RV How To: Water Quality

Since I travel a lot, I often find myself in places where the water quality is barely adequate to say the least! Now when it comes to water, the wife and I are sorta squeamish about what we put into our bodies. If it “looks bad, smells bad or tastes funny, we don’t do it….period!” So, in order to obtain good quality drinking water, we mostly depend on store bought water. But we still need water in the RV to do the necessities of life; bathing, washing, cleaning and for toilet flushing.

Sediment Filter – Just because the water is not murky (or maybe it is), or you cannot visibly see anything floating around in it, this does not mean that there are no contaminates in the water. Even if murkiness is not your complaint, a sediment filter will protect your downstream equipment from premature failure by removing the gunk that could otherwise cause a problem. Not sure if you have priced a water heater lately, but they are not cheap! Sediment filters work by straining out the sediment and holding it. Therefore replacement of the cartridges is required once they become plugged.

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When you buy a travel trailer RV it will be a significant investment. Once you have made the determination you’ve made a commitment of your finances and time. You want to enjoy this investment for a long time. Keeping it in top condition is a “must do” not a “want to”. The best way is use a travel trailer RV cover when the trailer is not in uses.

You will have to have to choose between a custom cover and a universal fit .If you’ve decided to keep your travel trailer, RV or toy hauler for a several years, you’ve made Otherwise, measure and get a universal cover.

Using the cover will reflect the infrared rays of the sun to keep the temperature inside lower than it would be if you allowed the unit to sit and bake. That means the interior of unit will last longer and avoid sun fade of the finish. Covers that are made of material that is breathable will protect your travel trailer, RV or toy box from the effects of rain and snow, while at the same time allowing moisture to escape, eliminating the build-up of mold and mildew. You don’t need extreme weather to realize the benefits of a cover. High winds, rain and blowing dust can all take their toll on your unit.

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I don’t know about you, but when the snow drifts start disappearing in my back yard, I think spring camping road trip! Just the thought defrosts my winter weary spirit. Day dreaming, exploring and planning my camping season begins with the important task of getting the travel trailer ready for the road. (We own a 1977 Airstream. Keeping current on maintenance is a high priority for us!) Learning the hard way, we begin spring maintenance in the fall while winterizing the trailer for winter storage. As we shut the trailer systems off, we test and inspect each for needed repair. Making note of essential repairs in the fall gives us time to budget funds and schedule repair time before it’s time to travel. We create a separate wish list for non-essential repairs and upgrades. Pre-planning in the fall has reduced the stress of on road “surprises” for us.

Our family hates vacation side trips to find a local RV dealer for unexpected repairs. Wasting precious vacation time camping in the dealer parking lot is not our idea of exploring the scenic back roads! By scheduling repairs for early March, we give our dealer plenty of time to complete work before the “spring rush.” Most often the trailer is left winterized, in case of continued freezing temperatures. (more…)

Whether buying a fifth wheel, motorhome, travel trailer or other RV at auction, there are some more things you can take into consideration.

1) What do the value guides say this RV is worth under normal circumstances? NADA and Kelly blue book) This will be the upper limit of what you could be expected to pay for the RV at auction.
2) Does the RV come with any kind of manufacture’s warranty? If you find a newer model at auction, chances are that it does. As RV companies become more competitive, they offer their RVs with better and longer warranties.
3) Avoid off brands as they may be harder to service and repair. An RV that has a national network of authorized dealers may be easier to service or repair. Also avoid ‘orphaned’, where the parent company is no longer in business.
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It’s official, most of us have actually started to see some real sunshine and summer time is just round the corner. For those of you have had your RV tucked away safe and snug over the winter months it’s time to dust it off and get back out on the road. There are a few things you might want to check over first though:

Check & clean it

Give it a thorough check, both inside and out.

Give the roof a close inspection, especially if it’s spent the winter months braving the elements, clear any leaves and make sure there are no leaks or weak spots. It’s better to spot them now rather than in the middle of an April shower or a summer thunderstorm.

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If you love to take the RV or camper out on road trips, then RV solar power is probably for you. Heading out in the RV is a joy shared by millions of people, but far too few are utilizing solar energy as a source of power for their campers. Here are three good reasons you should consider solar power for your RV.

1) Freedom from the grid and campsites.

You don’t want to run the electric components in your RV for too long with the engine off, or you risk running your battery dry. The sites have outlets you can jack into to keep things running, but why be dependent on the sites? Implementing solar panels for your RV means you’ll be able to generate electricity for your RV’s appliances anywhere the sun shines, so you can pull over any time you want and not have to worry about a thing.

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Sport utility and recreational vehicle owners are getting hit twice by higher crude oil prices; not only are they being hit by the higher operating costs to run these vehicles with the prices of gas, but also by it’s quickly depreciating value that are put on these vehicles.

All across the country, car and truck dealers are feeling the new reality as their beautiful, fully-loaded sport utility vehicles collect dust in their lots. The old proverb of, “can’t even give them away,” seems especially fitting, as Americans are now neglecting the low mileage SUV’s, and turning to the hybrids and higher fuel efficiency models instead. (more…)

As an RV owner you’ve always enjoyed the lifestyle and freedom your rig has given you, but having enough electricity when you’re not near a hookup does present a challenge.

Up until recently, RV owners had two choices to prevent draining their batteries when using their on-board electrical appliances:

1. Run the RV engine to recharge the batteries

2. Run a generator

In today’s “Green” world, neither of those two options are really appealing – especially when you consider the noise and/or environmental pollution. But smart RV owners have found an answer: installing solar panels on to their RV.

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We all like a good bargain when we can find one. I’ve yet to meet an RVer who doesn’t, even if they’re driving a top-of-the-line and beautiful Class A motorhome.

Here’s an example, based on an offer I recently received. First, it appears to be a great bargain: a free lunch or dinner, an MP3 player, and a 90-minute “conference” on “Internet Marketing Strategies” for only an investment of my time. The official tickets we received, one for me and one for a guest, were impressive; they even had the reservation ID printed on them.

Because I sell an RV accessory on the internet, I’m interested in internet marketing. I thought, “Hey, I can always learn something useful! And my wife has been interested in an MP3 player, so let’s go!” I called the specified 800 number and made a reservation for the lunch-time conference.

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The best advice I can give to someone who wants to do full-time RVing is to attend a large RV show. These are usually held in the winter season in many cities. Rosemont, Illinois and Tampa, Florida are just two that come to mind. Get a RV magazine, like “Camping Life” or “Trailer Life” and find one close to your home. You will also see advertisements about close out sales at different dealerships in your area. Remember that there are hundreds of different types of RVs out there. A dealership can have only so many. That is why a show is so good. There are many different dealerships and manufacturers. When we bought our 2002 Avion Platinum 33′ fifth wheel we had gone to the show in Rosemont, Illinois (near O’Hare Field). We knew what we wanted in a RV: two recliners and a bedroom, which was higher than 6′2″, because that is my height. Those were our demands. We also wanted large storage space, because both of us are pack rats. One of the first RVs we walked into was this Avion by Fleetwood. I never heard of it, but knew of Fleetwood’s reputation for trailer construction. I had been in the trucking business for twenty years and Fleetwood made our fleet. Since then we have gone through a learning curve. We are still in love with the Avion. Others hate them, because of the many problems they have occurred with them.

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