A good book or movie an essential for life on the road
Paperback books and DVDs about RVing are always great last-minute Christmas stocking stuffers and Hanukkah gifts.
Here are ten titles with brief thumbnails and suggested retail prices.
•”Fulltiming: An Introduction to Full-time RVing” by Gaylord Maxwell (Life on Wheels, Inc., updated 2003, 122 pages, $12.95).
An excellent starting point for prospective full-time RVers. Gaylord and Margie Maxwell of Deary, Idaho, have been RVers for more than 40 years and have traveled in 48 states plus Canada and Mexico. Maxwell answers all the basic questions that wannabes have, most often with helpful suggestions and examples. Perhaps America’s best known RVer, Maxwell has been a columnist in Motorhome Magazine for more than two decades. A former teacher and RV dealer, he founded the highly respected “Life On Wheels” educational programs. Call toll free: (866) 569-4646 or go online to www.rvlifeonwheels.com.
•”RV Traveling Tales: Women’s Journeys on the Open Road” edited by Jaimie Hall and Alice Zyetz (Pine Country Publishing, 2003, 224 pages, $14.95).
This collection of travel-essays features a variety of women writers talking about living and traveling in an RV. Each story is brief, yet presents a memorable snapshot of each woman’s RV life. Hall and Zyetz have also written an e-book: “The Woman’s Guide to Solo RVing” ($12.95). Read more about the other books at www.RVTravelingTales.com.
•”RVers: How Do They Live Like That?” by Judy Farrow and Lou Stoetzer, Ph.D. (OceanView Publishers, 2004, 202 pages, $19.95).
The human side of the RV lifestyle is tackled by this husband and wife team of retired mental health professionals. The book is the result of hundreds of interviews with RVers. There are only a few copies left of the limited edition run. Read more about Judy and Lou at www.rvlifestyleanswers.com.
•”Complete Idiot’s Guide to RVing” by Brent Peterson (Alpha, 2001, 432 pages, $18.95).
This Basic 101 book touches on a whole bunch of things from how to choose the perfect RV and what to do with it after you get it. It is an accessible book that talks about different RV systems in nontechnical language.
•”2006 Mapquest RV & Campsites Guide & Atlas” (Mapquest, 2005, 256 pages, $21.95).
The ultimate road atlas published exclusively for RVers. In addition to including a detailed road atlas of every the United States and Canada, there are descriptions of more than 3,700 campgrounds and RV parks, along with hundreds of incredible color photographs.
• “Rest Areas and Welcome Centers Along U.S. Interstates” by William C. Herow (Roundabout Publications, Third Edition, 2005, 240 pages, $12.95).
When traveling America’s highways it’s always good to know where the next rest area is, and this valuable resource lists them all. It also includes roadside turnouts and scenic vistas. Roundabout Publications, (800) 455-2207 or www.travelbooksusa.com.
•”Trailer Life’s RV Repair & Maintenance Manual” by Bob Livingston (Trailer Life Publications, Fourth Edition, 2002, 390 pages, $34.95).
This reference book includes step-by-step procedures for fixing components and improving the service life of virtually every item on an RV. There are also details on satellite dishes, camper jacks and tie-downs, awnings and slide-out systems.
•”Camping Cooking: 100 Years” by the National Museum of Forest Service History (Gibbs Smith, Publisher, 2004, 192 pages, $9.95).
For those who like good old fashion camp cooking, this spiral-bound cookbook is chuck full of legendary recipes for Dutch oven meals, open-fire dishes and other tasty outdoor specialties used daily in the early days of the Forest Service. Fun black-and-white pictures.
•Any of the “Traveler’s Guide” books for RVs or tents written by Mike and Terri Church of Kirkland, Wash. All are published by Rolling Homes Press (www.rollinghomes.com).
“The Pacific Northwest: A Camping Guide to Washington, Oregon & British Columbia” (2000, 224 pages, 200 maps, $14.95); “Mexican Camping” (Third edition, 2005, 512 pages, 250 maps, $21.95); “European Camping” (Third edition, 2004, 640 pages, 400 maps, $24.95); “Camping Mexico’s Baja” (2004, 256 pages, $14.95); “Alaskan Camping” (Third Edition, 448 pages, 80 maps, $21.95).
Written specifically for RV vacationers, these travel guides provide detailed information on where to camp, how to get there, things to do once you arrive and where to get supplies.
• “Fulltiming, The Documentary” DVD by Larry Wood (DVD, 2005, 90-minutes, $29.95).
Actual full-time RVers talk about what they have learned, what mistakes they made and how they finance their lifestyle. Larry Wood can be reached at www.fulltimerver.com.
Where to get ‘em fast
If your local bookseller does not carry the book you want, two online outlets are Amazon (www.amazon.com) and RV Bookstore (www.rvbookstore.com), call toll free at (800) 274-9378, weekdays between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We will get every book out within 24 hours on orders we receive between Monday and Saturday,” says RV Bookstore owner Chuck Woodbury from his office in Edmonds, Wash. “If it’s on our Web site, we have it in stock, and we’ll ship it by the next day.”
Wheel question
What are some of your favorite online RV sites?