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 →

Southwestern deserts: More than just a warm place

By Bob Difley 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. When the cold wind blowing down from Alaska makes your ears numb, and the specter of  freezing rain and snow looms on the horizon, images of sunny skies, flowering cacti, and photos of smiling RVers in shorts and T-shirts lounging in camp chairs outside their RVs in Quartzsite, Arizona, can be powerful magnets luring us south. 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

Green Washing Podcast with Brian Brawdy & Thetford’s Mary Burrows

Do you ever get tired of the spin, of being lied to, or worse yet, of being misled in a strategic way? It is popular now for the media to talk Green. To that end, advertisers will do anything they can to jump on the Green bandwagon. In this episode you will learn how to spot Green spin and Green washing from a mile away. Join me in this hour long podcast as I speak with Mary Burrows, Head Chemist at Thetford Corporation. Read more  Read More →

RV Educated? Calculating Propane Usage

 Did you ever plan an RV trip to a remote area and wonder how long the LP gas in your LP cylinders or LP tank would last? If so there is a way there is a way to roughly calculate propane usage.  Read more  Read More →

High Desert Fall Destination: Valley of Fire

By Bob Difley Getting chilly? Thinking it might be time to head south? Away from that increasingly cold wind coming down out of Alaska and Canada? Or maybe you’re waiting for the holidays to come so you can spend time with family. However, if you are not tied down with family or other obligations, you might want to consider getting a head start, but instead of heading directly for your winter digs, try a different location for a week or so, a high desert location that would be too cold in mid-winter but might be downright comfortable right now. One place that comes to mind is Valley of Fire State Park in the Mojave Desert 55 miles north of Las Vegas and only six miles from Lake Mead. Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park and gets its name from the the park’s red sandstone formations. This park brings out the little boy on all of us, climbing the rocks, peering into eroded caves and through holes and arches, and giving names to the odd formations–such as bee hives, elephant rock, and grand piano. In addition you can find petrified logs, big horn sheep, Indian petroglyphs, secret slot canyons, an old movie site, and a rainbow of colors in the geologic formations.  Paved scenic drives access most of the park’s attractions, but several hikes wind in and out of the strange and mysterious rocky formations. There are primitive, nicely private, first-come-first-serve campsites tucked in the rock formations and some have water and electricity... Read more

Casino Camping for Non-Gamblers

When we first started fulltiming, about 5 years ago, I was surprised to learn that some people who camp or park at casinos never gamble.  Gambling had been a hobby of ours for many years so it seemed odd to us, but since then we’ve met many RVers who do this.  Why do they visit casinos?  They tell me it’s all about the free parking, and free or low cost camping.  Not all casino camping is free or low cost, but much of it is.  Here are a few examples, from some locations that I’ve recently updated or added to our list: Isle of Capri, Lake Charles, LA has both free overnight parking without hookups and $10/night with electric Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Sunland Park, NM offers RV sites with water and electric for $10/night and has a dump station on site. Win-River Casino, Redding, CA gives you 3 nights free dry parking. Sometimes casinos require play to receive discounts in their RV parks, and rates change too, so if you see a low price advertised it’s good to inquire before you start your trip.  We’ve also seen the opposite, where a casino gives you “free play” or a cash rebate in return for staying in their campground. This is often as much as 50% off the price of camping.  Their intention of course is to get you into the casino.  Free play has to be run through a machine before you can cash it out.  If they give you $10 free play pick a machine, then figure how many hands you have to play to equal $10.  Play exactly... 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 →

Carbon Monoxide Reminder

Every year, around this time, I like to remind people about the dangers of carbon monoxide gas. Whether in your home or your RV, when you fire up the furnace and bring out the portable heaters to help stay warm, there is the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide gas is invisible, odorless, and deadly! It is produced by the partial combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. This includes gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, wood, & coal. It is extremely serious when combustion by-products are not vented outside. Carbon Monoxide is the number one cause of poisoning deaths each year. Let’s take a look at what we can do to prevent the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.   Read more  Read More →

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