Reviews (18)

RV Trip Review
I really enjoyed the second half of the book more, when the trip actually got started.However, for non-experienced RVers the first part of the book would be very helpful.

A Fun and Useful Book; All that it Lives Up To
I'm in the early stages of planning a major road trip, and Phil and Carol's book is exactly what I was looking for to help my husband and I cover our bases and ensure a smooth transition to life on the road for a while.
We're on the road and loving 'living the dream'
Can two adults really share a small RV for thousands of miles and not drive each crazy?
Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Reference - Tips    3. Special Interest - General    4. Travel    5. Travel - General    6. Travel / Adventure    7. Travel / United States / General    8. Travel Guides - U.S.    9. Automobile travel    10. Recreational vehicles    11. Special Interest - Adventure    12. United States - General   

Reviews (5)

Army Corps Of Engineers camp ground Modoc, SC
Just returned to Florida from three days at Modoc,SC Strom Thurman Lake and Dam. The Campground was everything the guide said it was. We were more than pleased and no complaints. We look forward to utilizing the guide again and hopefully soon...

Happy Rving
its a nice book it will help find our camp sites
Gold mine
This book really is awesome. Sure it doesn't list every campground out there, but the book is already the size of a major city's phone book, so it lists the best ones. I love the rating system because it gives each campground separate 1-5 star ratings whether camping with a tent or in an RV. Extraordinary detail and excellent tips, but so far I haven't seen any altitudes given, which would have been useful.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Automobile travel    2. Camp sites, facilities, etc.    3. Camping    4. Guidebooks    5. Parks & Campgrounds    6. Recreational vehicle living    7. Travel    8. Travel - General    9. Travel Guides - U.S.    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    13. Travel / Parks & Campgrounds    14. USA   

Reviews (7)

RV Repair
This book is a must have for any RV owner. It is an excellent guide to tackle any tasks associated with RV maintenance. It is written for any level of do it yourself handymen.

This book is OKAY
The book contains a lot of information.At the current cost of RV repair at the dealer.This book will certainly help pay it's cost.

Excellent whether or not you can repair other vehicles
I found this book very useful, and will keep it on my shelf as a reference book. Although I already knew how to fix and maintain many car/truck items already, I found it very useful and think its good also for those who have not tried their hand at repairing other vehicle types.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Automotive    2. Automotive - Repair & Maintenance    3. Transportation    4. TRAVEL / Reference   

Reviews (4)

Great RV Companion Book
RV LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY by Peggi and John McDonald is an excellent publication and a MUST for ALL RVers - from those new to the RV lifestyle to seasoned RVers. The book is organized by chapters which guide you through buying an RV or camper to where to stay, how to pack, what to purchase for multiple uses, how to add storage and organize, and many many more tips.The authors are well qualified for writing this and their other books listed below. They have spent years living in their RV six months in Canada and six months in the United States each year. They are also authors of 'SPIRIT OF THE OPEN ROAD and RV PACKING TIPS and RV LIFE LESSONS and EASY LIVING HINGS and RV TRAVEL TO CANADA E-BOOK.
Comprehensive, conversational guide
For anyone considering or experiencing the RV lifestyle, this book is a wide-ranging tour of things you need to know. Peggi McDonald, a Canadian with extensive (20 years on the road) RV knowledge; been there, done that. She shares the kind of information and advice that enable people to build their competence and confidence as pat-time or full-time RVers.
RV Living in the 21st Century
I enjoyed reading this RV book. I found it to be easy reading and presented in an easy to digest format. The security tips for your house while you are away and health & safety tips are just a couple of subjects out of many, that are invaluable and give you peace of mind! I have been RVing for years and even learned things I hadn't come across before. I am really impressed that another woman RVer knows so much about the systems of an RV and among other things knows how to actually dump the holding tanks. After reading this book you will also know how! One of the most important and overlooked subjects about your RV are the weight issues involved. Peggi gives information about where and how to weigh your RV and terminology involved this includes motorized and towables. For new RVers especially, reading this book will put you light years ahead of the game! Good job Peggi Mcdonald! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automotive - Buyer's Guides    2. Reference - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - General    5. Motor cars: general interest    6. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Reviews (12)

Solid Information for Living Full-Time in an RV
My husband wanted to try full-time RVing, but I was too attached to having a house.Anyone trying to make that decision, needs to read this book.
A "must have" for the RV enthusiast!
This was our "introduction" to the RV world and became our "what-to-do-now" bible on the road.The Moeller's cover everything you need to know about your RV and lots of common sense advice about living on the road."Live Your Road Trip Dream: Travel for a year for the cost of staying home" was written to help would-be travelers get from dreaming about a long road trip, to actually doing the trip of a lifetime.The Moeller's give you the nuts and bolts of doing it--The Complete Guide is a must-have traveling companion.

The Basics, soup-to-nuts
Author of DISCOVER AMERICA DIARIES: 50 STATES, 50 STATES OF MINDRead more

Subjects:  1. Parks & Campgrounds    2. Transportation    3. Travel - United States    4. United States - General   

Reviews (1)

All RVers need this!
Even if you are a seasoned RVer or just starting, this handbook has everything you need to know about your RV.I bought the book mainly to learn about winterizing our RV but found after reading that there were so many other things I could do myself, which meant saving money!Instead of paying the RV dealership to do simple things, I can now do them myself and save the money to do more traveling!Every RVer needs this! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automotive    2. Automotive - Repair & Maintenance    3. Transportation    4. Transportation / Automotive / Repair & Maintenance / General   

Reviews (4)

Don't purchase without this book!!
I found this book extremely informative yet easy to read. It is an excellent resource for anyone looking to buy an RV, especially if you are a first time buyer. It helped me know what to look for when inspecting the RV's and also how to deal with the salespeople.
What Every RV Buyer Needs to Know
Before reading J. D. Gallant's book, How to Select, Inspect, and Buy an RV, I didn't know a class C from a minivan. What an eye-opener! This comprehensive guide gave me everything I needed to know to begin my search for the right RV. The book is well organized into sections covering the advantages and disadvantages of the different types, advice on buying used,how an RV is constructed, what to look for at shows, safety issues,how to get the best deal for your budget, and a helpful glossary of RV sales terms. What I found particularly outstanding, however, was the section on the Walkabout inspection technique. Amply illustrated with photos showing what to look for inside and out, this systematic and detailed process helped me sort the wheat from the chaff when looking for a used motor home.Mr. Gallant's easy-going,no-nonsense style and sense of humor made for hours of pleasurable reading on a subject that could seem daunting in less capable hands. Don't set foot on a dealer's lot without giving this one a thorough read!

A Must-Have Book for your RV purchase!
This is a very easy to read and easy to follow book, yet it gives very comprehensive information. Excellent for the novice or the experienced RVer, it covers the selection process (there are several types of RVs made and you need to figure out which is one is best for your use); the inspection process (walks you through what you need to look for and, believe me, you can find a lot of deficiencies in an RV that looks "clean"); and finally, the most important part to the pocket, the buying process. I think the author did a great job here - he injects humor in this process while opening your eyes to the negotiating "wheelin' and dealin'" that you are going to encounter at the dealership. It doesn't matter whether you're buying a car, a truck, a motorhome, or a tent - the buying process explained in this book will serve you well for anything you buy. I also liked the photos and graphics used throughout - they were clear in their purpose. I read this book through twice before arming myself with pen and notebook and hitting my local dealers. By reading this book, I found I knew a lot more stuff than the salespeople! If you are going to spend thousands of dollars on an RV, you better read this book first. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Transportation   

Reviews (3)

Riverside RV Park, Arcadia,Florida
WE used the guide to locate an Rv park for our first rv adventure in the new MH. We enjoyed a great Memorial Day weekend at this first class park Thanks to Trailer Life...

2006 Trailer Life Directory
We have just purchased our first 5th wheel and are leaving this week for a lengthy trip. This book looks like it will be very helpful. We have compared it to AAA Campbooks as well as the tour books. We are taking all three.

Wouldn'tbuy it again.
I bought this directory to get more information on the campgrounds,However it turns out its just alot of wasted pages that have marketing and advertising. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Parks & Campgrounds    2. Travel    3. Travel - General    4. Travel / Parks & Campgrounds   

Reviews (3)

Quite a ride!
This is more a "travel writing" book than an RV book, and very interesting reading.My only problem with it is that her writing style was rather jumpy - there might be several subjects and locations in one paragraph, and I often got lost as to where we were and what we were doing...Then it didn't seem to matter, I just enjoyed the ride.

A Kick in the Pants!
I bought this book thinking "one day, when we retire, maybe we'll go." The author, "Charlie" as you'll get to know her, makes the trip real. All the details are given, with explanations of what to take, when to go, what to watch out for, and what to see while you're there. More importantly for us, however, was the underlying theme of the book...GO AND DO IT! "Charlie" points out repeatedly, "I did it, so can you." Use some common sense, but GO!
RVing Alaska and Canada
This book is a GOLD NUGGET for Alaska Travelers or Arm Chair Travelers.Read more

Subjects:  1. Automotive - Miscellaneous Vehicles    2. Canada    3. Travel    4. Travel - General    5. United States - Pacific - Alaska   

Reviews (8)

What a book.5+ stars
If some form of work, whether volunteer or paid, is in your RVing future, then BUY THIS BOOK.It has an incredible amount of information and sound, solid advice.Comprehensive, easy to read and very well laid out.This book is worth far more than the cover price. Work is in my RVing future and this book has given me ideas I would never have thought of.

Very informative and concise!
I enjoyed the insights that this book has. The author has listed
Establishing a budget, pursuing more than 300 different jobs
Support Your Rv Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide To Working On The Road by Jaimie Hall is a practical and innovative guide to learning how to support oneself while on the road, all while traveling in an RV. From establishing a budget to pursuing more than 300 different jobs and opportunities to make money while on the go, Support Your Rv Lifestyle! is an practical, "user friendly", and highly recommended resource for any RV traveler looking planning to take an extended journey. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics / Job Hunting    2. Motor Sports    3. Recreational vehicle living    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel    6. Business & Economics    7. Job Hunting    8. Temporary employment    9. United States   

Reviews (23)

An okay intro - not a lot of "meat"
Generally okay for a newbie like me, but I was hoping for more.
Helpful

Great Info!
This book tackles a lot of information that is needed when you are starting out.It may not be the "bible" but it sure gives a lot of really good information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Outdoor recreation    3. Recreational vehicle living    4. Recreational vehicles    5. Reference - Tips    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Travel    8. Travel - General    9. United States - General    10. Use Of Recreational Vehicles    11. Road & motor vehicles: general interest    12. Travel / General   

Reviews (6)

Vintage Beauties
This book has a fine combination of beautiful photos and well written text about an American niche.There are stories and examples from all over America that give a glimpse of the joy of seeing the world from a home away from home.

This is my trailer bible!
I have a weakness for books on architecture and interior decorating anyway. But this is the one I turn to again and again. For those of us with Champaign tastes and beer budgets, a vintage trailer is ulimately doable. Own your own piece of modernist archeture, albeit on wheels, even though you could never touch a Mies or Wright. When ever I try to figure out what to do with my 1957 Sportcraft (a classic silver-clad "canned ham"), I flip through these pages. I always find something inspiring.

A must read
This is an incredible wealth of information for anyone interested in architecture, travel trailers, and Americana in general. Lovely photography is augmented by nicely coordinated text. Some redundancy is my only criticism.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Automotive - History    3. Automotive - Pictorial    4. General    5. History    6. Pictorial works    7. Recreational Vehicles (Engineering Aspects)    8. Transportation    9. Travel trailers    10. United States    11. Art / Calligraphy   

Reviews (6)

Easy to understand in plain english!
This will teach most (non-electrician by trade) people many useful things that will make their trips more enjoyable.(reduce operator error).

Easy-to-understand information for do-it-yourselfers
Bought book to help plan an RV electrical system upgrade and it more than met my expectations. Found the book fairly easy to understand with a wealth of specific information about the "whys" and "wherefores" of wire, fuses, circuits, batteries, battery charging, electrical loads, etc. Author also includes a wealth of technical info for tech types who want greater detail.

Moeller's "RV Electrical Systems" a Live Wire!
As the co-author of "RV Boondocking Basics--A Guide to Living Without Utility Hookups" (available on Amazon) I not only have read, but keep on my active RV bookshelf the Moellers' tome.It's thick, but covers a wide variety of important topics that all RVers, not just "do it yourselfers" need to be aware of.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Automotive - General    2. Automotive - Repair & Maintenance    3. Automotive Electrical Systems    4. Camping    5. Electric equipment    6. General    7. Recreational Vehicles (Engineering Aspects)    8. Recreational vehicles    9. Transportation    10. Travel - General    11. Automotive (motor mechanic) skills    12. Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (16)

GREAT CAMPING GUIDE
I found the book a GREAT guide for camping with my RV.The publishers website has updates on the campgrounds.

Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping
We found the Churchs book an essential aid in navigating around some of Mexico's cities and finding interesting campsites. Each page is filled with useful information, maps, directions and commentary on camping places that aid in trip planning.
mise a jour
C'est effectivement une aide pr�cieuse pour certains voyageurs qui recherchent absolument le camping s�curitaire.Toutefois m�me si la 2eme edition n'a encore que deux ans, elle devrait d�j� �tre � jour car plusieurs trailer park n'existent plus. De plus dans la version vendue au Canada il manque les pages 320 � 353...Erreur a l'assemblage sans doute...Myke et Terri pourrait aussi signaler les Pemex poss�dant espace et services pour arr�t d'urgence(une nuit...) lorsque necessaire... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Mexico    3. Parks & Campgrounds    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides    7. Belize    8. Caravan & camp-site guides    9. Travel / Mexico   

Reviews (6)

Paid for itself already
Great book, I found a great campground in Columbia CA
Good book for the novice RVer.
We got this book from the library and liked it so much we bought it. It has a lot of information that we can use for our future trips.

I shouldn't have bought Woodalls RV campground guidge
I purchased both a Woodalls RV guide and Foghorn and compared them both this past Aug and Sept 2005 while RVing in WA, OR, NV and CA.I stopped using Woodalls after the first few nights -- there is no comparison between the two.The driving directions in Foghorn are far superior to Woodalls and the campground descriptions are more factual as I believe that Woodalls give an edge to those RV sites that advertise in their guidebook (just my gut feeling) whereas Foghorn does not accept any ads in their guidebook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Parks & Campgrounds    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - West - Pacific (General)    7. Caravan & camp-site guides    8. Western & Pacific Coast states   

Reviews (28)

Don't waste your money.
I bought this book 3 years ago right after we bought a motorhome.Now that I have become a seasoned RV'er, I can tell you that this book is extremely outdated (published in 1999) and simply one woman's personal opinions. Almost everything in this book is common sense and recollections of what she and her husband did traveling in their 5th wheel and truck. Save your money and put it toward a subscription to Motorhome Magazine or Trailer Life. You will get up-to-date and accurate information there.

How not to write a book
An extememely poorly written book.It was a total waste of money and time.I won't be buying or borrowing any other books by this author.Her information is, at best, meager. The information contained in the approximately 68 pages is better learned by other, far more comprehensive books.Try books by either Jan Moeller or Gordan Groene.Both authors' books are vastly superior in every way.

I needed a bit more "meat"
This book was basically a journal of one rv'ers experience. Some parts were helpful, some amusing and some just not enough info for a beginner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Transportation    2. Travel / General    3. Mobile Home Living    4. Recreational vehicle living    5. Recreational vehicles    6. Travel    7. Use Of Recreational Vehicles   

Reviews (9)

The Bible of California Camping?
Maybe this Foghorn publication, California Camping by Tom Steinstra, is the bible of camping, at least for California, but it probably needs another good scrubbing or at least an editor.I have purchased this book twice, 03 and 05 editions, and a few things changed, e.g., when the listing for Palomar Mtn SP mentioned that Reserve America honored this park as one its Top 200 Family Campgrounds. This was a nice addendum to the last edition. But, in some cases, the editors, more than Steinstra, need to make the rounds, at least at the more popular sites.For example, California Camping mentions that El Capitan SB has one of the "best fishing" sites, but from what we have understood over the last few years is that fishing no longer even takes place in the nearby stream - due mostly to drought.Though, if someone said El Capitan is the best for Dolphin watching that would be entirely accurate.Also, Tillie Creek is rated "9" for scenery, apparently, but all the upper front and near the lake sites were closed this year not to mention there is no "creek running" in the summer.However, this book has proven over and over to be accurate in about 90% plus of its content which is great when you have kids.A couple of suggestions might help if, for example, in addition to the scenery rating, could there just be an overall rating, i.e. 1-10 based on Steinstra's standards or the type of campground? And, could the editors create a means by which campers and readers could report their findings back to the publisher? Could the editors make sure to get an accurate update from park rangers, agencies, and private campsites for any basic changes that might have occurred? Okay, so no matter what I say, California Camping is probably the best camping guide out there, in my opinion.I just would like author, editor, and publisher to make it a bit more current and relevent for the next edition, which, of course,I will most likely purchase.

Comprehensive and personal
I can't speak for the person who disagreed with some of the ratings. In my experience, this is an invaluable reference, and the personal descriptions of each campground are extremely helpful. Few references will go the extra mile to provide ratings and personal observations about each site like this one does. It's clear that the author has actually visited most of these sites, which is not always the case. It's a great book, and the anecdotes & camping advice in the introduction are very well-written. This book covers every kind of campsite in California, from hike-in primitive sites to RV parking lots. I highly recommend it.

Excellent Book!
I have actually purchased this book twice now, once about 10 years ago and it was the best book then! then I lost the book in the Cedar fire in 2003.Now we are ready to go camping again, so what book did I look for? That's right, the Complete Guide but realized it had been burned like all the others.So I quickly purchased it again, and upon its receipt and review am amazed at all the new campsites he has added and all the fantastic information! The one thing I miss-all my notes I had made in the other book! Oh well, time to start the new one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Parks & Campgrounds    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - Pacific - California    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)    8. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Reviews (2)

Great How-to Book!
This book was given to us as a gift when we were planning our trip to Alaska.It answered all the questions we had.It is written by RVers and includes what RVers need to know.It has loads of information about where to camp and what to see and do and it put my mind at ease about driving the roads.I recommend it for any RVers planning to go to Alaska.It was a great help.

Whining through Alaska
The book lost me in the first seven pages of whining.It contains nothing new or unique in its information or documentation of the authors eating their way through Alaska.A complete waste of money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - General    4. United States - Pacific - Alaska   

Reviews (9)

Absolutely Essential!
We recently completed a four-month motorhome trip to Alaska. We had several books with us, but the most consistent good information came from this book. The campground descriptions were right on. In addition to camping, when we had to decide whether to see one attraction vs another, the book's advice was invaluable. Don't leave home without it!

If you travel to Alaska in an RV, you need this book.
We bought several books to travel to Alaska in 2006.The milepost and this book were the only two we used.It is much easier to find a campground each night using this book over the milepost.The price information and personal recommendations were very helpful and accurate. I highly recomend it if you travel to alaska RV or camp in a tent.

Excellent Book
We used this book daily on our 20 day trip to Alaska in 2006.Each day I would look to see what campgrounds/RV parks were located in the area we were coming into for the night.The ratings were very accurate and helpful.We were never disappointed.I wouldn't go to Alaska without this book if you are planning on camping! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Travel    3. Travel - United States    4. Travel Guides - U.S.    5. United States - Pacific - Alaska    6. United States - West - Pacific (General)    7. Camping & woodcraft    8. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)    9. USA   

Reviews (19)

Beached Boater
Due to an ugly encounter with 2 18-wheelers and 1 car (ours), my husband and I were left with debilitating injuries.After trying the live-aboard lifestyle for 2 years, we found that our disabilities proved too much for the boating lifestyle. Virtually Compelling!
I'm not an avid reader, but when I picked up this book I could not put it down.I was drawn in to a virtual reality made possible by the Hofmeister's descriptive prose.I only got through a few pages when I knew I better grab a highlighter.My favorite sections were the sections on finance and mobile office.Ron provides detailed information and a budget providing the high end and low end of some of the most common expenses.In the mobile office chapter, Barb provides information on getting one's mail and making telephone calls.The chapter on working while full-time RVing (called workamping) was also very informative.I found all the information I needed in this book.

Little Usable Information
While I had expected to spend time finding out about the RV lifestyle from those that had been there, there was very littleRead more

Subjects:  1. Motor Sports    2. Recreational vehicle living    3. Reference - Tips    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel    6. Travel / Reference    7. Recreational vehicles    8. Reference    9. Travel - United States    10. United States - General    11. Use Of Recreational Vehicles