Introducing the Modern Buggy Little Buggy, the newest and tiniest trailer available at Pete’s RV Center dealerships.
The Modern Buggy Little Buggy
From midwest RV manufacturer Modern Buggy trailers, the Little Buggy is designed to be towed by family SUVs and cars, to open up more camping opportunities to those without a large towing capacity.
According to the Modern Buggy website, “This trailer is built on an industrial strength, high quality custom steel frame, and is welded together with hand-crafted aluminum and fiberglass parts. Loaded with a 3500lb torsion axle, heavy duty diamond plated wheel wells, a steel front lip storage/battery box, accessories hitch, and a custom stainless steel roof rack, the Little Buggy is built to climb on, pull behind, and carry your adventure gear!”
The Little Buggy is also equipped with solar panels to power its amenities, such as the electric stove, USB charging stations, vent fan, and lights. Its 20″ ground clearance and 31″ all-terrain tires are perfect for all kinds of off-road and boondocking trips.
Check out this video with Modern Buggy Trailers Owner Wally Holem for more details about the Little Buggy:
And be sure to follow our Pete’s RV Info Blog for more dealership and RV news, service tips, and more!
We’ve heard all about America’s most beautiful National Parks, for RV camping and all sorts of infamous adventures. But what about the often overlooked state parks? There are many of these hidden camping gems throughout the United States, and some provide the camping trip of a lifetime. Here are a few of Pete’s RV Center’s favorites.
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Less than an hour outside of Las Vegas, this picturesque park boasts 40,000 acres of red Aztec sandstone, along with petroglyphs from over 2,000 years ago.
According to the website, “There are two campgrounds with a combined total of 72 units. Campsites are equipped with shaded tables, grills, water and restrooms. A dump station and showers are available. All campsites are first-come, first-served. A camping limit of 14 days in a 30-day period is enforced.RV Camping: RV sites with power and water hookups are available.”
Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota
Close to the north shore of the Great Lakes, this gorgeous state park features stunning waterfalls and views, along with a splendid fishing scene. There are hiking, biking, and snowmobiling trails for many seasons of fun, and 60 RV friendly campsites.
Letchworth State Park, New York
New York has the most State Parks of any state, highlighted by this one, known as “The Grand Canyon of the East”. With 340 campsites and over 60 miles of trails and gorgeous views, this is the true highlight of western New York.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida
For a more tropical camping experience, check out what’s known as the first undersea park in the United States. With 47 campsites with RV hookups, it’s one of the only parks in this region without hurricane damage, and provides a great setting for a beach camping vacation.
For more featured RV camping spots, maintenance tips, and more, follow our Pete’s RV Center Info Blog today!
It’s that happy time of year again! Time to pull the cover off of your RV and get it ready for a spring and summer of happy camping. Here’s some key steps for the process known as dewinterizing your RV.
Check all tires
Just like cars and bicycles, inactive RV tires lose significant psi of air pressure each month of inactivity, especially if stored in the cold. Driving an RV with underinflated tires is one of the most unsafe actions an RVer can do, so be sure to give your tires an air pressure and wear and tear check up.
Give it the once over
Do a walk through of all potential water damage spots on your RV’s exterior, especially the roof and hitch. Check the sealant around windows and doors, and look for any cracked seams in the roof caused by snow pile up.
Check your batteries
Using a voltmeter while your RV is disconnected from electricity, check the charge and water level in your battery, then adjust it accordingly.
Flush out the antifreeze
Even if the antifreeze you use is non-toxic, you still don’t want it in your drinking water. Drain your fresh water holding tank entirely, add potable water back in, then turn the water pump and all faucets on, and let the system drain for several minutes. Flush the toilet a few times during this process. When the water comes out clear, close the faucets and the pump. Then, take the water heater off bypass mode, and replace all water filter cartridges that were removed for storing the RV. Make sure to dump your gray and black water tanks at an official dump site, as they are still full of antifreeze.
You will also want to sanitize your water system to remove any mold that built up in storage. After doing so, check for any leaky pipes or plumbing issues.
Check your propane
Reinstall all propane tanks and make sure the hose is tightly fitted. Check for potential propane leaks by putting soapy water on all hose connections. If bubbles form, it could indicate a leak. Retighten after the process is complete. Check if your state requires propane tank recertification. Then make sure all of your propane-run appliances are working by giving them a quick test, especially on each stove burner. If you have a generator, check its oil levels.
Freshen your filters
Air and water filters collect lots of dust and mold, so change them out at the beginning of each camping season. Make sure that your air vents are also functional with a good flow of air.
Be safe
Don’t forget to update the smoke alarm batteries, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, and LP detector. Restock your RV first aid and emergency supplies, get rid of all expired dry food.
After all those important updates, you’re all ready to camp! For more RV tips, tricks, and news, follow our Pete’s RV Center Info Blog today.
For the first time, Pete’s RV Center will be carrying the nuCamp Cirrus Truck Campers in our extensive catalog of RV inventory. The Cirrus 620 and Cirrus 820 are both available now.
Coming in at less than 1,500 lbs, the Cirrus 620 is designed exclusively for half-ton trucks. It has four season functionality, with a converted second sleeping area and hide-a-way cassette toilet. Check out the floor plan:
It also features a 210 watt solar kit and queen sized bed with stargazer window.
The Cirrus 820 is a bit larger, designed for a ¾ ton truck or 1 ton short bed truck. It features a Lagun table option, spacious sleeping area, wet bath with a fold down sink, and a backup camera. Here’s the floor plan:
With the enormous rise of new RVers since 2020, here’s how to avoid being the troublesome neighbor at the campground.
Plan your campsite ahead of time. There are numerous apps for finding RV campsites, from traditional spots at KOA’s to boondocking recommendations in the desert, there are campsites for every taste out there. The most important part about choosing one is researching beforehand. Some good apps for this are iOverlander, the Dyrt, Free Roam, and Outly.
Leave No Trace. Just like you wouldn’t want to leave parts of your RV behind after the trip, the great outdoors doesn’t want to permanently change because of your RV. Practice leaving no trace by picking campsites that have already been used by vehicles in the past, carrying out all of your trash, only dumping at approved waste stations, and most importantly, never dump black water on the land.
Be campfire conscious. Much of the United States is at near constant risk of wildfires, and many campgrounds have little wood left in the area from ambitious firestarters. Many campgrounds recommend only lighting a fire if you need it for warmth or cooking. If you must make one, never leave it unattended, and extinguish it with lots of water.
Be mindful of quiet hours, and the location of your pets and children.
There’s nothing better than friends and food at the campground. Follow the Pete’s RV Info Blog for more information about how to be the best RVer you can be!
The All-Important tanks on the front of your travel trailer might just be the most versatile tool in your RV. Propane lets campers cook, run heat, make hot water, and power appliances, all without needing to connect to electricity. It is frequently recommended that campers who are connected to electricity use propane sparingly.
To maintain your propane tanks, make sure to do the following:
Keep watch of the age of your propane tanks. The manufacturing date is stamped on the tank, and it needs to be replaced or recertified after 12 years.
Turn on your fridge the night before with propane, so it’s cold enough at the start of the camping trip. Switch to electric if you’re going to a campsite with a hookup.
Check the propane flow by “bleeding” the system. Turn on your stove and let the flames burn until they’re blue. This gets the air out of the propane lines, clearing out room for you to turn on other appliances.
If you smell gas, turn off all propane tanks and RV appliances! The strong smell of propane gas indicates a leak, and you’ll need to replace the seal and tank. Do not attempt to repair leaks yourself, as propane is stored in its tank at -44 degrees, which will give you frostbite at the touch.
Keep a working carbon monoxide alarm and propane safety alert inside your RV.
Avoid using propane in a moving vehicle, and always keep your RV well-ventilated when cooking or using propane inside.
For more RV tips, tricks, and news, follow our Pete’s RV Infoblog!
It’s that time of year again: time to dump lots of brightly colored liquid into all of your RV drains. You Need Antifreeze! What do you need to know about it?
RV and Marine antifreeze, conveniently packaged in the same bottle, surprisingly doesn’t protect against freezing, which isn’t necessarily harmful. It’s designed to prevent bursting, the plumbing damage that comes from ice freezing, expanding, and then rupturing. A rupture can result in gallons of pipe water flooding into the RV, causing a headache of damages.
“RV antifreeze rated for -50 F and -75 F will start to freeze at around 20 F, but it won’t freeze to the burst point until -50 F or -75 F respectively.
In parts of the country where temperatures go into minus digits and stay there you should use the -100 F antifreeze for added protection. This type freezes at about -20 F, but provides burst protection to -100 F.” Said girlcamper.com.
The most important part of using antifreeze is draining as much water or waste liquid from the pipes as possible. Antifreeze mixed with diluted water from an undrained pipe will burst far sooner than the temperature estimates on the bottle that assume there’s little to no water in the pipe.
After winter is over, you can fill your pipes without water once again without worrying about draining the antifreeze, which is typically nontoxic. Of all the preparation your RV needs for winter, put antifreeze–and saving your pipes–at the top of the list.
For more tips about winterizing your RV, check out our Winterization Tips with Pete’s RV Guru Randy Murray.
Ever dreamed of camping for a lifetime? Getting yourself a parking spot in a warm weather campground for full-time RVing is a great way to keep the camping going, and an ideal retirement option. These East Coast RV parks are a quiet destination for retirement RVing full-time, with many holding an aged 55+ rule for entry to keep noisy visitors away. Check them out and fulfill your dream camping scenario.
With 210 RV sites for rent and sale, this centrally located resort surrounds a 20-acre fishing lake and boasts a community feel. They also have one and two bedroom vacation rentals for when the family wants to visit, along with biking trails and a library.
Marketing themselves as “The Top-Rated, Adults-Only, 55+ RV Resort In Scenic Hendersonville, NC. Your new home away from home in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Can be a tough legacy to live up to, but rave reviews say they aren’t exaggerating. Located 30 minutes south of Asheville and an hour away from The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Lakewood’s peaceful spot in Hendersonville offers pull-thru RV sites and apartments.
With 427 sites, this is the largest resort on this list, but one of the best cared for. “Each spacious site measures from 40′ x 60′ up to 50′ x 100, with an 8′ x 20′ pad, picnic tables and full hook-ups (20/30/50 amp service). We are a pet friendly resort, dogs under 40 lbs. are welcome (limit 2 per rig).” The resort sits proudly next to the beautiful spring fed Lake Pearl, and is located about an hour from both Tampa and Orlando.
Known for its sheer beauty and Dolphin Tours, Hilton Head Harbor isn’t strictly for retirement campers, but maintains a quiet and relaxing atmosphere that retirees desire. They have a significant water sports program, with jet skis, boats, paddle boards, and kayaks all welcome by their “sea monkeys”.
The smallest RVing destination on this list with just 20 sites, this beautiful place is adults only 18+ and is now accepting annual campers. The park is close to the Georgia – South Carolina border and praised for its excellent location, scenery, and atmosphere.
For more RV tips, travel insight, and news, be sure to follow our Pete’s RV Info Blog for weekly updates!
There’s nothing more exciting about RV travel than the famous cross country road trip. But how do you plan such a large endeavor through so many states? Here are some helpful tips.
Decide what you want to see. There are awe inspiring tourist destinations all over North America, but it can be overwhelming to choose from the surplus of cities, National Parks, and so much more. A good place to start is pinning the destinations you want to see the most, no matter how far apart they might be. Even if they don’t all make it into your next trip, it’s good to keep your options in mind for down the road.
Calculate expenses and days. Once you have your destinations in mind, you’ll need to figure out how many you can get to based on how many days your road trip will be, and how much you have to spend on it. A good app for calculating gas prices all around the country ahead of your trip is GasBuddy, which also locates the cheapest gas stations in your area as the trip goes on. Too many destinations, not enough days? Time to get clever with routes and timelines.
Plan that route. Roadtrippers.com has an excellent road trip planning tool to add in multiple stops and stays along your journey. It can show you which destinations are going to add a lot more time to your route and which are easy stops along the way, making a helpful visual calendar of where you’re going and when.
Check up on your vehicles. Your RV and your towing vehicle, if you use one, for any wear and tear or neglected issues. A good tune up at the mechanic will certainly help, as you will especially want a fresh oil change before putting in hundreds or thousands of miles on your RV or truck.
Pack intelligently. Before you go, make sure you have the essentials, such as a good First-Aid kit, clothing appropriate for the weather wherever you’re going, sunglasses for driving, reusable water bottles, and your AAA membership and car insurance and registration information. Extra snacks and books are also great choices.
The most important step of any road trip is to have fun and enjoy the destinations, and especially enjoy the ride. For more RV tips and news, follow our Pete’s RV InfoBlog today!
