Tag: RV

Epic Winter Camping Spots in Southern California’s Deserts

.Reading time 11 minutes.

From November through April, Southern California’s blazing hot deserts cool down and transform into pleasant, tranquil camping destinations with wide open desert views. Just last weekend I camped for three nights out in the Glamis sand dunes, and it was sunny and 70 degrees each day—and that was in January! Below are a few of my favorite RV camping destinations in Southern California’s deserts. None of these spots require a reservation, most of them are free to camp, and a couple require a permit for a small fee. Read on for more information about these remote, beautiful desert boondocking spots. Read More

Ocotillo Wells: Best Campsites

.Reading time 8 minutes.

I’ve been camping and off-roading in Ocotillo Wells for the past seven years, and I love it so much that I normally make the trek multiple times each season. Camping is FREE and entrance to the state park is FREE! The off-road trails are diverse and fun to explore— there are washes to blast through, technical trails to traverse, and landscapes that make you feel like you’re walking on Mars. There’s a ton of geological action at work in Ocotillo Wells, such as the active Gas Domes, the odd pumpkin-shaped formations in the Pumpkin Patch, and the oyster shells at Shell Reef. And for the Jeep enthusiasts out there, the scenic Tierra Del Sol trail is a must-do! Never been to Ocotillo Wells and unsure where to camp? Read on for my favorite camping spots. Read More

Glamis Camping 101

.Reading time 13 minutes.

Summer winding down doesn’t have to signal the end of camping season, especially if you live in Southern California. Once the extreme heat lessens and we swing into autumn, desert season officially begins. One of my favorite desert camping destinations is Glamis, officially called the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. It’s located in the southeast corner of California and borders Mexico, and it happens to be an offroading playground with giant, smooth sand dunes that stretch for miles. Keep reading for an explanation of the different camping areas at Glamis and what you need to know before heading out there.

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RV Renovation: Jackknife Couch Before/After

.Reading time 2 minutes.

There are a few items on our fix-it list before we take the Winnebago on her maiden voyage, and one of them is to modernize the interior just a bit. The interior is in pristine condition except it’s heavy on the mauve. There’s a mauve dinette, mauve window treatments, mauve carpet, mauve captain chair, and, oh yeah, a mauve jackknife couch. Read More

New Flooring Made Our RV Feel Brand New!

.Reading time 2 minutes.

Is it possible to make a ten-year-old RV feel brand new? We believed so, and the week after we brought our 2008 Tiffin Allegro Open Road home for the first time, we decided to update the flooring. Read More

RV DIY: Installing an Inverter, Batteries, and Solar Panel System

.Reading time 2 minutes.

We prefer tranquil, remote RV camping destinations, which means we do a lot of boondocking. So no water, no paved roads, and no electricity. We have a generator that runs great, but we don’t want to run it constantly when we’re trying to enjoy our peaceful locations. Since our batteries need to be replaced now, we are going all in with an inverter and a solar panel system. That way we can install the best batteries for the new system and take on the massive wiring project all at once. And when we’re camping out in the middle of nowhere desert, our solar panels can quietly soak up the sun and charge the RV batteries all day without having to run the noisy generator. Plus, with the inverter we will be able to watch TV and use the microwave without having to turn on the generator, which will come in handy while driving. Read More

5 Steps to an Organized RV 

.Reading time 5 minutes.

Up until this year, I never really thought much about organizing everything in our RV. When packing for a camping trip, I’d just carry out all our food and clothes and start cramming it into all the cabinets. Two kids and a ton of baby gear later, the cabinets and closets in our RV are stuffed and I can never seem to find anything without rifling through every nook and cranny. So after our last crowded camping trip, I pledged to completely organize everything inside our RV and make the little space we have more efficient, streamline packing, and avoid future clutter. Read More

How to Make an Old RV Shine

.Reading time 3 minutes.

We have an old 1989 Winnebago Superchief that runs great, but the exterior looked dull and tired. After researching paint jobs and vinyl wraps that were out of our price range, my husband found a DIY polishing solution that, with a ton of elbow grease, shines up old RVs and helps repel dirt. This project took us two solid days to complete and about $100 worth of supplies. It’s best to wash/prep your RV on day one and apply at least one coat of polish, then come back on day two to finish applying 3-4 more coats of polish. The more polish you apply, the shinier and deeper the finish. Read More

Farewell Tents, Hello RV!

.Reading time 1 minute.

I’ve been a die hard tent camper my entire life; I love the simplicity of setting up a tent and keeping my gear minimal. But recently I made a big mistake… while camping in Glamis my husband and I stayed in a RV instead of our tent. And wow, was it wonderful! Read More