The Headlight Flash. What Does It Really Mean

The flashing of one’s headlights is something we have seen for years throughout Europe.  It was, and is, used to generally signal the intention to overtake another vehicle.  Kind of a heads-up and to ensure the vehicle being passed was aware of this action.  For this use, nearly all the vehicles sold in Europe for the last forty plus years were equipped with a momentary headlight switch built into the directional signal. Read more  Read More →

RV Recall Notifications – A Must Have for RVers

RV recalls happen. When they do, it’s imperative that RVers know about the recalls relevant to their RVs. Did you know that RV.net keeps RVers informed of RV Recalls by partnering with the Good Sam Club and the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to gather RV recall data and then distribute it to RV owners in a relevant and timely manner? Read more  Read More →

How to Improve the Towing Power of Your Ford F150

Last year, I blogged quite a bit on making modifications to your RV, from low cost mods like battery cutoff switches and drip rail extensions to the more elaborate mods like RV cold weather preparation and sliding cargo trays. While I will still continue to write about RV mods, this year I would like to add some articles about making modifications to tow vehicles that help improve your towing experience. Since I tow with a late model Ford F150, many of the articles will focus on mods I’ve made to my own truck. But I would really like to see some mods made to other tow vehicle brands as well that have helped make towing your RV easier and safer. So with that said, the first mod I think that is not often discussed in terms of producing more towing power from your truck is reducing parasitic drag on the engine. Popular mods like tuners, exhaust, intake, etc. are common ways to get a decent boost in power from a gas engine. But a naturally aspirated engine, as in the Ford F150, can only make so much towing power without resorting to forced induction, such as a turbo or supercharger. In addition to the popular mods mentioned above, you can still find some hidden power to be tapped. Where is this hidden power? It’s sucked up by all the belt-driven accessories driven by the engine such as the A/C compressor, alternator, mechanical engine fan, and the power steering pump. One of the largest drags on the engine in terms of power delivery loss is with the mechanical fan, sucking... Read more

RV Trivia Challenge 8, How Well Do You Know RVing?

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I thought this may be a good time to sharpen those RV skills, in as much as you have time digesting that turkey dinner. Read more  Read More →

RVIA Show, Louisville Ky, Salem Ice Cabin

Well, the show is over, the booths are closed and the weary sales reps are packing their roll on bags and preparing for the trip home.  All in all, the prevailing attitude seemed to be that the worst is over the long climb back to a vibrant RV industry has begun.  Most vendors and manufacturers are willing to acknowledge unticks in sales and production.  Several new RV models were unveiled from the likes of Fleetwood and Tiffin, along with a couple of new chassis models from Spartan and Freightliner.  Attendance at the show was respectable and RV industry economists are forecasting modest sales growth next year assuming there are no major shakeups in the economy. One thing we will be seeing in the near future will be new ads from the RVIA in the “go RVing” model.  There was one very unique RV model featured at the show the likes of which I had never seen.  Not being an ice fisherman I was not aware of this, or it is new, I’m not certain which.  I thought this was worth looking at to show the range of options open to RVers. Salem Ice Cabin   This is the Salem Ice Cabin.  As you can see from the next photo, the plan is to tow this RV onto the frozen lake, and then lower it down onto the ice to facilitate a comfortable winter fishing trip. Lower the tires   The tires stow safely out of the way. stowed tires   As does the two hitch. the hitch is stowed   Let the fishing fun begin! ready for fishing   This is a closeup of the holes in the RV floor which... Read more

RVIA Show, Louisville Ky Opening Day

Well, the first full day of activities has now concluded here at the RVIA show and Linda and I are worn out from walking and talking.  We are somewhat overwhelmed with the size of the show and amazed that this show is less than half the normal size.  I told Linda there is no way we will be able to see and absorb all that is here. Today started out at 6:30 AM with the opening breakfast and associated ceremonies including entertainment and several speeches by industry dignitaries including Jim Sheldon RVIA Chairman, pictured below: Chairman Jim Sheldon This activity was very upbeat and positive, with information about the current state of the RV industry and predictions regarding future sales.  I will be devoting more time to the opening activities in a later post. The show actually opened at 9am, following the breakfast and we began to explore the many RVs and vendor booths at the show.  There were three events scheduled for this day that we didn’t want to miss.  First one was at 11am where the new Fleetwood RV was to unveil their first new product, a “crossover” motorhome known as the Encounter.  Here is a brief video of the Encounter. This RV was introduced by John Draheim COO of Fleetwood RV, and then a tour followed.  I will have more on this RV in a later column. Next we visited the Tiffin area to see Bob Tiffin unveil his “BIG” surprise.  This was certainly the most clever event we will see at this show.  Tiffin had the new RV covered... Read more

RVIA Show Louisville Ky, Ready for Opening Day

Registration Entrance Well, our first full day in Louisville is drawing to a close with the only thing left to do being watching New Orleans and New England play football tonight.  We managed to get a bit of exploring done today, and yes, we did make it to Walmart to do our part to keep the local economy going here in Louisville.  I have also noticed that as the day has gone by, the RV park here at the Expo Center has started to fill up.  I was concerned that I would be the only “dedicated” RVer at the show, but that is not to be the case. Read more  Read More →

RVIA Show in Louisville Ky

It is Monday morning, Nov. 30, 2009, and we have arrived in Louisville to attend the RVIA show at the Kentucky Expo Center.  The show actually starts tomorrow, but we are taking this day to find our way around, sort of get the lay of the land.  We were originally planning to stay at a trailer park about 2 miles from here, but at the last minute we discovered that the Expo Center has its own RV park within walking distance of the show.  So, we are now parked at the Expo Center Rv park with 50 amps and full hookups.  I wouldn’t call this a “destination” RV park, given that it is really a parking lot with hookups, but the convenience is great, although a bit pricey at $50/nite.  The park is well lighted and at arrival we were greeted by a friendly attendent and then after registration was complete, we were ushered around the park on a golfcart, and allowed to select our “space” where it would be convenient to plug in and hook up. Since we arrived yesterday, after we got set up, we went exploring, and located the registration area and picked up a show program with the phrase, ” MOTORVATION” on the cover.  Inside there is a complete listing of exhibiters, including RV manufacturers and other vendors to the RV industry.  There is also a nice map of the convention floor with the names of the various manufacturers and the area where they will be located.  I went through the list of exhibitors which is a real “who’s who”... Read more

RVIA Show in Kentucky next week

Today is Tuesday Nov. 24, and for the last week or so I have been busy getting the motorhome ready for a trip to Kentucky next week to attend the RVIA show.  This is the annual “industry only” trade show that usually features what is new and exciting for the upcoming year in the RV industry.  We will be staying at a trailer park near the expo center where the show is going to be held and plan to spend as much time as we can, visiting various exhibitors and talking with industry insiders about their view of the RV market.  I am hoping to gather enough information to write a few articles on what we see and hear, and hopefully we will also post some photos of the new “hardware”. While talking to various attendees from the RV manufacturing segment, I would like to ask them questions that RVers are interested in asking.  If you have anything you would like to know, please leave a comment.  I am also planning to discuss the future of RVing and would like to pose any speculation readers might have about the future of our lifestyle. My wife will be with me and will be providing a woman’s perspective as well. Please leave your thoughts and comments and I will try to find out more information if I can. Larry  Read More →

RV Service: A View From The Other Side

All the RV forums and discussions relating to service issues are always from the point of view of the RV owner.  Not that there is anything wrong with that as they are the customer and did pay the big bucks.  But, what would it be like from the view on the other side of the service window? Read more  Read More →

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