Essentail RV Pre-Travel Checklist

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Essential RV Pre-Travel Checklist

Checklists are an effective approach to ensure nothing is neglected or overlooked. RV pre-trip checks are probably the most crucial checklists to have on-hand and stick to.

Here are top 5 crucial RV pre-trip checkups to make before driving your RV. Following a very simple checklist like this can save you time, money and problems.

Check Tires

The two main issues with RV tires are over-inflation and under-inflation and both could lead to tire breakdown. When your RV is in storage, the tires suffer a loss of air pressure at a rate of 2 to 3 psi monthly. It is crucial you examine and pump up the tires to the appropriate pressure before travelling. The most appropriate way to figure out inflation pressure is to have the RV weighed and work with the tire manufacturer’s load and inflation tables for inflation pressure calculated on actual loads. The other way is to examine and pump up the tires in line with the pressure detailed on the federal certification label on the RV. At all times check tire inflation.

Check All Fluid Levels

This is applicable to motorized RVs or to tow vehicles towing a trailer. A low or drained fluid level in part of the engine or transmission is going to leave you stranded on the side of the road quicker than anything. Traveling on a motorhome or towing a huge trailer puts additional strain on a vehicle’s drive-train parts. The fluids in the engine and transmission are meant to lubricate and have these parts cool. If the fluid level is very low or empty, you probably will not make it to your desired destination. Check under the vehicle for signs of leaks. Check out the engine oil, transmission fluid, radiator coolant reservoir, power steering fluid and brake fluid levels. Check with your owner’s manual for tips on how to check these fluid levels. Whenever a fluid level is low, make an effort to figure out why – and correct the issue before departing on your trip.

Check the Hitch-Work, Brakes & Lights

It doesn’t make any difference if it’s a motorhome towing a car or a truck towing a trailer; the important issue  is you double check all of the hitch-work & the brakes along with the lights. When all things are firmly fastened and you’ve examined all the lights, carry out a brake test. Move the vehicle forward a little and tap the brakes. Make sure you feel the trailer brakes or dinghy brakes engage and slow the vehicle down.

Take a walk inside the RV. When you walk through the RV’s interior before leaving, you’ll probably find something  that wasn’t properly secured or a latch that isn’t properly locked. Have a look at all of the cabinet doors, the refrigerator, sliding doors, and ensure things like computers and TVs are safe. Check all appliances to ensure they are switched off.

A Final Walk-Around

After every single thing on the list is done, and you are getting ready to depart, take a walk through the RV again. Look on top the RV and under the RV. Check the storage doors to ensure they are secure and protected. Ensure that everything is detached from the RV and appropriately stowed. This final walk-around could be the difference between a hassle-free trip and a mishap waiting to happen, so invest some time and closely examine everything in and around your RV.

The Ultimate South Dakota Road Trip

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The Ultimate RV South Dakota Road Trip

This five-day fun-filled experience will offer you a rare opportunity to view and uncover almost everything about the Black Hills and the Badlands – and why so many people call it home!

The Badlands National Park can be found in southwestern South Dakota – and is made up of almost 244,000 acres of greatly eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires. Badlands Loop is among the most popular scenic byways in the county, and always makes it on  the “Top Ten” lists of several of the media outlets.

Don’t miss the visitor’s centers for anything. Don’t forget to check out the Prairie Homestead which happens to be one out of the small number of sod dwellings still in good condition. As you set out to head towards Rapid City, don’t lose out on the renowned Wall Drug. Get a maple-glazed donut, have a look at the awesome selection of western art, and take a chance to explore the store in downtown Wall.

Rapid City

As soon as you’ve made your way to Rapid City, go over to the vibrant downtown and the Journey Museum to get a classical and traditional summation of the Black Hills. The information you get there will help prepare you for the days ahead!

DAY 2

Just a few minutes up the road from Rapid City, your very first stop is going to be at Reptile Gardens. This site features the most impressive selection of reptiles globally. Stroll through to see everything, and attend some of the instructive demonstrations!

Your next stop is not far from Reptile Gardens. Here you could drive-through the park that features North American wildlife roaming free.

Keystone

Keep moving south straight into Keystone – and discover the Rushmore Borglum Story! Learn everything about Gutzon Borglum in the museum and gallery that displays his art works of paintings, sculpture and artifacts.

DAY 3

The Black Hills features a wide selection of stunning scenery, hop into the 1880 train, which usually takes off from Hill City to Keystone and back to Hill City. This gives you the freedom to have fun in the Hills from a unique view. The ride can last around 4 hours and you will need to show up about 15 minutes early. The classic steam train is well known for the scenic route it offers.

DAY 4

Pay a visit to The Mammoth Site, which allows you to understand more about the Ice Age and the animals that came with it. Additionally you can take a guided tour and the kids can take part in the Junior Paleontology Dig.

Don’t forget to stop by Evans Plunge, the world’s largest natural warm water indoor pool. Check out the waterslides and enjoy in the purely warm mineral water.

DAY 5

Move straight into Belle Fourche. Here, you can find the Center of the Nation Monument along with the Tri State Museum. Take Highway 34 out of Belle Fourche and you will head for Devil’s Tower.

Wyoming

Devil’s Tower is the nation’s very first National Monument and you will see it rise surprisingly out of the prairie and grasslands of eastern Wyoming.

Trips for Traveling Safely in your RV this Summer

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Tips for Traveling Safely In Your RV This Summer

When touring in an RV, there is certainly nothing more crucial than the basic safety and well being of all travelers on board. With an incredible number of RV enthusiasts enjoying the RV lifestyle, it’s extremely crucial that all RVers invest the time to learn the ins and outs so their travels are pleasurable.

Here are National Mail Forwarding’s 5 tips for RV Safety:

  1. Security

An important concern for RVers is the absence of security options for safeguarding their RV and their possessions from theft or invaders. The most significant safety measure to take is to always keep your entrance door, windows, and bays properly locked. Refrain from showing flashy or highly-priced items to keep yourself from being made a victim. An additional option is to install a surveillance camera for security. It is also important to check in with reliable friends or family members so that they are fully aware of your intentions for timing and location. By giving your current location and organized schedule, you’ll not only let live worry-free – but you’ll be making a support plan in the event you go unheard from.

  1. Know Your Height

This advice seems obvious, but you’d be surprised by the number of people who fail to remember the extra height of an RV while driving. As a matter of fact, hitting a bridge or overhang is regarded as the commonest RV accidents. A very simple trick to make sure you’re at all times conscious of your height is by putting a glowing colored sticky note on your dashboard with your accurate clearance. Besides height, remember the width of your RV. Getting trapped under a highway overpass is going to ruin your RV fun as well.

  1. Traveling with Kids

RVing is a wonderful way to spend some time together as a family. While on a trip with kids, it’s extremely vital that you give endless reminders to kids to remain seated. In the course of long RV trips, it’s easy to forget you’re in a running rig, but remember that turns, bumps, braking and sudden movement could potentially cause danger for the travelers that are not seated.

  1. Be Cautious

Being a careful driver can help you avert a lot of accidents. At all times use turn signals, signal within the last 100 feet prior to any turn, and always drive with your lights on. One will think a vehicle this big would be clearly visible, but accidents are consistently reported to be as a result of drivers who “never saw them coming.” Remember to always carefully approach your turns. You can by no means be too careful with regards to your safety and that of your family as well as others on the road.

  1. Updated Electrical Connection

The one other important tip you need in the course of RV travel is unforeseen fire. The most effective way to avert RV fires is by ensuring you have the correct electrical connections. Many RVers are still making use of the obsolete and problematic  twist-type connectors. Gadgets such as the Smart Plug offer superior protection against loose connections and rust – the major reasons behind park power failure and fires. Ensure your RV’s electrical connection is lessening electrical transfer, has strong sleeve connection – and carries weatherproof seals. Always use top quality inlets, connectors, cord-sets, and other electrical add-on’s specifically created for RVs.

South Dakota: The 5 Safest Cities

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The 5 Safest Cities to Live In South Dakota

According to data from the latest FBI Crime Report, the possibility of being a victim of crime in South Dakota’s five most secured cities is exceptionally minimal, as a matter of fact, no city on this list recorded above 25 crimes in 2015. Checking the data more deeply, it was clear that these cities recorded less than five crimes for every 1,000 residents, while about 29 crimes transpired per 1,000 people nationally within this period.

All over the state’s five safest cities only 19 violent crimes, were reported with just a single murder, and two cities reported absolutely no cases of violent crime completely. The nominal property crime rate among these cities is just as low. On the whole, the five Safest Cities in South Dakota mentioned just fifty-seven property crimes. Out of all, only eight were burglaries. The second Safest City reported none. The number of reported break-ins is particularly low seeing that the safest cities represent an overall total of almost 20,000 citizens.

While South Dakota’s statewide crime rate is relatively lower than the nationwide average, it’s nonetheless important to take a precautionary approach to personal and home safety irrespective of where you live in the state. Check the state’s safety Directory for vital resources—from crime prevention ideas to a map of the state’s most and least burglarized counties.

How the Safest Cities in South Dakota were chosen

To determine the safest cities in South Dakota, the latest FBI Crime Report statistics from 2015, were evaluated together with population data. All cities with less than 2,000 residents were removed along with cities that did not to submit a detailed crime report to the FBI.

From there the remaining cities were evaluated. It was refined down according to the number of reported violent crimes and property crimes in each city. To level the playing field even more, the chances of these crimes taking place out of 1,000 total people in each city – were figured out.

  1. Brandon

Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.00

Property Crimes per 1,000: 2.50

  1. Sisseton

Violent Crimes per 1,000: 2.02

Property Crimes per 1,000: 1.21

  1. Summerset

Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.00

Property Crimes per 1,000: 4.56

  1.    Lennox

Violent Crimes per 1,000: 2.61

Property Crimes per 1,000: 2.17

  1. Winner

Violent Crimes per 1,000: 2.81

Property Crimes per 1,000: 4.92

RVing on a budget

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Rving on a Budget

Are you planning to embrace the ambitious and nomadic lifestyle of a full-time RVer? If you are, you might be questioning just how cost efficient it is to buy an RV, drive it, and live on the road. The simple response to this question is that you could make it as costly or as affordable as you want! It all hinges on your decisions with regards to the type of vehicle you want to buy and how you want to finance it, as well as your budget and the different expenses related to owning an RV.

The choice of expenses can be quite huge, so you’ll have to do the research and choose for yourself if you would like to live large or small while traveling in your RV.

A few Questions to Take into Account

Before venturing out, you’ll have to ask yourself and your travel-mate(s) a couple of questions. A great brainstorming session is going to rule out surprises and allow you to make a powerful plan for your adventure. You should ask:

Do you have an income flow that hopefully will support you while traveling or will you have to find work on the way?

Are you willing to travel endlessly or do you want to take a year off for the trip?

Are you going to be comfortable in a modest trailer or are you looking for a classy high quality motorhome?

Do you intend to stay in 5-star RV sites?

Are there certain places you would like to travel to or are you going to roam free?

The responses to all these questions can help you plan your trip and get an overall picture of what your travel mates’ needs and expectations are. As soon as you have this discussion, you can determine whether you are able to roll or need more preparation and reflection time.

Cost of Your Vehicle

The kind of RV you travel in would depend on your personal taste and your budget. If you have a huge sum of money to spend, then you can buy whatever you want and not be concerned about gas mileage or efficiency. However, if you are like the majority of RVers, you must take note of your budget. Nothing can take the freedom from an RV adventure like being short on cash.

Think about:

Motorhome vs. Trailer:

Motorhomes are the higher priced option of the two. In addition to being more expensive to purchase, they are the priciest to operate and maintain and they depreciate at a greater speed than travel trailers.

Trailers towed by your truck or SUV are usually more cost effective to buy and travel with. In addition, you could leave your trailer at your campground and drive your vehicle around.

RVing on a budget

Think about maintenance costs. Pop-up tent trailers will require significantly less maintenance than motorhomes loaded with luxuries.

Insurance:

Before putting your signature on the dotted line for an RV, contact your insurance agent to determine the cost of insuring the vehicle.

RV Budget Estimate

Even though you won’t know precisely what your touring lifestyle is going to be like before you start your trip, there is an effective way to estimate costs. It is a simple math formula: your new RV lifestyle expenses is going to be equal to your present household spending budget, minus the expenses of staying in your house, plus the expenses of living in your recreational vehicle. Looks pretty simple, right?

Jobs on the Road

When you don’t have sufficient cash to simply take off without working, you could possibly check out some on-the-road options for getting money. For instance:

Remote Employment:

Work for your present employer on the road. Most of today’s jobs can be taken care of through your computer and an internet connection from anywhere.

Work-camper:

Work-camping is also a great option. A great number of full-time RVers take short-term positions at campgrounds, theme parks, national parks, routine maintenance or retail positions.

Freelancer:

It is possible to freelance through the web with your laptop in many different fields, like:

Teaching online lessons

Content writer or paper reviewer

Once you’ve answered these pertinent questions to budget RVing – you are on your way to making your RV dreams come true!