Hello Campers,

Fall and Winter camping isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a camping enthusiast with the proper equipment you may want to give it a try.  My first winter camping experience was just over thirty years ago.  The ground was hard, and the trails were icy, but my friends and I still managed to have an amazing time.  We didn’t have access to the state-of-the-art equipment available today.  In fact, we camped in tents without floors and our beds consisted of fallen leaves and a heavy tarp for ground cover.  A good sleeping bag, wool socks and layers of insulated clothing were necessities of survival.  Most importantly, we all made sure we kept the campfire burning.

I still have vivid memories of one of the new guys as he carried two cast iron Dutch ovens up the icy trails behind us.  The occasional bang and rolling clatter were enough to assure us he was still there.  Our backpacks were filled with all we would need to enjoy a cold winter weekend away with friends.  We’d clear our site, set the tents and hunker down for the weekend to enjoy the peacefulness of nature and the comradery of our camping family of friends.

Today modern recreational vehicles have expanded our camping seasons and allowed for a comfortable retreat from cold winter winds.  Polar packages with ducted heated underbellies, heavy insulation and even fireplaces have become common place.  If you love camping and have the equipment it’s time to find a few year-round campgrounds to enjoy.  Some members of my Camp New England Facebook group have recommended Aces High RV Park (CT), Peppermint Park Camping Resort (MA), Green Mountain Family Campground (VT) and Ammonoosuc Campground (NH).  Let me know about your favorite year-round spots as well as your own camping experiences.  I’d love to hear from you.

Remember, we are only limited by what we think is impossible.

Happy Camping!

Ron Ash aka MY RV GUY

Hello Campers!

Years ago a friend told me a story about their family tradition of cutting off the corner of their holiday ham. This tradition spanned generations.  One day a child asked, “Why do we always cut the corner off the ham before we put it in the oven?”  Grandpa had no answer, so they decided to ask Grandma.  She sat the child down by her side and said, “You see, when I was little my mom cut the corner off the ham because our oven was too small.”  Imagine, for decades they followed tradition without knowing why.

I’ve spoken with hundreds of RV shoppers during my time at Flagg RV.  With every visit I told my customers Flagg RV has no hidden charges and I rattle off what our already low price includes, but I never thought to explain what dealer RV prep is. It just became tradition.  That was until a customer explained how the underbelly of their trailer was flooded on their first adventure because of a leak in their plumbing.  For some reason their RV prep and cleaning wasn’t completed and their RV was ruined. That’s when I realized the reason behind our tradition.

Dealer RV Prep is probably the most important service a dealership completes on a customer’s RV.  You see, when an RV leaves the factory it is hitched up to a truck and driven to the dealer hundreds of miles away.  The factory counts on the dealer to do a thorough systems check to make sure every customer takes delivery of a safe and reliable RV.  Gas lines and plumbing are checked for leaks, appliances are tested and electrical systems are inspected.  Proper dealer RV prep can take many hours if no problem exists, but if there is an issue with any major component it could take weeks.  The RV factories and RV wholesalers are not responsible to conduct these types of systems tests.  It’s up to the buyer to do so at their own expense.  This often amounts to thousands of dollars above the cost of the RV if they didn’t purchase from a reputable local dealership.  So, if you decide to purchase from a wholesaler or private party, make sure you schedule a pre purchase inspection. The health of your family and your RV will depend on it.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

Happy camping!

Ron Ash aka My RV Guy