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THE
RVERSCORNER
Newsletter
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Nov,
2001
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Subscriber
count 3528!
Welcome new Subscribers!
Newsletter archives for 2001 are at:
http://www.rverscorner.com/newsltr.html
Inside
this issue:
- From the RVers Corner Mailbox Butane Vrs Propane
-
Winter Getaways By Peggi McDonald (part two of two)
- Travel in Mexico By
Peter Bassel
- Misc. tips Thanks to Peggi McDonald!
- Quick tips for
around the house http://www.todayshomeowner.com/solutions/
-
A home made backup camera system By John Stead
for under $100
Joke of
the Day:
Classified Ad Section:
About the RVer's Corner
Newsletter:
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***************************************************************************
From
the RVers Corner Mailbox Butane Vrs Propane
Dear RVers Corner
Editor:
I appreciated your article on propane in the October Newsletter,
and have a
suggestion, as well. You may want to mention the difference
between butane
and propane. Here's why:
In the early fall of 1978, we
lived in Kansas and filled our motorhome up
with propane (or what we thought
was propane) and headed for Utah. It was
mighty cold that night in Vernal,
Utah, and none our propane appliances
would work. The next morning, we
consulted a local propane dealer, and he
told us that the folks in Kansas had
probably filled us up with butane,
rather than propane.
Any propane
system relies on the fact that the fuel will be in vapor form
when it reaches
the burner. Butane, it turns out, vaporizes (reaches the
boiling point) at
about 32 degrees F. At temperatures below that it is
likely to remain a
liquid. Propane, however, reaches the vapor state at
temperatures as low as -
44 degrees, which makes it much more useable in
cold weather
conditions.
Back to our story: Sure enough, we drained the tank, refilled
it with
Vernal Utah propane, and went on our way and never had a problem with
the
system after that. A local dealer here in Albuquerque says most dealers
out
west don't use butane, but you may encounter it now and then "back
east."
If that be true, our fellow RVers need to keep this in mind when they
are
traveling to various parts of the country.
All the Best,
Jim
Mercer
Sandia Park, NM
Thanks for the reminder,
Jim!
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Winter
Getaways by Peggi McDonald (part two)
As winter approaches John and I
continually answer questions about where to
go and what to expect in a
southern destination. The following hints may
help turn your getaway into
one of your most memorable journeys.
Q… How much can I expect to pay for
winter campground/resort accommodations?
A…Rates vary and at ‘membership
campgrounds’ they can be as low as $5-$6.00
(US) per night. However these
discount rates are only available after a
payment of high annual dues plus
up-front cash to ‘buy into’ a ‘home park’.
On the other hand ‘camping clubs’
require minimal annual dues of approximately
$100.00 US$ with camping rates
either 1/2 off the regular price or $10.00 per
night. Some blackout dates
(busy time or long weekends) do apply. The last
chapter of my FREE
downloadable e-book ‘RV Living: Facts, Tips, Hints and More
Volume One’
explains membership camping and camping clubs in detail. See the
home page
of http://www.rvliving.net for more info.
Most non-member private resorts
charge overnight rate of $15-$25.00 (US$).
The majority of these private
parks only accept reservations for their low
cost monthly rates for three to
five month periods. As a result extended
stopovers usually translates into
camping for less. Monthly rent can be
as low as $200.00 in a small quiet off
the beaten track park in Texas to
$450—$600.00 and more at a busy
Florida/California resort. The very large
parks will most likely have a few
sites available all winter but expect
the smaller intimate ones to be full
from Christmas to the end of February.
If your getaway is only for a few
weeks why not consider a late fall or
early spring vacation. Overnight rates
may be lower; parks have space
plus many tourists have already gone home so
overcrowding is at a minimum.
Q…What is it like being away at
Christmas?
A…Christmas in the south is exciting, even more so if the kids
and grandkids
join you. Park activities include many special events. RVers
and snowbirds
decorate in abundance for all holidays (Halloween, Valentine
Day and Easter)
but especially at Christmas. Be sure to pack a good supply
of decorations,
visitors who don’t arrive prepared end up spending precious
vacation cash to
add a the festive touch to their winter home. It is such
fun and so easy to
get into the spirit of the holidays when you can add
decorations during warm
weather. When we first began RVing, I wired lights
and garland to our motorhome
mirrors, awning, roof rack and ladder. Seeing
our special Christmas RV
travelling the highways always brought a smile to
those we met along the way.
Q…Can RVers work in a country if they are a
visitor?
A…Legally NO, not unless you have a work visa, but technically
many RVers do
exchange services for rent, however bartering is considered as
income reference
taxes although many do not report it. Having said that we
have one friend who
bakes sweets in the campground kitchen for staff to sell
in the park store.
Another camper in Arizona performed ‘in-park’ repairs as
a favour to neighbouring
RVers, but he would only accept a ‘tip’ for his
services. Some visiting residents
cut grass and perform general repairs or
look after the store in exchange for a
free parking space. Selling artistic
creations, teaching craft classes, sewing,
computer services and more are
often performed for ‘extras’ instead of a pay-check.
The additional cash may
help stretch a budget but they’ll never make you rich or
provide enough cash
to live on.
Q…Is there any other hints we should know about to have a
successful winter getaway?
A#1…Before filling up at a gas station, check
the pump. If it states ‘credit card only’
even if you pay cash this pump may
ring up a higher amount. On the other hand, not
all stations accept
‘plastic’ as payment; ask before pumping if credit cards are
accepted---some
stations are ‘cash-only’. At times you must pay before you pump
(i.e.
$10.00, or $20.00---especially after dark).
A#2…Some USA pay phones,
especially those in campgrounds are privately owned.
They can, and many do
charge exorbitant long distance fees. If your card does
not have an 800
access number to use before dialling a long distance number, then
always
dial 1 800 CALL ATT for calls within the USA. For calls to Canada use the
Canada Direct number (1-800 555 1111) as your access number. This way you
are
guaranteed agreeable and affordable rates.
Q…Can we take our
four-legged babies with us?
A…Dogs and cats freely travel across the
border if they have regular shots,
especially rabies. Pets are welcome in
most campgrounds however five states
still do not allow dogs or cats into
their state parks. Campground directories
and state Welcome Center staff can
provide info if pets may be a problem at
your destination. Some parks have
pet restrictions as to size and number of
pets. Try negotiating with
management staff, they will listen but they do have
the final word. Birds
and fish owners experience different restrictions---see
your veterinarian
for details. That’s it for today guys, sure hope our paths
cross on the road
one day,
Peggi and John are RV Lifestyle Consultants who understand the
idiosyncrasies
of the Canadian RVer. Peggi's book Spirit of the Open Road
(See http://www.rverscorner.com/spirit.html
for details.)
is one of the most comprehensive how-to publications on the
market. Don't forget to
check her web page and download her two FREE
comprehensive e-books RV Living: Facts,
Tips, Hints and More---Vol One and
Vol Two on http://www.rvliving.net/
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A
brief introduction to what you need to know about ...
Mexican Auto Insurance
By Peter Bassel
To drive in Mexico, the minimum required insurance
coverage is Civil Liability
Insurance. This coverage protects you in the
event you cause bodily injury or
property damage to third
parties.
BEWARE OF MEXICAN INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO USE SPLIT LIMITS AS A
WAY TO PROVIDE
LESS COVER, I.E. 40/80/40. The split limits approach limits
the amount payable
for each of the main liability exposure groupings: 1) per
person, 2) per
occurrence for bodily injury and 3) physical damage.
Ultimately this split
limit approach can lead to a gap in coverage (in other
words being partially
uninsured). As a result, one overall limit for
liability is much safer and is
called a Combined Single Limit.
Some
Mexican Insurers offer lower limits but it is wise to buy at least
US$100,000 Liability Insurance. The increased cost for this amount of
coverage
is very small. Additional Liability insurance is available through
the better
Mexican Insurers, also at very reasonable rates.
The minimum
cost for daily insurance in Mexico is about $4.00 for Civil Liability
only,
$100,000 limit Combined Single Limit (CSL). Depending on your US insurance,
some Americans do not need to buy Mexican physical damage cover because it
is
covered by your American auto insurance policy but every American
traveling to
Mexico should check with their insurer because not all do.
Canadians on the other
hand do not have this luxury. Virtually no Canadian
insurer provides any cover
for Mexico.
If traveling for more than 25
days or of if an individual wants the flexibility of
not setting the exact
dates of entry or exit, they should consider the 6 month or
12 month
polices. Six months policies can be purchased for around $150 including
premium tax & policy fees ($100,000 Civil Liability & no physical
damage cover) and
12 month polices cost about $180 including premium tax
& policy fees.
For individuals who live near the Mexican border or who
want a little more
flexibility, 12 month policies are a good option, they
are typically only 20-25%
more expensive than 6 month polices.
On top
of the liability, most if not all, Mexican insurance programs offer physical
damage cover. In all cases premiums increase in relation to the Actual Cash
Value
(ACV) or the used retail value of the vehicle. A vehicle worth $15,000
would cost
approximately $265 to insure for six months (including $100,000
Civil Liability)
and approximately $324 for 12 months.
A few other
insurance policy features to look for include:
Some insurance companies
offer limited territory covers, which as a result, offer
dominiums savings.
I'm not in favour of these limited territory polices as they
limit customer
flexibility. It is like buying an auto cover for one state in the
US only.
It does not happen in the US, as it would be a major inconvenience for
insurance policy holders. Why accept a policy like that for Mexico?
Guaranteed Bond & Legal Assistance: Provides you with assistance in the
event you
need to deal with Authorities following a covered loss.
BEWARE
OF MEXICAN INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO DO NOT INCLUDE THIS COVERAGE
IN THEIR
POLICIES.
Travel Assistance: This includes certain types of travel
assistance, including
Medical Assistance, tourist information, vehicle
towing, etc.
BEWARE OF MEXICAN INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO DO NOT OFFER THIS
SERVICE.
If towing a boat into Mexico make sure you are covered when it
is detached from
the vehicle that towed it into Mexico. A marine policy is
required to insure the
boat against physical damage and a liability policy
is required to cover your
responsibility to other.
If taking a
motorcycle into Mexico, make sure you have both liability insurance
and
physical damage. Check carefully most Mexican insurers do not offer physical
damage cover for Motor Cycles.
Thanks Peter! Peter is the webmaster
of a very informative website on Mexican
Travel and Mexican
Insurance.
http://www.drivemex.com/ - Mexican Insurance
Online
Buy and print Mexican auto insurance policies immediately on your
own printer. Can also insure boats, motorcycles, trailers, RVs and
properties
(home, condo, apartment etc).
Contact: Sales@DriveMex.com or
1-866-367-5053
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Tip
Sheet Thanks Peggi McDonald!
1) Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads,
I immediately take a pair of
scissors and cut each pad into halves. After
years of having to throw
away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally
decided that this would
be much more economical. And now a box of S.O.S pads
last me indefinitely!
In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get
sharpened this way!
2) Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself.
Well, I have found a
way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of
banging a jar of jam,
pickles, etc., with a knife until it loosens up, I
simply reach into the
drawer and pull out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts
to the size of the
jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the
lid!
3) Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little
peroxide on
a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every
time!
4) Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and
horizontal for
inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the
streaks. Straight
vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash
windows on a
sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably
streak.
5) Spray a bit of perfume on the lightbulb in any room to create
a lovely
light scent in each room when the light is turned on. Place fabric
softener
sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly
washed for
weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
6) Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least
3 hours prior to burning.
More tips in the next
issue!
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A
home made backup camera system By John Stead
for under $100
Quoted
from John's website:
We purchased a full size Ford E350 one ton diesel
van in Feb/2001 to pull our
29ft travel trailer. It became immediately
apparent that the rear view mirror
was useless. With the height of the
vehicle and the privacy tint, you cannot
see anything. You might as well be
pulling a trailer for what can be seen.
I went searching the internet
for a rear view camera system that could be used
on the van and/or the back
of the trailer, (kill two birds with one stone). I
was very surprised at the
prices of the available systems. They ranged from $600
to $1500 which was
far more than I had expected to spend.
Additionally, the available
systems were supplied with a reverse video dash mount
4" monitor. This
monitor is not small by any means. To me, it would be an
obstruction to my
forward view.
During the internet surf I came across many small TVs and
many small cameras but
no other packages at a lower cost. Of particular
interest were the X10 Cameras on
the X10 Home Solutions web site.
I
presented this information to my buddy Harold J. Carter who is quite inventive
when it comes to piecing together other peoples' ideas. He convinced me that
I
should make my own system. He was sure that it would be more versatile and
cost
effective than the store bought systems. That is why I call the system
... "CarterCam".
See this amazing system with complete installation
details at John's site
http://www.funddealernet.com/cartercam/
Nice
work,
John!
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Joke
of the Day:
A wealthy old man looked around the table at his two sons and
five daughters
and their spouses gathered for a family reunion. "Not a
single grandchild,"
he said with a sigh. "Why, I'll give a million dollars
to the first kid who
presents me with a little one to bounce on my knee. Now,
let's say grace."
When the old man lifted his eyes again, his wife was
the only other
person at the
table.
***************************************************************************
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***************************************************************************
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.rverscorner.com/spirit.html
***************************************************************************
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***************************************************************************
Free
RV E-Books
Note: these e-books will work only with Windows98+ and
Internet Explorer v4+. You don't have to use IE as your
main browser - it
just needs to be on your hard drive.
Sorry Mac and WebTV users. I PROMISE to
look into this when I have time!
You can download and read these
off-line, send them to
your friends or post them on your website as long
as
they are not changed in any way.
The RVers Corner E-Book
Library
http://www.rverscorner.com/ebooks/ebooks.html
Information
on how I create these e-books:
http://www.rverscorner.com/ebooks/howto-ebooks.html
***************************************************************************
Mexican
Insurance Online
Buy and print Mexican auto insurance policies
immediately on your
own printer. Can also insure boats, motorcycles,
trailers, RVs and properties
(home, condo, apartment etc).
http://www.drivemex.com/ - Mexican Insurance
Online
Contact: Sales@DriveMex.com or 1-866-367-5053
***************************************************************************
!!!
HAPPY CAMPIN' !!!
Les Doll - RV Technician
My advice is free and
worth only what you gain from it!
E-mail address
webmasterl (at) rverscorner.com
The RVers Corner -
http://www.rverscorner.com/
Visit the RV'ers Open Forum:
http://boards.eesite.com/board.cgi?boardset=RVForum
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thanks for your continuing support!
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Doll
E-mail to webmasterl (at) rverscorner.com
Meet the webmaster at: http://www.rverscorner.com/bio.html
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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.
webmasterl (at) rverscorner.com
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Many
thanks to all
contributors!
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UNSUBSCRIBE please go to: http://www.rverscorner.com/newsltr.html
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