Your campground reviews have helped me make reservations and helped me pick several of our campgrounds!. Looking forward to watching your European adventures! I love history so get a few castle pictures. LOL ;0)
Nina, this is totally off topic and you may already be aware of this, but …. I was just signing up for HarvestHosts here in the U.S. and I read on their website that there is a similar network in France called France Passion that allows RVers to park overnight for free at wineries and farms. Just FYI.
YES! I know them already. In fact there are several websites in EU that offer stays at wineries or pubs. France Passion is one of the largest (and oldest) sites around. THOUSANDS of places to stay. We’re def going to join.
NIna
I just want to say a HUGE thank you for keeping all the USA info available. We have our home base here in Sequim (Yep. Dungeness Lighthouse…but haven’t made it out that far yet.) In just five short months my husband will retire and we will be taking our first RV trip. I’ll be referring to your blog frequently. Thanks and best wishes to you in your European adventure.
Funnily enough I was just thinking about Sequim yesterday! I have such fond memories of the lavender festival there, and of course the lighthouse. Happy travels to you!
Nina