Making Modifications to Your RV

I get asked these questions alot: “Is it safe to modify my RV? What about my warranty? Will it be voided?” There is a lot of misinformation floating around about what constitutes a safe mod and what will void your warranty if you do certain kinds of mods. Many RV owners tend to be the “do-it-your-self” types and enjoy “doing the mod”. If you fall in to this group, you should carefully consider the implications of certain mods. You know that really expensive extended warranty that covers your RV “bumper-to-tongue” after the factory warranty runs out that you added when you purchased your new RV? It won’t help one bit if you do a mod that causes a failure on a covered part. So let’s look at what mods are safe to do and what just might cause you some grief down the road if you are not aware of your warranty conditions of coverage. Read more  Read More →

RV Weekly Round-Up (June 6-12, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Enter the Go RVing Video Contest: Go RVing is calling for entries in its first Internet video contest, hosted on Facebook. The “Tails from the Road” contest asks contestants to create a positive, humorous video featuring a pet traveling in an RV. Entries will be accepted from June 1 through July 10, by uploading your video to the Go RVing Facebook Fan Page. See the Go RVing webpage for full contest details. Read more  Read More →

Good Sam Club Unveils Model “Lemon Law” Legislation to Protect the Rights of Motorhome Buyers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VENTURA, CALIF. (June 10, 2009) – The Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV owners’ organization with nearly one million member families, today unveiled first-ever model motorhome “lemon law” legislation, developed in conjunction with RV industry officials and the International Association of Lemon Law Administrators (IALLA). If enacted by a state, the legislation will provide specific rights and remedies for motorhome buyers against product defects if the motorhome does not conform to material provisions of the manufacturer’s warranty. If the motorhome purchaser can demonstrate that a purchased unit does not conform to the statutory standards prescribed in the model law, the remedy available can include replacement or repurchase of the unit by the manufacturer. Read more  Read More →

Digging Deeper Into the CAFE Mileage Standards

For those of you who think that the new CAFE mileage standards for cars and light trucks will have us trying to pull our trailers and fifth wheels with under-powered, inadequate toy trucks and driving around in little tin can-like Smart Cars, you can stop worrying. First of all, the standards call for an “average” of 35.5 mpg for all vehicles that fall into the car and light truck category. Larger vehicles will fall somewhere below the 35.5 mpg, while cars will average more than 40 mpg. An article by Joseph B.White this week in the Wall Street Journal outlines how those requiring larger vehicles–such as for towing heavy RVs–will still be able to buy them. Here is part of what he says: Read more  Read More →

Are Towing Laws Outdated?

I have always been an advocate for towing safety, whether it’s towing a trailer or towing a vehicle behind a motorhome. One of the most controversial topics I have run into is whether vehicles being towed behind motorhomes need to have a supplemental braking system. My argument is if the state that you reside in has laws requiring a trailer over a certain weight to have brakes; this would also apply to a vehicle being towed behind a motorhome. Another argument is that many state towing laws are antiquated and need to be updated. When some of these laws were written people weren’t towing vehicles behind motorhomes. Read more  Read More →

Our Grand Adventure and Parking the Rig

RV Parking “on the Road” Our Grand Adventure is moving along swimmingly. We have traveled from the Pacific Northwest down the magnificent coastline to Southern California. But a common problem with a big RV is parking. In a lot of the National Forest campgrounds, we are too big. In California, a number of the State Park campgrounds have signs, “No Trailers or Motorhomes”. That is, in the ones that are open during the winter. In California, posted rest areas allow overnight “rest”, not camping. Scenic overlooks are posted, “no overnight parking or camping”. However, in the National Forest along CA Pacific Coast Rte 1, a National Forest site host, with only short RV options available and night upon us, suggested to park in an overlook. So the rules appear to be different on federal land. We had an experience the other day while visiting the town of Solvang, CA, that took the fine edge off a visit to their unique town. Solvang is a Danish-themed village founded in the early 1900’s as a base for a Danish school. The town is unique in its architecture, typical of what would be found in Denmark. Delightful shops and restaurants line the streets and invite tourists. Solvang spends a good deal of money on advertising and for the most part the town lives up to its advertising. However, we encountered an attitude among a few of its inhabitants that left a bad taste. I am not sure how you do your snooping and sightseeing when on the... Read more

Motorhome Lemon Laws….are they on the horizon?

The Good Sam Club’s RV Owners’ Advisory Council has now conducted three major surveys of Club membership, asking our members to identify issues which were of most importance to them.  The results were overwhelming:  1.  the quality of RVs; 2. service for RVs; and 3. the need for appropriate lemon law protection if the RV can’t be fixed. Under the leadership of our Council Chairman, Tom Gonser, the Club joined the International Association of Lemon Law Arbitrators (IALLA), a group which was in the process of developing model motorhome lemon law legislation which could presumably be used by the states as a template should they choose to draft individual state legislation. This is important because currently most states do not have RV lemon laws — but try to use automobile lemon law legislation to deal with RV issues.  There are enormous differences between a car and an RV — mostly because the RV offers living accommodations in addition to transportation.  And it’s our opinion that to some extent lemon law protection should be offered when there is an ongoing problem with a living component of the RV, not just for mechanical issues. In May of this year, Tom and the Council prepared a detailed position paper on the RV owners’ lemon law needs, and submitted it to IALLA.  On the other side, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) also submitted their proposed legislation, offering far less protection to the RV owner. Since... Read more

Good Sam Club’s RV Owners’ Council….Who Are They?

We at Good Sam are proud to offer many member benefits – camping discounts at Good Sam Parks, our new Petro gas and diesel discount program, our website and this magazine, just to name a few.  But we take particular pride in applying the powerful size of our organization and the enthusiasm of our members to protect and preserve the rights of all RVers, particularly in the legislative arena. Over the years, we’ve worked on such issues as special drivers’ license requirements for drivers of large motorhomes and trailers, RV weight limitations, RV friendly highway signage, access to our public lands, gas rationing, not to mention the dozens of restrictive RV parking ordinances we face on a daily basis.  We have always tried to do the right thing for the RV owner – acting as an advocate for those of us who participate in the RV lifestyle. As more and more issues at the state and national levels develop, we want to more actively involve our members in the process.  Two years ago, we formed the Good Sam RV Owners Advisory Council, a small group of members, to do just that – provide RV industry personnel and legislators with direct input from RV owners on specific and pertinent issues.  We are hopeful that this resource will prove to be a constructive communication channel with the RV industry, and by establishing this process of continuing dialogue, we can address issues of common concern for the benefit of both owners and those in the RV industry,... Read more