Julie Chickery

May 10, 2021 by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)

If you are looking for a great campground in the northern Shenandoah Valley, then this is the place for you. Shenandoah River State Park is open year round and is only minutes from Shenandoah National Park. Whether you are camping in an RV, tent, or cabin, there is something for everyone.

Watch the video review below or read on for more information:

Sites

The best part about this campground is that it is situated only a few minutes walk from the beautiful Shenandoah River. However, it is important to note that you won’t have a river view from the campsites as there a trees between the campground and the river.

RV Sites: The campground has 32 back in sites with water and power, as well as plenty of room for your RV, tow vehicle, and even a tent or canopy.
Cabins: The campground has nine 2-bedroom cabins with a bathroom, heating, and air conditioning. They also have four primitive camp cabins that don’t have a bathroom, heating, and air conditioning.
Yurts: The campground also has three yurts that have one queen bed and a twin sized trundle pull out. The yurts do not have electricity or water, but water is available at the bathhouse. There is no heat or air conditioning. Each yurt has a dining table, a large wooden deck with patio tables, a picnic table and fire ring with cooking grate.
Tent Sites: There is a separate tent-only, hike in campground with primitive sites.

Amenities

This is a typical state park campground, which means there aren’t as many amenities as you’d find in a private RV resort. However, the natural beauty of the area more than makes up for it.

The campground does have laundry facilities, a bath house, and a dump station.

From the campground you can easily access the park’s 5 miles of river front, 24 miles of multi-use trails, and a wonderful nature center.

Local Area

Shenandoah National Park is the highlight of this region and is only a ten minute drive away. It has a multitude of activities and is open year round. Scenic Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the Park. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the Park on a clear day. Skyline Drive is generally open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. If it’s closed due to inclement weather, you may still enter the Park on foot at one of the entrance stations or from a boundary access point. The national park also has over 500 miles of trails with several waterfalls.

There are over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park and several lead to waterfalls. — Dark Hollow Falls at Shenandoah National Park

Book Your Stay Now

Whether you are looking for a quick get away or family vacation, you can’t go wrong with this amazing state park campground! Click here to make reservations and don’t forget to look at the map and choose the site that is best for you.

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The Shenandoah River State Park campground is the perfect base for your next RV vacation. With 5 miles of riverfront access 24 miles of multi-use trails it is the perfect location to enjoy the great outdoors. It is also located only 10 minutes from Shenandoah National Park, providing the perfect RV camping destination for your family.

April 2, 2021 by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Vintage Camper Renovation

It never ceases to amaze me how talented people are at renovating their vintage campers. It just goes to show that you simply cannot judge a book (or travel trailer) by its cover. Check out what this RV owner did in just 2 short months with her 20ft 1974 Skyline Nomad.

See the renovation on this 20ft 1974 Skyline Nomad vintage camper. — Photo: https://www.instagram.com/aftonalmighty/

Paint the RV Interior

The first (and fairly easy) step of any successful RV remodel is paint. A fresh coat of paint makes everything old look new again! In this case, Afton used white paint and shiplap to create a bright, neutral palette for the interior of her camper.

This amazing vintage camper remodel includes paint, shiplap, flooring, countertops, and a beautiful backsplash. — Photo: https://www.instagram.com/aftonalmighty/

Just a few quick notes on painting the RV interior:

Preparation is key. Take the time to clean all surfaces well. Use something that will clean off all oils and residue.
Always use primer. Primer is critical to creating a base for your paint to adhere itself to. This is especially important if you are drastically changing the wall color or painting over wallpaper.
Give each coat adequate time to dry. Peeling paint is often a sign that you didn’t allow each layer to dry before applying the next one. Also, lesson learned the hard way: peel all your painters tape off before the paint dries. Yes, you will have to use more tape for the next layer, but trust me, it is better than peeling away your hard work later.

Easy RV Mods: Countertop and Backsplash

Did you see that countertop? I love the warmth it adds to the room! Here are a few pointers to make this type of counter last as long as possible:

Seal it thoroughly. Wood can gather germs, grow mold, stain, or even warp in shape when exposed to moisture. To counteract these unwanted effects, you’ll need to seal your butcher block countertops immediately following installation and on a monthly basis afterward.
Don’t use it a cutting board. Don’t chop directly on its surface. Knife blades can cause uneven wear on certain regions of your countertop.
Watch this tutorial on making a countertop with flooring…genius!

Updated RV Flooring

Speaking of flooring… Did you know that replacing old flooring is one of the easiest ways of sprucing up the interior of your RV? If you want something that looks like wood, but without the weight, plank-style flooring can be a great option. Mountain Modern Life has a fabulous tutorial on how to do everything from prep through completion.

RV Furniture to Fit

Another thing I really love about this camper remodel is the furniture that fits (and doesn’t overwhelm) the space! And you don’t need to buy furniture made specifically for RVs or campers. You can shop at Ikea or even flea markets to find something unique that works for you.

New furniture is the best way to personalize a camper. You don't need specific furniture made for campers. Just find something that you love that also fits the space, and be mindful of weight.

Custom Artwork

If you are in love with this camper remodel as much as I am, check out some of Afton’s reclaimed wood artwork in her Etsy shop, Vivid Woodworks and follow her adventures in this Skyline Nomad travel trailer on Instagram.

Sharing is Caring

Feel free to save this image on your Pinterest for future reference.

Check out this amazing vintage camper renovation that includes paint, flooring, countertops, and a new backsplash. Learn how to transform the small space in your RV.

January 15, 2021 by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

The Costs of RV Ownership

There has never been a better time for RV travel. With renewed emphasis on health and safety, people are coming to realize that an RV is the way to go. You can pay at the pump when you need gas, cook your own food, use your own bathroom, and even social distance around the campfire with others.

However, all this can only happen if you properly prepare for the true costs of RV ownership. So many people interested in RV travel with their friends and family only think about the cost of the RV, but there is so much more to it. The last thing you want to do is purchase an expensive RV and not have enough left in the budget to actually use it. Hopefully this article will give you an idea of how to budget for your RV adventures!

The RV Purchase

Obviously the first thing you’ll need is the RV or recreational vehicle. When I talk about RVs, I’m including fifth wheels, travel trailers, motorhomes, Class C’s, and vans. That is a huge range of vehicle type, which means there will be a huge range of prices. You can download our FREE 8-page RV purchasing guide to see an overview of each type and the associated price ranges.

The answer to the question, How much do RVs cost? is actually another question: How much do you want to spend? That is because you might be looking at a $10,000 travel trailer or a $300,000 diesel pusher motorhome. Regardless of which type, it is not an insignificant investment. Before you even start looking at RVs, take a good honest look at your budget. A realistic budget will help you narrow down your search. After all, there’s no point in wasting your time looking at rigs you can’t afford.

RV Insurance

As we’ve already pointed out, RVs are not cheap. You’ll definitely want to protect your investment. Unfortunately I can’t tell you how much insurance for your RV will cost. That is because RV insurance, just like automobile insurance, varies by state.

When we first purchased a fifth wheel RV, we were living in Maryland. When we moved to Florida, the insurance on our vehicles, including the RV, increased dramatically because it is based on risk. And we all know that Florida is plagued by those pesky hurricanes, which increases the risk.

Our best advice is to call 1-888-514-1116 for a quote from the Good Sam Insurance Agency. They issue policies through several different insurance companies and can help you choose the right one for them.

Extended Warranties

RV extended warranties are great because they can be used for a whole range of repairs after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. If you purchase an RV at a dealership, they will always try to sell you an extended warranty. You should know that you don’t have to buy it through them. You can purchase one through a separate broker and it may even save you money.

Companies like Wholesale Warranties provide fully customizable extended warranties for both new & used RVs. This means you can choose what best suits your needs from comprehensive to listed component and powertrain coverage. Call 1-800-939-2806 for a quote from Wholesale Warranties.

Preventive Maintenance

RV insurance and warranties cover accidents and breakdowns, but you are responsible for the day-to-day servicing of your RV. In fact, you must have your vehicle serviced according to the manufacturer’s requirements to qualify for insurance and warranty claims.

Common components that require regular maintenance include:

Batteries
Generators
Roof
Tires, Bearings, and Brakes
Water Heater
Air Conditioner

If you can do the work yourself, you’ll save some money, but will still need to pay for supplies like oil filters, oil, anode rods for your water heater, and tools. If you want to pay a service center, be aware that the average hourly labor cost nationwide is $140 an hour.

A note about RV tires. I’m sure you’re planning to enjoy many miles on your RV. You will need new tires, maybe as often as every three years. This can be pricey, particularly if you have a large diesel motorhome. Be sure to start putting a little money away for this each month so you are not surprised or sidelined by this major expense.

Property Insurance

Some states and municipalities charge property tax on recreational vehicles, rather than a flat fee for tags. Find out BEFORE you purchase an RV if this is the case and how much it is. In some states it can run approximately $4.50-$5.00 per $100 of assessed valuation. That can really add up especially when you consider some counties also have their own personal property tax to add on top of it.

RV Storage

If you have an HOA that prohibits parking your RV at your home, or if you live somewhere that doesn’t have room for it then RV storage is a consideration. Again, this varies depending on where you live. Many storage facilities charge based on the length of your RV. When we lived in Northern Virginia, we paid $150 per month for RV storage. In Florida, it was $65.00 per month.

Fuel for the Road Trips

Obviously you want to take your RV out on vacation. That’s the whole reason you got it, right? Unless you plan to do driveway camping, you’re going to need to budget for fuel. And RVs aren’t known for good gas mileage. A 28’ gas motorhome gets about 8 miles per gallon on average. If you have a towable, most trucks don’t get great gas mileage when towing. Our diesel truck gets about 11 miles per gallon when we’re towing our 30’ fifth wheel.

Now figure out how much gas or diesel fuel will cost for the miles you want to travel on your next trip. Please don’t forget that just because it may be inexpensive near where you live, means it is inexpensive everywhere. We just about went into shock when we were traveling in California last year. You can use the Gas Buddy app or website to check on prices in different cities. The fuel line item can be one of your biggest. In fact, we wrote an entire article dedicated to how to save money on RV fuel costs.

Campgrounds

The last major budget item for RV ownership is campgrounds and RV resorts. Once again if you’re wondering how much campgrounds cost, we’ll have to reply it depends. There is a huge difference in price between a state park campground with no frills and an RV resort on the beach with all the amenities.

We have dry camped for free (also known as boondocking), paid $20 a night at a state park, spent more than $100 a night at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground, and everything in between.

Creating Your RV Budget

As you can see, there are many variables involved in owning a recreational vehicle. Since they will vary by location and preferences, the important thing is that you do your research BEFORE buying an RV.

Here’s why that is important: You head down to your local RV dealership and the first thing the salesman asks is, “How much do you want to spend a month?” He’s talking about the payment if you finance an RV. So let’s say, you have $500 per month available for an RV. You don’t want a $500 or you’ll never be able to go anywhere. If you have to pay $40 a month for storage and $60 a month for insurance, that only leaves you $400. Now consider how often you plan to travel, how many nights you plan to stay in campgrounds, how many miles you’ll travel to calculate fuel costs, and you’re monthly allowance has been further reduced.

Hopefully, by going through this list and doing a little planning in advance, you’ll be able to purchase the RV that you can afford to own and operate!