INEXPERIENCE CAMPER

 

The other morning, while trying to enjoy a cup a coffee, I notice a gentleman looking around our RV, eating a banana. Then he came to our door, but never knocked. So I went out to see what I can do for him. He wanted to know how to fill his RV with water. He was told not to fill it while coming through the Rockies. So instead of getting water while parked here at the State Park upon arrival, he has decided to get it before hitting the road to Utah.
I had Brian go out and explain it to him how to fill his tank with fresh water. Brian comes back in after a few minutes, to enjoy more coffee, when again I looked out our door window and stood this man again. Brian went back out to again explain the water fill situation. Upon talking to him for the second time, this gentleman and his family hasn’t even used the toilet, because they didn’t know how to use it….
Brian told this guy that we would be out and about walking shortly and if he was at the dump station, we would come by and assist him with his water fill. 15 minutes later, again, this gentleman was at our door for a 3rd time. He had parked in a spot behind us to fill his tank. He told Brian that he thought something was wrong because the water started to fill and a few minutes later, water started to sputter out at him. Brian try to explain to him that his tank was full and he needed to shut it off. He kept asking how does one know if their tank is really full….
I’m proud of my husband for his patience with this particular gentleman for I know he was starting to wear Brian’s patience thin. Brian however didn’t have the patience to tell this particular gentleman that there are some other things he should have checked out before heading out, for he knew if he got into with him, it would be hours on end….and we did have to work that day.
He did suggest to this person in purchasing books on becoming an RV’er…..wonder if he will take the suggestion?
Now I’m not calling this gentle “dumb” or anything, but I would just like to point out to any newcomers that is either thinking or has just recently purchased a new RV for the first time to just take these few steps to make their lives (and others) a little more pleasant:

• Take time to get to know your RV inside and out BEFORE heading out on that long trip.
  
• DON’T be afraid to ask questions to the Dealer or the person whom you bought the RV from. There is no such thing as a “dumb” question.
  
• Take short trips close to home and try EVERYTHING out to make all is working properly.
  
• Maybe consider purchasing some RV books before purchasing your RV. Determine what kind of an RV you want, whether it be a 5th wheel, travel trailer or a pop-up. Do you want slide outs or not? There is a lot to consider when purchasing a RV.
  
• And NEVER be afraid to ask another RV’er some questions-most will be glad to help you-but on that same note-don’t take up a whole lot of their time either; They are there to relax as well.
  
• If you’re not use to backing up a rig, take the time and find a huge empty parking lot and practice!
  
• Remember all rigs are built differently and will operate differently in all aspects-so don’t totally rely on how another rig is set up to function-thinking yours will work that way as well.

We enjoy and really don’t mind helping a newcomer along the way and we will continue to help others whether “working’ or just playing ourselves. If we can give a helpful advise and share our experience-we will be glad to do it.

UNUSUAL VAN RENTALS

Being from and spending most of our time out in the Midwest, you don’t see too many RV Rentals.  Working the Corp of Engineer Parks for the past ten years, I think I can count on one hand how many we actually had come through the parks that we worked in.
But spending time out West/Southwest it has become a different story.  Since leaving Quartzsite and touring around the Lake Mead area and now here at Zion National Park, it seems that for every 10 RV’s that come in, one will be a rental.  Whether it be a El Monte RV, Apollo, Road Bear RV Rental, RV 4 Rent, and Camping World just to name the ones that we have seen thus far. But the one that intrigued us the most were these most colorful vans that we started to see in just one weekend here at Zion.


 
 

We can’t but help wonder who the creator of these vans are.  Are they Yuppies that haven’t grown up?  In any case these vans defiantly catch your eye-that is for sure.

But the most thing that catches your eye about these vans, is the saying on the back…. Notice the saying just under “ESCAPE”?  Now wouldn’t that catch your eye?

The vans that we have seen have shelving in the back for pots and pan, clothing, what ever you need it for, along with a small 12v refrigerator, camp stove & 5 gal. water jug.  There is a full size bed for sleeping and a little more storage for your belongings.  The kids we ran into told us that they rented theirs out of Las Vegas for 21 days and paid just over $1000.00 plus fuel.  All the vans that we did see were licensed out of California, so we figure that is probably the home base for these unique vans.
Who ever is behind the bright colorful vans, has a good thing going, and with our economy the way it is, sure hope he/she is making a good name for themselves.   Why didn’t we think of this?????