***************************************************************************
THE RVERSCORNER Newsletter

***************************************************************************

April, 2002


***************************************************************************


Subscriber count: Last issue: 5510 This issue: 6046!
Welcome new Subscribers!

Inside this issue:
* Short newsletter this month!
* Maintenance Fitness on the Road! by Peggi McDonald


Joke of the Day:
Classified Ad Section:
About the RVer's Corner Newsletter:

***************************************************************************

* Short newsletter this month!

The newsletter will be very short this month as I have just
completed another move and I am STILL looking for stuff in various boxes.
Hopefully this will be the last move, as we now have our 'dream'!
Les


***************************************************************************

Maintenance Fitness on the Road! by Peggi McDonald
Receiving good maintenance while away from your dealer and moving
from place to place can be a challenge but it doesn't have to be if you
follow a few guidelines.
During our 14 years of travel there have only been a very few
occasions when we received poor service. The hints below will assure you
too can find good repairs in unknown territory. Remember if someone goes out
of their way to help you continue your journey, be pleasant and grateful.
Extending a golden rule respect usually returns back tenfold down the road.
Q WHERE DO WE FIND REPUTABLE FACILITIES?
If you called your Emergency Road Service (ERS), ask the tow truck
driver where they suggest. These drivers know of most reputable facilities
and will steer you in the right direction. On a late Friday afternoon
following a convention of 7000 motorhomes in Virginia, an air hose valve on
our tag axle let go. We couldn't drive the way it was but we managed to park
free of danger in a Sears parking lot. However since it was so late no
dealer wanted to look at us. A call to our ERS solved the problem. Their
representative contacted numerous repair facilities until she found one who
would at least check the situation out. They stated if parts were needed,
we must wait until Monday. Lucky for us, fifteen minutes later we were on
the way, thanks to the persistence of ERS staff. On another occasion
the tow truck driver in Bathurst, NB made all arrangements for us to stay
overnight at the Chevrolet dealer in Mirmachi while our transmission was
replaced. In a state park in Georgia when the fuel filter quit on a
Saturday, the tow truck driver offered to replace it on-site at the park if
we could wait until Monday. He brought his tow truck but this
driver/mechanic replaced the parts; although we paid for labour and parts no
tow was required. Only once during numerous calls did an ERS driver provide
questionable service when he took us many miles out of our way to a buddy of
his. I could go on and on about the merits of ERS service and their staff,
but I think you get the idea.
Ask your neighbour RVers or the park managers where they go for fair
value and reliable service. Several years ago driving through Van Horn,
Texas, we discovered a radiator leak while gassing up. The garage referred
us to a nearby service centre where the mechanic replaced the clamp, checked
the system, and pressure tested our radiator all for a low fee of $5.00. His
main comment as we left, "Welcome to Texas, happy travels".
On another trip we stopped at a local small town
garage in Ontario during back firing problems. The
mechanic left what he was doing to change our spark plug wires so we
could continue our journey.
If a problem happens on major highways, check out the truck stops,
most have mechanics on duty, some offer 24 hours service. Another source of
assistance is your toll-free help line in your vehicle directory.
Don't hesitate to also call this same number if a technician
requests an excessive amount of money for a repair. At the very least ask
for another opinion from a second facility.
Q IN NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, WHAT TIPS ARE RECOMMENDED?
Make a list of problems on paper, include VIN#
and mileage, for engine work look for a facility
which specializes in your type of vehicle ie. Chev, GM,
Ford or Diesel During numerous 'away from home'
service calls across USA and throughout Canada,
we've been treated with the utmost respect while
receiving service well above the norm at these
facilities. When possible book an appointment.
This allows service managers to plan the time required. Try not to
add extras after you arrive, it may infringe into another customers
appointment time. If the work is major, always ask for an estimate.
Obtaining maintenance with a reputable dealer opens the door to a
follow-up if a problem develops down the road-even after you leave the area.
Recently we received a refund check from a dealer in Saskatchewan because
the part they added needed replacement several months later. I wrote them
only to inform the service manager of the problem to avoid a re-occurrence
and they sent us an unexpected cheque as a matter of good faith. This is
one of three surprise refunds we received during our travels. In Texas the
estimate differed from the final bill by $150.00, a reimbursement followed,
after a phone call to the service manager. A dealer in Manitoba stretched
the warrantee period a few kilometres to cover an ongoing maintenance
problem. He made a phone call after we left and with the support of the
manufacturer a cheque soon followed. Another in Ontario significantly
reduced labour charges on a recurring problem.
Everyone occasionally needs emergency repairs
and most garages will provide limited service to get
you back on the road. However when you are visible
during ALL repairs, it's easier to obtain faster service
since staff attempt to complete your work soonest to get
you on your way. If you drop your unit off with
instructions you'll return in a week, it may not be
ready because of other commitments that appear on the
service managers 'to do' list. Those who leave their
vehicle during a serious repair situation should set
aside a specific time to talk to your mechanic each day.
This way there won't be unexpected delays,
new situations, unexpected parts required or extra
expenses at delivery time.

Ask for the return of all used parts.
Early in our travels we had a mismatched set of
spark plugs installed and another time, the spark
plug wires didn't match. Receiving old parts would
have alerted both technicians and us of possible problems.

Q-WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO FIND RV APPLIANCE REPAIRS?
If a unit is under warrantee, check your operating manuals for
appliance service phone numbers. When you must pay the bill, look for a
recognized dealer with whom you can communicate after the fact if you are
not happy with the repair.
In park service from an on-site repairman may be convenient, however
when you're on the move it might not be the best idea if the repair
continues to be a problem as you continue your journey. Our toilet repair
from in-park service in northern Florida came with a 30 day warrantee. The
technician provided through comprehensive service, however the problem
resurfaced 28 days later when we were 200 miles south. Our next move was to
spend more cash to replace the toilet at a service facility with locations
across the USA, this time the lifetime installation warrantee was worth the
slight increase in price. We should have done this in the first place.
Our tow car lights caused many problems the winter 1997, after several
in-park attempts to correct the problem they were finally fixed properly at
an RV dealer. It was comforting to know that if the problem continued, we
had someone to contact.
Q OTHER OVERALL HINTS?
The best way to avoid on the road service calls and emergency
repairs is to practice comprehensive preventive maintenance. John and I
live in our unit fulltime and we budget $3500 annually for both vehicles.
Most years we come in well under that expected amount. Many seasoned RVers
develop a maintenance schedule with reminders on a planning calendar, others
use a log with mileage markers. Include spark plugs and wires, filters,
battery charge system, valves, belts and hoses, etc. in your overall
schedule.
Don't forget expensive replacements or repairs such
as tires, occasional wheel alignment, brakes, fuel lines,
shocks, suspension and your coolant system. If you are
travelling to out of the way places why not carry a
selection of extra such as filters and belts, however
with an effective ERS this may not be a necessity.

RV appliances such as furnaces, water heaters and propane systems
should also receive periodic preventive maintenance. Be aware, RV's are not
made for long term continuous living although many are used as such.
When appliances wear out simply budget for them, repair or replace
as needed, it's part of the expenses of this great lifestyle.
Peggi and John are RV Lifestyle Consultants who understand
idiosyncrasies of the RV Lifestyle. Log onto the McDonald's webpage
www.rvliving.net  --- 'the Information Site for
the International RVer' --- for more comprehensive information. Peggi's
best selling book Spirit of the Open Road as well as her two FREE e-books RV
Living:
 


***************************************************************************


The ABC's of RVing
Most of today's veteran RVers learned as they went. There was a
time, too, when they didn't know the difference between a black water tank
and a grey water tank, a hookup site from a primitive site, how they could
run their home appliances on the RVs' 12-volt onboard systems, or that they
could claim a tax deduction for the interest paid on their RV loan.
INSTANT DOWNLOAD (PC or MAC). Only $11.95!
<>
<<>>


***************************************************************************

Joke(s) of the Day:
Life is just a phase you're going through...you'll get over it.
My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
Always yield to temptation, because it may not pass your way again.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
I believe the only time the world beats a path to my door is when
I'm in the bathroom.

***************************************************************************

CLASSIFIED ADS


***************************************************************************

FREEDOM ...EARNING A FULL TIME INCOME WHILE RVING
"You'll discover that you also possess the ability to "Let Go" of
your current lifestyle that you think is your security ... and replace it
with the knowledge that your security comes from within! All it takes to hit
the road is ACTION which is a result of your DESIRE! "
See this exciting new electronic book at:
<http://www.rverscorner.com/ebooks/freedom/index.htm>
<<http://www.rverscorner.com/ebooks/freedom/index.htm>>


***************************************************************************

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>
<<http://www.rverscorner.com/spirit.html>>


***************************************************************************

Free Campgrounds of the West
This best-selling guidebook can save an RVer hundreds of dollars on
camping fees. Now available by instant Internet download! The price for all
this valuable information is a modest $10.95 for an Adobe Acrobat download*,
ready for printing . Most RVers will save the cost of this book many times
over in camping fees. INSTANT DOWNLOAD (PC or MAC). Only $10.95!
<>
<<>>


***************************************************************************


How to Get a Life by Living Full-Time in a Recreational Vehicle
Experience the freedom of the open roads. Tonight you can boondock
in a nature preserve, and tomorrow you can luxuriate at a five-star resort.
This week the view out your window can be the desert, and next week it can
be the ocean. When you tire of being in one place, or you simply yearn for
new adventure, you move. And you do this without packing, without leaving
your home. Your home is on wheels and you take it with you.
by Collen Sykora
<http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/dltg0005.html?10928>
<<http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/dltg0005.html?10928>>


***************************************************************************

!!! HAPPY CAMPIN' !!!




Les Doll - RV Technician
My advice is free and worth only what you gain from it!