RV University This Week 9/14/2009
- Monday, September 14 2009 @ 02:33 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 #33- September 14, 2009
“Nine tenths of education is encouragement."
~ Anatole France
BY MARK
Hi Everybody,
Well, the bad news is the 2009 camping season is coming to an end for some RVers. The good news is the 2009 NFL season just started. This gives us something to help keep our minds off of not being able to use the RV on the weekends this fall and winter. The really good news is my Pittsburgh Steelers started the season with a win over Tennessee. Sorry about that to all the Titans fans out there!
We are approaching that time of the year for many RVers, in some of the colder regions around the country. The time of year when you need to start thinking about winterizing and storing the RV until next spring, when things thaw out again.
We like to use our RV as much as possible throughout the year, but even here in Eastern North Carolina temperatures can plummet enough that I need to prepare the RV for some (hopefully) short term winter storage.
One thing that I think is important for RVers to understand is, there is more to winterizing the RV than just adding RV antifreeze to the plumbing system. In this week's feature article (part 1) I discuss some winterizing tips for the RV's interior, exterior and the chassis. Next week, in part 2 of the article, I will discuss preparing the RV plumbing system for cold winter storage.
And remember, cold weather doesn't mean you need to stop using the RV completely, you just need to take a few precautions. We'll discuss what some of those precautions are in upcoming newsletter editions.
Until next week happy camping & safe travels
Mark
RV Winterizing 101 (Part 1) It’s always sad to come to the realization that another camping season is winding down. Part of this realization is preparing the RV for winter storage, so it will be ready to go camping again next spring. My guess is that most RV owners, especially those in cold climate regions, refer to this winter storage preparation as winterizing your RV........ Read the article
Check out this week's poll: "Do you winterize your RV or do you have the RV dealer do it?"To participate in the poll, look on the left hand column (here at RV University) towards the top
Hensley Manufacturing’s claims against ProPride dismissed
"I always knew, from day one, that "The Jim Hensley Hitch Story"needed to be told. A man should receive credit for his contributions to the world and the attempt to block the information from the RV market was a farce," stated Sean Woodruff, president of ProPride, Inc.
An RV Winterizing Tip from Dow Chemical Company:
Don't use automotive antifreeze to winterize your RV system. Never use automotive antifreeze for water system winterization. Most auto antifreeze is made from ethylene glycol, which is more toxic than propylene glycol and is harmful to humans and pets. And don't use windshield washer fluid, either, as it can freeze solid at subzero temperatures. DOWFROST™ RVR Freeze Protection Fluid, a product of The Dow Chemical Company, is safe for incidental contact with people or animals and can also prevent harmful pollution of ground and surface water in the event of a spill. This fluid is specially formulated for use in RVs and other seasonal equipment, is readily biodegradable and is practically non-toxic to aquatic life, which can help protect the environment.......
Elkhart RV Rebound May Show Recession End on Trailers
The RV industry is always the first in and the first out, and there’s already been a noticeable beginning of it coming out of the current recession......
BY Mark Polk
Tip #1 To assist you with heating your RV during cold weather camping, and to save a significant amount of LP gas that your RV furnace uses, purchase a portable electric ceramic heater. They work extremely well and many models available on the market come equipped with thermostats.
Tip #2 For increased ventilation add a Maxx Air Turbo Fan over one of your pre-existing roof vents. You can use it in the intake mode to circulate fresh air through your RV or in the exhaust mode to remove stale and musty odors or cooking odors from the RV. It operates off of 12-volts and is the perfect accessory for those times when you can’t run the roof air conditioner. It allows you to leave the roof vent open in the rain or when you’re traveling, and works in conjunction with other Maxx Air vent covers to provide constant ventilation throughout the RV. Learn how to install your own Maxx Air Turbo Fan with our EZ RV Upgrades video
Some good "general" battery information provided at the Green Batteries site, a Downloadable Battery Guide
...with Mark
Q.
Mark, Recently at the Propane filling station/office I noticed a sign
that said something about a new rule from the department of transportation
stating that tanks on RV's that were older than 12 years would
not refilled. My stamp says the tank was manufactured in Sept of 96. I have not
read anything in any of the other literature regarding this new rule. Could you
fill me in and is it legitimate? I know that there are many RV's out there with
tanks(built-in) that are older than 12 years. Thanks!
By the way, we have your RV educational DVD's and being a novice RV owner for the first time, these DVD's were extremely helpful in getting us prepared to live in RV. We had a two hour orientation at the dealer's when we picked up our RV, but it was just too overwhelming to remember everything. Your DVD's saved us.
Mark Says:
I think there are two issues here. For many years, once a propane cylinder
reached 12 years in age it had to be re-certified before it could be re-filled.
This required an inspection process for continued use of the older cylinder.
Since 1998 Overfill Protection Device (OPD) valves have been required on all new 4 to 40 pound LP gas cylinders manufactured. OPD valves are basically a safety shut off device that prevents the cylinder from being overfilled. You can tell by the on-off handle if the cylinder has the valve installed. The handle is triangular shaped rather than round.
Then in (I believe 2002) there was a new LP gas code published by The National Fire Protection Association. This new code not only required that all new cylinders (from 4 to 40 pounds) be manufactured with OPD valves, but also any 4 to 40 pound cylinder without an OPD valve can no longer be refilled by anyone. The LP gas company can retrofit old cylinders with the OPD valves.
Follow-up response:
Thanks for the information. I really do appreciate it. Have you covered information like this before? I read almost everything that you publish in the journals and magazines. I guess I just missed it. Thanks again. I believe that you fill a big gap out there for those of us who are new to RVing.
Let RV Education 101 help you save money in 2009
Winterizing and Storing your RV By: Mark Polk
You’ve had a great year camping, now it's time to put your RV away for the winter. What do I do? Where do I start? Don't worry, you are not alone. These are common questions, ones that RV expert Mark Polk will answer for you in this specialized winterizing and storing video/DVD. Winterizing the RV protects the RVs water system, but what about the tires, batteries, generator, chassis storage, coach storage and other components that can be damaged if they are not properly prepared for short or long term storage? You will see detailed step by step instructions on how to properly winterize and store your RV. To make sure you remember what you need to do, and in what order, a printed checklist comes with your video/DVD. This checklist includes supplies needed and the steps to take for you to complete the project.Let RV expert Mark Polk, help you to thoroughly understand all of your winterizing and storing needs!
Length: 27 minutes
sale price: $22.95
Buy Now
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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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