Owners – Campanda News

What I Love About My Tiffin Allegro 32-SA (And What I Don’t)

Tom Sperner — Tue, 22 May 2018 20:27:03 +0000

Shopping for an RV is fun — until you make a decision to actually buy one. Then the panic sets in because it’s really happening. When we bought our first RV, I nearly broke out in a full-body sweat because we had fallen in love with a model that was over our budget. But after traveling in it for over a year and a half, we still feel like we made a really good decision — and that the extra money really was worth it.

(By the way, if you’re in the market for an RV, be sure to go into as many as you can or even rent an RV or two so that you can get a feel for different floor plans. Click here to read more about buying an RV.)

A Review Of Our Tiffin Allegro Coach

After touring what felt like hundreds of RVs and almost buying a different model, we ended up with our motorhome— a Tiffin Allegro 32-SA Class A gas coach. It’s got a big windshield, two slide outs and it comes in at 34 feet (which is a good size for camping at most state and national parks)!

While it was a bit more money than we budgeted for, we feel like it was worth the investment. Tiffin is a great company and both the length and features that came with our coach are perfect for our travel style. It helps that we negotiated the price down, too.

Tiffin Allegro: The Pros

High Quality

Tiffin has a reputation for making high-quality RVs. I can back that up as we’ve put about 20,000 miles on ours and it’s still holding up well.

The level of quality in the Tiffin Allegro really stood out and ultimately sold us on this model over cheaper RVs.

The quality is what sold us on our purchase. We had been spending time in an RV with a similar floor plan from a different brand. While we liked it, the minute we walked into the Tiffin, everything felt sturdier — solid cupboards, comfortable sofa and supportive dinette booth seats.

The Floor Plan

We love the floor plan. The kitchen faces the door, which makes me feel safer because I can see outside while I’m cooking. The layout allows us to move around comfortably and there’s plenty of storage. In fact, we didn’t even learn about the storage drawers under the dinette seats until after we’d bought the coach — a happy surprise!

This is a floor plan from this year’s model. We like the fact that the layout gives us plenty of room to move around.

Little Luxuries

There are two features that I didn’t really care about in the beginning but have come to love: the fireplace and bedroom fan. That’s right, we even have a fireplace, which comes in handy on chilly days. Imagine sipping hot coffee by the fire on a chilly morning while gazing at a misty meadow. It’s a dream come true!

And the ceiling fan in the bedroom actually does lower the temperature — it wasn’t just a “decorative” fan.

Smooth Driving

Lastly, Tiffin RVs drive really well. Typically, diesel coaches are more powerful than gas coaches, which can make for smoother driving. But our Allegro was built on a longer chassis with a foil cushion, making for a pretty smooth drive. You can read about my husband’s first time driving the coach here.

Tiffin Allegro: The Cons

Wasted Space & Energy

It’s difficult to find fault with our rig, but there are a few quirks. One of the pros can be a con in a boondocking situation (camping without electrical, water and sewer hookups): the residential fridge. It is huge and convenient, but sucks up a lot of battery power.

The large, residential-size fridge is both a pro and a con. It sucks up quite a lot of energy when you’re boondocking, for instance.

And although the bathroom is roomy, there’s actually a lot of wasted space. There isn’t enough storage, so we’ve improvised by placing a wire stand to store more items. Tiffin could have installed a small shelf unit to add more storage space. But considering how well-thought-out the rest of the rig is, I’m sure they had their reasons for not offering that feature.

The Dinette

The biggest con is the size of the dinette table. It’s slightly too narrow and when my husband and I are both sitting there, it’s a bit crowded. Sure, one of us could sit in the passenger seat and use the pull-out shelf, but it’s not as comfortable. But given all the other features, the dinette wasn’t a deal-breaker for us.

The dinette is just a bit too small for two people to work at comfortably.

The Size

I mentioned that 34 feet is a great size, but I’ve actually been longing for a smaller, more nimble vehicle so we can stop spontaneously and take photos or explore on road trips. That’s hard to do with a 34-foot rig — plus the 10-foot car we tow behind it.

At 34 feet, our rig is by no means the largest Class A out there. But it is just a bit too large for truly spontaneous travel — trips require more planning than they would in a nimble Class C.

Overall, we really like our Tiffin Allegro. And unlike many of our friends who are buying their second or third rig, we’re quite happy with ours and plan to keep it for the foreseeable future. The layout, quality and features make for a comfortable and enjoyable RV experience.

If you’re in the market for a new RV and the Allegro is within your budget, I highly recommend heading down to your local dealer and scoping it out. Even better — rent one like it on Campanda and find out if it’s a good fit for you.

Click the link below to rent an RV in your area:

Click Here To Rent An RV

Already own an RV? It could be earning you money. Rent your underused RV on Campanda — you can name your price, choose your renters and select your dates. It’s your RV, rent it out on your terms.

Click Here To List Your RV

The post What I Love About My Tiffin Allegro 32-SA (And What I Don’t) appeared first on Campanda News.

5 Easy Ways To Organize Your RV

Tom Sperner — Thu, 10 May 2018 14:34:32 +0000

By Liz Wilcox Space is a precious commodity in an RV. And while your RV may never look as perfect as the ones on Pinterest (seriously, it’s impossible and I challenge any real-life RVer to prove me wrong!), that doesn’t mean you should give up on a cleverly organized rig! Here are some simple tricks to help you get organized:

1.Think Like A Square

Consider swapping out the plates and bowls in your RV for square ones like these

RVs are full of 90-degree angles. The cupboards, the refrigerator, the slides — everything is very square! Don’t fight it. Use square storage containers to maximize space in your RV. You can even go a step further and avoid round shapes in your rig altogether: Ditch canned goods and switch to boxed soups, beans, etc.; buy square pans (they exist!); and swap out your dishes for square plates, bowls and so on. It may seem extreme, but you’ll be amazed at how much more efficiently things fit in the cupboards.

2. Look Up

Use the wall space in your RV. We hung these shelves for storing fruit and vegetables in our kitchen, which saves valuable counter space.

Again, space is precious in a rig. That means you need to get creative about how and where you organize your things. A lot of RVs have dead space near the slide-outs and above cabinets and doors. If you’re looking for a place to store kitchen utensils, cutting boards and other lightweight stuff, consider putting them up high in these areas. Use command hooks to store drying racks, white boards and even your broom up high and out of the way.

3. Nest And Stack

A collapsable colander is a game changer in a small space like an RV.

I’m a natural-born minimalist and will always use what I have instead of buying new. I make an exception in my RV. It’s really important to carry things that nest, stack or collapse to keep your RV organized — so important, in fact, that you should replace anything that doesn’t fit well with your other supplies. We’ve replaced mismatched bowls, storage containers, and even pans with nesting ware. It has saved me so much sanity in organizing my RV kitchen!

I use crates like these to store my daughter’s clothes.

For the bedroom, we bought lightweight, stackable crates to store my daughter’s clothing in the cupboard. This has been amazing since we own a Class C motorhome with no extra closet for her. Being able to stack her clothes in a more organized way makes laundry day so much easier. It also helps keep things perfectly organized while traveling. When using bins, stack them based on usage. The most frequently accessed items should go in the top bin. If you really need to save space or just like the idea of having as much room as possible, check out collapsible products. They make bowls, pots, pans and even tea kettles that collapse within themselves to give you more space!

4. Ditch Unnecessary Packaging

We live in a world where boxes come within boxes. When you’re trying to organize your RV, this can be maddening.

Use stacking dry goods containers like these to keep your pantry organized.

When grocery shopping, look for products with minimal packaging. When you get back to your RV, you might consider taking things out of their packaging for a better fit. For example, if I buy graham crackers (s’mores anyone?), once I use one small package from the box, I’ll take the other out, store it in my pantry and get rid of the large box, which is no longer necessary. It’s also a good idea to reorganize pasta and rice. Instead of storing them in boxes that are only half full, empty dry goods into smaller airtight containers that better fit your pantry.

5.Get Things Off The Floor

I live in an RV full-time and I’ve made a lot of rookie RV mistakes along the way — storing things on the floor is one of them. It may sound silly, but leave a tub on the floor long enough and you’ll see what I mean.

Your RV shower can double as storage. We use ours as both a closet and a place to store things we need close at hand.

When we first moved into our motorhome, there was no place for my husband’s toolbox. I told him it was no big deal. We could keep it on the floor of my side of the bed. I thought it would be “out of sight, out of mind.” Boy was I wrong! Within a week, I was going crazy trying to find a new place for the box. It was completely in the way of my walking path and a huge eyesore. By the end of our first month in the rig, my husband had built a storage box just for the toolbox to save my sanity. If you’re having the same issue, try rearranging things in the storage bays outside to fit your belongings. If it’s something you need on hand and inside the RV, I suggest using your shower as a way of keeping it close but out of sight. We keep our toddler’s reading books, vacuum and broom in the shower for that reason.

For more RV organization tips and hacks to make life on the road easier, check out these 18 quick and easy RV hacks that you can do with easy-to-find materials. Still haven’t gotten started on your RV rental listing? Click the link below to learn more about renting your RV with Campanda:

Click Here To List Your RV

Are you an RV enthusiast without a motorhome to call your own? Stop daydreaming about organizing an RV you don’t have — rent an RV on Campanda and get out on the road!

Click Here To Rent An RV

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How I Found Remote Work While RVing

Tom Sperner — Wed, 02 May 2018 18:06:25 +0000

By Camille Attell My husband and I walked away from the best jobs we ever had to RV full time. I had worked for years to secure a position with a really good company, good pay and great benefits. But after eleven years and a lack of creative freedom, it was time to move on. We didn’t walk away for bigger and better career opportunities. We walked away for the freedom and flexibility that a desk job would never provide. Ditching that level of security was really scary, but not walking away and wondering what life could be like felt even scarier. So we took a calculated risk to leave it all behind and go RVing.

Working Remotely From Our RV: How We Planned It All

Bryce giving a thumbs up for being on track with our transition plan.

We are planners by nature, so we built a comprehensive project plan to guide us through the process. The plan contained everything from RV shopping, finances to employment decisions. The hardest part was picturing what remote work looked like. We had worked in cubicles out whole lives and it was hard to imagine what the options were. So we planned to use some of our savings to bridge the gap between leaving our jobs and finding remote work, along with offsetting costs by boondocking (which you can learn more about here) and using camping memberships. But I lasted four months before I panicked and started looking for remote work.

How I Found Remote Work While RVing

I have a storm to thank for my first remote gig.

Our first remote job was a fluke. While in Florence, Oregon, a storm rolled through that grounded us for several days. I decided that I would look for a local job since we couldn’t do much else. I searched on Craigslist, which is a great resource to find short-term, local jobs. I found four job possibilities and landed a one-hour acting job that paid $100. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it helped me build confidence — I knew that when I put my mind to it I could find employment. After that, I started networking in Facebook Groups, specifically groups like the RV Entrepreneur where business owners interact and sometimes hire for contract work. I have partnered with many entrepreneurs to create blog content and courses. Now I’m generating income through our blog and contract work, and recently I launched a course called Remote Work 101: Work, Live, and Travel Where You Want to help other people learn how to navigate working remotely. And of course, I’m a Campanda contributor, along with my husband Bryce.

Tips For Finding Remote Work As An RVer

Boondocking (and working) on fairgrounds in Kentucky.

Navigating the transition from traditional employment to remote work is different for everyone. However here are some of my top tips for people who are curious about the process.

- Start with a budget and decide how much money you need to make. If you’re traveling, research ways to offset your costs — offsetting costs should be part of your overall income strategy.

- Pick a date and try to work towards that as a goal, otherwise you may never leave your current employment.

- If you would prefer to keep your current job, approach your boss about a short-term experimental remote work period. Try a few days a month and slowly work up to a full-time remote role if possible. Prove to your company that a remote role will not negatively impact your contribution to the team.

- Do a skills assessment to see what job types you’re qualified for. Don’t get stuck on a work “identity” like computer coder as it will narrow your perception about what’s possible.

Put yourself out there. Tell people what you are good at, show that you’re willing to learn and offer to work on a trial basis. This works well for freelance roles.

Tips For Setting Up An RV Office

Bryce and I use our dinette as for work. It isn’t ideal, but it gets the job done!

Ideally you’d have a dedicated space in your RV for an office. But not all RVs will have that available. Some people have converted closets or even second bathrooms into offices. My husband and I use our dinette, which isn’t perfect but is totally workable. Additionally, the passenger seat offers a pull out surface that we use as a desk sometimes. Internet is a hot topic in the working RVer community. You’ll want to choose a main carrier and a backup carrier in case cell service is limited. In some cases even a cell booster comes in handy, especially if you need to upload or download documents. The bottom line is that you need to be prepared with plan A and B and even C — which sometimes might include hitting up a local Starbucks for Wi-Fi.

Resources For Finding Remote Work

I mentioned earlier that I network in Facebook Groups and have found jobs on Craigslist. But there are so many more great places to look for remote jobs. Here are a few websites to start your search:

Escapees | A total support network for RVers services including a job board for employers and job seekers of mobile and flexible work.
Facebook | The world’s preeminent social networking site allows users to make connections and share job opportunities and income ideas.
FlexJobs | An innovative, professional subscription-based job service to find telecommuting and part-time jobs and freelance work.
Indeed | The world’s top job search site with job opportunities aggregated from thousands of websites.
Upwork | Another innovative, professional subscription-based job service to find telecommuting and part-time jobs and freelance work.

For a more comprehensive list, check out this article on my blog.

Transitioning to remote work can feel intimidating at first, but it’s so rewarding in the end.

It’s important to remember that the journey to remote work isn’t always linear. It takes a bit of adjustment and adaptability as you try out different roles and options. If you keep an open mind, put yourself out there and are willing to learn new skills, then remote work is a real possibility and can enable you to live a more flexible lifestyle. Oh, and remember when I said that Bryce and I made a transition plan? We made that plan available to our More Than A Wheelin’ readers here.

Find out if the digital nomad life is right for you. Rent an RV on Campanda and give working remotely a trial run — or just have an amazing vacation!

Click Here To Rent An RV

Own an RV but only use it occasionally? It could be earning you money. Find out to turn your underused vehicle into a second income by renting it on Campanda:

Click Here To List Your RV

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Renting Your RV For A More Comfortable Retirement

Tom Sperner — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 14:48:15 +0000

It happens so often that it feels like a cliché: A couple retires, buys an RV with all the bells and whistles, makes grand plans to take their rig to the lake every other weekend (at least!) — and then spends the next few years lamenting that their RV spends most of its weekends in the driveway, depreciating in value with every second.

Underused RVs Cost Money

If your RV is sitting in the driveway or storage, it’s probably costing you money.

There are plenty of good reasons to buy an RV. If you’re reading this article, you probably don’t need to hear them. But what happens when real life gets in the way of your retirement fantasy? What happens when your motorhome or trailer spends more time in storage than it does on the road?

Depreciation, for one thing — the value of an RV starts plummeting the minute you drive it off the lot.

But depreciation doesn’t mean financing gets any cheaper. Unless you shelled out and paid for your rig in full, you’re probably making hefty monthly loan payments. When you can’t use your RV often, making regular loan and insurance payments can feel like a real injustice.

Finally, there’s the fact that like any other vehicle, an RV that sits idle for long periods of time costs more to repair.

Renting Your RV Is A Safe & Easy Source Of Income

But for all the extra costs, you can’t bring yourself to sell your vehicle. You may not make it to the lake every weekend, but you haven’t given up your Grand Canyon dreams just yet. Besides, the grandkids might want to go camping this summer instead of playing video games (we can all dream, right?).

Just because you can’t use your RV as often as you like doesn’t mean you want to give it up.

So why not rent your RV out? A few years ago this idea might have seemed totally crazy. But the rise of peer-to-peer rental marketplaces like Airbnb, Vrbo and Homeaway has taken some of the crazy out of renting your personal property to strangers.

Companies like Campanda have made the process simple, safe and surprisingly lucrative. RV owners can rent their underused vehicles out for hundreds of dollars a night, offsetting many of the costs of ownership.

And thanks to the way our online platform operates, owners have control over when and to whom they rent their vehicle. Essentially, you now have the option to operate your own small-scale RV rental business with the rig that’s been rusting in your driveway.

The income you earn from renting your RV can be used to make insurance or loan payments, cover maintenance costs or fund your next road trip. And yes, we offer comprehensive RV rental insurance and roadside assistance — because renting out your RV should be an easy way to earn money, not rack up pricey repairs.

Other Financial Reasons To Rent Your RV

There are less obvious financial benefits, too:

Renting your RV could put a smile on your face when tax season rolls around.

RVs that get regular “exercise” stay in better shape and generally cost less to repair. In some ways, renting out your vehicle out is sort of like hiring a dog walker for your luxury Class A — you can’t take her out as often as she needs, so you find someone you trust to do the work for you. The difference is that in the RV scenario, you are the one getting paid!

Tax season reveals some other surprising benefits to renting out your RV. You may actually be able to deduct expenses like depreciation, insurance, maintenance and repairs on your federal taxes. Read more about RV tax deductions here, and check with your accountant to find out where and how your RV can save you money on your taxes — the answers may surprise you!

RVing Is About Freedom

The money you earn could help fund your own next RV vacation!

Finally, RVing isn’t just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle. RVers value things like fresh air, fireside conversations with friends and family, and the freedom to travel wherever the road takes you.

The people who would rent your RV share these values but usually don’t have the space or desire to commit to full-time ownership (or they’re traveling from a far distance to visit a nearby national park, for example). If you can’t use your RV, why not share the joys of RVing with a fellow enthusiast who can? They’ll thank you for the memories — and you’ll put extra cash in your pocket!

RVing is about freedom. That’s why Campanda gives you the freedom to rent your motorhome, camper or trailer the way you want. Name your price, pick your dates and choose your renters — it’s your RV, after all!

Intrigued? Listing your RV is free and you never have to make a booking until you’re ready. Click the link below to find out more, or give us a call at (339) 707-7307 to talk to someone who cares about your experience.

Click Here To List Your RV

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RVing Will Make You More Creative

Tom Sperner — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 18:23:02 +0000

By Camille Attell

Have you ever wondered if you’re a creative person? Or perhaps you know you could be more creative if only you had more time. I think that everyone has a talent or two, but sometimes it’s hard enough to get everything done in a day, much less indulge in artistic projects.

Tomatoes at a farmers market in Florence, OR.

RVing can open you up to creativity in ways you’d never expect. If you’re itching to get your creative juices flowing, keep reading to learn why RVing might be the perfect solution.

(You don’t have to own an RV either — Campanda makes it easy to find and rent an RV in your area, so you can start flexing your creative muscles sooner!)

RVing Exposes You To New Things

RVing enables you to travel around and see the sights. Not only will you be exposed to new landscapes, but you’ll also be exposed to new food and even cultures.

For example, in Florence, Oregon we stumbled upon a farmers market along the boardwalk. There were the most beautiful fruits and vegetables I had ever seen — so bright and vibrant — I just had to buy a giant case of Sunburst Tomatoes. I don’t get to eat those very often, so it was a real treat.

Jemez Pueblo, NM

In New Mexico, we happened upon a holiday luminaria ceremony at the Jemez Pubelo and enjoyed an evening of singing and dancing in a traditional Pueblo drumming ceremony. It was a truly magical experience.

These experiences weren’t only enjoyable in the moment. Exposure to anything new and different opens you to new ways of thinking. You feel inspired to step outside your comfort zone and try something that might have scared you before. That is one way to experience creativity.

RVing Leads To Creative Thinking And Problem Solving

Bryce trying to fix bedroom slide.

Problem solving is another way to cultivate creativity. Let’s get real for a minute: RVing is amazing and rewarding and exciting — but things go wrong sometimes.

If you keep an open mind about it, you can navigate the challenges of the road and develop better problem solving skills. For example, you can read all about how we handled our bedroom slide issue in my article “Surprising Things You Learn From RVing.” What started as a frustrating problem ended up leading to memorable experiences.

Another good example of the surprising ways RV challenges can lead to creativity happened when we drove our RV from Texas to Arkansas, failed to make a camping reservation and ended up at a Walmart in Hugo, Oklahoma.

Normally camping overnight at a Walmart would be fine, but earlier that week we had lost our cat Bianca and I was so sad that I just needed a respite away from the hustle and bustle. I started looking online for nearby parks or land that was either free or inexpensive.

Hugo Lake, OK

Thankfully, I found the perfect location: Hugo Lake! With the sun setting, we hurried over and found the perfect spot with a wonderful view of the lake. Once settled, I wrote about losing Bianca. While it was painful to put my feelings to paper, it was also a creative assignment that brought me some relief.

Sometimes RVing can challenge you physically and emotionally, but it’s exactly these experiences that lead to creative thinking and problem solving.

RVing Allows You To Express Your Creativity

Getting out on the open road, being in nature and challenging yourself makes you more creative. Painting is something my husband had never done until RVing. The feature image is his acrylic painting of Moab, Utah. It’s not too shabby if you ask me!

My un-retouched photo of Sparks Lake, Oregon.

When I first started RVing, I wasn’t all that great with photography. Sure, I could snap a reasonable photo, but I didn’t understand my way around the manual settings. Being in nature and seeing such beautiful landscapes inspired me to learn how to take better photos. I wanted to share these scenes with family and friends, and learning how to use a camera helped me bring my journey to life for them.

This photo of Sparks Lake in Oregon was taken on the manual settings — about 20 minutes after sunset — and has not been retouched.

Meet Garvey, the RV Elf!

Another great creative outlet is daily journaling. Both my husband and I write almost everyday. We record things like what we did the day before or our thoughts about a place we’ve visited. Writing is a wonderful way to develop your creative muscle. This is an important muscle too, if you’re a blogger.

Over the holidays, I had the whimsical idea to write about Garvey The RV Elf, a frustrated elf who wanted to live a more creative life. You can read about Garvey here.

Street artist Banksy said: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

My most creative endeavor while RVing has been my found object art. I gather pieces of scrap that I find on the road, along with random parts in thrift stores, and recreate them into new forms. It’s a highly creative art form because I never know what I’m going to make and I build as I go. People tell me they are delightfully strange pieces. What do you think?

I never knew how creative I was until I started RVing. Being on the road, facing new challenges and trying new hobbies has transformed me in ways that hanging out at home never could.

If you feel like you have a creative itch that you’re dying to scratch, I encourage you to go RVing and explore your creative outlets.

Feeling inspired? Rent an RV on Campanda and get in touch with your creative side!

Click Here To Rent An RV

If your RV is sitting in your driveway, it could be earning you money (yes, really!). Click the link below to find out more about renting out your ri.

Click Here To List Your RV

The post RVing Will Make You More Creative appeared first on Campanda News.

How To Make Your RV Rental More Appealing To Couples

Tom Sperner — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:36:24 +0000

By Liz Wilcox

Woohoo! Your RV is officially listed on Campanda. Now it’s time to start thinking about your customers —who they are what their ideal RV rental looks like. Then you can make a few tweaks to ensure that your rig will stand out in a crowd.

Couples are one of the biggest and best groups of RV rental customers out there. Creating a listing that will appeal to couples will help make your RV rental business more profitable.

Check out the following tips to make your RV listing more appealing to couples:

1. Take LOTS of high-quality pictures.

This is my number one tip and absolutely essential to getting your RV rental business off the ground.

Having good pictures will automatically make your listing stand out against the rest.

What makes this a good photo? It’s well-lit, the RV is out in nature and the photographer has stepped back far enough that you can see the whole vehicle.

Good photographs require the right lighting, equipment and staging. Now, this doesn’t mean that you need a professional photographer or even a fancy camera. But you do need to use the best camera available to you. A fairly new cell phone can do the trick, but if you have a friend with a decent digital camera, that’s even better!

The first image on your listing should be an exterior shot of your RV. Nailing this photo is going to bring more people to your listing — and ultimately earn you more money.

Consider going the extra mile and setting your rig up in nature or at the local campground. This will help your potential renter really see themselves enjoying your RV rental like they would on their trip.

Here are some rookie photography tips for your RV:

Wider angles are more visually appealing. Step back from your RV until the whole vehicle fits in the frame.
Hold your camera horizontally rather than vertically (portrait mode).
Try taking a few pictures from low or high angles (not eye-level). This can make for a more unique picture and often helps a space seem larger.
Natural lighting from the sun looks best. When taking interior photos, avoid using your camera’s flash — it creates dark shadows and usually gives images a creepy vibe.
Clean your RV before taking photos! No one wants to see dirty socks or mops lying around.

Aim to take 20 photos using these tips. Then go through and pick the best 10 or so and you’re bound to have a more appealing listing.

2. Offer extra amenities.

Offering to include a bike rack (or even bikes if you have them) can be a big plus for active couples traveling too far to bring their own.

Sure, all RVs are exciting and interesting in their own special way. But if you want your unit to be irresistible to couples, consider sweetening the deal with a few inexpensive extras.

Many couples are renting an RV to get out in nature. They want to take an active vacation, which means they’ll be on the lookout for an RV that can accommodate their outdoor equipment.

Adding a bike rack to your RV is a great way to enhance your rig, but adding some beach cruisers or mountain bikes is even better! Boasting extra amenities is a great way to get more people booking your RV rental.

You could also consider kayaks, stand-up paddle boards or walking sticks depending on your location. The best part? You can offer these things as add-ons for an extra fee!

A cheap set of wine glasses is an easy way make your RV couple-friendly.

Even active couples are going to look forward to some lazy moments in your RV. You don’t need to go full-blown romantic, but make sure your rig is cozy: Add a nice area rug, a set of wine glasses and lots of pillows to make your listing appeal to couples.

You may also want to consider including a small outdoor grill in your listing and some outdoor games like Ladderball so that a couple can imagine themselves socializing with friends at the RV park.

3. Write a great description.

Once you’ve hooked a potential renter with a high-quality exterior photo, you’ve got to reel them in with a good description.

Highlight the features that are important to couples here. This is where you really answer the question: Why should a couple rent my RV?

Does your rig have a comfortable living room area? Picture all the ways a couple can use that feature: They can lounge around after a long hike. They could also invite friends over for dinner or for a comfy spot around the TV for the big game. Be sure to include this and other features in your description.

Highlight the best features of your RV. Is it super cozy? Can you watch the sunrise from bed? Point out special features in the description to attract more renters.

Above all else, your RV rental description should include a great opening sentence.

When couples are scrolling through the Campanda site, they will be able to see that first sentence without actually having to click on your listing. Make it a great one and people will be much more likely to click to learn more about your rig.

Just think of it this way: the job of the first sentence is to get someone to read the second sentence.

4. Consider allowing pets.

Lots of couples have furry companions. Consider allowing pets into your rig. It may seem scary at first, but it can greatly increase your visibility on the Campanda website and ultimately lead to higher profits!

Lots of people like RVing because it lets them travel with their pets instead of finding a sitter.

You can charge a small additional security deposit and cleaning fee for renters who want to bring their cat or dog along. And of course, feel free to ask your renters questions about the pet they plan to bring along to make sure they’re suitable for RV life.

Put “pet-friendly” in your description to make sure renters notice this amazing feature about your RV!

Couples are generally fantastic renters. And each year, more and more are discovering a love for RVing. Appealing to couples, young and old, is great way to make your RV rental business a successful one!

Now that you know how to make your RV more appealing to couples, why not spruce up your RV rental listing on Campanda?

Click the link below to start or continue your RV listing.

Click Here To Rent Your RV

Are you interested in renting an RV yourself? Find your perfect RV rental on Campanda:

Click Here To Find An RV Rental

The post How To Make Your RV Rental More Appealing To Couples appeared first on Campanda News.

Surprising Things You Learn From RVing

Tom Sperner — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:18:33 +0000

By Camille Attell

For much of my adult life, I lived in a traditional suburban home and worked in a standard office cubicle. I drove the same route to work every day, followed the same work routines, returned home, ate dinner and settled in for some TV watching. I went to a few weekend social outings and took the occasional vacation.

It was a pleasant life actually, and was relatively safe and secure. Were there any new life lessons? Not really. Was every day new and exciting? No. Did it need to be? Yes, ultimately it did.

After many years of “sameness” my husband and I decided to ditch the 9-to-5, the house and most of our belongings to hit the open road in an RV. You can read that full story here.

Things are quite different now. Every day is unique and often exciting (not always in a good way) and the life lessons we’ve learned on the road have been invaluable. Here are a few lessons we’ve learned from our life on the road.

Life Lesson 1: Go With The Flow

The thing about RVs is that they move. Unlike a traditional home, a house on wheels is meant to move (or at least you have the option). If you’re new to RVing, the “shake, rattle and roll,” might catch you off guard at first and make you a little nervous. When things move and shake, you learn to flow with them. Trust me it’s just easier.

My first test drive in an RV — even as a passenger — was frightening. It was a 30-foot Class A gas coach with a large glass window and what felt like an extra wide body. I think we took up all the lanes and created a line of cars on every turn. It takes some getting used to.

Me, trying to fix our bedroom slide.

Over time, that feeling gets easier, then normal and finally really enjoyable. You learn to go with the flow, and not only in regards to driving.

Things can break (like our bedroom slide in the photo), weather can change, and plans can fly out the window. No really, one of our itineraries literally flew out the window on the Loneliest Road in America in Nevada. While these things might be inconveniences, life is much easier when you approach it as all part of the experience.

Cry. Laugh. Then Laugh some more. Embrace the challenge, because these moments provide surprising opportunities if you keep your mind open.

Life Lesson 2: Be Resourceful

Being resourceful is the second lesson from life on the road. It’s connected to the first, in that going with the flow often creates a resourceful mindset.

The bedroom slide issue that I mentioned prevented us from accessing our clothes drawers. We had to wear the same clothes for days. Since our rig was at a dealer and we couldn’t leave town, I decided to look for a job on Craigslist and lucked out with a 1-hour gig that produced a crisp $100. You can read that full story here.

My ability to go with the flow allowed me to think of other ideas and ways to experience this journey.

Even the little things like finding inexpensive camping or grocery stores that carry your favorite foods require a bit of resourcefulness. These could either be annoyances or opportunities to develop new skills.

If you can stay open-minded, your confidence increases and your ability to deal with adversity becomes stronger. (You’re totally allowed to write “stays calm in stressful situations” on your resume, by the way.)

Life Lesson 3: Build And Maintain Relationships

The day is finally here! You get to go on your dream RV vacation or hit the open road for an extended trip and leave it all behind. But RVing, as wonderful as it is, can impact your relationships.

Here’s Liz Wilcox (another Campanda Ambassador) and I jumping for joy on top of Enchanted Rock in Texas.

While you’ll see beautiful sights and experience new places, the road can get lonely too. People sometimes talk about missing their family and friends. RVers say that finding a community on the road can be difficult when you’re always moving. Even in RV parks where RVers are everywhere doesn’t guarantee that relationships will be formed. For more information on how to build friendships on the road, click here.

Making friends might not be easy, but its well worth the effort. It’s one of the greatest joys as an RVer.

The road can change your relationship with yourself, too. Long stretches of highway give you time to think and reflect on things. Instead of pondering the past, maybe let your mind wander to the future — or better yet, to the present.

Open Road, Open Mind

I bet you thought that when you set off on your RV adventure it would be a light, fun trip to the river. Maybe that’s still true. But while an RV trip can be as simple as a visit to an awesome national park, it can also be as transformative as any other major life change. Be prepared for either scenario. And as long as you have an open mind on the open road, you’re sure to end up with your own list of life lessons.

Ready for your own RV adventure but don’t have a vehicle to call your own? Rent one on Campanda!

Click Here To Rent An RV

If you’re not using your RV right now, it could be earning you money. Click the link below to learn more about how listing your vehicle can help offset costs — and share the RV life with fellow enthusiasts.

Click Here To List Your RV

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12 Must-Have RV Cleaning, Storage & Maintenance Products

Tom Sperner — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 13:59:02 +0000

By Liz Wilcox Hot dogs, hikes and hammocks in the shade are some of my favorite things about RV camping. Cleaning, storage, and maintenance products … not so much. But those things are an essential part of staying safe and sane on an RV road trip. Here is a list of must-have products that I always keep in my rig.

RV Cleaning Products

1. Compact Vacuum

When we lived in our luxury 5th wheel, I hated having a large vacuum. There was never a “home” for it. Once we bought our smaller motorhome, I decided to trade in the traditional model for a handheld vacuum. I absolutely love it. It’s lightweight, easy to clean and, best of all, easy to put away. I just set it on my shower floor and voila! It’s out of sight, out of mind. When I need to charge it, I grab the charger from my hanging organizer and set it up on the bathroom counter. Again, it’s not in the way at all! If you really don’t want to go the handheld route, you can still get a full-size model. Just remember that you want it to be lightweight and skinny. If it is cordless, even better! This will make it easy to store and use in your RV.

2. Multi-Purpose Cleaner

No one likes to play Tetris with cleaning supplies. That’s why I recommend a multi-purpose cleaner onboard your RV. It will save you a ton of space and hassle. I make my own cleaner and keep it in a spray bottle. I put it under the kitchen sink so it’s easy to grab when cleaning the high-traffic areas in my rig. It’s important to remember that your RV is a small enclosed space and it can take hours for chemicals to leave the area. I found this out the hard way when I was scrubbing the outside of my toilet with regular bleach. I almost passed out before I realized I needed to go outside! Don’t be like me — look for cleaning products that are light on the chemicals and heavy on natural ingredients.

3. Air Fresheners

In an RV, things can get a little … stinky. Make sure to equip yourself with some type of air freshener, no matter how short your trip. Personally, I love to melt a wick-less candle throughout the day to give the camper a fresh smell as I go about my day. Whenever I finish cleaning, I spray an odor eliminator (think Febreze or OdoBan). It’s a great way to keep things fresh longer. And when the weather is nice, never underestimate the power of fresh air. Open the windows and doors of your camper and let it in.

4. Microfiber Cloths

Yesterday my husband came home with a new roll of microfiber cloths. He said a friend had given them to him. I yelled out “SCORE!” Yes, I was genuinely excited about a cleaning product. Here’s why: Little messes happen all the time in your camper, especially when you have a young child. Microfiber cloths are the perfect solution because they clean up spills quickly and efficiently. We keep a stack of them in the pantry where they are always easily accessible from any area of the RV. We have at least 20 in our rotation. I use them to clean up toddler messes, pet water spills and to wipe the stovetop clean. They are great because they absorb things very quickly and are usually the perfect size for small to medium messes. They’re also great for scrubbing away gooey messes that somehow always happen while camping. Lastly, they hold up really well wash after wash.

RV Storage Products

5. Plastic Containers

Plastic containers, large and small, are a smart way to make better use of the limited space in your RV. In our 32’ ft motorhome, I use small ones for my toddler’s closet and large ones in my RV shower to hold her books. My husband recently purchased a plastic container for his paperwork and has been very happy with the results. All his paperwork is now neatly organized and in one place. It’s been a great tax season for us!

6. Hanging Organizers

Buying one of these for our RV has been a game changer! I now have a nice and neat place to put all my towels where they don’t unfolded or messy after a day or two. The hanging organizer is also great for shoes. It gets them off the floor and makes them easily accessible. Our hanging organizer is kept on a rod in our RV shower, but there are plenty of other places that it could go. We previously had it on tension rods in our bathroom and I know a few friends put them in their wardrobes to create more closet space.

7. Command Hooks

If you own an RV, you really should invest in some command hooks. They can help you with just about any storage problem in the RV. Plus, they are simple to install and easy to get rid of when the job is done. For specific ideas on how to use these little RV miracles, check out this post on RV hacks.

RV Maintenance Products

8. Levelers

An off-kilter rig can cause more problems than you’d expect. Your refrigerator may malfunction and cause major damage, for example. Being unlevel can also cause your recreational vehicle to simply be unstable. While a little wiggling is normal in just about any RV, it can actually get bouncy if left uneven. Do yourself a favor and get some levelers. It will save your fridge and keep you from a crazy case of vertigo.

9. Disposable Gloves

You never know when things could go horribly wrong with your RV holding tanks. Even with proper care and maintenance, you’re going to want a nice pair of disposable gloves around. This is one “just in case” item I don’t mind having around, despite the small space.

10. WD-40

Nothing drives me crazier than squeaky cabinet doors. And the ones in my RV seem to get noisy often. I assume this is from the constant temperature changes I put my rig through. The wood swells and relaxes with each region I drive through. Keeping WD-40 on hand isn’t something on most other lists as a must-have, but it should be! Unless, of course you are a madwoman who likes the sound of squeaky doors.

11. Sealants

In the year and a half that we’ve been RVing, resealing our rig has saved us thousands of dollars. Some people use silicone. Some people use EternaBond. We used both when renovating our RV and repairing water damage. Use a sealant anywhere in your RV where you need a watertight coating, including your roof and windows. It’s important to check these places a few times a year to ensure proper sealing throughout your camper. Water damage can cost a lot of time and money — at its worst, it can cost you a whole new RV. No matter what brand you use, make sure a sealant is part of your regular maintenance.

12. Small Toolkit

Your RV is a recreational vehicle. And vehicles need regular maintenance. Always keep tools on board to ensure that things run smoothly. There are certain things you should do before you put your rig in drive. A checklist can help; here’s a shortlist of things to check before any journey:

Brakes
Tire pressure
Lug nuts
Battery

Having a small toolkit will come in handy more often than you’d think. My husband uses his at least once a day. He loves being able to fix things himself and having the small kit on deck saves us a lot of money in maintenance costs each year.

So there you have it! A must-have list of cleaning, storage and maintenance products for your RV. Having these things on board will make your RV camping trip stress-free so you can focus on the important things — like roasting hot dogs, hiking, and laying in your hammock!

Does your RV have all these things? Don’t forget to mention them when you list your RV for rent on Campanda!

Click Here To List Your RV

Just doing a bit of research before renting an RV for your next vacation? Once you find a vehicle you like on Campanda, message the RV owner to ask about what cleaning products are included in the rental price so you can keep their vehicle clean and tidy.

Click Here To Rent An RV

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Top 5 RV Campouts, Convergences & Rallies To Attend This Year

Tom Sperner — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 18:04:04 +0000

By Camille Attell RVing is a great way to travel to remote places, far away from the crowds and the bustle of everyday life. But what if you want to experience RV travel and still be with friends? Does it always have to be about being alone or with your family in nature? No, it doesn’t! In fact, one of the the best ways to experience RVing is to attend an RV event. Many people love traveling with others and like to attend events where they can reconnect with old friends and create new relationships. (You can read all about making friends on the road here.) Here are some great RV events to consider adding to your travel calendar:

Escapade Rally | May – June, 2018

The Escapees RV club has been serving the needs of the RV community since 1978. They offer resources and information about all things RVing. In addition to the wonderful services they provide, they also host events. The 58th annual Escapade rally is a week-long event filled with activities, education and fun hosted by the Escapees RV club. There you can socialize, attend learning sessions and even go to RV “bootcamp” where you can learn everything you need to know about RVing. With over 80 seminars, classes and workshops, you will be fully prepared to hit the open road with confidence. This year they have partnered with an organization called Fulltime Families to offer the “Kidscapade” — so the kiddos can have fun and learn about RVing while you get to attend workshops and socialize with the adults. (Check out Escapees.com for more information.)

Xscapers Convergences | Multiple Events Throughout The Year

Xscapers is a community within Escapees that caters to RVers who love an active lifestyle. Many of them work from their rigs too! They host convergences throughout the year and kick things off every January at the “Annual Bash”. It’s a free event (if you’re an Escapees member) where everyone boondocks — there are no hookups like electric, water or sewer. In addition to all the social events, hiking and day trips, you can also attend learning sessions with topics ranging from boondocking to renovating your RV. I actually stumbled on the Xscapers Annual Bash by accident. I was scrolling through the Escapees.com website looking up information when I saw a post for an upcoming event. Luckily, my husband and I had already planned to be near the area and decided to modify our plans to attend. This was our very first event, and it was a game changer for us. We met so many like-minded people and made wonderful connections that will last a lifetime.

IndieRV Campout | September 6 – 9, 2018

There is a new kid on the RV rally/campout scene. IndieRV is a community based on the simple desire to travel and explore. IndieRV compiles all the best places to go and coolest things to see. It also provides bucket lists, itineraries and adventure guides for its members — so you can spend more time traveling and less time trip planning! IndieRV is having its first Campout in Hershey, Pennsylvania this September. This event will be a mix of potlucks, sightseeing and tours at Hershey’s Chocolate World. The event costs $10 per person and is just one of the many campouts, meet-ups and retreats that IndieRV plans to host each year.

Fulltime Families | Multiple Events Throughout The Year

Fulltime Families caters to families living, working and/or schooling from the road. I have never attended a Fulltime Families event, but felt it was worth sharing because I have heard great things and I think it’s a wonderful resource for families. And you don’t have to be a fulltime RVer to attend — so as long as love RVing, you are welcome! To get more information about Fulltime Families, I reached out to fellow RVer Michelle Abraham. Here’s what she said: “We Rallied for [four] days with 40 other families adding up to be about 100 kids in attendance! Each day was jam-packed with kids activities, business learning, RV lifestyle sharing, a talent show, scavenger hunt, kid’s market, home tours, service projects, potlucks and campfires. Some families came a few days or a week before the Rally and some rallied on for a month after! It was a truly memorable welcoming into a new community and road family. We look forward to attending another one soon and have met some of our closest friends at this event.”

Full-Time Freedom Week | November 2018

Not all RV events have to be in person. There are some really great online events where you can learn and connect with other people.

The ladies of Full-Time Freedom week. From left: Lindsay McKenzie, Julie Chickery, Camille Attell (me), Liz Wilcox.
(Photo Credit: Joe Hendricks)

Full-Time Freedom Week is a week-long event featuring expert RVers sharing their wealth of RV knowledge. You can learn everything from what to look for when you buy an RV to tips for traveling with a family, solo RVing, Workamping opportunities and more. At this free event, you can interact online with speakers and other RV enthusiasts. I was one of the organizers and speakers at the event last year. I made some awesome new connections and learned a lot too!

RV Entrepreneur Summit | February 2019

This event is quite unique: It’s a specialized event that caters to people who work and build businesses from their RVs. It’s hosted by married entrepreneurs Heath and Alyssa Padgett.

Here are some RV friends. That’s me on the far right.
Photo credit: Joe Hendricks

You can attend presentations, workshops and attendee-led meet-ups. You can also collaborate with others in a coworking space, hang out in hammocks and eat some awesome BBQ! I have attended the Summit twice and this year was I invited to facilitate an attendee-led meetup with some RV colleagues about how to turn your blog into a business.

RV Events Are Everywhere!

The nature of RVing means that you are moving around a lot. That itinerant lifestyle is great fun, but it can make it hard to build and maintain relationships. I have met more friends at these events than any other type of RV experience. Hopefully I’ve introduced you to some RV events that you want to check out yourself. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Feeling inspired? Rent an RV on Campanda to join the fun! Click the link below to check out the selection near you:

Click Here To Rent An RV

Sad to see your own RV sitting in the driveway? Rent it out when you can’t use it and share the RV life (you’ll earn money, too)!

Click Here To List Your RV

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RV Checklists: 6 Printable Packing Lists

Tom Sperner — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 16:05:17 +0000

If you’re the type of person who always thinks “I know I’m forgetting something” when you leave the house, then you need (yes, need) a good checklist to help you pack for your RV trip. Because trust us, there’s nothing like arriving at camp and realizing you forgot the s’mores materials — or worse, disposable gloves for the dumping station! — to put a damper on your RV vacation. Luckily for you, we made some handy printable checklists to help you prepare for your next RV rental or family vacation. Click on the links below to download and print them at home. Happy travels!

RV Maintenance & Safety Checklist
RV Camping Essentials Checklist
RV Kitchen Checklist
RV Grocery Checklist
RV Bed & Bath Checklist
Make Your Own RV Checklist
Download All RV Checklists

RV Maintenance & Safety Checklist

Download RV Maintenance & Safety Checklist

RV Camping Essentials Checklist

Download RV Camping Essentials Checklist

RV Kitchen Checklist

Download RV Kitchen Checklist

RV Grocery Checklist

Download RV Grocery Checklist

RV Bed & Bath Checklist

Download RV Bed & Bath Checklist

Make Your Own RV Checklist

Download Blank RV Checklist

All RV Checklists

Click the links below to download PDFs of all Campanda’s RV checklists!

RV owners: You could be earning money from the RV in your driveway. Name your price, choose your renters and set your own schedule with Campanda. (Pro tip: Many renters don’t travel their own kitchen utensils, RV toilet paper or comforters. You can offer these items as add-ons to your RV for extra money — it’s a win-win!)

Click Here To List Your RV

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