East Coast RV Campgrounds to Retire In

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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. 

Waters Edge RV Resort, Punta Gorda, Florida

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. 

Waters Edge RV resort (Age Restricted 55+) - Zephyrhills, Florida - Campspot

Lakewood RV Resort, Flat Rock, North Carolina

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. 

Olde Mill Stream RV Resort, Umatilla, Florida

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. 

Hilton Head Harbor RV Resort & Marina

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”. 

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Lake Hartwell RV Park

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!

Cross Country RV Road Trip Tips

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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.

The Ultimate Cross Country Motor Home Trip Guide | Road trip planner, Rv road trip planner, Travel planner
  1. 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. 
Which Entrance to Yosemite Should I Take?
  1. 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. 

  1. 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.

  1. 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. 
Ridetech Archives - The Engine Block
  1. 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!

Jayco Announces Terrain 4×4 Class B

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Jayco is continuing to drive headfirst into the Class B RV landscape with the new Terrain 4×4. Built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, it’s built for offroading, with “on-demand four-wheel-drive that allows for the freedom of off-road adventures. The interior offers luxurious appointments to provide all the comforts of home, the company said, and its 48-volt lithium power system offers true off-grid performance,” said RV-Pro.com

The Terrain is 19’7” in length, just over a foot shorter than Jayco’s other recent Class B offering, the Swift. The Terrain also differs in its tires, visibly designed for off-road action, while the Swift has more typical street tires. A large roof rack, rear mounted ladder, and Koni-sourced shock absorbers complete the rugged look for an off-road adventure. 

For more details on the Jayco Terrain, check out Jayco’s product page. 

And be sure to follow the Pete’s RV Infoblog for all of your RV news, tips, and updates!

Maintaining Your RV’s Roof

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Out of sight, out of mind is not a cliche that should be applied to RV roofs. They should be cleaned several times per year, and inspected for any potential issues.

During cleaning, scrub your RV roof with a medium bristle brush, or any other brush recommended by the manufacturer. You can use a cleaning liquid while doing this, but be sure not to use cleaners made with petroleum solvents, abrasives, or citruses, as those will weaken the strength of the roof materials. 

After scrubbing, rinse the whole RV thoroughly, both roof and exterior walls. Any grime dripping off the roof will go down the exterior walls, and if not rinsed, will leave ugly stains. 

Inspecting the roof while cleaning is vital, and should be done thoroughly. Check all sealants and seams, skylights, vents, and roof rack for mold and cracks. Fix any rips or tears immediately, before they snowball into other problems. 

To passively protect your RV roof from weather damage, keep it away from weather, and avoid the sun! RV storage facilities are ideal for protection, but RV roof covers will separate the roof from the elements. Be sure to use a proper RV roof cover and not any other kind of tarp, which can reduce airflow and result in mold.

At Pete’s RV Center, we have all of your RV maintenance needs in mind. Visit us at petesrvcenter.com to find a location near you!

Pete’s RV Center Joins America’s Largest RV Show

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Pete’s RV Center is proud to have attended the 52nd Annual America’s Largest RV Show in Hershey, Pennsylvania this past week for the first time as a RV Dealership Group.

61,320 people attended the four day show from September 15th – 19th, according to the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association. This was the second largest recorded attendance ever at the show, close behind the 2017 record. The area around Hershey’s Giant Center was filled with over 1,200 RVs from over 30 different manufacturers.

Pete’s RV Center was stationed next to both the Jayco and nuCamp displays, bringing several dozen RV Lifestyle Consultants in our famous Yellow Shirts.

Both the Jayco and nuCamp RV displays were popular with showgoers, reflecting RV enthusiasts’ taste for the quality craftsmanship and reputation of Jayco, along with the eye-catching and lightweight teardrop trailers by nuCamp. 

Some of the most popular RVs on site were the Jay Flight 264BH and 284BHS, the T@G 400 BOONDOCK, the White Hawk 32BH, Jay Feather Micro 199MBS, and several different Jayco Greyhawk motorhomes and T@B Teardrop Campers. This reflected the many styles of RVs at Pete’s RV Center, from teardrops and lightweight travel trailers to couples motorhomes to family style bunkhouses.

“The Hershey Show got positive reviews from industry attendees, more so at this point than most exhibitors could have imagined – the message being that the modern surge in pent-up retail demand is apparently continuing despite the well-known limitations regarding dealer inventories,” said RVBusiness.com, noting that the RV industry hasn’t seen a show this large since fall 2019.

The Hershey Show is unique not only for being America’s Largest RV Show, but for giving attendees the ability to purchase RVs right at the show, and potentially save on transportation costs.

“In addition to RVs, campgrounds, vacation destinations, RV parts, products and camping supplies are also available,” according to the Largest RV Show website.

“Demand is still there,” Jayco President Ken Walters told RV Business, emphasizing that product that could be delivered at the show was a high priority for the customer. “People wanted it, and they wanted it now.”

With Pete’s RV Center’s Pennsylvania dealership located just 27 miles from Hershey in Mountville, Pennsylvania, the show isn’t over. Our Hershey Inventory is still available at our special Showgoer Pricing at https://www.petesrvpa.com/hershey

How to Check Your Travel Trailer for Maintenance

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Whether in the middle of a camping season or after a long winter, inspecting your travel trailer for any maintenance needs is a vital component of keeping your RV healthy. Here’s a helpful checklist of what to look for when you’re checking out your RV.

  1. The Roof. Look for any holes or cracks where water could possibly enter the RV, damaged sealant, soft spots, damage to any solar panels, or mold. Just like a house, a damaged roof can bring down the whole RV. 
  2. Walls. Check the interior and exterior of all walls for cleanliness, holes or cracks, warping, which indicates water damage, sealant leaks around the windows, and soft spots.
  3. Tires. The date the tire was made is stamped on the tire, so inspect that and the general condition of the tires, which can erode if left uncovered. Look for uneven wear patterns between the different tires, which could indicate a bent axle. While you’re at it, check your axles for holes and rust. And don’t forget to inspect your spare tire!

  1. Underneath the Travel Trailer. Often overlooked by those unwilling to crawl under the RV, the undercarriage’s condition is fundamental to holding the RV together. Excessive rust, holes where animals could enter, dangling or disconnected wires, accident damage or a bent frame, or any visible holding tank issues are a few important things to look for. 
  2. Outside Connections. Power, cable, water, and sewer connections should all be routinely inspected, because you don’t want to go without any of them! Check if the water leaks out of the connection point, or leaks during water tank dumping. 
  3. Driving Components. Lights, brakes, turn signals, and the emergency disconnect switch should all be checked on to avoid hazardous driving. 
  4. Propane Tanks. The tanks collar will state the year they were manufactured, and propane tanks must be recertified once they are over 12 years old, and every 5 years after that. Make sure you don’t smell propane when the valves open, which indicates a leak in the connecting hose. Replace your tanks if they’re rusty or turning a dark color. 

For more RV maintenance tips and tricks, follow our Pete’s RV Center Info Blog today!

Pete’s RV Center to Break Ground on 7th Dealership Location

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On September 1st, Pete’s RV Center owners Todd McGinnis, Chad Shepard, and Scott Borden announced plans to start construction on a sixty acre parcel of land located in Saco, Maine.

The Vermont-based company is planning to break ground in January 2022 and be completed in early 2023. The Maine dealership will be Pete’s RV Center’s seventh location, and will be a state-of-the-art facility with a spacious showroom, parts and accessories store, and service center with multiple bays.

Pete’s RV Center – Maine is set to carry a wide variety of travel trailer, fifth wheel, and motorhome brands, including Jayco’s full lineup.

Saco, Maine is just four miles from Old Orchard Beach and 17 miles from Portland, both iconic destinations for RVers.

“Maine is called ‘Vacationland’ for a reason.  We’re thrilled to get the opportunity to become a community fixture in the Saco and greater Portland area, plus be surrounded by amazing campgrounds, beaches, and national parks,” remarked Pete’s RV co-owner Chad Shepard.

Along with the flagship store in Vermont, Pete’s RV Center has dealerships in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and South Carolina.

For more Pete’s RV news, events, and inventory, check out https://www.petesrv.com/–location-maine today!

Boondocking on a Budget

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boondocking (noun) — RV camping without being connected to water, electricity, or sewage, usually in a remote or wild location. Synonyms: dry camping, free camping, wild camping.

What Is RV Boondocking? - Gander Outdoors

One of the most exciting ways to go RV camping, boondocking can be a great new way to spice up your summer. But are you prepared to ration supplies, go without WiFi, and camp off the grid? The Dyrt magazine has a comprehensive guide to all things boondocking, check it out below!

Boondocking: The Complete Guide to Free Camping (Almost) Anywhere

At Pete’s RV Center, we’re here for your RV adventures! Find your next RV or schedule a service appointment at petesrvcenter.com today!

How to do Laundry on a RV Road Trip

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One of the big mysteries of full time RVing to those who don’t live on the road is how do full time RVers do laundry?

The easiest way is the laundry machines often placed in RV parks. One RV blogger said that “I can count on one hand the number of RV parks that didn’t have laundry machines.” Despite this frequency, not all RV parks have enough laundry machines for the number of RVers within the parks, and not all RVers stay in RV parks! Additionally, hunting down all the quarters required to use a park laundry machine can be a struggle in an increasingly cash-less world, especially with the sometimes high cost of laundry machines. 

Mountain View Campground in Morrisville, Vermont boasts many amenities along with laundry machines

Another solution is using a local laundromat, typically easy to find on Google, but not always found in remote areas. Most laundromats do have a machine for getting quarters though, making it easier to stock up for more washes down the road. Some even have laundry machines that can be activated with a credit card swipe. 

Not every roadtrip situation offers the flexibility to wait around on laundry machines, though. That’s why many RVers have gotten creative with portable laundry devices. 

This portable washer-dryer has two neighboring tubs, one for washing and the other for spin drying. It takes up to 10lbs washing capacity and has a drainage tube for emptying the dirty water, and runs off the 120v power similar to most RV refrigerators. Most reviewers do say that after the spin dry clothes are still damp though, so an additional investment of a drying rack is also recommended. Keep in mind that many RV parks do not allow outside clothes lines to dry your own clothes. 

A smaller personal laundry option without needing to use your RV’s precious electricity is the Scrubba, which is popular with backpackers. It works by filling the bag with laundry, water, and detergent, rolling the bag down and clipping it, twisting the valve to deflate, then rub the clothes on the Scrubba’s internal washboard for anywhere between 30 seconds and five minutes. You then unclip, pour out the water, and rinse clothes with fresh water in the Scrubba, and they are now clean and ready for the drying rack. 

Perhaps the most luxurious RV laundry option is having washer and dryer hookups within your RV, which is becoming increasingly popular in luxury fifth wheels. The laundry cycle can take a few hours this way, and you won’t be able to do this while boondocking, as it requires a lot of power and water, but is temptingly easy if your RV is plugged in one place. 

No matter how you keep your clothes clean on the road, Pete’s RV Center has all of your RV camping needs in mind. Follow our infoblog today for more RVing tips, tricks, and news!