Mark’s RV Garage Episode #10 Released
RV Education 101 releases Episode #10 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube
On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage:
* Mark installs a shower surround, tile and toilet, and starts wiring the power center in the Yellowstone restoration project.
* Learn how to install and use a Tire Minder Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in your RV
* Discover a quick tip on a spray lubricant and rust remover you need to keep available in your shop or garage.
* All of this and more on this episode of Mark’s RV Garage
If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing
Episode # 11 will be available for viewing on 27 June 2011.
Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk
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Mark’s RV Garage Episode #9 Released
RV Education 101 releases Episode #9 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube
On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage:
* Mark & Tyler install and plumb the gray and black water holding tanks on the Yellowstone restoration project.
* Learn how to install a window awning in six easy steps.
* Get an answer to the gnawing question on how to rid your RV of those pesky field mice.
* Discover a quick tip on how to size a patio mat for your RV.
* All of this and more on this episode of Mark’s RV Garage.
If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing
Episode # 10 will be available for viewing on 13 June 2011.
Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk
Mark’s RV Garage Episode #8 Released
RV Education 101 releases Episode #8 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube
On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage:
* Mark & Tyler start putting the interior of the Yellowstone restoration project back together.
* See how convenient battery operated LED lights are for all those dark and dimly lit areas of your RV.
* Get the answer to the question on mixing and matching different battery types and sizes on your RV.
* Take a stroll down memory lane when Mark narrates who and what the Tin Can Tourists organization was back in the day, and how it has been revived.
* All of this and more on this episode of Mark’s RV Garage.
If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing
Episode # 9 will be available for viewing on 30 May 2011.
Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk
Mark’s RV Garage Episode #7 Released
May 2, 2011 by Mark Polk · Leave a Comment
RV Education 101 releases Episode #6 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube
On this episode:
* Mark & Tyler start putting the interior walls back in the vintage trailer restoration project and add new vinyl flooring.
* Learn how to install a Dirt Devil central vacuum cleaner in your RV.
* Find out what the difference is between modified sine wave and pure sine wave inverters.
* Discover all of the fun things to do and places to visit when you stay at the Niagara Falls North KOA.
* Learn some great tips and techniques to help with backing a 5th wheel trailer
All of this and more on this episode of Mark’s RV Garage.
If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing
Episode # 8 will be available for viewing on 16 May 2011.
Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk
RV Navigation and Much, Much More
September 30, 2010 by Lug_Nut · 25 Comments
Lug_Nut’s view of a growing technology. Earlier I wrote about the adaption of using an Apple iPad in an RV for its application of a glass dash. If you missed it here’s a link In addition to using this for instrumentation and of course navigation, there are other great features that RVer’s might find of interest.
There are times when we are exposed to harsh or adverse weather conditions from heavy rain, snow threats or even tornado activity. In many cases our only window to the weather is what we can see while speeding along the highway. Well, there is a way that we can really know what’s ahead, 5 miles, 50 or hundreds. We are talking about weather radar. A clear and easy way to view precipitation throughout the country, all in real time less, 10 minutes. This is a great iPad app (Application) that lends itself well to the RV traveller, and it is just one of what may be many. The one-time cost of this application is $1.99. This application requires WiFi to retrieve.
Travelling with large class A coaches or RV tow combinations can present some challenges for stopping along the way. Travelling on the interstate highways can provide the manoeuvring required a each rest stop. These rest stops however, can be found at random distances making it difficult to determine how far you must travel to the next. The iPad offers the answer with an app containing every rest stop in the U.S. Using its built in GPS system, this program can instantly tell you the next rest stop with both the mile marker and the distance. This operates as a stand-alone requiring no WiFi or 3G cellular connection. This application can be had for $0.99.
Similar to the rest stop application, there is an app that locates truck stops. This will provide instant distances and mile markers to service stations including Flying J, Loves, Husky and more. Again this one-time $0.99 app operates as a stand-alone method with no need for WiFi or cellular service.
So, you like to boondock at a Wal-Mart on occasion. But, sometime as the day fades to night, it can be difficult to locate one. iPad has the solution for that too. An app specifically designed for RVer’s will instantly tell you where the next one near the highway is. It also tell you if no overnight parking is in effect. Again $0.99 is all this will cost you to download the data base. This too needs no WiFi or other outside aid. The GPS give all the information it requires.
Now, how about an app that will tell you where camping and RV parks are in relation to your current location? That’s exactly what $3.95 will buy. It also operates without the need of cellular or WiFi and displays sites in the U.S,, Canada and Australia. You can ask it to show all camp types or just one, like RV parks only.
One of the remarkable things about the iPad is the speed from turning it on to getting the needed information. Unlike a laptop that requires time to boot up, the iPad is instant. Literally in seconds you have your information.
Anyway, these are but a few other great applications that may help you if you have or get an Apple iPad.
A Look At The Cutting Edge - Lug_Nut - Peter Mercer
My Spare Tire Nightmare (continued)
March 22, 2010 by Mark Polk · 27 Comments
A few weeks ago I wrote about the need to have a spare tire in your RV when you travel. Our motorhome came without a spare tire and wheel even though there was a compartment designed to house it. We are planning a long RV trip this summer and I don’t want to go that distance without a spare.
The first problem was the size and lug pattern of the wheel itself. It is a 22.5 inch wheel with 8 lug holes. Most rims that size are designed for 10 lugs. I was surprised how difficult it was to find this particular wheel. After numerous phone calls and searching the internet I finally found a Ford dealer who said they could order the wheel for me. The cost was over $400.00. This was for a steel wheel. The Alcoa aluminum rims that are on the front and outer duals of the motorhome cost about $1,300.00 apiece. By the time I add the tire to the cost of the steel wheel I would have nearly $700.00 invested in a spare tire and wheel.
This seemed like a significant dollar amount for something you hope you will never need to use, similar to other insurance policies you invest in. Then I had a great idea, I’ll just buy a spare tire without a rim. If we have a flat tire our Roadside Service Plan (RSP) can take the flat tire off the rim and replace it with the new spare tire. This will kill two birds with one stone, it is less expensive and it will be less weight to carry in the RV. Problem number two was the RSP does not cover or pay for mounting the tire on the rim. They only change the flat tire with a serviceable spare tire and rim, or tow you to the closest destination to have the work done. It wasn’t just my RSP; it was every RSP I called.
So, option one (traveling with no spare) was out, and option two (traveling with just a tire and no rim) was out. Now my mission was to find a less expensive used 22.5 inch 8 lug wheel and have a tire mounted on it. It took a lot of searching but I finally located a company in Iowa that had surplus rims and even had the right size tire for the rim. They buy tires, directly from the RV manufacturer, that pick up a screw on the floor during the assembly line process. The tire can’t be used on a brand new RV, but there is no major defect with the tire. The cost for both tire and rim (mounted and balanced) was only $188.00. I hit pay dirt!
When I asked about shipping I was told that if it was shipped to a Fed Ex freight location it would only cost me about $80.00 with the shipper’s discount. I was still in great shape. They said they would ship the tire and rim and I could pay the shipping fee when it arrives. A few days later I got a call from the Fed Ex freight office telling me the shipment would be there the following day. They said to bring a check for $532.00 for shipping!! I almost fell over when I heard the dollar amount. I immediately called the company in Iowa and told them I would have no choice but to refuse the tire and rim. After several phone calls the shipper had the freight charges reversed back to their company, which in turn applied the 60% shipping discount to the $532.00 fee. The owner of the company apologized and asked if I would be willing to pay the other 40% for shipping. It came to $213.00, and when added to the cost of the tire and rim would be a total of $401.00. I wasn’t happy about it, but it was still less than the cost of a new wheel itself and I really needed it.
I agreed to the new terms and picked the tire and rim up the following day. From there I took the tire and rim over to my garage where the motorhome is to put it in the spare tire in the storage compartment. When we slid the tire in the compartment it went about half way and then hit something. The wheel was hitting one of the metal floor braces and would not fit in the compartment. At this point I was about ready to give up on this whole spare tire idea. We took the tire back out and I looked at how the floor of the spare tire compartment was designed. I saw where a little metal fabrication and a large hammer would enable me to lower the compartment floor about one inch which should accommodate the tire and rim. After an hour or so we had the spare tucked away in the compartment, where I am hoping it will stay for a very long time to come.
The final tally, $401.00, a few more gray hairs, a modified storage compartment and slightly higher blood pressure.
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
What’s your style of RV travel?
March 9, 2010 by Jaimie Hall Bruzenak · 10 Comments
Biking Yosemite National Park
In RVers: How Do They Live Like That? authors Judy Farrow and Lou Stoetzer identify three styles of travel when RVers are in the initial or honeymoon stage of RV travel. They are:
- Meandering tourist
- Purposeful tourist
- Working tourist
Six Words About Your RV Life
September 24, 2009 by Evanne Schmarder · 58 Comments
Calling all wordsmiths, writers, witty individuals or families…can you condense your RV and camping experiences and expectations into six words? I double dog dare ya to share Six Words About Your RV Life!!
Have you heard of the six word memoirs project from SMITH Magazine? In 2006 the fine minds behind SMITH Magazine offered aspiring writers, poets, those with something to say, and plain ole witty folk an opportunity to tell their story in six words. It’s said that Hemingway did just that when challenged to write a six word story. He came up with this: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
And this got me thinking about my own six word memoirs…stories about my life on the road, as an RVer. My motto and the RV Cooking Show’s tag line is a mere six words – “Love to travel. Love to eat.” I quickly realized we all have a story to tell, a short ditty to share – especially when it comes to our RV and camping travels.
So, with much anticipation and excitement I am delighted to introduce a special six word series – Six Words About Your RV Life. Think about your adventures and see if you can craft a six word memoir about your RV vacation, lifestyle, camping experiences. Leave your six words on my RVCookingShow blog or right here on this RV.net blog posting – Six Words About Your RV Life. Sign in or don’t. Leave your name or not. Contribute as many single six word comments as you’d like and check back often to see what others have contributed.
I’ll start the project out with a couple of mine:
Get the map…we’re going camping
And from my songwriter friend George Gesner:
Beautiful campground whispers to me…stay
31 feet is all I need
Movies are great…trailers are better
Give it a go. I think you’ll find it addictive and a blast! As the SMITH folks say…Everyone has a story. What’s yours?
RV Cooking Show
Safe Holiday Travel Tips
Forty thousand people in the United States die each year on the road! With the peak RV travel season here I thought this would be a good time to discuss getting to your RV travel destination safely. Getting there can be half the fun, as the saying goes, if you take a few precautions to make your trip safe.
RV Weekly Round-Up (May 2-8, 2009)
May 8, 2009 by Christina Bullock · 1 Comment
Check out these hghlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week.
1. Dreams of a Truly Efficient RV: Fulltimer and resident blogger Bob Difley describes what he’s looking for in the RV of the future, touching on the pros and cons of towables vs. drivables. Is alternative fuel really capable of powering an entire RV?
2. Stay Safe During Wild Weather: Sometimes bad weather is unavoidable while you’re out on the open road. No matter how tame the forecast may seem, it’s best to take precautions and get out of the elements. Blogger Nick Russell shares his first-hand tips for staying safe in your RV during bad weather.
