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THE RVERSCORNER Newsletter
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October, 2004
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Hi All,
This issue contains the last of the winterizing information. If
you haven't winterized by now you probably don't have to in your
climate ... or it's too late anyway!
This newsletter has grown from a few friends in 1997 to well over
10,000 friends in 2004. It looks like we must be doing something
right, so we will continue to do so.
Inside this issue:
- Ladies! Time to Winterize the RV - by Donna Flanders
- RV Winterizing - website reminder
- An Extra Set Of Wheels (Part 2) by Peggi McDonald
- Peggi's new book
- Storing your RV (Part 2) By Mark Polk
- RV Education 101
Today's joke:
Classified Ad Section:
About the RVer's Corner Newsletter:
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Ladies! Time to Winterize the RV - by Donna Flanders
Oh no. Not another article about winterizing. Yes indeed. And ladies,
it’s your turn. It always surprises me that most articles about how
to winterize the RV stop shortly after the water and electrical systems.
What about all the things you have stored inside? There’s a lot more
to be done if your rig is going to sit for several months at temperatures
below freezing.
The rules of thumb
· If it contains water – take it out.
· If it will attract rodents – take it out
· If it has an expiration date – take it out
· If you’re not sure – take it out. Think – Do I want to replace this item
or clean it up if it does not survive the winter?
Let’s start in the kitchen. Go through your food cupboard, under the kitchen
sink and any other place where you tuck things. Look for things like:
· Jars of food
· Beverages
· Bottled water
· Cleaning products (sprays contain water)
· Any food that will attract rodents or expire
· Paper towels and napkins that rodents use for nesting
To keep your refrigerator smelling clean and free of mold, place pure
charcoal (not charcoal that contains fire lighter) on pieces of newspaper
on a shelf inside the refrigerator and freezer.
Moving on to the bathroom. Let me tell you that a can of shaving cream
which has been frozen will never be the same. When water freezes, it
separates from the other ingredients. Don’t forget to check under the
bathroom sink.
· Toothpaste
· Shaving cream
· Liquid makeup
· Face, hand and medicinal creams
· Anything with an expiration date
· Toilet paper and tissues that rodents use for nesting
Head to the bedroom. Check your bedside drawers. Do you have any hand
cream or other health and beauty aids in there? Do you have an iron
with a water reservoir? Is there anything in the closet that you will
need over the winter? To keep bed linens and towels smelling clean,
place them inside a large plastic container with a tight fitting lid.
Add dryer sheets.
I rarely find anything in the living room or front of the RV, but since
your rig is different from mine, check anyway.
We have a chronic problem with mice, perhaps because we live in the woods.
Regardless of how hard we have tried to plug every hole, they still find
a way in. They routinely get into my silverware and utensil drawers during
the winter months. So I actually take those drawers right out as well.
Now you are ready to shampoo the rugs and remove any stains from furniture.
If you let this wait until spring, the stains will be much harder to get out.
OK. Now you have all this stuff out of the RV. What do you do with it?
I generally circulate the food and health products into my household supplies
because they have expiration dates. Then, I got my husband to build shelves
in the basement and I store everything else in boxes.
Keeping the shelves empty during the summer is the challenge. I try to keep
the empty boxes on the shelves to remind myself not to use that storage space
for anything else.
Last but not least, have someone else go through the cupboards after you are
done. I missed a whole gallon of bottled water last year. I do wonder where
all that water went because it wasn’t in the jug when I found it!
Donna Flanders
RV Vacation Planner
www.rvvacationplanner.com
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RV Winterizing by Les Doll
Rather than bore you here, I have webpages set up and even an
on-line e-book with pictures to show you the step by step winterizing
procedure. If you still are not comfortable with this, I have a video
available that will clarify things for everyone!
Basic: www.rvrepairmanual.com/rv-winterizing.html
Advanced: www.rverscorner.com/winterize/winterizebook/index.htm
Deluxe: www.rverscorner.com/rvvideo2.html
If you can't get your unit winterized after all this, you need to
take it in!
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Peggi's new book ...
My good friend Peggi McDonald has a brand new book geared toward
the full-time RVer. (actually, this book will benefit any RVer)
Regular readers of this newsletter know Peggi from her contributions
to this newsletter over the past 6 years. Her informative articles
always produce good comments from our subscribers and her valuable
input is well appreciated.
This new book is packed with advice for the full-time RVer and the
information is also applicable to the weekend user.
www.rverscorner.com/rvliving.html
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An Extra Set Of Wheels (Part 2) by Peggi McDonald
RV seminarists and good friends Joe and Vickie Kieva
explain towing this way - "The good thing about towing
a car is you don't know its there and the bad thing
about towing a car is you don't know it is there."
Towing a vehicle behind you is no big deal but be aware
you cannot see the car from the drivers seat. One solution
if your unit has a back window is to place a magnifying
plaque in view of the driver. This provides some idea of
what the car is doing.
We installed this type of magnifier in our Pace Arrow,
so when our tow-ball worked off the motorhome connection
on a winding road in Mexico it was through this magnifier
that John noticed the car was tracking on the side bumper
of the motorhome. At that point we were unaware tow chains
should be crossed to form a cradle in case the hitch
disconnected. We were fortunate that when our hitch was
travelling along the pavement for a number of miles that
the car didn't catapult and crash into the motorhome. By
the time we discovered our towing problem the car was
attached with only one hook of the tow chain.
Our guardian angel definitely traveled with us that day.
After our incident we heard of at least six more cases of
disconnected cars. Two disappeared over a ravine and another
caused a major accident.
To prevent this from happening again we added a cotter pin
below the washer and nut of the ball. A more safe solution
is to purchase a hitch that fits into the square receptacle
of the motorhome. Your connection is more secure and connecting
perfectly level is not as critical.
RVers with a back-up camera are privileged to have a complex
picture of the area behind your unit - however neither the
magnifier nor the camera will advise you of flat tires or
other tire problems. John and I keep our camera turned on
while we are driving but not all RVers follow this practice.
Early in our travels we added a set of 'Tow-riffics'
www.tow-riffics.com to our car and motorhome. Two wands are
attached in an upright position to each of the rear bumpers
of both the car and motorhome. While under-tow the wands on
the tow vehicle drop down to a perpendicular position so the
florescent bulb(s) at the end of each wand present an image
of a cross when observed through each side view mirror. If
this cross changes position during your travels they alert
you to a possible low tire or hitch problem. Driving with
the Tow-riffics on our motorhome and car provided me, as a
co-pilot, piece of mind because I could finally see what
the car was doing. Plus when we were passing someone it was
easier to tell when the rear of our car cleared other vehicles.
A new product has recently surfaced called a tire monitor.
It informs the motorhome operator if a change occurs in the
tire pressure of the tow vehicle. If one of the car tires
develops a problem the driver may not be aware of the situation
without this indicator. Ask your RV dealer for information
about these monitors. Another new device records temperature
of each tire to see if any are running hot. However the
experts agree that the best way to test pressure is with a
quality tire gauge when tires are cold.
Last spring we upgraded our 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier to a 2002
Pontiac Grand Am. We fell in love with its sleek styling,
roomier design and more power. Our Cavalier was a reliable
car but it was five-years old and we wanted to avoid future
problems. Our dealer ordered and installed the new baseplate
- (cost for installation/wiring approximately $1300.00 Cdn)
- several hours later we were ready to roll. (We had hoped
to remove the baseplate from the Cavalier but the labor cost
would have exceeded any resale value.)
In the latest Family Motor Coaching Magazine for FMCA
(Family Motor Coach Association) www.fmca.com the towables
for 2004 cover 22 manufacturers featuring over 100 models.
These include four-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel
drive, permanent 4WD and all-wheel drive vehicles. Cars with
both manual and automatic configurations are featured. Most
cars with manual transmissions can be towed without
modifications but thanks to Remco - The Towing Experts
www.remcotowing.com nearly all vehicles can be flat towed
without causing engine damage. Their accessories include
the Drive Shaft Coupling, Lube Pump and Axle-Lock. They
also offer taillight wiring kits, supplemental braking system
and a towbar. Note: Motorhome magazine www.motorhome.com also
features an annual listing of towable cars.
Some motorhomers prefer to take classic cars on their adventures
or change their tow vehicles on a whim so they prefer to use a
tow dolly. This sounds like a good solution but on the down side
you need a place to store it when you reach your destination,
plus they require licensing and maintenance including tires.
On the plus side tow dollies do include built in braking devices.
Those who wish to take their boat/motor, motorbike and the car
along may discover towing on a flat trailer is the way to go.
Several fulltiming friends choose to tow a lightweight enclosed
trailer behind their unit. This way the bicycles, motorbike and
car are available plus they have a place to work on their hobbies
and store the crafts they sell. These trailers too include braking
devices but on the down side large trailers don't fit into many
RV sites. Occasionally these RVers may have to pay a portion for
a second site to park their trailer. It could also limit the places
you can visit. Don't forget to consider the GCVR (Gross Combination
Vehicle Rating) of your motorhome - for safe handling, be sure not
to exceed this limit.
The choice of braking devices for your towed is also vast.
It is necessary to shop around to find the one suited to you.
These accessories are promoted for safe towing and shorter
stopping distances especially during emergency or panic stops.
At this point the only state or province that enforces cars in
tow be equipped with a supplemental braking device is British
Columbia and that is only if your car weighs more than 2000 kg
(4400 lbs). However it is also being considered as law by some
states.
Just like in life in general, the choices of what you do and don't
need cover a wide range of options. For us towing provided a
tremendous freedom. As soon as we unhook and set-up we jump into
the car and tour our new neighborhood to see what the area has to
offer. Whether to tow or not to tow remains a personal decision,
there is no right way to travel. Enjoy your journey, however and
wherever it takes you. The name of the game is to have fun.
Peggi and John are RV Lifestyle Consultants are into their 19th year
of fulltiming...Peggi is webhost of the informative site of www.rvliving.net.
Her new book RV Living in the 21st Century is the sequel to Peggi's
best-selling publication of Spirit of the Open Road. 21st Century
contains the best of Spirit plus seven years of upgrades. Advance
orders are available by calling Author Houses at 1-888-280-7715 or
ordering on line through www.rvliving.net, click on link for
RV Living in the 21st Century. Paperback price is $14.50 US$ (plus shipping
and handling) also available in hard copy.
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RV101
RV101 is an RV resource that everyone should be aware of.
This upbeat website is a "must see' for all rvers, with e-books and
videos on all aspects of RVing. If you are a newbie or an experienced
rver, this website has some valuable information for you.
Here is a sample:
Storing Your RV Part 2 (Chassis Storage)
Check and fill the water levels in all batteries that are
not maintenance free.
Charge all batteries to a full charge. A discharged battery
will freeze much quicker than a fully charged battery.
Remove and clean all battery terminals and posts. Spray the
terminals with terminal dressing to protect against corrosion.
If you plan to start the unit while in storage, and to
periodically plug the unit into shore power leave the
batteries in the unit. Plugging it into shore power once
a month for about eight hours will keep the coach batteries
topped off.
If you put the unit in long-term storage remove and store the
batteries where they will not freeze. In either case keep the
batteries charged.
During short-term storage, start the unit monthly and run it
with the dash air on for at least 30 minutes.
If you don’t plan on starting the unit, or won't be able to
start it, buy some fogging oil from a marine supply store to
protect the cylinder walls. When the unit is parked where it
will be stored, spray the fogging oil into the engine intake
downstream from the air filter with the engine at an idle.
Complete the same steps on the generator. Follow the manufacturers
directions. DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT IN A DIESEL ENGINE
Fill the fuel tank prior to storage and add a fuel stabilizer.
Run the engine and the generator long enough for the stabilizer
to get through the system. Follow the manufacturers directions.
If the unit is not in long-term storage exercise the generator
at least 2 hours each month. Run the generator at 3/4 rated load.
Consult your generator set owners manual for rated loads.
Change the oil and oil filter on the engine and the generator
prior to storage. Acids accumulate in used oil and can corrode
engine bearings.
Check the engine radiator for the proper concentration of
antifreeze. Consult your owner's manual for the correct type
of engine antifreeze. Drain, flush and refill the system every
2 to 3 years.
Drain the windshield washer reservoir or add the appropriate
antifreeze solution to prevent it from freezing.
Perform a full chassis lubrication prior to storage.
This completes the steps that are required to protect your
investment when it's time to park it for the winter.
Happy camping.
www.rverscorner.com/rvvideo.html
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Pictures can be posted - just follow the instructions under
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Have fun!
http://www.rverscorner.com/discus
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Today's Joke:
Don't delete this because it looks weird. Believe it or not you can read
it.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde
Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the
olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs
is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod
as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thuohgt spleling was ipmorantt !
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CLASSIFIED ADS
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NEW RV HOME VIDEOS, DVDs and E-Books
RV Education 101 presents home videos (and now DVDs) 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
RV Education 101 is offering FOUR new e-books
"RV Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing",
"Checklists for RVers",
"101 Tips for RVrs" and "Pop-Up Basics"
http://hop.clickbank.net/?pac113/rv101
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Camping World internet only specials!
http://www.rverscorner.com/campingworld.html
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New website in the works http://www.rvrepairmanual.com
My new website is up and running and will be developed as time
permits.
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!!! HAPPY CAMPIN' !!!