Tag: Crane Lake MN RV Campgrounds

Tips for new RV campers

rv park near northern mnOur RV camping season is just around the corner, so many of us are getting ready! There are approximately 355,000 new RVs sold each year, so many RVers hitting the road this season are totally newbies.

After you get the hang of it, RV camping is one of the most enjoyable, rewarding, and relaxing experiences you will ever have. Our goal is to help you prepare to go on your first adventure with your RV by putting together this guide!

Checklists:

If you’re a new RV camper, checklists can be a lifesaver! Making a few checklists and keeping them on hand is a good idea until you get the hang of things.

Making a packing list will help you not to forget any essential items. As you go on more trips, you’ll learn what you need and don’t need, and what you bring but never use.

Make a list of all the things you need to do before you go… this might include packing, ensuring that your home is ready for a vacation and all the appliances are turned off and other things like:

  • Checking the RV tires
  • Making sure the awning is pulled in (you’d be surprised how many people miss this and lose their awning)
  • Making sure the RV Jacks are pulled up
  • Everything is latched and secured
  • All passengers are accounted for, etc.

A setup checklist will ensure that you don’t make mistakes like forgetting to connect the sewer hose for the shower once you’ve arrived at camp. A checklist for setting up a camp should include the following:

  • Leveling the RV
  • Securing Wheels
  • Hooking up Water
  • Hooking up Sewer
  • Setting up Pop-Ups or Opening Slides
  • Setting up lawn chairs/outside area

Walkaround:

No matter how old or in what condition your RV or travel trailer is, you should get in the habit of  doing a walkaround every time you stop. Every time you stop at a gas station, grocery store, or campground, look around your RV for obvious problems. When you travel down the road, you are subjected to a lot of vibrations. Make sure your tires are in good shape, your storage bins are latched, and there are no obvious signs of  trouble. An easy and quick walkaround could save you a whole lot of headaches down the road.

Driving Tips:

If you’re driving a motorhome or pulling a trailer, the driving experience is going to be different than if you were in just a normal vehicle on a daily basis.

RVs and trailers are both large and wide – you will need to use your mirrors to help you see. Make sure your mirrors are in the proper position for driving and learn how to use them. In general, one mirror helps you see traffic behind you, while the other shows where your RV or trailer tires are, as well as some of  your blind spots. Making turns is easier if you know where your RV or trailer tires are in relation to you, the driver, and in relation to curbs. You will also be able to stay within your lane with these mirrors – your truck is much wider than a standard vehicle.

Keep a slow speed and start braking earlier than you would in a car – an RV or travel trailer weighs more and requires a longer stopping distance. Don’t ride the brakes while going downhill. Shift down and let the engine do the work, not your brakes. When downgrading, tap the brakes for a few seconds at a time to prevent overheating.

Protect Your RV:

As an RV owner, you want to enjoy your investment for years to come. In addition to insurance and  preventative maintenance, RVers also use a few devices to provide themselves with additional  protection and peace of mind.

  • Surge Protector: A surge protector protects your system from power surges by plugging it between the rig and an external power supply. In the event of a power surge from lightning or bad campground wiring, it will protect your rig from electrical damage. It monitors the quality of the power source, protects your rig from ungrounded connections, and will prevent your rig’s electrical system from getting fried. It is a small investment that can help you save your entire electrical system! To ensure that it does not get stolen, you can purchase a lock.
  • An TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system, can notify you of potential tire hazards you might otherwise overlook. Tire pressure and temperature sensors are available for RVs and travel trailers alike and provide alerts when the conditions change. In this way, blowouts and rig damage can be prevented.

Time to Prepare Your RV For The Spring Camping Season

This is the ideal time to assess how your RV and trailer are doing so break it out of storage and check it out. Keep reading for more guidance and additional de-winterization maintenance tasks to prepare your RV for The Spring Camping Season.

Basic Inspection & Safety Checks

You should first check your RV’s major systems to ensure it is roadworthy:

  • power system
  • propane system
  • tire health

Make sure you do this early, so you have time to schedule any necessary maintenance before your first trip. Make certain that your carbon monoxide detector, smoke detector, LP detector, and fire extinguisher all work properly.

Check Electric Power

Look over all battery connections first. If they are corroded, disconnect the shore power and wear safety goggles and latex gloves when cleaning them off. Then, charge your batteries and check the fluid levels in the batteries, adding distilled water if necessary. If you have a generator, check it for nests and make sure the filter does not need to be replaced. A lack of fuel in the generator’s lines usually causes it to fail to start. Prime your generator by running the pump for about 20 seconds to deliver fuel to the carburetor. After that, it should start much more quickly. Once you have your generator running, check the oil level. Test all appliances on the electric setting.

Propane

Check the water heater (exterior of RV) closely in order to remove any debris from the burner tube. Make sure all of your propane appliances are turned off (furnace, stove, oven, refrigerator).

Visually inspect your propane system to make sure the seals and hoses aren’t cracked. If everything looks okay, open the valve on the tank(s) all the way. If you suspect a leak, use a soapy water solution around the valves and look for bubbles. Other important gear to have on hand is refillable RV propane tanks, alarms, and detectors.  The last step is to ensure that your appliances are working properly using the propane settings. Be sure to inspect your propane appliances and furnace each spring when taking your RV out of storage.

Tires

If your tires (plus the spare) are in need of replacement, get them installed at your earliest convenience. Check the tires for proper inflation, inspect the sidewall for any cracks and the tread depth.

Dewinterize and Check Your Water Systems

The antifreeze will need to be drained and flushed from your system if you winterized it with non-toxic antifreeze. There are a couple of easy steps you can follow:

  1. If removed, re-insert the low point drain plugs.
  2. Replacing the anode rod with an Atwood water heater or the drain plug with a Suburban water heater is imperative if they have been neglected previously.
  3. The bypass water heater valves must be changed to “use” mode, which means closing the bypass valve and opening the hot and cold valves.
  4. The water system can be re-pressurized with a hose or at the pump by filling the freshwater tank and turning it on.
  5. To flush out the antifreeze in your system, open the faucets and the shower heads for indoor and outdoor use as well as the toilet.
  6. Then turn off the water pressure and remove the caps from the low point drains.
  7. Turn on the pressure again to flush out any of the remaining antifreeze in the system.
  8. Then turn off the water pressure to put the drain caps back on.

Test all valves, including faucets, outside shower, and toilet while you’re at it, including the water pump and city water hook-up.

Interior Inspection & Resupply

Clean the interior thoroughly. Drain any dehumidifiers (or replace any disposables). Check inside the cabinets and under the sinks for signs of rodents and pests. Now is a good time to go through all of your supplies and restock the camper with the essentials. If you discover any evidence of them, find the source and take care of it now before you add any new food items to the pantry.

Exterior Inspection & Wash

You should inspect the interior of your RV and climb up on the roof to check for chips, cracks, or missing caulking around exterior windows, doors, roof vents, and other seals. The awnings in your RV are exposed to the weather and rarely see sunlight, making them prone to mildew. Finally, rinse the RV well with a gentle biodegradable soap solution. Simply Green works well. To clean, use a soft bristle brush with the soap solution. Rinse well and let them air dry for a few hours before retracting.

All Systems Go!

Making sure these checks are run on your RV and performing any necessary maintenance will go a long way toward making your camping season a success.

 

Packing List For Your Next RV Adventure

HQ RV Park Campground Crane Lake

HQ RV Park Campground Crane LakeIt’s crucial that you pack efficiently. If you don’t, you might forget a few items and have to buy them during your excursion. On the other hand, if you pack too much, you may exceed the weight capacity of your RV and the integrity of its structure may eventually be compromised.

Follow this packing guide for your next RV adventure, so you can get out and explore.

Cooking Items

Aluminum foil is an essential cooking item that is easy to overlook at home. The typical RV doesn’t have the room for all of your kitchen equipment; you’ll need less of it than you have at home. Begin your Northern MN RV trip by planning a few meals, such as a few meals you will enjoy on your trip.

Now that you have a meal plan, you’re ready to pack:

  • cookware, like pots and pans
  • plateware, including plates and bowls (paper makes clean-up a breeze)
  • utensils for eating and cooking
  • aluminum foil
  • paper towels
  • trash bags
  • multi-purpose cleaner
  • dish rag
  • dish soap

When it comes to consumables, don’t forget to bring condiments from home. That’s easy to forget, since people use them so much at home. Don’t go out and buy extra salt or mustard when you could just bring them from home.

If you can, bring along a portable grill. A camping trip wouldn’t be complete without dining outdoors. Aluminum foil and grilling utensils will come in handy here.

Bedding Items

Packing bedding may seem like an easy assignment, but it takes a little planning in advance to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep.

  • You will need to pack similar bedding to the one you use at home. If you have electricity to run the air conditioning or heater, you won’t need extra blankets.
  • Depending on the time of year, you may have cooler nights so you may want the blankets.

Clothing and Personal Items

Be sure to bring your swimsuit. No matter where you are going, and for how long, there is no reason for you to pack more than two weeks of clothing.

In addition to other personal items, sunscreen, bug spray, and hats are essential while you are hiking in Northern MN and participating in other outdoor activities.

Outdoor Gear

It might be a good idea to bring a bicycle with you on an RV trip. The true purpose of your RV trip is to explore the outdoors, cook outside and take in the scenery of beautiful northern mn.

It is likely you will spend a lot of your time outside, so you should think about your patio area and what would be most comfortable for you. Some suggestions:

  • To prevent mess on the patio, use a rug.
  • Folding chairs for the outdoors
  • Foldable table
  • Of course, a grill too.

Escape The City And Enjoy Summer To The Fullest

northern Minnesota rv parks

northern Minnesota rv parksIt’s no exaggeration to say that the last year has been among the most stressful imaginable for many families. But with the Coronavirus thankfully on the way to being brought under control, many families (especially those with young children) will be looking to shrug off the effects of Cabin Fever by heading out into the welcoming arms of Mother Nature.

The increasing popularity of RV vacations, in part due to flight restrictions has led many families to seriously evaluate this sort of vacation option. In a country the size of America, with varied climates and such enormous natural beauty, this would come as no surprise. However, given this choice deciding where to go becomes an enormous challenge.

One would ideally find a region with great natural beauty and RV facilities that cater to all sorts of RV’s – and offers attractions close by that would offer an incredible variety and that beauty that nature can provide.

Fortunately, the United States has a variety of such areas. But again, what is the best choice?

The Voyageurs National Park wilderness, the Headquarters RV Park which can be found on the border of Crane Lake and Buyck, Minnesota simply ticks all the boxes. This a place where one can experience the wonders of the Minnesota wilderness – but still have all the comforts of home when it comes to RV amenities.

Set on 30 acres of natural beauty you will not be crowded. Unlike other top-class RV parks, there is only room for the select few (and for those who book their space early). The 15 full-service sites (with 30 or 50 AMP service and a natural rock surface) have everything that the family wanting to escape the confines of the city and the stress of daily life could ever wish for.

Those who want to immerse themselves in nature will be spoiled for choice with hiking and walking trails in the Voyageurs National Park wilderness – and for water lovers, easy access to the Boundary Water Canoe Area provides even more opportunity to enjoy the wonderful natural beauty of the area.

Those arriving will soon find themselves subject to the lure of Crane Lake and the greater North Woods area. If that is not enough, evenings under the clear, star-studded sky of Minnesota offer a fabulous opportunity to simply relax at the side of the rock fire pits which are a feature that is part and parcel of every RV site at this venue.

For those who want to just recharge tired emotional and physical batteries an RV excursion to Headquarters RV Park is one that will not only provide a reward in the short term but an experience that will live on in memory for decades, if not generations.

Why Buying An RV You Can Augment Your Life

rv park near northern mnWhen you go on vacation, you really need to have an RV because it can help you pursue that adventurous spirit that you have.
When you go on the open road, you can start exploring, and you can literally go anywhere.

Go Anywhere You Want

It really is easy to use an RV. You can take it to different states that you want to visit because it’s so easy to do.

You can spend the entire summer, going across the country, even bringing your family with you. You can also go if you are an adult without any family at all. Your ability to meet new people will be expanded as you are traveling in your RV.

If you can be flexible with your travel plans, and RV is perfect. There is really no place that you can be kept from when you have one at your disposal.

A Literal Home Away From Home

One of the things you need to be careful of when you are traveling with other people is that it can get slightly messy and people can become claustrophobic. It can become extremely overwhelming.

People that are more used to the comforts of home may not believe that all of their belongings can come with them. Although people will have their own sleeping area, it’s not like a bedroom. If you have kids, and they are fighting, you have a large enough RV you can send them to their room.
Once you have your RV, it allows you to go anyplace that you want to. No need to find fast food joints because everything will be available in your kitchen.

RVing can also be very useful if you like to camp, and it helps you avoid bugs outside plus you can take showers. You know you will be perfectly comfortable inside of this rolling home.

Make Your RV A Full-Time Home

There are so many people that make their RV a full-time home. For instance, if you are currently renovating your house, it could then be a temporary place to stay. This is a great thing because you are no longer required to get a hotel.

Many people that own RVs treat it as a permanent place of residence. That is because there will be bathrooms, a stove, and a refrigerator, and you simply need to get used to this way of living.

Central air conditioning and heating will also be provided. It can be a much more simple life, free from an overabundance of amenities, when you are living in your RV.

Join A Local And Active RV Community

Have you remembered the last time that you were in a hotel with friends or family members? If you want to meet people, you can go to RV resorts.
By joining an RV community, it’s going to be very easy to do. If you want to set up everything, and enjoy campfire songs, you might want to bring your neighbors so that they can help if you want to truly get to know the people that live around to on the road.

Tips For Feeling Right At Home In An RV Park

RV parks in northern mn

Are you looking for a way to feel comfortable as you travel from one campground to the other or state? Well, you should consider moving around in a recreational vehicle (RV). You can enjoy the feeling of home as you camp and enjoy the outdoors. Here are some of the best tips to help you feel at home while in your RV at an RV park.

1. Choose The Best Spot To Park Your RV

When looking for an ideal spot to park your RV, you need to ask yourself the following questions. Do you want to be separated from the other campers? Are you looking for a pet-friendly parking spot for your RV? Do you want an area with trees bordering instead of other campers?

Don’t forget to consider the needs of your RV such as electrical hookups, outdoor grill, fire pit or somewhere you can pull through instead of backing up. Once you consider the amenities you need, you should be able to pick a great spot and feel right at home in the RV park.

2. Bring Your Own Dishes, Cookware And Silverware

The best thing about traveling with an RV is that you can camp without leaving the comfort of your home behind. Well, if you want to make the feeling ideal, you should come with real dishes, cookware and silverware.

Some of the recommended kitchen supplies you should bring include a coffee maker, cooking sheets, pots and pans, seasoning, cooking basics, forks, knives and spoons among other kitchen accessories.

3. Invest In Your Outdoor Set-up

Yes, you might be moving from one RV campground to the other. However, you need to make your temporary campsite feel like your own backyard. You can personalize the area in many ways to make it familiar to your camping needs.

Conclusion

When you are traveling with an RV, you might not spend 24/7 in it. However, you want to feel at home when you are cruising around in it. You can achieve this effortlessly by bringing your own items. Take some time to decorate and plan ahead and your RV camping will feel exactly like home. You can personalize your space and enjoy your home away from home effortlessly.

Now Is A Good Time To Plan Your RV Trip For Next Summer

RV parks in northern mn

RV parks in northern mnA lot of our plans over the short term have been postponed or even canceled. After all, we are doing almost everything from home including working. Because of this, many people are left having more free time than ever before. That makes it a great time to consider planning your next RV trip. Now can be a great time to lose yourself in daydreams. If you’ve been dreaming about going on an RV vacation for a long time, you should be using this opportunity to plan it. You’ve likely been watching far too much news if you’ve been obeying the distancing guidelines set forth by the Government. Give yourself a break and plan out your next RV trip.

By focusing on what’s to come and all of the exciting things you have planned in the future, you should be able to treat yourself to a well-deserved break.

If you are aiming to find a different kind of vacation and one that you haven’t experienced before, an RV trip may be on your shortlist. While a lot of people are worrying about the hassle of returning rented vehicles or even swapping out flights, you will be able to travel in an RV without the common problems that would normally crop up during a traditional vacation.

The best road trips you can take will be properly planned for and organized in a way that allows for optimal flexibility.

Therefore, if you’ve thought about heading out on an RV trip, now is a great time to begin the planning process. You will be able to map out the different places you want to go and see along the way.

There are several guidelines you should be following when you are planning out a trip. You want to ensure that you are planning a trip in a way that doesn’t have you driving more than 300 miles in a single given day. After all, driving in an RV can be much slower than a car. Therefore, you want to give yourself plenty of time to make the trip.

From there, you will want to figure out where you will be staying that specific night by at least 3 p.m. That way, you will be able to get everything properly set up and ready to go by the time it gets dark outside. The more experienced travelers who are used to traveling by RV will tell you that you shouldn’t be looking to pack too much in too little time. You want to maintain a high level of flexibility throughout your entire trip. That way, you will be able to make changes along the way to ensure you can get the most out of the trip.

You Do Not Have To Go Too Far

Keep in mind, you don’t necessarily have to plan out a long trip to enjoy your time. You will be able to find all kinds of different places whether you are looking to visit a place located within your state or somewhere else. Keep in mind, driving an RV is much slower than driving a regular car. Because of this, you won’t want to pack too many miles into the trip which might make you much happier with shorter distances.

It’s Time To Do Some Research

Now that you are familiar with the process involved with traveling via an RV, you will want to begin the planning process. Here are some of the best resources you can use on your way towards planning the ultimate RV trip. No matter if it’s a short trip or a long one, now is a great time to consider planning out your RV trip so you are ready to go when the time comes.

How To Prepare Your RV For Winter

Winter is quickly approaching and as a result, you should start preparing your RV by winterizing it. Unfortunately, winter can be quite tough on your RV due to the fact that they have plumbing and many parts that contain moisture and water that can easily get frozen and break or get severely damaged. So, properly winterizing your RV is essential so that it survives the winter and after winter when everything starts to thaw and melt.

1. Take Out The Water Filters

The very first thing that you should do is take out and bypass your RV’s in line water filters. If you add any winterization chemicals, this will likely cause your filters to get damaged. It is also best to replace the filters in fall and winter if they need to be changed out.

2. Drain The Water Tanks

Next, make sure that you don’t allow any wastewater to remain inside of your RV throughout the winter. This water can potentially freeze and cause many problems. Also, this will be the perfect place for bacteria to grow. So, make sure to drain your gray and black water tanks and do the black water tank first. After they have both been drained, make sure to clean your RV’s black tank using a cleaning wand as well as a good quality black tank cleaner.

3. Drain Out Your Water Lines & Water Heater

The next step you’ll have to take is to remove any water from the water heater in your RV. In order to remove the water, first turn off the heater and allow it to cool and de-pressurize. Once it is fully cooled, then take out the drain plug and open the valve for the pressure to reduce. This will cause all of the water to drain from your water heater. Make sure that the water is cool and the tank is de-pressurized before you attempt to drain it. After you’ve drained it, put on the hot and cold faucets completely as well as both of your drain lines. This will ensure all of the water is fully drained out.

4. Bypass Your RV’s Water Heater

Next, you will need to bypass the water heater in your RV before you add anything else. This is important to prevent antifreeze from getting into your water heater. The vast majority of RVs already have a bypass. However, if your RV doesn’t have one then you’ll need to get one installed and you can do so at Camping World.

5. Add Antifreeze

In order to add antifreeze you will need to have a water pump converter kit installed. Alternatively, you can take off the inlet side of the pump and simply put it into the container with the antifreeze. Once this is done, close all of your RV’s drain lines and faucets. Once complete, power on your water pump which will move the antifreeze into your system. Once your water system is pressurized, you should put on the hot water on each of your RV’s faucets until you can see antifreeze coming out of the faucet. Repeat with the cold water function. After, take off the water pump and open all of your RV’s faucets.

Next, take out the small screen from your city water inlet. You will need a small screwdriver in order to push on the valve so that the coolant can come out. Once done, place the screen back in its original position and close up the inlet. Make sure and throw antifreeze down each one of the sinks and drains in your RV. After all the steps above are completed, make sure that your water heater is turned off and all of the faucets have been turned off as well.

Quick Tips To Enjoy Fall RV Camping Trips

campfires

campfiresThe mornings and evenings are always cold!

In the fall, the evenings are usually quite cold which means that you’ll need to start a fire. There is nothing more enjoyable and relaxing than sitting near a campfire while you chat and sing with your friends. All you will need is some coffee or hot cocoa and s’mores and you’ll be all set.

The mornings will also be quite cold in the fall and this creates a magical and mystical effect. This happens because the cool mornings combined with the heat from the water causes fog near lakes and ponds.

Foliage

Next, another great reason why RV camping during the fall is such a great idea is so that you can enjoy the foliage. During the fall in Arkansas, the leaves turn color a bit later than other areas. So, you can actually follow the changing foliage colors in your RV by camping in different areas every weekend. All you need to do is camp a bit further south each week.

The Amazing Weather

The great thing about fall is that it is a perfect time to enjoy various activities such as biking, hiking etc. The great thing about this time is that it isn’t very hot and it isn’t very cold either. This means that you can spend all day outdoors if you want and you’ll be quite comfortable. You can even spend a lot of time in the water if you wish.

You can start your day wearing a couple layers of clothes and then take layers off as the day progresses. We also enjoy doing float trips because the water is still a bit warm to enjoy.

RV Camping Tips During The Fall

As you can see, RV camping during the fall season is a fantastic idea. We will now look at a couple of tips that will help you to enjoy your fall camping a bit more.

1. Always ensure that you have a reserve propane tank before you set out and that all your tanks are full. You definitely don’t want to run out of propane on those cold nights.

2. Make sure you have lots of extra clothes to layer on. Even though the days may feel warm, the nights and mornings can be quite cold. It is better to pack extra clothes and not need them than to not have enough clothes and have a miserable cold trip. Make sure to pack lots of hoodies, long sleeve shirts, t-shirts, beanies, socks, gloves etc.

3. Don’t forget to pack extra blankets

4. Walk with lots of hot chocolate, tea bags, coffee etc. You will definitely enjoy your hot beverage on cold evenings and mornings.

5. Pack lots of s’mores as they make the perfect campfire snack.

6. Hiking shoes are also very important and will keep your feet warm and well protected.

7. Pack a walled canopy so that you can be outdoors even if it rains.

8. Lastly, make sure to pack lots of insect spray. There will undoubtedly be lots of bugs during the day and night and you don’t want to be caught without bug spray to defend your territory.

Living the RV Lifestyle

rv parks northern mn

rv parks northern mnGoing on a vacation and back is one thing but taking on the road full time is a different ball game altogether. Long-term RV living, or “full-timing” as the community refers to it, is an amazing and adventurous choice of lifestyle that can allow you to discover and experience the world as part of your day-to-day life.

In some situations, RV living can help save some good money on living expenses such as rent and demanding energy and water bills. Sticks-and-bricks houses are quite costly, after all!

This is not to say that full-time RV living does not have its own expenses and in certain extents, even sacrifices as is with almost everything in life; it’s a give and take. This extraordinary life of travel can give you a much-needed sense of liberation. A lot of full-timers are actually attracted by the simple and minimalistic lifestyle so as to seek a debt-free life.

Living on the Road on a Recreational Vehicle
Regardless of whatever has generated your interest in living in an RV full time on the road, it’s not as simple as loading into the rig and camping in a park. A transition of such magnitude needs some preparation.

Benefits of RV Living
As aforementioned, one of the benefits to RV living, or at least a reason most people commonly site for taking on this kind of life is its cheap nature. However, before you decide to seek a wild life on the road, you should know it’s not always that easy as it seems.
RV living has a lot of costs and they vary thus making it really difficult to conclude an “average” cost of RV living. There’s the cost of gas that will vary according to the model of RV you buy, how frequently you drive, and by how far, as well as the terrain in which you’re setting up camp. You will also have to pay campsite fees, license and registration, maintenance and repairs, as well as food and entertainment.

If you fail to exercise caution, all those costs can easily equal the money you would otherwise pay on a mortgage, utilities, rent or other house living expenses such as food and sanitary products. However, as long as you plan accordingly and in advance, RV living can be a good way to minimize your living costs. At least, you won’t buy a lot of items when you don’t have a lot of space to store them in!

If you want to enjoy an easy RV life, getting in without concerns of debt is the best way to go about it — and that includes the cost of the rig. Regardless of the level of debt you’re in, you can pull yourself out if you work hard enough towards achieving your goal.

Headquarters RV is currently open to seasonal people and we are taking reservations for later in the month. We will know later, at nearly the same time, if we will be permitted to take transient reservations. Social Distancing is maintained on our premises. Please contact us for more information.