Tow Cars and Towables – Part 2 – Bernice’s Tips

Today in Part 2 of my series on Tow Cars and Towables, I give some general tips for using a trailer and begin my tips for towing a car behind your motorhome. If you haven’t begun towing a car yet, trust me when I say that once you give it a try, you’ll be glad you did!

Here are general tips for using a trailer:

• Check the air pressure in your spare tires.
• Use a checklist before driving away from home or a campsite.
• Do a last walk around the rig, looking under and over for missed details.
• Torque the lug nuts on the wheels.
• Check turn signals and brake, four-way, backup, and running lights every time you hook up the trailer to your vehicle.
• When driving, keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. If you can read the license plate of the vehicle in front of you, you are too close.
• Keep to the right when being passed by trucks.
• Don’t drive in the blind spot of trucks.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your CB radio and cell phone in good working order. Pay attention to weather conditions.
• Take a break every 100 miles or two hours to keep alert and get circulation.

	Be safe, be courteous, be patient, be calm, be friendly, and enjoy! - William Bucher, Biglerville, PA
	Put white lithium grease on the trailer ball. It helps stop squeaking and rust and is a good ground for the wiring. – Richard Hayden, Leonardtown, MD

Towing a Car

• Be sure your tow car is attached safely. While parked on a level place, measure to make sure that the center of the ball on the motorhome hitch is about an inch and a half higher than the pivotal point on the tow bar attached to the car. This keeps the car from pole vaulting into the motorhome during a sudden stop.

• If you want to be independent and not inconvenience others when caravanning, tow a car yourself.

• When towing a car, allow 100 feet or more for braking because you have two vehicles to stop instead of one. Towing a car also affects how closely you should follow another vehicle.

Next week I’ll conclude the series with some final tips to use when towing a car.

Bernice Beard

Tow Cars and Towables – Part 1 – Bernice’s Tips

Many Boomers enjoy using either a travel trailer, fifth wheel, folding camping trailer (known as a pop up), or a truck camper (a hard-sided housekeeping unit loaded onto the back of a pickup truck). These recreational vehicles are also called “towables” because a motorized vehicle such as an automobile or truck tows them.

When motorhomers are new to towing a car, they can think of many reasons not to. Once they’ve done it, they wonder why they waited. We called our first tow car “Patches” because it had so many rusted places on it that had been patched. It faithfully served us all over the country for 14 years both as a family car and a tow car.

This series, Tow Cars and Towables, includes tips on how to drive safely with a tow car or towable and also how to properly set up a towable at your campsite.

Traveling with Towables

• Whether you are a seasoned camper or just starting down the road to adventure, when you arrive at your campsite you must chock all four wheels both forward and backward. This is especially important to do if you are pulling a trailer, whether it’s a 10-foot pop up or a 37-foot fifth wheel, before you unhook from the tow vehicle. -James G. Brown, Finksburg, MD
  

• Follow these easy steps to set up and secure your RV trailer:
  
  • Position your trailer on the site to your liking.
  • Check to see if you will be able to reach all hookups.
  • Check for trees, tree limbs, or any other objects that would interfere with putting your awning out.
  • Move the trailer forward or backward, whichever is necessary, onto wheel ramps or blocks of wood to level the trailer side to side. (Use a level to check.)
  • Secure trailer wheels with a wheel block front and back so the trailer cannot drift off the ramps.
  • Put a jack base or block of wood under the hitch jack.
  • Turn the hitch jack handle until the trailer is level front to back. (Use a level to check.)
  • Turn the hitch jack handle three turns to lower the front of the trailer. Put a leveling jack flush under each rear corner of the trailer bumper or frame.
  • Turn the hitch jack handle six turns to raise the front of the trailer. Put a leveling jack flush under each front corner of the trailer frame and turn the hitch jack handle three turns to return the trailer to its original position.

  Your trailer should now be level and secure. Connect to water, electricity, and sewer, and extend the awning. -Earl D. Lambert, Westminster, MD

• Store a small square of carpet on top of your hitching tools. When you arrive at a site and are ready to unhitch, place the carpet piece on the ground near the hitch. Then  you can kneel on it rather than on the ground. -Connie Burk Davis, Westminster, MD

Stay tuned for next week’s continuation of this series when I detail general tips for using a trailer and begin my tips on towing a car.

Bernice Beard

Back to the basics: Some friendly advice from a seasoned RVer

By Guest Blogger, Ted Kasper

Traveling, a seasonal home, camping-each RVer chooses how they will enjoy their RV. Even so, there are a few simple steps RVers of all experience levels should follow before going on a trip.

Enjoy the journey
Take some secondary roads and enjoy the countryside. The interstates are a quick and convenient way to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time. When driving through mountains, the interstates also often have wider curves and less steep grades for easier driving.

When traveling, most RVers will agree that you shouldn’t make the drive too long. Try to travel no further than 350 miles in one day; go no faster than 65 mph; and, limit your driving to the daylight hours as much as possible.

It’s also useful to remember the old “Truck Driver’s Adage” applies to RVers as well … “never drive in where you can’t drive out.”

Be prepared
Supplies such as a roll of duct tape, a can of WD-40 and bungee cords should always be kept on board before a trip. Keep in mind it’s not uncommon to forget things, so knowing locations of the nearest stores is useful.

Those with travel trailers, fifth wheels, tent campers or those towing a vehicle should always double-check their hookup before the pull. Brake lights and turn signals should also be tested before you embark on your journey.

Learn the tricks of the trade
Inexperienced and seasoned RVers alike should keep up on the latest RV tips and information. Find a trusted RV book/manual and educate yourself. Use the Internet to create on-line discussions in chat rooms and forums. The more you know, the more relaxed you’ll be in your travels.

A good attitude goes a long way
Keep a sense of humor and remember to have fun. A positive attitude will maximize enjoyment for both you and your family. The kids will remember the time you stopped along the roadside by the water to have a swim and some lunch more than they will remember going to dinner at that fancy restaurant. Pair a positive outlook with the implementation of these basic practices and you’re on your way to creating some great RV trip memories.

Keep up on the latest trends
RV shows are the perfect place to see all the latest RV innovations… from new models and features to the hottest parts and accessories. They are also a great place to attend seminars, talk to other RVers and gather information about campgrounds and places to visit. If you’re in Michigan, be sure to check out the area’s biggest RV show, the MARVAC Detroit Camper & RV Show, held October 1-5, 2008, at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. See www.marvac.org for more information.

Too Old for School? Maybe not for RV School…

Howdy !

Remember sitting in the classroom as a kid and thinking, “Wish I was outta here!”? I do for sure and even after years of schools, training and degrees I love the learning and hate the sitting in some stuffy classroom.

Now for something completely different – I’m at the Lewis-Clark College in Lewiston, Idaho having the time of my life with fellow RV’ers, sitting in clean, cool and well equipped classrooms. I’m supposed to be here teaching several RVing subjects but what I’m really doing is learning and, well, just having a ball !

At times on this BLOG Bob, his wife Lynn Difely and I have talked about the Life on Wheels program that we teach all over the country but let me give you just a little taste of today’s classes from my view.

6:00 AM Lynn Difely gathered her students for the morning exercise walk and stretch. Playing her Kazoo – ya, a LOUD Kazoo – off they went. I had coffee and a nice sweet pastry while watching them. Ya, I know, I shudda been ashamed and joined in but, nah, needed the coffee more.

7:00 AM joined several other students at the college cafeteria for more coffee and visiting. We have folks here from all walks of life, parts of the country and experience levels. One fellow here has been full-time RVing for more then 10 years now and is so full of excitement over what he’s learning that he was almost bouncing in his chair. Another lady and her hubby don’t have an RV yet and were so turned on by the view they are getting of the RV lifestyle that they were making plans of where they want to visit first.

8:00 AM First class of the day I went to a RV insurance class. Now this may not seem to be the most exciting thing to do but to have a real insurance pro tell us the in’s and out’s of the business and what to look for and how to buy is important. The instructors here also come from all parts of the RV industry or other areas of expertise that impact on the RV lifestyle. Nobody is “pushing” products, parts or plans – just good information and a common love of RV’ing.

9:30 AM During the break between classes I stopped in to talk with Greg and Debra Holder of AM Solar. Greg is likely the foremost expert in solar power for the RV industry and is easy to chat with as any of his students can tell you. We’ve known each other for several years and are very good friends.

10:00 AM Neil Tucker and I went to the computer lab here at the school and that’s where I’m at now doing this bit of scribbling. Neil and I co-teach several computer classes together for Life on Wheels and enjoy our time together. One of life’s little interesting notes is that he and I were both in Manhattan, Kansas at the same time back in the 1960’s but didn’t know it until a few years ago while were were talking about our backgrounds.

12:00 – plan on having a quick lunch and then get ready to teach one of my classes, this one on Electronic Communications for RV’ers. When you RV you have a few basic things that are in the minds of most RV’ers.

1) How do I pay my bills

2) How do I stay in contact with others

3) How do I take care of my health issues

We have several classes here that address these issues and the electronic commo class is just one part of it.

3:00 PM I plan to attend a class given by Tom Owns on an important subject titled “After death, the first 48 hours”. Again this may seem like a downer class but it happens to us all folks and it makes no difference iffen were at the house or on the road so it’s important. Tom is a fun guy to listen to and teaches a wonderful series of classes.

5:00 PM and later. The Lewiston Chamber of Commerce is hosting a FREE BBQ for us tonight – ah, should I tell you that last night it was a wonderful wine tasting? I expect the evening will be full of talk, making friends and fun.

Well, it’s noon time so It’s off to lunch. Wishing ya was all here !!

The Old Ranger