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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 production as dealers, encouraged by an incentive program, restock their showrooms in anticipation of strong spring sales. The RV manufacturer is increasing output to fulfill the largest backlog of orders it has had in more than two years. In a press release, company president and chief operating officer, Derald Bontrager, called the rising demand “the first tangible indication that the RV industry has turned the corner.”
5. Thor Co-Founder Succumbs to Cancer: Motorhome tycoon Wade Thompson, a New Zealand native, died of cancer last week after a 14-year battle with the disease. Thompson founded Thor Industries with Peter Orthwein in 1980, and appeared on the cover of Forbes business magazine in 2004. Thompson, aged 69, is survived by his wife Angela, their two grown children and six grandchildren.
Under Thompson’s leadership, Thor continued to be profitable year after year. Thompson also contributed to cancer research and was deeply dedicated to the arts. You can read more about industry leader Wade Thompson in the Thor Industries press release PDF.
6. Olympic parking spots for recreational vehicles sitting empty: With less than three months until the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, only 80 campers have signed up for the 350 available RV camping sites at Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks. But the Vancouver parks board says it is confident bookings will soon balloon, due to a marketing campaign it launched last week. “We’ve been getting a ton of inquiries and it’s really ramping up,” said parks board spokeswoman Barb Floden. “It’s the million-dollar view for less than $100 a night.” According to the city’s www.vancouver2010rv.com site, motorhomes, truck campers and vans up to about 9 metres long (27 ft.) can be accommodated in spaces that are 6 metres wide (18 ft.). While tap water will be available, there are no utility hookups, and sewage pumping and propane services are extra. Both parks have restrooms with showers.
7. Tow Vehicle Safety Reminder from the Long Long Honeymoon: Sean Michael talks tow vehicle safety in this post. Pushing the limits of a tow vehicle/RV combination might seem fine. It might work 99% of the time. Then the 1% happens, and it becomes a disaster. Think about it this way: Suppose you have to make a sudden lane change at 70 MPH on a steep downhill grade in a stiff cross-wind? Would you feel safe? You want to be in complete control of your rig at all times.
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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. As it approaches, the sound turns to a roar with a tone similar to a combination of a train and a jet aircraft.
I experienced one tornado in Georgia some years ago. The slickly greenish sky was visible for some time prior, I would say for 20 minutes or so. That period of time, however, would vary depending on the speed the twister is actually making toward you. A visual sighting is, however, not always possible as the tornado may be somewhat imbedded in the approaching weather or the geographic characteristics of the area may obscure the view. If, however, you see the funnel, and it appears to stay in the same relative position, it may be headed directly for you. You should not try to out run it in the opposite direction. They can move very quickly, anywhere from a stand still to in excess of 60 MPH.
In North America, tornados generally move from the southwest to the northeast. This is not always the case. They do, on occasion veer east, southeast or back north and even northwest. With this in mind, if it seems to be heading directly towards you from a western direction, driving about 90 degrees left of the approaching twister would probably be your best course. Basically keeping the funnel straight off the right side of your vehicle. That is, if a suitable road going that way was available. If inevitably, you can not get out of its way, exit the vehicle and move a good distance from it. Seek shelter in a building if possible, or if not available find an area lower than that of the roadway such as a ditch. Lie in the recession, away from any trees, and cover your head with your hands.
But, what if you are caught in your RV or tow vehicle, with no time to exit and no place to go? Make sure everyone has their seatbelt on. Duck as low as you can below the dash level. If you are in an A class motor home, and you have an adequate number of seatbelts in the sofa located further back, go there. This will reduce your exposure to all the glass upfront and possibly flying debris. With a seatbelt fastened, bend as low as you can below the window level. Be sure everyone with you knows where the emergency escape exits are located and how to operate them.
There is no guaranteed answer to assure safety if caught in such a violet weather event. We can only do our best and hope for the best. Prevention is probably the number one tip when it comes to any violet weather event. Always check the expected weather conditions along the day’s route. Monitor a local radio station should the sky’s look threatening in any way. Consider getting a weather alert dedicated radio. Stay very alert to changing conditions, such as an increase in wind speed, a rapid wind direction shift, cloud texture and color, unusual cloud shapes and any other tell-tale signs.
So, have you ever been caught in a tornado or like storm? If you have, let’s hear about it.
With an Eye on The Weather - Lug_Nut - Peter Mercer
2005 Coachmen Freedom FR314SO
Previously $41,975 – Now $39,975
31 ft. Superslide, Raised floor design w/ ext. basement. Sleeps 6-8. Equipped with 4.0 generator, manual jacks, microwave, awning, hitch, antenna. GREAT FAMILY FLOORPLAN! Offered from Lloyd Bridges Traveland in Chelsea, MI. Learn more about this 2005 Coachmen Freedom FR314SO!
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VIDEO: Is this tow vehicle SAFE?!
Recently, we saw a fellow towing a 31-foot Airstream Classic with a minivan.
The Classic is the heaviest Airstream model. The 31-footer weighs about 10,000 pounds.
Does this seem like a wise combination to you?
On a similar note, a friend recently send me a photo of someone towing a 25-foot Airstream with a Saturn sedan. Wow, towing a 25-footer with a Saturn? I am impressed — and concerned.
Without running a numerical analysis, I’m immediately concerned about the stability of that rig. I don’t know the exact wheelbase and weight of the Saturn, but one must wonder how the rig handles on a windy day. What about the braking distance?
A secondary issue is the impact & wear upon the transmission of that tow vehicle. Would you want to buy that Saturn? I suspect the transmission is toast. This is why you should have an inspection performed when buying a used vehicle. But back to the more pressing issue of SAFETY…
Towing recommendations factor in a margin of safety for adverse conditions. If you are MAXING OUT the capacity of your tow vehicle, there’s little to no margin of safety when things go wrong. Suppose the wind picks up, or you have to make a sudden emergency maneuver. That’s when the combo gets dangerous. Accidents happen. People get killed. There’s much gnashing of teeth!
Just because something is possible, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Those old images of people towing Airstreams with bicycles are not meant to be taken literally. 
I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer here. To me, choice of tow vehicle is a safety issue. I want people to enjoy camping safely. You know, “arrive alive” and all that jazz. Pushing the limits of a tow vehicle / RV combination might seem fine. It might work 99% of the time. Then the 1% happens, and it becomes a disaster.
Think about it this way. Suppose you have to make a sudden lane change at 70 MPH on a steep downhill grade in a stiff cross-wind? Would you feel safe? You want to be in complete control of your rig at all times.
Please make certain your tow vehicle can SAFELY handle whatever RV you choose.
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For more RV videos, check out our website: LongLongHoneymoon.com
2007 Starcraft Aruba LITE 288RSBQ
2007 Starcraft Aruba LITE 288RSBQ
Previously $18,900 – Now $18,900
29 ft. wheelchair-accessible trailer with Rear Queen Bed Slideout, Booth Dinette w/Storage, Double Kitchen Sink, 3 Burner Range, Sofa Slideout, Front Folding Double Bed w/TV Shelf, and more! Offered from Dave Arbogast RV & Boat Depot in Troy, OH. Learn more about this 2007 Starcraft Aruba LITE 288RSBQ!
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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.
This is why you might want to consider purchasing a portable air compressor. But, air compressors can be confusing to understand, especially if you are trying to find one that is capable of increasing the inflation pressure in large motorhome tires. Let’s start with some air compressor basics.
Air compressors have 3 main ratings associated with them, horsepower (HP), Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) and Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). Understanding these 3 functions of an air compressor can help us select the right portable air compressor for the job.
We’ll start with horsepower. Unfortunately when it comes to air compressors manufacturers don’t do a great job of explaining it to the consumer, almost to the point some would consider false advertising. Manufacturers tend to over-inflate HP ratings, assuming if the consumer see’s 6 HP advertised, rather than 2 HP, they are more apt to purchase the higher HP rated compressor. This is true in many situations. If you’re a muscle car enthusiast you would definitely consider the HP rating of a vehicle before buying it, right? But if we take a closer look at horsepower, as it relates to air compressors, we can seek out the truth.
Horsepower was invented by an engineer by the name of James Watt. The same watt you think about when buying a light bulb. Watt is used as a measure of electrical and mechanical power. When we apply watts to HP, one HP is equivalent to 746 watts. So if you buy an air compressor rated at 6 HP and it operates on 120 volts it is, in a sense, a false rating. If you plug the compressor into a standard 15 amp, 120 volt circuit it would only produce about 2HP (voltage X amps = watts). The higher HP rating advertised is commonly referred to as peak HP, similar to a vehicles engine HP rating. The peak HP rating of a vehicle engine is only accurate at a higher RPM range (usually 5000 to 6,000 RPM’s), but rarely do you drive at 5,500 RPM’s. As for the air compressor it would require more amps, from a 240 volt circuit, to produce this peak HP rating.
The Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) is an important rating when it comes to portable air compressors. CFM is basically a measurement of the rate a compressor can deliver a volume of air. CFM varies with atmospheric pressure. It also varies with the temperature and humidity of the air. Air compressor manufacturers calculate Standard Cubic Feet per Minute (SCFM) as CFM at sea level with 68 degrees F, at 36% relative humidity.
Note: CFM ratings can be skewed by the manufacturer too. Let me explain
Let’s talk about our third rating, Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). For air compressors the CFM ratings are given at a specific PSI. In other words an air compressor rated at 3 CFM @ 90 PSI should be capable of delivering the 3 CFM at 90 PSI. The problem is air compressor manufacturers can advertise a higher CFM at a specific pressure because the air compressor is capable of delivering the rated CFM going from 0 to 90 PSI, but what is the true CFM delivered at 90 PSI. If your air tools or RV tires require a specific CFM rating at 90 PSI you more than likely won’t get it based on the advertised CFM @ a specific pressure. What this translates too is that it will take a long time to inflate some larger RV tires, if the compressor is in fact capable of inflating the tires at all.
When shopping for a portable air compressor the key is to try and find one that can deliver about 4 REAL CFM based on the REAL HP rating at 90 to 100 PSI.
If you have the storage room available, and you will have access to electricity, you can find some reliable pancake style portable compressors that will do a good job inflating tires and performing other small household jobs. If you prefer a battery operated portable air compressor I came across a model that looks like it can handle the job, while I was researching the topic. It’s by VIAIR and it was designed specifically for RV and other large tire inflation jobs. I am in no way affiliated with this product, but if you would like more information click here.
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
Thousands of POIs for Streets and Trips
by Chris Guld, www.GeeksOnTour.com
Back in 2004, we attended Life on Wheels, a week-long school for RVers. One of the best things we learned was about the Discovery Owners website and all the GPS data overlay files they made avaialble for programs like Streets and Trips. 
In case you’re unfamiliar, this data is called ‘Points of Interest’ or POI’s for short. The data file needs to have the name of the POI and the Latitude/Longitude coordinates. Then, when you load them into your program, they become markers on the map.
Our favorite file was a listing of all Passport America RV parks. We take advantage of the Passport America half-price deal whenever possible, so, having them show up on our Streets and Trips map that we use when we’re on the road is extremely handy.
Another time, we knew we were going to be driving till late and we just wanted a place to park and sleep before starting early again the next morning. The perfect scenario for Walmart. So, we downloaded the POI file for all the Walmarts and installed that on our Streets and Trips program. It helped a lot that day, but we really didn’t want *all* those markers on our map all the time, so we uninstalled it. That was a cumbersome process, one that prevented us from downloading and using very many POI files.
Install all POI’s then use Show/Hide
All that has changed. You can now get a file with over 200 POI sets, all the Flying J’s, Cracker Barrels, low bridges, Thousand Trails parks, Walmarts, and, of course, Passport America parks – just to name a few. All of these sets are in one data file. You can load it into Streets and Trips, then, with a feature new to S&T 2010, you can simply hide or unhide each pushpin (POI) set individually. At any time you can make one set of POIs visible, or invisible.
The usefulness of this mega-file and the show/hide feature of S&T 2010 cannot be overstated – we used it all the time during the last month. Jim says, ‘We’re getting low on gas, can you find where the next Flying J is?” I say, “Just a sec” I find ‘Flying J’ listed as a pushpin set, right-click on it and choose ’show.’ I can see a Flying J on our route in a short distance. I can even add it to our route so that Streets and Trips can remind us at the correct exit because I’m bound to find myself spacing out looking at the scenery at just the wrong time. Don’t you just hate it when your first view of the Fying J sign is in your rear view mirror? Whenever I feel that the Flying J icons are cluttering up my screen, I can just right-click on the set again and choose Hide.
If you have Streets and Trips, you can read more about this file, view a short video, and download the file for free at LaptopGPSWorld.com.
If you want to attend an RVing Educational Conference in the tradition of Life on Wheels – mark your calendar for June 3-6 for the RV Lifestyle, Education and Safety Conference in Bowling Green, KY. See RVSafety.com for more details.
Chris Guld
www.geeksontour.com
2009 Pleasure-Way Ascent TS
Previously $100,810 – Now $100,810
Class B on Dodge Sprinter, leather furniture, wall mounted flat-screen TV, fridge, microwave, window coverings, patio awning, and more! Offered from Giant Recreation World in Winter Garden, FL. Learn more about this 2009 Pleasure-Way Ascent TS!
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2005 Coachmen CONCORD
Previously $64,995 – Now $49,995
24 ft. gasoline coach w/ booth dinette, rear kitchen w/ 3-burner stove & microwave, sleeper sofa slideout, cabover TV, and more! Offered from Suncoast RV in Louisville, TN. Learn more about this 2005 Coachmen CONCORD!
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2008 National RV PC40E
Previously $257,198 – Now $257,198
Gasoline coach w/ full-length curb-side slideout, leather cab seats, leather pull-out sofa, dining table w/ 4 chairs, 4-door fridge, tiled floor, and more! Offered from Tennessee RV in Knoxville, TN. Learn more about this 2008 National RV PC40E!
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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.
At lot of RVers look at the desert as simply a warm place to get through the winter and take little effort to learn about the desert environment, the critters that call the desert home, and tenacious plants and wildflowers that survive the oven-like summer heat. As most desert visitors do after a couple of seasons, they begin to see beneath the desert’s monotone skirt, to notice the unique characteristics of desert life that enable it to thrive, the delicate balance between rain, wind, heat, sun, and arridity that stimulates wildflowers and perennials to rise from dormancy in the Spring and spread a riot of color across the deceptive lifeless face of the desert floor.
These second or third time visitors discovered the meaning of walking in the footsteps of hard-bitten ranchers whose cattle grazed across the Arizona savanna grasslands, of crusty miners and their trusty burros that dug holes and hauled tons of dirt, sand, and rocks from untold mines in search of the shiny yellow metal, of gunslingers and gamblers, missionaries and Mormons, highway robbers and cattle rustlers, settlers and sinners that crossed this “God forsaken land” from water hole to water hole on the Old Spanish Trail to find salvation, a healthier life, or vast riches. It’s all here in the southwest, famous shoot-’em-up Old West towns like Tombstone, copper mining boomtowns like Bisbee, and the relics and once prosperous but now deserted pueblos of pre-historic Native Americans. So if you’ve thought of the desert as just a warm, dry respite, think again. If you’ve never taken the seasonal snowbird migration, never boondocked in the open desert, maybe it’s time. And even if you’ve come for a season or two, take another look.
Learn more about the desert, some unique boondocking and camping locations, find lots of links to additional information, and tips for boondocking in the desert in my new eBook, Snowbirds Guide to Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts.
2009 Keystone Bullet 282BHS
Previously $21,995 – Now $21,995
31 ft. travel trailer sleeps 10, with Rear Corner Double Bed Bunk w/Exterior Storage Below, Rear Corner Bath w/Private Entry Including Tub/Shower, U-Shaped Dinette, Sofa Slideout, Front Queen Bed, Laundry Chute and More! and more! Offered from Dave Arbogast RV & Boat Depot in Troy, OH. Learn more about this 2009 Keystone Bullet 282BHS!
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Bicycle Museum Of America
We found a wonderful attraction in the charming small town of New Bremen, Ohio, the Bicycle Museum of America. 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.
The museum, one of the largest private collections of bicycles in the world, was the brainchild of Jim Dickie 
II, of the Crown Equipment Company, which is located in New Bremen. Crown is a leading manufacturer of forklifts and other material handling equipment. In 1997, Dickie purchased the extensive Schwinn Bicycle Collection, which was previously located at the Navy Pier in Chicago, and moved it to New Bremen. The museum opened its doors on July 25, 1997.
Housed in a beautiful old gingerbread storefront, visitors to the museum are greeted with a friendly staff eager to share the stories of the hundreds of bicycles on display. A visit begins with a short video on the museum and the different types of bicycles included in the collection. From there, visitors can explore two floors of beautiful bicycles and see hundreds of examples of antique bicycle club badges, bicycle safety equipment, and bikes that will both delight and amaze.
The oldest bicycle in the collection is an 1816 Draissine, which consisted of two wooden wheels connected to a wooden beam. The rider straddled the beam and propelled himself with his feet against the ground, steering with the front wheel while leaning his forearms on an 
upholstered balancing board to maintain equilibrium. A brake on the rear wheel could be activated by pulling a leather cord attached to the balancing board. The Drassine was more a nobleman’s folly than a serious mode of transportation, but it was one of a long line of inventions that eventually led to the modern bicycle.
Big strides were made in bicycle design by the 1870s when the Shire Boneshaker, with its large wooden front wheel and pedals, was introduced.
By the 1880s, high wheel bicycles, some with wheels as tall as 60 inches, were all the rage, and the museum has an extensive collection of this style bikes to admire, including a beautiful 1889 Eagle. With this design, the larger the front wheel, the faster the bike could go.
Bicycles were not just playthings or toys for the well to do. Throughout history they were used for commercial purposes ranging from delivering messages to parcels, and as hired transportation, to carrying policemen on patrol. They also saw military service. The museum has an excellent example of the 1891 Columbia Light Roadster, more commonly known as “the soldier’s bicycle.”
Among the museum’s many bicycles are some real oddities including an 1895 Schwinn World Triplet that could carry three riders at once. Another rare bicycle on display is the 1896 Schwinn Family Tandem, designed to carry two adults and a child in a special carrier between the riders. This bike was built for Mr. and Mrs. Ignaz Schwinn and their son Frank, who would grow up to become president of the company.
Another rare bicycle on display at the museum is the Schwinn Paramount Racer, sporting a huge 57 tooth sprocket. Riding this bike on May 17, 1941, Alfred “the Red Devil” Letourner set a world record when he achieved a speed of 108.92 miles per hour. It took three miles to get up to speed and then four miles to stop!
Museum visitors can take a ride down memory lane with all of the nice bicycles dating from the 1950s and 1960s. Do you remember special edition bicycles, such as the Hopalong Cassidy model, which came complete with cap pistols and a headlight to search out those rustlers and other bad guys in black hats?
Moviegoers will surely remember the modified 1940s Schwinn, christened the “X1 bicycle,” that was ridden by actor Paul Herman in the 1985 movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.
Bicycle racing has been a popular sport ever since the first rider climbed on board and challenged the next guy to come along, and the museum’s racing bicycles range from an 1898 Wright Brothers St. Claire that Wilbur Wright won many medals with to the 2004 Trek Madone SL that helped Lance Armstrong win his sixth Tour de France victory.
Whatever your interest, from elegant antique bicycles from the 1800s, to the balloon tire classics of the 1940s and 1950s and even the banana seat high rise handlebar bikes of the 1960s, you’ll find it on display at the Bicycle Museum Of America.
Not every bike in the museum is just for admiring at a distance. If you have ever wanted to see what the world looks like from the seat of a high wheel model, they have one you can climb up on.
Though the bicycle museum is probably New Bremen’s main tourist attraction, be sure to spend a few minutes checking out the restored lock from the Ohio and Erie Canal, located next to the bicycle museum. At one time New Bremen was a major stop on this inland waterway that was built to help move goods from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.
The Bicycle Museum Of America is located at 7 West Monroe Street in New Bremen and is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, and $1 for students. The museum’s parking lot will not accommodate larger RVs, but you should be able to park on a side street within walking distance. For more information, call the museum at (419) 629-9249.
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 greatly. There are many accidents that are a result of driving in high wind conditions. These range from damaging a mirror from striking a passing truck to leaving the road due to loss of control.
Know your vehicle and control level in windy conditions. If you are driving with white knuckles or become nervous, you have passed your RV’s comfort level. Slow it down. As a general rule, I reduce speed by 10% when wind conditions are between 15 and 20 MPH and additionally a further 10% for every 10 MPH over 20. Never however, on a clear day, albeit windy, drive at a speed less than the minimum posted. If such a speed is warranted due to wind, it is time to stop. Winds approaching 50 MPH can cause dangerous driving conditions, and even more so if it is also gusty. In high winds or when you are out of your comfort level, either stop for the day or re-route to a slower road where you can drive with full lane control. In many cases driving or towing an RV in winds at or above 50 MPH may endanger both property and safety of yourself, your passengers and those in the immediate area. Remember, you might be able to hang onto it, but can that panel truck passing you?
Can RV’s blow over? Yes, all RV’s are capable of being upset by the wind force. Fortunately, in general, it takes a considerable wind force, far more than you would think to flip a trailer or motor home. Of course there are many factors that vary the wind speed required to cause this to a given vehicle.
Heavy Torrential Rain – Heavy downpours can present a challenge. The faster you are travelling the worse the affect will be. Windshield wipers, in many cases, can not remove the sheets of water quick enough. Additionally, forward visibility is greatly reduced making it difficult to see the road surface and other vehicles, both of which are important to observe. It is important to watch for puddle build up to avoid possible loss of control in a deep water body, and other vehicles that are running ahead and beside you. Careful observation of smaller vehicles, like cars, is important. As you may be sitting much higher in your tow vehicle or motor home, you are impeded far less by the ground spray. This ground spray is caused by the rain drops bouncing off the road surface creating far lower visibility for several feet above the road. For this reason, be prepared for these vehicles to slow abruptly. This can be deceiving if you are viewing them from a high class A coach. They may appear to be slowing too much. This is due to their visibility being far less than yours as your view is somewhat higher above the road. During any rain event be sure to turn on your headlights, even if your vehicle is equipped with daytime running lights. Tire spray can obscure the rear of your rig, and the taillights will help other drivers see you.
During any heavy downpour, it is wise to pull over and wait it out. This however, is difficult with a large vehicle or vehicle combination. Avoid pulling to the side or shoulder of a highway unless absolutely necessary. This area is far too dangerous as trucks and cars pass closely by. A rest stop or other large area is ideal. These heavy precipitations usually are very short lived, so you can soon be on the road again.
Lightning – Lightning can be dangerous, even while you are in your RV, driving or stopped. During lightning storms avoid contact with items that are grounded to the chassis, such as door handles or seat belt anchors. In case of a vehicle strike, these may become conductors for the high voltage discharge. If you are able to stop during an electrical storm, do not park near tall trees or telephone poles for fear they are brought down on your rig.
The speed of sound travels at roughly 1200 feet per second, this varies slightly depending on humidity and temperature. Therefore, you can calculate about how far the current lightning is from you by counting the seconds between, seeing the flash, and hearing the thunder. Dividing the number of seconds by 5 will give you an idea of the distance it is from you in miles. Remember though, if you are travelling at 60 miles per hour, you may be shortening that distance at the rate of 1 mile per minute.
These are just some of the thoughts of driving and dealing with common weather events. Next week, we will look at the chance encounter of a potential violet event, such as a tornado. We will examine how to possibly spot early signs of an oncoming tornado and how best to deal with it while driving.
With a Storm Safe Forecast - Lug_Nut - Peter Mercer
2007 Monaco Cayman 36PDQ
Previously $142,000 – Now $120,000
36 ft. diesel coach w/ only 12,025 mi. Features 4 slideouts, sleeps 4, leather cab seats, 2 roof A/C, wood flooring and more! Offered from Enterprise RV in Kelowna, BC. Learn more about this 2007 Monaco Cayman 36PDQ!
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Gotta Have Internet
We’ve said it before, … and I’ll say it again, If you really *need* the Internet, you need more than one way to connect. On the road, that means wireless, and there are 3 ways – Wi-Fi, Cellular, and Satellite. See our video on High Speed Internet on the Road: 3 Ways to Connect.
We’re at a hotel in San Jose, California at the moment, and we’re using the in-room Wi-Fi … at $12.95/day! But, just now I tried to use the Wi-Fi and, even though I connected fine, there was no Internet. So, I used the Ethernet cable and plugged it into the wall connection for ‘Network.’ All is well. Wired is always better than wireless if you have that option.
You may be wondering why we’re in a hotel in San Jose? This is where Google headquarters are, and they invited us to be on a panel to discuss customer support issues. We will also be co-hosting a Webinar (seminar on the web) on Picasa. If you take digital photos – we highly recommend using Picasa, a free program from Google. Please join us for this free webinar on Friday, November 13 at 10am Pacific time.
Wired is Better than Wireless – usually
We are spending the winter season at our home park, Paradise Island RV Resort. There is WiFi here, and it is pretty good right now. But as more “snow birds” flock to the park and connect, the bandwidth and speeds do suffer. And a single infected computer can really bring things to a crawl.
We have the option of a wired connection here because there are phone connections at all the sites. I called AT&T and had our site set up with high-speed DSL for the months we will be here. They have a month-to-monthplan where you can get only data if you do not need a voice line and pay $47/mo for the highest speed. That is perfect for us, because we use our Verizon cell phones and Google Voice.
We were very happy with the speeds on our DSL connection until the DSL stopped working Friday. Tech support determined the line was bad and a tech would be out in the morning.
Back to Wireless
To get work done, I connected to the WiFi. It worked pretty good, but it wasn’t as fast as our dedicated DSL
The tech didn’t make it in the morning, but he did call and said he would be out at 2pm. He was here promptly at 2 and traced the problem to 2600 feet from our site. He found the problem, connected me back up, and we were back in business!
I sure hope that doesn’t happen again. But we are prepared. If the DSL goes down, I’ll connect to the park WiFi. If that is not good enough, I’ll turn on the Verizon Cellular Broadband.
What will we do next year when we are traveling out west? Cellular and WiFi is not always available. We will probably need to upgrade our MotoSat DataStorm satellite Internet system because we Gotta Have Internet!
2009 Heartland Razor 3612TS
Previously $50,239 – Now $35,967
38 ft. toy hauler sleeps 8, w/ 3 slideouts, glass-enclosed corner shower, oven, microwave, ABS, Audio Upgrade Package, loft bunk and more! Offered from Vacationland in Big Rock, IL. Learn more about this 2009 Heartland Razor 3612TS!
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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.
Click here to listed to this podcast on Buried Logic or click on the link below to listen via iTunes.
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Mary Burrows
Guest Intro/Interview
Our guest today is Mary Burrows. Mary is the Manager of Chemical Development at Thetford Corporation, the world’s leading maker of portable and permanent RV toilets, and the holding tank deodorants and related additive products used in and on RVs. Mary received her Bachelor’s degree from Albion College in 1980, with majors in Chemistry and English. She has worked at Thetford for over twenty years, and spend much of her time researching and developing RV deodorant and cleaning products. She is a recognized expert in the area of treating holding tank waste and the deodorants used in RVs, and is called upon repeatedly for her knowledge and experience in this field.
EPA: Design for the Environment
In a study conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, and summarized in Packaging Digest in Feb 2009:
“Four out of five people say they are still buying green products and services today – which sometimes cost more – even in the midst of a U.S. recession.”
“Half of the 1,000 people surveyed say they are buying just as many green products now as before the economic downturn, while 19% say they are buying more green products.
Fourteen percent say they are buying fewer environmentally green products.”
“About one in three say they don’t know how to tell if green claims are true. One in 10 consumers blindly trust green product claims.”
“Consumers are verifying green claims by reading the packaging (24%) and turning to research (going online, reading studies, 17%).”
In an article from Brandweek in Feb 2009, quoting from a study by Mintel:
“A $17.7 million business in 2003, the Chicago-based market research company says the green cleaning category quadrupled sales to $64.5 million by 2008. by 2013, Mintel anticipates eco-friendly cleaners will do an astounding $623 million in business and account for 30 percent of the household cleaners market by then (compared with 3 percent last year)”.
“Green Works brought green cleaning products into mainstream supermarkets, which have seen green sales increase more than 170% from 2007-08 and market share rise 16 percentage points.”
As you can see green is growing rapidly. Many manufacturers want to claim their products are green. The only way to know for certain if a product is green is to look for products that are certified or recognized green by a third party.
Green Washing
7 Sins of Green Washing
Mary Burrows Final Thoughts
Buried Logic Closing by Host Brian Brawdy
To learn more about Mary Burrows and the Thetford Corporation, please visit www.Thetford.com
Contact us at Buried Logic:
Brian Brawdy: BuriedLogic.com
Michael Mauro: MauroMedia.com
2009 Forest River Ridgeview 360
2009 Forest River Ridgeview 360
Previously $164,752 – Now $119,999
36 ft. diesel Class C w/ 3 slideouts, leather cab seats, leather sleeper sofa & chair, cabover entertainment center, Microwave/Convection Oven, Ducted A/C and more! Offered from Fun Time RV, Inc. in Tualatin, OR. Learn more about this 2009 Forest River Ridgeview 360!
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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.
The first piece of the puzzle is knowing how much propane is in your RV cylinders or tank when full. Remember an RV propane cylinder or tank is full at 80% of its capacity to allow for expansion. Wait until your cylinder or tank is nearly empty and the next time you have it filled ask the attendant how much it holds.
The next step is to multiply your propane container capacity using one of these formulas, (gallons or pounds), to determine the container BTU capacity.
- BTUs per gallon equal 91,502.
- BTUs per pound equal 21,548.
Now, divide your container BTU capacity by the total BTU demand of the LP gas appliances you plan to use. BTU appliance demand can normally be found on the appliance itself, or in the appliance owner’s manual.
This will give you an idea of how long you can expect your LP gas to last.
For example: If your RV propane container holds 14 gallons of LP gas when it’s full, you multiply 14 X 91,502. The result is 1,281,028. Now divide this figure by the total BTU demand of any LP gas appliances you will be using. Let’s say, for the sake of an example, the total BTU demand will be 43,800 BTUs. In this case you would have approximately 29 hours of use before running out of LP gas.
However, keep in mind that the amount of LP gas in the container and varying temperatures will affect these calculations too. This is especially true in cold weather. At temperatures below zero degrees the per hour container BTU capacity will be reduced by 50% or more.
Calculating propane usage can give you a general idea of how long you can use your LP gas fired appliances before needing to find a propane filling station.
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
Help a Child this Christmas
Those of you that are familiar with my column know that I typically write about suspension, handling and braking issues that affect all types of RVs. I’m committed to helping RV owners experience safer and happier driving, and I’m always looking for new ways that I can help. But it’s at this time of year that I think about something else that I’m committed to: helping children around the world that are less fortunate than ourselves.
We often see commercials about helping poor or starving children and wonder what we can do about it, or tell ourselves that we can’t afford to donate money. That is why I’m such a big supporter of Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child (OCC). You simply fill a shoe box (or similarly sized box) with toys, hygiene, school supplies (or all of the above), and Samaritan’s Purse will deliver it to a needy child somewhere in the world. They make it very easy with a variety of drop off locations in your area—all you have to do is type in your area code. Samaritan’s Purse provides complete details at their website www.samaritanspurse.org. SuperSteer employees not only contribute their own shoeboxes to the cause, but SuperSteer is an official relay center, and every year we use our trucks to transport thousands of shoeboxes to Roseburg, Oregon where they are picked up for shipment. Once we saw how much good these shoeboxes do for children, we wanted to help in every way possible.
If you would like to help a child in need, please contact Samaritan’s Purse. Collection dates are November 16-23.
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 hookups. Now is the time to visit the park. It is open all year, though we got snowed on one Christmas we spent in the park. The first rate visitor center provides lots of information on the area as well as interpretive displays. This is an interesting and unique destination, and a break between your summer home and your winter snowbird roosting area.
For the complete guide to boondocking, check out my eBook, BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands.
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 that many hands and cash out whatever you have in winnings. You might lose the whole $10, or hit a jackpot, but on average you’ll cash out a little less than $5.
Cash rebates are easier. Normally they require you to sign up for a player’s card and then visit the cashier’s cage to receive your rebate.
Whatever the deal is, be sure to ask questions and fully understand the “fine print”.
Happy travels, and good luck in the casinos.
RV Weekly Round-Up (Oct. 31 – Nov. 6, 2009)
Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week.
1. Carbon Monoxide Reminder: Mark Polk reminds us 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! Take a moment to review Mark’s cautionary tips, and don’t forget to change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector!
2. DVDs: ‘On the Road With Charles Kuralt: Set 1′: The Los Angeles Times reviews a new DVD set of the classic CBS TV series “On the Road with Charles Kuralt,” in which CBS reporter Kuralt set off in an RV to nowhere in particular “to see what was happening there.” He went off-the-beaten-path to find everyday people from all walks of life, which makes the show endlessly watchable even 40 years later.
3. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces America’s Byways ® Designations for 2009: If you’re looking for fresh scenic roads to travel during your RV adventures, check the list of 42 roads newly designated to the America’s Byways collection. These stretches of highway are found in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
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?
Not surprisingly, there are a small percentage of totally unreasonable owners. Those customers that come in screaming, wanting everything for nothing, insisting on replacing with new in lieu of repair, never happy with anything, and so on. Unfortunately, as small as the percent may be, these people take a toll on dealers’ service personnel. This never-happy group erodes service employee’s attitude, ultimately affecting their performance, thus affecting many others. Those others are people, perhaps like you and me.
This really is nothing new. A small minority spoiling it for everyone. We see rules in other avenues of our lives that seem unreasonably restrictive, all put in place because of a minority of people that will not act responsibly nor be accountable. Pet restrictions in some areas because of lazy owners come to mind. But, let’s get back to the topic. Understanding what it is like from the other side of the service counter.
Communication from the customer to the service writer is critical. But there are many customer personalities that try to describe their issues, or at least their perception of the problems. This, in itself, can lead to a wide variance as to what may be wrong or what might, in fact, be normal. Once the customer has conveyed all this information and it has been written up, the technician gets the work order. Now, the tech translates what he believes the issues are and the work commences.
So, what part of this communication may be skewed in passing the real information? Well, it could be a number of things. A customer fails to mention that the problem is an intermittent issue. That is, sometimes it works, other times it does not. The lack of that information, and when it is tried and seems to work, may lead the tech to thinking it was not operated correctly. Here is an example that actually happened. A motor home owner discovered that his air horns would not work. He thought at first that the air valve had froze as the temperature was quite cool that morning. His thought was confirmed later in the day while he travelled and again tried the horns. They worked fine. But, an hour later he tested them again and, no sound. This went on for his entire cross country trip, they work fine sometimes and other times not. Upon his return home, he took the unit to the dealer for both regular maintenance and to correct several issues, the horns being one. In conveying the issues he failed to point out to the service writer that the horn failure was an intermittent problem. Once the technician had the work order he proceeded to make the necessary repairs and corrections. The air horns, however, appeared to work fine. He tested them several times and then again upon completion of all the servicing. They worked fine. This lead the tech to believing that the owner had probably forgot to turn the on/off switch that controls the power to the control valve. He checks it off as okay.
The next time the owner uses the motor home, about two weeks after picking it up from the dealer, he uses the horn to greet an oncoming friend. It does not work, only the small electric horns sound. He then tries it several times to no avail. At this point he was so upset at this he changes direction and drives directly to the dealer. Upon arriving he approaches the service manager, who was currently involved with another customer. He interrupted the two and started ranting about their terrible service. He demanded they drop everything they were doing and attend to this at once. He also then starts questioning everything else they did on his coach and adds that he wants a full refund for all the work they did.
The original tech that performed the work went out to check it. He was accompanied by the unhappy owner who continued to insult him and the dealership. The tech, having trouble getting a word in edgewise, finally managed to say he had tested it and it had worked fine. At this point the irate customer screams that it works sometimes, but that it should work all the time. This was news to the tech as no such information was presented at the time of repair. The tech then immediately started the engine and cycled the air pressure, soon revealing the problem. The solenoid controlled pneumatic valve would only operate when the air pressure was at or below about 105 psi. This rendered it intermittent depending on the current system pressure. Within the next 30 minutes a new valve was in place and the horns operated as they should.
This customer, still unhappy, now turns his rant into “The only way to get things fixed right is to start yelling, then things happen”. He may or may not ever return to this dealer for service, but he will tell everyone he talks to how terrible the service is there and how he straightened them out.
This clearly was not the fault of the dealer. As simple as the problem was, the customer did not clearly define the issue, if he had, the tech would have taken a different approach as he finally did after finding out. The old adage “Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken” is still the general rule. The fault lies purely on the coach owner for failing to adequately communicate all the needed information. However, the owner wins, and unfairly, the dealer loses.
Dealers also have to work with the manufacturer on a daily basis where warranty service is involved. These dealings also require accurate communications and procedures that are time consuming. In many cases the dealer loses money on much of their warranty service. The following actual happenings of a dealer warranty service demonstrates the issue.
The dealer sells and services travel trailers manufactured by a popular RV company. A customer with a trailer that is still under warranty complains about a heavily hazed lens on an outside light. The following procedure is followed.
- The service writer accompanies the owner and looks at the issue.
- The service writer gets the serial number and writes up the work order.
- The service writer gets a digital camera and photographs the subject light.
- The service writer passes the work order and camera to his service coordinator.
- The service co-coordinator copies the photo to a computer and prepares a factory warranty request complete with photo and sends it.
- After lunch, with no approval yet received, the coordinator phones the factory. Shortly the approval to replace the $3.50 lens arrives by e-mail.
- The coordinator passes the work order to a tech, who, as it is raining, takes a forklift and bring the unit into the shop.
- The tech goes to the storeroom and logs out the new lens.
- The tech removes the old lens and installs the new one.
- The service coordinator is called by the tech to photograph the new lens in place which is done.
- The tech uses the forklift and pulls the trailer back out into the lot.
- The coordinator downloads the photo to a computer and fills in the required warranty information and sends it.
Now, with a little luck, in a few weeks payment from the factory will arrive. Full payment for the dealer cost of the lens and the allowed 0.1 flat rate labor. This equates to 6 minutes of labor allowance. This is not an isolated case, and repeats with similar types of time consuming jobs that pay little.
Larger warranty jobs can also be a financial challenge. A case in point was an axle replacement which, after some lengthy communications with the factory, was approved at the cost of about $6,000. Upon completion of the work, the taking and sending of photos and needed paperwork, the dealer awaited payment. When over a month later, with no reimbursement, the dealer followed up with countless calls, all to no avail. Three months later, without explanation, the payment showed up, $4,000. The dealer was out $2,000 and would now have to fight to find out how he could get the balance.
Additionally to these events, it is common for the dealer to receive no payment for some warranty work, with a simple “Warranty Denied” message. All of these were in fact pre-approved by the factory.
Now, please do not think I’m throwing the manufacturers under the bus. They too have to deal with these unreasonable belligerent customers. They may also have had experiences with unscrupulous dealers that bill for fraudulent warranty repairs. Unfortunately, again a small minority may have spoiled it for all, leading to these never ending hoops that honest dealers must jump.
The dealer that experienced the warranty lens and axle replacement indicated the following. It would be cheaper to just supply and do the work for minor repairs at no charge. This would probably be less costly than incurring the labor required to do the photos, downloads, paperwork, and needed follow up. This particular dealer seemed very customer service orientated and feels strong about taking care of those that purchase from him. He did, however, indicate a reluctance to perform warranty work on units that he did not sell, purely because of the financial loss that occurs. The only exception would be a stranded unit owner. In this case he would gratefully help them out. This is certainly a dealer that I would like to buy from.
So, next time things don’t seem to be going right with your RV and your service provider, perhaps you should cut them some slack. It is not always what we think it is.
The Coin Has Two Sides - Lug_Nut - Peter Mercer
Note: The incidents and events, herein described, may not necessarily represent the policies of all manufacturers or dealers. The sole purpose of this is meant for interest and discussion.
RV Doctor – Connecting Fuel Line Directly to Generator?
Dear RV Doc,
Is it possible to connect a fuel line from the gas tank directly to the generator that I have added to my 23-foot Honey motorhome? Can we do it ourselves? I’ve been looking for any technical help for so long. Hopefully, you are the right one. - Marciano Miego, (Savannah, GA)
Answer:
Marciano, yes you can tap into the existing fuel tank on your coach, however, it’s best to plumb the generator directly to the fuel take-off assembly at the top of the tank. Typically the dip tube, (that section of hose that protrudes into the tank) ends about one-quarter of the depth up from the bottom so that it will be impossible to have the generator run the tank completely empty of fuel. As a private RV owner, you can simply “tee” into the existing line going to the engine, but this practice is not recommended or endorsed. Engine starvation problems can result plus it would then be possible for the generator to run the tank empty.
Most fuel take-off assemblies on RVs with a van chassis like yours will have a separate tap on the take-off assembly you can use. If not, you’ll have to obtain one from the chassis maker. But it will be necessary to drain and partially drop the existing fuel tank in order to gain access to the take-off assembly on the top of the tank. Thanks for your question; hopefully I was the right one!
(Please feel free to comment, however, please also note that due to the volume of communications I receive from multiple channels I cannot guarantee a personal response in every instance. However, questions of an overall general interest may be considered and published in an upcoming RV Doctor column.)
Bonding and Grounding Portable Generators
A few weeks ago I started a series of articles on bonding and grounding of portable generators when used with RVs. Those articles stirred up quite a bit of conversation which is a good thing. We still have a couple of subjects to cover in this discussion so let’s get started with checking your generator to determine if it is already bonded. Remember, when we talk about bonding in the context of this subject, we are talking about connecting the neutral of the generator to the ground of the generator. Also remember that this specific bonding is to be done in only one place according to national electrical code.
30 amp RV receptacle
In order to determine if your generator is already bonded you will need a multimeter which is capable of checking ohms or continuity. Keep in mind that continuity is a specific check of resistance, except the resistance for “continuity” is zero or very low. Next you will have to identify the neutral and the ground contacts on the generator output. Most likely we are talking about a generator that has either 120vac, 20 amp output or 120vac, 30 amp output connectors. The typical 30 amp receptacle has three connections as shown in the photograph of a TT-30R. Looking at this receptacle, the ground connection is at the top and looks like it is round. The two slanted slots at the bottom are the hot and the neutral connections, with the neutral being the slot on the right and the hot being the slot on the left. In order to determine if your generator is bonded properly for use on an RV, you should check for continuity between the neutral connection and the ground connection. If you are using the ohms setting on the multimeter, set the meter to the lowest ohms range and check for zero ohms between the two connections.
If your generator is bonded properly per the above test, there is nothing else you need to do because your generator is bonded.
Next time we will explain how to accomplish the necessary bonding if needed and discuss proper grounding of a portable generator.
2009 Fleetwood Icon
Previously $106,604 – Now $86,978
Model 24D, Sprinter Chassis Mercedes Diesel, booth dinette slideout, cabover bunk, leather cab seats, rear queen bed, 3-burner stove, and more! Offered from Reliable RV Center in Springfield, MO. Learn more about this 2009 Fleetwood Icon!
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2009 Gulf Stream F25FBH
Previously $19,995 – Now $17,995
Features queen bed, oven, microwave, booth dinette, double bunk beds, dry bath and more! Offered from Mark’s RV & Boat Superstore in Churchville, NY. Learn more about this 2009 Gulf Stream F25FBHM!
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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.
In RV’s Carbon Monoxide Gas usually results from:
* Exhaust leaks from either a vehicle engine or a generator.
* Improper use of portable gas powered heaters.
* Someone else’s vehicle or generator when camping in close quarters.
* Malfunctioning or unvented LP gas appliances
First of all, if your RV doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector you need to purchase a battery operated carbon monoxide detector designed for use in RV’s. Test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV. Replace the carbon monoxide detector batteries when you change clocks for daylight savings time.
* Inspect the generator exhaust system before using the generator, every time.
* Avoid leaving windows down and roof vents open when in close proximity to vehicle and/or generator exhaust.
* Follow all directions and safety cautions and warnings when operating gas powered heaters.
* If you use a portable generator direct the exhaust away from the camping area.
* Never use the range burners or oven to heat the RV!
* When cooking with the range burners use the range fan & leave a window cracked open for fresh air and ventilation.
Teach everybody how to recognize carbon monoxide symptoms. Carbon monoxide symptoms are similar to flu symptoms, but without the fever. Symptoms include:
* Dizziness
* Vomiting
* Nausea
* Muscular twitching
* Intense headache
* Throbbing in the temples
* Weakness and sleepiness
* Inability to think coherently
If you or anyone else experiences any of these symptoms get to fresh air immediately. If the symptoms persist seek medical attention. Shut the vehicle or generator down and do not operate it until it has been inspected and repaired by a professional.
A basic understanding of what carbon monoxide gas is, how to avoid exposure, and what the symptoms are can save lives. Make sure everybody in your home and/or RV is aware of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Watch a carbon monoxide safety video clip
For more in-depth information on RV safety check out our RV Safety DVD.
Happy & Safe Winter Camping,
Mark J. Polk
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