*************************************************************************** THE RVERSCORNER Newsletter *************************************************************************** Oct, 2003 *************************************************************************** This newsletter has grown from a few friends in 1997 to 8800+ friends in 2003. It seems that we must be doing something right, so we will continue to do so. Many of us converse on the RVerscorner Bulletin board ... and all are welcome there ... posting rules are moderate and there are many fine people who help with questions and answers. Check it out at: http://www.rverscorner.com/discus Inside this issue: - Still more on Winterizing - Heater core? What is that? - FULLTIMING BUDGET by Peggi McDonald - BEST TIMES by Don Wetmore Classified Ad Section: About the RVer's Corner Newsletter: *************************************************************************** Colder October Days mean that winterizing the RV is near - what to do? For thousand of RV'ers the cold weather is fast approaching and inevitable. Winterizing your own RV is a job that most people can do. *************************************************************************** If you missed the last issue or were having too much fun camping to think about winterizing, here's a repeat of the winterizing article... Painless RV Winterizing Les Doll Step 1. Locate the fresh water tank drain valve or plug & drain the water. Step 2. Locate the water heater drain plug and remove it to drain the water heater tank. Step 3. Bypass the water heater. Step 4. Locate the water pump, disconnect the inlet fitting, install the winterizing hose and insert the other end into the jug of antifreeze. Step 5. Turn on the water pump and open the taps, one by one until the antifreeze appears. Do the hot and cold taps at every sink or shower faucet. Don't forget the toilet or the outside shower if you have one! Step 6. IMPORTANT! - Make sure to relieve the water system pressure before proceeding! Turn off the water pump and de-pressurize the system by opening a cold water tap. At the city water connection, pry out the screen and washer, and press in on the valve stem until the antifreeze runs out. Step 7. Pour about a cupful of antifreeze into every drain to displace the water and protect the trap. Finally, dump the holding tanks and pour a pint or so of antifreeze directly through the toilet and the shower drain to protect the dump valves. That's it! For an on-line guide with pictures, see my page at: http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/painless.html If you still need help order the new video "winterizing Your RV" http://www.rverscorner.com/rvvideo.html *************************************************************************** Heater core? What is that? Reader Question: The heater in my car is not working. The mechanic told me my heater core is leaking and needs to be replaced. The price he quoted me is not in my budget right now, do I have another option? I feel for you, the heater in your car (like the air conditioner) is a wonderful comfort item, and it can be very costly to repair if and when it fails. Before we get into repairing it, let me explain briefly what the heater core does. The heater core works in conjunction with your engine's cooling system. The function of the cooling system is to remove heat from the engine, and it does this for the most part by sending the heated anti-freeze to the radiator located in the front of the car. The position of the radiator allows outside air to blow across the radiator thus cooling the anit-freeze. The anti-freeze is then sent back to the engine. Hot anti-freeze is circulated throughout the cooling system by the radiator and heater hoses. Think of the heater core as a small radiator located inside the dashboard of your vehicle. Anti-freeze is constantly being circulated throughout the engine, radiator, and yes even the heater core regardless of whether you have the heater dashboard switch on. When the heater is turned on by the driver, a diverter door opens to the heater core area in the dashboard. A small fan (commonly referred to as the a/c fan or blower) blows air across the hot heater core into the duct work of the dashboard and into the interior of your car. When the heater core leaks (it leaks anti-freeze of course) it will usually leak inside the car on the passenger floorboard under the carpet. If your heater isn't working properly, or if you smell a sweet odor, investigate the passenger-side floorboard for signs of antifreeze leakage. A leaking heater core may also cause a greasy film on the inside of the windows. So what causes the heater core to leak in the first place? Usually the main culprit is rust build up caused from lack of cooling system flushes. Anti-freeze acts as a lubricant and rust inhibitor as well as a temperature controlling substance. Anti-freeze should be flushed and replaced periodically to keep the cooling system in good working order. Rusty anti-freeze is usually a sign of a coolant leak somewhere in the cooling system that has allowed air to enter the system. It may be a leaky radiator hose, water pump, heater core, radiator, etc. Rust build up can be just as damaging to the radiator and other internal engine parts. How do you stop the anti-freeze from leaking onto the floor board? Obviously you can replace the leaking heater core itself, which is the correct fix and is what your mechanic recommended. You can also try a can of radiator stop leak additive to see if it will patch the hole (this might be an acceptable temporary repair), or you can cut off the flow of anti-freeze to the heater core all together. There are two heater hoses that are attached to the heater core from under the hood. Click for picture. These hoses can be cut and blocked off with a hose clamp, or a small hose splice can be inserted between the two hoses to create a loop thus avoiding the heater core all together. This works great to temporarily repair a leaking heater in the summer time. Another cause of a heater that is not leaking but is not heating properly can be a faulty thermostat. The thermostat is calibrated to keep the anti-freeze inside the engine at a constant temperature. A faulty thermostat might not allow the engine temperature to get hot enough to heat the anti-freeze. Thermostats generally do not need periodic replacement unless there is an under- or over-heating situation. When replacing the thermostat, make sure to install the proper heat range recommended by the manufacturer. Proper engine temperature plays a vital role in fuel economy and overall running condition of the engine, as well as regulating cooling system temperature. Low anti-freeze levels or poor circulation of anti-freeze throughout the cooling system will hamper heater performance as well. If there is not enough hot anti-freeze to circulate and deliver to the heater core, heater efficiency will be greatly reduced. If you suspect a problem with your heater, first check the anti-freeze level in the radiator and make sure the fluid is in good shape and of proper color (either green or orange/red if you're using one of the new extended life products on the market). To check anti-freeze color, dip some out and look at it in a glass container. (We use an anti-freeze hydrometer, which is basically an expensive turkey baster.) When you are looking at the anti-freeze in the radiator, you can only see the top surface color, and it will usually look okay even if it's not. If low or contaminated fluid is not the problem, feel the two heater hoses going from the engine to the heater to make sure they are hot (the engine needs to be at normal operating temperature). If the heater hoses are not hot, inspect the radiator hoses for internal cooling system blockage. With the engine at normal operating temperature, the upper radiator hose should be very hot, and the lower radiator hose should be just slightly less hot. If there is a substantial temperature variation, a blockage or restriction is probably present. A faulty thermostat and a radiator or heater core that is full of calcium deposits or rust build up are a few causes of cooling system restrictions. I talk about many other topics like this in my eBook "Trust My Mechanic" Click over to www.rverscorner.com/mechanic.html to visit the homepage. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Austin C. Davis ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Austin provides how-NOT-to advice about what to say and NOT to say to an auto mechanic. Austin explains how the customer is often his or her own worst enemy when it comes to car repair negotiations. As a auto repair shop owner Austin has seen and heard it all, and is now telling his readers what he knows. http://www.rverscorner.com/mechanic.html *************************************************************************** Here's something new that I'm just looking into ... How about a cellphone company with "rollover minutes?" Your unused minutes 'rollover' to the next month - you do not lose them! That seems like a good idea! More info - http://www.rverscorner.com/cingular.html *************************************************************************** FULLTIMING BUDGET by Peggi McDonald I receive so many emails with reference as to the cost of fulltiming. The following answer reference expenses may provide planning help to those who think they would like to go fulltime. This email answer questioned going for two years. Be aware that frequently the 1-2 year start-up turns into 10 plus (like us –we are now into 18). On the other hand some friends didn’t last a year, they were not happy unless they had a stationary place somewhere. The RV Lifestyle offers something for everyone. You asked about costs. The general consensus is a minimum of $30,000.00 a year, but that amount is so vague. Your expenses on the road will be the same or higher than they are now. Fulltiming is not meant to live like a pauper. The amount of your costs will be such a personal choice. You should also have a plan for phase two (such as a move to an apartment etc.) if you, or your partner become ill. Where you spend your time will depend on which country you call home, but most fulltimers spend winters in the south, these figures are in US$'s. Canadian can convert by multiplying the US amount X the exchange rate = Cdn$ while in the USA. When the Cdn dollar is bad for us Cdns heading south, it’s a real bargain for our USA neighbours who want to explore the friendly country to the north. There is no set amount required to live on the road fulltime. Some general static costs follow ¨ Camping will routinely be between $250.00 to $800.00 US$ plus tax depending what state or area you are visiting, the location to attractions, what camping clubs you belong to and if you pay full price. Most Discount Camping Clubs charge $10.00 US$ plus tax per night or 50% off reg rates. Membership clubs are less per night but that is after you pay big money to buy into a system. ¨ Seasonal Cdn rates run between $200.00 Cdn$ and $500.00 Cdn$ per month for a 6 month stay, more for individual months. In both the USA and Canada the longer you’re in one spot, the lower the monthly rate. Most seasonal rates in the USA are for 3-4 months – longer stays are also available. Daily rates range from $25-$35.00 Cda or US. Weekly rates usually include one free day. Some club members receive 10% at certain parks. ¨ Our groceries run from $450.00---$600.00 per month (USA or Cda) for everything we buy in the grocery store. In the USA we still have to add the exchange rate. ¨ We eat out about 4 times per month = $20.00 Cda or US for lunches- (higher for dinners) - approx $80- $100. As close as we can figure our total monthly living costs are similar in Cda or USA and they range between $1000.00 to $1200.00 per month; plus camping (at every opportunity we travel by discount camping clubs at a cost of $300+Tax p/month); gas/fuel plus: - Annual maintenance for both vehicles is extra ($4000-$8000 Cdn$ {$2800. - $5600. US$} - Expensive hobbies such as golf, tennis etc. plus if you smoke or drink your costs will be much higher. - Allowance for gas/fuel costs --- average 09-14 miles per gal for diesel, less for gas---Cost vary so simply multiple your distance times the cost of gas/fuel at the time. Price depends on where you plan to drive and how many miles you accumulate. - Propane the last few winter has been very high in the USA but it was equally high when we returned to Canada this past April. We try when possible to fill up at Flying J’s because they are frequently less costly. - You will want from $300.00 - $400.00 Cda or USA to be a tourist and to buy 'things'. - You should have access to about $5000.00 Cda or USA in an emergency fund. We choose not to have cash sitting around collecting dust, instead we set aside a zero balanced credit card to take care of the emergency … we will rearrange funds when we return to our home location. - Other items that need to be addressed are listed in the table below. I may have missed some things but this overview will give you the idea. Phone Cards Cell Phones Internet ISP Mail forwarding Tax consultants/fees etc Drivers Licence Insurance Vehicle Licencing Emergency Road Service ERS Mortgage Payments RX meds/Health/Air Ambulance Dental costs Clothing Upkeep Discount Club Dues RV Club Dues Chapter costs Accumulating costs from keeping the house To determine your costs---use the above expenses as a guide. We know American RVers who fulltime solely on social security OR Cdns who have not much more than Old age pensions plus Canada Pension Plan CPP. Other friends can't exist on $5-$6K per month. It seems no matter how much John and I have coming into the bank every month, the last week before payday, the money well is very low in available cash. Some Fulltimers add to their cash flow as work kampers (work while they travel). Part time work links are listed on www.rvliving.net/nalinkscont.htm under Working on the Road section. Some of the jobs are in Canada but legally you can’t work in any country other than your own without proper visas, although some RVers do menial work at parks in exchange for rent. . Even in our case, I present seminars, write articles, etc. I declare all monies received as part of my worldwide income. We will never get rich from these extras but it does help to cover some of our travel expenses. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Now it is time to pull out the paper and pencil to determine how much it will cost you to hit the road F/T. If this is in the cards - don't worry - the time will fly by. The highway will be your home before long. Take care, Catch the Spirit! P&J (Con't next issue) Peggi and John McDonald RV Lifestyle Consultants Author of Spirit of The Open Road and ebooks RV Living: Facts, Tips, Hints and More---Vol 1 and 11 Log onto www.rvliving.net for FREE downloads *************************************************************************** BEST TIMES Some folks are "morning" people, others are "night" people. Their energy levels are highest either in the early or latter part of the day. Determine your best time and go with it. As a morning person you would want to schedule the important items early in your day when your energy is high and the less important items for later in the day, when your energy level is lower. If you are a night person, you would do the opposite. Go with the flow. Take advantage of your own rhythms. You will get more done in less time. Don Wetmore-Professional Speaker Productivity Institute Time Management Seminars 127 Jefferson St. Stratford, CT 06615 (203) 386-8062 (800) 969-3773 Fax: (203) 386-8064 email:ctsem@msn.com Visit our Supersite: http://www.balancetime.com *************************************************************************** The RVers Corner welcomes Camping World to our list of sponsors! Get more info and a fr-ee Camping World catalog here! Plus !!! the RVers Corner gets $.25 for every catalog requested ... every little '2 bits' help to maintain this website and this newsletter! Help the RVers Corner and get your catalog now! Save 25% off our regular rate of $19.95 when you join the President's Club today! Dear RV and Camping Enthusiast, At Camping World, we believe in offering quality products at the very best price. Camping World's President's Club helps you save even more. PLUS, take advantage of exclusive club benefits designed to match your recreational lifestyle. Only $14.95 for one full year! (Reg $19.95) AND ... Take an extra 10% off Camping World's already low prices everyday A free subscription to RV View magazine "Members Only" Special Sale Pricing, plus much more! To take advantage of this special offer and learn more about the money-saving benefits the President's Club has to offer! It only takes a minute to ensure savings all year long. http://www.rverscorner.com/campingworld.html *************************************************************************** The NEW Rvers Corner Bulletin Board Come join in the discussions on the web's newest RV discussion group! No password or account set-up is needed. Just post your message or browse the categories! Pictures can be posted - just follow the instructions under the Help section. Have fun! http://www.rverscorner.com/discus *************************************************************************** CLASSIFIED ADS *************************************************************************** NEW RV HOME VIDEOS RV Education 101 presents home videos on how to operate everything on an RV. The VHS videos are very useful to anyone new to RVing. Read more, or order at: http://www.rverscorner.com/rvvideo.html *************************************************************************** SPIRIT OF THE OPEN ROAD by Peggi McDonald is a 'must have' for all RVers, both novice and experienced travelers. Although written from a Canadian point of view it is 95% generic and a valuable guide to RVers from all countries. For complete details - http://www.rvliving.net/Spiritsalecont.htm *************************************************************************** The RV'ers Corner is pleased to announce our affiliation with Camping World! 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Order now to get yours in time ... http://www.rverscorner.com/cards.html *************************************************************************** !!! HAPPY CAMPIN' !!! Les Doll - RV Technician My advice is fr-ee and worth only what you gain from it! E-mail address mailto:webmaster@rverscorner.com The RVers Corner - http://www.rverscorner.com/ Visit the RV'ers Corner bulletin board: http://www.rverscorner.com/discus The RVers Corner Newsletter is a monthly newsletter dedicated to enhancing the RV experience - you are being sent this newsletter as a result of subscribing to the RV Corner mailing list. If you wish to unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the end of this newsletter. We value each one of our subscribers, and you may be assured that we will protect your privacy. We do not share our mailing list with anyone. Les Doll Meet the webmaster at: http://www.rverscorner.com/bio.html *************************************************************************** We hope that this newsletter will prove valuable to you and we strive to bring fresh, new content with every issue. If you wish to contribute an article or relate a tip that you have learned, please e-mail me. *************************************************************************** To UNSUBSCRIBE please go to: http://www.rverscorner.com/newsltr.html We'll miss you!