RV University This Week 08/08/2011

RV University this Week
Your weekly source for interesting
RV articles, tips, tricks, video clips and advice

From the Industry Leader in RV Education:
RV Education 101
U of RV Journal #109 - Aug 8, 2011

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“It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.”
~ Claude Bernard

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Mark's RV Garage Internet TV show - Total Run Time 30:35

Episode #14 Released Today:
This episode of Mark's RV Garage is sponsored by:
Explorer RV Insurance , KOA Campgrounds , Camping World , Precision Temp and RV Education 101

On this episode of Mark's RV Garage:
* Mark tests the electric system
* Installs the water heater
*installs LP gas lines
*installs a couple 12 Volt lightsnd some metal
All of this and more on this episode of Mark's RV Garage

Trivia question :
What is Tyler’s favorite kind of RV?

A) Fleetwood Discovery Motorhome
B) Airstream Travel Trailer
C) Lance Truck Camper

Answer: B) Tyler's favorite type of RV ia an Airstream Travel Trailer

I discovered a product that can prevent all of these steering issues when you’re on the road. It is called Steer Safe. Steer Safe is installed on your vehicle's front steering arms and simply clamps onto the front axle. There is no welding required, you just bolt it on. Once it is installed the Steer Safe's patented oscillating fulcrum bar makes it the only true steering stabilizer on the market.

It provides up to 400 lbs. of preset tension on each front wheel working against any outside forces. Steer safe keeps your front wheels pointing straight, even during a blowout. Steer Safe protects you against front tire blowouts, potholes, soft shoulders, high winds, wandering, accidental encounters with curbs and high medians. It also reduces driver stress and fatigue. There is no maintenance required because Steer Safe is equipped with Delrin bearings which never require servicing.

Available at Camping World. Don’t leave home without it. ~ Mark Polk

Don’t miss the next episode when Mark tests the plumbing system for leaks and starts installing more metal.

BY Mark Polk

Inverters
Inverters are nice to have at times when you are dry camping and/or when you don’t have access to 120-volts AC. Batteries produce power in Direct Current (DC) that run at low voltages. Power companies and AC generators produce sine wave Alternating Current (AC), which is used to operate 120-volt appliances and electronic equipment. An inverter takes 12-volt DC power from your RV batteries and electronically changes it to 120-volt AC. Some RVers use an inverter just to watch TV or for their personal computer. Other RVers use an inverter to operate microwaves, coffee pots or other larger appliances. When you purchase an inverter the inverter’s output capacity must be capable of operating the loads that will be placed on it.

...with Mark
Q. In your E-book you say to never back up a motorhome when you are towing a vehicle. My question, you see lots of motorhomes pulling boats, if you can't back up pulling a toad how do they launch their boats without backing up. Thanks in advance

Mark Says:
The reason you can back a boat trailer, but not a toad is that the boat trailer doesn't have a set of steering front wheels.

A while back an engineer at Blue Ox experimented backing several towed vehicles. The results weren't good. One person would drive the motorhome and another would attempt to steer the front wheels of the toad. The problem was, in every test, the front wheels would unexpectedly turn drastically to one side making the steering wheel violently spin out of control. If a person has their hands or arm caught in the steering wheel the results could be a broken finger, hand or arm. Even when they attempted to back straight back the wheels would turn, and it was with other manufacturers tow bars too. You should never attempt to back a toad!

Here is how the engineer explained it:

"The reason this happens is not the tow bar but rather the caster angle in the front end of the towed vehicle. Caster is the forward tilt of the steering axis versus vertical. It provides steering stability, steering returnability and cornering ease. In reverse, the caster angle makes the wheels want to turn around the other direction like "casters" on your office chair or shopping cart. We all know they can't turn all the way around on a car, but they will turn off to the side as far as the steering mechanism will let them. This is virtually undetectable from the driver's seat in the motorhome making this a very scary situation. If you continue to back up, after the wheels have turned, the tires "scrub" or slide sideways causing damage to the tires. Other things caused by this are; severe stress to the steering components, suspension and towing system components."

I hope this helps answer your question.

FOR MEDIA & ADVERTISING Media Kit Contact Dawn Polk for Pricing

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This program compliments our current line of RV Education 101 training dvds!

Episode #1 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #2 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #3 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #4 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #5 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #6 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #7 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #8 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #9 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #10 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #11 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #12 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #13 of "Mark's RV Garage"

Episode #14 of "Mark's RV Garage"

In addition to being available on YouTube, Mark's RV Garage is available for viewing with full episode details at RV Videos On Demand