When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was upon me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. Four hoarse blasts of a ship’s whistle still raise the hairs on my neck and set my feet to tapping, the sound of a jet, an engine warming up, even the clopping of shod horses on pavement brings on the ancient shudder, the dry mouth and vacant eye, the hot palms and the churn of stomach high up under the rib cage.

In other words, I don’t improve; in further words, once a bum, always a bum. I fear the disease is incurable. I set this matter down not to instruct others but to inform myself….

1 What's This Cruising on Land Stuff?
How we got involved in it
RVs compared to boats and hotels

2 Choosing a Rig.
What we consider the best choices for "normal" middle class people and why.
Campers, tent trailers, motorhomes, trailers, 5th wheels and why we chose what we did.
Tow Vehicles, weight considerations the salesman probably won't tell you.
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3 Preparing for the Cruise; the Mechanical side.
"Pre-departure" check of the tow vehicle
Good stuff to carry along in case of problems
"Pre-departure" check list of the Rig

4 Provisioning & Outfitting for the Cruise
The Rig as your second home.
Remember weight when provisioning.
Storing for convenience and avoiding damage.
List of what we consider the basics to carry with us.

5 Driving an RV
Licenses needed.
Backing a 5th wheel vs. backing a trailer.
Importance of gauges.
Avoiding heat build up in your tranny.
Things to pay attention to when hooking up a trailer.
Trailer loading concerns; dealing with sway.
Things to pay attention to when hooking up a 5th wheel.
Things to be aware of when towing a trailer or a 5th wheel. They do track differently!
Stopping for a night (anchoring).

6 A Day on the Road
A typical day and night when cruising somewhere.
Staying relaxed and taking things easy.

7 Cruising with Pets
RV parks and pets.
"Size" restriction actually means BREED restrictions.
Pet owner etiquette. Don't blow it for the rest of us.

8 Good things to know about Clubs & Organizations
"Good Sam" and "KOA."
Fraternal Organizations.
Private membership club and "resorts."

9 Home is the Cruiser; Putting the Rig to Bed
Preparing the rig for sitting between cruises.
Preventing rodent damage.
A historical look at a mini septic system.
Preventing tank and piping freezing.

10 Log of a Cruise
A day to day account of a two month voyage from the Pacific northwest to
Puerto Penasco, Mexico, and home again.

11 Shopping in Puerto Penasco
General shopping in Mexico.
Several tasty recipes.

12 Dictionary of RV terms used in this book
Many terms are the same as with boats, but if "Boon-docking"
or "Pusher" is new to you, look here.