Archive for RV Blog
Winterize Your Rv Before Putting it in Storage
Posted by: | CommentsOwning an RV can be a wonderful experience for those that love to travel across country by road. RVs make road trips more comfortable and convenient for families, couples, and even individuals going it alone. The only problem with owning a RV is they can only be used a few times per year. For the rest of the year it is important that a RV owner store their vehicle. During the majority of the year storing a RV is nothing more than protecting it from the worst of weather but during the winter months RV storage takes on new importance.
Before storing your RV for the winter it is extremely important that you take some time to winterize your vehicle. This process will help prevent your RV from being damaged while in storage during the long, cold, months of the year. Winterizing a RV might be time consuming the first few times but completing the winterization process will save you money on repairs in the future.
When the time comes to put your vehicle in storageit is important that you drain your water heater. Make sure that you only drain your water heater when the tank is not under pressure or hot! For best, and safest, results do not drain the water heater until a long period of time has gone by since your last use of the RV. Once the water is drained out of the RV use a water heater by pass kit that will let your RVs anti freeze bypass the tank and go directly to the RVs water lines. These kits are very affordable often costing between $30.00 and $50.00 per bypass kit. When you are adding antifreeze only use pink anti freeze. Using a bypass system will help you avoid having your water lines freeze during the coldest months of the winter. Remember, once the winter is over you will need to flush the anti freeze out of the water lines completely before you begin traveling again.
The next thing you should do is flush and thoroughly clean out your RVs holding tank. This is something that few people look forward to but it must be done before your RV is put into storage for the entire winter. Flushing your RV holding tank will help remove all of the grease and other products that have built up over time. Once you have flushed the tanks use a grease dissolving dish liquid and a cleaning wand to wash out the tanks. Do a good job and wash the tanks more than once to be sure that they are absolutely clean. Not cleaning the holding tanks properly will lead to problems with the tank after the winter and, in many cases, an extremely bad odor when spring comes.
After you have flushed and cleaned your holding tanks purchase fogging oil and spray the oil into the RVs engine intake and generator. This can only be done when using an RV that does not have a diesel engine! Doing this can help protect the cylinder walls of your RV and your manufacturer maintenance instructions might even include suggestions for types of fogging oil to use. If you are not sure where you should be spraying the fogging oil consider seeking outside help.
The next thing you need to do is completely remove the battery from your RV. This will help you avoid a mess with leaked battery acid when spring comes or having to replace a completely cracked batter. Once the battery is removed store it in a safe, warm, place inside your home that people do not sleep in. When spring comes all you have to do is put your battery back into the RV.
The last thing you should do to the interior of your RV is thoroughly clean it. Do not leave any food in your RV even if you are sure it is nonperishable. Wipe down all surfaces, clean all floors, and carefully dry out all cleaned areas to prevent mildew or molding. Once you have cleaned the inside of the RV place vent covers over all air vents to help cut down on musty smells. These covers are easy to install but if you are not sure how to go about installation consider hiring a third party to help you.
When you have completed the winterization process for the interior of your RV it is time to move on to the exterior. Give your RV a good cleaning before putting into storage for the winter months. If possible wax the outside of your RV and then grease the tires to help prevent cracking and other damage. Another thing that you should try to do is place a bit of wood between the tires and the ground of your storage area. If you do decide to place wood below your tire make sure the wood is larger than your tire area.
Winterizing your RV before putting it into storage is an act that will become second nature over time. Taking the initiative to protect your RV from the winter even though it will be in storage will make it easier for you and your family to hit the road when spring comes and it is time to start traveling.
Maintaining Your RV or Motor Home
Posted by: | CommentsAsk and RV service tech what are the most frequent problems people have when their RV needs service, he will tell you three things. These things are so simple that anyone who owns an RV can save money by doing these little things themselves.
First of all, one of the biggest problems people have is their batteries going dead. Batteries are the key to the electrical system on your RV so they need to be maintained. Don not be fooled, even maintenance free batteries need maintenance. Here is what to do. Check the water in your batteries every three to four weeks. Water evaporates even inside the battery shell. Pull the caps on top of the battery off and refill the cells to about a half an inch below the top of the cell with plain tap water. Nothing will kill a cell in your battery faster than being low on water. This is such a simple thing, yet so many RV owners have the same problem. It can be avoided just by keeping the right water level in the.
Secondly, inspect the roof on your RV at least once every two to three months. Check to see if there are any cracks in the seals or if any seals are rolled up on the edges or even if the roof is dirty. Inspect the seams on the roofing material for cracks or deterioration. If you find any small cracks, fill with a silicone sealant. It is ok to be generous with the sealant as it can not hurt anything. Check the seams on the edge of the roof and make sure there are no visible issues with cracking or seals rolling up. If so coat the area with sealant. BTW, if you do not want to use plain silicone then stop by your RV dealer and get a tube of RV sealant and use that.
Sunlight, heat and all weather conditions will deteriorate the materials that are in contact with the weather most often. When some complains of the roof on their RV leaking, 99% of the time it is because they failed to inspect their roof. Doing this every so often will save you so many problems. It will take less than an hour to do every three months.
The third thing to do that will save you time and headaches is to check your tires and bearings every three months as well. Most new RVs come with EZ Lube axles, or what they call “buddy bearings,” that allow you to lubricate your axles without pulling the wheels. Just plug a grease gun to grease insert in the center of the wheel and pump two or three times. If you still need help, ask a mechanic to help you out.
Check your tires for proper inflation and inspect to check for dry rot. Dry rot will affect every tire at some point and is indicated by hairline cracks in the sidewalls of the tire. If you see these cracks, replace the tires. It will save you lots of time and headaches and you will not get stranded by the side of the road with a flat tire.
The issues mentioned here are the things that cause the most service problems for RVers. By taking a little bit of time to properly service your RV yourself, you will save time and money, not to mention you will cut down on the problems you have at the campsite or on the road. Take the time to look at these things, and enjoy your RV for many years to come.
Motor Home Enthusiasts Enjoy the Grand Canyon
Posted by: | CommentsThe Grand Canyon is an American landmark that everyone has to see at least once in their lives. It is one of the most popular motor home destinations in the United States.
You can see a picture of the canyon and get an idea of how beautiful it is, but it is nothing like actually sitting on the canyon’s edge and looking down.
The Grand Canyon is inspirational. When you look into its depths, the walls of rock chiseled over thousands of years lead you to contemplate how vast nature is. It is truly awe-inspiring.
You can watch the shadows creep along the buttes as the sun moves across the sky. It is a natural light show with changing colors.
The Grand Canyon has a south rim and a north rim. These two areas of the park are very different.
The south rim has more to do. There are lots of overlooks, hiking trails, museums, information centers, and lodging.
The north rim is somewhat more desolate, cooler and at a greater elevation.
Because the south rim is so popular, it is often crowded. During the summer months, you’ll see tourists climbing over each other to get a look at the breathtaking view. If you want to avoid crowds, it’s best to go during the off-season, in the winter or fall. Many prefer the north rim, where there are fewer people and you can enjoy the peace and quiet.
The most popular activity on this kind of trip is backcountry hiking. While you’re hiking, you will see rock formations and views few have seen before. Hikes range from day trips to overnight backpacking adventures. Hiking here is very strenuous so be prepared.
It can also be dangerous. There are temperature extremes similar to the desert: very hot during the daytime and very cold at night. This is desert hiking at its most extreme; bring plenty of water and food. You also have to know when to take a rest. Before setting off on a backcountry hike, make sure that you are fully prepared, and it can be a wonderful adventure.
Getting a spot at one of the popular campsites during the summer tourist season can be a challenge. Wherever you plan to stay, you should make reservations in advance if possible. If space is important, you might try sites a little ways away from the bustle.
North Rim Campground
At the North Rim Campground, you can be right on the north rim, just minutes away from some wonderful hiking. The North Rim Campground has no hookups and very limited services. However, this site is as close as you’re going to get.
The North Rim Campground fills up quickly because of its prime location, so it’s a good idea to book your stay well in advance. They take reservations as early as five months ahead.
Demotte Campground
For a little more luxury, try the Demotte Campground, about 15 miles from the north rim. They allow small RVs, but there are no hookups. There is a convenience store, restaurant and flushing toilets. You can also be close to hiking trails and horseback riding activities.
The Demotte Campground doesn’t take reservations, and it fills up fast. It can be a gamble. But, it’s well worth it because the high elevation of the campground ensures that you’ll have nice cool sleeping weather.
Desert View Campground
Desert View is located on the south rim, and named after one of the south rim’s most famous lookout points. It’s 25 miles from the canyon, and operates from May until October. There are no hookups for your motor home, but the low nightly charge and proximity to the canyon make it well worth it. They don’t take reservations.
The Grand Canyon KOA
If you want to spoil yourself a little, why not try the Grand Canyon KOA? It’s actually a ways away, just north of Williams, Arizona. But it is a comfortable and not that far away, and features fun amenities like barbecues and an indoor pool.
The Grand Canyon is truly one of the wonders of the world, and it makes for a great motor home holiday.
Increase Your Motor Home Gas Mileage
Posted by: | CommentsToday, everybody it seems is concerned about the sharp rise in the prices of the fuels and gas in particular. The instant reaction of people is to find out the ways to cut fuel costs and have vehicles that give better gas mileages. A motor home is a vehicle in which a trailer is attached to a truck. The trailer, in the interior is made to resemble the rooms of our comfortable house in a slightly more compact environment. People who live and travel in Motor Homes should always try to maintain their vehiclesgas mileage
As the motor home is bigger in size, it consumes more fuel than an average car or an SUV. Moreover, the trailer attached to the rear of the truck is made to look like a real home with nearly all the appliances and equipments. Thus, the trailer has a lot of weight and large amounts of power is wasted in running the motor home that naturally takes its toll on the mileage of the vehicle.
Whenever you speak of using a motor home for a vacation or errands like that in front of a few people, the most common reaction is the question how you can afford to drive a motor home. But to think rationally, this reaction may be wrong. Just think about you using a motor home for a vacation yet you may be pleasantly surprised. If you are a person who loves to take his motor home for a finding a great destination for a vacation every summer, then you may be surprised to see how few mile you have actually traveled using the motor home. Most motor homes give an average mileage of around 8 miles per gallon.
For example: If your destination is 100 miles away and you travel around 12 weekends in summer then you will travel only 100 x 2 x 12 i.e. 2400 miles on your motor home. The increase in cost is only $32.31 per trip and only $463.61 for the year. The projection may be in error because the cost of the gas is always fluctuating. Therefore, would you like to leave your motor home that provides you with so much comfort enjoyment and freedom for just $463.61?
For efficient and economic running of your motor home, the following is some information that will help you to get better output from your motor home.
To get better mileage without spending money for modifications: You must first make sure that your motor home is running well by testing the chassis on a dynamometer. You can also get fuel to air ratio checked. You must also make sure that the air pressure on tires is as recommended. You must also drive slower with gradual starts and stops.
The best speed for fuel economy of a motor home: As you increase your speed your speed, the mileage will drop steadily, because of the increase in resistance of the air as well as the weight of the vehicle. So the slower the speed of the vehicle the better will be its mileage. Hence you must maintain your speed between 50 and 55.
