"Enjoy the RV Lifestyle"

Service Across Canada

Vellner Leisure Products is a founding member of a national organization that assures you of Vellner's quality service while you're on the road and away from home.  It's called RV Care Network Canada.

When you buy your RV from us, you're automatically a member of the RV Care Network.  From coast to coast, at 43 dealerships, the network provides you with a "safe haven" where you'll be welcomed and treated like part of the family.
Network dealerships adhere to strict standards of ethical conduct and service standards.  Each will assist you with whatever service requirements you may have including warranty repair.

You will further benefit from the collective buying power of this national organization which allows us to negotiate volume discounts on numerous products and services and pass these savings on to you, our RV Care member customers.

To learn more, visit RV Care on-line at: www.rvcare.ca

Tow-able Choices: Travel Trailer vs Fifth Wheel
By Jerry (Riverguy) Brown 

Presumably you are here because you have decided that a tow-able RV makes sense for your travel style and budget. Leaving aside pop-up camper, which aren’t really in the same class, your choices are travel trailer (TT) and fifth wheel trailer (5W). As with other decisions in the RV spectrum, there is no single right answer. Both have their strong points and drawbacks. Think about your needs in relation to these pros and cons and the choice will be easier. And if you haven’t already done so, it’s a good idea to visit one or two dealers and tour a few coaches of each type. This will help you rank some of the less tangible differences in these RVs.
 
The major difference between these trailer types is the hitch: The TT is hitched to the rear bumper of the tow vehicle (TV) using a ball and coupler hitch while the 5W uses a truck bed mounted pin and jaw hitch. As such, the TT is constructed on a single level frame, whereas the forward section of the 5W is elevated resulting in a split level floor plan that extends over the rear of the tow vehicle. In most cases the 5W is somewhat more expensive than a TT with similar features and options, but it will have more living area and substantially greater storage space.
 
Advantages of the TT

· Tow vehicle flexibility: Van and SUV tow vehicles provide more passenger space and truck beds are available for additional hauling.
· Lighter weight which may result in improved fuel mileage and requires less power from the tow vehicle.
· Lower roofline means less risk of snagging overhead obstructions.
· Some people, especially those with disabilities, may find the single level floor plan more to their liking. Also, the TT is typically lower to the
  ground.
 
 Advantages of the 5W

· Overall tow vehicle plus trailer length is less for equivalent floor space, providing for better maneuverability.
· More stable towing, though load balancing TT hitches can reduce this advantage.
· Easier to hitch and unhitch, especially by a single individual.
· Usually have larger fresh and waste water storage capacity which can extend dry camping stays. Additional storage space for extra batteries
  can also help in that regard.
· Added ceiling height gives a more spacious feeling and provides additional overhead cabinet space.

Because of the different pivot points of their hitches, these trailer types differ somewhat in how they handle when backing up. However, most people find that with practice they can become proficient with either.

6 rules for traveling in tight quarters
By Larry Johnston
 
The Johnstons just completed another three-month motor home journey. Three months is a long time to be on the road with someone else in a vehicle not much larger than a Wal-Mart dressing room.

To avoid a blowout, you must exercise restraint, understanding and diplomacy around your traveling companion.

For anyone ever tempted to travel small, let me share with you what I learned. You also can apply these guidelines to cruise ships, extended car rides or even being on the same continent with certain odious people.

Rule 1:
Happiness in small spaces is not so much traveling with the right person as being the right person. Take the following request: "I wish you would take your feet off the coffee table." What do you do? At home where there is room to run or space enough for the grumbled whisper to be unheard, you could do most anything.

In confined places, if you want to survive the trip, what you do is remove your feet and say, "Sorry." Eventually, your travel mate will take the hint and do the same when he or she commits one of the thousand offenses you find intolerable.

Rule 2:
Remember women are indirect. "Is it hot in here?" is not a rhetorical question. There are no proper verbal responses. Take the question as a directive to stand up and turn on the air conditioner.

Men, on the other hand, are direct but do not always use verbs. Men say, "Hungry!" This is a woman's signal to either throw food at him or avoid the path to the refrigerator.

Rule 3:
Temperature control. Men and women have their body thermostats set differently. Whatever temperature one perceives as cold, the other will find positively blistering. There is only remedy. Dress in layers, carry mittens and set the climate control opposite to what you think it should be.

Rule 4:
Remember, not everyone communicates directions using the same terminology. Some people turn right; others go south. To learn whether you can follow each other's directions, play a game of hide and seek while still at home. One of you should find a place to meet for lunch or dinner and give directions to it without using the name or address.

If you need cell phones to find each other, you will stay hopelessly lost in strange cities. Improve your directional skills before you go.

Rule 5:
Offer to do something your traveling companion has always wanted to do, even if it was the last thing you wanted to do in a thousand years. The trick is to do it without grimace, groan, twitch or vacant expression.

Rule 6:
Do not change any song your companion has selected. This is likely to be the song they could listen to on an endless loop for the rest of their life. Even if the hated song reminds you of a former spouse or fingernails on a chalkboard, just sit and listen. It is less painful to debate religion than explain to someone why you don't like a song.

So there you have a list of the six most important small-space travel rules.

Being so close means your partner can feel what you are thinking. This can be dangerous.

To avoid detection of an unkind thought, your only remedy is to hop outside to get some distance between the two of you.

I did this once. Unfortunately, we were going 70 mph. Still, it was less painful than an argument.

Buying an RV: A Dozen Features that are Nice to Have

RVs are a personal thing. Some people like the versatility of a lightweight trailer while others wouldn’t be caught dead in anything less than a forty-five foot bus conversion. In any case, there are a few features and characteristics that are nice to have in any RV. Some are usually only feasible in larger motorhomes or fifth wheels while others are viable in any RV. Keep these in mind when you’re purchasing an RV or planning your next remodeling project.

1)  Easy to Maintain Floors
Regardless of the type of flooring you prefer – the key is maintainability. If the floors in your RV are hard to keep clean and difficult to maintain, you’ve got the wrong flooring. For ease of maintenance, look into vinyl tile, linoleum, or plastic-laminate wood. For a good compromise, consider carpeting in the living room area and tile (or linoleum) in the kitchen and bathroom areas. In heavy traffic areas, use a carpet or vinyl runner for extra protection.

2)  A Re-Configurable Dining Area
Removing a fixed dinette and replacing it with a free-standing set of table and chairs is one of the most commonly performed remodeling projects. Unfortunately, some manufacturers make this task a great deal harder than it should be. Nevertheless, it’s still worth the effort for those that want the flexibility and the breathing room that this particular arrangement offers.

3)  An Island Style Bed
An ‘island style bed’ is not an exotic bed that’s designed by indigenous islanders for ritualistic purposes. Instead, it’s merely a bed that can be accessed from three sides. Beds that have two sides against a wall can be a real challenge when changing the sheets. Furthermore, when two people are sleeping in the bed, the person against the wall not only has less breathing room – they also have to find some way to get up without climbing over their partner.

4)  A Flip-up Kitchen Counter Extension
RV kitchen are frequently short on useful workspace. A large flip-up countertop extension can provide badly needed surface area whenever you need it. You can make your own using plywood and hardware from your RV dealer.

5)  An Adjustable Television Set
Most RVs come with televisions that are mounted inside a cabinet. As a result, people have to twist their bodies, turn sideways, or move their chairs to get a good view (assuming their chair even moves). It makes a lot more sense to have a television that can be configured for the viewer. A good alternative is a flat-screen television attached to a flexible TV mount that can be extended, rotated, and tilted in all directions. You can find them in good appliance stores or on the Internet.

6)  Flexible Wardrobes
When it comes to closets and wardrobes, most RV manufacturers throw in a closet, install a closet rod, and call it good. That works great if everything you own can be hung on a coat hanger. However, with some adjustable shelving and a few bins, wardrobes and closets can be easily configured to meet the storage needs of everything and everyone.

7)  A Dedicated Workspace
Most RV manufacturers haven’t yet addressed the fact that RVers need a dedicated place to work. A few RVs have token desks but they frequently don’t offer enough surface area for serious use. Moreover, many of these desks are located in the bedroom rendering them useless for those that work after hours. Genuine work areas should have enough surface area for a laptop computer as well as a printer. They should also have enough space for a real office chair with wheels.

8)  Separate Vanity and Toilet
When a bathroom vanity is in the same room as the toilet, both fixtures are tied up when either one is being used. When they’re separate, one person can brush their teeth while the other uses the toilet. This may sound trivial but in a one-bathroom ‘house’, issues like this can make a big difference.

9)  Well-designed Food Pantries
The best RV kitchens have pull-out food pantries that are specifically designed for canned goods, spices, and other commonly stored items. Look for adjustable, display-style shelves that are removable for easy cleaning.

10)  An Accessible Bathroom
Some RVs have ‘private’ bathrooms that are located in the rear of the bedroom. The concept is similar to the master bedroom that is often found in houses. However, in a real house, there is usually more than one bathroom. In an RV, this design means that everyone has to parade through your bedroom to use the toilet. Not always a good idea.

11)  Real Doors
Privacy is no less important simply because you’re staying in an RV. Accordingly, bathroom and bedroom doors should be solid and capable of being locked. Likewise, in toy haulers, there should be a solid door separating the living quarters from the ‘garage’ to keep fumes out of the living quarters.

12)  Lots of Windows
RVs are largely about experiencing the great outdoors. Windows help to bring the outside in. They also make an RV seem brighter, bigger, and more cheerful. Many RVers routinely install extra windows in their RV. Ask your dealer for a list of companies that sell RV windows.

Enough with all that interview with a Vampire stuff! We want a real interview with someone interesting... And non-fiction!

Here at Vellners we are lucky enough to have one of our very own sales team members be an experienced snowbird. Lenore Bachand has been making her way south with her husband on-and-off for the last ten years, she has been kind enough to share some of her south traveling wisdom with us!

What made you and your husband decide to start heading south for the winter?

We don’t leave for the whole winter yet, we usually leave for 1-3 months at a time, but we love the sun and the heat.  It’s so nice to just get away from the cold weather; another bonus is that we don’t have to shovel snow!

Where is your favorite place that you’ve stayed so far?

We love Mazatlan, Mexico! Our second favorite place is south of Lake Havasu City, right along the Colorado River.

What time of year do you like to leave?

We leave in February; a lot of other snowbirds leave right after Christmas, or even as early as October or November. Our situation is a bit different as my husband and I are both still working.

How much time do you spend preparing before you go?

We don’t have to spend a lot of time preparing; our rig is usually all ready to go except for food and water. It is very convenient to pack our bags and hit the road.

What are the most important preparations you do before leaving?

We make sure that our RV is in tip-top shape for the road. There is nothing worse than finding out you have problems after you’ve already left home.

Do you have any tips for people who are getting ready to head south for the first time?

If you are leaving in the winter, check the weather to make sure there aren’t any storms, if there is wait and leave when the weather is good.

Is there anything you’d like to share about what its like crossing the border as a snowbird?

Make sure your passports are up to date, I always check ahead at the border to make sure that we don’t have anything that we cannot take across the border. They are very particular about certain fruits and veggies.

Do you stay in one place, or do you prefer to travel around when your south?

We have done a lot of traveling around – now we prefer to settle in one spot, but that could change. That’s the wonderful thing about the RV lifestyle it’s so flexible.

What’s it like living in such close quarters with your husband, and what do you do to adapt?

When you love your husband and your RV it’s no problem, when you are south we’ve found that we’ve spent most of our time outside, we didn’t get away from the cold weather to spend all our time inside.

Do you have pets that you bring along with you?

We do not, but most parks are pet friendly and welcome your furry friends as part of your family. Pets do need certain paper work to cross the border just like we do.

Thanks again to Lenore for sharing her valuable experience. We hope this will help you when you planning your first trip, or your next trip south. Safe travels.