RV Weekly Round-Up (Nov. 12-20, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Southwestern deserts: More than just a warm place: This is the time of year when RVers in the northern states and Canada can be divided into two groups: those that are or soon will be headed to the southwestern deserts for at least some part of the winter, and those that wish they were headed for the desert. Bob Difley recounts some of the significant events and scenery that make the Southwest such an interesting destination in the winter months. 2. Bicycle museum: Nick Russell recounts his visit to the Bicycle Museum of America, a wonderful attraction in the charming small town of New Bremen, Ohio. Located on New Bremen’s main street, the museum is a treasure trove of bicycles and bicycle memorabilia dating back to the early 1800s. Here you will see everything from primitive bikes with appropriate names like the Boneshaker, to high wheeled bicycles that the gentry of another age enjoyed, to modern carbon frame bicycles that one can lift with a single finger. 3. Thousands of POIs for Streets and Trips: New feature for Points of Interest (POIs) on 2010 Streets and Trips mapping program allows you to upload just ONE POI file with ALL your favorite stops, then just hide or show only the POIs you need at the moment. Chris Guld of Geeks on Tour shares more info about this new S&T feature. 4. Jayco hires 200 to fill order backlog: Jayco Inc. has added a couple hundred workers and is escalating... Read more

RV Driving in Adverse Weather Conditions (Part 2 of 2)

Last week we looked at driving in adverse weather, that most have encountered at one time or another.  Today we will discuss the chance encounter of coming face to face with a real severe weather event, a tornado.  (Link to last week’s part 1: http://blog.rv.net/2009/11/rv-driving-in-adverse-weather-conditions-part-1-of-2/ ) Tornados, as we know them today, are one of the most violent short term weather events out there.  With wind speeds as high as 300 MPH or more, there is no doubt of their possible affect to anything in their way.  One of the real issues is the lack of warning prior to it striking.  The weather services do however issue warnings of “the possibility of tornado development”.  But, these announcements seem so common across the country during the summertime that they seem to lose their punch. So, what are some of the possible tell-tale signs of an approaching tornado?  The following events have been seen prior to a tornado.  An unusual threatening green color in the sky. Clouds moving at a greater than normal speed in a rotating or converging pattern. If it hails during a period of tornado warnings, there is a strong chance of a tornado immediately after. If no warnings are posted there will probably be no tornado activity. A strange quiet occurring shortly after the passing of a thunderstorm. Observation of a funnel like image.  This could be a cloud structure or just debris spinning in clear air. The sound of rushing air or large waterfall. ... Read more

Debunking Portable Air Compressors

I think most RVers understand the importance of maintaining proper tire inflation pressure. The problem is if you wait until you’re on the road to check tire pressure the tires are too hot for correct evaluation. Checking the inflation pressure when you stop to refuel doesn’t make sense; you will get higher pressure readings and if you let air out the tires they are underinflated when they are cold. Another problem is when you are at the campground, and you want to check the tire pressure, there is no available air support to do it. Read more  Read More →

RV Driving in Adverse Weather Conditions (Part 1 of 2)

Even though most RV’s will never see winter weather while travelling, they are exposed periodically to bad and possibly violent weather.  High gusting winds, torrential rains, driving hail and thunderous lightning bolts have all been experienced at one time by many of us.  The fear of visible or embedded tornados and like-cyclonic disturbances is real and RV’s are particularly vulnerable.  Almost all RV’s have a relatively high center of gravity and a poor vertical body structure to weight ratio.  In other words, they can be adversely affected by winds.     So, how do we deal with these trailers and motor homes when faced with an impeding storm on the open road?    Of course, the easiest way, depending on the storm’s severity, is to cancel that day’s travel.  But, many times you are already on the road, and it develops without warning.   Let’s look at each element and the best strategy to adopt. Wind – Can be an issue even on an otherwise nice day.  A fast moving front or a steep pressure variation can produce substantially strong winds.  Also geographical terrain, such as mountainous areas, can also deliver unexpected high winds and gusts.  The affect of these winds on an RV can cause difficulty in maintaining its lane when running down a road or highway.  This occurs when the wind speed is in the high twenties to the mid forties, depending on the size and weight of the vehicle.  Wind gusts, as opposed to a steady wind state, can amplify the problem... Read more

What’s your RV Emergency Escape Plan?

When we plan a trip in our RV we tend to think about all of the good aspects of the upcoming adventure. Where we are going, what we’ll do when we get there, and all of the things we will see and experience along the way. What we don’t really think about is what if something happens during the trip and everybody needs to exit the RV in a hurry. What if there is a fire? What if the entry door is blocked and you can’t get out. What’s the plan? Is there a plan? Read more  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 →

Pre-Departure Maintenance Checks

When you head out on a trip in your RV you look forward to the sights and scenery along the way, and to the fun you will have when you arrive at your final destination. Nothing will ruin all of the fun and adventure quicker than an unexpected breakdown.    There are three basic types of maintenance for your RV, preventive maintenance, scheduled maintenance and emergency maintenance. The lack of preventive maintenance and/or scheduled maintenance will eventually result in emergency maintenance. If you don’t check the air pressure in your tires (preventive maintenance) the under-inflated tire over heats and prematurely fails resulting in emergency maintenance.  There are pre-departure safety checks and pre-departure maintenance checks you should make on your RV prior to leaving on a trip. Today we are going to concentrate on some of  the maintenance checks you should make before hitting the road.  Check all fluid levels: a      Engine Oil: Automotive wise this is perhaps the most important PM check you can make. Check your engine oil on a regular basis. Add oil as required, but do not overfill. Consult your owner’s manual for the type of oil to use. Have the oil and oil filter changed at manufacturers service intervals.  b.      Transmission Fluid: Transmissions in motorhomes and tow vehicles get worked extremely hard. Transmission fluid cools and lubricates the transmission. Checking and maintaining the fluid will extend the life of the transmission. Follow... Read more

Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles

Pet Safety Advocate Bark Buckle UP and Online Automotive Consumer Advocate Edmunds.com Announce the Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles Traveling in the car with the family pet is a common necessity for many of America’s 71 million pet owners – 82 percent of dogs travel in cars during their lifetime. However, 98 percent of dogs travel unrestrained in moving vehicles, leaving both pets and the passengers vulnerable to injury in the event of a traffic accident. In a 35 mile per hour collision, an unrestrained 60-pound pet becomes a 2,700 pound projectile and can do much harm to other passengers. In collaboration with the pet-safety experts from Bark Buckle UP, Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, has published a list of the Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles that make driving with pets safer and more convenient. “It’s in everyone’s best interest for drivers to ensure that pets and their gear are safe and secure while on the road,” said Kevin Smith, Edmunds.com’s Editorial Director. “The best vehicles for pet owners are the ones with plenty of room and pet safety features such as tri-climate control, fold-flat rear seats, rear back-up cameras, sliding rear doors, and side airbags.” The top 10 2009 cars and trucks most highly recommended for safe pet travel, in alphabetical order, are: 1. Dodge Journey 2. Ford Flex 3. GMC Acadia 4. Hyundai Tucson 5. Jeep Liberty 6. Kia Borrego 7. Mazda 5 8. Mitsubishi Outlander 9. Subaru Tribeca 10. Volvo XC70 “Regardless... Read more

Trailer Sway; What It Is & How To Control It

A  few weeks ago I was contacted by Jose Adauto de Souza, who lives and works in Brazil. Adauto is a Petroleum Geologist/Geophysicist close to being retired. Since 1978 he has been a camping enthusiast, starting with tents, then a pop-up, travel trailers and now has a Class A motorhome.  (I have been through the same RV progression, and around the same time frame as Adauto). Read more  Read More →

Why Weigh your RV?

Weighing your RV can be the difference between a safe, enjoyable trip and a costly, disastrous trip. With multiple slide out rooms, amenities like washers and dryers, large holding tank capacities and the ample amount of storage space available on today’s RVs it’s easy to see why so many are overloaded. Overloaded RVs are extremely dangerous. Actually there are a lot more reasons for weighing your RV than I listed here, but my intent was to highlight some of the most important reasons for weighing your RV. Read more  Read More →

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