RV University This Week 10/12/2009
- Monday, October 12 2009 @ 01:55 pm 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 #36- October 12, 2009
"Education isn’t just school. Let your kids do stuff and go places and see things. My father put us in a camper, I was about 12 years old, and we were all in a camper and we drove cross-country."
~ Will Smith, Actor- on The Late Show with David Letterman December 18, 2008
BY MARK
Hi Everybody,
In an earlier chapter of my life airplanes played a major role as a mode of transportation. It seemed like every time I turned around I was flying one place or another. After retiring from the military and especially after 9/11, I made a personal vow to use the RV for traveling, unless it just wasn't practical.
Last week Dawn & I attended the RVDA Convention/Expo in Las Vegas ( about 2000 miles one way). It would have been a fun trip in the RV, but due to other commitments it just wasn't possible. So we flew to Vegas! This only reinforced my earlier vow, not to fly if we can take the RV. Now don't get me wrong, I agree that a certain measure of security is required for in-flight safety, but come on! What does it matter if my shampoo bottle or toothpaste is in a 3 ounce container or a 10 ounce container? And because of one idiot, now 1,000,000 air travelers a day must take their shoes off, so they can be X-Rayed. Can't they come up with a design for the metal detector you walk through to detect something in your shoe?
It doesn't end there, why do you have to remove your laptop from the case? Why do you have to take your belt and jacket off? Why can't you take a bottle of water (that you just purchased from an airport store) through security; but you can buy another (over priced) bottle from an airport store after you go through security and take it on the plane? Why does the flight always arrive a few minutes behind schedule, and your connecting flight is at a gate on the opposite end of the airport? Why does everybody take an oversized carry-on bag and try to shove it in an overhead compartment that it won't fit in? Why do 2 pieces of lukewarm pizza and 2 bottled water cost over $20.00? Why does it cost almost as much to check bags as the plane ticket itself cost?
I could go on and on, but what put the icing on the cake was when we were at the airport, leaving Las Vegas. My 10-year old niece collects snow globes and Dawn found the perfect one for Julia's collection at the Mirage Casino. When our bags went through the X-Ray machine, airport security informed us they would have to confiscate the snow globe. The reason: they could not verify what the liquid was inside the snow globe. To say the least I was a bit irate. It should be written somewhere that you can't take snow globes, purchased from a gift shop, on the airplane. We didn't have time to go back out, mail it, and then go back through security. The other option given was to put it with our checked baggage. It was a little late for that, and what's the difference if it's in the luggage area of the plane or in an overhead compartment? Dawn called the casino gift shop and had them mail another snow globe to us. I wonder if it will be delivered by ground or by air!
Dawn was upset about having to kennel our 2 dogs, Buck & Gracie. They weren't too happy either!
Oh well, that's flying in 2009.
In spite of the flying headaches, the RVDA Convention was a great success!
We caught up with old friends and made lots of new ones.
But I wish we had made the trip in our RV.
Until next week happy camping & safe travels
Mark
Winter Battery Storage & Maintenance I was recently asked a question and felt like the answer could be useful to lots of RVers, so I am using the question as the topic for this article....... Read the article
Check out this week's poll: "Do you take pets with you when you RV?"To participate in the poll, look on the left hand column (here at RV University) towards the top
BY Mark Polk
Tip #1 To keep the refrigerator operating efficiently in the LP gas mode there is some routine maintenance you can perform. Remove the outside lower vent cover to access the back of the refrigerator. With the refrigerator turned off ensure all connections are clean and tight. Turn the refrigerator on in the LP gas mode and a look at the flame. If the flame is burning poorly, a yellow colored flame, or if the refrigerator isn't operating properly in the gas mode it's possible that the baffle inside the flue is covered with soot. Soot, rust and other debris can fall down and obstruct the burner assembly. When this happens it will be necessary to clean the flue and the burner assembly. Turn the refrigerator off again and locate the burner. Directly above the burner is the flue. The baffle is inside the flue. Wear a pair of safety glasses and use an air compressor to blow air up into the flue. After the flue is clean use the compressed air to remove any debris from the outside refrigerator compartment. Now, turn the refrigerator on in the LP gas mode to make sure it is working properly. Look for the bright blue flame. For a thorough cleaning of the flue and baffle it will be necessary to have your RV dealer do it for you. While it's there have them to do an LP gas pressure test too.
Tip #2 The onboard generator makes your RV fully self-contained. It allows you access to 120- volts when there is no shore power available, but keep in mind that carbon monoxide is deadly! Test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV. Know what the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
...with Mark
Q.
Mark......I'm going nuts shopping for a new vehicle to tow - now that Saturn is going out of business, do you hear what is the best or most popular/easiest "newer" automatic vehicle to tow 4-down? I have a 30' Class A and have been towing my old '97 Saturn SL2 (which has been great) but am wanting something newer and updated -
Any info you can provide will be "greatly" appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Mark Says:
The good news is there are many more automatic vehicles that can be towed with all 4-wheels down now, than there were just a few years ago.
Go here and scroll down, looking on the right hand side until you see Dinghy Towing Guides. It lists guides from 2002 through 2009. Click on the year model you are interested in and it will provide some great towing information, to include what vehicles can be towed with 4-wheels down. Pay particular attention to any speed or distance restrictions that are listed for each vehicle. I hope this helps.
Driver loses control of RV after blowout in St. Johns, FHP says
A crash of a recreational vehicle left the driver with minor injuries and his passenger was taken to the hospital after the RV with a vehicle in tow ran into trouble while on Interstate 95.....
Palm Desert council decides to hold off on revisions to RV parking law
Michelle Smith, another Ironwood resident and RV owner, said parking space for a recreational vehicle could add $10,000 to $100,000 to the value of a home..
RV storage changes sent back to planners
"Some of the council members don't want RV storage in the front yard," ..
Commissioners vote for camping on private property
The Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend allowing residents to camp temporarily in recreational vehicles and travel trailers
on private parcels of 10 acres or more...
Kampgrounds of America Turns To Reno Firms
To Help Invigorate Iconic North American Brand
“KOA is not a new brand,” said Rogers (Chairman and CEO of Kampgrounds of America). “It is an American icon. We were founded in 1962 and we have grown steadily since. Our challenge is one of brand renewal, not reinvention....
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16 RV Single DVD Titles in our Library
An Introduction to RV'sDrive Your Motorhome Like a Pro
RV Awning Use, Care and Accessories
RV Safety Features, Tips and Tricks
Pop Up 101
Travel Trailer 101
Class A Motor Home 101
Class C Rental / Owner
Winterizing & Storing your RV
EZ RV Add Ons and Must Have RV Products
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing
Motorhome Towing
RV Campground Basics
Marks Recommended 10 minute RV Essential Items
Deep Cycle Battery Care & Maintenance for RV's and Boats
RV Care and Maintenance
Money Saving DVD Sets Available
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Class A Training DVD Sets
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The Original Checklists for RVersWinterizing and Storing your RV
THE RV BOOK now available as an ebook
The Three Primary Systems of an RV
Insider's Guide to Buying an RV
RV Buyers Survival Guide
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing
A Collection of RV Tips
Pop-Up Basics 101
Dinghy Towing
Deep Cycle Battery Care and Maintenance
RV Awning Use and Care
RV Safety Features, Tips and Tricks
RV Care and Maintenance
RV Campground Basics
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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 http://www.rveducation101.com
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Happy Camping,
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