RV Q&A by Mark Polk~ September 2008

*NOTE: At Mark's discretion, material might be edited to suit a wide audience. Due to the large volume of material and correspondence we receive, individual replies might not be possible, nor can we acknowledge receipt of submitted material. Selected questions will be answered in future issues of our RV Education 101 newsletter and on our site. Thank-you for your understanding.

Q. I have a 2002 outback 25RSS and the tires are starting to show signs of cracking. Should you purchase tires from a RV dealer or can you use automobile tires.

Mark Says: Do not use regular automobile tires. Trailers need tires that are rated specifically for trailers, and the sidewalls need to be able to withstand a great deal of flex and twisting.
You should be able to purchase the tires from a knowledgeable tire retailer in your area. Just make sure they are aware of the tire requirements of a trailer.

Q. Do campgrounds have pull through sites for large rigs @ 70 ft?

Mark Says: There is a directory called "Big Rigs Best Bet" that list campgrounds in the US and Canada that cater to big rigs. You can order a copy at this link

Q. Hi Mark, I really enjoy your site. We just purchased our first Class A motorhome and have a question. We were thinking of getting a cover for it but was wondering if there is an easy way to put it on and for that matter taking it off once we have it on. It sounds very hard. Any tips you might have would be very much appreciated. Thanks

Mark Says: There really isn't an easy way to put the cover on, at least not that I know of. The most difficult part is getting it up on the roof. Once that's done its not too hard.

If the cover is to bulky or heavy for someone to carry up the ladder you can lay it on the ground and take one corner up the ladder with you. Once on top pull the rest of the cover up. Once you get it up on the roof and lay it out the hard part is over.

What might be the most challenging and dangerous part is taking it off, because you can easily bump into or step on protruding objects on the roof like vents, TV antenna, A/C etc. You have to be extremely careful not to trip and fall. I start from the back removing the cover as I go up the ladder and carefully work my way toward the front removing the cover as I go.

Patience is most likely the keyword here. Be patient and take your time.

Q. Can you please settle this argument for me. Is it true that an RV refrigerator should stay on at all times, even when not in use and that turning it off for any period of? can damage it?

Mark Says: I don't like getting in the middle of an argument, but no, it is not true. If your aren't using the RV you should just turn the refrigerator off. The only reason for leaving it on would be if you are using it as a second refrigerator at your home.

Copyright 2008 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/