RV Maintenance – Part 1 – Bernice’s Tips

Regular maintenance of your RV is the best way to prevent mechanical problems while traveling. These tips will help you keep your RV ready to go whenever you want to get away. However, even a well-maintained vehicle can develop problems, so you need to be prepared and know what to do if that happens to you. Get copies of wiring diagrams from your RV manufacturer and chassis manufacturer. If an electrical problem occurs, service technicians can get you back on the road sooner because they will have the information they need about your RV. Courtesy of Henry Ross, Randallstown, MD Include lighter fluid among your cleaning supplies (some brands come in plastic squirt bottles). It’s a handy solvent for road oil, label gum, and grease spots. Courtesy of Mary-Lou and Herbert Pletcher, Taneytown, MD Make sure that you put lubricant on the hinges of your RV’s steps at least once a month. Courtesy of Shari Williams (SW), Adventureland RV Rentals, LLC, Wichita, KS Reseal the edges of rubber roofs at least once a year and wash rubber roofs at least four times a year to help maintain their life expectancy. Courtesy of SW Read more  Read More →

Notebook Portable Grill

Here is an interesting twist on the portable barbecue grill, out of the U.K., called the Notebook Portable Grill. Weighing a tad less than nine pounds (4.0KG for the metric-minded), the grill folds flat just like a notebook computer. Ready to use, the grill measures twelve inches high, twelve inches wide and eighteen inches long. I could not find very much information on the size of the grilling surface. One U.S. distributor, A+R Global Design, claims 192 square inches, and that seems about right based on the exterior dimensions. For comparison, a Weber® Q™ 100 has 189 square inches of cooking area. The Notebook Portable Grill looks like an attractive solution for those who are storage space challenged in their RV’s. At just a few inches thick, when folded, it is the perfect size for pass-through storage areas and even tent trailers. Happy camping!  Read More →

Keeping Cool in your RV

Summer is fast approaching and for RVers that not only means prime travel season is upon us, but so is the heat. If you ever walked inside an RV that is sitting in the direct sunlight on a hot summer day you know what I’m talking about. Fortunately there are some simple things we can do to make our summer RV camping trips more pleasurable. Strategically park your RV to take advantage of any shade that is available, especially on the side where the refrigerator vent is located. Don’t be afraid to ask for a shady site when you check in at the campground. This will not only help cool the RV down, but your refrigerator and roof A/C will work much more efficiently. Read more  Read More →

Disney’s Best Ride Revealed!

Airstream RV Blog – The BEST Disney Ride from Sean Michael on Vimeo. This is a true story. A friend of mine recently took his two children (ages 7 and 12) for a stay at Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. This wasn’t their first family vacation at Disney’s RV Mecca. In fact, they went last year. What’s amazing is not that the kids begged for a return to the Land of Mickey. Rather, it’s that upon arrival, they begged not to leave the campground! Their parents happily agreed, enjoying a family vacation at Disney World without once entering the theme parks. Fort Wilderness is one of the best managed campgrounds you’ll ever visit. It’s spotless, boasting asphalt clean enough for fine dining. There’s also a surprising amount of privacy here. Credit must go to the original designers who laid out the campsites with great foresight, and then followed through with lush landscaping. In fact, I daresay the campground design is superior to what we saw inside some of our national parks. Fort Wilderness makes Yellowstone’s Fishing Bridge seem like a Wal-Mart parking lot. And yet, from any campsite, a myriad of activities are a short bike ride away. There are any number of things to do at Fort Wilderness that extend beyond the scope of today’s video. You can rent boats, kayaks, play tennis, parasail, horseshoes, shuffleboard, fish, or take a carriage ride. Read more  Read More →

Mixing Cleaning Chemicals, Do You Like to Breathe?

Today I just want to first take a minute to Thank all those who serve our country in the Armed Services and Thank those families who have given a family member to keep this country safe and secure. We should really thank you every day of the year not just one. Their sacrifice lets the rest of us have the safest and best life of any country on this planet. Ok, on to our subject of the day. I am very surprised in this day and age that this needs to to be mentioned, but it seems that these days everyone wants to clean quicker and faster and easier. However, in our haste, it seems that some of us are trying to make our own super cleaner. But lately people have been trying to mix Bleach and ammonia. It does make a very good cleaner but there is one BIG Problem…. it will KILL you. Read more  Read More →

Solar Power for your RV?

What’s the Fuss About Solar ?! Howdy ! Looking at the questions asked about the solar power articles that I’ve done for rv magazines and on this BLOG it seems to me that solar power is somewhat misunderstood because we don’t have the information to provide real answers. Here is the most common question: Q.     What does it cost to put solar on a RV ?? A.     How much have ya got ?! This is the most common question and the hardest to answer because there is no real way to answer it. It’s kinda like the chicken or the egg type question. The first thing you must know before we can even begin to get to the bottom of this one is – how much power do you need ?  We start by completing the power sizing chart to determine how much power we use.  To make this work we really do need to add-up ALL the devices we have in the RV, both 12-Volt DC and 120-Volt AC.  Let’s assume that we are designing a solar driven power system of solar panels, an inverter for 120 Volts AC, a battery bank and the needed controllers, cables and so on to make it all work. Read more  Read More →

RV Lubrication ~ Part 2

We Lubricate… Ok, so now I am flat on my back under the coach, now what coach? Last week we talked a bit about the equipment and such, now this week lets follow the route that I take doing the job. In my case I start at the left front corner of Rover using my 4 foot square piece of plywood as ground cover. I have my drop light or flash light, rag or two, grease gun, clip board and pen, and am wearing safety glasses. Yep, a couple of pieces of sand in your eyes can spoil an otherwise good day under the rig. I also have an old baseball cap that helps keep the yuck out of what little hair that I have left. Now under the rig there is more to do than locate the grease fittings, wipe them clean, and apply the grease with the grease gun until just a little comes out between the boot and the joint. Some manufacturers claim that you have enough grease in the joint when the rubber boot over the joint balloons out a little. They do not want to break the seal between the boot and the metal around it. Read more  Read More →

Modern Class A Design Changes

What have “C” class motor homes had for decades that only recently, the past several years, are now becoming popular on “A” class coaches? One piece windshields! Yes, one piece windshields are becoming more popular in many A class brands and models. These are not offered as an option, a specific make or model, either comes with it or not. The price level of the unit does not seem to dictate whether a one piece will or will not be offered. There are entry level, and there are high line coaches that have them. Likewise there are both ends of the price spectrum that also do not use them, but are the conventional two piece design. So, should it be a deal breaker? If a potential buyer is down to two choices, one with a one piece and the other with a two piece, is the one piece the way to go? Maybe not, let’s look at their differences. 2 Piece Advantages Cheaper and less wasteful to replace Cheaper and easier to install Cheaper and easier to ship to the required location May allow more body flex without mounting or glass damage May be more readily available 1 Piece Advantages Provides a totally unobstructed view May appear to look more modern and sleek It would appear that each advantage is actually a disadvantage of the other. That being said, the 2 piece seems to be the overall winner here. But let’s look at the two advantages offered on the one piece and try to determine if they could out weigh that of the two. When I moved from the two to... Read more

Time for a Wash!

We are only about three weeks away from leaving for our trip to Door County. I was out looking at the Trailer trying to plan my activities for the best timing. I will be moving it from the backyard to the driveway so I can have it there to get all prepped for the ‘Big” trip! I can’t believe how dirty it is. The first thing I will do when I move it is I will wash the outside. We upgraded this year from our 23′ Four Winds to the 33′ Rockwood. I think owning the Rockwood which has the laminated fiberglass sides makes me realize that my Four Winds which was and aluminum sided trailer was probably very dirty but I just couldn’t see it like I can on the Rockwood. I might have to get the pressure washer out. You know, it’s a gadget and we guys love our gadgets! Seriously though, I now realize that I will have to wash more often than I had with my old trailer. I also need to get those carpet pieces for the steps. The steps are pretty dirty too and the carpet will not only be practical but they will not show the dirt as much as that black step. My schedule is a bit chaotic but hopefully things will slow down a bit. Happy camping and see you next Sunday!  Read More →

Gambling for the Casino Camper – Video Poker

People ask me “what’s the best game to play in a casino”. There’s no simple answer to that question. I usually say “it depends”. The first question I ask them in return is “what do you enjoy?” Gambling is recreation — and if it’s not fun there’s no point in doing it is there? That leads me to mention that my purpose in writing this blog isn’t to get you to play at casinos. However, if you’re going to gamble, I want to give you information that will allow you to spend less and get more in return, including both comps and winning sessions. Two weeks ago I posted a transcript of an email conversation I had with someone who plays slot machines. In it, I mentioned that people who enjoy playing machines may want to consider video poker. If you hate machines and prefer table games then I have other recommendations, but that’s a different story. What’s so good about video poker? For one thing, it’s the only game where a typical person with average dedication can teach themselves a basic strategy that sometimes has a slight advantage over the casino. But wait, doesn’t the casino always have the advantage? Yes and no. Read more  Read More →

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