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 This summer, don’t let high gas prices and a tight budget stop you from enjoying that beautiful RV you own. We’ve got some ideas to help you save money, and get your family out there enjoying your home on wheels. An article by Killeen Gonzalez outlined some excellent ideas, such as getting involved in work camper programs. If you haven’t heard of work camper programs they are campgrounds that will allow you to perform certain tasks around the campground in exchange for staying at no charge. The duties vary from groundskeeping to welcoming guests. You can Google search for campgrounds that offer this, or sign up at the workamper website.
If you tend to camp at the same campground each year, you can check to see if that campground offers seasonal lots. You may consider renting the lot and leaving your RV there for the season, and then using your smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle to travel to the site. That is unless the road trip in your RV is a big part of the vacation for you.
Speaking of fuel efficiency, you’ll want to remove any outside equipment from the RV to reduce any drag and make sure the tires are properly inflated. You may also want to consider bringing your RV into your local RV dealer service department to have them check the tires and do an all over maintenance check before you leave for your trip.
If you’re in need of new camping gear such as a tent for the nights you want to enjoy sleeping outside, different bikes because the kids have outgrown theirs, a kayak for that new hobby the husband has decided to take up – remember, you don’t have to purchase brand new. You can get some great deals on used equipment. Check your local used sporting goods store, the newspaper, yard sales, gear trade, or even ask some fellow RVers if they know of anyone selling equipment.
The last suggestion that Killeen suggested in her article was to purchase food in bulk. While we realize that this may be difficult due to limited space in some RVs, it could save you some money. It’s always a good idea to bring bottled water with you and trail mix for those moments when you just need a little something to fill the void in your stomach. So, we’re not saying go to your nearest wholesale warehouse and fill the RV to the roof, but stocking up on some items could in the long run save you from having to run into a gas station store and spending money on an overpriced bottle of water or snack.
We sure hope these tips have helped, and we really hope you get to enjoy a great summer in your RV.
If you haven’t found us on Facebook yet – come join the fun!
P.S. What ways have you found to help save money while RVing?
 A recent study found that outdoor activity is up by 49.4 %! RV Daily Report printed the article from Outdoorfoundation.org and it turns out “the most popular activities among young people, in terms of overall participation, continued to be running, biking, camping, fishing and hiking”. We found this particularly interesting because these are the hobbies that often go along with the RV lifestyle. Even with the rising gas prices, families still plan on vacationing in their RV. They may stay a little closer to home, but getting away in the RV is definitely the way to go. Traveling in an RV gives a family the ability to take mini vacations and escape the stress of everyday life without the worry of hotel costs and expensive restaurants. In an RV, families are able to go where they want, park, set up camp, and voila! they have “Home away from home”. They’re able to have the luxury of their own pillows, comforters, and home cooking. Then there’s the added perk of free entertainment. They have their choice of nighttime fellowship around the campfire or a make-shift ghostly walk through the woods. In the morning, you’re greeted with an array of choices like the ones above – everything from running to fishing, depending on your preference, and where you’re staying. It’s really a win-win for the family vacation. You save money, and you get to be outside in the great outdoors.
Family RVing – it doesn’t get much better than that!
 How does hiking trails, enjoying breathtaking waterfalls and scenery, fishing the Columbia and Sandy river, or relaxing the day away with friends and family sound? If all this sounds like the perfect getaway, then you’re in luck! Tucked away a mere 20 minutes East of downtown Portland, Oregon, sits the quaint Sandy Riverfront RV Resort. RVers are going to especially love this resort with its 60 feet concrete pads, 30/50 amp service, free Wi-Fi, and free cable. Even dogs are allowed here – with some weight and breed exceptions. If you do plan to do some fishing, you will need a license or you can hire a guide. You can enjoy a day of fishing on the banks of the RV park or at the beautiful
Columbia River, just a mile away. Using a boat on the Columbia River, fishermen have been known to catch Spring and Fall Salmon, Walleye, Bass, and the huge Sturgeon!
If fishing isn’t your cup of tea, but you still want to get your toes wet, there’s a nice collection of waterfalls that everyone is sure to love. From Multnomah Falls at 620 vertical drop, to Horsetail Falls at 176 ft., to Triple Falls each from 10-135 ft., Ponytail Falls, Punch Bowl Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls plus many more!
If you’re looking for a dry place to sneak off to, you can mosey on down to the Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets where you can shop an impressive collection of 45 brand name stores! You’re also just next door to downtown Troutdale (known as The Gateway To The Gorge), where you can visit art galleries, antique stores, pottery stores, jewelry stores and of course enjoy fantastic dining!
Come on out to Sandy! Get ready to play, and enjoy our relaxing way of life!
My friends tell me that the Champagne Ball gets better every year. It sounds like it’s the best New Year’s Eve party in town.
The party is at the Hilton, so if you want to, you can go ahead and reserve a room when you buy your party tickets. Reserved tickets, which includes seating at a table for 10, range from $109 – $119. General admission is $89. Both tickets will get you into all 4 party rooms.
Your tickets also include appetizers, late night pizza, champagne at midnight and lots of party favors.
If you haven’t been out for New Years in several years, maybe it’s time to dust off those dancing shoes and have some fun! People of all ages attend this fun party and you don’t want to miss out.
One of the biggest perks here would be breakfast in bed the next morning! Sign me up! Johnson RV wishes you a Happy New Year!
We all know that bed bugs have been in the news these past couple of years. It seems like they have multiplied in large numbers and are taking over hotels and motels all across the country.
Lucky for us, we have RVs! We don’t need to worry about all those bed bugs in the hotels, right? Wrong!
Bed bugs have found their way into RVs all across the country too, unfortunately. I would like to think that they are less commonly found in RV parks and resorts though.
Here are some precautionary tips for keeping those little devils out of your rig.
- Know what a bed bug and bed bug bite looks like, and be familiar with the signs of a bed bug infestation.
- Keep your belongings inside your RV with the door closed as often as possible.
- Park your RV as far as possible from any neighboring RV to prevent bed bugs from crawling over.
- Pack hydro cortisone cream, just in case bed bug bites show up unexpectedly.
- Leave your shoes in bed bug proof laundry bags when not in use.
- Top places to look for signs of bed bugs include at the edges of mattresses, around the beds, around baseboards, at the edges of the carpet, etc.
If you stay vigilant and check your RV daily, the chances of you contracting bed bugs decreases. Also, pay attention if you start seeing little red bumps on your skin.
We hope you have happy, healthy, bed bug free RV travels this winter season. Happy Holidays!
There are some pretty good holiday attractions here in the Portland area. Why go anywhere else? I’ve already highlighted a few of them on this blog already, but why leave any out?
The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The 2011 festival has almost 170 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. Offering a family-oriented blend of traditional celebration and serene reflection, the 2011 festival theme “Joy to the World” reflects the special season of hope that Christmas offers to many thousands of families from around the Pacific Northwest.
Five indoor concerts are scheduled each evening in The Grotto’s 600-seat chapel, known for its cathedral quality acoustics. Continuous family entertainment in The Grotto’s plaza area includes outdoor caroling, puppet shows and a live animal petting zoo.
Holiday foods and beverages are also available, as is seasonal shopping in The Grotto’s Christian Gift and Book Store. A magnificent display of nativity sets from around the world is on display for viewing and individual sets are available for purchase in the Grotto’s Visitor Complex.
The festival opens each night between now and Christmas at 5:30 pm and closes at 9:30 pm. General admission is $8 for adults, $4 for kids 12 and under, and kids under 2 years of age are free.
Don’t forget to bring a canned food to donate to the food bank and some spending money. There’s a little gift shop too. Tell them Johnson RV sent you!
Happy Holidays to all of our loyal customers, Facebook fans, Twitter followers and blog readers!
Has anyone finished up their Holiday shopping yet? If you’re looking for some good gifts for that RVer in your life, here are a few ideas.
- backup camera system
- RV leveling system
- RV cover
- solar panels
- water filters
- outdoor furniture
- new satellite system
Any of these ideas can be found at our online parts store. If you order today, you should be able to get them by Christmas.
What are some other good ideas that you want to share with everyone? Just put it in the comments below.
Of course, if your honey has been so good this year that you think he/she deserves something more substantial, we also have some incredible end of the year deals on some RVs. Check these out:
2011 Open Range fifth wheel, regularly $75,893, now only $59,999! What deal!
This RV is good for year round use. It has an enclosed underbelly, heated holding tanks and pass through storage compartments, double insulated baggage doors, high value insulation, and dual pane windows. It’s gorgeous inside too.
Or how about a 2006 Jayco Escapade 25BSLP motorhome, regular price $49,999, now only $39,999. Also a great deal.
This is a 25′ motorhome with a living room slideout. It sleeps up to 7 people and even has ducted A/C and heat and heated holding tanks. This RV has been detailed and is ready to go!
It’s time to get shopping for your favorite RVer. If you Like our Facebook page you get a $25 gift card good for anything at Johnson RV. We hope to see you soon!
Money is a big concern these days for many families. People are cautious of how much they spend on extras like vacations. Weekend breaks and holidays tend to be costly, so it makes sense to think about how to reduce expenses here. It goes without saying that travel and accommodation costs are factors that can lead to particularly expensive vacations.
An RV allows you the freedom to venture out further on your own time. You can also create a more flexible vacation, moving from place to place with a real opportunity to discover new regions and areas, again, entirely at your leisure.
Of course, there is more to RVing than just a money saving activity. There are many more reasons to go RVing. In particular, many RV owners will let you know that they enjoy the thought of having an increased sense of freedom.
There is almost no limit to where you can go in your RV. Check out this video to see all the places two RV enthusiasts have been:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbOynIJG3GA
There is a sense of freedom associated with RV vacations that simply does not compare to other travel options. There is a genuine community spirit connected to these trips and many enthusiasts (like us) enjoy sharing their experiences.
It’s become extremely easy for more people to enjoy the luxury of owning a RV since it’s more cost-effective for every budget.
Try the RV lifestyle. Come out and rent a RV for a weekend. You’ll be hooked!
The Oregon Zoo is a wonderful place to visit with your honey or your entire family. For me, it never gets old.
One of the best events during the Holiday season each year is the Zoo Lights. The Zoo decorates some of the best parts with over a million lights, including the zoo train. Some of the Zoo Lights exhibits are viewable only from the train.
Not all of the zoo is open during the Zoo Lights exhibit. Those that are open include the mountain goats, leopards, tigers, penguins, polar bears, primates, elephants and lions.
Here’s a sneak peek at what Zoo Lights is all about. This video was shot at Zoo Lights 2010.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm6GQkW68Ww
The Oregon Zoo Lights opens the day after Thanksgiving and runs through January 1. The exhibit will be closed on December 24-25. Tickets range from $7.75 to $9.25. The Zoo opens at 5 pm every night just for the Zoo Lights exhibit.
Make you plans to attend Zoo Lights. If you have never been, we at Johnson RV can guarantee you will have a great time!
Johnson RV loves their customers! What better way to say thank you to our awesome customers than to give away some free stuff?
We want to give you a $25 gift card good toward merchandise in their camping store, or for parts, accessories or service. All you have to do is go to the Johnson RV Facebook page and Like the page.
Then locate the page that has the $25 gift card offer, print it out and take it in to the dealership.
Did you know that Johnson RV has:
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over 7 acres of RVs with the largest selection of Used RVs in the area!
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12 state-of-the-art service bays with certified RV technicians to solve any service issue
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Full paint and body shop!
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Large selection of parts and accessories in our camping store
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an inside showroom
- and is less than 25 miles from Downtown Portland
So find your way to the Johnson RV Facebook page and we’ll see you in the dealership soon.
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This summer, don’t let high gas prices and a tight budget stop you from enjoying that beautiful RV you own. We’ve got some ideas to help you save money, and get your family out there enjoying your home on wheels. An article by Killeen Gonzalez outlined some excellent ideas, such as getting involved in work camper programs. If you haven’t heard of work camper programs they are campgrounds that will allow you to perform certain tasks around the campground in exchange for staying at no charge. The duties vary from groundskeeping to welcoming guests. You can Google search for campgrounds that offer this, or sign up at the workamper website.
