A fake fireplace in your RV? Our readers tell all.

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Last week, in our RV Daily Tips newsletter, we published a story by Jim Twamley regarding "fake fireplaces" in RVs. Our resident sage opined in his story that, "These are really nice for atmosphere and they actually give off heat." He also noted that they, "Take up space that could be used for storage, and most folks don't use them much." We included a request for comments from readers, thinking we might get a letter or two.

 How wrong could we ever have been.

Within minutes of the newsletter "hitting the streets," e-mail accounts associated with rvtravel.com started popping with commentaries from RVers who have 'faux fireplaces,' and many of the comments were as hot as the heat that comes out of them. We don't have enough space to print all of your comments, but we'd like to share a sampling that we think represents a fair perspective of our readers.
First, a hat tip to the critics. Tom Gutzke writes about his fifth-wheel that came with a fireplace. "It didn't put out very much heat [it was electric] and was, we feel, useless for heat while drawing a lot of electricity.  It did 'dress up' the interior of the RV and added a feeling of warmth. Unfortunately that "feeling of warmth" didn't actually warm us."

 Another reader, Ralph K. Bowen, said there's something he'd rather see in a trailer than a showy fireplace. "I would much rather see the manufacturers put the money into upgraded "G" rated tires instead of the marginal "E" tires most use now. The least they could do is put the "G" tires on their luxury fifth wheels." A couple of others wrote in with similar thinking – suggesting a far more efficient way to get heat would be a good catalytic propane heater.

But while the critics did write, the thunder came from the other side of the street. Typical of the majority of comments were these from Harlan Schafer. "I would absolutely never consider buying another RV WITHOUT a fireplace. We've had two rigs with one. On cool days and cool mornings we use ours daily in our 36ft. 5th wheel and most of the time it is our sole source of heat. It is electric and we are already paying for electricity in most campgrounds so why not? It puts out a considerable amount of heat and has a thermostat if you don't want so much."

Even those who tended to be a bit faux-shy at first rang in with a change of heart. Here's Tom Hudson's view: "When we bought our latest RV, it came with a fireplace. I really thought it was a gimmick. Thought we would rarely use it. Boy was I wrong! We like to camp during the fringe seasons. Keeps fifth wheel toasty in all but coldest weather. As long as we have hookup, it's the best way to go." 

And what about taking up too much space? Says Wendy Wolter, "Our RV did not come with a fireplace, however it did have a pretty useless very skinny cabinet under the TV, this seems to be the place that the dealers install the ‘fake’ fireplaces.  This being said, we decided to install one ourselves, since when you get one from the factory they are quite pricey. We installed ours for under $200 and absolutely love it!! It does put out some heat, it is electric and we figure when we are plugged in at a park that we’re already covered on the electric part . . . That skinny cabinet, was the perfect spot for ours and we really didn’t use it for much storage anyway."

 Other readers had their own "plusses" to add to having a fireplace. Mike Weber chimes in with this thought: "It's not a substitute for an out-door campire, but it's not nearly as affected by a downpour either!" And Jeannine Demers who professes to be, "deadly scared of gas" finds a fireplace to be a safe heater for her use. Finally, Charles Howard describes his RV fireplace, "A nice 'brag' to our non-Rving friends who think we live in a tent."

 As if we needed any more weight on this argument, along comes S. Douglass, who put the question to an RV forum. "Would you want a dishwasher again? A fireplace? Or would you rather have the storage space." As you might guess, the results were rather lopsided. Fireplace: Yes, 39; No 7.  Diswasher: Yes 31, No, 12.

 And just to keep all of this above-board, yes, we too, have had a fireplace in one of our rigs. After all this chatter, we'll answer the same way that some cagey political candidates answer the question, "Did you vote for President Obama?" No comment!

Leave plenty of space in front of your RV? A long-hauler's thinking

Responding to another rvtravel.com reader's plea to RVers to leave plenty of space between their rig and the one ahead of them on the highway, John Rose shared his thoughts.

"Even though I agree with the statement 100%, there are the ‘idiots’ who will try and pass you and pull in front of you even if you leave no space at all.

kyz on flickr.com

"I was an over-the-road (country-wide) tractor trailer (TT) driver for over 35 years (no accidents, either) and have seen all the things that happen, and believe me, there are people who have to get wherever they're going three seconds earlier or their whole day is ruined. I hauled over-sized boats from Miami to British Columbia, and you would not believe some of the things people do, just so they do not have to follow anyone.

"Just for example, one fellow came off an on-ramp and sped up so he wouldn’t have to be behind my oversized load, and side-swiped my lead car because his lane ran out. Georgia has it right with their law and heavy fines for pulling in front of TT’s and other vehicles and not leaving enough safe distance for the vehicle to stop.

"Thank you for letting me get this off my mind."

And thank you, John, for sharing your mind with us.

What's the best way to set up oxygen therapy equipment in an RV?

We recently received the following inquiry from Freda K. Do any of you have suggestions which can help her and others requiring oxygen therapy travel easier and safer in their RVs with their equipment?

Dear RV Travel, 
 
I think as our RVing membership ages, more and more folks need supplemental oxygen to maintain a quality lifestyle. But trying to find good information on how the adventurous manage concentrators and oxygen tanks is very limited, especially for those requiring more O2 than the nice little portable concentrators can provide. Information on how to set up an RV for traveling with O2 is just not out there -- like where and how to secure the equipment, including a large concentrator, oxygen tanks for use while driving, a liquid oxygen tank and spare tanks. I am sure if more people knew how to travel in an RV with their oxygen, theirs lives would improve greatly. 

Thank you,
Freda K.

CPAP users don't need to buy an expensive generator

Dear RV Travel: 

I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP breathing device when sleeping.  I am planning a coast-to-coast trip soon and thought that I would need a generator when having to sleep overnight at a Walmart, etc.  So I thought I would need an expensive generator and have to carry a container of gas and worry that someone would steal the generator, etc.  

Then I got the idea that I could use the receptacle in my truck, which has its own inverter -- Wrong! The truck would have to be running all night as the inverter only works for about 13 minutes when the engine is turned off.  (Every winter I remove my deep cycle battery from my fifth wheel and store it inside.)

This past weekend I decided to purchase an inverter from Harbor Freight on sale for about 30 bucks and change. I got the 750-watt minimum capacity and hooked it up to my battery. I then plugged my CPAP into the inverter and let it run -- not eight but 10 hours, as I figured that I may end up going to sleep early and then get an early start the next morning. The results were great! It was still working even after 10 hours. 

I charged the battery with my battery charger after use, which is what I would normally do at our next stop in an RV park so the battery would be ready for the next emergency boondocking. I will simply purchase another deep cycle battery and keep it charged for the CPAP, or if I need it for the RV. The battery, charger and inverter take up less valuable space and weight than a generator and will ultimately cost less to buy and use.  

Happy camping from John F. in York, Pa.

Part 1 - Readers' suggestions for Editor Chuck's RV storage dilemma

In the RV Travel Newsletter Issue 619, Editor Chuck asked for help with his RV storage dilemma. Below are suggestions from our readers (some of whom are looking for ideas for their own storage dilemmas):

Storing the RV at a storage facility

Russ has lots of useful suggestions: Try to find someplace close by, in a good neighborhood, which provides access at hours you need, with a reliable security system, and on a smooth paved lot. Check with the local police department for theft reports in the area. It would be good to find a storage facility with a dump station, a wash station and some sort of electrical hookup, if possible. Also, a covered storage facility would be good; but, otherwise, see if you can have a cover built, or have the facility build it, for a higher-than-normal rental rate—which would be good for their profitability in the long run. Finding a place that would not mind if you did some minor work on the vehicle while it was stored there would also be helpful.

C. E. Lane, in N.H., writes: “I, too, live in a condo where having an RV on the grounds is against the By-Laws. For three years I did store it at a friend's house, along with their rig, but think they got tired of having it there. So, now I pay $55 a month to store it outside at a self storage place. The downside being that I have to leave my car there when I pick up my motorhome for a trip. If you can find someone who will let you store it on their property, go for it! I'm currently looking around my neighborhood to see if someone has an area that would be good, that I could walk to. Then I will offer to pay them around $40 a month and see if they would go for it :-). Good Luck!”

Jerry Skidmore, in Ky., says: “We have a facility here called Kentucky Underground Storage. It is an old limestone quarry that went out of business several years ago. New owners have converted the massive underground ‘rooms’ into storage space. Temperature stays at a constant 55 degrees all winter and facility is highly secured.” That would be nice, but I don’t think we have anyplace in the Northwest like that.

Devon McCarroll, in the Pacific Northwest, says she and her husband have found that covered storage in the Northwest is pretty rare. After being on a wait-list for a year-and-a-half at a facility, they finally got a carport-style covered spot. She says, “There are a few carport-style storage areas at some of the local storage facilities, but they’re often full or too far away.” She then suggests starting a storage place with a few investors because there’s obviously a high demand for it, and believes “if you started a place that specialized in RV/boat covered storage, you’d fill it up in a New York second and still have a wait list!”

David Daugherty, in central Ind., found a large climate-controlled storage bay for about $450 per month, and is happy that it’s not outdoor. He also mentioned that in California they saw a place that had indoor “group” storage.

Arthur Jacobson, in Texas, is happy with their motorhome storage space: it is in a covered spot and only five minutes from their house. He likes to “go over to the motorhome, open it up and just sit inside to read, very quietly.” He can even run the generator, as the exhaust is toward the open back end of the building.

Kirk Merrill, in Federal Way, Wash., also is happy with his storage space for his fifth wheel. It is in “a safe, secure storage facility that offers both covered and uncovered spaces 15 minutes from my home. Our RV is under cover and plugged in to power, ready to go with minimal preparation.”

Steven Jenkins, from Fla., has researched where to put a motorhome when he gets one. The best solution he could find was rental spaces. A warehouse-like storage area that is enclosed from the weather is rather costly, and the open-air rental spaces cost less but are more prone to break-ins. So, he might find another place to live with more land.

Dick, from the Northeast U.S., also suggests renting space at a self-storage place, adding that they are not very expensive and provide good security.

Part 2 - Readers' suggestions for Editor Chuck's RV storage dilemma

In the RV Travel Newsletter Issue 619, Editor Chuck asked for help with his RV storage dilemma. Below are suggestions from our readers (some of whom are looking for ideas for their own storage dilemmas):

Storing your RV on someone’s property

Bill McMullen, from Fla., suggests renting space from someone who has acreage. He rents space from someone with 20 acres, five miles from his home. It’s outdoors, but he may be able to put up a shelter. He also puts out mouse and rat poison and sprays red ant mounds within 10 feet of his rig at least once every two months. He adds, “Indoors is better, but can get expensive.”

Chris (Avid reader), from Calif., suggests checking with friends “to see if they have space on their property and either barter for the space, get a great monthly discount, or better yet, free!” They are thankful to have room to store their rig, but if a friend asked if they could store theirs for awhile, “I would be more than happy to, even yours. But I know we are quite a ways away.” She also suggests finding a place that offers outside storage with an awning, to be “out of the rain and such.”

Drew suggests, “You might find someone with space on their property but it would need to be covered. That means you’d have to build something on their property. This sounds awkward and probably not very likely.” He then suggests trying to find a storage facility that is covered at least on three sides. His rig is stored in a facility where he has “access almost every day of the year and the hours are good. It is secure (with a gate code) and is totally fenced. Our rig stays reasonably clean and the roof is completely covered.” Drew also mentions that he is enjoying “The Best From Out West” that his daughter gave him for Christmas. Thanks!

Phil Spence, from Fla., says he has found “several entrepreneurs who have purchased or leased empty warehouse space specifically to provide inside storage for RVs, cars, boats and many other items that people do not want to store outside.” He also found someone who had bought some land and built covered storage bays for RVs and boats. He chose one for his coach which has a covered bay in a large, empty lot, which also has water hookups and 15-amp electricity. It also has locked gates and security cameras throughout the property.

Blake Williams, in Fla., says several people he knows found a solution for their storage problem: They “found a fellow that owns a small construction company nearby that had plenty of unused open space, about two acres of flat ground, surrounded by a 6-foot-high perimeter fence.” One person he knows pays $50 per month to park in the open, and Blake pays $75 per month for a covered spot. He adds, “Our host provides us with a key to the gate, and he has since run a 30-amp service pole out so the guys can keep their fridges running while parked. It’s not climate controlled, but a lot better than parking in the open elements, five minutes from the house, and we can get to it 24/7.”

Part 3 - Readers' suggestions for Editor Chuck's RV storage dilemma

In the RV Travel Newsletter Issue 619, Editor Chuck asked for help with his RV storage dilemma. Below are suggestions from our readers (some of whom are looking for ideas for their own storage dilemmas):

RV storage at airplane hangars, boat marinas and county fairgrounds

John Singer, from Colo., writes: “We keep our RV in an airplane hangar at a small airport just east of Denver. This particular hanger is heated, also has a full bath and kitchen. I have never had to winterize the RV.” He says, “The farther away from the major metro area and the smaller the airport, the cheaper the hangars get. … [A] lot of the recreational pilots have sold their planes, leaving a lot of empty airplane hangars. The small general aviation airports are the place to look.” He then did some research and suggested Harvey Field in Snohomish, Wash., for Chuck to check out, and added that they are advertising RV storage for $90 to $400 per month.

Bart Heath, from Wis., also suggests an airport hangar. He says, “Often an RV will fit down a side or back of a hangar and still allow for the movement of the planes in and out.” He keeps his RV in a hangar that he built. “The RV goes in a door built just for it and sits along the back wall, where I can plug it into water, electric and sewer. Planes go in and out the front door. It’s heated so even if we stay around for a Wis. winter, it doesn’t have to be winterized.”

Gary Barrett, from Clinton, Wash., is looking for suggestions. His motorhome is parked in a facility 40 minutes away. It is covered, has water and electricity and is fenced, but it is not heated. He has suggested to Chuck to check with the Edmonds Marina (near where Chuck currently stores his RV) to see if there are any large boat storage facilities that are empty. He also suggested an empty airplane hangar at a nearby air field. He suggests, “If you find a shelter with no heat or sides, you would need to winterize your RV, and that is a real pain when you use it from time-to-time in the off-season, de-winterizing and then winterizing again when you are back from wherever you go.”

Gilberto Olivarria, from California, also suggests an indoor boat storage at a nearby lake, either rental or ownership, such as buying a storage unit in a co-op. He offers the further suggestion that if Chuck stores excess product from his store in the unit, maybe he could write off some of the expenses on his tax return.

Glen Scofield, from Mich., says they store their RV in a barn at a nearby fairground, and although they don’t have casual access to it, they haven’t needed it. He also suggests a local grange or fairgrounds site may allow such access. The only drawback they’ve seen with their arrangement is that, “if we intend to travel early in the spring, we need to tell them so they’ll put the rig where we can get out easily, because there are dozens of other RVs in the same large barn.”

Jim Bell, from Upstate N.Y., also suggests a barn at a county fairground. He says the barns at the fairgrounds are “empty during the winter so they rent the space to anyone wanting to store their RV or boat. … It is cold storage but the RV is safe, dry and well cared for.” In his situation, he can “gain access with a call before I visit, which is not a problem as the operators are as nice a group of people as you could ever meet.”

Bob Seymour also suggests a county fairground for indoor storage of an RV. He adds, “…many of those buildings stand empty for the year and are used for auto/RV storage with in-and-out privileges.” 

Mark Walsh, from New Brunswick, Canada, has the same idea. He says there are agricultural fairgrounds which use their buildings for winter RV and boat storage in his area. He also reports that “some farmers have moved to the rental business where they see more $$ and less problems storing 25-30 rigs at $300 for the winter than letting the buildings lie idle.” He reminds anyone going this route to seal up every tiny crack and pin hole so that little rodents don’t get in.

Roy Shaw, in Ill., also suggests renting a space at the county fair buildings, adding, “This helps the fair expenses and it helps owners.”