RV Education 101 October 2006 newsletter
- Thursday, October 05 2006 @ 05:12 am UTC
- Contributed by: RVED101
The RV Education 101 Newsletter
Learning RV's the Easy Way by Video
Volume 32 - October 2006
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Quote of the Month
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, "Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it.~Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919)~
Winterizing and Storing your RV
BUY Your DVD NOW For only $24.95, protect your investment and discover how easy it is to properly winterize your RV and put it in short or long term storage.
Editorial by Mark
Hi Everybody,
Another month is gone and it just seemed to slip through my fingertips. We took the RV to the beach last weekend to sort of bid farewell to summer. We had a good time looking for shark’s teeth with the boys, walking along the beach and spending time in the RV. Dawn and the boys actually went swimming in the ocean too. As I always say, any time spent in the RV is time well spent.
I actually finished our new RV Campground Basics DVD, and sent it off to our duplication company to be replicated. It should be available on our website in a week or two.
The new Miracle Truss Steel Building, www.miracletruss.com arrived and I have been busy getting the required building permits and locating a concrete contactor to pour the footer and concrete slab. It looks as though October will be consumed with the new building project. Weather wise the timing is perfect for an outdoor project, so I’m looking forward to it.
Speaking of the weather, many of you who live in the colder regions will need to start thinking about preparing your RV for the cold winter months ahead. You can go to our RV University site, www.rvuniversity.com and read some of my free articles on winterizing and storing your RV, if you decide to tackle it on your own. If you prefer to see how it’s done before you try doing it by yourself check out our Winterizing & Storing your RV DVD at www.rveducation101.com. Either way, make sure it is properly prepared so it’s ready to go next spring.
Be sure and check out this month’s video tip on how to install an Internet In Motion system too. Every time we travel in our RV we are confronted with the problem of how to stay connected to the Internet, and conduct business when we’re on the road. The solution to the problem was the Internet In Motion system.
Enjoy the newsletter & happy camping,
Mark
Feature Article by Mark
RV Care and Maintenance Guide
Last month we discussed care and maintenance of your RV chassis. This month we'll concentrate on the care and maintenance of the RV coach. It doesn't matter whether you own a pop-up or a diesel pusher, when you made the decision to purchase an RV it was a major investment. Like any other major investment there are certain things we must do to protect our investment so we can enjoy it..
RV Coach Checklist:
Exterior of RV: Maintaining the exterior of you RV contributes to extending the life of the RV and protecting your investment. If you let your RV go, without cleaning it for periods of time it can be very difficult to get that new look back. I recommend using the complete line of B.E.S.T. RV Products to clean and protect your RV. I have personally tried many RV cleaning products over the years, and have found the B.E.S.T. RV Product Line does the best job, no pun intended.
Regardless of the cleaning products you prefer:
Inspect the Roof and Body Seams Every seam on your RV and anywhere the manufacturer cut a hole in your RV has the potential to allow water in. Inspect your RV roof and all seams on a regular basis for potential water leaks. Consult with your RV dealer for sealants compatible with different types of materials. Clean and condition the roof with a cleaner recommended for the type of roof your RV has. Read my article on Inspecting for Water Damage 101
Odors: Use a cleaner recommended to eliminate odors caused by pets, smoke, cooking and chemicals.
Carpet and Upholstery: Use a cleaner recommended to remove stubborn stains from your carpet and upholstery. .
Test the roof air conditioner(s): Clean or replace A/C filters. Clean filters will help the A/C work more efficiently.
Test the refrigerator in A/C & LP gas mode: Do not over pack the refrigerator, allow for air to circulate. Installing a thermostatically controlled refrigerator vent fan will improve the refrigerators efficiency. For more information on your RV refrigerator read my article on RV Refrigerator Efficiency 101
Check the auxiliary battery(s): Check the auxiliary battery state of charge, water level, cables and connections. If you're not familiar with lead acid batteries have them checked by an authorized service center. If the RV is equipped with battery disconnect switches make sure they are in the off position when you're not using your RV to prevent battery drain.
Check operation of the generator under load: Check generator engine oil & all filters. Service the generator as recommended by the manufacturer. Exercise the generator for a minimum of two hours monthly with at least a half rated load. Read my article on RV Generators 101
Check all appliances: Check all of the AC, DC and LP gas appliances for proper operation. It’s a good idea to have your LP gas system checked by your authorized RV service center annually.
Holding Tanks: Thoroughly flush out the holding tanks every time you empty them. Use RV toilet paper and enzyme based holding tank chemicals. Many of our free dump stations are closing due to chemicals that are harmful to septic systems.
12-volt appliances and accessories: Check all 12-volt appliances and accessories for proper operation.
Check & test all safety devices: Check fire extinguishers, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide and LP gas leak detector before each trip. Replace batteries as required.
Check the operation of the awning and inspect the awning fabric: Inspect your awning for proper operation. Use an approved awning cleaner to clean the awning and remove mold, mildew, dirt and grime. If you have your awning out during rain, lower one end to allow the rain to run off and prevent water from pooling on the fabric, which can cause extensive damage. Read my article on RV Awning Care & Use 101
Check electrical source: Prior to plugging your RV in to the campground electrical source check it with a digital test meter for proper voltage and polarity. To learn more about your RV electrical system read my article on RV Electricity 101
Water system: When you return from a camping trip drain the water out of the water system. Locate and open the low point water drains, drain the fresh water holding tank and the water heater tank. Caution: Never drain the water heater when the water is HOT or under pressure.
This list is not all-inclusive, but it is a good start. As I mentioned earlier you can add to this list too or modify it to suit your particular needs.
Don't forget about winterizing and storing your RV for the winter. Our RV Winterizing and Storing DVD with Printed Checklist instructs you on how easy it is to properly prepare and protect your RV for winter storage.
Happy Camping,
Mark
Marks RV Video Tip of the Month
Some of our monthly RV Video Tips are designed to provide basic RV information for new RVers and some of the future RV Video Tips will cover more advanced topics. If you have any ideas for future topics you can email me at Mark@rveducation101.com
This months RV video tip is: Internet in Motion
Low Bandwidth Version....
Have you heard of Instant Downloads? E-books are the hottest products around ~ you do not pay for shipping and you get the information RIGHT NOW Don't wait another minute...order your e-books today!
What?.....You would rather watch a video than read a book? Well, you're in luck! We have videos covering all of the information you will get from the e-books at> http://www.rveducation101.com/trainingvideos.htm?siteID=0
RV Education Crossword Puzzle
As an added bonus to our newsletter each month, we will feature another fun way to learn about your RV by a Crossword Puzzle. This month’s play and learn crossword puzzle is RV Winterizing. Have fun, play and learn.
"I have completed your crossword puzzle. That was fun and fairly easy. You guys put out a good service for your customers. I wish you much luck with your business."~ Robert Murphy
RV Education 101 Bargain Room Check out our Bargain Room for great deals and big savings. We packaged several different VHS & DVD products together and discounted the price for you. Save up to 48% on some of these package deals!
Campground
Cooking
Campground Cooking is also sold as an e-book $12.95
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Camp Hosting USA--Your Guide to State Park Volunteering NEW!
Consumer feedback about RV Education 101 products
THANK YOU for such an informative publication. We have been RVing for more than 20 years, but we always learn something useful from Mark's videos and TV appearances. And now we're happy to receive the newsletter as well....Thanks again. Bob Mitchell, Lincoln, NE
Emergency Weather Planning
I have always been an advocate for RVers to have an Emergency Weather Plan.
For the past four months KOA has been working with the National Weather Service to design a system to make sure that campers staying at a KOA and KOA employees are aware when bad weather is approaching and to have a plan in place to protect everybody. Read more>> KOA develops system to warn about weather
Ya think you're a good driver ... uh?
Let's see how well you can park a car! Click on the link below. Use the 4 arrows on your keyboard, and the space bar for brake: This is addictive!
The RV Book by Mark J. Polk
Price $19.95 Buy Now!
The smartest RVers are those who know they don’t know it all
—but they try to do something about it. You’ll find them attending the seminars at rallies, reading books by RV authors, reading RV publications, perusing the RV related web-sites, and asking other RVers about their experiences. Every opportunity they get to increase their knowledge of RVing and thereby increase their enjoyment of the lifestyle, they take. Now a new educational opportunity is available to those folks: The traditional school curriculum focused on the three R’s—readin’, ‘ritin’, and ‘rithmetic, but that has changed in this very non-traditional age
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Happy Camper Half Price Camping Club
We at Happy Camper Half Price Camping Club want to announce that we are in the process of adding 300 new parks to our half price camping system for the 2007 camping guide. You can join now, save 50% on your camp sites during your fall camping, and still be able to use all 300 new parks as they come on board... just check our updates often! Also check out RV Scrapbook...a vibrant community online for RVers and their families - and it's absolutely free to use. We invite you to join us there to help us grow this one-of-a-kind site for the camping community. You have to see it to believe it.
Start your half-price discount camping privileges today Not already a member? Join 1/2 price camping today!
by Peggi McDonald, Author of RV Living in the 21st
Century
Cleaning Screens and Blinds Staying on top of dust is a constant challenge. We clean
slat-style blinds and window/door/vent screens by dampening
an anti-static disposable dusting cloth or glove with Fantastic
cleaner or Mr Clean, etc. Changing cloths frequently ensures
there is no transfer of dirt from one area to another. Always
test in a small area before using any type of cleaner. Since we
do not have day/night blinds in our motorhome I asked Mary
Findley of http://www.goclean.com for advice. These blinds
are best cleaned with a dry sponge available on her website
and also from Bed Bath and Beyond. Use it dry and wipe over
the blinds. These sponges are machine washable with towels,
but air-dry them. They also work great for cloth ceilings,
lampshades and fabric furniture as well. To remove a stain,
take a damp Q-Tip and dab it in a bit of liquid dish soap.
Dampen the stain and let it set 20 minutes. Then gently blot
with a barely damp cloth. NOTE: One of my tricks to hide
a stubborn ceiling stain is to cover it with a dab of white
liquid shoe polish.
About RV LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Peggi has taken the best of her internationally-acclaimed first book and has
revamped and updated it to reflect the changing technology and rules in
post-9/11 North America. This book is for the new or experienced RVer. There are
so many tips from “how to” subjects as well as practical advice on "what to do"
when you have medical problems on the road, and how to choose an emergency
roadside service. The security tips for your house while you are away and health
& safety tips are just a couple of subjects out of many that are invaluable
and give you peace of mind! There is so much information we couldn't possibly
list it all. RV Education 101 highly recommends this book: RV
Living in the 21st Century
Also, get lots of great tips from Peggi's instant download e-book RV Packing Tips, E-book:
Just when you thought you saw everything...
Robert De Niro's 2 million dollar, 2 story RV makes a stop at the 38th annual Pennsylvania RV & Camping show in Hershey Pa. De Niro's RV is a tractor-trailer designed as a two-story moving makeup, wardrobe and dressing room with room enough for 30 people to view daily footage during the shooting of a movie. Take a look for yourself>> .
RV Shows: Over the Top and on the Road
Camping in Coordinated Comfort
A few months ago we made the decision to upgrade our RV. We had a Class C motorhome for several years, and it was perfect for our needs at the time. As time goes by things change and we have different needs, or should I say wants? Anyway, we sold the Class C and purchased a 2006 Class A motorhome.
Read News from Camping World by Mark Polk ...
Wintering in an RV Tip
by Les
Doll...a working certified RV
technician & author of Dummys
Guide to Buying a Pre-loved RV
Dump Valves - by Les Doll: ALWAYS keep your blackwater valve closed and only dump when full. If left open the liquids will drain off leaving only the solids (they become very solid after a short period of time). In cold weather we close both valves and dump when full, as a trickle of grey water can freeze and build up a dam in the sewer line totally blocking the flow.
How to inspect and evaluate a used motorhome the "PAINLESS"
way
This instant download e-guide was written by Les Doll, a working Certified RV technician, with
years of RV construction and maintenance experience. In this guide you will find
many little-known secrets and methods used by professional buyers to evaluate a
used RV. This one of a kind electronic guide is your step-by-step road map to
the selection of a trouble free used RV.
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Hot! RV DVD Value Packs Hot!
The 3 value sets currently available are: Class A Motorhome, Class C Motorhome & Travel Trailer/5th Wheel. Each set includes 4 DVDs. Get your discounted RV DVD value set today! Another great thing is this only counts as one item, so you only pay $4.95 for S/H! RV Training Videos/DVDs
Motorhome and
generator service
Funroads, your one-stop information shop for RV service, maintenance and
repair. Find motorhome service locations, RV appliance service or shop for Onan
parts and manuals.
Good Governor 3 in 1 Digital Voltmeter
Canine Companion Emergency Kit
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Falling Oil Prices
Read one persons thoughts on how OPEC is concerned about falling oil prices. You can even post a reply if you'd like.
Pass the Hanky, OPEC is Concerned About Falling Oil Prices.
Recalls & more
If you're interested in searching consumer complaints, defect investigations, vehicle recalls and technical service bulletins this is the place to do it.
Tire Safety
The tires on our automobiles and our RV's are basically neglected, and how long they hold up is basically left to fate. I know that tires are not the most exciting topic to discuss, but they are an extremely important topic. Even more so when you consider the weight of some RV's and our natural tendency to overload our RV's. Here are some Tips for Tire Safety
RV Newsletter Archives
Rest Areas and Welcome Centers by William C. Herow This is a very popular title and now it has been completely updated and revised! Quickly and easily locate rest areas, welcome centers, roadside turnouts, and scenic vistas along America's Interstate highways. Find out where these areas are and the facilities available such as restrooms, phones, picnic tables, vending machines, RV dump stations, and designated pet walk areas.Select this link to view a sample chapter (Adobe Reader PDF, 184KB) $12.95 BUY NOW!
Information packed, RV Education 101 instant download RV E-Books
Buying a Recreational Vehicle DVD
General and Unsubscribe Info
About us:
Our goal with this monthly newsletter 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 9 and Josh 16, 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
RV Education 101 Newsletter © Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006 Mark J. Polk, except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. Reprint only with permission from copyright holder(s). All trademarks are property of their respective owners. All contents provided as is. Advertisers are solely responsible for ad content.
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Happy Camping,
Mark & Dawn
RV Education 101
3969 Stedman Cedar Creek Road
Fayetteville, NC
28312
910-484-7615
