Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland: Is it Worth it?

If you are thinking of going to Disneyland while RVing, there’s no place closer than the Anaheim Harbor RV Park.   Their slogan is “There’s nobody closer to the magic.”  That’s true.  There’re also some things that you should know before booking an RV site there.

We stayed at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park for 19 days in the spring of 2024.  Here’s what we learned.

Pros of the Anaheim Harbor RV Park

1. Location

The Anaheim Harbor RV Park is just a 20-minute walk to Disneyland. On most evenings, we could see some of the Disneyland fireworks going off promptly at 9:30 pm from our RV site. Yes, fireworks are a “pro” for most people. However, for RVers traveling with dogs that don’t like thunderstorms or loud noises, that could be a problem.

Disneyland fireworks can be seen from our side at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park

Pro Tip: We walked over 34,000 steps on the day we visited Disneyland. Even though the Anaheim Harbor RV Park is close to Disneyland, it was struggle walking back to the park after such a long day. Uber or Lyft, anyone?

2. Competitive Rates  

The rates at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park are competitive, ranging from $65/night (small; 25x14ft) to $80/night (40x28ft; deluxe+ parking+grass).  (These are 2024 rates, and taxes/fees are not included))

We chose the $80/night deluxe option because we had a tow vehicle and wanted some grass for our pups. We were assigned two adjacent sites (sites 116-117) for our “deluxe” site.

Our deluxe + parking + grass site at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

3. Pet Friendly (Sorta)

The Anaheim Harbor RV Park is “sorta” pet friendly.  Here’s what the RV park does right.

(a)    The Anaheim Harbor RV Park did not charge an extra fee for pets.   Thank you!

(b)    The Anaheim Harbor RV Park provided pet waste bags near the office.  These weren’t just any pet waste bags though.   They were the NICEST ones I’ve ever used.   Think of the difference between single ply toilet paper and some soft Charmin.   These bags were like the latter, and the dispensers were always stocked! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

4. Security

As someone who grew up in the Midwest, I’m always nervous about staying in big cities with a reputation for crime. The Los Angeles metropolitan area seemed particularly concerning in that regard. I never felt unsafe during our stay at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park though.  Most notably, a security guard manned a small guard house near the entrance to the RV Park at night, and we saw a couple of cars patrolling the area as well.

Guard House at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

5. Amenities

The Anaheim Harbor RV Park isn’t a “resort,” but it does have some good amenities.

(a)    The RV park has a modern laundry facility.   Patrons must purchase a card to use the machines.

(b)    There’s a small swimming pool.

(c) The RV park has a couple of restroom facilities: one adjacent to the office and another a short distance away away.

(d) The RV park has a couple of very nice common spaces (one by the office and another by the pool) with a covered deck, grills, and chairs. We didn’t see any gatherings, but these spaces were well-maintained.

Laundry Room at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

Restrooms at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park (code required)

The swimming pool at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

Common area at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

6. Great Staff

The folks working in the office at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park were nice, and made sure we got any applicable discounts for our stay. The office also let us receive mail and Amazon packages there. Lastly, for a small urban RV park, the place was very clean. The janitorial staff deserves a shout-out for keeping the place quite nice.

Cons of the Anaheim Harbor RV Park

1. Some Misleading Amenities.

The Anaheim Harbor RV Park boasts a “clubhouse” and a “five-hole putting green” on the website.   Those aren’t want they sound like.

The clubhouse is an oversized shed with a 32-inch TV, PAC-man game, vending machine, and a Keurig machine ($1/pod).   This isn’t a resort-style clubhouse.

The five-hole putting green is smaller than an RV site.   We never once saw anyone playing the course…except when I air-golfed in the photo below. Look at that form!

The “Clubhouse” at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

The “Clubhouse” interior at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

Lana shows off her air-golf skills at the 5-hole putting green at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

2. Real Grass is a Premium

Remember how I said that the Anaheim Harbor RV Park was “sorta” pet friendly? The “grass” on our site (which we paid extra money for) was actually artificial turf.   Moreover, the small turf pad was located waaaayyy at the back of our site.   We had to purchase some extra fencing in order to be able to route a path from our RV door to the small area.  

There’s also no dog park or good place to walk the dogs at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park. We often found ourselves walking the dogs just outside the RV park on South Harbor Boulevard.   While that is a very busy street, there are a few patches of actual grass just outside of the RV park.

Our classy looking fence system to get from the door to the “grass” at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park near Disneyland

3. Lots of RV Newbies (and Permanent Residents)

This item isn’t a true “con” but just something that people staying at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park need to be aware of.

As you can imagine, many people who stay at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park are tourists going to Disneyland.   We saw lots of RV rentals who were there for only a night or two, and we spoke to several couples who were RV-ing for the first time.  Indeed, I’ve never seen so many Cruise America rented RVs in my life! There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but just be prepared to be patient as these “RV Newbies” get settled into their sites. On a few occasions, I was a little nervous about a newbie RVer running into something. No judgment…. We’ve all been there…. 

On the flip side, most of the Anaheim Harbor RV Park is reserved for permanent (long-term) residents. Those sites are farthest from the road, and they are very close together. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but just know that people actually live there and short-term visitors need to respect that.

4. Sewer Locations are Not Ideal

The sewer access points for each at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park are located at the back of the site (not the side).   Make sure and bring extra sewer hose if you have it around.   Moreover, our site was oriented so that the sewer access point was “upstream” from our rig.   We had to do the “sewer hose” dance to get all of the liquid to drain.  If you don’t know what that means, watch this video excerpt. 

It’s a little hard to se, but our extra sewer house came in handy at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park

Is it Worth Staying at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park?

The short answer is “yes.” If I had to do things over as far as accomodations go for our Disneyland adventure, we would stay at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park again. It’s not a “resort,” but the pros outweigh the cons. If you have stayed at the Anaheim Harbor RV Park, I’m curious to know what YOU thought!

My Visit to Slowjamastan: What YOU Should Know about this Micronation

I’ve always wanted to visit Slowjamastan.  By “always,” I mean since about six months ago.   My great love of the country began after reading this CNN article.   When we decided to spend a month in nearby Ocotillo Wells at the Leaping Lizard RV Ranch, I was thrilled.  

The motherland! 

This was it! 

But first….I had so many questions.

• What is the Full Name of this Micronation?

• When was Slowjamastan founded? 

• Does Slowjamastan have a government? 

• Who founded Slowjamastan? 

• Where is Slowjamastan?

• How big is Slowjamastan?

• What is the capital of Slowjamastan?

• What are the “Official Things” of Slowjamastan?

• Does Slowjamastan have laws? 

• Can you visit Slowjamastan?

• What is there to do in Slowjamastan?

• How much does it cost to become a citizen of Slowjamastan?

• Is Slowjamastan for real?

Here’s what you need to know about Slowjamastan and our visit to the country.

What is the Full Name of this Micronation?

The full name is The United Territories of the Sovereign Nation of The People’s Republic of Slowjamastan.

Let’s face it. That’s a lot of text for the official signs.

I call it TUTOTSNOTPROS for short (pronouced Too-TOT-Snot-Pros). Most people just call the place Slowjamastan.

When was Slowjamastan Founded?

The country was founded on August 18, 2021. Or maybe it was September 16, 2021.

Slowjamastan celebrates Independence Day on December 1st each year. There’s even a plaque with this date so this must be true. (I didn’t just read it on the internet.)

Does Slowjamastan have a Government?

Yes, Slowjamastan has a government. Here’s the details:

Government System: Dictatorship
Leader: The Sultan a/k/a Randy Williams a/k/a R Dub!
Political Philosophy: Don’t start no sh*t, won’t be no sh*t.
Governors/Parliament/Ambassadors: Pay-to-play (more on that below).

Who Founded Slowjamastan?

Slowjamastan was founded by The Sultan. He’s some DJ from San Diego who likes Slow Jams and hates mumble rap.

The Sultan has reportedly visited every country in the world. That is why he started his own country.

The Sultan is also incredibly good looking. Here I am admiring his cartoon handsomeness.

Here I am paying homage to the Sultan lof Slowjamastan (or at least a cartoon of him on a sign).

Where is Slowjamastan?

Slowjamastan is located in the middle of nowhere.
In the desert.
Yes, the desert.
For reals.

Slowjamastan can be found off California Highway 78 about 10 miles east of Ocotillo Wells. It’s on Google Maps!

Slowjamastan is located in the middle of the desert near Ocotillo Wells in Southern California.

Slowjamastan Border Crossing

How Big is Slowjamastan?

Slowjamastan sits on about 11 acres. But the place is bigger than just geography. As of this blog (February 2024), over 16,000 people are listed as citizens of Slowjamastan.

Are all of these Slowjamastan citizens real people? Let’s ask citizen Sir Fringle DItz from the country of “That one.”

Excerpt of Slowjamastan citizenship roster.

At this point, you are probably wondering “Are any of my friends listed as citizens Slowjamastan?” Or maybe you just want to know if you are a surreptitious citizen of Slowjamastan. To find out, you can search for Slowjamastan citizens in this database.

What is the Capital of Slowjamastan?

The capital of Slowjamastan is Dublândia. It is located right smack-dab in the center of the country.

Dublândia is famous for its tilde.

After visiting Dublândia, visitors may also travel to other states in Slowjamastan. These states currently include Palmerstan, Upper Palmerstan, Momopolis, Feeshissippi, Goodlandia, Snooklyn, Bucksylvania, Chuckfield of Dreams, TriviaLand (courtesy of Kid Corona), Higher Wadi, DonSam Wadi, and the Queendom of Hotdamastan.

State of Higher Wadi in Slowjamastan

State of Snooklyn in Slowjamastan

Interstate travel is easy in Slowjamastan. You can transport all of the fresh fruit that you would like to over state lines. (Suck it, California!)

Goodlandia - A permanent state of optimism (in Slowjamastan).

Queendom of Hotdamastan in Slowjamastan. This is where I want to live.

(PS: I want to live in Hotdamastan someday. I mean, who WOULDN’T want to live there? Look at that sign! Pee! Eh! Are! Tee! Why!).

What are the "Official Things" of Slowjamastan?

Official Currency:  Duble (paper) and Dubloons (coin)

Official language: English with a General Foreign Accent

National Anthem: “Slowjamastan (I Think It’s Gonna Be an Awesome Place)” (Sound familiar?)

Official Slogan: Libertas. Honor. Respectus.

Olympic Sport:  Red Rover

Time zone: SST (Slowjamastan Standard Time)

National animal: Raccoon (The country mascot is named SlowjamaStanley.)

National food: Tacos. (I’m just guessing.)

Racoons are protected animals in Slowjamastan.

Kasie tries to order tacos in Slowjamastan.

Does Slowjamastan have Laws?

Yes, yes, yes.

The most important law is “No wearing Crocs!”

The only exception is Wear Your Crocs in Slowjamastan Day (June 31). Mark your calendars!

Crocs are not permitted in Slowjamastand except for Wear Yuur Crocs in Slowjamastan Day.

Can You Visit Slowjamastan?

Border Checkpoint at Slowjamastan

Anyone visiting Southern California can visit Slowjamastan. But here is what you need to know:

Border Crossing:  A visa is required. Don’t worry; you can get instant visa approval here.

Border Security:  There are land mines filled with confetti and possibly Mexican candy. Beware of Mark Corona, Porder Batrol Agent (no typos here, folks!).

Current Wait Time at Border:  0 seconds

Consulate Office:  If you cannot make it to Slowjamastan, the Sultan maintains his Consulate Office at 6160 Cornerstone Ct E Suite 151, San Diego, CA 92121.

What is There to Do in Slowjamastan?

Slowjamastan is — how do you say it? — an up-and-coming country. If you like to read signs, this country is for you!

Major Export:  Sand. Sometimes Wind.

Major Industry:  Tourism

Major Infrastructure: Signs, desk, tarp over desk, flag pole, stockade, plaque, non-working pay phone, security camera (which may or may not work after I hit the pole with my drone)

Planned Infrastructure: Lazy River. Maybe a stationary boat.

Other Celebratory Assets: Flag, Porder Patrol truck (not a typo), Special Forces Cruiser, Firetruck (“Where the hose at?”), and a 2005 Dodge Neon Racecar. From what I can tell, these assets are only used for special events so you won’t find them in the country on most days.

Stocks at Slowjamastan

Is this possibly the construction of a stationary boat for the Lazy River in Slowjamastan?

It is REALLY REALLY HARD to find your way around Slowjamastan so I made an unofficial map of the major landmarks. You’re welcome. Not “Your Welcome".

Unofficial map of Slowjamastan. Map is not to scale.

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Citizen of Slowjamastan?

Here’s perhaps the best part about this country: citizenship is FREE!

Loyalists can opt for premium citizenship (which includes a photo on the website) for just $19.99. Registered animals of Slowjamastan also cost just $19.99. Our boy Earl decided to become a SlowjamaStanimal.

Official letter from The Sultan of Slojamastan recognizing Mr. Earl Hoosya Daddi as a citizen (registered animal) of Slowjamastan.

Earl became a registered animal of Slowjamastan.

The government of Slowjamastan is mostly pay-to-play beyond that. Governorships and state naming rights range from $2K to $10K, but you get a cool sign for all of those American dollars. A parliament position will run you $35/month and allows you to pick a cool title like “Director of Pizza Affairs” or “Minister of Mediocrity.” Ambassadorships cost $25/month (exclusive) and $10/month (non-exclusive). Check out the Slowjamastan Patreon page to get more involved for as low as $2/month.

You can also support Slowjamastand by buying Slowjamastan merch here. The online store only accepts U.S. dollars.

Disclaimer: We are NOT affiliated with Slowjamastan. While Slowjamastan may be as corrupt as any other country, we receive absolutely no kickbacks or anything like that. So sad.
(Update: We may be receiving an honorary Slowjamastan raccoon sticker and t-shirt! We promise that will not compromise our journalistic integrity though.)

Is Slowjamastan for Real?

 

Depends on who you ask.

Slowjamastan is a certainly a place. (It’s on Google maps!)

Slowjamastan is not formally recognized by the United States or Germany or China or Australia or any of the other 193+ countries that The Sultan visited. Sometimes a country may stamp a Slowjamastan passport though..

Places like Slowjamastan are known as micronations. Slowjamastan is legit in that regard, but it’s also just a fun idea.

My advice? Don’t think about it too much.

Post-Script

After publishing this blog and video, we received a video thank-you from The Sultan himself. I did not think that the Sultan could be more handsome, but have you seen him in a black t-shirt? We are appreciative of his kind words and the many thank-you communications from other Slowjamastan leaders.

Keep livin’ the dream.

You all rock.

Jayco Seneca & Entegra Accolade Super C: Coach Separation Problems and Fixes

If you own a Jayco Seneca or Entegra Accolade Super C RV (or are thinking of purchasing one), you will probably want to read or watch this!

Let me start off by saying that we love our 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L.   We call her BIG LADY (she’s an AccoLADE XL, get it?).   She’s a big, bad-ass, tough-lookin’ gal.

Even though BIG LADY looks tough, we do pamper her. For example, we don’t camp in remote places with bad roads -- although truthfully, some highways feel like we are off-roading (Nebraska, Arizona, I’m talking to you!).   We never raise our wheels of the ground when leveling.  We aren’t overweight (I’m talking about the rig; we could both stand to lose a few pounds😊). We do regular maintenance on BIG LADY as well.    

BIG LADY (our 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L) at the Bessey National Forrest in Nebraska

BIG LADY (our 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L) in Alamogordo, NM

While we’ve had some issues with BIG LADY, they’ve all been manageable (knock on wood).   For minor issues, we fix those ourselves.   For more complicated issues, they fortunately have not required urgent attention, and so we’ve traveled to the Entegra manufacturing facility in Middlebury, Indiana for warranty work. For the most part, the company has been good to work with.  RVs are not perfect, and people aren’t perfect.  Based on our personal experience with BIG LADY, we repeatedly tell ourselves that if we had to buy another Super C, we would probably pick the same one.

In short, we’ve been pretty lucky with BIG LADY.   Unfortunately, other owners of Entegra Accolades haven’t been. The Jayco Seneca and Entegra Accolade Super Cs seem to repeatedly suffer from coach separation issues — namely, the Wing Wall problem and the Vertical Seam Separation problem. Frankly, that scares me. I wanted to better understand what to look out for and how to fix such issues so I started doing some research. That lead to this blog.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

1. Jayco Seneca vs. Entegra Accolade - What's the Difference?

2. Overview of Two Major Super C Coach Separation Issues

3. What is the Wing Wall Problem?

4. How is the Wing Wall Problem Fixed?

   •  Jayco/Entegra SRP Bulletin 22-062

   • Variations to SRP Bulletin 22-062

   • How Does and RV Owner Know if an RV has the Wing Wall Fix?

5. What is the Vertical Seam Problem?

6. How is the Vertical Seam Problem Fixed?

   • Vertical Seam Separation Fix: Parts List

   • Vertical Seam Separation Fix: Steps

7. Are the Wing Wall Problems and Vertical Seam Separation Problems Covered by the Jayco or Entegra Warranty?

   • Scope of the Jayco Seneca Limited "Structural" Warranty

   • Scope of the Entegra Accolade Limited "Structural" Warranty (2020-2022)

8. Final Thoughts

Special thanks to Brian Miller, Robert Ross, Don McPhail, Tim Barrett, Jim Stewart, Mark Silverman, Dave Poole, Justin Mix, Jeff Glowniak, and others for their help information and photos/videos.

Jayco Seneca vs. Entegra Accolade

The title of this blog is about the Jayco Seneca and Entegra Accolade Super C. Perhaps we should back up a bit and start with whether there are any differences between a Jayco Seneca and an Entegra Accolade.

Is there a Difference between a Jayco Seneca & Entegra Accolade Super C?

BIG LADY is nestled between some Jayco Senecas and Entegra Accolades at the inaugural Super C rally (fall 2023)

Short Answer: Not Really. Jayco Senecas and Entegra Accolade are basically the EXACT same RVs – just a different brand. 

In fact, both brands say “Jayco” as the manufacturer on the RV title. For a given model, the MSRP is the same.  The floor plans are the same. 

Why are the brands basically the same? Entegra has been owned by Jayco since 2008.  In 2016, Thor Industries acquired Jayco, and that sale included the Entegra coach lines.

The Jayco Seneca has been around for a couple of decades. From 2005-2011, the Seneca was manufactured on a Chevy Kodiak chassis. Starting in 2012, Jayco switched to the M2 Freightliner chassis, and then in 2018, Jayco began manufacturing the Seneca on a Freightliner S2RV chassis. Entegra launched the Accolade in 2020 on the S2RV.

Since 2021, both Jayco and Entegra allow buyers to purchase an upgraded model.  Jayco calls their upgraded model the Seneca Prestige, while Entegra has named their model the Accolade XL.  One important difference between the base model and the upgrade model is the factory lines where the units are made. Both are made at the Jayco manufacturing plant in Middlebury, Indiana. The upgraded Prestige/XL models are manufactured in the same building as the expensive Entegra Class A diesel pushers— reportedly because they all contain tile flooring. In contrast, the base models are made in the same building with other Jayco motorized units, including the Jayco Greyhawk. Put another way, the Prestige/XL models made on the same line as $500K-$800K RVs whereas the base model Accolades/Senecas are likely the most expensive rigs in their plant.

So, what is the difference between a Jayco Seneca (whether the base model or the Prestige) and an Entegra Accolade (whether the base model or the XL)?

The main differences between Senecas and the Accolades are the exterior paint schemes and the interior designs.  The only reason that we picked and Accolade over the Seneca is that we liked the color schemes of the Accolade marginally better. We also THOUGHT (at the time of purchase) that Entegra offered a more robust structural warranty based on the language in the 2022 Entegra Accolade Owner’s Manual. More on that below….

Overview of Two Major Super C Coach Separation Issues

Many Jayco Senecas and Entegra Accolades have suffered from structural issues regarding the way that the font cab and front corner walls are connected to the rest of the coach. These generally manifest themselves in two ways:

1. The “Wing Wall” problem

   The Wing Wall problem generally refers to “excessive flexing, squeaking, or cracking at the transition between the cab and house” of the RV.

2. The “Vertical Seam Separation” problem

   Each side of the Jayco Seneca and Entegra Accolade has a vertical seam that connects the house side wall to (1) an over-the-cab bunk fiberglass side wall and (2) a lower front fiberglass corner wall near the cab. The Vertical Seam problem occurs when the screws in the seam back out and the vertical seam starts to separate.

An RV may suffer from one or both of these problems, and it is possible that one problem may exacerbate the other.   Moreover, these problems are what I would call “latent defects” insofar there is a structural design problem, but a purchaser of a Seneca of Accolade wouldn’t know about the problem by inspecting the rig.

We belong to several Facebook groups where these problems are often discussed. (If you own a Jayco Seneca or Entegra Accolade or are thinking about purchasing one, we’d recommend you join these groups).

• Accolade group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/499457587362822

• Seneca group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/451588071907676

• Accolade/Seneca combo:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1266223780192936

Posts on social media platforms sometimes confuse these two issues and how to best fix them.  I therefore wanted to try to summarize the issues and proposed fixes in a single easy-to-understand document.

Disclaimer: Please note that WE ARE NOT RV EXPERTS! WE ARE JUST TRYING TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHERS. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RIG. We do get a very small commission at no cost to you if you use one of the Amazon Links (a/k/a beer money).

What is the Wing Wall Problem on a Jayco Seneca and Entegra Accolade Super C?

Perhaps we should start with “What is a Wing Wall?”

Short Answer: Depends on Who You Ask.

What is the Wing Wall on a Super C?

The “Wing Wall” is ostensibly located behind the driver and passenger seats of the RV.  From what I can discern, many people use the term “wing wall” to refer to the wooden panels that are underneath a decorative panel on each side of the rig behind the seats.   Until 2022, the long and angled wooden panel looked more like a broken bird wing than a wall.  Sometime in 2022, the “wing walls” became larger and covered most of the area behind the driver and passenger seats (more on that below).

Old Wing Wall Design (a/k/a the Broken Bird Wing Wall)

The Wing Wall in a older Jayco Seneca. I think it looks like a broken bird wing.

New Wing Wall Design

Wing Wall in the newer Jayco Seneca and Entegra Accolade.

The Wing Wall perhaps more accurately refers to the interface between the cab and the house located (1) behind the driver and passenger seats of the RV and (2) near horseshoe-shaped cut-out area in the overhead bunk.   According to Jayco/Entegra, “[e]xcessive flexing, squeaking, or cracking” in that area was generally labeled a “wing wall” problem.  Here’s a video that might give you an idea of what things look and sound like.

How is the Wing Wall Problem Fixed?

Jayco/Entegra SRP Bulletin 22-062

For many years, there wasn’t a uniform solution to the Wing Wall problem.  One RV owner who saw daylight in the wing-wall area the RV to the dealer, only to have the dealer just fill in the cracks and gaps with foam.   Other RVers tore apart their rig and through-bolted the cab to the house to better secure them together.

Sometime in 2022, Jayco/Entegra began installing a “wing wall” fix to new RV builds.  The fix is summarized in SRP Bulletin 22-062 (pdf), which is also reproduced below:

Jayco also released an “Interior Wing” schematic for the dimensions of the plywood wingwall itself. However, the dimensions don’t necessarily agree whose in SRP Bulletin 22-062. For example, wood backer (8) is noted as being 3/4” X 3/4” X 8” in the schematic, but in the but SRP Bulletin 22-062, the backer is described as being 1”x4”.

The Jayco/Entegra Wing Wall fix is not exactly a model of clarity. The basic idea is to attach full-sized plywood “Wing Wall” panels to new wooden backers to better onnect the coach to the cab via the Wing Wall. The backers themselves are fastened to the coach wall, bunk floor, cab using adhesive and screws.
The WIng Wall fix also involves he installation of adhesive and (many) more screws from the cab roof up into the bottom of the bunk floor platform overhead (about every 2'“). Although not entirely clear, the Wing Wall fix also appears to call for the addition of more self-tapping screws into the rounded fiberglass corners to better them to the metal cab.

A drill with a 90-degree attachment may be useful to attach the new 1/4” backer.

A drill with a 90-degree attachment may be useful for adding the new screws into the cab roof up into the over-the-cab bunk floor.

Milwaukee 2505-22 M12 Fuel Installation Drill/Driver Kit, Compact, Forward/Reverse Switch, Keyless Chuck, LED Light, Variable Speed Buy on Amazon

Pro Tip: A drill with a 90-degree attachment (like the Millwaukee 205-22 M12 shown above) may be useful for the Wing Wall repair project. In additon to using the drill to attach the new 1x4” backers near the house wall, the some Accolade/ Seneca owners have used the drill to add the new screws in the cab ceiling without the need to completely remove the cab headliner.

Are there Variations to the Wing Wall Fix in SRP 22-062?

Some Seneca and Accolade owners who had to perform the Wing Wall repair themselves made the repairs prior to the issuance of SRP 22-062 so they did not have the document as guidance. Other RV owners have modified the repair in one or more ways as well. Some of those variations include:

(1) Through-Bolting the Over-the-Cab Bunk

Let’s face it, RV manufacturers just l.o.v.e. self-tapping screws. These are not the most robust fasteners though. Here’s a photo from a Jayco Seneca owner who used bolts instead of screws to secure the over-the-cab bunk to the truck cab.

One RVer Through-Bolted the Over-the-Head Bunk to the Cab

(2) Through-Bolting through the Fiberglass Cab Corner

Jayco recommends adding #10 x 1” 3/8” sheet metal screws (Jayco calls them “lags” in reference to FIG. 14 and 17 and “self-tapping screws” in the parts list and also in reference to FIGs. 15-18) to secure the fiberglass cab corner into the vertical B pillar of the cab. Other RV owners have decided to through-bolt instead.

One RVer decided to through-bolt the fiberglass to the cab in his Jayco Seneca as part of the Wing Wall fix.

(3) Better Securing the the Fiberglass / Metal Cab Corner Interface

One Jayco Seneca Owner also added adhesive to between the cab and the radius in the fiberglass where it wraps around the corner of the cab. Depending on the location of the existing screws, additional screws may be added to this area as well.

Adhesive is added between the fiberglass and cab near the rounded cab corner.

(4) Changing the Notches and Holes on the Wing Wall Plywood Panel

Because the Jayco plywood schematic is for actual floor production by Jayco/Entegra, there are 6”X16 and 3”X3.5” notches where electrical lines or other components may need to be run. These notches may not be necessary for RV owners attempting the Wing Wall Modification themselves, depending on the model. Moreover, by removing the notches, the Wing Wall can be secured around the entire perimeter of wall. Likewise, the location, size, shape of the holes (and even the necessity of making them) in the plywood panel might be different for older Jayco Senecas and Entegra Accolades, depending on the model. The main purpose of the circular holes are to enable to the plywood to lay flat against the fiberglass corners where screws connect the fiberglass corner to the metal cab B-pillar.

The location of the holes and cut-outs may be different than the Jayco plywood schematic.

Wing Wall repair on a Jayco Seneca with only 1 hole in the Wing Wall

(5) Addressing the Horizonal Seam Behind the Wing Wall

Just behind the driver and passenger seat, there’s a horizonal seam that will be visible during the Wing Wall project. The seam is held together by….you guessed it….self-tapping screws.

Some RV owners have added adhesive (to the extent possible) to this area and through-bolted the connection.

The Jayco & Entegra factories love self-tapping screws!

Replacement of self-tapping screws with through-bolts

(6) Adding Insulation and/or Sealing the Wing Wall Gaps

Once an RVer has torn about his/her Seneca/Accolade to do the Wing Wall repair, they may notice gaps or daylight in some places. May people have sealed those gaps with suitable sealant or spray foam. Others have added insulation to the space behind the Wing Wall and the fiberglass cab corner.

Spray foaming gaps as part of the Wing Wall repair project.

How Does an RV Owner Know if They Have the Wing Wall Fix?

Jayco and Entegra started installing the new Wing Wall design sometime in 2021 or 2022. Unfortunately, to our knowledge, neither Entegra nor Jayco kept any records to tell owners whether their RV had the wing wall fix.   Some 2021 models reportedly have the fix.  Some 2022 models reportedly do not have the fix.   To ascertain whether a rig made in this timeframe has the wing wall fix, an owner of the RV will need to do what we did:

(1) Step 1: Remove the decorative panel over the Wing Wall.

The Wing Wall is covered by a decorative panel that sits behind the driver’s side of the RV. Once that is removed, the underlying plywood panel is the “Wing Wall.”

Pro Tip: Decorative buttons are often used to cover the screws that fasten the decorative panel to the underlying plywood panel.  A putty knife or flat-head screwdriver can usually be used to remove the decorative buttons. 

Screws are behind these decorative buttons

 (2) Step 2: Inspect the underlying plywood panel. 

For those RVs having the wing wall fix, there will be a “full” plywood wing wall panel with a series of circular-cut-outs where several screws have been used to secure the fiberglass to the font cab as generally shown above in the “New” Wing Wall photo. 

What is the Vertical Seam Separation Problem?

Each house side wall of the Accolade/Seneca is connected to over-the-cab bunk area by a vertical seam.   The seam actually extends below the over-the cab bunk area and connects the house side wall to a front cab corner wall.   Over time, the exterior self-tapping screws in the seam back out.

Many people believe that the Vertical Seam problem is related to the flexing caused by the Wing Wall problem.   I also believe that the Vertical Seam problem may be accelerated whenever the front wheels come off the ground due when improperly leveling the rig.  

How is the Vertical Seam Separation Problem Fixed?

Jayco/Entegra do not have a service bulletin on how to fix the Vertical Seam problem.  Some RVers have tried replacing the factory screws with larger screws and/or rivets in the seam, only to have the seal fail again.

To fix the Vertical Seam problem, several RV owners have recently resorted to what they call the “NUCLEAR OPTION.” ☢️☢️☢️. Sounds scary, right? This fix involves placing an aluminum strip on the interior and then through-bolting at the seam.   The fix will look something like that below:

Two of our friends, Barbie and Mike, had a big Vertical Seam problem and we helped them fix it. Here’s what we learned.

Vertical Seam Separation Fix - “Nuclear Option” Parts List

The parts list for the Nuclear Option project include:

• 10-24 x 3” stainless steel machine bolts (~4 dozen)

• 3/16 x 3/4” stainless steel washers (~ four dozen)

• 10-24 stainless steel locknuts (~four dozen)

• 3/16” x 1.5” (can be wider, e.g., 3”) x 8’ aluminum strip (cut to fit) (2)

• Drill with jobber bit (6” or more)

• Sealant (e.g. Proflex RV)

No. 10-24 x 3" Stainless Pan Head Phillips Machine Screw, (25 pc), 18-8 (304) Stainless Steel Machine Screws, UNC Full Thread, Plain Finish by Bolt Dropper Buy on Amazon

Type 18-8 Stainless Steel Fender Washers Size #10 x 3/4" (pack of 100pcs) Marine Bolt Supply Buy on Amazon

#10-24 (50 PCS) Stainless Steel Hex Locknuts with White Nylon Insert, Stainless Steel 304 (18-8) Lock Nuts, Bright Finish, Full Thread, Hex Drive Buy on Amazon

Geocel GC28928 Pro Flex RV Flexible Sealant - 10 oz., Clear Buy on Amazon

Vertical Seam Separation Fix - “Nuclear Option” Steps

The main steps for this project include:

(1)  Remove any cabinetry on the interior of the coach opposite the Vertical Seam.

This is perhaps the hardest part of the project because many cabinets by the door contain wiring for the main power switch, Xantrax, and/or lighting. Be sure and take photographs of the wiring to help with reassembly. One RVer had to remove an entire fireplace!

Our friend, Barbie, holds the cabinet that we had to remove to access the Vertical Seam from the interior of a 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L

Remember to take photographs of any wiring in the cabinetry!

Cabinetry removal may be the hardest part of fixing the cab separation issues in a Jayco Seneca or Entegra Accolade

(2) Remove the exterior vinyl trim. 

Use a knife to separate the exterior vinyl trim from the exterior wall of the coach.

Our friend, Mike, is removing the vinyl trim covering the Vertical Seam

A knife is used to remove the vinyl on the Vertical Seam where it is still attached.

We found that simply placing the vinyl trim in the sun (~ 70 F) made the trim quite flexible.

Pro Tip: If the exterior vinyl trim is deformed, the material becomes quite malleable with just a little heat. We were able to reshaped the trim by laying it in the sun. 

One RV owner completely removed the aluminum strip to repair the Vertical Seam problem in his Jayco Seneca.

Pro Pro Pro Tip: At least one Jayco Seneca owner completely removed external aluminum strip as well as the underlying butyl caulk.   The aluminum strip will likely need to be gently tapped back into shape and completely cleaned with solvent to remove all the old caulk tape. Before reassembly, the RV owner gently spread the body panels apart above the horizontal seam area up to close to the roof.   He then applied Sikaflex 221 polyurethane adhesive in the joint and a new strip of 1" wide butyl tape where the external aluminum strip was to lay.   Mike and Barbie elected to keep the aluminum strip in place and not remove it.

(3)   Remove Three Screws.

These three screws should be located generally at the top, middle, and near the bottom of the exterior metal connector. 

Pro Tip: The Vertical Seam will likely dip below the flooring of the coach. The “near the bottom” screw needs to be above the flooring in order to through-bolt it. For the screws below the flooring of the coach, most RVers have replaced those screws with larger screws instead of through-bolting.

(4)   Drill Three Corresponding Holes.

Drill three holes through the entirety of wall where the three screws have been removed.

Make sure the drill bit is at least 6” long.

A hole is being drilled through the wall of an Entegra Accolade where a “near the bottom” screw was located in the Vertical Seam

Our friend, Mike, drills through his coach where a “middle” screw had been in the vertical seam.

(4)   Align and Fasten the Aluminum Strip to the Interior Wall where the Three Holes are Located.

• Begin by placing the aluminum strip on the interior wall so that the three holes are centered on the aluminum strip.  

• From the exterior, drill though the middle hole into the aluminum strip.  (Note: it may be easier to pre-drill the middle hole into the aluminum strip).

• From the exterior, insert a bolt through the middle hole in the wall and aluminum strip.

• From the interior, secure the bolt using a washer and locknut.   Hand tighten.

• Repeat the foregoing for the top and near bottom holes so that the aluminum strip is secured along the seam at the three points.

 Pro Tip:  Find a friend. This is definitely a two-person job.

Washers and Locknuts are used to secure the aluminum strip in the “nuclear option.”

(5) Keep on Drilling, Screwing, and Bolting.

• Continue replacing all of original screws with the bolts/washers/locknuts. 

 Pro Tip:  Use a board (not your hand) to secure the aluminum strip in place when drilling a hole through it from the exterior.

Kasie supervises our friend, Barbie, as Mike drills a hole through the aluminum strip to help fix the Vertical Seam problem on an Entegra Accolade.

• Torque the locknuts to approximately 20 inch-pounds. That’s INCH-lbs, not FOOT-lbs.

(6) Cover the holes from the exterior with sealant.

As a precaution, many RVers have covered the exterior bolt heads with sealant, such as Pro Flex RV, prior to re-attaching the vinyl strip.

(7)  Re-cover the exterior seam with the vinyl trim.

The vinyl trim should be malleable enough that it can be reattached to the rig using a rubber mallet.

Seal the vinyl trim with caulk or a suitable sealant, such as Geocel Proflex RV.

Pro Pro Pro Tip:   Mask the vinyl trim joints if you can.  Tape one side (either the front or the rear first) so there is approximately 1/4" gap between my tape and the vinyl trim.  After applying a bead of caulk, immediately smooth the bead into the joint with a finger wetted with soapy water.   After smoothing, immediately and carefully remove the masking tape by pulling away from the new caulk bead.   Let the RV sit overnight so that the bead can cure.   Repeat the process on the other half of the vinyl trim the next day.

(8) Reattach the Interior Cabinetry.

Re-attaching the cabinetry maybe trickier than it sounds.

For Barbie and Mike’s Entegra Accolade (a 2022 Entegra Accolade 37L XL), we had to notch out part of the cabinetry where the new bolts/nuts were positioned in order for the cabinet to be flush with the RV wall.

Luckily, the interior of the cabinetry is made with cheap soft pine so it’s pretty easy to remove the wood with something like a putty knife. We just used a pencil to mark where the new bolts/nuts were going interfere with the cabinetry and then made all of the notches at one time.

Kasie marks where the notches need to be made to reattach the cabinetry so that it is flush (2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L)

Cabinetry Notches as part of the Vertical Seam fix on an Entegra Accolade 37L

(9) Trim Out Your Work

As pretty as that metal strip looks in the interior of the RV, you may want to cover your work with some decorative trim. We are yet to locate something that can be used off-the-shelf so you may have to custom-build the trim as others have done. If you know of a product that might work, please drop a comment or send a message to ClassCBroads@gmail.com so that we can update this blog.

A Jayco Seneca Owner makes a custom trim piece to cover the interior Vertical Seam.

Wow! Doesn’t that trim over the Vertical Seam fix look nice?

(10) Celebrate

• You’ve just completed the “nuclear option.”

• Crack a beer. (Or sip on a nice Iced Tea).

• Eat some good Mexican food.

• Celebrate!
  
  

Are the Wing Wall Problems or Vertical Seam Separation Problems Covered by the Jayco/Entegra Warranty?

Jayco and Entegra both boast about their industry-leading 2+3 year limited warranties….. BUT…..(There’s always a but, right?)

BUT how good are the Jayco and Entegra warranties?

Short Answer: Not very good.

Jayco and Entegra will likely cover the Wing Wall problem or Vertical Seam Separation problem ONLY under the two-year / 24,000 limited warranty.

That means:

• RV owners who make a claim outside of the two-year window will be denied coverage.

• Because Jayco/Entegra only warrants the RV to the first owners, people who purchase a used Seneca or Accolade will not have factory-issued warranty coverage. 

*The warranty language in the Owner’s Manuals may have changed over time. Please consult with the Owner’s Manual for your specific rig and your attorney to help understand the scope. This blog has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this website is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. Also, the law may vary from state-to-state or county-to-county, so that some information in this website may not be correct for your situation. Finally, the information contained on this website is not guaranteed to be up to date. Therefore, the information contained in this website cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your jurisdiction.

Scope of the Jayco Seneca Limited “Structural” Warranty

Text from Jayco stating that the Wing Wall problem is not covered by the 3-year structural warranty.

In 2019, to much fanfare, Jayco announced that it would offer a three-year ""Limited Structural Warranty” to certain 2020 RV models, including the Jayco Seneca. One would think that the Jayco “structural” warranty should cover the Wing Wall problem given that it involves, among other things “cracking” at the transition between the cab and house.  Likewise, one would think that it would cover the separation in the Vertical Seam. Those things sound pretty “structural,” right?

Let’s take a quick look at the “limited structural warranty” language.

The Jayco Seneca Owner’s Manual defines the “Structural Components” of its three-year structural warranty as follows:

Structure Components means materials and/or workmanship directly attributable to Jayco relating to the lamination of the fiberglass sidewall assembly, the lamination of the rear wall assembly, the lamination of the fiberglass front wall (wrap) assembly, sidewall/end wall/front and rear wall frame assembly (wood and aluminum), roof frame assembly (wood and aluminum), and floor frame assembly (wood and aluminum).

See, e.g., 2024 Jayco Seneca Owner’s Manual, at page 10.  The manual then tries to clarify:  

Structure Components specifically excludes front and rear fiberglass caps and any other cosmetic fiberglass attachments, sidewall metal (unless the root cause is the wall structure); exterior roof material (EPDM rubber, TPO, etc.); floor covering (carpet, linoleum, hardwood tile, etc.); all sidewall, end wall, front and rear wall, roof and floor attachments, and delamination caused by water intrusion from lack of required exterior seal maintenance or other maintenance.

Id. at page 10.

Are you confused yet? Doesn’t the Wing Wall involve the front wall assembly? Doesn’t the Wing Wall fix also involve the floor frame assembly of the overhead bunk area? And isn’t the Vertical Seam part of the side wall assembly? Maybe Jayco is trying to escape warranty responsibility because of the “fiberglass cap” exclusion, “other costmetic fiberglass attachments” exclusion, or the “attachment” exclusion? I really don’t know. Regardless, the scope of those exclusions is by no means clear. Shouldn’t any ambiguities be construed against the drafters of the warranties? For whatever reason, Jayco has made it clear that they believe the Wing Wall problem and Vertical Seam Separation problem are not covered by the three-year “structural” warranty.

I’ll leave it to the lawyers to sort this out.

Jayco boasts about its 750 lb bunk capacity. However, but the overhead cap area of many Jayco Senecas have separated from the rest of the coach. Jayco will not cover those problems after the 2-year warranty period.

Personally, I think that to call something a “structural warranty” (even if “limited”) that does not cover the Wing Wall problem or the Vertical Seam Separation problem seems deceptive and misleading.   For example, to sell consumers an RV where the living space (both the “box” and the over-the-cab bunk area) is not properly fastened to chassis cab itself (“excessive flexing, squeaking, or cracking at the transition between the cab and house”) seems to be inherently “structural.” To make matters worse, both Jayco and Entegra repeatedly boast that the overhead bunk capacity is 750 lbs (which apparently beats the industry standard by 300lbs). That’s all nice and good to hear in their promotional literature, but if the bunk area is properly fastened to the rest of the coach after a couple of years, that just seems like false advertising.

Of note, beginning in 2023, the Owner’s Manuals for Entegra Accolades contains this same limited structural warranty language. In the next section, I’ll briefly discuss the language in the Entegra Accolade Owner’s Manual prior to that time (2020-2022).

Scope of the Entegra Accolade “Structural” Warranty (2020-2022)

From 2020-2022, the Entegra Accolade / Accolade XL Owner’s Manual promised consumers a limited structural warranty, which mirrored that of the Entegra luxury Class A RVs (Aspire, Anthem, Cornerstone). The limited structural warranty covered:

(iv) only the steel or aluminum frame structure for the sidewalls (excluding slide outs), roof and rear and front walls.

See, e.g., 2022 Entegra Accolade / Accolade XL Owner’s Manual, at page 14.   Entegra takes the position that the structual warranty basically only covers “metal welds.” Since the Wing Wall problem and Vertical Seam Separation problem do not involve a metal weld per se, Entegra believes these problems are not covered by the limited structural warranty.

Of note, the Entegra Accolade (2020-2022) limited structural warranty in the Owner’s Manual was different from the Jayco Seneca limited structural warranty in at least two other ways.

• First, the Entegra Accolade limited structural warranty was applicable not just to the first retail purchaser, but also the the second retail owner of the motorhome. That’s right, the warranty was transferable to a second retail owner!

• Second, the Entegra Accolade limited structural warranty was for FIVE years!

Despite the language in the Entegra Accolade Owner’s Manual (2020-2022), Entegra won’t honor that. Entegra takes the position that the expanded warranty (five year period / transferable to a second retail owner) is only for its luxury diesel models and does not cover the 2020-2022 Entegra Accolades.

Wait…What? Why in the heck is that expanded warranty language in the Entegra Accolade Owner’s Manual? How does the language magically get re-written by Entegra? Did consumers sign something at the time of purchase that told them that they cannot trust or rely on the Entegra Accolade Owner’s Manual? Even though anyone can STILL download the 2020-2022 Owner’s Manuals from the Entegra website, why hasn’t Entegra conspicuously informed anyone downloading the manuals that Entegra won’t honor the black-and-white structural warranty language at the time of download or on that website page? If this structural warranty language doesn’t apply, then which one does? The Jayco Limited Structural Warranty discussed above?

I’ll leave it to the lawyers to sort this out.

Personally, I think that to provide written warranty in an Owner’s Manual to consumers but then say “oh, we didn’t mean that” is deceptive and misleading.

Entegra updated the Owner’s Manuals in 2023, and as noted above, the Accolade warranty now appear to be the same as the Jayco 2+3 year limited warranty.

Final Thoughts

I’ll end this blog where I started, which it to say that we really like our rig. But…and there is always a “but,” right?….

BUT, I don’t like how Jayco and Entegra interpret their structural warranties. The lawyers can debate the legalities, but I think their stance is bad business. I think that people looking to purchase an Entegra Accolade or Jayco Seneca (new or used) need to better understand what they are getting into. The Wing Wall problem and the Vertical Seam Separation problem are known issues, but may not manifest themselves until after the two-year limited warranty is over. Based on what I’ve learned, neither Jayco nor Entegra seem to care. I’m hoping that the higher-ups at Jayco and Entegra reconsider how they’ve approached things and start doing things differently. We don’t expect RV manufacturers to be perfect, but when rigs that costs $250K+ repeatedly fail after a couple of years and the manufacturer won’t do something about it, something needs to change.

Jayco, you can do better.

Entegra, you can do better.

Until then….

Buyer beware.

Christmastime Song

Merry Christmas, fellow RVers! Lana’s got the holiday spirit again, but this time, she's poking fun of herself and all of the Christmas consumerism.

PS: She is clearly not a professional singer or musician.  Be kind.

Lyrics to the Christmastime Song

VERSE 1:
It’s that
Time of year
When Influencers hock
Their RV gear.

We’ve got
A website too
With pages of stuff
We recommend and use.

Like TPMS, EMS,
A good sewer hose
We are Amazon affiliates
We’ve gotta disclose

If you use our link
We get a commission
So please click away
For all your Christmas wishing

CHORUS:
Christmastime
Time for Elf on the Shelf
Christmastime
Time to Treat Yo Self

Christmastime
Time to have all the feels
Christmastime
Time for Deals Deals Deals

VERSE 2:
Like space savers
Try this collapsible chair.
Or this bathroom rack
For towels that are spare

Leveling tools like
Level Mate Pro
We’ve even made
A 9-step video

But best gifts
Are memories
Like spending time
In the RV

For a gift idea,
Here’s a start
Give an annual pass
to a State park.

CHORUS 2:
Christmastime
Sing this silly carol
Christmastime
Don your gay apparel.

Christmastime
Buy some fire logs
Christmastime
Dress up the dogs

VERSE 3:
Tis the Season
For gift giving
Gadgets and Tools
For RV living

We don’t make anything
Except videos
About RV stuff
And the places we go

I’m retired
It’s just something I do
And you can follow along
If you choose

YouTube is free
Don’t have to buy nuttin’
Just hit that like
And subscribe button

CHORUS 3:
Christmastime
Put up the tree
Christmastime
Means friends and family

Merry Christmas
From the Class C Broads
And Happy New Year
From the dogs

VERSE 4:
Here’s Percy, Sophie
Billie, Earl, and Earlene
They are why we
Bought our first RV

We couldn’t bear
To travel without them
But we must admit
It’s a little bit of mayhem

We love campgrounds
With a good dog park
Don’t tell on us
If you hear them bark

They are saying hello
When they wag their tails
But if you want one
There’s a Sale Sale Sale

CHORUS 4:
Christmastime
Hear the bells chime
Christmastime

Get on Amazon prime
Christmastime
Eat taters and pie
Christmastime
Buy, Buy, Buy

VERSE 5:
We feel so blessed
For this past year
Filled with hiking, biking,
And lots of craft beer

We thank the Lord
And stars above
For guiding us on
This journey we love

And there’s nothing like
A Freightliner Chassis
Pullin’ that horn
Yep, we classy.

Super C gals
Class C broads
Here’s to our rig, Big Lady
And the travel gods.

CHORUS 5:
Christmastime
Watch Die Hard
Christmastime
Light up our yard

Christmastime
Give Holiday cheers
Christmastime
Drink Festive beers

Music Credits:

(1) The music is a song called “Rock N Christmas” by the Grand Project
https://pixabay.com/music/christmas-rock-n-christmas-medium-177549/

(2) The Lyrics/Vocals/Remix/Video were created by Lana Knedlik.
The lyrics/vocals/remix are what constitutes the "official music video" (not the underlying music).

©️ Copyright 2023 Class C Broads

All Rights Reserved

Desert Camping Tips at Organ Pipe National Monument

In 2022, only 133,317 people visited Organ Pipe National Monument.   One reason why it probably doesn’t get much traffic is that the park is in the middle of nowhere.   The closest “real” grocery store is about 40 minutes away in Ajo, and the monument borders Mexico.  Yet, if you are looking for a true camping experience in the desert surrounded by mountains and home to cholla, prickly pears, saguaros, and park’s namesake cactus, there’s no better place.  In fact, Organ Pipe National Monument is the only place in the United States where you can see the Organ Pipe cactus growing in its natural habitat. 

About the Organ Pipe Cactus

What is the Difference between an Organ Pipe and Saguaro Cactus?

It's easy to tell the difference between a Saguaro cactus and the Organ Pipe cactus.

The Organ Pipe cactus starts its life as a single “trunk” from which additional stems branch out near the ground.  In contrast, the Saguaro branches anywhere along its trunk.

Pro Tip: A large population of the Senita cactus (a/k/a Old Man Cactus because of the “beard” at the tips) can be found in Senita Basin within Organ Pipe National Monument.

Organ Pipe Cactus vs. Saquaro cactus. (That’s a cholla to the right of both!)

Tips of the Senita Cactus at Organ Pipe National Monument

How did the Organ Pipe Cactus get its name?

The Organ Pipe Cactus was named because of its exposed skeleton.

The scientific name for the Organ Pipe Cactus is Stenocereus thurberi.  “Stenos" means "narrow" and "cereus" means "candle."   Personally, I think that the Organ Pipe cactus looks more like a candelabra than a set of organ pipes.  Yet, the cactus got is common name when European settlers looked at exposed skeleton and were reminded of the pipe organs in the cathedrals back home.   As for “therberi,” that part of the name comes from George Thurber, an 19th century American botanist who studied the cactus. 

How does the Organ Pipe Cactus Bear Fruit?

During one of the evening Ranger Talks near the outdoor seating area near the Twin Peaks campground, we learned all about the importance of bats to the Organ Pipe cactus life cycle.  Interestingly, the creamy white flowers of the Organ Pipe cactus only bloom at night (usually in May-June), and a colony of lesser long-nosed bats are the main pollinators of the flowers.  The spiny fruit ripen just before the summer monsoon period.  The bats eat the fruit and also help disperse the seeds throughout the area. 

The Organ Pipe cactus is lucky if it can survive the first few years of its existence. For the first 10 years, the cactus may be no bigger than a few inches and is prone to being trampled by animals or being washed out by heavy monsoon storms.  It’s not until age 30 that the organ pipe cactus will grow its first stem.  Each stem grows from the tip, rarely branching, and grows approximately 2.5 inches per year.  Remarkably, the cactus can live for over 150 years.  Although the typical cactus may be 16ft tall and 12ft wide, we definitely saw older specimens that were much taller and wider.      

Where is the Best Place to See the Organ Pipe Cactus?

This campsite at the Twin Peaks Campground at Organ Pipe National Monument is surrounded by the Organ Pipe cacti.

While Organ Pipe National Monument boasts a couple of scenic drives and several hiking trails, I think that the best place to see the Organ Pipe Cactus is at the Twin Peaks campground located just a mile or so from the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.  Organ Pipe cacti adorn many of the campsites themselves.  

Several trails start near the campground – including those that lead to the Victoria Mine (2.1 miles), Lost Cabin Mine (3.9 miles), Senita Basin (3.2 miles), Red Tank Tinaja (5.5 miles), and Backer Mine (7.2 miles).  A partially paved permiter trail also snakes around the campground.  However, for visitors short on time, the 1.5-mile Desert View loop (which starts over by the group campsites) is probably the best to see several organ pipes and learn about the ecosystem.   In addition to having several interpretive signs, the trail offers amazing views of the campground and even Mexico!

What is the Most Unique Thing about Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument?

 Aside from the Organ Pipes themselves, my favorite section of the park was the Quitobaquito (rhymes with Frito Burrito), an oasis that is home to a natural spring that has been a water source for wildlife and indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The Tohono O'odham, a Native American tribe, have a long-standing connection to the area, using it for sustenance and cultural activities.  The endangered Quitobaquito desert pupfish, Quitobaquito spring snail, and the Sonoyta mud turtle aren’t naturally found anywhere else in the United States. 

How do you say Quitobaquito? It rhymes with Frito Burrito. We just happened to pack both for lunch that day. ha ha!

Quitobaquito at Organ Pipe National Monumnent in Arizona. The border wall is in the background.

 To get to Quitobaquito, visitors must drive along the US-Mexico border for several miles on South Puerto Blanco Drive.  Much of the monument was closed between 2003-2014 because of the operations of violent drug-smuggling cartels.  Park anger Kris Eggle was shot and killed in pursuit of drug smugglers in 2002, and the Visitor Center was named in his honor the following year.   The park reopened with enhanced security, increase border patrol agents, and vehicle barriers.

Memorial to Kris Eggle at the Visitor Center for Organ Pipe National Monument

 Today, there are several signs telling visitors to watch out for illegal immigration and drug activity.  And of course, The Wall now separates Organ Pipe National Monument from Mexico.   We never felt unsafe during our time in the park.  If anything, I developed greater compassion when we would encounter the rare shirt, shoe, suitcase, or other item that once belonged to someone seeking a better life here.  While people can debate the pros/cons of The Wall, seeing it in person for the first time up close was something that I will never forget.  

What are Some Tips for Camping in the Desert? 

There are some no-brainer tips for camping in the desert — bring plenty of water, fuel, sunscreen, food etc. I’m not going to reiterate the obvious tips that you’ll read about in every other blog. Instead, I’m going to focus on the things that we learned while camping at Organ Pipe National Monument.

Tip #1: Open Your Hood if You Know What is Good.

Everyone – I mean everyone – raised the hood of their RV and tow vehicle at night.  That’s because Organ Pipe National Monument is filled with desert packrats.  These packrats build houses, called middens, which are large collections of sticks, cactus parts, pebbles, bones, and garbage filled with softer nesting material – and all held together with the packrat’s highly concentrated urine.  Unfortunately, these packrats love to come out at night and next in the dark cave-like space of a vehicle’s engine compartment.   Moreover, those little stinkers like to chew on wires and cause all sorts of damage.

A park ranger told us that they’ve never had packrat problem with any vehicle that had its hood raised for the night.   Moreover, he suggested that the packrats are less likely to feel comfortable if there the space is lighted.  We placed a couple of rechargable puck lights in the engine compartment of our RV and tow vehicle and opened the hood each night.  (The puck lights can flash and change color too — which is supposed to be an added deterrent).

We had no problems.  Whew. 

Open Your Hood if You Know What is Good! Packrats are a Problem at Organ Pipe National Monument!

We opened up the hood of our RV and truck to deter desert rats!

Tip #2: A Black Light May Save You. 

Kasie found this scorpion under a rock near a water spigot at Organ Pipe National Monument.

My next tip is to bring a black light to Organ Pipe National Park. All sorts of creepy crawly things come out at night in the desert.  A park ranger told us that scorpions love to crawl under rocks and attach themselves underneath things like camping chairs and the amphitheater benches.  Because a scorpion glows under ultraviolet light, we got in the habit of using a blacklight to check areas if we were going to be out at night.

Kasie photographed this scorpion near one of the water spigots by our campsite. A park ranger told us that the scorpion in the photo is the Arizona Bark Scorpion is the most venomous in North America and one of the fastest in the world (up to 1 meter/second). Yikes!

Tip #3: Beware of Dogs (and Cactus).

Pets are only allowed on three trails in at Organ Pipe National Monument.

• The Palo Verde Trail – 1.3 miles one way

• The Campground Perimeter Trail – 1 mile one way

• The Visitor Center Nature Trail – 1/10 mile one way

My tip is: AVOID WALKING YOUR DOGS ON ANY OF THE TRAILS.

Walking the dogs on the asphalt road at Organ Pipe National Monument

Many species cactus have microscopic, overlapping scales that function as barbs.  In particular, the Cholla and prickly pear cacti have evolved so even a light brush against the plant may cause a little segment of the plant to break off – which can attach to you or your dog’s coat.   This is one way that the cactus spreads itself to new areas.

Our dogs (and in particular our shih tzu, Billie) seemed to be cactus magnets when we took them on the trails.  Every time we would try to walk the dogs on the Twin Peaks perimeter trail, Mr. Earl or Miss Billie ended up with part of a cactus in their fur and skin.  Very painful.   Very hard to remove.    

We quickly learned that it was better to just walk the dogs on the paved part of the trail and/or the asphalt roads between campsites.  (The asphalt might not be much of an option with hotter temperatures though).

HOT LIST? The SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

What is the HOT LIST? 

Are WE on it? 

SHOULD we be on it? 

Should YOU be on it? 

Does it COST anything to be on the Hot List?

For starters, when we pulled in to the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona in November 2023, I was thinking that we would just spend a week and a half there relaxing.  We had just been to three national parks, and we were both looking for some downtime.  Plus, at just $156/week (plus electric), the place was a pretty good deal. I wasn’t planning on making a video or writing a blog about the RV park.   But within a few days, both Kasie and I became enamored with the place. And (spoiler alert), we joined the Hot List!

Before I jump into why and how, let’s talk a little bit about how the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park came about and who exactly owns and operates it. 

Who Owns and Operates the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park?

The Office at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson, Arizona

“SKP” is short for Escapees, which is membership club for RVers.   So…does Escapees own the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park?  The short answer is “no.”  Back in the 1980s, Escapees wanted to help create something that would help RVers live more comfortably and affordably in their RVs so it started creating co-ops, which have their own legal idenity.   Under the co-up rules, only members of Escapees can become members of the co-ops or stay at them.  The Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson opened around 1990 with 242 lots.   Today, the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park is one of 11 Co-Op RV parks that Escapees helped start and is authorized to use the Escapees RV Club brand. 

If Escapees does not own the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park, then who does?  The Co-Op owns the RV Park. And, it’s a non-profit. More on that below.

Who owns the Co-Op?  Basically, just RVers!  The Co-Op is managed and maintained by individual members of the Co-Op who each have purchased lifetime leases on a site at the park. 

Why could we stay at the Co-Op? The leaseholders have the option of subleasing out their sites to folks like us if they aren’t using their site.  We joined Escapees in 2019 to take advantage of its roadside assistance program, but had never stayed at one of the Co-Ops before.  

Binders on the history of the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park

Newspaper clipping from January 1990: “Several hundred members of the SKP’s recreational vehicle organization pulled into Benson last week as the group held a drawing to determine who would get which of the 242 lots at the park on U.S. Highway 80 in south Benson.  Members of SKP’s purchased the rights to a lot at the Benson park and selected their lots in the order in which the lots were purchased.  The drawings for the lots were presided over by the organization’s president, Bill Renfeld, foreground with hat, and Joe Loos, foreground with checkered shirt.  Residents are scheduled to begin moving into the park in mid-February (News-Sun photo by Jac Poisgrove). 

Pro Tip: The SKP Saguaro Co-Op compiled a multi-volume history of the RV Park. If you stay there, take a few minutes to thumb through the binders and learn about the park’s creation and evolution over the years.

Where the Heck is Benson Arizona?

The SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV park is located in Benson, Arizona — which is on I-10 less than an hour southeast of Tucson. It’s a small town (5355 people; 2020 census) with a good grocery store (Safeway), great mexican joint (Mi Casa), and a Walmart. Karchner Caverns, the Coronado National Forrest, and the tourist towns of Tombstone and Bisbee are nearby.

The RV park backs up to some BLM land, there are several trails around the park to explore. The RV park itself is slightly terraced so that many leaseholders have some nice view of the mountains.

Aerial View of the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona. Look at those mountains in the background!

Is the SKP Saguaro RV Co-Op Worth Staying at?

Because the RV Park was built by actual RVers who wanted to live there, we immediately noticed just how much thought went into the design of the RV park itself.   The streets are wide, the lots are huge (~52 by 75 feet), and most of the sites have small casitas on them that can be used for storage and entertaining. 

 Some of the RV park’s facilities include:

• The Clubhouse

  A central clubhouse contains a huge dining/gathering space, commercial kitchen, laundry facility (a wash is just $1!), gym – not to mention a number of smaller rooms (library, game room, pool room, etc.) for activities.  

Jam Band at the SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park in Benson, Arizona

Commercial Kitchen at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park

Laundry room at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

• Founders Park  

  In 2015, the Co-Op installed wonderful communal outdoor space called “Founders Park” where happy hour occurs from 4-5 pm each day.  Yes, each day. Woo! Hoo!

Founders Park (established 2015) at the SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park in Benson Arizona

Happy Hour at Founders Park at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op in Benson Arizona

• The Shop 

  Need to borrow a tool?  The shop has more tools than Home Depot that can be used by anyone staying at the RV park.  There’s also a selection of screws, bolts, and other fasteners that are free for the taking (or you can leave your spares). Near the door, there’s a washer just for dog beds and other bulky items (a wash is just $1 and is on the honor system!).

  Want to work on your rig at the shop? There’s space to pull in just next to the shop building.

Shop (filled with tools!) at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

Want to get rid of those extra bolts or screws you’ve been carrying around? Donate them to the Co-Op for others to use?

• Dog Park  

  Not only is there a well-stocked pet waste station at the dog park, there’s also a few pooper scoopers, dog toys, and a small agility ramp.

Agility ramp at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

Dog park at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

• RV/Vehicle Storage 

  Each leaseholder can also store his/her RV (or other vehicle) in a large storage lot. The lot has several container units that can be rented by leaseholders for an additional fee, depending on availability, as well.

RV and Vehicle Storage at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

Storage Lot Sign at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV park in Benson Arizona

• Hoe House

  Best name ever for a place to store lawn equipment? The equipment used by the Landscaping Committee is housed here, but most of it (like rakes, shovels, etc.) can be borrowed by anyone staying at the park. 

• On-Site Propane

  The propane is reasonably priced too!

• Recycling/Trash

  We are always excited when RV parks recycle!

I loved the Hoe House at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

On-Site Propane at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona

Recycling and trash at the SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park in Benson Arizona

In my opinion, about the only thing missing from the RV park is a pool.  I mean…come on…this is Arizona….

Pro Tip: Volunteers are eager to give tours of the RV park, and I highly recommend taking the tour. During the tour, you will get to go inside a couple of casitas. Make sure and grab Mary Ann and the Skipper because the tour can last up to three hours! 

Take a Tour of the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park if you stay there.

What is this about a Casita?

As noted above, many of the RV lots have casitas.  Importantly, the casitas are zoned (and taxed) as storage units because of their size and designated use.   For example, the maximum casita size is 288 square feet, and the maximum casita height is 12 feet.  While the building may include a full bathroom and laundry, major electric appliances (such as clothes dryers, hot tubs, and kitchen ranges) are not allowed.  Most importantly, members must live in their RV, not in the casita. 

All improvements to a lot must be approved by the Co-Op, including the construction of a casita or upgrades to it. Permits are also required from the City of Benson for some things. I get the sense that most people don’t want the hassle or expense of building a casita on a bare lot nowadays so many people buy a lease for a bare lot and then hope to trade it for one with a casita.

What I loved about the casitas is that each seemed unique; no cookie-cutters. There’s even one that looks like an outhouse (we aren’t sure what is going on there)!

Casita at the SKP Saguaro Co-OP RV Park in Benson Arizona

The “Outhouse” Casita at the SKP Saguaro RV Park in Benson Arizona

Who Runs the SKP Saguaro RV Co-Op?

The Co-Op has just a handful of paid staff,  some maintenance workers and a couple of front office workers who work with non-leaseholders like us who want to stay at the park.  The vast majority of the work at the park gets done by the leaseholders themselves, as well as RVers who decide to stay at the park. In essence, everyone who stays in the park is expected to volunteer on various committees.  The committee list below was pretty insightful about what goes into running the RV park as well. In short, it takes A LOT of volunteer work to run an RV park as good as this! 

Audio-Visual Set-up and Maintenance
Architectural
Audit
Bingo
Budget
Bylaws
Cactus Wrens
Channel 5
Channel 43
Chorus
Christmas Auction
Clubhouse
Coffee
Computer Club & Clinic
Crafters
Election
Electric Bill Distribution
Electric Meter Reader
Entertainment Coordinator
Excursions
Exercise

Fish Frys
Fitness Room
Food Auction
Founders Park
Grievance
Happy Hour Announcements
Helping Hands
Holiday & Special Events
Honor System
Kitchen Landscaping
Laundry Coin Collection
Library
Long Range Planning
Marketing
Movie Night
Nieman Marcus Table
Newsletter
Office Volunteers
Opening and Closing

Clubhouse
Outtakes Talent Show
Parking
Pathway Lighting Maintenance
Photographers
Pool Room Upkeep
Propane
Recycling
Security & Safety
Tables and Chairs
Technology
TV System Maintenance & Troubleshooting
Video Library
Website Management
Welcome
Work

Volunteer Committee List at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park

The leaseholders also elect a board of directors, who are responsible for major decisions and expenditures.   Like any self-run organization, that can sometimes get political and personalities can clash.  However, I watched one of the board meetings (which are streamed on “Channel 43"), and everyone seemed to be quite respectful of one another.

How Much Does It Cost to Purchase a Lifetime Lease for an RV Site at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park?

This is where things really get interesting.  Remember that the SKP Saguaro Co-Op is a non-profit.   Escapees did not want people buying a lease/membership in the co-op for investment purposes.   Under the rules and regulations governing the Co-Op, leaseholders can only sell a site for what they paid for it plus the cost of any approved capital improvements to the lot and park.   In other words, the price for a site is NOT market-driven.  Instead, the price is set by what money the leaseholder actually spent.  Escapees designed the co-ops so that people who bought a membership/lease in any SKP Co-Op are able to use the assigned lot for their entire lifetime, or any part thereof, and get their money back if they chose to withdraw.  A leaseholder won’t make money or lose money.  That is one of the things that makes becoming a leaseholder at the SKP Saguaro RV Co-Op so affordable. 

How Much Does It Cost Annually to Live at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park?

From RIght to Left (Chris, Amanda, Me, Kasie, Jesse, and Cherie). Photo Credit: Chris Dunphy

Once someone becomes a leaseholder at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park, the annual cost to live there is also remarkably inexpensive.   Chris and Cherie from Technomadia wrote a detailed blog on what it costs to purchase and maintain a site since they became leaseholders.   Make sure and check that their blog for more information.

As of 2023, the cost for a bare lot (no casita) is $17,539.   In 2023, leaseholders each incurred around $1768 in maintenance and operating costs (“M&O” —which can be offset with money from the rental pool), general assessments ($60), special assessments ($400), and property taxes (under $200).  The M&O expenses cover all utilities except electric (water, sewer, cable, wi-fi, etc.), as well as help fund the activities and day-to-day maintenance of the park. One reason why the M&O costs are so low is that, as noted above, much of the work on the park is done by volunteers. 

The bottom line is that it costs just a few thousand dollars (at most) annually to be a leaseholder at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park.

What is the Hot List?

Well, the Hot List is NOT a listing of the world’s sexiest people who RV. ‘Cause, you know, we are already on that.

The Hot List is essentially the waiting list to become a leaseholder at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Co-Op.  There’s currently over 350 people on the hot list.  Yes, the RV park is that popular.

When someone decides to no longer be part of the co-op (or perhaps passes away), the lifetime lease is terminated and the lot essentially reverts to the co-op itself. Lots are first offered to existing leaseholders, and if no one at the RV park wants a particular site, then the site is posted on the Co-Op’s website as being available to those on the Hot List.

How Does the Hot List Work?

To get on the Hot List, an Escapees member must pay a $500 refundable deposit (which is credited towards the lease purchase) and a $20 nonrefundable processing fee.   To get a site, you have to be diligent.

FIrst, you must monitor the Co-Op’s website to know that a lot is available; there’s no email or other formal notification to the Hot List.

Second, you must call in (yes call) the next Saturday to express an interest in a particular site.   You must then call back at a certain time that day (yes, you call twice). If you are the lowest number on the Hot List who calls in, then you become a lifetime leaseholder of that lot within a couple of weeks.  

Whether someone on the Hot List wins a lot/lease sometimes requires a little bit of luck in terms of who else calls in on that particular Saturday.   The #1 guy on the hot list has been there since 1999 so he could trump everyone else if he wanted to. Yet, someone could theoretically be #200 on the Hot List and still win a lot/lease if no one with a lower number called in.

Is the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park Right for Us?

Our site at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park in Benson Arizona (November 2023)

The more time we spent at the SKP Saguaro RV Co-Op, the more we thought that this would be a great place to come in the winter once we’ve finished up our full-time RV travels.   That won’t be anytime soon, and we still consider South Dakota our home base.  But, the idea of being a part of this community in 5-10 years seemed quite appealing.

One thing that I haven’t mentioned so far are THE PEOPLE! Amazing. Friendly. Hard Working. The PEOPLE make the RV park what it is.

Many of the leaseholders are retirees, and much older than us. I was continually amazed at the energy and vibrancy of this community though. My hand got tired of waving at everyone. And, I kept thinking “this is how I could see myself living someday.”

It’s a good thing we are thinking that far in advance.  We have several years before our number will be low enough on the Hot List to make it worth our time to call in. Also, the Co-Op limits the number of dogs to three. We did not know that when we booked the site, and nobody ratted us out during our 11-day stay. However, that is another reason why we won’t be leaseholders any time soon.

In the meantime, we look forward to going back to the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park next time we are in Arizona to see if the magic is still there. We hope it is, and we wish the folks who live there long, healthy, and happy times at the park.

Thank you to Escapees for their vision in creating the co-ops and to all of the folks we met at the SKP Saguaro Co-Op RV Park!

Alamogordo & White Sands National Park: 10 Tips!

When planning our travels through New Mexico, I knew that I wanted to spend a couple of hours sledding in White Sands National Park.   I didn’t know exactly where the national park was located or if there was anything more to the area.  Well, nearby Alamogordo turned out to be one of my favorite “national park” towns so far.  Here’s ten tips on what I learned. 

Where RVers Should Stay in Alamogordo:  the KOA

Our site at the Alamogordo KOA near White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park does not have any overnight RV camping.  If you are looking for a great RV park, check out the Alamogordo KOA.  The campground has a nice dog park, swimming pool, and other amenities that we’ve come to expect with KOAs.  Most of the campsites have a nice privacy fence, grill, and table/chairs.   We even had our own little lamp post that we could turn on at night (convenient for late night doggie potty breaks). At around $45/night, the KOA in Alamogordo is also reasonably priced.   

The main reason you should stay there is FREE SLEDS!   That’s right – the KOA has several sleds that guests can borrow for free.  The KOA will also loan you some wax for $1, and you get that dollar back when you return the wax to the campground. 

Keep in mind that White Sands National Park charges around $25 to purchase a new sled, and used ones are around $21.   The sled can be sold back to the national park for measly $5 in “sled bucks” that can be used at the gift store.   Because we borrowed two sleds from the KOA instead of buying them, we saved at least $40! 

Cost of “Buying” a Sled at White Sands National Park (2023 prices)

Tips on Visiting White Sands National Park

Although sledding in White Sands National Park is probably one of the most popular and most Instagrammable things to do in the park, here are some other things and activities worth noting. 

Tip #1:  It’s Hot Hot Hot.

Water and Heat Advistory Sign at White Sands National Park - Dunes Life Nature Trail

White Sands National Park is located in the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert within an internally drained valley called the Tularosa Basin. The desert. So yes, it can get extremely hot.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

That means bring water. More water. And more water.

We visited the park in November when the temperatures were in the mid-70s.  The weather felt perfect, but there is still a dry heat that can lead to dehydration pretty quickly.  A sign by the Dune Life Natural Trail warned us that it is dangerous to hike above 85 F.  There’s no water supply on the dune fields either.   We took all of that to heart, and brought lots of water for our adventures in the park.   

Tip #2:  The Sand is Cool Cool Cool.   

Kasie walks barefoot at White Sands National Park. I kept my shoes on!

While normal “beach sand” is made of silica, the sand at White Sands National Park is made of gypsum.   That’s the stuff that is used in sheetrock and drywall. Have you ever felt that? It’s usually quite cool to the touch.

Just like drywall, the gypsum sand does not absorb much heat, even when the temperatures are over 100 F!  Touch the sand with your hands, and you will be amazed how cool it feels. Don’t be afraid to take off your shoes and feel the sand in your toes either.  Kasie did!

(I am one of those weird people who always wears tennis shoes, if I can. I don’t even like flip-flops! I hate anything getting between my toes, especially the strap that goes by the big toe.)

Tip #3:  Sock it to Me. 

Sand gets everywhere at White Sands National Park. Bring spare socks!

While many people wear sandals or go barefoot at White Sands National Park, everyone else who wears shoes/socks (like me!) will soon realize that the gypsum sand gets everywhere faster than a rumor in a small town.  

I wish that I had brought a spare set of socks. Don’t be like me, and consider bringing some extra socks (and perhaps other clothes).

Tip #4:  Stroll at Sunset or Sunrise.

Sunset Stroll at White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park is bordered by the San Andres Mountains to the west and the Sacramento Mountains to the east.  The sunsets and sunrises are absolutely spectacular.  Each evening, visitors can take a ranger-guided Sunset Stroll, where they can learn more about the unique features and history of park.  The stroll is about a mile and lasts about an hour. We stayed a little longer to watch the complete sunset and take photos, while the temperatures seemed to keep dropping (about 20 degrees total) by the time we got back to the truck.

Aside from sledding, the Sunset Stroll was my favorite thing at the national park.   

Tip #5:  Uncover the Tracks.

White Sands National Park is not only a mesmerizing sea of gypsum dunes but also a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife. While the stark whiteness of the dunes might seem uninhabitable, several animals have adapted to blend into this distinctive environment. Most of the creatures only come out at night. Indeed, we didn’t see any creatures during the day (other than a few darkling beetles), but we did see various animal tracks, offering glimpses into the lives of the wildlife that call White Sands home.   These included the Apache pocket mouse, horned lark, and roadrunner.

I find some wildlife tracks at White Sands National Park

Kasie looks at the various wildlife tracks in the sand at White Sands National Park. What did we see?

Tip #6:  Look Harder.

One reason why we probably didn’t see any animals is that many of them have adapted to blend into the white sands.  White lizards, white mice, and white scorpions all call White Sands National Park Home. Talk about camouflage!

(PS: The lizard shown at the Visitors Center is NOT the actual size. Whew!)

I marvel at this white lizard. Warning: This Lizard is NOT actual size.

Tip #7: When Life Gives You Sand, Make an Angel. 

Sand Angel at White Sands National Park

If you looking for another activity besides sledding or hiking in the park, don’t forget to make a “snow angel.”  Technically, these are sand angels. Just be prepared to have a dune-shaped outline on your backside for the rest of the day. 

(We didn’t make the sand angel in the photo. Duh.)

Tip #8: Mirage Magic.

Embrace the optical illusions! White Sands plays tricks on your eyes, making distances seem shorter than they really are. If you suddenly find yourself feeling like you're walking in a desert mirage, fear not – you're not hallucinating; it's just the magic of the gypsum.

Tip #9: There’s Water Everywhere (But Don’t Drink It!)

One of the park rangers dug a hole about 2-3 feet deep to show us the water table beneath the white sand. The water is extremely important to the ecosystem. Not only does the water help keep the sand in place so that it doesn’t blow all over the state, it is also an important resource for the plants and animals in the park. The water is quite salty (brackish) so it NOT for drinking!

The photo shows me with a stick in the hole. It was pretty cool to just hear the water slosh around. This desert certainly wasn’t anything like I had imagined it would be.

Tip #10:  Bombs Away.

White Sands National Park is located within the White Sands Missile Range.  About 60 miles north of the park is the Trinity Site – where the world’s first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945.  Tests are still conducted in White Sands Missile Range, when that happens the park is closed.  So be sure and visit the national park website before your visit to check for upcoming closures.

(PS: The Trinity Site is only open a couple of times a year to the public, usually just on the first Saturday in April and the third Saturday in October).

What Else is there to do in Alamogordo NM?

 While White Sands National Park is probably the big attraction in the Alamogordo area, we found several other museums and fun things to do. 

Our top three favorites were:

#1: Pistachioland

Who knew that this part of New Mexico is ideal for growing pistachios?   And, even better, Alamogordo is home to the World’s Largest Pistachio.  We tried some homemade pistachio ice cream, and brought home bags of Habanero Lime and Cocoa pistachios from McGinn's Pistachioland.  Visitors can take a free tour of the nut farm throughout the day.  And the place is also a winery!

Pistachioland - home of the World’s Largest Pistachio!

#2: The Alameda Park Zoo

The Alameda Park Zoo was established in 1898, making it one of the oldest zoos in the southwestern United States.  Today, it is home to a number of wonderful creatures that make it fun to visit.  The cost is just $4/person, and we spent about two hours exploring the zoo.  Near the entrance, we became enamored with two East African Crowned Cranes doing some sort of mating dance (check out the video). While the zoo is home to many non-exotic animals (like racoons, foxes, and bobcats), we also saw a few endangered species — like the Addax — for the first time. We had fun spotting Limu Emu from the Liberty Mutual commercials and Li’l Sebastian from Parks and Rec. JK.

One of great things about this zoo was the signage – which included some “fast facts” or “fun facts” about the animals, their average size, and weight, lifespan, and how endangered they are. If you are an animal lover, this place is a must stop!

East African Crowned Crane at the Alameda Park Zoo in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Addax at the Alameda Park Zoo in Alamogordo, NM

#3: 575 Brewing

Last but not least, be sure and check out the local craft brewery in Alamogordo.   575 Brewing Company has a comfy outdoor patio area, great beer, and is dog friendly.  Mr. Percy loved the Grindstone Coffee Milk Stout!

At 575 Brewing in Alamogordo NM

Carlsbad Caverns: What to Know

I’m sure you have heard of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  It’s been on my “bucket list” to visit for some time.   When we rolled into Carlsbad New, Mexico, I was giddy to find out that the town was home to TWO national parks!

Okay, technically the second national park — Guadalupe Mountains National Park — is about an hour drive south from Carlsbad.  And yes, that park is in Texas (not New Mexico).  Details.  Details.  Whatevs.  Yet, because Carlsbad Caverns is actually adjacent to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we knew we had to visit both when in the area.   Here’s what we learned about Carlsbad Caverns.

Carlsbad Caverns: What to Know

How Do You See the Bats at Carlsbad Caverns?

No Bat-signal needed here, folks. Instead, just enjoy the nightly bat flight!  Yes, just like the Caped Crusader has his Batcave, Carlsbad Caverns has its own underground spectacle – the nightly Bat Flight viewing!  During the warmer months, Carlsbad Caverns becomes a significant roosting site for a HUGE colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats.

The bats migrate to the caverns in the spring, typically arriving in April or May, and stay until late October.  With temperatures hovering around 56 F all year long, the caverns provide an ideal environment for the bats, offering stable temperatures and high humidity levels.  

Just how large is the bat colony?  According to the NPS, the colony is estimated to be around 400,000 bats.  When we visited Carlsbad Caverns in late October, the park ranger told us that there were still around 100,000 at the national park!  

Spectators can watch the bats emerge (in evening) and come home to roost (in the morning) from a large outdoor seating area near the Natural Entrance to the caverns. 

Photography and videography are prohibited during the Bat Flight viewing.  I took the liberty of taking a couple of photos of the Natural Entrance and then super-imposed some bats to give you an idea of what it might look like. The first photo is more realistic, and the second photo is a complete fabrication. The bats don’t come anywhere close to spectators.

Dramatic reenactment of the Bat Flight at Carlsbad Caverns

Embellishment of the Bats Flight at Carlsbad Caverns. (The bats do NOT get close to spectators at all!)

What are the Tour Options at Carlsbad Caverns?

At the time we visited Carlsbad Caverns in October 2023, the tour options at Carlsbad Caverns were as follows: 

King's Palace tour

• Ranger-guided

• 1.5 hours

• 1 mile

• 12 person groups

• Extra fee

• NPS calls the King’s Palace Tour “easy to moderate”

Big Room Tour

• Self-guided

• 1.25 miles

• Can take the elevator down to the starting point

• NPS calls the Big Room Tour “easy to moderate”

Natural Entrance Tour

• Self-guided

• 1.25 miles

• 75-floor (750 foot) decent

• NPS calls the Natural Entrance Tour “steep and strenuous”

Pro Tip: Visitors Can Walk Multiple Tours in a Single Day.

As for the guided tour, reservations are required, and the slots book up several weeks in advance.  One park ranger told us that several people show up on “stand-by” each day in case those with reservations are no-shows.  We didn’t have our act together enough to make advance reservations and did not have any luck on “stand-by.”

We started with the Natural Entrance Tour, took the Big Room tour, and then used the elevator to exit -- all in a single morning.   I would rate both as “easy” walks.  Sure, the Natural Entrance tour would be “steep and strenuous” if someone crazily decided to go up the 75 flights, but the path finishes near the cavern elevator so there’s no need do that.   

What Can You Expect to See on the Carlsbad Caverns Tours?

The caverns took us on a mesmerizing journey through a subterranean wonderland, showcasing an array of stunning rock formations that have been sculpted over millions of years. Our photos and videos don’t do the place justice. Carlsbad Caverns is just one of those places that you need to experience in person.

After descending about 200 feet on a series of switchbacks, the Natural Entrance Tour took us right by the main bat cave.  We couldn’t see or hear them though.  Other notable features on the Natural Entrance Tour include Devil’s Spring, Whale’s Mouth, Natural Bridge, Devil’s Den, Witch’s Fingers, Iceberg Rock, and the Boneyard. 

Switchbacks on the Natural Entrance Tour

Whales Mouth at Carlsbad Caverns

Iceberg Rock at Carlsbad Caverns

Pro Tip: Take a flashlight to Carlsbad Caverns. Although the paths are all paved with guardrails in most places, the path is sometimes hard to see. A flashlight is also helpful for illuminating some of the rock formations. However, remember to be courteous in using the flashlight when others are around.

The Big Room Tour included the magnificent Hall of Giants (including the Giant Dome and Twin Dome), Fairyland, Temple of the Sun, Caveman Junction, Statue of Liberty, Totem Pole, Mirror Lake, Bottomless Pit, Top of the Cross, Crystal Spring Dome, Rock of Ages, and Painted Grotto.

Temple of the Sun at Carlsbad Caverns

Map of Carlsbad Caverns

Rock of Ages at Carlsbad Caverns

Pro Tip: We have a lot of fancy video and camera gear and experimented with what worked best at Carlsbad Caverns. The winner? Our Pixel phones on the “night sight” setting took the best photos in the dark caverns.  

What Happened (to us) in ROSWELL?

Greetings, fellow earthlings and extraterrestrial enthusiasts!

Confession time. I have to admit that when I wanted to spend TEN DAYS in Roswell, New Mexico, my wife thought I was from another planet.    Turns out, I WAS RIGHT! Roswell is filled with plenty of alien-themed activities in Roswell. Yet, there are also several places with earthly creatures that are worth visiting.

Here’s our ranking of the BEST THINGS to do in Roswell.

Photograph at the Roswell Visitor Center

Pro Tip:  Start your Intergalactic Roswell Journey at the Roswell Visitor Center for a walking map and guidance on things to do. At the Roswell Visitor Center, we were treated to a complimentary old-school photograph with some aliens.   Then, a 10-stop scavenger hunt for aliens took us through most of downtown Roswell, and that helped us finalize our itinerary.  Plus, we got a prize!    

What exactly is the Roswell Incident?

Okay, there have been thousands and thousands of pages written on the Roswell Incident. In preparation for our trip, I read the Roswell Incident Wiki page, watched a couple of YouTube documentaries, and skimmed the Government's Roswell: Case Closed Report. Here’s my two-minute summary:

Way back in July 1947, a rancher named Mack Brazel discovered some debris scattered across his ranch located about 75 miles north of Roswell.  Mack contacted the local sheriff, who in turn contacted the Roswell Army Air Field.  Major Jesse Marcell was dispatched to the site.  Before you could say "ET phone home," the military issued a press release that they had captured a “flying disc. " 

The press went wild, but the next day, the military issued a retraction that was faster Captain Kirk could say “warp speed ahead!”  The object, according to the government, was just a weather balloon.   The story died down and didn’t get much attention until the 1970s when various books and documentaries began to question the official explanation. Witnesses, including Jesse Marcell, came forward claiming that the debris was not from a weather balloon.  Some believed that not only was there an alien spacecraft crash, but also that extraterrestrial bodies were recovered from the wreckage and that the weather balloon-story was just a government cover-up.   

Finally, in 1994, the government issues an official report, which stated that the debris was from a classified project known as "Project Mogul."  Project Mogul was designed to monitor Soviet missile and bomb tests by detecting sound waves in the upper atmosphere.   A second USAF report in 1997 reviewed testimonies about aliens and found them to be baseless, made up, or inspired by parachute dummies who confused them with later events.  Despite this, the controversy still continues.   Is the truth really out there? 

What Are the Top Alien-Themed Things to Do in Roswell?

#1. Roswell International UFO Museum & Research Center

Timeline Display of the Roswell Incident at the International UFO Museum & Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico

Displays at the International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico

Library at the International UFO & Reserach Center in Roswell New Mexico

A must-stop on any intergalactic journey in Roswell is the Roswell International UFO Museum & Research Center. From photographs to eyewitness accounts, this museum explores the mysterious 1947 Roswell incident, providing visitors with an abundance of information to help decode the alien conspiracy theories. I came away from the museum believing that some sort of cover-up really did happen. The timeline displays did a great job of highlighting the key witness statements and artifacts.

The museum is not just about the Roswell Incident though, and there are several displays about other major UFO sightings throughout the world and space travel generally.  As the name implies, the place is a “Research Center” too. The building houses an impressive library filled with UFO and space-themed books, periodicals, and Roswell memorabilia.   Lastly, there’s also a gift shop filled with all sorts of alien objects, clothing, and souvenirs.

Cost: $7 for adult ($5 military/seniors/first responders) 

#2. Alien Zone Area 51

Selfie at Alien Zone’s Area 51 in Roswell, New Mexico

On the alien-probing table at Alien Zone’s Area 51 in Roswell, New Mexico

Alien Zone isn’t your average gift/souvenir shop.  In addition to some fun shirts and alien-themed knick-knacks, the front part of the store also contains a few aliens in caged displays.  However, for folks like us wanting some awesome alien selfies, we paid a small amount to travel to the store’s Area 51.  There, we posed with aliens in scenes ranging from a probe abduction to a backyard barbeque. Some of the aliens look like they’ve seen a few crashes though; many are missing fingers and other body parts. Area 51 could use some updating, and we felt like we needed to enter a decontamination zone after our visit.    

Cost: $0 (gift/souvenir shop) / $5 (Area 51)

#3. Spaceport Roswell 

Kyle warns us to take our headsets off in case of headaches, dizziness, and vomiting at Spaceport Roswell. (We were just fine!)

This was my first time donning a headset for a virtual reality experience, and I thought it was out of this world!  Literally.  At Spaceport Roswell, we witnessed the the Roswell Incident firsthand….from the perspective of the aliens!  The experience took us aboard the alien spacecraft, part of the crash-landing site, and the secret place where the government stored our bodies!   

Cost: $14.50 ($12.50 military/seniors) 

#4. Bricktown: Aliens Attack

Alien Invasion at Bricktown in Roswell, New Mexico

Crash Landing as part of the “Aliens Attack” at Bricktown in Roswell, New Mexico. Does this remind anyone of the 1947 Roswell Incident?

Despite having an engineering degree, I was not a “LEGO-kid” growing up.  However, Kasie had quite the LEGO collection and couldn’t wait to visit Roswell's Bricktown .   One exhibit featured the Apollo moon landing, Saturn rocket launch, and the podium where President Kennedy made his famous moon speech.  I geeked out the most on the “Aliens Attack” display – since I was now thoroughly convinced that they are really coming for us.  The experience includes some non-alien/space displays (like Big Ben, the Coliseum, and the Syndey Opera House) as well.

 Cost: $12.00 ($11.00 military/seniors) 

What the Top Things to Do in Roswell (That Don’t Involve Aliens)?

#1. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Sandhill Crane Overlook at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Sandhill Cranes at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuage (October migration)

Located just a few miles northeast of Roswell, the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is home to up to 40,000 sandhill cranes in the fall.  We marveled as these magnificent earthly creatures come to roost each evening and then departed each morning.  The sounds and sights of these migrating birds was truly amazing!  We also saw some of New Mexico’s other wildlife, including a rattlesnake, tarantula, and coyote.

Cost:  Free

#2. Spring River Zoo 

Ring-tailed lemur at the Spring River Zoo in Roswell, New Mexico

Llama at the Spring River Zoon in Roswell, New Mexico

I’m not normally a “zoo” person, but because the Spring River Zoo was right next to our RV park, I decided to check it out.  I liked it so much that I went back on a couple of other days.  Maybe I just lucked out, but the llamas, lemurs, foxes, buffalo, and other earthly beings were quite active and visible during my visits. 

Cost:  Free (donations accepted)

 #3.  Black Cock Brewery

Shot glasses from the Black Cock Brewery in Roswell, New Mexico

Murals on the patio at Black Cock Brewery in Roswell, New Mexico

 We love craft beer, but because Black Cock Brewery only brews its own ciders and seltzers, we almost did not stop there.  Luckly, the brewery had a good selection of other New Mexico beers (mostly from Santa Fe Brewing, Bosque Brewing, and Siera Blanca Brewing).   A Mexican food truck was parked outside, and the brewery really had the Halloween spirit.   They were getting ready for their “Cockoberfest” on the mural-filled patio and karaoke stage.

With a name like “Black Cock,” the puns on their merch pretty much wrote themselves. The fun-loving bartender tried to sell us one of their shot glasses with slogans like “Spitters are Quitters” and the classic “I heart Black Cock.”

Cost: Thirst and hunger dependent

Concluding Thoughts on Roswell

Roswell, New Mexico is not just a city with a mysterious past; it's a city with a playful, alien-themed present. Whether you're a UFO enthusiast or just someone looking for a galactic good time, Roswell has plenty of extraterrestrial and terrestrial experiences to offer. Here are just some of the Alien sightings in the town:

S2RV Chassis: Hidden Storage Space

If you don’t have a rear bath in your S2RV chassis, you MAY have some hidden EXTRAS STORAGE SPACE in the rear exterior storage compartment on the passenger side. In our 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L (bunk model), we removed the carpeted panel, cut about 1.25 inches from the panel, and repositioned it towards the center of the rig. See photos below. It increased the usable space in that compartment by 50% or more. Although I’m not entirely sure, I think that Jayco/Entegra uses this space for a black/gray tank in models with a rear bath so if you don’t have a rear bath, the extra space is probably there. This is just one of the things learned during our factory tour while getting some warranty work done at Jayco/Entegra in Middlebury, IN.

Entegra Accolade 37L XL has hidden storage space in rear passenger compartment.

Extra storage space is behind this carpeted panel.

Hidden storage space (with carpeted panel removed).

After cutting the panel and repositioning it, we now had more storage space.

Look at all that extra storage space. Woo hoo!

DISCLAIMERS: PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RIG! We are NOT affiliated with any of these manufacturers and just want to share our experiences about this modification so that you can help judge for yourself whether this is a project you want to tackle.

Miami Oklahoma - Famous Things and People

Miami, Oklahoma (population ~13,000) is located on historic Route 66 and just of I-44 in northeastern Oklahoma. The town boasts several attractions to enjoy when traveling through this charming part of the Mother Road.  Perhaps more importantly, Miami is also famous for being the hometown of my wife, Kasie.  In this video and blog, we outline some things all travelers should to know about Miami – including some of the FAMOUS THINGS to do in Miami and FAMOUS PEOPLE from Miami.

How do you say Miami Oklahoma?

First, and foremost, Miami is pronounced MI-AM-AH.  Not Mi-am-ee.  

The locals are 100% in agreement on how to say Miami.  In contrast, neighboring Missouri can be pronounced as both Missour-ah and Missour-ee.

What is a Wardog?

Miami, Oklahoma is home to the Miami Wardogs.  Fun fact:  the Miami high school has the only wardog mascot in the nation!   Many of the games are played at nearby by Northeast Oklahoma A&M College or “NEO” for short.  (Btw, the college acronym is pronounced En-EE-Oh, and not Nee-Oh).

Miami Wardog Hall of Fame - 1989-1990 Girls Golf Team with Coach Harley Turner

During our last trip to Miami, Kasie was inducted into the Wardog Athletic Hall of Fame, along with five other girls on the 1989-1990 girls golf team.   Their golf coach, Harley Turner or “HT”, was also inducted in to the Wardog Athletic Hall of Fame.   The induction plaque reads:

1989 & 1990 Miami Lady Wardogs Golf Teams

The 1989 & 1990 Girls Golf Teams at Miami High School won back-to-back state championships in 1989 and 1990. Both state championships took place at Lake Hefner Golf Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team placed in every tournament they played in during these two years and won the 1989 & 1990 regional championships on their way to both state titles. This same group were also state runner-up in 1987, and finished third in 1988.

The teams were both comprised of the same six ladies: Shawna (Fitzgibbon) Geiger, Jennifer (Gatewood) Davis, Jan (Haney) Dominguez, Lori Lillard, Paige Parrott, and Kasie Sly.  Paige Parrott and Kasie Sly were both all-state golfers. Paige Parrott won the individual state championship in 1990. This was before female golfers were separated by class, so she was the best female golfer in the state of Oklahoma that year.

The teams were led by head coach Harley Turner, who was also inducted into the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame on October 6, 2023, the same day as the girls' golf teams

Look at that! My wife, Kasie, is truly FAMOUS!

What Famous People are from Miami Oklahoma?

Well, aside from the 1989-90 Wardog girls golf team, there are other famous athletes from Miami, Oklahoma. 

Billboard about Steve Owens in Miami, Oklahoma

• One of the major roads in Miami is named for Steve Owens, the 1969 Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler who played for the Detroit Lions.

• Tinker Owens, Steve’s little brother, also played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints.  Tinker’s also has a street named after him, but it’s not as prominent as Steve’s street.

• Mickey Mantle (a/k/a the Commerce Comet) grew up just north of Miami in Commerce, Oklahoma. More on that below…

Other famous people once called Miami Oklahoma home.   Those folks include:

• Charles Banks Wilson was world renounced artist. Several of Wilson’s portraits and murals are on display in the Oklahoma state capital building. 

• Steve Gaines (guitarist) and Cassie Gaines (vocalist) were a brother-sister duo who were part of the Lynard Skynyrd Band.  They tragically died in a plane crash in 1979.

• Moscelyne Larkin became a famous ballerina in the 20th Century and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1978. 

• David Osborne was known as the "Pianist to the Presidents" for having entertained several spanning U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama. 

What Famous Things Are There to See In Miami?

#1: Coleman Theatre

Located on Route 66, the Coleman Theatre is an architectural gem in the heart of Miami and a must-visit for history and culture enthusiasts. Built in 1929, this beautifully restored theater, which includes gorgeous Wurlitzer pipe organ, is a testament to the golden age of cinema and vaudeville. Even if you're not attending a show, you can take a guided tour to appreciate the stunning Spanish Revival architecture and learn about the theater's rich history and its reconstruction.  The story of the Coleman is really a story about the Miami community coming together to save this iconic landmark.

Coleman Theatre Sign in Miami, Oklahoma

The Coleman Theater in Miami, Oklahoma

#2: Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger

No visit to Miami would be complete without a stop at Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger on Route 66. This iconic diner is a beloved local institution that has been serving up delicious, old-fashioned burgers and shakes for decades.  The interior is currently closed but there are a few picnic tables outside to enjoy the drive-through meal. 

Wayan’s Ku KU Hamburgers in Miami, Oklahoma

Drive Through at Waylan’s Ku Ku Hambergers in Miami Oklahoma

#3: Miami's Murals

One of the most striking aspects of Miami is its vibrant and diverse collection of murals that adorn the town's buildings. These murals tell the story of Miami's history, culture, and spirit. These works of art located mostly along Route 66, and they provide fascinating insights into the community's past and present.

Greetings from Miami Mural in Miami, OKlahoma

Murals in Miami Oklahoma

#4: Newell Coach

For those interested in luxury motorhomes or just have $1M+ to spend, stop by the Newell Coach factory in Miami.  These custom-built motorhomes are some of the most opulent and technologically advanced on the market. We took a private tour a few years ago, and it was so much fun to dream!

Kasie sits in a million-dollar RV at Newell Coach in Miami, Oklahoma

Sign for Newell Coach in Miami, Oklahoma

#5: Donut Palace

The world’s best donuts may be in Miami, Oklahoma!

Located on E. Steve Owens Boulevard, the Donut Palace is home to the BEST DONUTS ever! Seriously, I hate to say “best ever” about anything, but these donuts are truly the best ones I’ve ever eaten. Make sure and get a blueberry donut or an apple fritter with your order.

Another great thing about the Donut Palace is ordering. The owner, who has a thick Asian accent, always remembers us, even if we haven’t been to Miami in over a year. She will always try to make us buy more donuts as well, which is part of the fun of going there. “You like more donut? You big girl. You need more donut?” Sure, we’ll take another dozen.

How much do I love these donuts? I have dozens of donut photos on my phone. And yes, I did just post a photo of my food in this blog.

#6: The Stables Casino

Nachos from The Stables Casino in Miami Oklahoma

Miami (and Oklahoma in general) is home to lots of casinos. I don’t enjoy gambling, but I like cheap beer and good food.   While there’s no craft beer at The Stables Casino (unless you count Blue Moon, which I don’t), there are several cheap domestic drafts on tap to help wash down a really tastey and generous helping of nachos. They aren’t the best ever, but they may be the best bang for the buck at just $9.95.

Did I take ANOTHER picture of my food? Yep, I did. #ClassCBroad #ClassyBroad

#7: Mickey Mantle's Childhood Home

Mickey Mantle’s boyhood home in Commerce, Oklahoma

Disclaimer: Okay, this stop is admittedly not in Miami.

Keep driving a little north on Route 66 and then take a left on Avenue C in nearby Commerce, Oklahoma to see the childhood home of the legendary baseball player Mickey Mantle.   Visitors cannot go inside the home, but you can picture Mickey’s dad throwing a few pitches to Mickey between the house and the tin barn that served as Mickey’s backstop.

I got chills just walking through the yard.

Is Miami Oklahoma worth visiting?

The short answer is “yes.” On your next road trip through Oklahoma, be sure an plan to stop in Miami Oklahoma.  It’s a small town with several famous attractions for out-of-town guests to enjoy. If Kasie is in town, she’ll also give you her autograph.

Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park: What to Know

About Me

I grew up in Belleville, Kansas – a town of about 2000 people and home of the Battlin’ Buffaloes.  Yes, the Buffaloes were the grade school and high school mascot in my hometown.   “LET’S GO, BUFFALOES! Let’s GO BuffaLOES” I proudly wore one of my dozens of “Buffs” t-shirts to school on most days, and I even had a buffalo stuffed animal next to my bed.

Despite growing up in “Buff Country,” I don’t recall seeing a live buffalo until adulthood.  Even then, my buffalo sightings were limited to just a handful of buffalo at some preserve.

But Custer State Park?  It’s home to nearly 1500 buffalo! 

In my opinion, there’s no better place to see buffalo than at Custer State Park in western South Dakota.

Lana Knedlik as a Belleville Buffalo. GO BUFFS!

Early History: The Plight of the American Buffalo

In the 19th century, the American buffalo (also called bison) roamed the plains of North America in the millions.  These iconic creatures were crucial to the livelihood of Native American tribes, providing sustenance, shelter, and materials for various purposes. However, westward expansion, overhunting, and the construction of the transcontinental railroad led to a dramatic decline in buffalo populations.

By the late 1800s, the buffalo were on the brink of extinction, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild. Recognizing the urgent need for conservation, a handful of visionaries took steps to protect this majestic species and its habitat.  One of them was Peter Norbeck.

Buffalo and the Founding of Custer State Park

Custer State Park Bison Center sign

Peter Norbeck was a South Dakota conservationist who would later become the state’s Governor and U.S. Senator.   He fell in love with the rugged terrain of the southern Black Hills, and in 1912, Norbeck helped establish the Custer State Forest.  In 1914, three dozen buffalo were purchased from the Scotty Philip’s herd near Pierre, South Dakota.   Just five years later, Custer State Park was officially made a state park.  By 1924, the buffalo herd had grown to about 100 animals.    As the herd grew, park officials would round them up periodically (every 2-5 years).  In 1965, the roundup became an annual event with the first annual auction held in early 1966.

About the Buffalo Roundup

Custer State Park’s expansive grasslands and diverse ecosystem provides an ideal environment for buffalo to thrive.  The primary objective of the Buffalo Roundup is to manage the growing buffalo herd, preventing overpopulation and preserving the ecological balance of the park.   By managing the buffalo population, Custer State Park ensures that the ecosystem remains in balance, preventing overgrazing and resource depletion. Depending on the herd size, 300-500 bison will be sold at the park's annual auction later in the fall. The park also uses the roundup as an opportunity to vaccinate, brand, and perform health assessments (such as pregnancy tests) on the buffalo.

Buffalo run down a hill a the Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park

South Viewing Spectators (background) watch the head of the Buffalo Herd (foreground) at the Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park

The Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park is now a time-honored tradition that combines the thrilling spectacle of bison herding with the rich history of conservation efforts in the American West.  It's not just about managing the buffalo herd anymore; it's a celebration of the American West's heritage and an opportunity for visitors to connect with nature and history.

In short, the Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park is a “bucket list” experience.

When is the Buffalo Roundup?

Vern Ekstrom Sale Office near the buffalo corrals in Custer State Park

The Buffalo Roundup is typically held on the last Friday in September.   An auction is later held in the fall, usually in early November.

The celebration for the Buffalo Roundup takes place over a period of three days (Thursday-Saturday).

How many people attend the Buffalo Roundup?

The three-day Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park reportedly attracts close to 30,000 spectators annually. The official count for the Friday roundup in 2023 was 22,590 spectators.

That’s a lot of “Buff” fans like me.

What are the Parking and Viewing Options for Spectators at the Buffalo Roundup?

Road access to the North and South viewing areas of the Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park

There are two viewing areas for the Buffalo Roundup.

• North Parking and Viewing | Head south from the Game Lodge area on Wildlife Loop Road. (See teal path on map.)

• South Parking and Viewing | Head east on Wildlife Loop Road near Blue Bell campground. (See green path on map.)

Both viewing areas are reportedly equally good for seeing the buffalo herd.  The buffalo herd goes by the South Viewing area first and then heads towards the North Viewing area as generally shown in the map below. 

Two important things to note about parking:

• First, Wildlife Loop Road is closed in the area near Lame Johnny Road.  Therefore, all vehicles must depart the way they entered.  

• Second, the parking lot for the South Viewing area is smaller so if it fills up, park rangers and volunteers will make vehicles backtrack and send vehicles up and around to the North Viewing area. 

We chose the watch the Buffalo Roundup from the North Viewing area because (1) it was closer to our campground near Rapid City and (2) we did not want to worry about not getting a parking spot in the South Viewing area.

Map of parking and viewing options (South and North) for the Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park

Buffalo on Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park

What Should Spectators Bring to the Buffalo Roundup?

When attending the Buffalo Roundup, here’s what we recommend bringing:

• Patience.  Lots of patients.  You can expect to wait up to two hours to get into Custer State Park on the day of the Buffalo Roundup.

• Viewing Gear. Cameras and binoculars are a must.  We could spot the buffalo coming down a hill way way way in the distance, and could see the herd gathering speed as they kept going.

• Sittin’ Gear. Most people sit in camping chairs or spread out a blanket on the ground. The north viewing area is one big hill so personally, I think that a blanket works a little better than camping chairs.

• Appropriate Attire. Depending on the weather, it’s a good idea to bring layered clothing, rain gear, and sunscreen. If you have any buffalo-themed hats or other garb, wear it!

• Provisions. Lastly, bring drinks, snacks maybe even pack a lunch. There are limited food/drink options at Custer State Park (see below), and because of the crowds, there are usually long lines for provisions.

What Else Goes on at the Buffalo Roundup?

Custer State Park Bison Center (right) and Buffalo Corrals (left)

• Education. The Bison Center is located just across from the corrals. This $4M+ facility (constructed in 2022) is worth a stop to learn more about the buffalo as a species, the Buffalo Roundup, and herd management practices.

• Breakfast (sorta). Volunteers serve a Cowboy Breakfast (pancakes) for spectators.   Unfortunately, by the time we arrived to the North Viewing area, the pancakes were sold out.

• Lunch. The park also serves Cowboy Lunch near the Bison Center (white tent in the photo). In 2023, our lunch consisted of baked beans, a bag of chips, cookie, soda/water, and of course, buffalo brisket! The cost was $20.

• Work. After the buffaloes are herded into a large fenced-in pasture area at near the Bison Center, the park rangers and volunteers herd the buffalo into corrals for health checks and population management.  This process starts roughly at noon and finishes up (just for the day) by mid-afternoon.   The park rangers continue their work for the weeks an months following the Buffalo Roundup. 

• Culture. An art fair is also held near the Custer State Park Visitor Center on Thursday-Saturday. The art fair has food trucks.

Should You Go to the Buffalo Roundup?

Well, I certainly think the Buffalo Roundup is a must-do experience.   If you want to get really good feel for what goes on, please check out our video.

Exploring Western South Dakota in the Fall

We have spent a lot of time in western South Dakota, but mostly in the summer during the heavy tourist season.   This time, we wanted to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Black Hills in the fall.  The rugged and picturesque landscape transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors during the fall season.   We also experienced some of the local fall festival culture.  Here are our favorite finds:

Spearfish Canyon - A Tapestry of Colors

Spearfish Canyon is often considered the crown jewel of fall foliage in South Dakota. We explored the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway and discovered why it's one of the most sought-after spots for leaf-peeping. In addition, Spearfish Canyon is home to three major waterfalls: 

(1) Spearfish Falls.  

At Spearfish Falls in Spearfish Canyon

Located near Savoy, this 0.6 out-and-back trail to Spearfish Falls leads to a majestic 80-foot waterfall.

(2) Roughlock Falls. 

Even though Roughlock Falls is accessible via a short hike from a small parking lot on Roughlock Road, we recommend doing the more scenic 2.1-mile out-and-back trail to Roughlock Falls starting near the Spearfish Canyon Lodge.

(3) Bridal Veil Falls.   

Drive north from Savoy towards Spearfish on 14A to a pull-over area to see Bridal Veil Falls.   

Custer State Park - Wildlife and Autumn Splendor

View of Needles Tunnel on Needles Highway in Custer State Park

Custer State Park, known for its bison herds and scenic drives, is another fantastic place to soak in the autumn beauty.  Needles Highway (Highway 87) and Iron Mountain Road (Highway 16A) are both stunning routes that wind through towering granite spires, dense forests, and narrow tunnels.  The South Dakota Park, Fish & Game maps aren’t always in agreement about the tunnel dimensions, but one recent map provides the following information:

Tunnel	Highway	Width	Height
Needles Eye Tunnel	Highway 87	8’4”	11’3”
Iron Creek Tunnel	Highway 87	9’0”	11’4”
Hood Tunnel	Highway 87	10’6”	9’10”
CC Gideon Tunnel	Highway 16A	13’0”	11’0”
Doane Robinson Tunnel	Highway 16A	13’2”	12’2”
Scovel Johnson Tunnel	Highway 16A	13’2”	12’4”

Mount Rushmore is framed in the Doane Robinson Tunnel when traveling north on Iron Mountain Road (Highway 16A), which is pretty cool.

The best place to find wildlife alongside the fall colors is on the aptly named Wildlife Loop.   We got our fill of mountain goats, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and buffalo – all with a variety of yellow and orange leaves in the prairie background.  I fell in love with prairie dogs as part of my visits to Custer State Park, and even wrote a song about them! The best place to see prairie dogs in Custer State Park is on the Seven Mile Draw just off the Wildlife Loop Road.

Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park

As for the buffalo, there’s no better place to see them than during Custer State Park’s annual Buffalo Roundup!

Pumpkin Festival in Rapid City

For the past 15 years, downtown Rapid City has hosted a Pumpkin Festival.  The event featured a giant pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin carving contest, live farm-to-table cooking demonstration, the Pumpkin Pub Crawl, drum line performances by Rapid City Central and Stevens groups, vendor booths, farmers market and kids activities.   The best part was the Pumpkin Catapult a/k/a Pumpkin Chunkin’ a/k/a Punkin’ Chunkin’ – where about a half dozen teams from the South Dakata School of Mines & Technology created an array of devices to launch pumpkins across an open field!  

I even made the Rapid City Journal trying to film all of those flying pumpkins!

Students from the South Dakota School of Mines lauch a pumpkin from their catapult!

Rapid City Pumpkin Festival

Octoberfest at a Rapid City Brewery

Lost Cabin Octoberfest in Rapid City, South Dakota - Beer Stein Holding Contest

Rapid City is home to several breweries, and we’ve been to all of them on multiple occasions.  During this trip to the area, our favorite brewery was Lost Cabin, who hosted a phenomenal Octoberfest on one Saturday.   Kasie tried her best to follow the rules in a Beer Stein Holding Contest, and we made a few new friends.  Most of the breweries in the area hold October celebrations so be sure and make that a part of your fall visit to western South Dakota.

Why Every RVer Should Own a 3D Printer

Are you someone who loves doing “mods” to your RV? 

Are you a “tinkerer”? 

Do you like having FUN?  

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, then consider getting a 3D printer for your RV.  

Hear me out.  When my wife, Kasie, bought her first 3D printer a couple of years ago, I was skeptical.  “Aren’t they expensive?” “Why don’t you just buy whatever you need?”  Seems like a lot of work, I said.   Looks daunting, I told her.  

Turns out, 3D printers have come a long way since I first heard about them during undergrad in the 1990s.  Today, 3D printing (and the FREE software that people use to 3D-print things) is cheap, easy, functional, and fun.  In other words, today’s 3D printers are not your grandma’s 3D printer.

When we decided to live full-time in our RV over 16 months ago, we each got to choose a couple of hobbies that we could take with us.   I chose a guitar and a keyboard.  Kasie chose her 3D printer and some golf clubs.   Of all of those things, we use the 3D printer the most. In fact, of all the RV tools, gizmos, and gadgets that we carry with us, the 3D printer might be the one that we use the most.

Let me say it again: 3D printing = Cheap + Easy + Functional + Fun

What Type of 3D Printer the Best?

You can spend a lot of money on a 3D printer, but you can also spend just a few hundred dollars.  Kasie’s favorite 3D printer (and the one that we currently have in our RV) is the Ender 3 V2 Neo (Ender). It costs about $250.  She’s owned more expensive 3D printers, but we think this one from Creality is the best bang for the buck.  The Ender has an auto-leveling function, but Kasie recently purchased a bed leveling tool. Given that the printer giggles down the road after every trip, she’s gotten into the habit of using the bed leveling tool if we have moved campgrounds between print projects.

Keep in mind that our Ender 3D printer is really a “beginner” 3D printer. It will only print in one color, it’s relatively slow (compared to some high end printers), and the size of the objects that it can print is limited by the size of the device. Yet, it’s done the job admirably for the projects we’ve needed. Moreover, the Ender fits nicely in the top bunk of our RV, and the size is a plus as far as we are concerned.

Of course, to print something, you have to have some filament. PLA, ASA, TPU, and PETG are all popular options. After experimenting with all of these filaments, we think that PLA works for most applications. So, if you are just getting started, we suggest trying PLA as your filament.

Creality Official Ender 3 V2 Neo 3D Printer, CR Touch Auto Leveling 3D Printers, 95% Pre-Installed with PC Spring Steel Platform, Full-Metal Extruder, Build Size 220x220x250mm Buy on Amazon

OVERTURE PLA Filament 1.75mm PLA 3D Printer Filament, 1kg Cardboard Spool (2.2lbs), Dimensional Accuracy +/- 0.03mm, Fit Most FDM Printer (Cement Gray) Buy on Amazon

Of course, there’s all sorts of gadgets that can be used with a 3D printer. Kasie recently purchased an electronic bed leveling tool, and she re-levels the bed each time we move campgrounds. A deblurring tool is also handy to remove supports. Supports are material that is used to support the desired item during the print, but the material is removed and discarded after the print.

Filament Friday E-Leveler 2 - The Original 3D Printer Electronic Bed Leveling Tool Buy on Amazon

Linelucool Deburring Tool with 10Pcs HSS Blades - Deburring Tool for Metal, Aluminum, Copper, Plastic Pipe, 3D Printing, Brass Buy on Amazon

Why Should RVers Own a 3D Printer?

RVs come in all shapes and sizes.  The way people camp or live in an RV is just as varied.  The best part about owning a 3D printer is you have the ability to create something that works for you and your space.   Every RVer knows that space is limited, and organization is at a premium.   In my view, there’s nothing better that having the ability to create an object that fits into the space and functions just the way you want it to. 

In short, a 3D printer is all about CUSTOMIZATION! We live in just a few hundred square feet, and it’s SO WORTH it to be able to use the space properly.

Also, if you are looking for a GREAT GIFT for someone who has an RV, I personally think that a 3D printer should be at the top of your list. A 3D printer is perfect for someone who likes to tinker (or just get organized in a small space). Plus, one benefit of giving a 3D printer to someone is that you usually benefit from all of the cool stuff that he/she prints.

What Can You Print with a 3D Print for Your RV?

Kasie has printed dozens of things that we use daily in our RV (a 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L).   Many of these designs are freely available on Thingiverse.   To make modifications to these designs, she uses Tinkercad and Utilimaker Cura, both of which are also free to use.   I decided to play around with the software as part of writing this blog. All of this software is pretty user-intuitive.  Within couple of days of playing around with the software, most people will get the hang of it. 

This blog is not intended to be a tutorial on how to use a 3D printer or 3D printer software.  Instead, we just hope that after seeing some of the neat things Kasie has 3D printed, that might inspire you to start 3D printing on your own.  In alphabetical order (drum roll, please):

• Baby Gate End Receptacle

• Charging Box: Organizer for Cords, Phones, & Batteries

• Clip / Carabiner (for securing our pet fence to lattice)

• Closet Rod End Cap

• Cup Holder Ring Adaptor

• Cup Holder / Snack Holder (for Cooler Lid)

• Fan Extender (for short people!) (MY FAVORITE)

• "Feet" for Cutting Board

• Hook for Over the Shower Door

• Level Bracket

• Medicine Cabinet Cubbies / Medicine Cabinet Organizers

• Rivets

• RV AC Air Flow Device

• S2RV Cubby / Divider for S2RV Console

• Sewer Wrench

• Starlink Clip for Ethernet Cable 

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste Holder (Electric Toothbrush)

• Your RV?

Where possible, I’ve tried to include the .STL files for the items that Kasie has 3D printed.   Just click on the Tinkercad drawing of the object, and the .STL file should be there.   If not, shoot me an email at classcbroads@gmail.com, and I’ll see what I can do.

**All .stl files are licensed pursuant to CC-BY 4.0 so if you share or modify them, please provide attribution to ClassCBroads.com and the original designer, if applicable.

DISCLAIMERS: EVERY RV IS DIFFERENT. THESE DESIGNS MAY NOT (AND PROBABLY WILL NOT) WORK FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEED. YOU MAY (AND PROBABLY WILL) NEED TO MODIFY THESE DESIGNS OR CREATE YOUR OWN. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND CHECK ALL MEASUREMENTS AND DESIGNS. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RIG OR ANY OF YOUR 3D PRINTING PROJECTS! We simply want to share some of the things that we have successfully 3D printed for our RV to hopefully inspire people pick up 3D printing. Also, we do get a very small commission at no cost to you if you use one of the Amazon Links (a/k/a beer money).

Good luck, and may the 3D-print gods be with you!

Baby Gate End Receptacle

We don’t have a baby, but we have FIVE DOGS! Because a couple of our pups are “runners,” we usually set up a baby gate near the door to keep the dogs in the RV. To help with the baby gate placement when we get to a new location, Kasie 3D-printed these receptacles for the baby gate ends. The receptacles are screwed into the wall.

We have a baby gate by our RV door to help keep our dogs in the RV. Earl, I’m talking to you, buddy!

Regalo Easy Step 49-Inch Extra Wide Baby Gate, Includes 4-Inch and 12-Inch Extension Kit, 4 Pack of Pressure Mount Kit and 4 Pack of Wall Mount Kit, Black Buy on Amazon

Baby Gate Foot receptacle in our RV — 3D Printed

Baby Gate Receptacle for receiving the “feet” / extenders of a baby gate

Click on the image above for the .STL file

Charging Box: Organizer for Cords, Phones, Batteries

Charging cords and spare batteries seem to multiply like bunnies. We have them for phones, GoPros, camcorders, drone, security cameras and other devices. To better organize the chaos, Kasie designed this 3D-printed charging bank organizer. The drawers are filled with the spare batteries and their charging devices.

Drawers for Charging Box

Charging Box Drawer Receptacle

3D Printed Organizer for charging cords and spare batteries (and their chargers)

Clip / Carabiner (for securing our pet fence to lattice)

As noted above, we RV with five dogs. Whenever we can, we set up a pet fence around our campsite. One problem is that the metal pet fence is too tall such that the panels won’t fit underneath the RV door.   In that area, we’ve custom-cut a couple of sections of plastic lattice that fit snuggly underneath and around the RV door. The plastic lattice is fastened to the wire pet fence with these 3D-printed carabiners. In my opinion, the 3D-printed carabiners are much easier to use than regular carabiners because they are sized just right.

Clip / Carabiner-like clip. We use this to hook our dog fencing to the lattice under our stairs.

Click on the image above for the .STL file

Pet Trex 30" Playpen for Dogs Eight 24" Wide x 30" High Panels Buy on Amazon

Of note, these clips / carabiners are handy for other things too. Kasie found this design basic design from Mr. Dooo on Thingiverse (shared under CC-BY 4.0).

Fun Fact: Close to 70% of people who RV reportedly bring a pet with them, and the vast majority of those pets are dogs.

For more ideas and tips for how to RV with dogs, check out our blog and/or watch the video.

Closet Rod End Cap

We don’t have a lot of hanging clothes so we decided to use a small part of our bunk area for those. We didn’t want the closet rod to extend the entire length of the bunk. Kasie 3D-printed this closet rod end to keep the closet rod from moving latterally. The rod is also secured by a metal bracket screwed into the top of the bunk area. Kasie modified a design from Thingiverse from mmerrill80 (CC-BY 4.0)

Closet rod end cap (3D Printed)

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

We have a very small space for hanging clothes in the top bunk area of our RV.

3D printed closet rod end the bunk bed area of our RV.

Cup Holder Ring Adaptor

Cup holder / RIng Adaptor (3D printed)

I’m not sure why, but many of the cup holders (in the console, in the sofa) in our RV are just too wide. Our drinks tend to wobble around in them. Dave Jensen on the Renegade Facebook page posted the design and the .STL file. That’s another thing about 3D printing; people always seem willing to share their designs. It’s a wonderful community!

Cup Holder / Snack Holder (for Cooler Lid)

We keep a cooler in the driving area of our RV. It’s basically a white-trash console.

We bought the cooler with two goals in mind: (1) to store extra soda, beer, and other drinks that don’t fit in the refrigerator and (2) to hold our drinks with the cup holder in the cooler lid on travel days. The problem is that the cup holder was a little too shallow and wide such that our water bottles would topple over on a bumpy road. To solve this problem, Kasie 3D-printed this combination cup holder / snack holder that fits snugly into the cup holder of the cooler lid. The cup holder portion is fairly deep and is sized to our water bottles so that our drinks don’t topple over as easy. And, we get a snack holder as well!

Cup Holder / Snack Holder (3D Printed)

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

Cup / Snack adaptor fits into the cup receptacle of a cooler

Cup / Snack adaptor fits into the cup receptacle of a cooler

Fan Extender (for short people!)

Most RVs have an exhaust fan in the bathroom. Unfortunately, the knob to open the exhaust fan is on the RV’s ceiling so that many people have to stand on something (like the toilet) to turn on the bathroom fan. Because I’m vertically challenged, this “fan extender” is MY FAVORITE thing that Kasie ever 3D printed.

Kasie got the basic idea from Brian Miller in the Jayco Seneca Facebook group. Because the fan extender is so long, it had to be made in sections (at least with the Ender 3). The print project includes three parts: (1) a bottom section that you grab onto to turn the knob, (2) a middle section, and (3) an adaptor (in red) that is customized to attach to the exhaust fan knob.

The three sections of the fan extender.

The bottom portion of the 3D-printed fan extender.

Fan extender - Middle Section (3D printed)

Top section of the 3D printed Fan Extender. This attaches to attaches to the fan knob.

Exhaust fan handle / knob extender (3D Printed)

Close up of the exhaust fan handle / knob extender (3D Printed)

The type of adaptor needed will vary depending on the fan knob. In our old RV (a 2019 Jayco Greyhawk), the knob was cog-shaped. As such, we used different design which is shown above (click on it for the .STL).

“Feet” for Cutting Board

Like many RVers, we have an induction cook-top, which takes up a lot of usable kitchen counter space. We place a cutting board over the cook-top to provide us with a larger kitchen prep area. We originally used some rubber bumpers (like the ones shown here) to raise the cutting board above the cook-top surface, but those rubber bumpers kept falling off. Kasie decided to design these 3D-printed “feet,” which are screwed into each corner of the cutting board.

These “feet” are attached to a cutting board that sits over the induction cook-top in our RV

Click on the image above for the .STL file

Kenmore Kenosha Heavy Duty Acacia Wood Extra Large Cutting Board W/Juice Grove, 24x16-inch Buy on Amazon

We added four 3D-printed feet to this cutting board, which lays over our cook-top to provide more kitchen prep space.

Cutting board “foot”

Hook for Over the Shower Door

Places to hang things in an RV are are always great. While 3M Command Hooks are usually a great option, they all have flat adhesive backs that require a corresponding flat service to adhere to. Unfortunately, some surfaces, like our shower door frame, are contoured so that 3M Command Hooks don’t work very well.

So what do you do? 3D printer project to the rescue!

Below is a towel hook that Kasie designed to fit over our shower door frame. It may be a little hard to tell from the photo, but there’s a slight contour to the surface shower door frame’s surface.

Hook that hangs over our shower door

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

3D-printed hook in use on our shower door.

Level Bracket

Level. Level. Level. We take great care to make sure that our RV is properly leveled each time we set up camp, and we have a 9-step process that we follow. One of those steps includes checking whether the RV is level with an old-school three-foot level. Because we use the level so often, we wanted to store the level somewhere inside where we could easily access it. Our bunk area is the perfect place to store the level.

Kasie 3D printed two level brackets to make sure that the level stays in place on travel days (and isn’t otherwise in our way when we are stationary).

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

Removable level brackets hold our 3-foot level in place.

Want to more about how we level our RV? Check out our video above.

Medicine Cabinet Cubbies / Medicine Cabinet Organizers

The medicine cabinet in our RV came from the manufacturer with one shelf. ONE. Uno. Eins. Jeden.

No matter what language you speak, ONE shelf is not enough. Moreover, we quickly learned that stuff in our medicine cabinet tended to shift around A LOT on travel days. To solve this problem, we added another shelf to our medicine cabinet, and Kasie 3-D printed some little cubbies (examples below) where we store all of our bottles, jars, toiletries, and cleaning products. We now make great use of the medicine cabinet’s space, and nothing falls out when we open that cabinet door!

Don’t judge what we keep in our 3-D printed cubbies!

3D Printed Cubbies / Organizers in our Medicine Cabinet

I love being so organized! But please tell me why we need TWO nail clippers and TWO tweezers!

Rivets

Kasie removed the macerator from our RV, which left some holes in the bottom of the wet bay area. She 3D printed these rivets to fill in the holes.

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

Kasie is pounding in a 3D printed rivet in the screw holes where our macerator used to be. Notice the bloody finger. Now, that’s classy.

RV AC Air Flow Device

A few years ago, Kasie decided to improve the air flow in our old RV (a 2019 Jayco Greyhawk). RV Air Flow sells a bunch of kits that cost $150 or more, but she decided to do-it-herself for a little under $20. Keep in mind that dimensions for the inserts will vary depending on the specific a/c unit that comes with your RV. The one that she used for the Greyhawk can be found here in another blog.

While 3D printing the inserts is fun, it’s worth noting that using another substrate like styrofoam is probably quicker and easier. Kasie opted for that when doing a similar a/c airflow mod to our 2022 Entegra Accolade.

Sewer Wrench

Kasie had trouble getting the sewer hose connections disconnected. She found this design from daginator on Thingiverse (CC-BY 4.0). It is similar to the Camco Rhinflex sewer wrench.

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

Kasie uses her 3D-printed sewer wrench

Camco RhinoFLEX Camper/RV Swivel Fitting Wrench Set | Disconnect/Connect Sewer Fittings with Ease | Ergonomic Design & Compatible w/Rhino, Revolution & Easy Slip RV Sewer Hose Fittings | 2-Pk (39758) Buy on Amazon

S2RV Cubby / Divider for S2RV Console

Our RV (an Entegra Accolade XL 37L) is built on a Freightliner S2RV chassis. Unfortunately, there’s no good place to store our phones an other gadgets in the driving area. Kasie create this design and 3D printed this for extra storage where the ashtray used to be.

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

This cubby / divider fits into the console of our S2RV Chassis (2022 Entegra Accolade XL)

3D Printed Organizer for our S2RV Chassis where ashtray used to be.

Starlink Clip for Ethernet Cord

Kasie was worried about our Starlink ethernet cord getting run over by a campground mower or some varmint trying to eat it. She 3D printed these clips that attach to the RV’s frame and hold the ethernet cord off the ground. Quite clever!

Clip for Starlink Ethernet Cord

Click on the image above for the .STL file.

3D-Printed Starlink Ethernet Cord Clip fastends to our RV’s frame

Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste Holder (Electric Tooth Brush)

I’m telling you, 3-D printed toothbrush and toothpaste holders are the rage. In the following design, a removable “catcher” that rests between the electric tooth brush and the 3-D printed base or the charger (see red arrows). The idea is that the water / tooth paste mixture that inevitably runs off the tooth brush flows into the “catcher” so that the base stays relatively clean.

3D printed tooth brush and tooth paste “base”

This toothpaste catcher rests between the toothpaste holder and the electric tooth brush. The idea is that you only have to remove this for cleaning.

Your RV (But it’s hard!)

One of Kasie’s first 3D printing projects was to print a model of our RV, which was then a 2019 Jayco Greyhawk 31F. The project was challenging because she started with a Ford F150 model and then built the rest around it. She printed some of the components (like the wheels and ladder) separately. She made over a dozen itterations of the design, and frankly, we’re not sure which ones she actually used for the final print job so I’m not including the .STL file for this one. The video below shows the printing process.

As part of researching for this blog, I decided to make a 3D drawing of our 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L in Tinkercad. I started with a container semi-truck from SirSpankie (CC-BY 4.0), cut it up to use for most of the Freightliner chassis, and then built the Jayco portion pretty much from scratch. I think it turned out nicely on the computer. But getting it to print is another story….

Drawing of a 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L (same as a Jayco Seneca Prestige 37L) for 3D Printing

Like Kasie, I’m going to have to deconstruct some of the components and print them separately. But this was a fun project, and got me hooked!

DISCLAIMERS: PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RIG! We are NOT affiliated with any of these products and just want to share our experiences about these 3D printing projects. We do get a very small commission at no cost to you if you use one of the Amazon Links (a/k/a beer money).

Lawrence KS — Biking, Beer, and Basketball

I wrote this song and blog after a trip to Lawrence in 2020, and then added some of the video footage after another trip to Lawrence in 2023.

When:  Thursday, June 25, 2020 to Sunday, June 28, 2020 (three nights)
Where:  Clinton Lake Corp of Engineers, Bloomington East, Walnut Campground (site 289)
Cost:  $20/night for water and electric
Biking:   Lawrence Loop; Burroughs Creek Trail
Beer Rankings:   (1) Free State Brewing, (2) Lawrence Beer Company (two locations), (3) Fields and Ivy, (4) 23rd Street Brewery, (5) Black Stag Brewery
Bucket Lists:   KU Hall of Athletics/DeBruce Center; Walk down Massachusetts Avenue

In my opinion, the best town in Kansas to live or visit is Lawrence, Kansas***.   This “free state” town is rich in history, basketball tradition, good beer, and biking.  The downtown area (usually referred to as “Mass” to reflect the abbreviation for the street of the same name) is a vibrant mix of unique retail stores, restaurants, and housing.   Lawrence is also just a 40-minute drive to Kansas City.  Not surprisingly I’ve known several people who live in Lawrence but do that commute every day.  

It is easy to love Lawrence, Kansas. Love = 6 feet = love.

I had the good fortune to live in Lawrence for four years – three for law school and a bonus year for a federal clerkship.   After graduating, I would go back to Lawrence every few years, usually for a law school event that my law firm was sponsoring.  I was even an adjunct professor for the patent law class one semester when the “real” professor was on sabbatical.    The city keeps sprawling each year, but a lot of the charm and character is the same.  

Since moving to mid-Missouri 7+ years ago, my trips to Lawrence soon ended.  In the summer of 2020, I wanted to few days there in the RV so that I could re-explore the town.  Things were just starting to open up from the covid-19 lockdown, but we still felt like we could make the trip in a responsible way.   Our plan was to bike and visit breweries if they had an outdoor patio, which all seemed (and was) very low risk.  

Clinton Lake COE

We opted stay at the Clinton Lake Corp of Engineers campground, which was conducive to social distancing.   As with nearly all COEs, this one was very nice, well-maintained, with large sites.  The campground, however, was located nearly 20 minutes by car from the closest biking trailhead to the Lawrence Loop.  It’s yet another 5 minutes by car to part of town.   Thus, for exploring the city of Lawrence, it may make more sense to stay in an RV park in town.  However, we were happy to stay at the COE, which made for easier social distancing.

Biking – The Lawrence Loop

Lawrence is in the process of completing a 22-mile paved trail around the city called the Lawrence Loop.  On the northeast side of Clinton Lake is Overlook Park, which provides trail access.  Thus, we parked our car there, and headed eastward.   The southern part of the loop contains mostly prairie-like and natural landscape but the path occasionally meanders through residential neighborhoods and crosses K-10 a couple of times.  Around Haskell Avenue, the loop starts northward and ultimately becomes the Haskell Rail Trail, which then turns into the Burroughs Creek Trail.    The latter runs all 20+ block north to the east side of downtown Lawrence.  

Speaking of routes, I grew up near the Pony Express trail in north central Kansas, and so I’ve always had an interest in old trail routes that our ancestors used.   Our Lawrence Loop bike route took us over the Oregon Trail a couple of times.  Lawrence is situated between the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails and so if you are history buff, there is lots to do in the area. 

For me, the most interesting piece of Lawrence’s history is the key role it played in the abolitionist movement.  I grew up hearing stories from my Kansas-born-and-raised dad about Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence (a/k/a the Lawrence Massacre), John Brown, and “Bleeding Kansas,” and the border war with Missouri.   He would talk about Lawrence’s role as the “Free State Capital”, in which anti-slavery Jayhawkers from Kansas battled pro-slavery Bushwhackers from Missouri.   According to my father, we were supposed to hate Missouri (especially the University of Missouri in sports).  He still despises Missouri to this day.    

Beer (Craft Breweries)

Free State Brewing is a beer institution.   This landmark opened in 1989, making it the first legal brewery in Kansas in over 100 years.   It is located in the heart of downtown on Mass.   I’m a fan of the Stormchaser IPA, but nearly all of the beers are good.  Their motto is my motto as well:  “Because without beer, things do not seem to go as well.”  The brewery gives credit to this saying to a monk. If so, perhaps I will join the monastery some day.  

Not only does this 14-barrel brewhouse bottle some great beers, it also has food!   Back when I was in law school, the black bean quesadilla was my favorite, and I was glad to see that this dish was still (nearly 25 years later) still on the menu.  Why change perfection?   The only downside to Free State (especially during a pandemic) is that outdoor seating is very limited.

Enjoying a coffee stout at Lawrence Beer Co. (west)

One new kid on the brewery block is Lawrence Beer Company.  Opening in just 2017, LBC now has two locations:  one close to downtown (“north”) and one just of 15th Street and Wakarusa (“west”).  With one sip, it is easy to see why LBC quickly expanded.   I liked the Big Peach Saison and the East Side Session IPA in particular.   Both venues have ample outdoor seating.   And, both venues serve food.    Other thing that makes LBC amazing is their dog-themed logo.  Dogs and beer.   Perhaps two of my greatest loves in life! 

During our stay, we tried out the other breweries in Lawrence.   They are all good, and worth a stop if you have time. However, if you are in the area for a limited amount of time, my recommendation is that you try out Free State or LBC (north).

Bucket Lists (spoiler: It’s Basketball!)

A trip to Lawrence would not be complete without a trip to Allen Field House and the adjoining Booth Family Hall of Athletics  and DeBruce Center.   The venue highlights all current 18 KU athletic teams highlights traditions such as crimson and blue, cheerleading, and the marching band.  The focus, however, is basketball.   The inventor of the game, Dr. James Naismith, was KU’s first coach.   His original rules are housed at the facility, along with a museum that explores KU’s greatest athletes and NCAA championships (by coaches Phog Allen, Larry Brown, and Bill Self).   Lawrence is known as the “Cradle of Basketball” for good reason.

Posing before a Jayhawk at the KU Alumni Center

Because I attended undergrad at Kansas State University, I was taught to despise KSU’s in-state rival. However, by my 2L year at KU, I was already a convert.   The players during those early to mid-1990s were incredible.  Even though they never won the big one, the 1996-97 team is in my opinion the best ever – Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, and Scott Pollard in particular.

My favorite KU basketball player is Lynette Woodard, who still is the all-time collegiate women’s basketball’s leading scorer (3,649 points).  I have vague memories of her playing on the 1984 Olympic gold medal team, but I remember very well her being a Harlem Globetrotter.  The idea that this woman was even playing with a bunch of guys was inspiring to me as a young girl. I can still remember trying to spin the basketball on my index finger for hours on end.  

(Unfortunately, my basketball “bucket” list will have to wait until next season since these venues were closed because of covid-19. )

As odd as this sounds, the other “bucket list” item to do in Lawrence is simply walk around downtown on Mass and some adjacent streets.   There are bookstores (Dusty Bookshelf), art galleries, gift shops, an  antique mall, clothing stores, hair salons, live music venues (The Granada, The Bottleneck), and a variety of pubs (Red Lyon) and restaurants (Papa Kenos, Free State Brewing).  The links I’ve included are all venues that were around 25+ years ago.  The nostalgia is incredible, and it is nice to see these institutions thriving for decades.  This is what every downtown in America should be.

 ***Fine Print:  My home town of Belleville will always be #1.   Thus, Lawrence is actually second best town in Kansas.

Lawrence Kansas Song — YouTube Video and Lyrics

(written over Thanksgiving 2020)

#RCJH

Verse 1 (history):
The raid of 1863
Was led by Quantrill
He drove the abolitionists
Up to Oread Hill

Thanks to Amos Adams Lawrence
Richard Cordley, and John Brown
Douglas County now had
A free state town. 

Finally, Kansas stopped bleeding.
Except for Crimson and Blue.
When in 1865
Came good ol’ KU.

Gather around
Ladies and Gents
Learn some history
About Lawrence

You’ve heard the chant
And you just can’t 
Stop but chant along with me….

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU.
(repeat)

Obligatory KU sweatshirt (circa 1996)

Verse 2 (Law School):
I called Lawrence home
During Law School
Where I learned about copyrights
Patents, and the hearsay rule

I spent most of my time
On the fifth floor of Green Hall
Near Allen Fieldhouse
The Cradle of Basketball

We would all gather at the Yacht Club
On Thursday eves
To watch Friends and Seinfeld
During Must See TV.

Gather round
All my friends
Who got their Law(rence) Degree
In Lawrence.

It’s been so long
But you know the song
So hum along with me

You should see me drain the three

Verse 3 (KU Basketball):
Danny Manning, Jacque Vaughn,
Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz
Wilt the Stilt, Jo Jo White,
All played in Lawrence. 

James Naismith, Phog Allen,
Bill Self, Roy Williams,
Larry Brown, Ted Owens,
These coaches are worth millions.

But my favorite by far
Was Lynette Woodard
A Harlem Globetrotter
A hall of fame guard.

Gather around
For a pick-up game with friends
And watch me drain the three
In Lawrence

You’ve heard the chant
And you just can’t 
Stop but chant along with me.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU.
(repeat)

Lawrence Beer Co.

Beer+Dogs=TLA

Verse 4 (Beer):  
Johnny’s or Red Lyon
Maybe Louise’s West
For a schooner of cheap beer
I hear it is the best.

We can go Fields and Ivy,
Black Stag, 23rd Street
Lawrence Beer Co.
For a Kansas craft wheat.

At Free State Brewing
The Stories I can tell.
Because without beer
Things do not seem to go as well

Grab your glass
Grab your friends
Make a toast with me
To Lawrence

It’s been too long
We all know the song
So hum along with me

A page from my scrapbook with ticket stubs from The Bottleneck and the Granada

Verse 5 (Biking and Misc):
Let’s stay at Clinton Lake
COE and set up camp
Bike on the Lawrence Loop
To the hang on Mass

Pass the Oregon Trail
Take Boroughs Creek
Maybe stop at Papa Kenos
For a Slice to Eat

If we are feeling groovy
For music, we should check
Out The Granada
And The Bottleneck.

Gather round
Grab your friends
Rock out with me.
In Lawrence

This medley is way too long
But you know the song
So clap along with me.

Broad Mod: RV Macerator Removal: Why Do It?

Why Does Our RV Stink Sometimes?

We own a 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L (same as a Jayco Seneca Prestige 37L), which is a “Super C” RV.  For the most part, we try to maintain our gray and black tanks as recommended by the experts.   Here’s what we do.

• We use LOTS of WATER. We know that the first key to holding tank maintenance is to use plenty of water.   Water.  Water.  Water.  And more water.  We usually put in about 5 gallons of clean water in our black tank each time we dump.

• We keep the valves CLOSED. We also know to keep our holding tanks closed until we are ready to dump them.  We try to dump when the tanks are close to full so that the gravity of all of that liquid helps to clean out any solids in the tanks.

• We TREAT our holidng tanks nicely. For holding tank treatments, we’ve tried Happy Campers and Unique Digest It.   We recently switched to a combination of Calgon (surfactant) and Pine-Sol (disinfectant).  We learned about that combination at a Kleentank seminar at a recent Super C rally for Entegra Accolades and Jayco Senecas. 

Happy Campers RV Holding Tank Treatment - 64 treatments Buy on Amazon

Unique RV Digest-It Black Water Tank Treatment - Concentrated Liquid RV Toilet Treatment - Eliminates Odor, Liquifies Waste, Prevents Sensor Misreading, CA Approved (32 oz.) Buy on Amazon

Camco Cyclone Sewer Vent Cover | Draw Holding Tank Odors out of the RV, Trailer, or Camper | Black (40597), Medium Buy on Amazon

• We VENT properly. We’ve check the vent pipes to make sure that the are properly venting past the RV’s roof. We’ve also installed Camco Cyclone Sewer Vent Cover to help draw holding tank odors out of the RV.

Despite all of our efforts, our RV sometimes stinks.  Like really stinks.  Usually, the stink sets in when it’s hot out.  What could be causing that stink?  Could it be all of the liquids/solids just sitting around in our macerator?

What is an RV Macerator?

The wet bay in our Entegra Accolade (same as a Jayco Seneca), including the macerator.

A macerator is a device used in RVs to break down solid waste and pump it into the RV's wastewater holding tank or directly into a sewage hookup. Like any piece of equipment, macerators come with their own set of pros and cons:

Pros of Having a Macerator in an RV:

1.     Efficient Waste Management. Macerators can break down solid waste into smaller particles, making it easier to move through the RV's plumbing system. This can help prevent clogs and ensure more efficient waste disposal.

2.     Versatility. Macerators can be used to pump waste uphill or over long distances, which can be particularly useful in situations where the RV is parked far from a sewage hookup or the ground is not level.

3.     Reduced Odor. The maceration process theoretically can help reduce unpleasant odors associated with waste disposal, as the smaller particles are less likely to release strong smells.

4.     Convenience. Using a macerator can make the dumping process quicker and more convenient. An RVer can often connect a hose directly to the macerator for easy waste transfer.

Cons of Having a Macerator in an RV:

1.     Complexity. Macerators introduce additional complexity to the RV's plumbing system. This means there are more components that could potentially fail, leading to maintenance or repair issues.  Have you ever listened to one of those things grind and pump? 

2.     Space Requirements. Installing a macerator may take up valuable storage space in your RV's storage compartments.

3.     Noise. Macerators can be noisy when in operation. I doubt we disturb the neighbors, but still….

4.     Maintenance. Regular maintenance is required to keep the macerator functioning correctly. Neglecting maintenance can lead to breakdowns and costly repairs.

5.     Limited Flow Rate. Macerators have a limited flow rate, which means it can take longer to empty the holding tanks compared to traditional gravity dumping.

6.     Power Consumption. Macerators typically require some electricity to operate, but that is minimal. This was not a real concern of ours.

7.     Cost. Macerators can be expensive to purchase and install. That really wasn’t a factor for us because a macerator came factory-installed in our RV and was not an option.

8. Smell. This is just a theory, but there is a lot of waste that sits in the bottom of the macerator. Could this be causing the smell?

Why Did We Remove our RV Macerator?

For us, the cons of having a macerator outweighed the pros.   Plus, because our old RV did not have a macerator and we got along just fine, we really didn’t see a need for it.

In this video, Kasie decided to tackle removing our factory installed macerator.

Below are most of the parts that she used for the macerator removal project.

Valterra T1029-2 Termination Adapter - 3" Bayonet x 3" Hub , Black Buy on Amazon

Fernco P1059-33 3-Inch by 3-Inch (Inner Diameter) Rubber Flexible Coupling Repair Fitting Buy on Amazon

Camco RhinoFLEX Clear 45 Degree RV Sewer Hose Swivel Fitting- Allows You to See When Tank is Empty, Odor Protection; Durable and Secure Connection (39847) Buy on Amazon

Valterra D04-0202 Dominator Compartment Hose - 2' , Black Buy on Amazon

After removing our macerator, Kasie installed this two-way flange to make more room for a Rhino Blaster.

Addendum: After the video, Kasie decided to install a Rhino Blaster to help flush the tanks. To make a little bit more room for the Rhino Blaster, she installed a two-way flange. That’s basically the alternative design that she mentioned in the video.

Camco 39085 Rhino Blaster Pro Holding Tank Rinser w/Gate Valve Buy on Amazon

Valterra T1039 Two-Way Ell with 3" Bayonet x 3" Rotating Flange x 3" Rotating Flange , Black Buy on Amazon

Did Removing Our RV’s Macerator Help Get Rid of Smells?

It’s hard to know if removing the macerator helped with the stink.  Since Kasie completed the macerator removal, the temperatures have been moderate, but so far so good.  I’ll try to update this blog once the weather gets warmer. However, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line at classcbroads@gmail.com, and I will let you know the “real time” verdict on whether removing the macerator helped get rid of our RV’s smell. Regardless, we do know that the extra space is welcome AND we no longer worry about the macerator breaking.  Sometimes simple is best, and overall we are happy not having a macerator in our RV. 

DISCLAIMERS: PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RIG! We are NOT affiliated with any of these manufacturers and just want to share our experiences about the products and project in this blog. We do get a very small commission at no cost to you if you use one of the Amazon Links (a/k/a beer money).

Casey Illinois: BIG THINGS

BIG THINGS.

SMALL TOWN.

Casey, Illinois.

If you are looking for an amazing roadside attraction (actually over THIRTY of them), then you won’t want to miss Casey, Illinois.    This town of less than 3000 people is home to 12 of the LARGEST items in the WORLD.

World’s Largest Mailbox in Casey, Illinois

WHAT ARE THE LARGEST THINGS IN CASEY, ILLINOIS?

1. World's Largest Wind Chime (June 22, 2012)
2. World's Largest Golf Tee (January 29, 2013)
3.  World's Largest Pitchfork (October 20, 2015)
4. World’s Largest Rocking Chair (October 20, 2015)
5. World's Largest Clogs / Wooden Shoes (October 20, 2015)
6.  World's Largest Mailbox (October 20, 2015)
7. World's Largest Gavel (Marshall, Illinois)  (August 20, 2019)
8. World's Largest Truck Key (September 28, 2019)
9. World's Largest Barbershop Pole (September 28, 2019)
10. World's Largest Teeter Totter (September 28, 2019)
11. World's Largest Golf Club (August 20, 2019)
12. World's Largest Swizzle Spoon (August 20, 2019)

My wife, Kasie, loved Casey — not just because of the shared homophonic name, but also because TWO of the LARGEST things involved her favorite sport, golf!

World’s Largest Golf Club / Golf Driver in Casey, Illinois

World’s Largest Golf Tee in Casey Illinois

All of Guiness Book of World Records were achieved by Jim Bolin, who was born and raised in Casey, Illinois.   He wanted to find a way to put his home town on the map and revitalize it. I grew up in a small town (Belleville Kansas), and I know first-hand what a struggle it is to keep communities like Casey alive. We spent a couple of days exploring the town so his idea clearly worked. (Belleville, are you listening?)

But wait.  Casey is also home to other BIG THINGS:

Big Bookworm in Casey Illinois

13. Big Antlers
14. Big Bat
15. Big Birdcage
16. Big Bookworm
17. Big Cactus
18. Big Crochet Hook (former record holder)
19. Big Ear of Corn
20. Big Glider Plane
21. Big Horseshoe
22. Big Ice Cream Cone
23. Big Knitting Needles (former record holder)
24. Big Minion
25. Big Mouse Trap
26. Big Nail Puzzle
27. Big Pencil
28. Big Piggie Bank
29. Big Pizza Slicer
30. Big Rocking Horse
31. Big Spinning Top
32. Big Taco
33. Big Wooden Token
34. Big Yardstick

Big Pencil in Casey, Illinois. Check out that tip!

Kissing a large Minion in Casey Illinois

Big Things. Small Town. Casey, Illinois

I should also mention that the people of Casey were incredibly nice. The local drivers always seemed to always give a “two finger” wave as they yielded to tourists like us crossing the street. The residents were more than happy talk to us about their town, the upcoming Popcorn Festival, and of course, the weather. You won’t go wrong by asking a local “How’s the corn lookin’ this year?”

HOW DO YOU FIND THE BIG THINGS in CASEY?

The Casey Chamber of Commerce created a map of all of the BIG/LARGE things in Casey. Paper copies of the map is also available at many of local businesses as well. The town of Casey, Jim, and others are continuing to add other BIG/LARGE items to their collection so make sure and check out the Big Things Small Town Facebook page for the latest and greatest. We saw that the world’s largest Pac-Man was coming soon. That means we will have to make another stop in Casey in the future!

Northern Indiana - Things RVers Should Know

Roughly 80% of the world’s RVs are manufactured in northern Indiana.  In fact, the region is known as the “RV Capital of the World.”

As RV enthusiasts, we were SUPER excited to travel to northern Indiana in the fall of 2023.  We spent 12 days at the Shipshewana South Campground, which included the inaugural Super C rally for Entegra Accolades and Jayco Senecas.  We then spent four nights at the Jayco-Entegra factory in Middlebury to have some warranty work performed on our 2022 Entegra Accolade XL 37L.   That left plenty of time to explore the area.

How are the Roads in Northern Indiana for RVers?

Amish horse and buggie on the road in northern Indiana

The one thing to know about northern Indiana is that there are horse and buggies everywhere.  Buggies on the road.  Buggies in the parking lots.  And buggies parked at homes. 

If you are taking your RV anywhere other than the major highways, be prepared to SLOW DOWN for all of the buggies.

Don’t be in a hurry either.

Why are there so many horse-drawn buggies in northern Indiana?

Learning about the Anabaptists at the Menno-Hof Museum in Shipshewana Indiana

Northern Indiana is home to a large population of Amish and Mennonites.  The Amish (and perhaps some conservative Mennonites) are the ones who drive the buggies.   

Both Amish and Mennonite religions originated with a Protestant sect called the Anabaptists.  They believe that baptism was a choice that could only be made by adults and disavow infant baptism.   They also stress a simple, less worldly, way of life.

Menno-Hof Museum in Shipshewana Indiana

We learned all about the history of the Anabaptists and how they came to America at the Menno-Hof Museum, which was located just a few minutes from our campground in Shipshewana.   The first part of the museum formal, where we traveled through a series of immersive rooms that explained the origins of the Anabaptists, their immigration to America, and the continuing persecution of their faith in the New World.   The museum focuses on three sects: the Amish, the Mennonites, and the Hutterites. After that, we spent well over an hour meandering through a number of highly informative exhibits in the rest of the museum.

Perhaps my favorite part of the museum was a video of the “barn-raising” of the Menno-Hof museum itself. Watching these people build the museum from scratch truly amazing.

If you like museums (like me), the Menno-Hof is a must stop.  The museum is also a Harvest Host venue so RVers can over-night there if they want.

If you want to see more of the Menno-Hof Museum, check out this video excerpt.

What is a Quilt Garden?

Northern Indiana is also known for its craftsmanship, everything from furniture to food (think cheese, popcorn, and pretzels) to quilts.  But northern Indiana takes the idea of quilting to the next level.   We saw a number of Quilt Gardens and Quilt Murals along the Heritage Trail, which is 90-mile loop connecting the towns of Elkhart, Bristol, Middlebury, Shipshewana, Honeyville, Goshen, Napannee, and Wakarusa.  Many of the quilts change each year so this route is something we could do each time we visit!

“Welcome to our Pad” Quilt Garden at the Elkhart Environmental Center on the Heritage Trail

“Tree of Life” Quilt Garden at the Krider World’s Fair Garden in Middlebury on the Heritage Trail in northern Indiana

“The Parasol” Quilt Garden at the Ruthmere in Elkhart Indiana on the Heritage Trail in northern Indiana

Pro Tip:  The Quilt Gardens are best seen from above.  Check out our drone footage of the Quilt Gardens in our video!

How was the RV Museum & Hall of Fame?

Of all of the attractions located in northern Indiana, I was looking forward the RV & MH Museum and RV/MH Hall of Fame the most.  Frankly, I was little disappointed.  

The museum opened in the 1990s, but moved to its current location in 2007.  After paying our $20 admission fee, we were invited to watch a short film about the RV industry in northern Indiana and the history of the museum itself. Unfortunately, the film quality doesn’t look like been updated since the mid-2000s.   The museum recently underwent a multi-million dollar expansion, but apparently the budget did not include decent A/V equipment. 

While there are dozens of vintage RVs on display at the RV Museum, the lighting is horrible.   We were prohibited from going inside most of the RVs to get a good look – which is understandable for some of the really old fragile RVs, but still….  

The Keep Your Daydream (KYD) bus from their Route 66 series at the RV-MH Museum in Elkhart Indiana

For what it’s worth, my favorite RV on display was the Bluebird Wanderlodge  that Marc and Tricia from Keep Your Daydream renovated to travel Route 66.  It was fun to sit in there and recall their adventures. 

Nearly half of the museum is devoted to Manufactured Homes.  I mistakenly thought that the “MH” in the title of the building meant “motorhomes.”  Oh well.

The second floor of the museum contains a library and the Hall of Fame.  Its’ basically wall after wall of RV pioneers, businessmen, and innovators.  I’m sure that all of these HOFers made significant contributions to the RV world.  But what was striking to me was the lack of diversity.  Nearly all of the Hall of Famers are men.  And, I don’t recall seeing a person of color at all. (Here’s a funny video excerpt where I try to spot the diversity in all of the photos.)  In all seriousness, I am hopeful that as more women like us and people of color get into RVing, that the HOF will reflect that trend. 

RV-MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart Indiana. Can you count the women?

RV-MH Hall of Fame in the early 2000s. I count one woman inductee and no persons of color.

At $20, the RV-MH Museum / Hall of Fame is marginally worth the trip but I doubt we ever visit again.   

**************************

Below is the FULL video about our warranty work and our time in northern Indiana.

RV Rally for Seneca and Accolade Super Cs

In August 2023, we attended our first RV rally…EVER!  The rally was organized by a handful of owners of Jayco Seneca and Entegra Accolade Super Cs and was held in Shipshewana, Indiana.   We weren’t sure what to expect, but were hoping that it would be SUPER!

While Kasie and I have a YouTube channel and I write this blog, the truth is that we are both introverts at heart (her more so than me).   I enjoy learning and sharing what I learn, but I was nervous about attending an RV rally.   We had virtually met several of the attendees in some of the Facebook groups pertaining to Entegra Accolades and Jayco Senecas.  But still, what would it be like to meet some of these folks in person?   And what, if anything, would we learn?  (Spoiler:  A LOT.  And, and the rally was indeed SUPER!)

 If you want to know more about Entegra Accolade and Jayco Seneca Super Cs, I highly recommend that you join one or more of these Facebook groups:

• Entegra Accolade Facebook Group

• Jayco Seneca Facebook Group

• Accolade/Seneca combo Facebook Group

• Super C Rally Facebook Group

These groups are all “private” so you will have to answer a few questions from the administrators before you can join.

PS:  If you don’t know what a Super C RV is, check out this blog.