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12-06-2014, 02:49 PM
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#21
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Moderator
Trailer: U-Haul 1985
Posts: 3,436
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Although I'm a big web surfer and facebook user, I totally enjoy holding a big glossy magazine and going through all the bright shiny photos. I think that many people still want the tactile sensation of holding onto a book or map.
That being said, my IPhone map is a great assist when I'm towing the trailer out to the campground. They all have value.
But you can't beat that nice heady sniff of java on a chilly morning. A 'virtual' cup of coffee? no way
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12-06-2014, 11:18 PM
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#22
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Moderator
Trailer: 2009 19 ft Escape / 2009 Honda Pilot
Posts: 6,229
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I have used maps of all kinds over the years, and now when travelling use a GPS and maps on a phone, tablet, or laptop, but I still like having the larger fold-out maps for looking at an entire long trip on, you just can't get as well on larger device screens.
You just can't beat how electronics have improved how we find things. GPS is getting WAY better at finding places. There is way more information and reviews done for smart phones and computers, than there is written material. One advantage of electronic information, is that an update is done easily without having to redo a whole app, something that print media can't do.
However, I too do still love reading magazines, and other informative written articles. When traveling, we do limit this stuff for weight and space savings. Even having all our trailer documentation as PDFs on our devices saves us space, and makes finding information way faster.
Bottom line, we just each need to do whatever works best for ourselves, and gives us the best camping experience.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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12-08-2014, 07:22 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Trailer: 93 Burro 17 ft
Posts: 6,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scamper Jim
Say what you will, but I like planning and certainly never leave home without the 600-page Free Camping guide. It’s essential for finding low-cost or free spots that other recreational maps and guides have never thought of showing or have a clue that they even exist, especially in remote areas.
You can probably download much of that same information on your apps, but it’s not nearly as much fun as reviewing published trip and camping guides. Might just as well download some photos of various campsites and a Scamp trailer and call it a “virtual” outing, or could just as well have set up camp in their driveway! This is the same bunch who in a restaurant among any three people at a table, at lease two of them will be glued to their “smart phone”.
Besides, looking at all the options and planning where to stay for a short or longer time is very much like poring over the Sears and Wards Christmas catalogues for hours when a kid. You experience the trip twice.
Me and my IQ-challenged cell phone do just fine with or without a signal.
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Is there a way to get the Free Camping guide for free? Where can one obtain a copy? 600 pages sounds like it must have a whole lotta site listings.
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12-08-2014, 08:54 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Name: Jim
Trailer: Scamp
Colorado
Posts: 312
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Hi Mike & et al,
The book is "Don Wright's Guide to Free Campgrounds", 14th ed, $25.00. I don't know that it is free anywhere. It is not available at Camper World, but you can get it on Amazon and other local RV stores.
It is invaluable for identifying free and low cost sites, especially in the West. It's amazing how many small towns have free or cheap city park or other RV camping faciliteis. Included are sites that are $12 or less including the federal lands sites with a Geezer card.
It gives good information on the sites such as location, directions, facilities, and even GPS coordinates for those with ipads.
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12-09-2014, 05:44 PM
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#25
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Moderator
Name: RogerDat
Trailer: 2010 Scamp 16
Michigan
Posts: 3,744
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I like planning a trip with maps and atlas and campground guides. Maps give a perspective and provide a clear picture of where things are in relationship to each other. The printed guides do suffer from the lack of "instant" updating but that also generally means some extra work went into assembling and organizing the information. Campground web sites can be a mixed bag, some great, some bordering on useless.
On the other hand once I think I know where I want to go and the route I'm more than happy to do some online research. Check reviews, search for events or attractions in the area. Print or save satellite map of area in National Forest or routes from campground to an event or attraction.
I too like to experience the trip twice, once during planning, again when actually on the trip. Technology is a tool, sometimes the better tool for the job, other times not so much. I know I would rather read 20 pages from a book than on screen, would rather search a 50 page manual in electronic form. GPS may be great but it can't replace "I know where I am" and what I will come to if I head "south" that I get from looking over maps ahead of a trip. If the sun casts a shadow or I dig the compass out of the day pack I'm pretty sure which way is south.
Did you know the deepest hand dug well in USA is off of a small 2 lane in the middle of Kansas? And that the neighboring town tried to steal the post office building to help make their town a regional center. Or the gas station southwest of town sells produce from the owners garden? Map said I could get where I wanted to go on the road less traveled. MapQuest would have reported me to the authorities as a nut job if I tried to map that route ;-)
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12-16-2014, 03:50 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Name: XXX
Trailer: whatever
NA
Posts: 412
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scamper Jim
So you don't plan trips around WI-FI hot spots, but you locate McDonalds to get WI-FI hot spots. OK, got it!
I also carry a 600-page Free Campgrounds Guide, 250-page guide to free dump sites, travel guides and road maps for exploring new areas. I can't imagine buying a camper and then hanging around a McDonalds.
So you need a signal to see if you have a strong enough signal to download an app to find a signal! How does that work when there is no signal? Oh, that's right, just drive until you find a McDonalds!
-- What happens to the app when the signal is gone?
Jim
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Jim,
Thanks for the link for free wi-fi spots. Like you, I have my preferred flip phone which is great for talking with people. All texting and data are blocked. When I want to spend online time on the laptop, I find hotels, libraries, marinas, business franchises, coffee cafes and anywhere that you'd assume might have free wi-fi. Sometimes, it's at unexpected locations.
It's a creative challenge at times, but that's part of how we get out to learn about an area as "Seekers of the Signal".
As of late, my favorite wi-fi place is a local hole-in-the-wall dive bar. I have to be careful of sending emails under the influence! However, going out of our way is another way to manage our time with tech gadgets, and we have to explore an area when we want to use them. Getting out of the trailer and exploring, even for the excuse of finding wi-fi, is part of the reason we choose our stop-overs in the first place. The old-school approach is the most culturally connected way to a community.
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12-16-2014, 04:50 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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There's problem with the wi-fi hot spot publications. They were quite popular when puablic/free wi-fi spots were first introduced. However, I surprised that there's still any publications left. The problem that they're obsolete before they hit print.
We hit McDonalds, IHOP, Libraries, and sometimes a senior center. There's visitors centers or concessionaires in National Parks. There's also the serendipity thing where we run across one that you don't expect.
It's usually pretty easy to find, at least for us it is. We snow bird and most places we stay there's lots of other snow birders, we just ask around. It's that same thing with finding anything in the local area. I've found the best prices for propane and gasoline that way. Found interesting places to visit and camp. It appears to me that winter southwest campers are a pretty large community. I would expect to find the same thing in most places, but, maybe I'm wrong on that score.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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05-23-2015, 08:10 PM
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#28
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Junior Member
Name: Kathleen
Trailer: sunvalley roadrunner fifth wheel
Minnesota
Posts: 7
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There is such a thing as a flash drive to download from a computer, nice and small, holds lots of material and plugs into a port on the computer to access the info. I have been following the forums and the listings for Scamp fifth wheels. They are snapped up real fast. I have wanted one forever and want to spend my winters where it is warm. I hate scrapping snow off my windows on my vehicle when I get off work.
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05-23-2015, 08:46 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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Hi Kathleen and welcome to the group.
I'm a little confused about what you are looking for, can you rephrase your question.
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05-23-2015, 10:26 PM
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#30
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Junior Member
Name: Kathleen
Trailer: sunvalley roadrunner fifth wheel
Minnesota
Posts: 7
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I have been looking at so much info that I don't remember my question.
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05-24-2015, 09:45 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Name: Kathy
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Washington
Posts: 600
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Scamper Jim, thanks for sharing the link. I took a look at it and searched for some cities we've been through. It seems pretty useful, but like all such list, not complete and of course it never can be as some places open and others close all the time. When traveling we look for small local coffee houses and cafes, McDonalds, libraries and visitors centers.
Like some others have mentioned we like getting away from technology when we get out on the road. It's nice to know we have our cell phones for emergencies and we use our laptop for downloading and processing photos and accessing information that we've downloaded prior to starting the trip. When we stay somewhere with WiFi we check and send email, get weather reports, research where to go next, etc.
Even if you have a fancy phone with its own built in hot spot that can connect to the internet, remember if you get off the beaten track, especially out West, there are lots of places where you won't even be able to get a cell signal at all. I did download an app for my cell phone that can be used even when I don't have a cell signal. I can search it by city and it will find campgrounds nearby. It's come in handy a few times.
Some of our friends who are very into technology wonder how we manage. I just remind them that we've been traveling and camping for a lot of years and somehow we've always managed to find where we're going and have a good time! Talking to the locals and trusting in serendipity has usually served us well.
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