Setting the record straight on RV parking tickets -- and more

Setting the record straight for a Wyoming Court

In our October 30, 2015 newsletter, we published a story based on information we picked up from a local media source. Here's what we printed:

"What's a "recreational vehicle"? That's a bone of contention in Wheatland, Wyo., where the town code limits parking of "recreational vehicles" on residential streets to no more than 72 hours. After a local judge tossed out parking tickets written against motorhome owners because the term "recreational vehicle" wasn't defined, police stopped writing citations. A definition of "recreational vehicle" was proposed: "Trailers, motor homes, buses, detached camper units, boats, utility trailers, horse trailers, oversized vehicles, golf carts, mud bogging vehicles, race cars, snowmobiles, snowcats, or similar vehicles, trailers or equipment," but never made it into law — lawmakers found it too dicey. For now, park away."

Ah, the editor's life, such a merry affair. But eating crow, we submit, is easier with a little ketchup. It didn't take long for a retired municipal court judge from Wheatland to get back to us with his view of the story. Here's what Judge Mark McDonald had to say – and we're grateful to his honor for helping us set the record straight:

Having been the Wheatland Municipal Judge for nine and a half years(retired now) and having researched Court records going back to 1985, I can say that no citation has been issued by the police for parking a RV on the street for more than 72 hours and no Judge has dismissed (thrown out) citations for RVs being parked on the street longer than 72 hours.  Our Town Attorney (been with the town since the early 80s) agrees.

This law is simply one the police do not wish to enforce (should be repealed if it is not going to be enforced in my opinion) and the false excuse (citations being thrown out by a judge) for non-enforcement is trotted out every time someone complains.

Bottom line: No citations issued, no citations dismissed for parking an RV on the street longer than 72 hours.

Most street parked RVs are well maintained and pose no safety hazard where parked(wide streets).  A few  RVs are eye sores(water damage, rust, dirty) and do pose a hazard with a slide extended, power cord in the gutter, etc. hence the almost annual complaint concerning non-enforcement.


Weak cellular phone service

In our RV Daily Tips segment, we included a piece on sketchy cellular phone service (Issue 738), and how calls might be improved by making them late in the day. Sharp-eyed reader, Jim Piper, adds his two-bits of technical expertise:

Mr. Helgeson's tip is a tad inaccurate regarding cell phone signals being affected by solar electromagnetic interference. Albeit it true for signals in the lower portions of the radio spectrum ("High Frequency" from AM broadcast band up through 30MHz), a phenomenon that Ham radio operators are very familiar, it has little to do with the frequency bands in which cellular phone service operates. 

Mr. Helgeson's experiences are likely more related to immediate atmospheric conditions, notably a condition known as "ducting," a condition exploited by Hams to talk long distances on frequencies that otherwise would carry only over much shorter ranges. To depend on a cell phone to "...place that needed call..." when boondocking could be considered foolish at best. Better to get an Amateur Radio license and use Ham communications as a backup. 


Soap on your RV carpet?

In a video we ran in RV Daily Tips (Issue 736) it was suggested users not put soap in carpet cleaning machines, but rather, apply the soap solution by hand.

Carl Bradford had this to say about the suggestion:

The advice today on carpet cleaning is wrong. It is fine, and a lot easier, to use cleaning solution in the carpet machine, suck that up, then fill the machine with plain water to do the final cleaning. This technique is recommended in the carpet cleaner's instructions. His advice gave me a good laugh though, so thanks for that. So much extra work! 


Selling on Craigslist

Our RV Daily Tips (Issue 734) provided a "heads up" on how NOT to sell your RV. This drew plenty of comments on market price in the real world.

Little known factoid:  NADA RV prices are mere estimates of value based on a depreciation formula from new price.  They ARE NOT actual prices paid by buyers in recent transactions.  I am a great admirer of the pre 1996 Holiday Rambler trailers and have owned and sold 4 of them.  The NADA prices were in the sub $2000 range while the actual sold prices were about 4 to 5 times, depending on upgrades and new parts.  Plus, I never waited more than one week for a sale to a very happy buyer.

For sure, if you offer a decent trailer for the NADA price on Craigslist, you're likely to sell it quickly.  However, you're also likely to see the buyer re-list it and flip it for a lot more.

If you have information to the contrary, please let me know.  I was very surprised when I learned about NADA's depreciation formula from a respected loan officer familiar with RVs.
--Alex


The depreciation curve for an RV is not linear; I would say that the first eight years or so is steep, but then it levels off, and the difference between a 13-year old coach and a 17 –year old coach is difficult to estimate; condition becomes more important then.

I bought my current coach in 2011, at age 10, with OEM tires and 9,000 miles on it. It still had the OEM plastic sheeting on the carpet! As far as I could tell, the original owner had parked a lot in the desert over 10 years, but hadn’t really “used” the coach. I had a lot of catch-up maintenance to do, but wear on major mechanical systems was only slight (not counting six new tires)

The thing about Craigslist is that an ad doesn’t cost anything, and renewing it is a simple few clicks. You can put something up there at a high price, keep renewing it, and wait for somebody to come along. (Maybe the whole listing is just a sham to keep the wife happy; of course I’m trying to sell it honey!) On the other hand, a high listing might attract some jerk who offers 60 percent of what you ask, and then maybe that’s pretty much what you will accept.

Buyer & seller psychology becomes a hobby with some people.
--Ed Price

Thanks to all our readers for their observations. If you have a beef or a backpat, send them all to Russ at rvtravel dot com. 

From composting RV toilets, to chickens in the RV -- our readers have plenty to say

Nearly every week we hear from our readers on a variety of published topics. We appreciate the opportunity to share viewpoints -- here's a compilation of some recent comments. Please direct your views to Russ at rvtravel dot com.

Composting Toilets

Just read your RV Tip of the Day by Chris Noble (RV Daily Tips Issue 716. September 28, 2015). I found this article is misleading because it leads people to believe that they can safely abandon their black tanks and keep on going by composting their waste. Not so.

I have had an Airhead composting toilet on my sailboat for a couple of years and the problems I have encountered there will show-up in an RV just the same. The problem is the urine bottle. It fills up very quickly and then what do you do with it? Stop by the road side to dump it? You cannot dump it into the toilet for obvious reasons. Depending upon where you are on the water, you have to make a personal choice. You cannot do this on the road.

I removed the Airhead composting toilet because I encountered a problem that could not be fixed. Namely, depending on what tack you are on when sailing (i.e. to which side the boat is leaning), you will at times be unable to control the flow of urine. By force of circumstance, it will go into the composter and then you ruined it. While I do believe in the principle of composting toilets and actually liked the Airhead very much, I removed it from the boat.

I would not even suggest to put one into an RV. It will cause problems that will be messy to deal with.

-- Ronald Hiemann


I have been thinking about putting a Nature's Head in my trailer for a while. I have been holding back on  a composting toilet because all composting toilets, in order to function, need to be maintained at a temp of 68 degrees F or above. People need to consider this parameter very carefully when considering a composting toilet. Below 68 F bacterial activity ceases or slows down a lot. It won't start again until proper temp is reestablished. This can be a big problem unless temps are kept in mind.

I'm no expert, so you should verify the above info for yourself before accepting it as correct.

--Tim (timsworld42)


Gas v Diesel

I believe Steve in his article (RV Daily Tips Issue 723. October 7, 2015) has missed a very important point in his assessment concerning CCC [acronym for Cargo Carrying Capacity]. Diesels do give you thousands of pounds for cargo plus. But there is something called safety in a higher number.

There are way too many gas models available with the CCC under 1000 pounds, maybe a little more, but since most first time buyers go with gas, they don't realize that they must include in this calculation their body weight. We know an overweight RV leads to many problems down the road. (pun meant)

--Dan Pankiewicz

One thing you did not mention, that I always hear in such discussions, is the quiet and leg room in the driver’s cab for diesel. In addition, though you mention power, pulling a toad uphill is supposed to be much better with a diesel. And basement space, with the engine in the rear, is better with a pusher. Finally, the CCC in too many gas models that I have looked at is very small, allowing only a few hundred pounds in shorter gas models like the Tiffin 31SA.

We are about to make a purchase after several years of planning and research. We are looking at about 33-36 feet in length to get the features we need. We will travel in the mountains pulling a toad. We want good basement space. What do you think?

-- Steven M. Jenkins 


Chicken Coop RV

Yesterday, in the news column ("Latest RV News," RV Travel Newsletter: Oct. 3-9. Issue 710) was a discussion of RV parking laws compared to chicken coop parking. You asked if an RV could become a chicken coop.

Way back in 1980s, just out of college and setting up on 20 acres, my wife and I hand built a  2x4 frame camper for our flatbed truck. This allowed us to stay in town near our employment on winter weeks if snow got over four feet deep on our one and a half mile walk-in to the mountain land. It had full frame insulation, stainless sink and counter, standard RV propane heat, skylight, couch/bed, lighting, and the door disguised to look like a cargo box truck so we could park anywhere.

Now, since it was always on jacks near the house and never used, we gave it to a new homesteader family to help them get started. Before we knew it, they had converted it to a chicken coop

--Steve Willey


On buying parts from RV dealers

I read Steve Savage's article (RV Daily Tips Issue 679, August 6, 2015), "Looking for RV parts? It's difficult if you're 'locked out' by the manufacturer."

Please convey my compliments to him on such a well thought out piece of writing. I've not had a lot of experience in the subject but I have listened to the stories of fellow travelers thru the years. No doubt my time is a'coming. Gulp.

Thank you for the work you do. It greatly supports 'us' out here.

--Austin J. Crehan, Jr.


I have had great success from online dealers either at Amazon or EBay.  I have an 2006 40' Gearbox Toyhauler and we are active fulltimers. I do a lot of maintenance. Brick and Motor dealers are my last resort, especially Camping World.

--Steve and Fran Rosenlund


All letters published subject to editing for clarity, brevity, and editorial standards. 
"Writers Room" photo: Shannon Clark on flickr.com