RV Travel Info

RV Travel -- Potty Talk

Nobody really gets down and dirty when they do the recreational vehicle potty talk, yet rv owners seem obsessesed with sewage. Every campground we visit has a different set of rules. The first rule is don't leave your black tank gate valve open while you are in a campground and have a sewer hookup. This will cause a pyramid in your black tank. This happens because when you use your toilet, all the liquids will drain out and the solids will begin building up into a pyramid of toilet paper and human waste. This is BAD. This is also an expensive repair if it gets bad enough. Fortunately, I am not speaking from personal experience!

We are loving our new adventure. We haven't left the desert Southwest yet, but are traveling about 200 miles a week. Our Motorhome is performing beautifully, although not trouble free. When we got to our last stop, we put up our batwing TV antenna, and all the parts fell out in my hand. At least we are never bored!

Until Later...

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com

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RV Travel -- RV Diet

Did you know that driving or towing an overloaded rig is one of the most common causes of RV accidents? Even a slight overload or unequal weight distribution can seriously restrict braking and steering. It can also result in sudden blowouts or breakdowns. An overweight RV creates the danger of early failure in tires, brakes, wheels, the drivetrain and other components. As if that’s not bad enough, higher fuel consumption and driver fatigue are also common side effects of taking to the road in a heavy, overloaded and poor-handling RV.
Is your RV, Motorhome, Trailer, 5th Wheel, overweight? Studies show that nearly two-thirds of all  RVs weighed exceed one or more of their load ratings. Your RV is overloaded if it exceeds any of the manufacturer’s established limitations for total load, axle load, or tire loading. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum amount your RV can safely carry. It includes both the wet weight and the cargo weight. Check your owner’s manual for weight limitations.
Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) weight-labeling requirements make it easier for new RV buyers to judge weight and carrying capacity. If you’re shopping for a new motor home or travel trailer, you’ll find this information very helpful. There are important steps you can take toward safer weight distribution.
Does your Recreational Vehicle need to go on a diet?
If you’ve been gradually accumulating more stuff over the years, it’s time to put your RV on a weight reduction program. First you need to take a trip to the scales. You can have your rig weighed at a public weigh station for a minimal fee. Be sure to weigh your rig when it’s fully loaded. It’s also important to weigh each axle separately. You might be surprised at how quickly the combined weight of your passengers and all your "gear" adds up to more than you expected.
Look your RV over from top to bottom and consider what’s necessary and what’s not. Just because your motor home or trailer has a lot of shelves, drawers and other storage space doesn’t mean you have to fill it up. It would help to remove all your "gear" then put back only the items you really need. When you load an RV, remember to store heavy items low and forward, lightweight articles high. Be careful that heavy items can’t slide into the water pump or other fixed equipment. Try to balance the load between the two sides of the RV. A simple measurement of clearances on both sides can aid in proper balance. You will minimize swing, sway or wobble if you keep the vehicle’s center of gravity low.
When loading your motor home or travel trailer, make sure everything has a place and is easy to get at when needed. Some RVers prepare a packing map of luggage and storage areas for easy access. Secure all cargo inside and outside the vehicle. Anything rattling around loose is a potential hazard, as well as noisy.

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com

RV Travel -- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Be safe in your RV.

We wrote about a deadly carbon monoxide incident back in August, 2006. It seems that with the harshness of this winter in some areas that this artcle bears repeating. Please let your non RVing friends know of the dangers of this silent killer.

Recently, a family of six died in Washington State from Carbon Monoxide poisoning while sleeping in their RV. This is the gas emitted from your engine exhaust. It is also emitted from your generator exhaust.  Please be safe. Check your exhausts for leaks and make sure your tail pipe is in good condition. Also make sure you are exhausting away from camping areas. Carbon Monoxide is colorless and odorless. If you are sleeping, and overcome with carbon monoxide, you will probably not wake up. Turn off your generator at night if at all possible. If you must run it, make sure your system is in good repair. Here are the symptoms of carbon monoxide:

Dizziness, Vomitting, Nausea, Muscular Twitching, Intense Headache, Throbbing in the Temples, Weakness and Sleepiness, Inability to Think Coherently.

If you or anyone in your party experiences any of these symptoms get to fresh air immediately. If the symptoms persist get medical attention. Shut the generator down and do not operate until it has been inspected and repaired by a professional.

RV travel should be safe and fun. Do not use a generator in an enclosed area!

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://locorvcat.com
http://www.RVPartMart.com

Moving into Our Motorhome

This is Tough!

We have been getting ready to move into the motorhome for about 6 months. We rented a storage unit for the memorabilia, moved every thing out of every closet in the house and sorted it out, went through every tool in the garage, and had 3 garage sales. Now that we have the motor home, we realize that we didn't have a clue about what to save, or what we needed in it. Back to the drawing board.

Fortunately, the Presidio has almost every thing we need. We have a small wish list that is almost done. We added 2 electical outlets in the living room for convenience and  the central vacuum goes in today. In selecting a spot for the vacuum, we discovered why the living room is so cold in the morning. There are just 2 ducts off the furnace. One goes into the living room with one small round duct, and the other goes into the little bath area with the toilet and then on to the bedroom. To operate efficiently, this furnace should have 4 ducts. We are adding 2 more today. One will go in the kitchen area, and the other will go into the living room. If we need more than that, we will travel south until we find warmer weather!

Our other big project is to have a fully automatic DataStorm Internet dish. We are having that installed on January 10th, so until then we are roughing it as far as internet goes. We still have the cable at the house, but we spend less and less time there.

I don't know how to decide what to take with us on this journey. This is hardly roughing it, and we are going to continue our internet websites.

Until later,

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.RVPartMart.com

We Bought the New Motorhome

2005 Mandalay Presidio

Yep. We bought it. After several years of wishing and planning, we found our dream motorhome. I won't go into lots of details on the coach, but it is 39 1/2 feet long, has 4 slideouts, about 13,500 miles on it, and a Cummins 330. Those are the most frequently asked questions. Now let's get to the nitty gritty. This is an exciting time for us.

I have been in the RV service industry for 30 years. I have worked in dealerships, service centers, and even for manufacturers, and I really had no idea how overwhelming it would be to drive a diesel motorhome, and have all the questions of a newbie. Suddenly I am on the other end of the process. It started when I pulled into the truck stop to get fuel. We had done all the calculations, and have budgeted for this, but when the pump read $200.00 for 1 fill up, the reality was shocking. That triggered all the other questions. What do I really need to do to get organized to maintain as much of this as I can, and what will I need to take into a service center. We have publised some checklists in the past, and they were quite complete, but we will be developing a real life checklist now and a maintenance schedule to stick to.

There is so much to remember. I have been in literally hundreds of motorhomes. I know there is a lot to  remember when you get one, but it is so much easier to tell people what to do than to have it parked in your driveway. Now I will see if I can practice what I have been preaching. We did a thorough cleaning today, and tomorrow the real fun begins. We will let you know how all this goes...even the disasters.

WHAT AN ADVENTURE

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.RVPartMart.com

2005 Mandalay Presidio

Quad slides -- you want quad slides? Well, every floorplan in the 2005 Presidio (the newest addition to the Mandalay Luxury Division family of coaches from Four Winds International) has four slides. All three plans are built on a Workhorse RDP chassis, powered by a 330-hp Cummins with 950 lb-ft of torque. Gelcoat fiberglass exterior walls and full body paint with sweeping graphic treatments parade the coach in high style.

Life inside is spacious, thanks to a double-slide living room and opposing convertible sofas (or a sofa and loveseat) and cockpit chairs that swivel around to face the room. There's also a 24-inch Toshiba flat-screen television to help keep guests entertained, and you can option up to an RCA home theater surround-sound system.

The kitchen comes with a residential-size 30-inch microwave and high-output three-burner cooktop or an optional range with conventional oven. A big (8 cubic feet) refrigerator is standard; an even larger unit and ice makers are optional.

The bed/bath suite features a streetside-slide queen island bed and an opposing slideout with either a television desk/dresser or an optional vanity and loveseat. Across most of the rear is a cedar-lined wardrobe, with one corner reserved for a standard storage cabinet or for optional laundry appliances.

"Our philosophy from day one was to offer more bang for the buck," said Carter Yoder, Mandalay Luxury Division national sales manager. "When people walk in and spend some time in the Presidio, they notice the elegant feel and the quality that has gone into the coach.

"The big-block Cummins engine offers higher torque than most coaches in this price category. And that's important, because this coach has a true raised-rail chassis design with lots of bus-style basement storage and a 32,000-pound gvwr, so you need the power to handle the load.

"Structurally, the Presidio is the same as the luxury Mandalay models, with a 3-inch tubular steel floor with twice the insulation [as standard], plus 2-inch aluminum [frame] side wall construction, a crowned roof with aluminum rafters and block-foam insulation. There's ceramic tile throughout, not laminate. Hardwood cabinet doors and drawer fronts with hidden hinges and solid-surface countertops give a comfortable residential feel. More quality for the money, and more bang for the buck ... that's what the Presidio gives you."

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.RVPartMart.com
http://www.SecurelyYours.com
http://www.EmpireClearShield.com

RV Travel -- Recreational Vehicle Appliance Maintenance

Many problems with RV appliances can be avoided by cleaning them every 6 months, or after being stored and not used. The easiest way to do this is with an air hose with PSI of approx 80# of pressure.

Refrigerators: ( Both Norcold Refrigerators and Dometic Refigerators ) Remove outside access cover and blow debris out of compartment. Remove the burner cover and blow out the burner and the flue. Check the orifice for debris and blow it off also. If the flue is extremely clogged, there is a special tool available to brush it out.

Propane RV Water Heater: Open outside access door. Blow out burner, exhaust, orifice, and burner tube

LP or Propane RV Furnace: Blow out intake and exhaust on outside your motorhome, travel trailer or fifith wheel. The orifice on the furnace is inaccessible without removing the entire furnace from the RV, and generally does not require maintenance. Do not stand in front of intake and exhaust when blowing out, as debris will fly out. It is important to clear the furnace after periods of non use, or storage. Small birds and insects have been known to build nests in them and restrict the exhaust.

Every month you should clean the intake filter on your roof air conditioner.

These are quick easy maintenance things to keep your RV experiences fun.

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Keeping You Safe and Informed on Your RV Journey

Many problems with RV appliances can be avoided by cleaning them every 6 months, or after being stored and not used. The easiest way to do this is with an air hose with PSI of approx 80# of pressure.

Refrigerators: ( Both Norcold Refrigerators and Dometic Refigerators ) Remove outside access cover and blow debris out of compartment. Remove the burner cover and blow out the burner and the flue. Check the orifice for debris and blow it off also. If the flue is extremely clogged, there is a special tool available to brush it out.

Propane RV Water Heater: Open outside access door. Blow out burner, exhaust, orifice, and burner tube

LP or Propane RV Furnace: Blow out intake and exhaust on outside your motorhome, travel trailer or fifith wheel. The orifice on the furnace is inaccessible without removing the entire furnace from the RV, and generally does not require maintenance. Do not stand in front of intake and exhaust when blowing out, as debris will fly out. It is important to clear the furnace after periods of non use, or storage. Small birds and insects have been known to build nests in them and restrict the exhaust.

Every month you should clean the intake filter on your roof air conditioner.

These are quick easy maintenance things to keep your RV experiences fun.

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.EmpireClearShield.com

RV Travel -- RV Water System Sanitation

Keep your RV water System Safe!

It is not uncommon for RV owners to complain of bad water. The first sign of a contaminated water system is usually a bad taste, followed by strange orders emanating from the water supply. Bacteria may have built up in the water tank, especially if the water tank's supply has not been used frequently and has not been replenished with fresh, clean water on a regular basis. When a motorhome or travel trailer comes out of storage or is being used extensively on a city-water connection, the tank and entire water system should be sanitized before use. Some of the bacterial buildup can cause serious illness; so don't take chances!

Drain the fresh water holding tank completely, then refill halfway with clean, fresh water.

Mix 1/4 cup of household chlorine bleach for every 15 gallons of tank capacity in a container with a gallon or two of clean water.

Pour this mixture into the water tank. If your Recreational Vehicle has a tank fill valve that comes from the city water connection, the mixture can be poured into the hose, or if you use a canister water filter you can remove the filter cartridge and pour the chlorine into it.

Top off the water tank with fresh water.

Pump water through each faucet so that all the lines are filled with the water/bleach. You can easily smell the chlorine odor when it reaches each location.

The RV hot-water tank holds at least 6 gallons of water. Run the hot-water faucets until this much solution has passed to insure that the old water has been purged from the hot-water tank, and it is now filled with the water/bleach solution from the water tank.

Let the water stand for two or more hours.

Drain the entire water system, and don't forget to drain the water heater.

To remove the bleach odor and taste, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a gallon of water and pour into the freshwater tank.

Fill the tank completely and pump this solution through the water heater and the rest of the water lines. Driving the rig around the block will slosh water around and thoroughly clean the tank. Allow it to stand at least two hours.

Drain the entire system and refill with fresh, clean water. Once again pump the water completely through the entire plumbing system.

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.EmpireClearShield.com
http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com

RV Travel -- Simple Safety

Whatever the season, RVers are taking to the road somewhere, and they usually travel without major mishaps. However, there are several steps RVers can take to make safety a priority and avoid leaving it to chance.

Before Leaving Home

• Look for the RVIA (Recreation Vehicle Industry Association) seal on your RV. RVs made in the United States must adhere to more than 500 safety requirements for electrical, plumbing, heating and fire and life safety established under the American National Standards Institute. The RVIA requires such adherence of its manufacturing members before its seal can be used.

• Be sure that the combined weight of the towing vehicle and travel trailer or fifth wheel or the motorhome and tow car is no more than the gross combined vehicle weight recommended by the manufacturer. (See the data plate or owner's manual.) This calculation assures you that the engine, power train, brakes, front and rear axles and tires and rims can handle the weight of the towable.

• Read the safety information in the RV owner's manual. Pay special attention to the warning symbols (a triangle with an exclamation point inside).

• Make sure your RV is equipped with detectors for carbon monoxide and propane gas (also called liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, LP-gas, or autogas). Check them regularly (per the manufacturers' instructions) to make sure they're in working order.

On the Road

• Turn off the propane gas at the main valve before traveling on the road and turn it back on at your destination to prevent a possible fire caused by a spark igniting propane gas fumes. The refrigerator can use electricity from the auxiliary generator. Without electricity, if you avoid many door openings, both refrigerated and frozen foods will be protected during the day. Or you can turn the propane gas valve back on temporarily when you stop for a meal. If you choose to travel with the propane gas valve turned on, turn off that valve as well as any pilot lights and appliances before you pull into a filling station to refuel.

• Make sure all passengers fasten their seat belts to protect them from sudden stops or sharp curves.

• Wash the windshield every day, so you have a clear view when driving. Also, clean the headlights and taillights, check all lights and turn signals to be sure they function properly, check oil levels in the engine and auxiliary generator and walk around the RV to check the tires and look for fluid leaks.

• When riding on the highway in cold weather, use dash heat or the heat pump instead of the furnace. Forward motion of the RV can extinguish the flame and let gas fumes escape. If you smell propane gas (rotten egg odor), the National Propane Gas Association recommends that you “(1) exit the camper/trailer and do not use any electric switches or appliances; (2) leave the door open to air out the vehicle; (3) shut off the propane tank; and (4) call a propane gas supplier or the fire department from a nearby phone.”

• Getting propane gas requires the assistance of a trained person; it is not a self-serve operation.

• Check occasionally for storm warnings or other potential emergencies. The Federal Communications Commission assigned 511 as the three-digit telephone number for traveler information, including road conditions and weather reports. To learn if you are in a 511 area, watch for roadside highway signs indicating this. Other options are various radios that give audible weather forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In lieu of specific weather-alert equipment, tune in to local radio stations or satellite radio channels. You can also get a current weather report at www.weather.com or www.noaa.gov.

At the Campsite

• When backing up, station someone to the rear of the RV in a location where you see one another in the driver's left view mirror. Hand signals should refer to the direction the rear of the RV needs to travel.

• Unless the RV has an energy management system that automatically protects it, test the campsite outlet before plugging in your RV's electric cord. Plug a receptacle tester (available at camping and hardware stores) into the electrical outlet on the campground post. If the tester indicates reverse polarity or high or low voltage (above 136 volts or below 102 volts), do not plug in your RV's electric cord. Instead, contact the campground office and request a different campsite.

Words by Bernice Beard

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.RVPartMart.com
http://www.SecurelyYours.com
http://www.EmpireClearShield.com
http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.LoCoRVCat.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com

RV Travel -- Quick tip

Black Tank Cleaning 
A very good way to keep the black tank clean is to use Borax. You can get a 4lb box at the super market. After emptying the black tank, refill it with a few gallons of water, then had a cup of Borax. Let it remain in the tank until you arrive at your next destination. Borax has a abrasive action and it is a natural deodorizer. This will keep the tank whistle clean.

Susan Cox and Dorothy Loll

RV Maintenance and Travel Safety
Maximizing Your RV Experience

http://www.TirePressureSafety.com
http://www.RVSafetyExpert.com
http://www.RVTips4U.com
http://www.RVPressurePro.com
http://rvtravel.nicheinfocenter.com/
http://www.RVPartMart.com
http://www.SecurelyYours.com
http://www.EmpireClearShield.com
http://www.LoCoRVCat.com