Is the lifestyle a fit for me?
There is an undeniable romance to the idea of going on an extended road trip in an RV. The freedom, the changing landscape, the lack of a lawn to mow… It all sounds pretty good to us when we are sitting at home looking at the same four walls. But it does not come with challenges. Even the hardiest of happy wanderers sometimes find the RV lifestyle does not fit their personality. So, before committing to owning a travel trailer or fifth wheel it’s a good idea to try it out. If you have a relative or close friend with one who is always inviting you to go with them or, better yet, borrow theirs for the weekend take them up on it. If not then talk to your local RV dealer about the possibility of renting one. Only after spending some time living the RV lifestyle can you honestly answer this one.

Will I need an extended warranty?
The answer is not necessarily yes or no. If you are buying a used model find out if it still has the manufacturer’s warranty. If so then find out how much time is left on it and what it covers. You might find that new or used models that already come with warranties don’t cover everything that you think they should or for as long as you would like. Your dealer will have warranties available but it might be a good idea to shop around before committing.

What kind of insurance coverage will I need?
This is an important cost consideration for new travel trailer or fifth wheel owners. RV insurance has to cover a much different type of product than does home or auto insurance. Before visiting your RV dealer, stop in at your insurance agent’s office and see what packages are available. Odds are your RV dealer will have some insurance options available, too, but it will be good to arrive with your own information.

What extras or add-ons will I need?
Choosing a new RV can be a dizzying experience. The big luxury models come with an amazing array of designs and gadgets and one can get lost in the forest of extra goodies. It is good to plan ahead and know what extras you want before stepping on the lot. If you have spent some time in an RV you will already know what you missed from home while on the road. If you cannot get to sleep at night until you have watched the ten o’clock news then you will need to make sure that you are happy with the television options. Do you need an electric wine cellar to be happy? Is a surround sound, high def entertainment system important to you? These are questions you will have need to have answered for yourself before visiting the dealership. Otherwise you may very well be dazzled into spending more than you wanted to!

These four questions will help you decide which RV, fifth wheel or travel trailer is right for you. Take your time, be deliberate and you will find the perfect RV for you.

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There are three main functions a charge controller does:

1. It keeps your batteries fully charged
2. It prevents your batteries from being overcharged
3. It prevents your batteries from being excessively discharged

Batteries are a key component in your RV solar powered energy system. Without batteries, you can only use the power your solar panels generate when the sun is out and you won’t have any power at night when you could really use it.

Since RV solar panel systems almost always gather power and store it in batteries, nearly every system is going to require a charge controller. A solar charge controller is designed to protect your batteries from being overcharged by your solar panels and it will block any reverse current (from the batteries) as well.

Solar panel charge controllers are specified by both amperage and voltage. For example, if one module in your 12 volt system produces 3. 5 amps and you’ve got four modules then you’re producing 14 amps of current at 12 volts. Because of light reflection and the edge of cloud effect, power output can spike above expectations. For this reason you need to increase the controller amperage by at least of 25% making the minimum rating your controller to 18 amps.

Don’t worry about ever getting a charge controller that is rated 2 or more times higher than your solar panel array. It’s not in any way a bad thing. In fact it’s actually better for two reasons:

* Your system will always be protected
* You can add more solar panels in the future without having to change your controller.

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In addition to my Flair motorhome, I also have a 302 Dutchman trailer with practically no miles on it, but recently had to replace the tires due to dry rot. The tires had great tread and yet were basically useless! These tires are not cheap either. They cost me $580 to replace all 4. I have learned my lesson the hard way. Ozone in the atmosphere and ultraviolet beams from the sun will reduce the lifespan of your tires.

Ozone in the atmosphere induces tires to dry rot and deteriorate, and ultraviolet beams from the sun cause it to happen faster. This is especially true of the tires sidewall. Visually, inspect your tires for cracks in the sidewalls. If you observe any damage have the tires inspected by a tire expert.

There are essentially 2 methods to protect your tires from these elements.

Covers – Keeping tires protected with covers that will obstruct the sun when not in use is a good idea. These covers are available at most RV outlets. They may also be available in Walmart, Target or other discount stores and are usually less expensive there. They will run you about $20 per pair.

Storage – For long-term storage take off the tires and stow them in a cool dry space away from the sunshine.

RV How To Tip

Ok, the problem with commercial covers is that in time the same elements that ruin your tires will eventually ruin your commercial covers. Expect to replace them every three to five years.

If you do not want to shell out $40 – $50 bucks for these commercial covers, Here is a relatively simple and cheap trick. Large, heavy ply, lawn bags will cover the tires adequately and will only set you back a few dollars. They are cheap and you can cut them off whenever you move the RV and replace them when you get to your destination. Buy these at Home Depot or Loews. A large box will provide quite a few changes.

Simply place the bags over the tire before you set the trailer in place. Back, or pull, the trailer up so that the tire rolls onto the plastic bags. This will hold them in place during high winds.

I also recommend that you position a piece of wood between the earth and the tires. Make certain that the blocks of wood are bigger then the footprint of the tires. This will keep your tires out of standing water.

Don’t make the same costly mistake I did. Learn from this simple RV How To tip and many others that can save you time and money!

My name is Michael Trotter and I have been living in my RV practically full-time. I am a contract technical writer and my RV serves as my residence/office while away from home.

My business takes me to a lot of interesting and desolate places. Sometimes there is no adequate housing, so my RV suits me well. I just find the nearest RV park/campground and set up. Most places now have internet capabilities, so I can use my RV as an office as well.

I have learned a lot of things about RVing from my fellow enthusiasts, as well as out of necessity, about shortcuts and saving money while enjoying a most rewarding lifestyle.

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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.

Carbon Filter – Have you ever been to a place where the water either tasted funny or smelled bad? The contaminants that affect the taste and odor of water will go right through a sediment filter, so you’ll need to add something else to remove them. Carbon has an uncanny ability to grab onto the bad stuff in water, leaving the water very clean-tasting and odor-free. Just like sediment filters, carbon filters require replacement once they become clogged, however they will not plug up as quickly as sediment filters.

Combination Units – Rather than purchasing two sets of filters (sediment and carbon), combination filter elements are manufactured that remove sediment and make the water smell and taste good. They are compact and relatively inexpensive, and made of carbon-powder-impregnated paper. The downside of these units is that they have a limited carbon component, so the taste-and-odor improvement is much less than you would get from a dedicated carbon filter.

Biological Agents – Biological agents include protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and cysts and spores. The most prevalent are very small (2-4 microns in size). They can be removed with a ultrafine filter that has a rating of 0.9 microns. This removes all pathogenic microbes, however there are still viruses to consider, which are even smaller than can be filtered.

Total Purification – There are two methods that can produce virtually pure water and are suitable for use in RVs. One is distillation; however it is quite expensive to operate and produces a low volume of clean water. The other, and most recommended for RV owners, is Reverse Osmosis. I will cover reverse osmosis systems in a later blog.

OK, have I totally made you panic? My wife often starts itching and scratching about this time in our discussions….lol. So how do I filter out water so as not to contaminate my hot water heater and plug my system?? Well, for now, I use a double cartridge filter unit. The first cartridge is a sediment cartridge and the second is a carbon cartridge. Make sure you get the units that do not use the clear canisters, as they have a tendency to accumulate algae over time.

Like I said, I usually buy my drinking water, however I am about to install a reverse osmosis unit and when I do, rest assured I will share the installation, as well as the result, with you on my website.

Until then, happy RV’ing!

My name is Michael Trotter and I have been living in my RV practically full-time. I am a contract technical writer and my RV serves as my residence/office while away from home.

My business takes me to a lot of interesting and desolate places. Sometimes there is no adequate housing, so my RV suits me well. I just find the nearest RV park/campground and set up. Most places now have internet capabilities, so I can use my RV as an office as well.

I have learned a lot of things about RVing from my fellow enthusiasts, as well as out of necessity, about shortcuts and saving money while enjoying a most rewarding lifestyle.

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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.

When buying a travel trailer RV cover.

A breathable and durable material is important. The cover should be properly contoured. Corners should be reinforced to avoid snagging and tearing. In addition, corners should be snug enough to provide a good fit, but loose enough to make sure it’s an easy on and off process. Seams and hems should be evenly seamed and adequate for heavy duty use. The travel trailer RV cover you invest in should have zipper entry doors. There’s nothing worse than getting your rig parked and winterized, then to cover it only to discover you’ve left your keys inside. Easy access means you’ll be able to go in and out easily.

How do you take care of travel trailer RV covers?

RV cover you buy should have its own storage bag. That way you keep the cover secure, safe and clean while you’re using your unit. But don’t put that cover away dirty or in need of repair. Before you put the cover into storage, drape the cover carefully over a clothes line, hose it off and let it dry. If you notice that you’ve gotten a snag or a rip in the cover, repair kits are available to make the required patches.

So for utmost security of your investment in a travel trailer RV cover. It will keep your rig looking new. Quite frankly, the greatest return on this investment is when you no longer have to clean bird droppings off before your first road trip of the year.

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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. De-winterizing, the first weekend out, is a task we can easily accomplish on our own and it doesn’t take long to do. That first annual family camping trip is our spring road trip to test “our wheels.” Although on road “surprises” still occur occasionally, we are far more prepared to face them with humor, if we have done our fall homework. Sometimes on road “surprises” become our favorite travel tales. I’ve included our RV/Travel Trailer Maintenance Check List. Think Spring! Think spring camping road trip!

Spring Maintenance Check Lis for RV’s Travel Trailers, and Campers

1. Pack Wheel Bearings/Inspect Brakes
2. Inspect Safety Chains
3. Inspect Brake Controller/wiring
3. Inspect Tires for Damage and Wear
5. Inspect Hitch Components
6. Torque Wheel Lug Nuts
7. Lubricate Locks
8. Lubricate Coupler Latch and Socket
9. Lubricate Hinges
10. Inspect and Clean Vents/Fans
11. Vacuum Screens/ Wash Windows
12. Sanitize Water Tanks
13. Clean Drapes and Interior Fabrics
14. Clean Battery Cables and Terminals, Check Fluids
15. Test Electrical System
16. Test Furnace/ Replace Filters
17. Test and Clean Air Conditioner/ Replace Filters
18. Replace Broken Light Bulbs
19. Replace Smoke Alarm/ Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries
20. Inspect/ Test Electronics
21. Inspect Suspension
22. Check All Seams and Openings, Reseal as Needed
23. Check Water System Componenets/ Clean Water Heater
24. Inspect/Fill Propane Tanks
25. Inspect/Clean Major Appliances

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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.
4) Make sure you buy an RV at Auction that has an acceptable floor plan. You may thing that that your can save a bundle by buying an unusual or outdated floor plan, but the truth is that you will have a harder time selling in later when you are ready to upgrade to a larger model. The most common mistake people make when buying an RV is to buy one that is to small. Within 2-3 years they are selling their RV in order to buy a bigger one.
5) Are their any repairs that I will have to make to the motor home, fifth wheel, or travel trailer after I buy it? Always thoroughly inspect the motorhome or have it inspect by and RV professional. Deduct the cost of repairs plus a 10 to 15% contingency from the maximum price you would otherwise by willing to pay for the trailer or RV at auction.
6) Don’t overbid. Know the most you can bid before the auction starts. Be prepared to walk away from the RV is the bid price exceeds the value you think it is worth. Don’t become emotionally attached.

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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.

Check all the seals around the windows and doors, if any of them are looking a bit worse for wear, replace the sealant; remember to remove any old sealant before applying a new coat.

Roll the awning out, again check for any leaks, mold, mildew etc.

Check all the safety equipment. Test the smoke alarms, ensure the tags on any fire extinguishers are still in tact, make sure the first aid kit is up to any emergency and fully replenished.

Once you’re sure everything inside is in top shape, give the whole thing a deep clean. Any dirt and grime that’s built up under the RV needs to be cleaned; a high pressured hose should loosen any stubborn mud and dirt. It’s hard to spot any potential holes, leaks or problems if your entire vehicle is caked in mud. Once the outside is spotless, move inside and remove any unnecessary accumulations from the past year, although not a potential hazard, any excess weight is going to add to your weight and fuel consumption.

Once it’s looking as shiny and clean as a show room model, open all the doors and windows; let the whole thing air, especially if you’ve been using any potent chemicals inside.

Check the tires

Your tires work a lot harder than any car tire, they may not do as many miles, but they have a lot of weight to move around so they should be checked regularly. Your owner manual will advise what your tire pressure should be. Remember, over inflated tires are not going to grip the road as well and under inflated tires are going to consume more fuel. If your RV has been stood still all winter, it’s very important you check them thoroughly for cracks. Make sure they’re clean and have plenty of thread left; any spare tires should not be exempt from this inspection. If you’re in any doubt, replace them. We have some beautiful and remote countryside but it’s not so enjoyable if you have to deal with a blowout.

Wipers & windscreen

Just like the tires, these are simple things to check and can save a lot of inconvenience if something goes wrong with them later on. Any chips on a windscreen need to be fixed ASAP, most insurance companies can fix this without damaging your premium, they wont replace the whole RV windscreen for free, especially if you ignored that tiny chip. Again, April showers and summer thunder storms are not the ideal time to find out your motorhome windscreen wipers don’t actually wipe the windscreen anymore. If they’ve not been used for a while, like the tires, check the rubber isn’t cracked and that they clear the windscreen. Any reputable RV dealer will be able to recommend a service centre which specialises in RV’s who can fix and windscreen problems.

Under the bonnet

It’s always best to get your RV serviced at a reputable RV service shop, if this isn’t feasible give the basics a good check the same way you would with a car.

When oil sits for too long, it can separate which causes condensation, condensation in your engine means water touching metal which can cause rust. Drain any old oil out and replace it with fresh oil.

Take a wire brush and give the battery a good clean, baking soda mixed with the water can help negate any irritable affects of the acid, if the battery is too corroded, your engine will have a hard time starting. If your battery requires it, top it up with some distilled water; tap water can have too many minerals.

Paper work

Lastly, before you head off to enjoy the sunshine, give your insurance and breakdown policy a quick once over, if any of your circumstances have changed you may need to amend your policy, have you moved house since you took the cover out? Is your breakdown still valid?

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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.

2) Grid power isn’t free. Solar is.

When you pull into your spot at the RV-park and jack in your camper, you don’t think they’re letting you use that power out of the goodness of their hearts do you? That power is factored into the cost of your site. Solar power will allow you to book unpowered sites, saving you money.

3) You’re helping the earth.

When you jack in and draw power from the grid, you’re drawing power that is generated through dirty, non-renewable sources. Leaving your engine running while your stopped to avoid draining your battery is even worse! Using solar to power your electrical appliances will allow you to do your part in cutting down on emissions and the use of dirty means of power production.

It isn’t hard, or expensive, to get yourself set up with a portable solar panel that can be used for your RV. There are good resources out there that will show you exactly how to construct and install your solar unit yourself, saving you heaps of money by avoiding pre-packaged systems.

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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.

Car dealers have been stung by the SUV/RV inventory glut, so they don’t want any more vehicles that they can’t sell. So when people come in with these SUV’s to try and trade them in, they are getting low ball offers. This in-turn hurts sales for the new fuel efficient vehicles because many of these trade-ins would be buyers, but they can’t even afford to make the purchase without a decent trade-in value. Manufacturers have stepped up to the plate to try and increase sales of these hybrid cars with rebates and special offers, but not every model or every deal qualifies.

So if there’s no help at the local car dealer, what’s an SUV/RV owner supposed to do when they want to get rid of their vehicle? Many have turned to their local newspaper’s classified ads for relief. But, a quick scan of just about any newspaper’s classifieds quickly illustrates the abundance of SUV’s and RV’s currently on the market. The result of this, of course will further drive down the price. At this point, even low miles and excellent condition on a car seem to have little to do with what you can get out of an SUV. The resounding answer seems to be, that you’re not getting much at all, especially when contrasted with hybrids.

Another option does exist and an increasing number of SUV/RV owners are experimenting with selling their vehicle on the Internet. eBay and other online buy-sell forums offer a new type of classified ad. Many of these are interactive and follow an auction bidding process. With this process, you determine what you want to start the bidding at, and you can set a price for someone to “buy it now.” At the same time there is no guarantee that your vehicle will sell either. But at least there is an alternative worth exploring.

Like all dark clouds, the days of “can’t give them away,” for SUV’s and RV’s will eventually pass and America will return to it’s can’t get enough of the bigger, bolder, go-anywhere, do everything vehicle. We’ve been through these cycles before and we’ll be likely to continue to go through them in the future. This suggests that if an SUV owner has enough strength in them to ride out this storm, this may indeed be their best strategy for beating the accelerated depreciation we currently experiencing.

Bond Mejeh produces automotive related articles for Quick Cash Auto, a cash for cars service. Quick Cash Auto not only buys pre-owned vehicles of any year, make or model, but they also provide numerous articles about vehicle repair and automotive news.

Please visit QuickCashAuto.com for more information and be sure to check out our automotive blog.