Product Highlight - McKesh Towing Mirrors, Still #1

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our E-mail Digest or RSS Feed. We will then send you the stories that are posted each day in an e-mail digest. We use a service called Feedburner for delivery of these emails. You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner after you subscribe and you must click on that email to activate your subscription. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminTowing mirrors aren’t just a good idea, they’re the law. In fact, if you check the laws in 50 different states, you’ll find that they all have little variations. Be sure to check your own state laws before buying your trailer or next set of mirrors. There are websites with the regs for all 50 states listed, but it’s best to check directly with your own department of motor vehicles. Often, the “one stop” information on the web is outdated. A good rule of thumb is: If you can see a car that’s 125′ (about 7 car lengths) directly behind your trailer, you’re in good shape. But also make sure your mirrors are stable, meaning they don’t vibrate at highway speeds. McKesh Portable Towing Mirrors are designed to accommodate all state and Canadian province regulations. Extending out to 20″, with large 6″ x 9″ mirrors, McKesh mirrors offer more visibility than any towing mirror on the market. Add the optional convex mirrors and increase your range of vision even more, especially in those toll booth... Read more

GM truck handling upgrades

For those of you that follow my posts, you may have noticed that I have been gone from RV.Net for a while. For reasons both personal and professional, I haven’t had the time to sit down and write anything, and for that, I apologize. The good news is that business has been picking up at Henderson’s Line-Up and SuperSteer, and we have a lot of exciting news to share. First and foremost, we are in the process of developing a new website that is much easier to navigate and will feature our own blog page, where you can come in, sign on and post questions or comments (I’ll still be posting here, too).  The new site will also feature an e-store, where you can purchase our products directly. The site is literally days away at this point, and as soon as it is up and running, I’ll be sure and let you know. We also have our new catalogs in, and a supplement that covers our product line designed specifically for trucks. These will be available for free download when the site is completed, but in the mean time you are welcome to call and ask for one, and we’ll mail one out. The new supplement has many new products in it, such as our SS 28559 tie rod for ‘01-current GM 2500 and 3500 series trucks (shown here). The stock tie rod in these applications has a tendency to bend or even break under extreme conditions, such has heavy loading, off-road driving, or both. Our new tie rod offers numerous improvements to the stock part. First and foremost, it is a full... Read more

FLASH: PREDICTION OF AN ICE FREE NORWAY

By Bob Difley A highly placed government minister in Norway predicted that the country would be ice free by 2015. This was enough, even to those that believe global warming is taking place at an unprecedented rate, to make them cringe. And you could hear the skeptics falling off their chairs in shock. It wasn’t until Finance Minister, Kristin Halvorsen, explained at a recent alternative fuels and vehicles exhibition in Oslo, that her proposal was to ban the sale of ICE-only (Internal Combustion Engines) by 2015 that brought order back to the assembly. Halvorsen’s plan allows hybrids with IC engines, but stops the sale of conventional IC engine vehicles. She also called for the development of hydrogen and plug-in electric vehicles. Though Halavorsen explained that this was a realistic goal and the climate crisis problem would have to be solved after the financial crisis has been turned around, there was little chance that her goal would be achieved since she belongs to the minority party of Norway’s three-party coalition and the simple fact that Norway’s economy depends on the export of petroleum. However, a smaller country leaning in that direction may have influence on how much effort and development funds vehicle manufacturers will be willing to invest in continuing development of ICE-only vehicles. And with every automobile and light truck manufacturer scheduling hybrid and electric vehicles to hit the market in the next couple years, it... Read more

May’s Mystery Challenge Answer

The Mystery Camper was back at it again, somewhere in North America. These shots were taken at the campground he was at. As usual, our readers solved this one without too much effort. It was indeed Outdoor Resorts (Signature Resorts) in Indio, California. Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Some Less Practiced Tips On Saving Fuel While RVing

There are many ways that we can reduce fuel and related costs while enjoying travelling in our RV’s.  Of course, we all know that reducing speed, assuring we have the correct tire pressure, reducing idling time, and accelerating at a reasonable rate all help to contribute to better fuel mileage.  There are other, less practiced means to further reduce these costs.  So, let’s take a look at some of them. Weather Considerations - Winds of 15 MPH or more can have a substantial affect on increasing or reducing your vehicle’s moving resistance.  So much so, that on some larger vehicles a 25% or more difference can be experienced between running against a headwind, or running with one.  Driving an “A” class coach that, say, averages 8 miles per gallon, typically drops about 1 mile a gallon if operating in a 15 MPH plus headwind.  That would consume slightly more than 57 gallons for a 400 mile day run, compared to a still air consumption of 50 gallons.  Higher winds of 25 to 35+ MPH can be devastating and may result in the burning of mid 60’s for the same run.  Limiting the distance, or if possible cancelling that day’s run on windy days, can help save on your overall fuel bill.  The reverse holds true if you are going to be travelling in the general direction of the wind.  Some of the best miles per gallon have been recorded with a tailwind.  These days should be used to travel a little further if your journey is a long haul, like... Read more

The RV Trivia Challenge No. 2

The Lug_Nut RV Trivia Challenge No. 2. If you did okay on the RV Trivia Challenge No. 1, you may be on the road to becoming an RV Guru.  Others may be settling into a well informed RV enthusiast while still some may well be slipping into an “RV For Dummies” candidate rating.   If you missed the first RV Challenge, here’s a link to it.   The RV Trivia Challenge Keep in mind, this is a trivia.  It is not based on one RV type rig.  So, regardless of your type of camping, there should be some things that are familiar. Well. Let’s get at it!  Be sure to post your score, and or comments, in the comment box at the very bottom.  Good Luck!!! The Lug_Nut RV Trivia Challenge No. 2 1) The hitch point of a 5th wheel trailer pivots the tow and towed vehicle  ………… A) At the rear most part of the tow vehicle B) Near, or over the axle of the tow vehicle C) It does not pivot, the trailer becomes part of the tow vehicle, similar to a bus 2) If your house battery bank was rated at 400 amp/hrs, how long should you run a 20 amp load on a fully charged bank? A) 10 hours B) 20 hours C) 40 hours D) 15 hour 30 minutes 3) What would the maximum output be of a 5000 watt generator operating in Denver Colorado? A) About 5000 watts B) About 5350 watts C) About 4225 watts D) About 4805 watts 4) What is meant by the term “3 way fridge”? A) It refers to a three door, side by side frig B) It has a fridge, a freezer and an ice maker C)... Read more

Nitrogen Filled Tires. Is It Worth The Bother & Cost?

One of the topics that come up often in the RV community is the use of dry nitrogen in tires. That is, using compressed dry nitrogen instead of regular air.  Is there an advantage to this that warrants the cost?  I think first we have to understand why, and if, nitrogen works better than normal compressed air in an RV tire application. Normal dry air contains mainly nitrogen to begin with, in fact about 78% by volume.  The balance is around 21% oxygen and 1% argon and mixed miscellaneous gases.  Moisture, however, is usually present in this air after it has been compressed.  For that purpose, air compressors generally employ a dryer in order to reduce this.  But, in normal service station tire fill-ups, you can expect an additional product, vapor or humidity, 1 to 5%.  The later being the worst case scenario. Though we can not see them, the air is made up of molecules.  Nitrogen molecules are much larger than those of oxygen.  This, in its self, serves as a benefit when used to inflate a tire.  More on this later. Over 99% of tires in use today are tubeless. Tubeless tires expose the rim to the gases that support the tire.  Over time these gases and vapor can oxidize or rust the rim surfaces.  While such internal damage is slight given the wheel’s life span, it can produce micro metallic pieces or dust.  There is a remote possibility that this debris may eventually end up in the tire valve seat.  This could occur when air is being expelled such... Read more

DIY - Electronic Prodigy Brake Control Installation for Your Trailer

In this video clip Stew Oleson and Bill Gehr will show you how to install an Tekonsha Prodigy electronic brake control for your tow vehicle. Tell a Friend Read More →

The RV Trivia Challenge!

  It’s time for the Lug_Nut RV Trivia Challenge.  Are you an RV Guru,  a fairly well informed RV enthusiast, or are you an “RV For Dummies” candidate?  Check it out and let’s hear how you score. Alright, if you are up to the challenge, let’s see how you do. Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Tire Monitors. A Gadget Or A Must Have?

Having a flat tire on your automobile is one thing, having a flat on your RV is totally different.  While both present a possible safety issue, the later, motorized or towed, can be a harrowing experience due to the weight and size.  Additionally the cost can be substantially more in the case of an RV.  Often, the shredding of a motor home tire while getting slowed and stopped, can cause severe body damage.  Torn, or destroyed  fenders and wheel wells can result.   Of course the wheel itself and surrounding components may also suffer and require repair or replacement.   These damages can cost thousands of dollars to correct, in addition to the replacement of the subject tire.  So how can you eliminate the possibility of having a tire blow out?  Well, unfortunately you can’t.  There is no way you can guarantee it will never happen, unless you want to get “Run Flats“, but, unfortunately, they are not available in the size and weight you need.  But you may be able to substantially reduce the chances of this ever happening. Industry experts agree that the majority of blow outs are the result of tires that are 20% or more under inflated.  This under inflation is generally the result of either, operator not regularly maintaining the tire pressures or the development of a slow leak.   Well, you could eliminate the maintenance issue by being more diligent with regular frequency.  But, the slow leak is unpredictable.  It could develop at anytime,... Read more

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