A Few Tips On How To Level A Travel Trailer

By Donovan Baldwin

Why worry whether your travel trailer is level or not?

Well, there's the comfort factor. It CAN be difficult to move around the somewhat enclosed area of a slanting trailer (ask my wife), but, also, it helps doors to open and shut properly, and, in some cases, appliances function properly.

First of all, let me make a distinction or two.

This article on how to level a travel trailer is about a "bumper pull" trailer, NOT class A's, class B's, Class C, or fifth wheel recreational vehicles. Today, most of these have their own leveling systems, and, what I'm about to tell you may or may not apply.

For the newcomer, or "not yet quite there" reader, RV is a collective term for pretty much any vehicle you travel with and live in.

Also, although your travel trailer may come with "stabilizers" these are usually NOT designed for leveling the trailer. Also, if you are going to level your travel trailer, do that BEFORE, setting down your stabilizers.

You might also want to consider being prepared to level your travel trailer a couple of different ways. Sometimes, a campsite may not lend itself to one method and it's handy to have a fall back.

Lastly, before we get to the action methods of leveling a travel trailer, let's consider a very important point... how do you know WHEN the travel trailer IS level?

This will be answered by use of an ordinary carpenter's level. It's best to place it on the floor inside to determine when the travel trailer is level front to back and side to side.

A LITTLE TRICK TO MAKE LEVELING A TRAVEL TRAILER EASIER

For about $10, you can purchase a pair of RV levels. These are small levels which can be attached to the outside of the travel trailer, so that you can tell at a glance if the trailer is level. You will want at least four of them. Of course, when you install them you will want to have the trailer already level. So, if you can, find a good, flat, stable area, and begin leveling.

Once your carpenter's level, placed at several points inside the travel trailer, assures you the RV is level, then attach your RV levels to the front, back, and each side. That way, once you have "calibrated" them, so to speak, you can just glance at the levels on the outside of the trailer without having to crawl around inside, moving the carpenter's level from spot to spot.

You will do the main part of front to back leveling with the tongue jack which will come with the trailer. However, you will probably want to level side-to-side first, then front to back. Also, using the RV levels you have placed on your travel trailer, you can use the two following methods to help level the back of the trailer, as having support in the front, but not the back, may cause the trailer frame to "bow".

TWO MAIN METHODS OF LEVELING A TRAVEL TRAILER

There are two main methods of leveling a travel trailer. I'm not going to go into every product, although at the end of this article I WILL share what I use. There are so many products on the market which do pretty much the same thing. If you're reading this, I assume you use the internet to find out about things. Do a little research to satisfy yourself with the quality of the product.

The two main ways of leveling a travel trailer are with jacks and leveling blocks.

RV LEVELING BLOCKS

In my experience, the easiest way. to level a travel trailer is with drive-on leveling blocks.

These come in two basic styles: stackable, interlocking blocks which can be stacked one on the other, and curved wedges which raise the wheels as you drive up on them. The latter are the ones I use, and are shown to the right. Click on the picture for more information.

The main drawbacks I have found with drive-on leveling blocks, is that on some surfaces they may tend to sink once you're on them, or slide as you're trying to drive onto them.

To use them is fairly simple. You probably will only need them on one side. Once you are almost in your camping spot, check your side-to-side RV levels to see which side you need to raise. Then it's simply a matter of driving onto the blocks or wedges, until you have raised the lower side so that the travel trailer is level.

Since there are so many brands and configurations, check the instructions that come with the ones you buy for actul use.

One thing to remember is that while these will level your travel trailer from side to side, you will still have to level it from front to back. Also, once the RV is level side to side, AND you have leveled the front, with the tongue jack, there still may be some dip in the back end. That's why it's a good idea to have RV levels front and back.

You can use RV leveling jacks to even that up.

RV LEVELING JACKS

If you choose not to use RV leveling blocks, you can use RV leveling jacks. Most people use scissor jacks, but, as you might expect, there are many other types as well.

Two things to remember when purchasing and using jacks of any kind.

1. weight limits
2. jack pads

Whatever type of jack you choose, make sure that it is rated for the load you intend to be lifting.

Also, your jacks will generally have a small foot print, so, for stability, you will probably want to put some sort of jack pad under them. Some RV owners simply have blocks of wood, but, many other jack pads are available.

You will want to position four jacks, on one or more jack pads, at or near, each corner of the travel trailer. Because of the work involved, and because the hight the jack rises the less stable it becomes, you may want to stack jack pads, blocks, or other support under the jack to decrease the vertical space it has to span.

Make sure the jack is firmly in contact with the main frame beams of the travel trailer. If not, it could slip and punch a hole in the floor or side of your RV. Also, make sure that the contact point allows the jack to extend and support without interfering with or endangering electrical lines or other systems.

Taking your time, extend the jacks on the side to be lifted until the travel trailer is level from side to side. This may require a little back and forth from front to back, as adjusting one may change the level of the other a bit.

Once you have the travel trailer level from side to side, then you can raise the jacks on the other side until they just provide support. Again, there may be a little back-and-forth, a little "fine tuning".

Once the travel trailer is level, you can put your stabilizers down.

One last point. Things may shift and settle, so check your setup after a couple of days. This should be pretty easy to do if you have installed the external RV levels. Just walk around and take a glance at them.

Copyright 2020 By Donovan Baldwin

Is Driving in San Francisco a Different Experience?

By Donovan Baldwin

Okay, short answer is, "Yep!"

Unlike many other cities, which are primarily North, South, East and West, San Francisco has an extra two dimensions: up and down!

To the visitor, it seems that there is nothing flat in San Francisco. They have some very steep hills there, and have elected to simply build up and down them at will. Getting to a particular place is your problem.

Now, you might not think this is very problematical, and, to tell the truth, it doesn't affect most people, unless they are afraid of heights or have a phobia about rolling down hills. However, there are occasionally genuine problems which might afflict the visitor to the city by the bay.

For example, in the 80's after driving my family down Lombard St....

Let's stop there for a moment.

Are you familiar with Lombard St. in San Francisco.

It is not a short street. Running generally east and west, it passes through several sections of San Francisco. However, one block of Lombard street is famous the world over and probably captures some ot the driving experience that most associate with driving in San Francisco.

This one block, in the Russian Hill area, is one way (downhill, thank God) and consists of several tight turns. The hill has a 27% grade, and was designed with several tight turns. In the old days, wagons could not even make it up the hill, and that is one reason this small piece of Lombard Street is as it is today.

However, in keeping with the San Francisco experience, that one block of Lombard street is a beautiful little drive, at 5 miles per hour, and should be a part of any visit to the town.

Anyway, as I was saying, in the 80's after driving my family down Lombard St. we drove around town a little bit in my 1983 Reliant Station wagon. It had rear wheel drive and we had two adults in the front and three small children in the back. As we turned into a street that would take us to the next sight we wanted to see, we saw rising before us what had to be one of the steepest streets in San Francisco.

Being a normal male, I assured my wife that we could "make it with no problem!"

I was wrong.

After three tries and a moment when I actually thought the car might flip over backwards, we gave up and found another street.

Forget the hippies, and the 60's, and Chinatown, and the topless clubs in North Beach, and the cable cars, and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"...driving in San Francisco IS a unique experience quite different from most other places.

Best Historic Bed and Breakfasts in the U.S.

By Terence Zweni

A typical bed and breakfast, or B & B, usually offers lodging accommodations and breakfast. The beauty of staying at bed and breakfasts is the personalized, homey touch that is like having a home away from home. For a more private and quieter stay, some travelers prefer bed and breakfast places where on the average, there are only around six to twelve rooms.

There are many excellent B & B places in America, and some of the best are restored manors and private homes that have historical ties in the area. These restored homes are products of two legislations: the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Tax Reform Act of 1976. These legislations made it possible to get tax discounts for the restoration and repurposing of historic homes.

We have gathered a list of the best historic bed and breakfasts in America, where visitors can appreciate great architecture and experience interesting stories.

1. The Twelve Oaks

Located in Covington, Georgia, The Twelve Oaks evokes the legendary mansion of Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind. It has been chosen as one of the top ten B & B's in the U.S. The mansion was built in 1836, and it has eight luxurious guest rooms with modern amenities and en-suite bathrooms. It is located near the historic Covington Square and the town is filled with antebellum mansions. It is also conveniently located just 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta.

2. Aaron Burr House

This B & B stands on the very spot of the house where the third US Vice President hid after his infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton, which ended Hamilton's life. Located in New Hope, Pennsylvania, the original stone foundation is the only thing of Aaron Burr's house that remains now. All the accommodations are decorated with unique stencils and have beautiful, shiny hardwood floors. With the interest in Hamilton and Burr because of the hit Broadway musical, this will surely generate a lot of interest.

3. Chateau Tivoli

One of the best historic bread and breakfasts in the west coast, Chateau Tivoli is located in San Francisco, California. The structure itself is very familiar because it is one of the famous "Painted Ladies" of Steiner Street, which features prominently in postcards of San Francisco. Built in 1892, the structure was used for different purposes all throughout the years. The bed and breakfast opened in 1989, and it has nine lavishly-appointed accommodations.

4. Battlefield Bed and Breakfast

This is located in Pennsylvania, right on the battleground of Gettysburg. This is one of the most unique bed and breakfasts in the country because it gives visitors the unique experience of living during the Civil War era. Originally built as a farmhouse in 1809, it has the original beamed ceiling, chestnut wood floors, and stone walls. Each room has a theme that honours the South Cavalry Battlefield troops. There's a history lesson available from costumed Civil War characters.

5. Sugar Hill Harlem Inn

Located right in the center of New York, the area where the inn is located is right smack in the middle of the early 20th century Harlem Renaissance. This is the area where black families moved into. Jazz legend Duke Ellington, poet Langston Hughes, and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall all lived in this area. The inn has 5 themed rooms all named after a prominent African-American.

Terence Zweni is an expert when it comes to Bed and Breakfasts. To find out everything about Best Historic Bed and Breakfasts, visit his website at http://www.booksouthafrica.travel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Historic-Bed-and-Breakfasts-in-the-US&id=9483557

Review: Superstition Village RV & Mobile Home Park, Apache Junction, Arizona

Apologies to Paulette Parrot, the park manager, for this late review, but, I DID warn her.

We often stay in the Mesa and Apache Junction area when visiting relatives in the area. However, we had only stayed at an RV park in the area once before. We had been quite satisfied with Shady Rest RV and Mobile Home Park on a previous visit, but, when we planned our trip for the first month of 2017, they were booked.

However, and luckily for us, the manager there referred us to Superstition Village Mobile Home and RV Park in Apache Junction.

We stayed there for the entire month of January, 2017, and, for us, it was perfect.

We were visiting relatives, so, we did not use their facilities, although I did swap a couple of books in their extensive library.

However, before I go into what they DO offer, let me say that, for an RV park, we could not beat the price. The charge for the month was $220 plus an electric deposit, most of which was refunded to me by check, which was waiting when we got back home at the end of February, after touring around California.

The park IS small, but, there is a great view of the Superstition Mountains, and, you are outside the hustle and bustle, while still close enough to major shopping. Takes less than five minutes by car to get to Fry's Grocery, and other retailers, and a major Walmart is about 10 minutes away.

While the park is a little old, it is clean and the water and electric (50 Amp for us) was perfectly fine. Our particular site needed an extra long run for the septic, and I did have to buy additional lengths of sewer hose.

The park has a heated outdoor pool, a laundry, and a clubhouse with various activities and a kitchen. I walked in on a morning yoga class, and, on Wednesday morning, the shuffleboard competition was in full swing. There were other activities scheduled, but, as I say, we were there to visit people, and my wife is disabled, so we didn't really take part.

The manager Paulette Parrott was very sweet, even coming over to check to see if we were okay when she didn't see us around the park much.

This is definitely a keeper for us. You can reserve online at the website: http://www.rv-arizona.com/superstition-village.php


RATES FOR RV's

Daily $20
Weekly $80
Monthly $220 + Electric (which is common in the area)

ADDRESS AND PHONE

269 North Winchester Road
Apache Junction, Arizona 85219

480-982-2746

Three Reasons Why Traveling With An RV Is The Best

By Antoinette Ayana

The United States of America is a physically large nation. In fact, at 3,800,000 square miles, it ranks as the fourth largest country in the world. Connecting these vast expanses is a network of roads and interstates that is more than 4,000,000 miles in total length. In short, not only is the U.S. an enormous nation, but it is also a nation built to be traveled by the automobile. The vehicle that perfectly embodies this is the recreational vehicle, or RV for short.

The first motor home was built in the 1910s, and by the 1920s such vehicles had become widespread. Today hundreds of thousands are sold every year. An RV can vary in size from a converted minivan all the way up to luxury land yachts that stretch longer than 40 feet. Some campers are bare bones, with a cot being the only amenity. Others have full kitchens, bathrooms, king sized beds, and expanding walls. So no matter what level of comfort you are used to, you can find a motor home that will fit your style. Here are three reasons that you should want one.

Affordable Travel

The two biggest expenses that most people incur when they travel are flight and hotel costs. When you are driving an RV, you don't have to worry about either of these. Instead, you pay for gas, and the occasional cost of a motor home parking spot. Furthermore, since most of these vehicles are equipped with a kitchen of some sort, you do not have to eat at restaurants for every meal. If you have a family, you can simply multiply the savings.

Explore Nature In Comfort

In the United States, there are over 6,600 state and national parks open to the public. While a few of these might have a hotel nearby, the vast majority of them do not. What they do have are fully equipped spaces for motor homes. This means that for $20-$40 a night, you can camp in comfort in some of the most beautiful natural areas in the entire country. It is entirely possible to drive across the entire country and only stay in national and state parks.

Bring Your Family Closer Together

Studies have shown that families that vacation using an RV report a higher level of happiness and satisfaction than those who travel by car or plane. People cited the relaxing nature of motor home travel, as opposed to the stress and discomfort that long flights and car rides produce. Furthermore, in recreational vehicles, families are able to interact using a wider range of mediums. Card games, storytelling, and even activities such as charades are facilitated by the size of a camper.

In conclusion, an RV is a wonderful choice for anyone who likes to travel in comfort.

To learn more about their options for RV travel, Souderton residents should visit http://www.ivccrv.com/new_rvs-p1123.asp.

Article Source: Three Reasons Why Traveling With An RV Is The Best

RV Floor Plans - Who Said RVs Are Not Tiny Houses?

By Amalie Lopez

It is recommended that renting an RV or tiny house would be a healthy exercise in order to get the feel for a reality check. Even window shopping or online research would be a great idea for this, however going to a dealer is actually better to determine the size and RV floor plan you would mostly see yourself living in.

Funny to say, after going in and out of many sizes and models to take a look at the interior layouts, our conclusion is that the smaller ones had the best layouts.

After looking at the brand new ones, we then started seeing the used RVs and found the older models to have friendlier layouts than the newer models. Strange right? RV designers come up with different styles of RV floor plans by taking into consideration sleeping arrangements, bathrooms and additional exterior kitchen facilities for outdoor enjoyment as well.

For instance, the larger models, 32-40 ft. long, bring a more comfortable layout. However, most of the bedrooms were cramped for space and very uncomfortable, while the eating booth was large. Why not make the booth a 18 inches smaller and give that space to the bedroom? In addition, maybe a used one could be remodeled to your specifications and still save on expenses. Remodeling one to your "needs and wants" is an attractive option without a doubt. There are fifth wheelers, trailers and motorized models to be explored also.

On the other hand, parking must be considered. On your way to mortgage freedom, less expenses and financial flexibility, wouldn't it be ideal to park it in a resort area with a view? RV resort parks are available throughout the country and bring along many amenities and included services which will also alleviate monthly expenses in comparison to living in a larger home. Basic services included are access to water, sewage, power and Wi-Fi for weekend or monthly charges. Other services that could be included, depending on the site, are picnic areas, pools, parking, dumpster, showers, restrooms, allowing pets, laundry and security. Each RV resort must be verified individually for rates.

What about exploring the United States while living full-time in your tiny house RV? Driving on the road could turn out to be very rewarding as you explore all the places you've always wanted to go. Family togetherness and sharing becomes the number one priority for unforgettable moments. Why not enjoy RV living or a tiny house?

Feel free already? Research will continue to be shared, so keep tuned for more information on our findings.

And lastly, I would like to invite you check out a new website that brings you small scale furniture with storage for your new lifestyle of downsizing from a larger home into a tiny house, small apartment, recreational vehicle, dorm or even studios. Like us on Face Book and don't forget to share our business adventure also. Thanks for visiting us at http://www.tightspacefurniture.com

Article Source: RV Floor Plans - Who Said RVs Are Not Tiny Houses?

Alabama RV Park - Mill Creek Park, Elkmont, Alabama

This is not going to be incredibly in-depth as my wife and I only stayed overnight on our way from Kentucky to Florida.

However, the tone can be set by our enjoyment of the setting as we entered Mill Creek Park, and, as the lady who owns the park, and sadly I've lost her card and cannot remember her name, told me that since a storm was approaching just to get set up before it hit and come by the office after it had passed.

To actually enter the RV park area, you have to pass over a walking/riding trail (accessible from the park), and through a hay field. If you want lights, camera, action, this is not the RV park for you. But, if you want a tranquil rest in the country, then you really need to visit these folks.

The WI-FI was pretty good, but, we were only able to get a couple of stations on our (antenna) TV. We did have a 50-AMP full hook-up pull through, however.

I always take Nadia The Dog for a morning amble, and it was very peaceful walking her past the hay field, and back by way of the walking path, which passes along the edge of the park.

Mill Creek RV Park has a quiet country ambiance, and my wife and I are already planning to drop back by for a longer stay at some later date.

I was able to get an excellent rate with my Passport America membership.

Normal rate is $32 a night, but, with our PPA membership, we stayed for $16.

By the way, if you like hiking, biking, birding, or just plain being in the country, Mill Creek RV Park may be just the place you're looking for.

By the way, if you check their Passport America listing, you will find a different set of directions than what your GPS will probably give you. These are the directions provided by the owner, and, they are definitely easier to navigate than the GPS ones.

Mill Creek RV Park
28861 Veto Road
Elkmont, Alabama 35620

E-MAIL: mlmc@hiwaay.net
PHONE: (256) 732-3686
GPS: 34.96871 N, 86.99246 W

Website