RV University this Week 1/25/2009
- Saturday, January 24 2009 @ 10:35 am UTC
- Contributed by: RVED101
RV University this Week
Your weekly source for interesting
RV articles, tips, tricks, video clips and advice
RV Education 101
U of RV Journal #3 - January 25, 2009
BY MARK
Hi Everybody,
It's hard to believe but the first month of 2009 is almost over. In This Week's Feature I discuss some frequently asked questions on RV financing. It's odd how a major recession can present other opportunities that can be too good to pass up. For the economy to improve it is important that consumers start spending again. To help stimulate spending key interest rates are lowered. When you combine this with the trouble that the automobile industry, RV industry and the housing industry are in right now there are some great deals to be had.
If your current job is not in jeopardy and you have room in your budget now is a great time to purchase a new vehicle, RV or possibly refinance a current mortgage. Rates are low, auto and RV dealers are motivated to move inventory and it helps the economy. Unfortunately not all of us are in a position to take advantage of some great deals right now, but for those who are now would be the time to do it.
Last but not least I found out that not everybody reading this newsletter are Steelers fans. I received numerous responses from Cardinals fans last week. I just have one thing to say, GO STEELERS! All kidding aside it should be a great game, but in the end Pittsburgh will be the first team in NFL history to win six Super Bowls. Enjoy the game!
I hope you enjoy this week's edition,
Mark
RV Financing FAQ
This is perhaps the best time in the history of the RV industry to purchase an RV. You can get a great deal on an RV right now, but the problem is since the banking industry and bailout crisis RV lending is more difficult to come by. Several banks and key RV lenders departed from the RV industry completely while others are waiting and watching to see what will happen with the government bailout funds....
Read the article
BY Mark Polk
Tip#1: If you have a travel trailer and use a weight distribution hitch, once the dealer makes the proper adjustments, spray paint the chain link that you use for the proper amount of tension. This way you will always keep the spring bar tension adjusted properly.
Tip#2: Tires and load range designations on tires have changed over the years. It used to be a 6-ply or 8-ply tire, and you knew the higher the number the stronger the tire. Now they use a letter to designate load range and tire strength. To help simplify this you can take the letter for the load range on the tire, determine what number it represents in the alphabet, and multiply that by two, to determine the strength of the tire. It sounds much more difficult than it is. If your tire is a load range “D” that is the 4th letter in the alphabet. 4 X 2 equals 8 so a load range “D” tire is equivalent to an 8-ply tire in strength.
RV EDUCATED? Take the Test and see...
This week tests your knowledge regarding "Purchasing a Used RV"
Click here then scroll down to quiz # 10
...with Mark
Q. Mark,
We have 3 deep cycle RV batteries (2.5 years old) for coach power.
When at home we usually keep the unit plugged in to shore power (with
nothing but the usual parasitic draws), especially in the winter when
we run a small electric heater plus a 60 watt light bulb. Being in the BC
Pacific coast, this is usually sufficient winterizing.
I have assumed that doing so would keep the 3 batteries at or close to full charge (we just recently replaced the charger/converter) Other than that I just check the water level in the batteries periodically.
I've recently learned that a voltage meter would also help monitor, but I'm not into checking the specific gravity.
Am I missing anything essential?
Mark Says: Some converter chargers are not 3 stage chargers and will overcharge the batteries causing water levels in the cells to drop. You mentioned that you check the water levels and monitor the voltage so that is good.
My only recommendation would be if you don't need the RV to be plugged in for any particular reason don't plug it in. Instead get a small battery conditioner like a product called The Battery Minder and leave it hooked up to the batteries. It charges, maintains and conditions the batteries and will never overcharge them. I leave it connected whenever we are not using the RV and have never replaced a battery yet.
If you would like more info, the website is www.vdcelectronics.com
***********Q2: I bought some of your videos, We were watching them and noticed you recommend dumping the black tank only when it is at least two thirds full. We have a travel trailer and we mostly just camp every weekend. So we have been emptying the black tank at the end of every weekend. It is not two thirds full. We just wondered if this is ok?
Mark Says: I suggest waiting until the tank is at least two thirds full for two reasons. One is it allows the holding tank chemicals time to break down solids and tissue to make emptying the tank easier and two, the more (water) that is in the tank the better the contents will empty and prevent future problems with the tank itself.
If you only use it on weekends and the tank isn't very full I would suggest adding water to the tank with an old garden hose through the toilet prior to emptying the tank. This additional water will help empty the entire tank and hopefully not leave anything in the tank that can cause problems down the road. I also strongly recommend flushing the tank out with a tank wand or some other type of tank flushing system every time you empty the tank.
Economist Says Economy May Recover By Fall
If we can all grit our teeth and endure the spreading pain from the recession right now, we may feel better in the fall.....
Also, Read Mark's article in this months KOA issue: Carbon Monoxide, While you're staying toasty warm in your RV this winter, make sure you're doing it the right way.....
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About us:
Our goal with RV University This Week is to provide you with helpful information to make all of your RV experiences more enjoyable. I left my position as an RV Sales and F&I manager in 2000 to start my own company, RV Education 101. We produce educational videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. The reason I left my job was due to my concern about the lack of educational and safety awareness material available to the RV consumer, in other words, you. We are a small company. My wife Dawn left her position in RV sales to help start the company and is our Sales and Marketing Director. We currently have a 35-foot Class A motor home. We have two boys, Tyler 12 and Josh 18, both avid RVers and two dogs, Gracie and Buck. Gracie is the good one. If you would like to learn more about us and RV Education 101 feel free to visit our website> www.rveducation101.com
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