RV Weekly Round-Up (Oct. 10-16, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Tribute to early RVers: my parents: Chris Guld of Geeks on Tour shares an example of a narrated slideshow movie she put together using old family photos from RV camping with her parents in the 1960s. You may find yourself inspired to create your own narrated movies after seeing this example! 2. Arizona County Eyes RV Sector in Housing Matters: The Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission in Prescott, Ariz., considered two actions this week affecting the use of RVs in their county. The commission voted unanimously to recommend allowing residents to camp temporarily in RVs and travel trailers on private parcels of 10 acres or more. 3. Nickel-Lithium: The Next Battery Break Through?: Blogger Bob Difley discusses the possible benefits of the new nickel-lithium generation battery, which may expand the practicality of the electric vehicle for both everyday drivers and long-haul drivers. 4. Boost Your Energy in Less Than 5 Minutes: Health blogger Lynn Difley shares a few simple exercises you can use on the road to refresh your body and keep fatigue at bay. Long stretches of driving can wear you down in a hurry, so try these tips next time you begin to feel drowsy behind the wheel.  Read More →

Electrical Concerns – Hook up my RV safely.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ELECTRICAL – Respect Electricity – Play It Safe TEST BEFORE YOU PLUG YOUR RV INTO THE CAMPGROUND ELECTRICAL OUTLET • Failure to turn off the Campground Post Circuit Breaker before Plugging in or removing your Electrical Plug could cause any of the following Safety Hazards: 1. The plug on your cord could arc and burn, damaging your plug, and injuring you. 2. The Campground Post Electrical Outlet could arc and fail from this damage. 3. This arcing could cause YOU personal injury. Less than 100 volts and 1/2 amp can cause your heart to stop. 4. If the Campground Post Electrical Outlet is faulty, or your RV Plug is damaged, a sparking Hazard could occur. 5. POLARITY: Check the Polarity with a Polarity/Ground/Open Circuit Tester BEFORE you plug in. Reverse Polarity can cause damage to the Electrical System and its Components; such as Air Conditioner, Furnace, TV, Refrigerator, etc. 6. GROUNDING: Check the Campground Post Electrical Outlet with an Electrical Tester before you proceed to plug in your RV. This procedure also helps you identify the correct Circuit Breakers for the outlet you are using. Your neighbor will not appreciate it if you turn off their Electrical Power by mistake. 7. LOW VOLTAGE: Below 107 Volts AC; Using appliances and other equipment in your RV with a voltage lower than 107 volts can increase the amperage draw on that circuit and cause a fuse or Circuit Breaker to blow. Your convertor/battery charger and other appliances may not work at... Read more

The Yearly Costs of Owning an RV (Part 2 of 2)

Last week we looked at some of the yearly costs involved in RV ownership.  (If you missed Part 1, here’s a link,  You might want to first read it   http://blog.rv.net/2009/10/the-yearly-costs-of-owning-an-rv-part-1-of-2/)  If you recall we touched on fuel, maintenance/repair, finances, insurance, licensing, taxes, and in more depth, the cost of depreciation. Today we will examine those costs and how practically and theoretically they may be able to be reduced. We will breeze through the items that we currently deal with, and are often discussed in the forums, and expand the “Wild Card,” depreciation.   Doing them in the order of last week, we will start with fuel cost. Read more  Read More →

RV Doctor – A Real RV Plumbing Miracle!

Dear RV Doctor, I think there is something wrong with the monitor panel in my RV. I just dumped both holding tanks and still the 1/4, the 1/2, and the Full lights are lit for the black water holding tank. On the gray tank, it still shows 1/4 full. The water tank, however, registers fine. I know the holding tanks are completely empty….I just emptied them! Do I need to replace the monitor panel? Read more  Read More →

2009 Itasca Latitude

2009 Itasca Latitude Previously $212,945 – Now $172,249 39W, 340 Cummins Freightliner, 2 slides, dining table w/ 4 chairs, leather cab seats, glass-enclosed corner shower, flat-screen TV and more! Offered from Reliable RV Center in Springfield, MO. Learn more about this 2009 Itasca Latitude! As featured on  Read More →

Discover Colonial America on One Tank in Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is one of the most populated states in all of New England. This state bulges at the seams with American history, but is equally full of artistic and musical attractions. There’s also a vast array of natural wonders to be enjoyed by even the most timid of outdoor adventurers. This One Tank RV Trip from Woodall’s will show you that a trek through the Bay State will be a vacation to remember. Salisbury Beach Salisbury Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the state and it’s not difficult to see why. Resting at the north end of the Massachusetts coast, this quiet community is a haven for those seeking a restful escape. One can walk along four miles of pristine beach, or explore the nearby bird sanctuaries and watch the seals that frolic off the coast. If you enjoy being on the water, the Merrimack River is an ideal place to take a sailboat or maybe try your hand at landing a few fish. A trip to Salisbury Plains will be well worth it, as local farmers maintain fruit and vegetable stands that offer the best of the recent harvests. Gloucester The fishing community of Gloucester is another popular lure to visitors – no pun intended – and lies south of Salisbury Plains. Head west on SR-1 for 5 miles, then merge with the southbound MA-1A for another 5 miles after which you’ll take the eastbound MA-133 for 8 miles into town. Gloucester is known as America’s Oldest Seaport, and its coastal waters have long provided some of... Read more

2008 K-Z Escalade 37SB

2008 K-Z Escalade 37SB Previously $88,802 – Now $71,900 38 ft. fifth wheel sleeps 4. Features FULL BODY PAINT, WASHER/ DRYER, CONVECTION MICROWAVE, CENTRAL VACUUM, FIREPLACE, 4-DOOR FRIDGE and more! Offered from Terry Vaughn RV’s in Houston, TX. Learn more about this 2008 K-Z Escalade 37SB! As seen on  Read More →

Boost your energy in less than five minutes

By Lynn Difley Long road trips are part and parcel of an RVers  way of life. We are often unable to avoid sitting for long periods of time as we move from one campground to another, or roam our summer haunts to winter snowbird roosts. Keeping your body fit and your mind alert while undertaking long term travel is a great challenge. Read more  Read More →

2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager

2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager Previously $59,950 – Now $58,950 30 ft. gasoline coach w/ only 13,779 mi. Features 3 slideouts, 2 A/C units, dining table w/ 2 chairs, glass-enclosed corner shower, and more! Offered from Roman Holiday Motor Homes in New Braunfels, TX. Learn more about this 2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager! As featured on  Read More →

Generator bonding and grounding

In previous posts we have discussed what is meant by “bonding” in an electrical distribution system.  This is an important concept.  If it seems like I am dwelling on this, I want to make sure we are clear on what bonding means. The ground wire system and the neutral wire system are two separate wire systems.  By code, they are to be connected together at ONE point and only one point.  If there is more than one bonding point in the wiring system, you can create ground faults, circulating currents and possibly prevent a breaker from tripping if there is a short circuit.  If there is no bond, it is also possible that a breaker will not trip. The breaker panel in your RV is classified as a sub-panel.  As such there is NO bond in the panel and the neutral/ground wiring systems in your RV are NOT connected to each other anywhere in the RV.  This is because when you plug in your shore power cord, you become part of the campground electrical system which IS bonded, again, at ONE point in the entire campground, generally at the campground main breaker panel. If you have a generator that is permanently installed in your RV, such as is typical in Class A motorhomes, the generator has a bond between the neutral and the ground, such that when the transfer switch switches, the isolated neutral and ground systems get connected together. If, however, you use a portable generator, sitting on the ground or in the  back of your pickup truck, a problem occurs.  Typically portable... Read more

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