RV Doctor – Leaking Aqua Magic Toilet

Dear RV Doctor, The carpet near the back of my Aqua Magic toilet is damp. I cannot see or feel any dripping from the water supply line. Are there internal seals that may be worn or damaged due to use?- Sonny Standridge, (Gretna, LA) Answer: Sonny, indeed, there are many internal seals and gaskets in the Aqua Magic toilet. If the water inlet line is secured properly and not leaking, chances are the water leaks only while flushing the toilet. This is an indication of a leak within the vacuum breaker component located internal to the toilet. It’s easily replaced and Thetford does have replacement parts readily available, typically at any RV parts accessory store. Occasionally the vacuum breaker may be subjected to highly calcified water that may cause a seal or gasket component to leak if a particle becomes lodged inside. There is an outside chance the toilet to flange gasket may be faulty and the toilet leaks as it drains into the holding tank, but your observation that the carpet is damp only at the back of the toilet (directly below the location of the vacuum breaker), is indicative of a faulty vacuum breaker. (Please feel free to comment, however, please also note that due to the volume of communications I receive from multiple channels I cannot guarantee a personal response in every instance. However, questions of an overall general interest may be considered and published in an upcoming RV Doctor column.)  Read More →

Extended Warranties: How To Protect Your Investment

Last week we looked at the cost effectiveness of extended warranties.  This week we will discuss what the vehicle owner is responsible for during such a warranty. If you elect to purchase an extended warranty on your RV, you need to protect that investment.  This requires regular maintenance at the frequency rate recommended by the manufacturer.  It also requires you to have the documents confirming the service was carried out.  So, keep all these receipts in a safe place so you can produce them if ever needed.  This maintenance file is also good to have when selling your RV down the road. Additionally, you are expected to operate the vehicle within its specifications and take the necessary steps that may be required once a failure has occurred.  For example, if on a motorized RV the oil pressure alarm sounds, you must stop the vehicle and engine immediately.  Damage caused by the engine operating any duration after the failure may not be covered by the warranty.  Say you saw a service station a mile down the highway and you decided to try to nurse it the extra mile.  If the oil pressure is low, not just a sensor failure, the crank bearings and the cylinder walls and more may be damaged. There are two ways the warranty shop can tell that the engine was run after the oil pressure ceased.  First, by inspecting the internal parts in the motor.  Secondly the ECM (Engine Control Module) records all engine events and would probably show that the oil pressure was low... Read more

Go RVing Introducing New TV Spots for 2010

Innovative, animated television commercials with the same timely “Go Affordably, Go RVing” theme as the print ads and a bold new look and theme song are expected to capture a new audience for Go RVing in 2010, the Go RVing Coalition reports. “Launching in mid-February, the campaign will introduce Go RVing’s “Ambassadors of Affordability” animals from the popular “What Will You Discover” print ads animated with voices and cutting-edge special effects, to communicate RV value messages,” the coalition states in a news release. Four new 30-second television spots were produced, combining existing photography from the Go RVing print ads with shots of current model RVs. Lighter, fuel-efficient, attractively priced RVs are featured to support the affordability theme of the ads. The cornerstone of the campaign is a spot featuring the animal ambassadors in a lush forest setting singing the classic Western ballad ”Back in the Saddle Again.” Starring a bison, bear and fox with a full supporting cast of animals, big and small, the spot concludes with the tagline, ”It’s amazing how affordable an RV vacation can be. Visit GoRVing.com for a free video. Go Affordably. Go RVing,” while on-screen signage includes a call-to-action to ”visit an RV dealer” and GoRVing.com. This commercial will be the first to air beginning January 2010. Three additional commercials in the series feature the same music track, but each plot highlights different reasons families enjoy... Read more

2007 Damon Challenger 348

2007 Damon Challenger 348 Previously $72,500 – Now $69,900 36 ft. gasoline coach, Double slide, looks and runs like new. This unit is fully equipped with twin airs, electric awning, microwave, generator, 2 TVs, jacks, central vacuum, gorgeous wood cabinets and more! Offered from Dave Arbogast RV & Boat Depot in Troy, OH. Learn more about this 2007 Damon Challenger 348! Find more great RVs on  Read More →

Some Interesting RV Poll Results

The outcome of any poll depends on several factors like; what type of poll it is, how the questions are worded, who is asking the questions and of course who does and does not participate in the poll. Each week we conduct an RV poll in our e-newsletter. The RV poll is not a scientific poll, a political poll or a marketing poll. It is basically used to give me some idea of what our newsletter readers are interested in, how they use their RVs  and just for the fun of it. I  thought it would be interesting to look back at some of our past RV polls and see how the participants responded. Here’s what I found out. 85% travel with the refrigerator on and 15% travel with it off 53% prefer diesel and 47% prefer gas 79% eat more meals in the RV and 21% eat more meals out 89% conduct a spring check-up on their RV before using it and 11% don’t 67% said the recession won’t change plans to use the RV and 33% said it will 72% said their average RV trips are one week or less and 28% said their average RV trips are two weeks or longer 54% own motorized RV’s and 46% own towable RV’s 91% plan two or more summer RV trips and 9% plan only one 63% store the RV on their own property and 37% make other storage arrangements 82% check the tire pressure before each trip and 18% don’t 24% said a hybrid RV chassis would affect their buying decision and 76% said it wouldn’t have any affect 90% said they use environmentally friendly holding tank chemicals... Read more

Turn your Computer into a TV

by Chris Guld, www.geeksontour.com When we first bought our motorhome, it had 2 TVs.  One in the front, living/dining area, and one in the back – the bedroom.  We got rid of both of them and set up a TV tuner with a projector and a window-shade screen.  It’s great!  We have a big screen with surround sound – a pretty good home theatre for any house, let alone a 30 foot class C motorhome!  When I recently purchased a new Windows 7 laptop, we wondered what to do with my old laptop.  It was still working fine, ( see rule #1 for buying a new computer) so I wasn’t going to send it off to recycling.  How about a TV for the bedroom!  Jim found a stud in the wall and installed a TV shelf bracket that fits my old laptop just perfect.  The antenna connection was already there, all we needed was the TV tuner.  The one Jim got is the ATI  TV Wonder (he got a great deal – $25 – by buying it on the daily special at Woot.com), but he’s also used the Hauppage.  Just google for USB TV Tuner to see lots of other choices.  Basically this tiny box is the guts of a television!  Just plug one end into the USB port of your computer, and the other end into an antenna.  Of course, there is software as well, and you need to be sure whatever you get works with your computer’s operating system.  Once you have it all set up, you have TV!  Ours even came with a remote control.  And, since it is still a computer – it is even better than a TV – you can get the... Read more

2009 EnduraMax 38 MAX

2009 EnduraMax 38 MAX Previously $66,295 – Now $59,995 Toy Hauler w/ slideout, features 2 flatscreen TVs, oven, microwave, ceiling fan, booth dinette, glass-enclosed shower, and more! Offered from Mark’s RV & Boat Superstore in Churchville, NY. Learn more about this 2009 EnduraMax 38 MAX! Find more great RVs on  Read More →

Casino Camping News

Random items that Casino Campers might want to know… Free Issue of the Las Vegas Advisor:  In the past you’ve heard me talk about the LVA and the coupon book that members get each year.  They’ve published a free issue for January so you can try it out.  No obligation (and I have no financial connection to them).   Free Issue Tucson, AZ:  The expansion of the Desert Diamond Casino Hotel, Nogales has completed.  A reader of my website says they offer overnight RV parking in a large, level, asphalt parking lot on the south side.  He cautions that RVers should watch the speed bumps at the entrance! The casino is said to offer a good buffet, and a large selection of table games and slot machines including multiplayer video games and video craps.  Smoking is allowed, but it’s reported there’s a good air circulation system and the air is breathable. Happy travels, and good luck in the casinos! Mac www.CasinoCamper.com  Read More →

2008 Safari Passage 330

2008 Safari Passage 330 Previously $78,995 – Now $69,995 Brand new 34 ft. gasoline coach, sleeps 6, w/ 2 slideouts, dual roof A/C, leather furniture, cherry wood interior, glass shower doors, surround sound home theater, tinted thermal pane windows and more! Offered from H.W. Motorhomes in Canton, MI. Learn more about this 2008 Safari Passage 330! Find more great RVs on  Read More →

Free Boondocking on BLM land

By Bob Difley In the early developing years of  the new country of the United States of America, the government promoted expansion into unsettled lands, partly to accommodate settlers, but primarily to settle the land before other governments–Mexico, Spain, France–could grab the land first. In the east the land was quickly gobbled up by railroads, cities, and whoever could get some of it. By the time settlers reached the Wild West, this fear of other nations’ land grab no longer existed, and most of the land was retained in Federal coffers. Lucky for us. Now all that land–or much of it–is what is called public land–which means that we, as voters and citizens, own it, and we designate various Federal agencies to manage our land for us. The agency that manages the most land west of the Mississippi–and most of the desert land–is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM administers 260 million acres—about one-eighth of the nation’s land mass–in the twelve western states, including not only the vast stretches of desert that are home to snowbirds in winter, but also wildernesses, monuments, and 38 wild and scenic rivers. The BLM has over 400 campgrounds, most large enough for RVs of all sizes and with low or no fees, with some more developed sites that carry higher fees. In addition you can boondock anywhere on BLM land, unless specifically prohibited by signs or fences, for up to 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period,... Read more

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