Sir Winston – Full Time RV Late Fall 2021 Update

Hi everyone! It has been a busy year for this Corgi! I continue to enjoy the full time RV living life with Mom and Dad. I miss Lindsey, but now I get all the attention. I also have to guard Mom and Dad by myself and that’s hard because I am afraid of my own shadow.

“I’m such a baby!”

Biloxi, MS

After our trip to Tiffin in Red Bay, AL Mom and Dad took me back to Gulf Beach RV Resort. We had stayed there in 2020, but since we got chased out by a tropical storm, we went back to use an RV site credit. Mom and Dad enjoyed sitting on the deck enjoying the beach view and afternoon cocktails. I joined them too because fur-kids were allowed on the deck.

“Mom and Dad enjoying a bottle of Vino with me.”

Mom and Dad coined the phrase “Wednesday’s Wine with Winston” during our stay at Gulf Beach. It was great! I got to sit on the deck and drink wine with Mom and Dad . . . . . no, not really. They drank wine and I watched. I miss my Sis-fur, but I sure love all the attention I get these days!

After we left Gulf Beach RV Resort we traveled 30 miles east and stayed at the Silver Slipper RV Resort and Casino. They have a small RV park right on the water and about a half-mile from the Casino. Mom and Dad were not there to gamble, just sit on the beach and enjoy the view.

Parked at Silver Slipper Casino RV Park
The view of the casino in the distance
The view out the window

Our RV home was parked so that we could look out the window and see the ocean view all day long. It was great until a storm developed off the coast of Louisiana and brought 45 mph steady winds a day before we were supposed to leave. I was scared! It felt like the RV was going to roll over with the additional gusts of wind.

The next morning heavy rains were forecast, so Dad braved the wind and we abanded our beach location to head inland along I-10 in Gulfport, MS where we waited out the storm. Good thing too! The area got six to eight inches of rain. We parked in the rest area near the Innis Space Center and hunkered down for the night. After all that it was time to travel back to Athens to resume teaching activities at the NRVTA.

Galveston Island, TX

Our next adventure was to head back to Galveston Island where we stayed at Stella Mar RV Resort. We have been there before and decided to go back because of its close proximity to town and the ability for Mom and Dad to ride their e-bikes instead of taking the truck. They were able to ride all the way down to the north end of the island on the sea wall bike path system. I heard them say it was a really nice way to enjoy the ocean view and get some exercise.

I think they also went shopping the same way. Walmart was only a few miles down the road.

While there they took me on a ferry ride, in the truck, over to the Bolivar Peninsula. It’s about a twenty-minute ferry ride. It was a windy day so it was a nice ride: lots of wave action to enjoy.

“We had a great view upfront”
“Here I am waiting to get on the ferry”
“It was a windy day! How embarrassing!

Because we were approaching the Memorial Day holiday on this trip out, Stella Mar was booked and we were unable to stay on the island, so we had to move to a new location. Mom and Dad chose an RV park southeast of Houston called Jetstream RV Park. It’s near the Houston Space Center. Mom and Dad have not been there before so they thought this might be a good time to visit. I heard them talking about their visit and how cool the place is.

“Miss Tiffy at Jetstream RV Park”
“One of the few fully assembled Saturn 5 Rockets on display”
“This is how the Space Shuttle got a free ride”

And of course, even though Mom and Dad are out traveling when they are not teaching at the NRVTA, they also did some business while they were in the Houston area. There are always people who need consultations about RV life no matter the area we visit.

Branson, MO

During the summer months, Mom decided to avoid the busy beach during the summer months and travel north instead. We went to three locations during that trip. But, before getting to Branson, MO, Dad got a call to assist a client on the way through Arkansas. So on July 4th, I spent the night in the RV parked in an RV dealership. Mom and Dad were going to inspect an RV the next day and offer a walkthrough for the new RV owner. I heard it went well, and I did get to meet their client after the process was completed. The client came by the RV to meet me.

We stayed in Branson, MO for a week at Branson Musicland Campground. It looks like it was an old KOA that was sold to another owner. It was located on a really hilly property, so when you enter, everything is downhill from there. Wow, what a climb getting out. I really got a workout when Mom walked me around that place.

“Our RV site at Branson Musicland Campground”

Dad said it was nice in that it was in close proximity to everything, so like their time in Galveston they did use the e-bikes a fair bit to get around.

“The Titanic Museum was cool!”

There is a lot of entertainment options in the area so they went to see the Texas Tenors one evening and said that was very enjoyable. They also rented a pontoon boat on one of the nearby lakes for a day on the water. They told me afterward I could have come, but I don’t think I would have liked it. The owners at the boat rental place said they love dogs and allow them onboard. Maybe next year I’ll give it a try.

“Mom and Dad enjoying a day on the lakes around Branson”
“The Texas Tenors are awesome”

There is a place near Branson called Top of the Rock that they decided to visit while in the area. You can rent a golf cart and you go on a two and a half-mile journey through caves and by waterfalls while enjoying the landscape of the area. Dad said that was really fun! After that, they walked around the area to see the unique golf course that is there. Dad said he’d like to get his balls on those greens . . . oh, golf balls I mean.

“Inside the cave at Top of the Rock”
“The golf cart path system that tours the area”
“The falls are beautiful”
“Mom and Dad capturing a Kodak moment”
“Cool bridges over the caverns and streams”

Fayetteville, AR

After Branson Mom and Dad wanted to visit Fayetteville, AR because of the great bike trail system they have in the area. There are miles of trails that go through and around the city. We stayed south of Fayetteville in Hog Valley RV and Treehouse Resort. From there, they were able to bike into town and even go north of town, all on paved bike paths. They said they biked about thirty miles that day.

Our RV site at Hog Valley”
“I always seem to end up on picnic tables for pictures”

They said they might take me back there again because they liked the area.

And, as usual, they did some work while in the area. Another client requested they assist him with his RV purchase decision by checking out an RV that was forty miles south of where we were staying. So, I got to stay home alone and guard the RV while they did their work.

Hot Springs, AR

The last stop on this trip was in Hot Springs, AR. This time they stayed at Catherines Landing. It’s an RV Resort below the Dam on Lake Catherine. And since they had so much fun with the pontoon boat in Branson, they decided to rent another one, a tritoon for the day. It’s a pontoon boat with three pontoons. They said it had a 175 hp motor and really went fast! I would have been scared I think.

Our RV site at Catherines Landing RV Park”
“Dad says he really liked this pontoon boat! It went really fast.”

The rest of the time they just hung out with me and as usual, did some work while in the area. After our time there it was back to the NRVTA!

Fremont, WI

Our late summer trip was to visit family in Fremont, WI. Mom’s brother lives in a small town surrounded by lakes. Mom and Dad love to visit the area because that’s where Pam grew up, and there are boats there too. Mom’s bro has a tritoon boat that Mom and Dad got to take several excursions on. In the Fremont area, you can go from lake to lake and travel many miles, even into Green Bay if one feels so inclined.

“Here I am traveling and watching Dad navigate the RV home. And, I have plenty to drink when I need it . . . LOL!
“Our RV Home parked on the Mitchell property enjoying a little mooch docking”
“A great view and evening camp fire”
“Hanging out with the family”

Mom also got to spend time with her niece and who was getting married a few weeks after our visit. It was nice they could get to see her because they could not make the wedding due to previous HMRVI company commitments.

We got to park the RV right on their property with water and electric service. The view was great and the two weeks there were very relaxing for us all.

Corpus Christi, TX

As we got into October, Mom and Dad wanted to head back to the beach so they went to Corpus Christi, TX for a week. They wanted to go directly to Port Aransas, TX, but Sand Fest was going on so the RV parks in town were booked solid.

They decided to try the Corpus Christi KOA in the area. It is a little over a year old and looked nice. It’s right on the bay just the other side of Mustang Island, so it still had nice water views. The park was in close proximity to a large HEB grocery store and other large chain stores.

“Our RV site at Corpus Christi KOA”
“And here I am on another picnic table”

Dad decided to try an Apple product again, so he ordered a Macbook Pro for his business and decided to pick it up at Best Buy while in the area. Then he spent the week setting it up for business instead of paying attention to me. I was getting quite upset over this rejection, but I got over it. I know he’s busy and has things to get done in order to keep his business growing.

Port Aransas, TX

After a week in Corpus Christi, TX we all headed south in the RV home, towing Chevy Chase, and went to Aloha Beach RV Resort in Port Aransas, TX. It was just as Sand Fest was ending, and Mom and Dad were able to ride their e-bikes along the beach and see the sand sculptures that were still there. They said they were pretty amazing.

“Our RV site at Aloha Beach RV Resort”

They love the area because on the island, and near the town, there are so many places to get to by bike. So again, I got to spend a lot of time by myself. Ho-hum! The life of an RV traveling Corgi!

“A relaxing afternoon enjoying the beach”

And of course, Dad was conducting his business activities during non-play times. He has purchased a device for the RV that will help reprogram the shift points of the transmission to help improve drivability. I think it may help me to get a better nap during travel days. I’ll let you know during my next update.

I also heard Mom and Dad say we are headed back to the beach for a month over Christmas, but I am not sure yet where we are going, so I’ll post again next year when I get a chance to get the computer out of Dad’s hands so I can use it. LOL!

Until next time, Winston out!

Sir Winston Churchill – RV Corgi Late Winter 2021 Update

So, I wanted to update how our experience went at the Tiffin Service Center and Campground getting Miss Tiffy’s warranty work completed.

After the ice storm that occurred almost a week after we arrived, we were left still waiting to get into a service bay. The Tiffin Warranty Center was closed the entire week due to the ice storm. It left roads coated with a thick layer of ice that remained for days.

It took a warm front to come through to get rid of the ice and make the roads passable again so the Tiffin workers could get to work and be able to fix the RVs that were waiting for them. By the time we got called to a service bay, there were seventy two more people that were waiting behind us.

The Tiffin Service department told us that they can handle one RV a day in a service bay, maybe more, maybe less depending on how many warranty items need to be repaired.

Waiting For Service

It took Mom and Dad two weeks of waiting before they got into service. Once there it took three more days to get most of the work completed. We had to move the RV into the service bay each day and then leave the RV due to the human Covid thing. I wanted to stay in the RV, and the service guys did not mind, but Mom was afraid that I would be scared when they started using power tools so I went with them to the nice waiting room they have for Tiffin owners.

One thing that Mom and Dad noticed while they were at the warranty center was that each weekend, somewhere between forty and sixty RVs would show up for service. And the winter season is supposed to be the slow time of year! What that means is people can probably expect to wait for one to two weeks with that kind of traffic. If fewer RVs show up each week, the service department can get caught up.

Being a very smart Corgi, one would have to ask, why are so many RVs showing up each week for warranty work? Why didn’t the dealership that these RVs were purchased at take care of these items? Why do so many RVs need this much warranty work? An inquiring Corgi wants to know!

Quality Issues

I have heard Mom and Dad say that Miss Tiffy Two is not nearly as well built as Miss Tiffy One. Their first Tiffin was a 2016 and this one is a 2021. The difference in some of the quality in the build is certainly noticeable! One of the main issues Dad had, and he was really upset about this, is the paint quality. Some areas have a nice layer of clearcoat, and others right next to those areas are more like an orange peel finish. He felt this was not up to Tiffin’s standards from years ago.

In fact, while we were picking up Miss Tiffy Two from the RV dealership in Florida last year, Dad commented to the onsite Tiffin Rep his disappointment with the paint compared to our previous Tiffin RV. The Tiffin Rep told us if you want better paint we would have to spend another couple of hundred thousand for it. Wrong answer!!

Talking to Other Tiffinites

While we were at the Service Center waiting to get into a service bay, Mom and Dad had chances to talk to other Tiffin owners with new RVs also waiting to get into a service bay. They had Tiffin RVs that were more expensive then ours and the full body exterior paint was not any better. Dad went looking around at other 2021’s that were waiting for service and he said he was shocked that someone would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for an Allegro Bus and get that kind of paint job.

The owners he was talking to agreed. In fact, it was the paint department that was so backed up we could not wait any longer to get our issues addressed. We needed to leave after three weeks because we were all tired of waiting around in a parking lot and having to be without our full time RV home all day.

Ran out of Gas!

Of course, to add to all the frustrations of the ice, snow, and cold weather, trying to get propane in Red Bay Alabama is a real chore. Dad had to drive anywhere from five to thirty miles to fill up his propane tank. The ASME tank on the motorhome was almost empty, so it was a good thing Dad had already added and extend-a-stay system so that he could use an external DOT cylinder to feed the propane system. But even with a 40# tank, and the furnace running a lot, we needed propane every day or two because of the below freezing temperatures.

The day after the ice storm Dad wound up driving on roads that were a sheet of ice. He said he crawled along at fifteen miles an hour to go get propane se we could stay warm. Our electric heaters were just not enough when its in the teens at night, not to mention keeping the plumbing from freezing.

Without the furnace running, Dad would have had a hard time trying to keep the plumbing bay, water lines, and tanks from freezing. So, they had to leave me home alone and go find someone that still had propane (suppliers ran out) to fill our external propane tank.

Soft Corgi, Warm Corgi, Little Ball of Fur!

To Sleep and Protect!

While they were out doing that I would curl up in my bed and enjoy a nice nap while keeping warm.

As the ice and snow started to melt, and then refreeze at night, our RV home sunk into the melting ice. After a day or two of that, the RV was frozen in four inches of ice because all the snow had blocked the water from escaping. It took a few days of much warmer weather to get the RV out, and once Dad did, we moved to another RV site that had better drainage.

After four days of much warmer weather, and temperatures that stayed above freezing, all the ice and snow disappeared. At that point it was just a distant memory of something I don’t think they want to repeat again.

It Appears the Service Center is Always Busy!

Mom and Dad went to Red Bay in the winter months hoping it would not be busy so they could get in and out of there faster. Well, that did not happen. I guess everyone else with Tiffin RVs and warranty issues had the same idea.

So, I am back at the NRVTA right now catching up on my sleep while Mom and Dad teach RV inspector classes. I am lonely because I don’t have Lindsey anymore to keep me company. I know Mom and Dad have to work to keep me in the lifestyle I am accustomed to. LOL But I miss them when they are not with me all day like we were the past three weeks.

Last year they would teach an RV inspector course for a week and then have five weeks off to spend with me. This year, because this has become such a big thing, they are teaching classes four weeks in a row and then have three weeks with me.

Oh well! That’s the life of this traveling Corgi. I heard Mom say we are off to the beach next. Time to get sand in my paws!

Until next time!

Winston

Sir Winston Full Time RVing Corgi Winter 2021 Update

Hi everyone! Winston here. This RVing Corgi update has been saved for Lindsey to write since she is the senior Corgi in our family. But I am saddened to say she went over the Rainbow Bridge on February 3rd, at 2:56 PM CST.

She had a good life and spent her years traveling the country with Mom, Dad, and Maya, and then me when Maya went over the Rainbow Bridge back in 2013. Lindsey was with Mom and Dad all of their full time RV life that started in 2008.

I am a newcomer to the whole thing but have been with Mom and Dad for a little over two years now. I have been the biggest spokesdog for their business and even have my own Facebook page.

Lindsey lived to a ripe old age of sixteen years and seven months. She had pretty bad doggie dementia, had to wear diapers, and had all kinds of other issues too. The vet felt she had no quality of life. So, bye-bye my sis-fur! I’ll miss you even though you were always trying to bite me. Even in her old age, even though she could not see or smell, she would snap at me with her teeth. She did have an evil streak.

So, now it is my responsibility to post updates to Mom and Dad’s full time RV living website.

It was a busy Fall for Mom and Dad as they had lots of RV inspection classes that they have been teaching since getting back to Athens, Texas with Miss Tiffy Too. We did manage to get away again several times to visit the gulf coast of Texas. Galveston Island is only a day’s drive from Athens so short trips to the beach are fairly easy. Mom and Dad prefer Port Aransas, but that is almost twice as far. That’s not usually a big deal but with Covid and other concerns, Galveston had to do.

Since getting Miss Tiffy Two, we have put about 3,500 miles on her. Dad is really enjoying the Liquidspring system that is now being installed in Tiffin gasser motor homes. It makes the ride of the Ford F53 chassis so much more comfortable. With the three ride choices of sport, normal, or comfort mode, I am so much more comfortable. I am the one riding on the floor and not in a big comfy seat. Although I have been hanging out in Mom’s lap lately.

“Aren’t I cute?”

I am so spoiled, just as I should be! It could also be that Mom is still missing Lindsey and I am the fortunate benefactor of her need to hug a Corgi. It’s all good!

At the time of my writing this post, we are in Red Bay, Alabama at the Tiffin Service and Warranty Center. We are here for issues that need attention on our full time RV living home. Dad created this really cool RV inspection report so the service center would have a clear understanding of what needs attention. This is the same thing he does for his RV clients. It’s like a home inspection for an RV.

Unfortunately, an ice storm moved in. From what I have heard Mom and Dad say, the whole country was in a frigid state. Even the state of Texas, for the first time ever, the entire state was under a winter storm warning. Our RV home was covered in ice!

“This picture was taken just before the major ice storm moved in.”

That’s a thin layer of ice on the road. It got worse before it got better!

“The bank next door to the Service Center”
“The Service Center Office”

When you show up for warranty work at the Tiffin Service Center and Campground, you check in and wait to be called for service. They do not take appointments. To stay onsite, the verbiage that is printed in their welcome packet states, “to stay at the onsite campground you must be within the first year from the original date of purchase.” Otherwise you have to stay at one of the nearby RV parks that are in Red Bay.

Since we meet those parameters, we stayed at the onsite Allegro Campground. We checked in on a Tuesday, and by Friday we had moved up from thirteenth on the list to ninth. We had to stay the weekend and through the ice storm which hit on a Monday. The service center was closed on Monday because of the ice storm, so we just had to wait. We thought about leaving and heading south, but it was pretty much the same everywhere that was within a few day’s drive, so we just stuck it out.

Check the next post when it becomes available. I will let you know how it all turned out!

Lindsey Full Time RVing Corgi Summer 2020 Update

Greetings from Lindsey, the full time RVing Corgi! Since my Winter and Spring updates, I have traveled another 3,000 miles in our RV home. COVID lockdown eased up a little, so Mom and Dad felt it was safe to venture out again.

full time rv living

While out traveling the country I noticed something really weird. I have seen dogs that are muzzled, but now all the humans are muzzled. We were parked at a Walmart in Louisiana and everyone going into the store was muzzled. I wonder what they did? LOL Dad said it was because of the COVID thing.

Well, I turned sixteen in July! That is like 112 human years. I can’t see much anymore and I can’t hear much either. Dad has to type for me now as I just can’t do it anymore. I am pretty old for a Corgi! I am three years past the average life expectancy for my breed.

I wear my diaper all the time. I pee in it every day. I just can’t control my bladder. Dad says humans come into the world wearing diapers and some go out the same way. It’s just a fact of life. I spend my days sleeping, eating, and soiling my diaper. What a life!

full time rv living
“Getting in a good nap!”

Back to my recent travels. Mom and Dad packed up the RV and we hit the road again. They wanted to go back to the beach and visit some RV dealerships to check out the new models.

We went back to Lazydays in Seffner, Florida. We have been there many times. Mom and Dad have purchased two RVs there. I did not think they were there to get another one because we have only had Miss Tiffy, our 2016 Tiffin Allegro Open Road, for two years. I have heard them say so many times how perfect she is for our full time RV living.

full time rv living
2016 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA – “Miss Tiffy”

The only downside is the cargo carrying capacity of 2,600 pounds and the ride when traveling on rough roads, like in Louisiana. Other than that, Miss Tiffy works perfectly for us.

What I found out later is that Dad was doing some research and discovered the new Tiffin Allegro Open Roads now come with the Ford F53 chassis with the Liquidspring option. What that means is the vehicle does not ride on leaf springs on the drive axle, but on compressed liquid. It is an adaptive system that controls ride comfort and stability.

full time rv living
No Leaf Springs!
full time rv living
Liquid-filled Pistons that auto adjust for improved ride!

That sounded great to me because Winston and I get our teeth pounded when we travel on rough roads!

People have asked Mom and Dad why they don’t buy a diesel motorhome. From what I can tell they don’t want a rear engine motorhome, they don’t want the extra maintenance cost of the diesel chassis and fuel, and Dad is a fan of the Ford chassis. It’s easy to maintain and it travels well.

Well, Dad talked Mom into upgrading to a 2021 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA, just like Miss Tiffy, but with many improvements that they wanted: the Liquidspring chassis, more carrying capacity, better ride, a bigger inverter, onboard solar, and a few interior and furniture improvements. Also, everything is now controlled by the Spyder touchpad system.

So, for the fourth time in my life, I had to deal with the change of moving into another RV. This time was not too bad because the floorplan is the same so given my limited sight, I can still get around okay.

But, lets talk about the Lazydays experience. Last time, Dad said he would never go back there again after buying Miss Tiffy one. The salesman was terrible, the process of getting the RV was laborious, and the lack of communication during the sales process was terrible.

However, the one they wanted was only available at Lazydays in Seffner, Florida. Dad contacted a salesman there and had a discussion about the last encounter and asked if his approach would be better than the last guy. He said it would.

So Dad decided to give Lazydays one more try. So we drove from Texas to Florida to go see our new home. After three days of travel we were back in our domicile state. We stayed in the Lazydays campground which made it easier to interact with the process of transferring to Miss Tiffy Too.

We met our salesman and arranged the steps needed to get Miss Tiffy Too delivered to us in a few days. When Mom and Dad first saw her she was in the service bay getting her pre-delivery inspection and repair. From there she would go to detail, and then the delivery lot for us to take possession.

So far it all sounded like we were doing much better at Lazydays then the previous purchase experience. We were shuttled through the different departments to get things set for transferring to the new RV. On the appointed day we went to the delivery lot and parked Miss Tiffy One next to Miss Tiffy Too.

full time rv living
Miss Tiffy Too on the Left – Miss Tiffy on the Right
full time rv living
Miss Tiffy Too

We were joined by a guy who was to do our delivery walk through. For Mom and Dad that was not really necessary because after twelve years of full time RV living, being RV inspectors, Dad an RVIA registered technician, the only thing that was problematic was the new electronics package. Dad walked around with the guy and checked the RV inside and out and created a repair list for the service department to address before they left the dealership.

After two days in the delivery lot Miss Tiffy Two was headed back to the service bay to fix things the technician did not catch the first time. After four hours in the bay everything was addressed except two issues.

So it was back to the delivery lot to wait for service in a day or two. Our service advisor assigned to us was not the brightest tool in the box. He was a nice guy but unable to steer the process to its logical conclusion.

On the day we were to go back to the service department for the remaining repairs, we had to abandon the RV and hang out in the service waiting room. It is a comfortable place with access to food, drinks, bathrooms, and a place for me and Winston to hang with Mom and Dad.

After six and a half hours of waiting, and no word from the service department, Dad went searching for an update. It turned out nothing had been done, and it was now three thirty in the afternoon. The service department would be closed soon.

At five-thirty, there was no service advisor, no one around in the huge building except for the folks in the sales area. Dad went looking for the RV and found it in a distant service bay, wide open with all our stuff in there, no electricity, the unit at ninety-six degrees inside, and the residential fridge at forty-five degrees. All the service personnel was gone.

Dad now came unglued and had to raise a stink to get some attention. The elusive service advisor showed up and apologized for the situation. But it was now really clear, the service department is completely unable to handle the demand with new RVs being so problematic coming from the factory with service issues.

Dad went to the service bay where Miss Tiffy Too was and drove the RV over to the where Mom, Winston and I were waiting to get back into our RV home. It was now a raging rain downpour. We went back to the delivery lot where we had electic and water service and waited to hear when we would have to return to get our service issues addressed.

One thing Dad told the salesman when he started the process was to not let the detailers touch the RV paint. The last time Sundial Limited scratched the clearcoat with swirl marks. As it turned out, they did the same thing on Miss Tiffy Too even though they were told not to. Somone at Lazydays service even added to wax the RV on the service ticket. Dad said you never put wax on new paint that has not cured yet. That was a whole other issue!

At this point Dad did not want the service department to touch the RV due to his lack of confidence in their ability to fix anything in a quality manner. One major problem left was that there was a water leak in the kitchen roof vent. The manufacturer put so much sealant around the vent that it was forcing water through the vent hinge.

They did solve that problem but did not fix the problem of the vent fully opening. The service department reminds me of chickens running around with their heads cut off.

Dad said the whole process, from start to finish was mixed with periods of extreme frustration. Most of these issues were due to a lack of communication and the service department’s ability to handle the workload. Dad says it also appears the service technicians just don’t really seem to enjoy what they are doing. They are just going through the motions.

He also observed they can’t be doing to bad as there were lots of Mercedes and Corvettes hanging out in the techs parking area. Their service rates are sure expensive!

I had to share that story because Mom and Dad were extremely upset and frustrated over the whole process to get their new RV. But, I did notice the difference between Miss Tiffy One and Miss Tiffy Too right away. When we finally were able to leave the dealership after two weeks, and we hit the road, due to the Liquidspring chassis, the ride was so much better. I am now able to get better naps during travel days. LOL

Mom and Dad did get to the beach. They went to the Gulf Beach RV Resort in Biloxi, MS. It is a newer park that Dad found. It is right across from the beach and has great beach views from the pool and the large party deck.

full time rv living
Beach View From the Party Deck
full time rv living
Site #20 at Gulf Beach RV Resort

Now that we are back at the National RV Training Academy I can settle back into my life of sleeping twenty-three hours a day. Mom and Dad are busy with teaching classes and other business activities so they leave me alone. LOL

Thanks for stopping by and checking in on me!

Happy RV Travels!

Lindsey

Acurite Weather Station – A Must for RVers

What is the best indoor outdoor wireless thermometer? Not only that, which one would be a great choice for those of us enjoying full time RV living? Could it be the Acurite weather station?

acurite weather station

One thing Pam and I like to keep aware of as we travel is the temperature outside the RV. We also want an accurate reading of the indoor air temperature as well. When it gets cold out we also like to know what the temperature is in our critical bays: plumbing and water storage.

If these bays reach freezing temperatures, bad things could happen to the RV plumbing, the water pump, the water lines, and water valves. This might create immediate problems and also possible future problems as cracks in water lines create leaks.

Now, we don’t stay in cold climates, we avoid snow, and we don’t winterize the RV because we keep south of the freeze line. But we all know that weird weather events occur and it seems lately at least once a year we wind up with freezing temperatures for a few nights a season.

So for us, it is critical that we monitor the temperatures down in our storage bays where water services are present. We also want accurate temperature and humidity readings for both indoor and outdoor values.

After some research and previous experience with the Acurite product that we had for ten years, we decided to upgrade to a new Acurite wireless weather station. We owned a more basic model sensor system for ten years and relied upon it to give us an accurate reading of the outdoor temperature in our plumbing bay.

Now that technology has improved, the Acurite wireless weather stations have multiple sensors allowing for more data recording. We opted for a new three-sensor system so we could monitor data from different areas both inside and outside the RV.

acurite weather station

We have had several situations since we started full time RV life back in 2008 where we thought it would never get below freezing, and certainly not snow, but a few years back we were parked on the beach in the panhandle of Florida, and we woke up to temperatures in the teens!

Iced up RV Sidewall

The side of the RV was iced over and we could not even get out of the RV. I had to take a hairdryer to the door to get it open. Once we did that, then we had to deal with our RV steps that were like a skating rink. I used the hairdryer on those too.

That particular day the temperatures never got above freezing. This kind of event has happened to us each year we have been out on the road even though we were in areas that don’t normally see those kinds of temperatures. Global warming I guess. After a few episodes like that, it got to be standard practice to place a work light in the plumbing bay to keep the temperatures above freezing. But I still did not know if my efforts were successful!

Back in 2010 I found an Acurite wireless thermometer that I could place a sensor in the outside plumbing bay and be able to read those temperatures inside the RV. Once I had that I felt more comfortable when the temperatures went below freezing and that I was okay.

Now some of you may be thinking, but RVs have heat to their plumbing bays. Some do and some don’t. It depends on how much money you spend on the RV and if it is designed for full time RV living. We have had three different RVs in our years on the road since 2008, and each one fulfilled our needs at the time we owned them.

But, one of them did not have heated bays, and that one was of the most concern when we wound up with two inches of snow, and cold temperatures, in an area that rarely saw snow. My work light in the exterior plumbing bay and a few towels stuffed around the plumbing kept things warm. The wireless thermometer verified that!

Recently we decided to upgrade our little weather station to include more features and more sensor units. So I went looking where we all go shopping when living the full time RV life, Amazon! I decided to stick with the Acrite brand because the one we owned had worked so well for ten years.

Acurite Weather Station
Our Weather Station sitting near the Dinette Area.

I wanted one with a bigger and brighter screen versus the smaller black on gray that was hard to see at a distance. We keep ours in the main living area where we look for indoor temperatures, the time, and even the date. So it is much more than just a wireless weather station.

With those parameters in mind, I found the AcuRite Home Temperature & Humidity Station with three Indoor / Outdoor Sensors, and in Full Color. It has a lot of cool features that I was looking for:

  • It monitors temperature and humidity in up to four locations inside and outside the RV.
  • It has a bright, color digital display that shows temperature and humidity from all four locations at a glance. Plus you can name the areas from the included forty-name library.
  • The Acurite weather station provides a reliable twelve to twenty-four-hour weather forecast, a humidity gauge, barometric pressure, indoor and outdoor temperatures, and the time and date.
  • It also offers programmable alarms that alert you to take action if environmental conditions exceed your preferred range. This is ideal for outside RV plumbing bays!
  • And, it includes three wireless, weather-resistant temperature and humidity sensors.

This was just what I was looking for, and at a very reasonable price!

As full time RVers, and an RV inspector/technician, I will say that humidity levels inside the RV play a big role in creating issues that can affect the structure and livability of an RV home. If humidity levels remain high, year-round, mold will grow in places that you can’t see it, like in AC ducts, behind cabinets, etc. The only way to know what that humidity level stands at is to have a way to read it. Knowing the humidity level both inside and outside the RV is really important for any RVer!

Living in tight quarters with mold present creates a very unhealthy living environment!

We placed the three sensors around different exterior areas of the RV: one in the plumbing bay, one in the bay where the fresh water tank is located, and one at the rear of the RV to pick up air temperature and humidity levels. The sensors can be outside but not in a heavy weather location. In other words, not in a place to have wind-driven rain penetrate the sensors.

Acurite Weather Station
One Sensor Placed in the Plumbing Bay
Acurite Weather Station
The Second Sensor Placed on top of the Fresh Water Tank
Acurite Weather Station
And the Third Sensor Placed in a Location Away from Rainfall – by the Rear Hitch

The sensor at the rear of the RV gets removed during travel to avoid damage. The other two stay safely in the storage bays they measure temperature and humidity from.

We are truly enjoying the accuracy of the readings we are seeing by comparing to other known accurate sources! Once humidity levels reach forty-five percent we know it’s time to fire up the dehumidifier.

We give this product a ten out of ten!

Happy RV Travels!!

Howard, Pam, and Winston

make money from the home

Lindsey the Full Time RVing Corgi Winter and Spring 2020 Update

Greetings from Lindsey, the full time RV living Corgi! Since the last time I shared about my Fall 2019 adventures, I have logged another 2,500 miles in my RV home. Mom, Dad, Winston, and I like to keep the tires rolling, but lately, that has come to a halt.

There’s this thing I keep hearing about. I can’t remember the name of it, but I guess it is a highly contagious form of the flu, or something like that. I think it has something to do with a Mexican beer. Oh yea, Corona something or other. I am getting really old so things slip my mind!

Since that all started earlier this year, the RV home has been sitting for months. I am ready for the view out the peeky hole to change! I think my days are numbered. I am not sure, but I can’t see very well, I can’t walk too well either. My sense of smell can still find the food bowl, but life is tough for this old girl.

Mom keeps giving me good food supplements to keep me going. I guess I can’t complain. I have lived way longer than the other Corgis that they have had, and by years. I was the first one to really have decent food from the time I was a puppy till now. Mom has learned so much about dog food quality over the years that I think that has probably helped me live this many years.

She is very leary of over-vaccinating too! After my bout with a tumor a few years ago I feel lucky to still be living the dream of traveling with Mom and Dad seeing the country. Oh, and of course with the runt too: Winston.

But I can tell he likes me because he always lies near me when he can. It’s like he thinks he is protecting me. It’s okay. I let him believe he is helping me out. Little does he know I am still a feisty old girl!

I have also been able to travel with Mom and Dad in the company truck while they were doing RV inspections. I prefer traveling in the RV better, but sometimes it works out that I have to go with them when they visit with their RV clients. You see, I can’t hold my bladder too long anymore. So, Mom, has me wearing a diaper to prevent accidents in the RV. Winston laughs at me!

camping with dogs

In late January, Mom and Dad packed up the RV and we ventured back to Florida to spend some time at one of our favorite RV parks, Camp Gulf! Mom and Dad work camped there early on in the full time RV life. It is a beautiful place! The park is right on the beach so access to beautiful white sand, clear water, and amazing sunsets are always close by.

I am not allowed on the beach, but when we lived and worked there, we had a golf cart, and I could sit in that and enjoy the view. So, I still remember what it is like.

Dad decided to get a new tow dolly for Chevy Chase, the HMRVI Corporation work truck. The January trip was the first time pulling the truck behind Miss Tiffy. Mom and Dad had some work to attend to in Florida and Georgia.

It’s really cool because all Dad has to do is drive up on the thing, tie it down, and then off we go with Chevy Chase following behind. Unlike a lot of tow dollys, this one follows behind the RV and the wheels track were the RV tires go. It is able to do that because of the dolly wheels that articulate. When the RV turns, the dolly wheels also turn. Dad says it looks weird from his view of this in the RVs rearview mirrors.

I hope all this virus stuff ends soon! This Corgi has more adventures she wants to have before the big sleep. Speaking of sleeping, that is what I tend to do all day and I need to get back to it now.

Thank you for stopping by and checking in on me!

Happy RV travels!!

Lindsey the Full Time RVing Corgi Fall 2019 Update- USS Lexington Museum

Greetings from Lindsey, the full time RV living Corgi! I can’t believe how fast 2019 has gone! It seems like I just turned fifteen years old, but since then another six months have already gone by. Some would say that in human years I am over one hundred years old. I feel like it too!

Right now I am down in South Texas enjoying the beach. Hanging out around the water is my favorite thing. I have lived in many places in the United States, but I have spent most of my time in the high mountain region of the west and on the beaches in the Southeast. I think I am more of a water girl. I love watching the ocean and listening to the waves. They lull me to sleep! Well, that does not take much these days. LOL

Since my last post about our late summer activities, we have spent most of our time stationary at the NRVTA in Athens, TX where Mom and Dad teach people how to run a small business from their RV and how to be RV inspectors.

I would say the best activity while at the South Texas coast is the beach, but there are some other attractions to visit. Recently, Mom, Dad, Winston and I got to go to the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi. It’s the home of the USS Lexington Museum. I could not board the ship because they don’t allow pets. Plus, based on what Mom and Dad told me, there were just too many stairs to climb and descend. But, Dad told me all about what they saw. They took a lot of pictures too.

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

From what I heard it was really cool! From the outside, the ship looks huge! It has many decks. Also, from the outside, you can see all the plans that are sitting on the deck. They had everything from propeller warplanes to more recent jet aircraft. The deck of the carrier is 120,000 square feet. Dad said it was fun to just walk around the deck, look at the planes, and see just how far off the water the flight deck is.

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

The USS Lexington Museum is located inside the USS Lexington aircraft carrier. The ship is parked just offshore and joined to land by a long concrete bridge that takes you to the aircraft hanger deck. You can either walk to the ship or take a tram. Once inside the aircraft carrier, you pay the admission fee and also pay for a four dollar parking token. The parking area is across the street on North Shoreline Blvd and from the walkway bridge. You need the token to get out of the parking area when you are finished touring the USS Lexington Museum.

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

Mom and Dad said after they paid the entry fee of $14.95 each, they were given a map of the ship that allowed them to visit five separate areas of the ship. We were there for five hours so there is lots to see. Mom and Dad were worried about us so they did not spend as much time as they could have. There are television monitors throughout the ship that allow you to view information on many areas of interest regarding the ship, its operation, the history of naval operations, and life aboard an aircraft carrier.

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

The cool thing is they have a new feature that allows you to use your smartphone and a QR Reader App to scan the codes that are located at many of the exhibits. These smartphone tours give more information about the real stories of the LEX, her people, and her treasures.

Mom and Dad said they also saw a 3-D movie that was twenty-five minutes long that details naval operations. Dad said he really liked the clips of being launched from and landing on the aircraft carrier deck. The movie runs on the hour in the movie theater that is inside the ship on the hanger deck. Dad said it looked like it seated hundreds of people.

While we were there it was a pretty quiet day. The only group that showed up was a few buses of kids on a school field trip. Other than that Mom and Dad said they had the ship to themselves and were even able to sit on the bridge, all alone. No other visitors were around.

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi
USS Lexington in Corpus Christi

As I mentioned earlier, there are five self-guided tours. They each begin and end on the hangar deck. Dad said he and Mom were able to move at their own pace so they would not miss anything. They said some things they spent a lot of time looking at while others not so much. They did say that since the USS Lexington aircraft carrier is a former US Navy vessel, the ship has steep stairways, low overhangs, and some hazards to look out for. You do have to watch your head and where you step.

Dad said that he observed that the ceilings on the upper and lower decks, from the hangar deck, seemed really low. There were times he needed to squat a little bit in order to not hit his head on the services running along with the ceiling. He also thought that perhaps the navy crew of the forties were of a smaller stature given the uniforms and apparel that was displayed. Dad said he thought being shorter was a definite advantage for being a good naval aviator.

When you board the ship you get a map that shows the self-guided tours. You can start with the Flight Deck, then the Foc’sle, the Gallery Deck, The Lower Decks, and the Hangar Deck which is the first place you see when you board the USS Lexington Museum. Here’s a picture of the USS Lexington Museum map showing what you can see while at the ship.

Mom and Dad said they did all five tours and watched the 3-D movie at the Mega Theater, at the front of the ship, on the Hangar Deck. All that added up to the five hours that I mentioned earlier. I was glad they did not spend much more time than that because Winston and I were ready to go.

There are other things you can do on the USS Lexington that Mom and Dad did not try. Maybe on their next trip when they have more time. There is a flight simulator that accommodates fifteen people. You are launched off the flight deck, go attack targets, and return safely to land on the flight deck. That is an additional five dollars. Dad said it looks pretty realistic as he has been in a flight simulator before. From the outside you can see all the pistons that move the simulator around to give the feeling of flight.

There is also a Pearl Harbor exhibit that Mom and Dad saw while on one of the guided tours. But since they know the story very well they did not stay to watch the film montage that details the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is a state-of-the-art multi-media exhibit, on Tour Route 2 in the ship’s foc’sle. Dad said that the little bit that they watched was presented in realistic animations and actual footage.

For the real adventurous folks, they have something called Lockdown on the LEX. They have two missions to choose from. They involve either finding a bomb and defusing it or locating missing people who are lost in the depths of the ship.

From what Mom and Dad said it seems like visiting the USS Lexington is something to definitely do while in the area. There is a website for the USS Lexington aircraft carrier and the USS Lexington Museum.

Well, it’s time to get back to watching the ocean waves and catching a nap. After all this writing I am exhausted! Thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to leave a comment, or ask a doggy related question, if you would like my input on what it’s like to be a full time RV living Corgi.

Here’s a little parting humor from the ship!

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi
make money from the home

Lindsey the Full Time RVing Corgi Late Summer 2019 Update

Greetings from Lindsey, the full time RV living Corgi! July was a big deal for me as I had my 15th birthday. In human years that would make me over 100 years old! We were on the road traveling back from seeing Mom and Dad’s family. So I spent my birthday near the water in Biloxi, MS.

The last time I wrote was early summer and I had just come back from the beaches of Port Aransas, TX. Mom and Dad needed to head back to the NRVTA to teach a couple of one-week classes and Dad wanted to take a Lippert Class that was also taking place there.

Right after that we were on the road again headed to Florida. It seems to me that heading to south Florida in July is a stupid idea. But I found out that it was not a sightseeing trip but to help move Dad’s Mom out of south Florida, to Georgia, to be closer to his brother. It was really hot!

So right after the Lippert class, the slideouts were moving in, the leveling jacks were retracted and we were off! By that night we were hanging out at a Cracker Barrel in Shreveport, LA. With an added fuel stop, it was an easy 140 miles. I was keeping my eye on the GPS. Dad did not notice that I was paying that much attention to it, but I was.

After three more days of RV travel, we arrived in Fort Myers Beach, FL. We had stops in Gulfport, MS and Lake City, FL before making it to South Florida. They were long drive days for me, especially with the pounding roads through Louisianna!

We spent eight days in south Florida visiting friends and family and helping to get Dad’s Mom moved out of Naples, FL. I have been visiting this area since I was just a little pup. In fact, the RV park we stayed in was the same one we stayed at last year.

Mom and Dad have friends in Estero, FL that they always see when they are in the area. In fact, their fur-kid Rylee is Mom and Dad’s God dog. So I got to see Rylee again, and of course, Winston went along too. He got to meet Rylee for the first time. Rylee was not that excited to have Winston in her home. So we all had to keep separated so there would be no little tiffs between us dominant Corgi’s. I am too old to care but Rylee doesn’t know that!

So, once the visiting and moving were taken care of it was time to leave South Florida. Our next stop was in south Georgia. Just north of Valdosta is a town called Tifton. That is where Dad’s Mom was going to be living. After a 430 mile drive, we were in a nice little park right off I-75. We stayed there for a week while Mom and Dad spent time with his brother and sister-in-law and finished up the moving situation.

By then it was time to meander back to Texas for the next round of classes at the NRVTA. We spent three days heading back. We boondocked in Crestview, FL, Biloxi, MS on my birthday, and Alexandria, LA. It was pretty hot the whole trip so the generator got a real good workout when we were boondocking.

Boondocking at MYRVMail in Crestview, FL
Boondocking at Harrah’s Casino in Biloxi, MS

Well, that’s was has been going on since my last post. I am a pretty old girl, so it’s time for a nap. Dad helped me with writing this post because my eyesight is not that great anymore! My eyes are pretty cloudy with cataracts, but I’m doing okay for such an old girl! I can find my food bowl, crate, and the door, so I guess I should be happy!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to support my little Bro’s online store that has all kinds of great doggy stuff! He calls it Winston’s Favorite Things!

Also, leave a comment and ask me a question about the full time RV life. I have learned a lot from Mom and Dad!

Lindsey out!

yourfulltimervliving.com – Major Updates on July 29th, 2019!

On July 29th, 2019, yourfulltimervliving.com underwent a major upgrade to both WordPress and the websites theme.  The goal of the update was to better protect it’s visitors via the new security that comes with the upgrade, and to offer a better visitor experience!

These updates should also help the mobile visitors that are using phones and tablets to have a better website experience at yourfulltimervliving.com.

Please contact admin by commenting below if you notice any non-responsive links.  Every effort has been made to account for all changes but given the vastness of the website, things could have been missed.

We would appreciate your cooperation in helping us to be sure everyone has a positive experience at yourfulltimervliving.com!

Thank you!!

Lindsey the RVing Corgi Early Summer 2019 Update

Greetings from Lindsey, the full time RV living Corgi!  In less than a month I am going to be fifteen years old!  I have overheard Mom say to Dad that being a fifteen-year-old Corgi is way above the average for the life expectancy for my breed.  Maybe my life as an RV camping dog has extended my life due to all the adventures I get to have.

Or, it could be all the good food that Mom gives me.  She has been doing that my whole life.

I have already told you about Winston who came to live with us last December.  Mom has been feeding him the same way she did with me when I was a puppy.

I am not that crazy about the little nipper, but I’ll have to give this younger generation credit for mastering technology.  He has mastered Mom and Dad’s language and has been posting to social media and he even created his own online store to sell his favorite things.  He says it’s better than having a paper route as a kid!  LOL!!

In his online store, he shares all the tasty food items that Mom buys for us.  I’ll have to give him credit where credit is due.  He did a good job on his online page.  He added it to this website.

rv camping dogs

I know Mom and Dad already wrote about their recent travels to the beach in Port Aransas, TX.  But, I wanted to share a few things too.  Above is a picture of me on the beach.  It was great to have my RV home parked at the beach where we could camp for a few days.

I got to sleep a lot because Mom and Dad spent the whole time hanging outside the RV, or on the beach.  I got some great naps in while falling asleep to the thunder of the surf.  It was very restful!

rv camping dogs

Here is a picture that Dad took while driving the RV over the bridge that leads to Mustang Island.  Port Aransas is on the north end of the island.  Dad likes to come in from the south to avoid the ferry when coming in from the north.

We did that once, and that was okay in order to have the experience.  But, the waits can be long depending on when you travel and the time of year.  In the summertime, it is always busy!

While in town, in addition to camping on the beach, Mom and Dad stayed at several RV parks during their visit to Port Aransas.  Dad talked about that in a previous post so I won’t rehash that here.  But I will also comment on one thing that Dad mentioned: watch the electrical services and the proximity of those to your RV slideouts.

If Dad had not been paying attention he might have done damage to the RV slideout during deployment when it could have come in contact with the RV sites electrical service.

rv camping dogs

In this RV site, we had to pull in and back out.  The site was not very wide so in order to avoid a problem with the slides out, the RV had to be situated at the back of the site.  Some RV’s might have been able to get the box between the slideouts, but not with ours since the two slideouts cover most of the streetside sidewall with no room between them.

If we had our truck with us on this trip we would have parked it in front of the RV.  The truck stayed back at the NRVTA as Mom and Dad did not need it.  You see, they teach there every five weeks so that is kind of like a home base.

So, pay attention to how you park your RV when you get it situated on your RV site.

rv camping dogs

Here is Miss Tiffy at our beach spot just before a beautiful sunset.  The beach cleared out right around dinner time.  It was so peaceful.  I had a great nights sleep while continuing to feel the pounding of the surf given my limited hearing.

rv camping dogs

Winston got us all up early one morning with his loud talking and crying.  He is high maintenance!  Mom says he loves to be loved!

Even though it was early, it was really cool.  Dad got a lot of shots of the sun coming up, like the one above.  The pictures were so good he decided to use one of them as the main banner on their website.

rv camping dogs

Here’s a picture of Mom carrying me out of the RV so I could relieve myself.  My nap was interrupted, but when a girls gotta go, she’s gotta go!  Mom has to remind me to go out or else I pee in my diaper.  I talked about that in my last springtime blog.

rv camping dogs

And here I am at my window in the RV!  It is right in front of the co-pilots seat and at floor level.  I lay here a lot and watch the world go by.  I told Dad he needs to put an awning above my window because it gets hot when the sun beats down on it.  LOLOL!

rv camping dogs

Finally, just recently Dad decided to clean and protect the roof of our 2016 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA.  It was quite a project.  He was up there for hours!  It sounded like a big rat was up on the roof!  That’s what Mom said anyway.

He was so proud of the results.  It looks like new.  He applied a coating of a product that I can’t name, but I think he is going to post something in his page of RV Resources here on the website.

I’ll have to say that the roof has quite a shine!

Well, Dad says that it’s time to end this.  He has to type for me because I can’t see very well anymore.  Thank you for stopping by!

Lindsey, out!

error: Content is protected !!