Spirit of the Open Road

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Summary: The "Bible" for RVers on the Open Road
Review: A friend recently loaned us a copy of "Spirit of the Open Road". This book is an absolute "Must Read" for anyone who has any kind of recreational vehicle or anyone who thinks he may want one. We are reasonably seasoned RVers (we have graduated over a period of 20 years from a pup tent on the back of a motorcycle all the way up to a Class A motorhome), and we don't know how we ever survived without this book. Peggy McDonald has done a masterful and entertaining job of really telling it like it is. "Spirit" is chock full of timely tips and suggestions that have been gleaned from on-the-road experience and is presented in a style that anyone can enjoy. It is particularly appropriate for Canadians who want to be winter snowbirds. I agree with another reviewer who wrote that every RVer should have two copies - one to keep and one to loan out to your friends!

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Summary: Buy This Book and read it to Your RV!
Review: At last, practical advice for both before and after you have bought that dream RV. I have read a lot of RV advice and how to's but this is the one I'll take with me. Peggi delivers an organized and extremely helpful book divided into logical sections so you can read the whole thing ( I recommend this approach so you don't miss anything) or just what you need to know when you need it. I have owned an RV for 6 years and I wish I'd had this book when I bought my first one. This is the best book I have seen for novices - strong on how to and practical tips culled from years of experience and chats with RVers all over. This is also a great book for those thinking of beginning in RV's. If you think you know it all read Peggi and you'll learn a lot more! Hope she brings out another one soon.

Rating:
Summary: Buy This Book and read it to Your RV!
Review: At last, practical advice for both before and after you have bought that dream RV. I have read a lot of RV advice and how to's but this is the one I'll take with me. Peggi delivers an organized and extremely helpful book divided into logical sections so you can read the whole thing ( I recommend this approach so you don't miss anything) or just what you need to know when you need it. I have owned an RV for 6 years and I wish I'd had this book when I bought my first one. This is the best book I have seen for novices - strong on how to and practical tips culled from years of experience and chats with RVers all over. This is also a great book for those thinking of beginning in RV's. If you think you know it all read Peggi and you'll learn a lot more! Hope she brings out another one soon.

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Summary: A great every-day RV'ing guide.
Review: Have read this book through once - and will no doubt refer to it many times in the future. Practical, no-nonsense advice written in plain, understandable text.

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Summary: This is a comprehensive guidebook for all RVers
Review: In Spirit of the Open Road I write as a if I am a helpful RV friend or your next-door neighbour. When you first purchase an RV there is so much to learn. Most dealers attempt to explain things at the time of sale but due to the excitement of driving away in a new RV the presentation is too overwhelming to absorb. During our early years of travel my husband John and I spent so much time sharing ideas we had learned on the road that writing a book was a natural progression. Spirit of the Open Raod is a complex collection of tips, hints, suggestions and many funny situations from our early days to present. This winter John and I are once again working the RV shows from January to March. I wish I had a nickel for every wonderful comment praising my book. "Well Done", "It's our RV bible","Don't know what I would do without your book","Your book is ten times more helpful than any of the manuals we received with our Fifth Wheel" are a small sampling of the numerous praises we heard at last weekends show from those who had previously bought my book. Many dealers even sent their prospective customers to us to buy the book. Book Sales are at record highs as more and more RVers discover this great lifestyle. I hope you too will join us on the fascinating road to the RV Adventure. Even if you are only thinking of traveling in an RV, Spirit of the Open Road will help you make up your mind. Last week I received an E-Mail from a couple who bought my book---a motorhome soon followed and they were in Florida on their way to Mexico. Without the push from "Spirit" they didn't feel they would ever have embarked on their exciting retirement. My nephew thought writing a book about RVing was redundant since he had been camping in a pop-up for years. I gave him a copy and was surprised when he said "I don't read books or newspapers but I read every word twice". His comment "I didn't know there was that much I didn't know" said it all. The book is written in true KISS (keep it simple stupid) format and is a very easy read. "Catching the RV Spirit is such fun"...Peggi

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Summary: What A Great Book!
Review: My wife and I are new Rvers & were looking for a good book or two to help us learn and avoid beginner mistakes. If you are in the same boat, this is the book for you! While the book is subtitled "The Essential Reference for Canadian RVers", it is almost completely irrelevant whether you live in Canada or the USA (as we do). This book is about the RV experience - period. Jam-packed with tips, it teaches you the basics and much, much more. This book, written from years of experience & suggestions from other RVers, is very complete and informative. If you're not a novice, you still just might find some great ideas that you had not occurred to you before.

The book is easily read, fun, and well laid out. You'll find information on maximizing your space, towing/driving, dealing with pets, budgeting for your RV lifestyle, finding a good campground, buying or selling your RV, and much more.

I bought 5 different RV related books, but "Spirit of the Open Road" was far and away the best of the bunch.

Rating:
Summary: What A Great Book!
Review: My wife and I are new Rvers & were looking for a good book or two to help us learn and avoid beginner mistakes. If you are in the same boat, this is the book for you! While the book is subtitled "The Essential Reference for Canadian RVers", it is almost completely irrelevant whether you live in Canada or the USA (as we do). This book is about the RV experience - period. Jam-packed with tips, it teaches you the basics and much, much more. This book, written from years of experience & suggestions from other RVers, is very complete and informative. If you're not a novice, you still just might find some great ideas that you had not occurred to you before.

The book is easily read, fun, and well laid out. You'll find information on maximizing your space, towing/driving, dealing with pets, budgeting for your RV lifestyle, finding a good campground, buying or selling your RV, and much more.

I bought 5 different RV related books, but "Spirit of the Open Road" was far and away the best of the bunch.

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Summary: A must read book for anyone who tows or drives an RV!
Review: My wife and I bought the book in February at the Toronto RV show and read it twice because we found so many useful tips and hints, many more then we learned in the school of hard knocks in the past 10 years. We will keep it in the RV newspaper rack and more than likely read it many more times. The book was written in a very easy to read manner that helped make things very clear. After meeting John and Peggi, I found out that they are more than willing to share everything they learned about RVing with anyone who will listen and wants to have more fun with thier RV. When / if Peggi decides to write another book on this subject again, I will surely buy it as soon as it becomes available. GREAT BOOK. THANKS PEGGI! See you on the OPEN ROAD!

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Summary: A practical guide for new RVers or experienced ones.
Review: Peggy McDonald's book 'Spirit of the Open Road' has captured the whole scene of travelling in a RV. The range of subjects is far beyond what the new RVer or the experienced may ever think about. Everything seems to be covered from extra storage space to medical coverage to taxes. It is written with humour and 'down to earth' common sense making it interesting and easy to read. It takes the Canadian reader through many possible challenges, but much could also be benificial to our American friends. I wish we had had it when we started hitting the road!!

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Summary: Helpful for American RVers, Too
Review: SPIRIT OF THE OPEN ROAD is subtitled, "The Essential Reference Guide for Canadian RVers," but in fact it holds a wealth of how-to advice for American travelers as well. Most RVing basics are the same everywhere: selecting the type of RV that suits your needs, dealing with limited storage space, safe driving techniques, ways of keeping in touch with family and friends back home, selecting campgrounds from the many types out there, securing your home on wheels from the dangers of burglars, fire, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Peggi McDonald covers all these topics and more, in a clear, easy-to-read style with occasional cartoon drawings and shaded boxes for key points. As an American RVer, I especially appreciated the many practical tips in the book -- including clever fixes for plumbing problems, an entire chapter of hints on "Extending Your Living Space," and "Weighing Your RV," a section that explains the alphabet-soup mysteries of GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight). RVing wannabees of any nationality should find this a useful guide to getting started in life on the road.