RV Education 101

RV T-shirts

2012-02-10T13:01:00.004-05:00

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Mark's RV Garage Episode #8

2011-05-16T11:30:00.001-05:00

RV EDUCATION 101 CHRISTMAS SALE - RV UNIVERSITY

2009-12-13T09:14:00.001-05:00

RV EDUCATION 101 CHRISTMAS SALE - RV UNIVERSITY

Preventive Maintenance Checks for an RV Generator

2009-11-11T10:34:00.000-05:00

Preventive Maintenance (PM) is maintenance the owner can perform on your RV before a problem exists. These checks are designed to prevent or identify potential problems that could lead to mechanical breakdown, malfunction or failure of a component or system on your RV. Preventive Maintenance consists of cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, adjusting and servicing your RV.
Here are some PM checks you can perform on a typical RV generator. In addition to these checks you should always follow the maintenance schedule and guidelines that came with your specific generator set.
Note: These PM checks are for a gasoline fueled generator. There are diesel propane fueled generators too. Some of these checks apply to all types, but some don’t. Consult your generator owner’s manual for maintenance checks and services for your specific generator.

1) Always check the oil level and the exhaust system prior to starting the generator. Starting and running a generator that is low on oil can result in costly damage to the generator’s engine. Add oil as required. Check your owner manual for the type of oil to use. A damaged exhaust system can result in carbon monoxide gas getting inside the RV. Always inspect the entire generator exhaust system prior to starting the generator. Never operate a generator with a damaged exhaust system!

2)Keep the generator set and the compartment it is housed in clean. You can use compressed air to assist in cleaning out the generator compartment and a clean shop rag to clean the generator set. While you are cleaning the generator check all electrical connectors for secure connections.
Note: always wear safety glasses when using compressed air.

3)Check all of the filters on the generator. A typical generator may have an air filter, fuel filter and oil filter. Check your generator owner manual for the types of filters your generator has and where they are located. Maintenance checks and services for a generator are based on hours of operation. You need to monitor the hour meter on your generator set for all maintenance intervals.

a)Check the air filter for cleanliness. You can remove it and inspect the fins on the back for signs of dirt or debris. You can tap the air filter on a flat surface to help remove some of the dirt and debris. Change a dirty filter, or change it at prescribed intervals. Inspect the air filter more often in dusty conditions.

b)The fuel filter will typically be an in-line type filter. Over time it filters out and collects enough debris that it can interfere with the flow of fuel. Check and replace the fuel filter at prescribed intervals.

c)We’ll talk about the oil filter in just a minute.

4)Change the oil and oil filter (if equipped). This is perhaps the most important PM Service you can perform on your generator to ensure years of reliable service. Change the oil and replace the oil filter at the recommended intervals. It’s really quite simple to do. Your generator owner’s manual will usually describe the steps to follow. If you don’t feel comfortable changing the oil and filter have an authorized RV service center do it for you.

5)Replace the spark plugs at recommended intervals. If you ever replaced the spark plugs in a vehicle you can replace the plugs in the generator, unless due to the constraints of the generator compartment you can’t access the spark plugs. In this case you may want to let an authorized RV service center do it for you. If you decide to do it yourself check your generator owner manual for the correct type of plug to use and double check the spark plug gap before installing the plugs. Do not over tighten spark plugs!

6)Exercise the generator. There are several reasons why you should start and exercise the generator on a regular basis. Moisture build up can cause damage to your generator. When you exercise your generator it heats up the generator windings and eliminates this moisture build up. This monthly exercise regime also lubricates all of the engine seals and components and helps to prevent carbon build up. So, what exactly do I mean when I say exercise your generator? For a gasoline generator I mean that you start and run the generator with at least a 50 % load, for at least two hours every month. It is extremely important that you run it with this minimum rated load. Generators are designed to run with a load placed on them. It’s always better to let your generator run for longer time periods than it is for short time periods. Check your generator owner’s manual for load ratings specific to your unit. Always try to avoid starting or stopping a generator when there is a 120 volt device or appliance turned on.

7)Add a fuel stabilizer during periods of storage or non-use. If it’s a motorhome add a fuel stabilizer to the motorhomes gas tank and run the generator long enough for the stabilizer to get through the fuel system. This will help prevent gas related problems on carbureted generators, like not starting or surging. These are problems you don’t need. Fuel stabilizers can protect the fuel system for up to six months, but keep in mind the importance to exercise the generator when possible.

Well there you have it. Follow these simple steps, and the maintenance and service instructions in the generator owner’s manual, and you can get years of reliable service from your generator set.

A couple of additional tips for generator maintenance are to keep the battery that is used to start the generator maintained, and when running the generator monitor the AC voltage and frequency output with some type of digital plug in meter. I recommend one that can test campground polarity, measure AC line voltage and AC frequency. Frequency is the number of times that electricity alternates per second. U.S. appliances are designed to operate at 60 cycles per second, or 60 hertz.

When you use your generator the governor in the generator must hold the speed constant at, or close to 60 hertz from no load on the generator to a full load. Depending on the load placed on the generator, AC voltage can range from 105 to 135 volts and the frequency can range from 58 to 63 hertz. Anything outside of these parameters can cause problems for your RV electrical system and/or generator set. The meter will let you know when the generator is not operating within the proper ranges and you can have it checked out and repaired before any damage occurs.

Happy Camping,
Mark J. Polk

RV Education 101

RV University

copyright 2009 by Mark Polk owner of RV Education 101

Winter Battery Storage & Maintenance

2009-10-20T13:01:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked a question and felt like the answer could be useful to lots of RVers, so I am using the question as the topic for this article.

Q: Hi Mark, we live in Colorado and we are preparing our RV for storage. I just had the RV winterized, but I am concerned about how or what to do to store my RV batteries. Any advice would be appreciated.

A: The two most common causes for RV battery failure are undercharging and overcharging. Undercharging is a result of batteries being repeatedly discharged and not fully recharged between cycles. If a battery is not recharged the sulfate material that attaches to the discharged portions of the plates begins to harden into crystals. Over time this sulfate cannot be converted back into active plate material and the battery is ruined. This also occurs when a battery remains discharged for an extended period of time, like during storage. Sulfation is the number one cause of battery failure. The second leading cause of battery failure is overcharging. Overcharging batteries results in severe water loss and plate corrosion. With that said let’s look at how to properly store your RV batteries.

Before we talk about storing the batteries we need to talk about battery safety. Lead acid batteries contain sulfuric acid which is extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns or even blindness. And the hydrogen gas that batteries produce, when they’re charging, is very explosive. When you work around batteries you need to wear safety glasses and gloves, remove all jewelry and do not smoke or use any open flames.

Caution: If you accidentally get battery acid on your skin, flush it with lots of water and if it gets in your eyes flush with low pressure water for 15 minutes and call a doctor.

When you put the RV in long term storage it’s a good idea to remove the batteries and put them in storage too. This is quite simple to do. The first thing we want to do is visually inspect the batteries for any obvious damage. Any fluid on or around the battery may be an indication that electrolyte is leaking from the battery. A damaged or leaking battery should be replaced immediately. Whenever you remove any battery always remember to remove the negative terminal or cable first, and then the positive cable.

Battery Tip: When you remove a battery turn off the ignition switch, all electrical switches, and any battery disconnect switches before you disconnect the battery cables. Whenever you remove any battery cables label them first so you remember how they go back on the battery next spring. When you reinstall the battery do it in the reverse order. Install the positive cable first and then the negative cable.

Clean the batteries with a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and water if necessary. Now you can check the electrolyte level in each cell and add distilled water if necessary. The minimum level required, before charging a battery, is at the top of the plates. If it’s below the plates add enough distilled water to cover the plates before you charge the battery.

Test the battery state of charge with a voltmeter or hydrometer and charge any batteries that are at or below 80% state of charge. An 80% charge is approximately 12.5 volts for a 12-volt battery and 6.25 volts for a 6-volt battery. Lead sulfation starts when a battery state of charge drops below 80%. After charging the batteries check and fill each cell to 1/8 inch below the fill well with distilled water. Overfilling cells will cause battery acid to overflow.

Caution: Batteries should only be charged in a well ventilated area and keep any sparks and open flames away from a battery being charged. Check the electrolyte levels before and after charging batteries.

A discharged or partially charged battery will freeze much faster than a charged battery. Store the batteries in a cool dry place but not where they could freeze. Batteries in storage will loose a percentage of current through internal leakage. It’s not uncommon for a battery to discharge up to 10% a month when it is being stored. Cold temperatures slow this natural discharge process down and warmer temperatures speed the process up. Test the stored battery state of charge every month and charge batteries that are at or below an 80% state of charge.

Completely charge the batteries before re-installing them next spring. For optimum performance you can equalize the batteries after they are fully charged. Battery equalizing is a controlled overcharge on a flooded lead acid battery after it has been fully charged. Equalizing reverses the buildup of negative chemical effects like stratification, a condition where the water and acid separate and the acid concentration is greater at the bottom of the battery than at the top. Equalizing also helps remove some of the sulfate build up on the battery plates. Equalizing is fine as long as there is not excessive heating or electrolyte boiling over. Some battery chargers have an equalization cycle or charge setting. After charging a battery, set the battery charger on equalizing voltage and charge it again. You need to test the specific gravity every hour during equalizing. Equalization is complete when the specific gravity readings no longer rise during the gassing or bubbling stage. Keep in mind if equalizing a battery is done correctly the electrolyte should not boil over but it will create a good bit of bubbling, and when the cycle is finished you will need to add distilled water to the cells.

Note: If you don’t feel comfortable working on or around lead acid batteries have battery maintenance done by an authorized service center.

If you decide to leave the batteries in the RV while it is in storage remember to check the state of charge monthly and charge any batteries at or below an 80% charge. If your RV converter charger charges the battery(s) at a constant rate (around 13.5 volts) this is too high for a float charge and can deplete the electrolyte over time. In this situation plug the RV in periodically and allow the converter charger to charge the battery(s) for 8 to 12 hours. Some RV converter multi-stage chargers and aftermarket chargers are designed to maintain a float charge on the battery without removing the batteries from the RV. Remember, for the converter charger to work the RV will need to be plugged in to electricity.

Watch a video clip on Saving your RV Batteries

For more in depth information on RV batteries check out our Deep Cycle Battery Care & Maintenance DVD

Happy Camping,

Mark Polk

RV Education 101

RV University

Copyright 2009 by Mark Polk owner of RV Education 101

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2009-01-03T07:11:00.001-05:00

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My First Real RV Adventure

2009-01-01T16:52:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year Everybody

Another year has gone by and looking back I reflect on how I got hooked on this thing called RVing. Thirty-three years ago I towed my first travel trailer. Of course at the time, like most teenagers, I thought I knew everything. I tent camped for years and had experienced camping in travel trailers and motor homes with a friend of mine and his family, but this was my first real RV adventure, out on my own. I had recently graduated from high school and was working for an RV dealership in Pennsylvania. I started out washing campers and eventually worked to the position of an apprentice technician. I was always mechanically inclined and had an interest in how things worked; from age twelve when I disassembled our perfectly good lawn mower to see how it worked, to age sixteen when I rebuilt my first VW engine.

It was Thanksgiving and deer hunting season was quickly approaching, which in North Central Pennsylvania is very similar to a Federal holiday. I asked my boss if I could borrow an old travel trailer to use for a deer hunting trip and to my surprise he actually said yes. I don’t remember all of the details about the travel trailer, but I do know it was a Shasta because it had the classic wings on each back corner. I would guess that it was a mid-to-late 60’s model and it was close to 20-feet long. The only conditions for borrowing the trailer were:

1) To bring it back in one piece and

2) Not to use the water system because it was winterized and the temperatures were in the low teens.

Antlered deer hunting season started the Monday following Thanksgiving and I invited my best friend to go with me. We were going to head up into the foothills on Saturday to set things up and do some last minute scouting. I had a 1969 Chevy Blazer. It was a full size, K5 model, with a six-cylinder engine and rust holes in the body the size of softballs. Now, you would think that working for an RV dealership I would have access to, and use, the proper hitch work and brake control to tow the trailer. I do remember wiring a plug for the trailer lights, but figured since I wouldn’t be towing the trailer on a regular basis I would forgo the brakes and just drop the trailer on the ball and go.

Keep in mind I was a teenager, and knew everything back then. Kind of like how my teenage son knows everything now! There were no pre-trip checks or inspections. We picked up the bare essentials, a pot and pan, some groceries, our sleeping bags and hunting equipment and off we went. It was about a sixty-mile trip to our favorite hunting destination. The first thirty-five miles was on two-lane paved roads and the last twenty-five miles was a winding, snow covered dirt road barely wide enough for one vehicle. If you encountered traffic going the opposite direction somebody had to back up until there was a spot wide enough for both vehicles to safely pass. I do remember the Blazer didn’t seem to steer quite like normal and if I had to stop quickly I would have hit whatever it was that was making me stop so quickly. I took a deep sigh of relief after the white-knuckle experience of getting to our destination and thanked my lucky stars that the trailer was still in one piece. Little did I know that getting there was just the beginning of my first real RV adventure!

We set the trailer up, which at the time was really nothing more than leveling it from front to rear using the tongue jack and turning the LP gas supply on. Then we settled in the trailer for the first night. We figured since it was cold outside we didn’t need to use the refrigerator, so we left our groceries in the Blazer. The furnace was the old style that you had to light manually. Soon after I got it to light it warmed up enough inside to take our gloves and coats off. For dinner we heated up some pork and beans on the range top and ate them out of the pan because we forgot to bring any plates. Afterwards we played a card game called set-back and eventually turned in for a good nights sleep. The next morning I went to the Blazer to get some bacon and eggs for breakfast. The eggs were frozen solid. We fried some bacon and later that morning we used the frozen eggs for target practice to sight our hunting rifles in. We washed the pans in a nearby, nearly frozen stream, since we didn’t have any water, and the rest of the day was spent scouting the snow covered hills for signs of deer. Then it was back to the cozy, but somewhat drafty Shasta trailer.

After another entree of pork and beans I put all of the empty cans and other garbage in a plastic bag and set it outside the door. The next morning was opening day. It was difficult to relax and go to bed that night, but knowing we would be getting up early we forced ourselves to turn in for the night. The first major event of the night was waking up around midnight because it felt like 10 degrees below zero inside the trailer. The trailer only had one full and one partially filled 20-pound LP gas bottle, and with the furnace running non-stop since we arrived they were both empty. Fortunately I did have enough forethought to bring two spare 20-pound LP bottles with us. I told my friend that since I got the trailer for us to use he would have to get out of his sleeping bag, change the bottles and re-light the furnace. After some reluctance and a few choice words he stumbled outside and changed them over. Soon it was warm again and we were both back to sleep.

Sometime around three in the morning the trailer began to shake, I mean literally shake back and forth. At first I thought I was dreaming but soon realized I wasn’t. I reached up and turned a small overhead light and looked over at my friend to see if he was awake. Not having any clue what was happening we both stared, wide-eyed, at each other. I pulled the small curtain away from the window and peered outside. It took a minute to focus my eyes in the dark, but I soon realized that there were two bears outside; a small black bear cub and its not so small mother pushing against the side of the trailer. Not really sure what to do we both got our hunting rifles, loaded a round in the chamber, and stood back, ready for when the bear would come busting through the door or a window. We waited for what seemed like forever at the time, but it was probably a minute or two before the shaking stopped. We glanced out the window again and there were no signs of the bears anywhere. Needless to say we didn’t get anymore sleep before it was time to head out to our favorite hunting spots early that morning. When we walked out of the trailer, with flashlights in hand, we soon realized why the black bears stopped to visit us that night. There were pork and bean cans and other garbage scattered everywhere around our makeshift campsite.

Another reason this memory remains so clear in my mind is because at 8:10 AM on opening day I shot my first 8-point whitetail buck on a ridge about 80 yards from where I was sitting. My friend heard the shot and came over to check it out. After field dressing the deer it took us about two hours to drag it down the long ravine, back to the trailer. Knowing that we had enough LP gas for one more night we fired up the furnace and ate some more pork and beans. After making sure there was no garbage outside we settled in to the warm, cozy Shasta trailer and played cards while I recounted the events of the great whitetail deer hunt over-and-over again.

We did manage to get the trailer back home safely, and other than some remnants of hungry black bear paw prints on the side of the trailer it was still in one piece. That nearly disastrous weekend hunting trip, in freezing cold weather, spent in the small Shasta travel trailer, is when I got bit by the RV bug. Thirty-three years and six RVs later, we are still making new RV memories every year.

Happy New Year & Happy Camping in 2009

Mark J. Polk

RV Education 101

Special offer

RV Campground Reservations

2008-12-29T07:26:00.000-05:00

Do you need to make campground reservations? Whether you’re planning to stay in a public or private campground the answer, in my opinion, is always yes. Make a campground reservation!

I was disappointed more than once before I discovered the secret of making reservations well in advance of a scheduled trip. Even when you are just traveling through an area to your final destination you should try to plan every stop along the way and make advance reservations. When you’re tired and need some rest you’ll be glad you did.

Making reservations in advance not only assures you there will be a campsite available when you arrive, but you can make other important arrangements too. You can request a site large enough to accommodate your RV and tow vehicle, or a pull through site versus a site you would need to back into. You can make sure the site has the proper electrical hook up for your RV, or make sure you get a full hook-up rather than a partial hook-up. You might want a site with a telephone line or a campground with wireless internet access. If you just cross your fingers and pull into the campground late in the afternoon, without reservations, there is a good chance you’ll be turned away or get a site you really don’t care for.

Campground reservations need to be made well in advance during the busy time of the year (May through August) and it’s smart to make reservations during the slow time of the year too. That way you can always get your favorite site, or a shady site if it is summer time, or the best waterfront site at the state park you go to. Believe me there are lots of other RVers with their eye on the same site you want.

Happy Camping,

**Reminder: Don’t forget to Get Your Free RV DVD (S/H of $5.95)

Mark Polk
RV Education 101

FREE RV DVD

2008-12-18T13:07:00.001-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know that we have a free offer:
We are taking one of the most popular DVD titles in our library (previously ONLY available to RV Dealers and now to retail ONLY available thru this free offer), and giving it away free. A $5.95 s/h applies and limit 1 per household. The name of the DVD is "The RV Orientation." The RV Orientation is 54 minutes long and it’s packed with information on topics like campground setup, the LP gas system, water system, electrical system and much more. We even added a bonus chapter on RV safety features and some bloopers to make it more entertaining. It applies to all types of RV's, with the only exception being a pop-up.

Our thought behind this free product offer is that it will benefit you, the RV consumer, especially right now during the holiday season, and it will benefit us by showcasing our information packed products which will in turn get our name out to more RVers and let them know about our other educational DVDs and books.

youtube video we made about it

details on our free offers and how to order

freeRVdvd.com

Thanks!
Dawn

RV Video Downloads

2008-12-11T08:55:00.000-05:00

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RV Education 101 Quick Tips

2008-11-10T08:42:00.000-05:00

Towing
Whenever you are determining the tow capacity of a vehicle make sure you know what the rear axle ratio is. It is quite possible to have the same type and size of vehicle with the same engine and the tow ratings vary by several thousand pounds. The axle ratio is a comparison of how many times the drive shaft rotates, versus the rear wheels. A 4.10:1 axle ratio means the drive shaft or pinion gear rotates 4.1 times for each rotation of the rear axle or ring gear. The higher the numeric value the better the vehicle will tow. Some people have a misperception that a vehicle with 4-WD will have a higher tow rating than an identical vehicle that is two-wheel drive. In reality the 2-WD vehicle will have the higher tow rating. The reason for this is the transfer case in the four-wheel drive vehicle adds additional weight to the vehicle, usually close to 500 pounds, which lowers the tow rating by that same amount. Keep in mind that any weight you add to the tow vehicle takes that same amount of weight away from the vehicles tow rating and Gross Combined Weight Rating.

Deep Cycle Battery
RVs come equipped with deep cycle batteries for the coach's 12-volt DC electrical system. House or coach batteries need to be true deep cycle batteries that are designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period of time. Starting batteries and marine batteries should not be used in this application. True deep cycle batteries have much thicker plates and are designed to be deeply discharged and recharged over and over again. Many RVs use a single deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are rated in amp hours. How many amps the battery can deliver for how many hours before the battery is discharged. If you enjoy dry camping, without utility hook-ups, you depend on your deep cycle battery(s) to take care of your 12-volt needs. You can purchase a deep cycle battery with a higher amp hour capacity that will last longer. The higher the amp hour capacity is the larger and heavier the battery is. If you have room for a larger battery and enjoy dry camping you may want to upgrade your deep cycle battery to one with a higher amp hour rating. If your RV is equipped with a marine RV battery you may want to upgrade to a true deep cycle battery.

Water Pressure Regulator
Water pressure at campgrounds can be extremely high and can cause damage to your RV plumbing system. Always use a water pressure regulator when you hook-up to the campground water supply. Always connect the water pressure regulator directly to the campground water source. This way you regulate the water pressure where the water pressure originates. It's also a good idea to turn the water supply off if you're going to be away from the campground for extended periods of time.

Water Filters
You never know the condition or quality of potable water at different campgrounds. Always use a water filtration system to filter the drinking water in your RV, or take bottled water with you for drinking water.

Pet Safety
Take updated photos of your pets with you on camping trips. If they should get lost you can use the pictures to assist in finding them.

Safe Drinking Hose
Always use a non-toxic, white RV drinking hose for your potable water connection at the campground. Take a black or green garden hose along for all other purposes such as cleaning the RV or flushing out holding tanks. You will always be able to distinguish the difference by the color of the hose.

Pre-Trip Checks
Before leaving on a trip always check the license plate and inspection/emission sticker on the RV to make sure they are current or won't expire while you are away. Always make sure your RV insurance is current.

Simple Test for Water Leaks
A quick and easy way to test your RV plumbing system for leaks is to turn the 12-volt water pump on when there is water in the fresh water holding tank. Once it pressurizes the system and shuts off it should not come back on until you open a water faucet. If the pump does come on sporadically, even for short periods of time, water is leaking somewhere.

Trip Routing
Print a detailed map and routes of your entire trip from an Internet trip planning service. It is a free service and it is a great help in tracking distance, routes, and exits that you need to be watching for especially in congested areas. A GPS system helps too.

Proper Tire Inflation
Always check and add air to the tires when they are cold, before traveling. When tires get hot the air expands and you get a higher-pressure reading. If you let some air out they will be under inflated when they are cold.

Awning Protection
Awning tie downs help to protect your patio awning, but you should never leave your awning out during bad weather, or when you're not physically at the campsite. Wind and rain can damage your RV awning very quickly and it can be expensive to repair.

Wiper Blade Maintenance
Check the condition of your windshield wiper blades before you leave on a trip. This is one of those things we don't think about until the next time we need them. Periodically clean the wiper blades with windshield washer fluid.

Happy Camping!

Mark J. Polk

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books.

De-winterize & Sanitize your RV Water System

2008-06-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

At the end of your camping season you drained the water system, winterized the RV and put it in storage. One problem with this is that on most RV's when you drain the fresh water holding tank there is still some water left in the tank. Let's say you do manage to drain all of the water out of the tank. There is still moisture in the water system. Just imagine what can grow in that moist tank while it sits for three or four months. I'd rather not think about it.

This is the water tank that you drink from and the water you use to wash dishes and take showers with. We cannot assume that it will stay safe and fresh like the water system in our home. Contaminated water is extremely dangerous. We not only have to deal with a water system that hasn't been used for sometime, but when we travel in the RV we hook our water system up to a different water source every time we stop to spend the night some where. We hook up to city water, well water, and eventually contaminated water. You've probably heard people say don't drink the water if you go to Mexico. Well that can be true anywhere.

There are no guarantees that any water is completely safe for us to drink, but if we take certain precautions we can keep our RV water system safe to use. So where do we start? The first step after winter storage is to de-winterize the RV water system. I took this checklist from my Checklists for RVers E-book to help you with the de-winterizing process.

Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized. Follow this simple checklist to get your water system ready for this years camping season.

* If you used non-toxic RV antifreeze open all drains and drain the antifreeze from the system into a container. If you do not have a bypass kit on the water heater, drain the antifreeze from the water heater.

* If you put any antifreeze in the fresh water holding tank be sure and drain it.

* Close all of the drains.

* Re-connect the outside shower hose if it was removed.

* To remove antifreeze from the 12-volt water pump, add water to the fresh water holding tank, turn the pump on and open all water faucets. Run water through the system and then turn the pump off.

* Take the water heater out of the bypass mode and hook a hose up to the city water inlet on the RV. Turn the water on and open all water faucets. Run fresh water through the system for several minutes. Don't forget the outside shower if equipped.

* Flush the toilet.

* Check the entire water system for leaks.

* Fill and drain your black and gray holding tanks at least once.

* Inspect the termination valve and lubricate the valve handles.

* Treat the black tank with holding tank chemicals.

* Re-install any water filter cartridges you removed for winterizing.

What we have accomplished so far was to remove the remnants of RV antifreeze from the water system. Now we need to sanitize the water system so it is safe and ready to use this camping season. This is another excerpt from my Checklists for RVers E-book

Take a quarter cup of house hold bleach for every fifteen gallons of water that your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach, with water, into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water tank almost completely full of water. Turn the water pump on, open all hot and cold faucets and run the water until you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close the faucets. If it's possible, drive the RV or pull the trailer so the water can move around to assist in cleaning the entire tank. Let it sit for at least 12 hours. Drain the entire system again and re-fill the fresh water tank with potable water. Open all of the faucets and run the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process again to eliminate all signs of bleach from the water system.

Now that the RV water system is de-winterized and sanitized here are a couple of other ways to assist you in keeping it safe to use:

Always use a white, non-toxic RV drinking hose. Hoses not labeled safe for drinking can contribute to lead and other dangerous chemicals getting in the water. Use the white non-toxic hose for hooking up to the water source and take along a green or black garden hose for all other uses, like flushing out holding tanks or washing the RV. When you¡¦re not using the drinking hose roll it up and connect the two ends together. This will keep dirt and other debris from getting in the hose. The next time you use the hose, run some fresh water through it before hooking it up to the RV.

Next you need to filter the water going into the RV with a high quality filtration system. Water filters do not purify the water but they can control and remove bacteria, lead and other dangerous contaminants found in drinking water. You basically have two choices on how to filter your RV water system. You can install an inline water filter directly to the water line that you drink from, or you can filter all of the water going into the RV. I prefer to filter all of the water going into the RV. This helps to protect the entire water system and even filters the shower water to help prevent any type of skin irritation.

Follow these simple steps can assure that the fresh water system in your RV truly is fresh.

Happy Camping,
Mark

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Copyright 2008 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Disney World Fun in the RV

2007-08-26T08:22:00.000-05:00

We took Josh & Tyler to Disney World. We stayed at Ft Wilderness, Disney's magical campground. My sister Tane her husband Bob and 3 of their kids, Brock, Carissa and Kyle went with us. They stayed in a Disney Cabin by our motorhome. A BLAST For sure!!!!

RV Water System...Like Water From Mexico?

2007-06-30T08:34:00.000-05:00

The water system in your RV provides the water that you drink from and the water you use to wash dishes and take showers with. We cannot assume that it will stay safe and fresh like the water system in our home. Contaminated water is extremely dangerous. We not only have to deal with a water system that hasn’t been used for sometime, but when we travel in the RV we hook our water system up to a different water source every time we stop to spend the night some where.

We hook up to city water, well water, and eventually contaminated water. You’ve probably heard people say don’t drink the water if you go to Mexico. Well that can be true anywhere. We stopped at a campground one night just to get a few hours of sleep and I didn’t bother to use the water filter. The water coming out of the faucet was cloudy and had small particles suspended in it.

Possibly the most important step you can take is to keep the fresh water system sanitized. At a minimum you should sanitize the system every spring when you take the RV out of storage and any time you notice stale water or an odor. It’s really quite simple to do.

Read how Mark sanitizes an RV water system:

Copyright 2007 by Mark J. Polk owner rveducation101.com

Are You Braking the Law? By Mark Polk

2007-05-10T08:32:00.001-05:00

Hi my name is Mark Polk. I am the owner of a company called RV Education 101. We produce videos on how to use and maintain Recreation Vehicles, and I am the author of a book titled “The RV Book”. I started the company because I was concerned about the lack of education and safety awareness for the RV consumer. To view our complete line of products please visit our website at http://www.rveducation101.com/.

Recently we teamed up with National Interstate Insurance Company (NIIC) to provide RVers with educational material to make all of your RV experiences safe fun and stress free.

This article focuses on an important topic if you plan to tow a vehicle behind your motorhome; a topic that is sometimes overlooked, and seldom talked about. The topic is supplemental braking systems. It’s not about what supplemental braking system you have, it’s the fact that you have one!

One requirement for towing a trailer is that the trailer must have a braking system that works in conjunction with the tow vehicle brakes. Why should this requirement be any different for a motorhome towing a vehicle? In reality its not, but most people just assume you don’t need a supplemental braking system for the vehicle you’re towing. Some reasons for this assumption are:

1) Because of the size of the motorhome there is no need for a supplemental brake system on the tow vehicle.
2) People assume the vehicle they are towing is much lighter than it really is.
3) Braking laws are not always enforced by individual U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
4) Nobody took the time to educate the RV consumer on the requirement for a supplemental braking system.

Putting assumptions aside, let’s take a look at some of the facts surrounding supplemental braking systems:

1) The brakes on a motor home are designed by the vehicle manufacturer to stop the weight of that particular vehicle, not the additional weight being towed behind it. This additional weight adds a substantial increase to the distance required to stop safely. Some motor home chassis warranties are voided if you tow amounts over 1,000 pounds without a supplemental braking system.

2) The vehicle you’re towing probably weighs more than you think it does. You need to take your towed vehicle to a set of scales and have it weighed. Make sure it is fully loaded with everything that will be in it when you are towing it. After you weigh it, double check to make sure the receiver on the motor home is rated to tow that amount of weight and that you aren’t exceeding any of the motor home weight ratings, like the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). The GCWR is the maximum permissible weight of the fully loaded motor home and the fully loaded towed vehicle combined. Most RV chassis manufacturers base their GCWR on the assumption that a supplemental brake system is being used.

3) Most states and Canadian provinces do have their own laws on the requirement for brakes on a towed trailer. The word trailer also applies to a vehicle being towed behind a motor home. These laws are normally based on the amount of weight being towed. Add to this your insurance company may not cover you in the event of an accident involving a vehicle with no braking system.

4) It’s sad to say but many times the RV consumer is not properly educated on the requirements for a supplemental braking system on the towed vehicle. And the most important reason for a supplemental braking system is for your safety and the safety of others.

Now that you have a better understanding of why you need a supplemental braking system, you need to decide which type is right for you.

(Photos Courtesy of Blue Ox)

There are many different types of supplemental braking systems available on the market today. These types include surge, hydraulic, air and vacuum. Some are very simple to install and use and some are much more complex. I recommend you talk to a knowledgeable RV dealer about which system would work best for your particular needs.

I personally like the idea of keeping it simple and decided the best system for me would be a portable type braking system. I decided on this type of braking system for several reasons.
1) It’s portable and it works on almost any towed vehicle with power brakes.
2) It doesn’t require any modifications to the existing brake system.
3) It’s easy to install and use

Regardless of the type or model you choose, being able to stop completely, in less time and a shorter distance, will give you an added sense of safety whenever you’re towing a vehicle. And it’s the law in most cases. Most importantly, a supplemental braking system SAFELY reduces the stopping distance and helps to protect you, your loved ones and the safety of others.

Q & A
Question: Where can I find state and province laws regarding weight limits for towing without supplemental brakes?
Mark Says: For safety reasons I recommend you consider a braking system regardless of the vehicle weight, but here is a link showing specific weight limits.
http://roadmasterinc.com/products/braking/map.html

Question: Is one type supplemental braking system better than the others?
Mark Says: It really depends on your particular needs. For example do you plan to tow the same vehicle all the time or will you be towing different vehicles? Will you be doing the installation yourself, or will it be done by somebody else? Is the system going to involve tapping into your vehicle’s brake system? What kind of warranty does the braking system offer? I recommend you talk to your RV dealer about which system is suited best for you.

Question: Can you tell me where I can go to research some of the different types of braking systems available to the RV consumer?
Mark Says: Here are some links to some of the manufacturers of supplemental braking systems. I apologize to any manufacturers I may have left out.

http://www.roadmasterinc.com/index.html
http://www.usgear.com/unified_tow_brake.htm
http://www.blueox.us/
http://www.brakebuddy.com/index.shtml
http://www.tow-v-aire.com/
http://www.towbrake.com/option.html
http://www.m-gengineering.com/index.html
http://www.smibrake.com/
http://www.viprv.com/index2.html
http://www.readybrake.com/
http://vasebrake.com/site/590961/page/45031

Happy Camping,

Mark J. Polk

Copyright 2007 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/.
Sign up for your free "RV Education 101" Newsletter http://rveducation101.com/email/

May RV Questions & Answers by Mark Polk

2007-05-10T06:07:00.000-05:00

*NOTE: At Mark's discretion, material might be edited to suit a wide audience. Due to the large volume of material and correspondence we receive, individual replies might not be possible, nor can we acknowledge receipt of submitted material. Selected questions will be answered in future issues of our RV Education 101 newsletter and on our site. Thank-you for your understanding.

Q: We have a Pop Up and my husband and I can never seem to back it in to the camp sight where we want it to go. Do you have any advice or ideas?

Mark says: I have a method that has always worked well for me with two people working together. First decide who will drive and who will give directions. Let’s say your husband is driving. For this to work you are his eyes and he needs to do exactly what you tell him. When you are ready to back it in, you stand in front of the vehicle where you can see the trailer and communicate with your husband. He puts his hand on the top of the steering wheel and slowly turns the wheel in the direction you tell him. If you want the back of the trailer to go to your right you tell him to turn the steering wheel to the right. If you want it to go to the left tell him to slowly turn the wheel to the left. Don’t get upset if you need to pull forward and start over. With a little practice you’ll be backing like the pros. There is an excellent video available that not only demonstrates methods for backing a Pop Up, but it covers everything you need to know about using Pop Ups too. Pop Up video

Q: After we decided to buy a travel trailer the dealer told us we would need to spend another $1,000 dollars on hitch work. Isn’t this a little unreasonable?

Mark says: The dealer should have explained the importance of proper hitch work during the sale. It is for your own safety and the safety of your loved one’s. If your particular purchase requires a weight-distributing hitch, dual cam sway control, electric brake control and wiring then 1,000 dollars is not unreasonable. Any reputable RV dealer will not sell the trailer without the proper hitch work.

Q: I have heard people talk about the 75% rule of thumb for towing. How does this work?

Mark says: There is some confusion on this subject. A lot of people say that you take the manufacturers tow rating for a vehicle and multiply it by 75% and this is the maximum weight you should tow. For example a tow rating of 8,000 pounds X 75% = 6,000 pounds. The 75 % rule is designed to build in a margin of safety. The way that I understand it and apply it is that you take the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of the tow vehicle X 75%, and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the tow vehicle X 75%. Once you determine this you subtract the two and this is the maximum weight you should tow. Using the same example above that vehicles GCWR is 14,000 pounds X 75% = 10,500 pounds. The GVWR is 8,800 X 75% = 6,600 pounds. 10,500 minus 6,600 = 3,900 pounds. I apply this rule if you plan to tow in high elevations. A gasoline engine looses 3 to 4 percent of its power for every 1,000 feet above sea level. The 75% rule compensates for that lose in power.

Q:My 2006 Toyota Tundra Quad Cab truck has a GCVWR of 11,800 (12,200 from another source), let's be conservative and say 11,800. The truck does have factory installed towing package. Tow rating on truck with tow package is 7100lbs according to owners mannual. Trailer has dry weight of 5190 and gross weight rating of 6500lbs. My estimates on cargo and add on's, I have estimated at around 850 to 900lbs. If we did any dry camping it would be very rare. So I'm not allowing for a lot of water weight.

So, loaded trailer weight should be about 6040lbs. Looking at it from this point I have almost 1100lbs of slack. But from at GCWR I'm pushing the envelope on weight. I do have a oil cooler with tow package. I have a prodigy brake controller, and I'm going with your recommendation and purchase an "Equalizer" hitch. They are kinda of high $$$, but I feel it will be money well spent. My truck also has a tow mode on the transmission. It takes it out of overdrive and runs the truck in 3rd gear. (There goes gas mileage!!)

The Jayco trailer I am looking at and the weight of the truck, put me at 98% of the GCVWR. I know the lower percentage the better, but what I can't get a straight answer on is being at 98% will the truck still pull O.K. I don't want to put the truck in a bind, and I don't want to spend 20 minutes trying to get up a hill either. I have weighed my truck on a scale as recommended. It was loaded and full of gas. I probably went a little overboard putting fire wood in the bed to get some extra weight. Just trying to figure on high side. I have also taken dry weight of trailer and have added for propane, hitch weight, some water, and personnel food and gear. (Food & Gear I used about 350lbs.) Just some added info. Based on the length of the wheel base of my truck. I'm just about at the maxium on trailer length too. I am going to purchase weight distribution and sway control hitch.
I just can't get a clear answer on towing ability at these weights from
anyone. You're not trying to sell me a travel trailer, so any information you can
provide me will be helpful.

I also have purchased your video series on RV's and have gained a lot of information. This is our first RV and we have a lot to learn. We need all the help we can get.

Mark says:I had a chance to review the information you sent. I have always said if the tow vehicle tow rating is higher than the trailers GVWR you are in pretty good shape (as long as you don't overload the trailer). And the key to the GCWR is to keep it below the GVW of the combined truck and trailer which you are, even though it is at 98%, it is below. If you plan to pull the trailer in the mountains a gas engine will loose 3 to 4% of its power at higher elevations and you may want to re-calulate your figures.

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books.
http://www.rveducation101.com/

RV Spring Preparation Checklist

2007-04-14T08:41:00.000-05:00

Your RV has been sitting idle over the winter. Now the early signs of spring are here and it's time to take it out of storage and prepare the coach and chassis for this years camping season. If you're like me, you want to have some type of logical sequence to follow rather then haphazardly checking the unit out. I made a simple checklist to use so that nothing is overlooked. I prefer to do the majority of spring preparation myself. If you're more comfortable having someone else do it you can schedule an appointment with a reputable RV service center to have it done.

* Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized. If you used non-toxic RV antifreeze you need to run fresh water through the entire system until all traces of antifreeze are gone. To remove it from the 12-volt water pump add water to the fresh water-holding tank, turn the pump on and open all water faucets. When the antifreeze is out of the system turn the pump off and take the water heater out of the by-pass mode (if applicable). Re-install any water filter cartridges you removed for storage.

* At this point I like to sanitize the water system. Make sure all of the drains are closed and drain plugs are installed. Take a quarter cup of household bleach for every fifteen gallons of water your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach with water into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water holding tank completely full of water. Turn the water pump on and open all faucets, run water until you smell the bleach. Close the faucets and let it sit for at least twelve hours. Drain all of the water and re-fill the tank with fresh water. Turn the pump on and open all faucets until you no longer smell bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process to eliminate all signs of the bleach.

* With the water system under pressure inspect for water leaks. Check the operation of the toilet.

* Wash the unit thoroughly. This is a good time to inspect the roof and body seams, and window sealants for cracking that would allow water to get in. Consult a dealer for sealants compatible with these materials.

* Inspect the operation of the awning and clean the awning fabric as required.

* Inspect the tires for signs of dry rot. Inflate all tires to the recommended COLD tire pressure.

* Lubricate all hinges and locks with spray lubricant.

* Remove any tape or protective covering you may have put over LP gas vents to keep insects and rodents out. Check any mousetraps you may have put out. Open all doors and compartments and check for rodent intrusion and water damage.

* Inspect and clean the interior.

* Plug in any appliances that you unplugged for storage and replace any dry cell batteries you may have removed. This is a good time to put new batteries in items like smoke alarms.

* Test the operation of the carbon monoxide alarm, LP gas leak detector and smoke alarm.

* Check the fire extinguisher. Be sure it is fully charged.

* Reset any breakers you may have turned off. If you removed any fuses for storage re-install them.

* Clean or replace air conditioner filters if it wasn't done prior to storage and remove any covers that were put over air conditioners.

* Open vents and windows and air the unit out.

* If you removed the coach and chassis batteries for storage install them. Whether they were removed or not check the electrolyte levels, clean the terminals and clamps, and check the charge level in all batteries. Recharge batteries as necessary.

* Check the operation of the electric steps if applicable. Lubricate step mechanism.

* Test the operation of the hydraulic jacks if applicable. Check hydraulic fluid level.

* Test the operation of the back up camera and monitor if applicable.

* If you didn't change the oil and filters in the generator prior to storage this is a good time to do it. Inspect the generator exhaust system for damage prior to starting. Start and run the generator for two hours with at least a half rated load on it. Consult the generators owner manual for load ratings.

* Turn the generator off and plug the unit into shore power. Turn the refrigerator on in the electric mode. Allow sufficient time to cool and check for proper operation.

* Check all 12-volt interior lights and accessories.

* Test the monitor panel for proper operation.

* Check the operation of slide outs if applicable.

* Check the remaining 120-volt appliances for proper operation.

* Test the Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) for proper operation.

* Turn the refrigerator off, leave the doors open and allow sufficient time for it to get to room temperature so it can be checked in the gas mode.

* Before I use the LP gas system I have a leak test and gas operating pressure test performed. A qualified technician with the proper equipment should do these tests.

* After this is accomplished turn the LP gas valve on and check the operation of all LP gas appliances. Be sure the water heater is full of water before testing the water heater. If a gas appliance is not operating properly have it inspected by a qualified technician. Insects are attracted to the odorant added to LP gas and build nests that can affect the appliance from operating properly.

* If your unit was in long-term storage and you didn't change the engine oil and filter prior to storage this would be a good time to do it.

* Check all fluid levels in transmission, power steering, engine coolant, engine oil, windshield washer and brakes. Consult vehicle owners manual.

* Start the engine and check for proper readings on all gauges. Check for proper operation of dash air conditioner.

* Perform a complete chassis lubrication if it wasn't done prior to storage.

* Check the condition of windshield wiper blades and replace them if necessary.

* Check the operation of all chassis lights.

* Make sure the vehicle emissions/inspection sticker is up to date.

* In addition to this if you have a pop-up or travel trailer the wheel bearings and brakes (if equipped) should be inspected at least once annually. Inspect any canvas for dry rot and tears; inspect all hitch work and the coupler for damage. Inspect the breakaway switch and pigtail for proper operation.

Happy Camping ,
Mark J Polk

Copyright 2007 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. www.rveducation101.com/

RV Education 101 Video- Hitching a 5th wheel

2007-02-15T11:07:00.000-05:00


Mark Polk of RV Education 101 instructs you on how to properly hitch & unhitch a 5th wheel trailer. For more free RV training video tips visit www.rveducation101.com

RV Education 101 Video Controlling Trailer Sway

2007-02-15T10:55:00.000-05:00


Mark Polk of RV Education 101 instructs you on what contributes to trailer sway and what steps you can take to control it.

RV Education 101 Video Eliminating RV holding tank odors

2007-02-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

Mark Polk of RV Education 101 instructs you on what contributes to RV holding tank odors, and what you can do to prevent this from happening.

RV Tire Failure 101

2007-02-15T10:08:00.000-05:00

When I was young, my friends and I would go tent camping at our favorite spot in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. It is where I learned the art of fly-fishing for trout, trapping muskrats and hunting whitetail deer. To this day just the thought of those camping trips bring back wonderful childhood memories. Not only are the memories good, the lessons I learned have lasted a lifetime.

My one friend’s father would go with us on many of our camping excursions. When he was a young man he spent several years working for a logging company. We would load up in his old 4X4 truck armed with chainsaws, axes, wedges and logging chains and head out in search of fallen trees and logs that would later be used to build our spectacular bonfires. Each and every time we went out to do this he made us inspect the logging chains and cables before we would skid the logs out of the woods behind the truck. He told us to inspect where the hooks attached to the chains and inspect the chains length for the weakest link. I was shocked at the number of times we discovered a link that was cracked or broken. He explained what the results could be if a chain or cable broke under tension.

I have applied the weakest link lesson many times since then. During my time in the Army I was in charge of some very large maintenance operations. We would go on countless recovery missions to upright vehicles that rolled over, or to tow a sixty-ton M1 tank back to the maintenance facility. We would inspect and re-inspect the riggings, looking for the weakest link, before attempting to recover these vehicles. Since retiring from the military my passion has been with RV’s and once again I realized the importance of the weakest link lesson.

Every weight rating on an RV is based on the weakest link in the system. The tires on your RV are by far the most important and most neglected link in the system. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard people say that the tires on their RV were defective, or my tires only had 12,000 miles on them when I had a blowout. In the majority of cases the truth of the matter is that tire maintenance has been neglected. The only thing between your RV and the road surface is your tires and the air that is in them. This is the weakest link.

What are some of the leading causes of premature tire failure?
• Overloading the tires
• Under inflated tires
• Ozone and UV rays
• Age of the tires
• Rotating tires

Tire failure can be extremely dangerous and can cause extensive damage to your RV. There are no guarantees, but by practicing good tire maintenance you can feel much safer and secure that the weakest link on your RV will do its job while you’re out exploring this wonderful country we live in.

Happy Camping,
Mark J Polk

Copyright 2007 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

RV Education 101 Pre-Departure Checks for your RV

2007-02-05T14:30:00.000-05:00


Mark Polk of RV Education 101 demonstrates some basic pre-departure checks you should make on your RV prior to leaving on a trip.

Top RV Insurance Claims & How to Avoid Them by Mark Polk

2007-02-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

Your RV insurance can and should fit your RV. To get a free RV insurance quote with absolutely no obligation from Explorer RV Insurance Agency, Inc. call 1-888-774-6778.

After doing some research on RV insurance claims I discovered what one insurance company listed as the top five RV insurance claims filed by RVers. Today we're going to discuss what these claims are and how you can avoid them.

Claim #1

An insurance company stated that it receives at least 400 claims each year involving fires around the back of the refrigerator that are caused by leaking propane lines. If you're using your refrigerator in the LP gas mode, with an open flame, you definitely don't want a leaking LP gas line.

How to avoid it
To avoid becoming a statistic I recommend that you take your RV to an authorized RV repair facility annually and have the entire LP gas system checked. RV technicians have the proper equipment to check the system for leaks and to make sure the LP gas pressure is adjusted properly.

You, the owner, can periodically inspect for LP gas leaks. To do this turn the main gas supply on, but do not light any pilot lights or other burners. Take a bottle of approved LP leak detector solution and dab around all gas fittings. If there is a leak the small bubbles will grow into larger bubbles. Tighten the fitting and repeat the leak test. If the problem persists turn the LP gas supply off and take it to an RV repair center to have it checked out and repaired.

Claim #2

The next claim the insurance company listed was RV's hitting gas station overhangs and bridges. RVers forget or don't know the height of their RV and enter areas that don't have enough overhead clearance.

How to avoid it
The first step is to measure the height of the RV from the ground to the highest point, usually the top off the air conditioner. Manufacturer brochures often times include this information. Check the footnotes to make sure it includes optional equipment like the air conditioner. For safety measures add an additional six inches to the overall height. Write this information down and post it in the RV or tow vehicle where it can be easily seen and will serve as a constant reminder for you. When you exit the interstate to refuel select an exit that has several fuel stations so you can pick one that is easy to navigate, and has plenty of overhead clearance. If you travel on roads less traveled be sure and check clearances on all overhead bridges before attempting to go under them.

Claim #3

The insurance company lumped retracting the RV steps and awnings together in this claim. Traveling with the awning properly secured is one concern and stowing your awning in bad weather is another concern. Since the claim was not very specific about the awning I will address both issues.

How to avoid it
When I worked for an RV dealership I saw the end result of not retracting the steps on more than one occasion. It's easy to forget the RV steps when you are getting ready go on a trip or leave a campground. I have two ways to avoid this from happening to you. First you should always use a pre-trip checklist anytime you plan to move the RV. Second you should always walk around the entire RV a second time just before pulling out. You'll be amazed at some of the things you missed the first time you walked around the RV. I have a very thorough pre-trip checklist available in my “Checklists for RVers” e-book at www.rveducation101.com

The first thing we'll cover concerning the awning is stowing it properly for travel. Make sure the awning is properly stowed against the side of the RV and the roller tube lock mechanism is in the retract position. Make sure the awning arm travel locks are latched and tighten the black knobs on the back of the awning arms. The awning makes your RV six inches wider and you must always keep this in mind when you are traveling. I have seen many cases where the awning roller tube and fabric gets damaged by hitting or rubbing on something and the awning arms get damaged by catching on something. When navigating in close quarters, such as at a campground, use a spotter or a ground guide to make sure you have enough clearance to avoid damage to the awning.

I'm not sure if the insurance company gets more claims for travel related damage to the awning or storm related damage. I think I have seen more awning damage caused by rain, wind and storms. You should always lower one end of the awning to allow for water run off. The weight from water pooling on the awning fabric can cause extensive and costly damage. Any wind over 20 miles per hour can also cause extensive damage to the awning and to the RV. Never leave the awning out unattended. If everyone is leaving the campsite, store the awning in the travel position. When you go to bed, store the awning in the travel position. Even when you are at the campsite, you should use awning tie downs to prevent any sudden damage caused by a high wind gust or a storm that moves in quickly.

Claim #4

The next claim the insurance company listed was for damage caused by tire blowouts. I have seen extensive damage to RVs caused by tire blowouts. Tire blowouts on RVs are caused by overloaded tires, under inflated tires, old tires and tires damaged by the ozone and UV rays.

How to avoid it
Just like the axles on your RV, tires have load ratings too. The maximum ratings are molded into the side of the tires. You need to have your fully loaded RV weighed to ensure that the tires are not overloaded. The only way to know if a tire is overloaded is to find scales where you can weigh individual wheel positions in addition to the overall weight, and the axle weights.

Another leading cause of tire failure is under inflated tires. The load rating for a tire is only accurate if the tire is properly inflated. Under inflated tires cause extreme heat build up that leads to tire failure. The appearance of the tire can look normal but the internal damage is not visible and the tire can fail at any time without warning. If you find any tire 20 percent or more below the correct inflation pressure have it removed, demounted and inspected. Driving on a tire that is 20 percent or more under inflated can cause serious, permanent damage to the tire that may not be visible.

Ideally you should check tire inflation, and adjust it if required, everyday that you move or drive your RV. If you can't get into the habit of doing it on a daily basis you need to make it a point to check all tires weekly, at a minimum when you're traveling. You always want to check the tires when they are cold, meaning that you don't drive or move the RV before checking inflation pressure. The only way to correctly measure the inflation pressure in your tires is with a quality inflation pressure gauge. Don't ever depend on your eyes to check tire inflation. There can be as much as 20 PSI difference between tires that look the same. You need to invest in an accurate inflation pressure gauge. You should get one with a double, angled foot. This makes it much easier to check the outer tire of a dual set.

The age of your tires is another factor that contributes to tire failure. If your tires are more than seven years old they should be replaced. All tires manufactured in the United States have a DOT number. You might have to look on the inside sidewalls to find it. The last three or four digits in the DOT number identify how old the tire is. Older tires used three digits. The first two identify the week of the year that the tire was built and the third identifies the year. Newer tires use four digits. Again the first two digits are the week of the year and the last two identify the year. For example 1006 is the 10th week of the year, and 06 is the year 2006. If you question the age of your tires, especially on a used RV, and you can't find the DOT number have them inspected by a qualified tire center.

Ozone in the air and UV rays from the sun shorten the life of your tires. It's not uncommon to see RV tires with low mileage and plenty of tread that are ruined by the damaging effects of ozone and UV rays. Ozone in the air causes tires to dry rot and deteriorate. UV rays from the sun make it happen quicker. This is especially true of the tires sidewall. Inspect your tires for checking or cracks in the sidewalls. If you notice any damage the tires should be inspected by a professional. To protect your tires from sun damage keep them covered with covers that will block out the sunlight when not in use.

Claim #5

Number five in the top five RV claims was for damage caused by rodent infestation. When RVs are stored for the winter it's not uncommon for mice and squirrels to make their winter home in the RV. These animals are notorious for chewing through vehicle wiring and plastic and rubber lines, debilitating the entire vehicle.

How to avoid it
I don't know if there is any proven, full proof method for keeping these rodents out of your RV but there is a long list of ways people have tried. I will list some of these ideas that you can try to keep these unwanted guests away from your RV.

1) Possibly the most important step is to try and prevent mice and other rodents from being able to access your RV. This can be difficult because they can enter the RV through some very small areas. Start by inspecting the underside of your RV for any gaps or holes. Fill these gaps using silicone or expanding foam. A word of caution, if you never used expanding foam before you should experiment with it on something other than your RV first. When it dries it can expand a great deal more than you expect. Next, open drawers and cabinet doors inside your RV. Look in all of the corners and crevices, especially where plumbing and wiring enter the RV. If you can see any daylight mice can get in. Fill these areas with silicone or foam.

2) Remove all food from the RV when it's being stored and thoroughly clean it to remove any remnants of food that might attract mice and other rodents.

3) If at all possible try to park or store your RV on a solid surface like pavement or concrete. Try to avoid grass, fields or wooded areas.

4) If it's a motorized RV start it every week to run any squirrels off that may be making the engine compartment into a home for the winter. This is where a lot of chewing damage occurs.

5) If you don't mind the smell of mothballs scatter them throughout areas of the RV to include storage compartments and the underside. I have been told that mothballs will work for a while but eventually rodents will get used to the smell and it will no longer deter them.

6) Others say the alternative to mothballs is dryer sheets, like Bounce. People swear they work and the smell is much more pleasant. The problem with dryer sheets is once they dry out they are not really effective.

7) If you are close to where your RV is being stored you may want to use conventional mouse traps and check for mice every few days. The only problem with traps is the bait can actually attract mice. I don't recommend any type of poison. It can take several days for the poison to work and the mice will usually die somewhere that you can't find them. If this happens you may never get rid of the smell. If you do use poison make sure pets can't get to the areas where you put it.

8) I have talked to RVers who suggest you spray some type of insect spray (that contains mint oils) around the tires to discourage mice. The only problem I see with this is you would need to do it every few days if the RV is stored outside.

9) There are numerous ultrasonic pest controllers on the market. Some even offer money back guarantees. Again, I have talked to some people who swear by them and others who insist they don't work. I have never tried this method.

10) If all else fails I ran across a product called Fresh Cab that claims to put off a sweet woodsy-alpine scent that will keep mice away for up to three months. I have not personally tried this product, but if you would like to read more about it go to
http://www.goodearthenterprises.com/

After a great deal of research on this topic I have come to the conclusion that the only way to really keep rodents away is to get rid of the rodent's altogether. Continue to set traps for mice until they are gone and in the case of squirrels it may be necessary to trap and relocate them if there is no other method available to get rid of them.

I was surprised that damage to TV antennas did not make it in the top five RV claims. I have seen many TV antennas and RV roofs damaged by forgetting to lower the TV antenna. The damage isn't just from the antenna hitting something when it's in the raised position; it's also because the antenna cannot withstand the force from highway speeds when it's in the raised position. There are a couple of ways to avoid damage to your TV antenna. One is to stick to the trusty pre-trip checklist before you move the RV. Another way is hang the motor home or tow vehicle starting key, or something like a piece of colorful ribbon on the TV antenna handle whenever it's in the raised position. This will serve as a reminder to lower the antenna before you move the RV.

Armed with this advice, hopefully you can avoid becoming a statistic in the top five RV insurance claims. Be safe and have a great time exploring this wonderful country in your RV.

Happy Camping

Mark J. Polk

Copyright 2007 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books.http://www.rveducation101.com/

Sign up for your free "RV Education 101" Newsletterhttp://rveducation101.com/email/

RV Education 101 Updates from Mark

2007-01-30T14:33:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope everybody had a great holiday season and that you had an opportunity to make a new years resolution, and hopefully you can stick to it. We have some exciting plans for 2007 and some exciting news to start off the new year. Our products will be available in Wal-Mart stores beginning in February 2007. The initial launch will include three DVD titles to be in several hundred stores and my "The RV Book" will be available in over 3,000 stores nationwide. You can find them in the RV section of the automotive department.

More good news! We have been working on making our DVDs available by instant download for quite some time now, and have finally been successful with this latest technology. Now you will be able to purchase the DVD title you want to view and it will be available instantly, just like an e-book. Go to www.rvdownloads.com

My goal for 2007, as far as video production goes, is to update some of our older titles and to produce two new titles based on numerous customer and retail outlet requests; one on "How to Buy an RV" and the other on "RV Preventive Maintenance". We are also planning to produce a video seminar series on specialized topics that RVers are interested in and concerned about. As you know, educating RVers is very important to us. We will continue to partner with KOA and this year, we have also partnered with National Interstate Insurance Company & Explorer RV Insurance Agency to create some very exciting educational opportunities for RVers including some video seminars that will help to explain various topics about RV insurance and the different types of coverage.

We completed our Miracle Truss building project the middle of December. I am extremely pleased with the final product. Be sure and take a look at this months video tip to find out exactly how a Miracle Truss steel building is constructed from start to finish. I told Dawn if she can't find me, I'll be in the new building.
http://rveducation101.com/videostream/?clip=Miracle_Truss

Have a great 2007 camping season,

Mark

Live, Laugh, Love

2006-10-02T06:29:00.000-05:00

RV Education 101

I would like to share this. My friend Peggi McDonald author of RV Living in the 21st Century passed it on to me:

Here's to T-bone steaks, yellow roses and friendship.READ THIS!!!! and then reread it. Especially the last part...I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands. He knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.

Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two. Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak. Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket.. Hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know." I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. "My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together." She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine. As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. "These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. "When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for." She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone. Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.

________________________________

On another note:

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thankyou, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, thatI have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost,toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud.Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture inmagazines and the menu is at times unbalanced.Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord,for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest.

Thank you, Lord, for life.

RVing to Colorado..whooohoooo!!!!

2006-07-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

Mark, Tyler (our son) and I just returned from a 2 week trip to Colorado...We had so much fun!

My great friend Teresa..

Mark and Tyler fishing at 11 mile canyon..

Dawn, Tyler, Teresa and her daughter Laine

Mark, Tyler, Laine and my sister's daughter Carissa..
My sister's 2 sons, Kyle and Jordan...

My 93 year old Great Aunt Lorrayne

My Mom , me, my sister Tane

The Beach

2006-06-15T07:10:00.000-05:00

Mark and I (Dawn) have had a few wonderful weekends at our favorite campgound at the beach. Tyler was the only one that could come with us as Josh is on the American Legion baseball team. Quite the honor, but we do miss him when he can't come with us.

Meeting the president of The Happy Camper Club

2006-05-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

Hi!
I am Dawn, co-owner of RV Education 101 and wife of Mark Polk.

Mark and I have worked with Anne Pierson, president of Happy Camper Discount Club for about 5 years now. We have spoken on the phone and e-mailed each other for many countless hours throughout the years. It is kind of a neat feeling to be able to conjure up images of what you think someone might look like based on what you have communicated back and forth for so long.

Mark and I had an RV trip planned for some business and Mark said I could e-mail Anne and tell her that after our business meeting, we could drive our motorhome to meet her and her family. She and I were both ecstatic to say the least!

We finally got to Anne and Bob's Lake Bruin Campground. Out came this lady with a bucket hat...I knew instantly that it was Anne...exactly as I pictured her!

Anne and I discovered long ago that we have so much in common and had bonded long ago, especially now that we have met!

It was a lot of fun sitting around her and Bob's campground amongst our RV's, kids and animals. Something Mark and I will never forget and something we are most definately going to do again! They also took us on an evening boat ride to watch the sunset from the lake..WOW!

Mark always says that RV's give you the freedom to explore this wonderful country we live in, and you know what? He is right!!!!!!

Happy Camper RV Club Doubles Membership, Surprises Customers with Freebies, Creates a Unique Environment Online for RV Travelers

2006-05-09T07:57:00.000-05:00

Like no other RV club, Happy Camper Club offers discount camping across the nation at a whole new level. Going the extra mile is key to the club's growth, giving more than what is promised, helping RVers learn more with free ebooks, and making it possible for the club members and site visitors to create their own RV trips online.

Monroe, LA (PRWEB) May 5, 2006 -- Happy Camper RV Club is well-known throughout the camping industry as a half-price discount rv club. With over 1,000 campground and RV park locations in the US and Canada, the club has doubled membership in the last two years by giving "more than what is promised" to its members, and creating a web site that gives RVers a fun environment online for trip planning and learning.

Club president, Anne Pierson, describes the secret to the club's success by stating, "We always give more than we promise, and our members love the extra bonuses we create to serve them - above and beyond our promise of saving 50% on camping. Members never know when they will get an email from us with a fun "freebie" they can request by mail, or an interesting addition to our web site.

"Our goal is to surprise and delight our visitors and members with added value wherever we find it. As an example, our friends at RV Education 101 gave us a generous gift to share. They provided a free RV Checklists Ebook to us for new members, and the feedback on the ebook has been pure excitement. New members can't believe it when they get a welcome letter from us with this bonus, because we don't even advertise it."

www.rveducation101.com/ebooks.htm?siteID=0

Mark Polk of RV Education explains, "If we don't write down what we need to remember, inevitably we forget something. This can be especially true with RVs because there are just too many things to remember. You will want to protect your investment in a routine and safe manner."

In this 80 page e-book, there are over 35 checklists applicable for pop-ups, travel trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes, to use from the time you purchase your RV until you store it for winter and everything in between. It includes checklists for Pre-delivery Inspections, Basic Inventory, Tools & Supplies, Getting There Safely, Campground Set-up, Pre-Trip, Home Security, Dinghy Towing, Essential Items, Nice to Have Items, Traveling with Pets, Awning Operation, Winterizing & De-winterizing your RV, Storing your RV, Battery Testing Chart, Spring Prep, and much more.

"We were so excited," says Karen Oschler, a new Happy Camper member. "We joined Happy Camper because they were so highly recommended by our friends who are members. As soon as we joined, they sent us RV Ed's Checklists e-book, which I wasn't even expecting. As a "newbie," I have so much to learn about camping in a recreational vehicle... that ebook was on my list of things to buy - and I got it as a gift!"

In addition to periodic bonus features, the club's fundamental services focus on providing a detailed camping guide, listing each participating rv park and its amenities, pricing and details. The club membership card gives RVers half off the regular rates at quality nationwide campground locations, and the web site provides a chat forum for sharing information, a free trip planner for RV trip routing, tips and advice, RV news articles, a Camp Store, and personal features for those who register as users at the site (membership not required).

"Over 2,000 visitors a day access our web site," states Pierson. "It's full of so much information for RVers; our members return again and again, and non-members are able to learn, become familiar with our services, and join in the discussions. We give non-members full access, because the RV community is about sharing information. Non-members who use our site are able to hear about our 50% discount benefits first-hand from other members, and they're the best salespeople we have."

Happy Camper projects that it will double membership again in 2006, and invites potential members to visit the web site to learn more. A free "Camping Tips" ebook, and other hidden "freebies" are available at the web site for all RV travelers.

www.camphalfprice.com
866-677-6453
318-343-8608

###

RV Education 101 Releases Free RV Learning Video Tips on the Web

2006-04-08T17:17:00.000-05:00

RV Education 101 has helped tens of thousands of RVers learn how their Recreation Vehicle (RV) works, through its RV DVD training library. To further assist RVers, RV Education 101 is providing a new resource of instant, free RV instruction through short video tips.

Fayetteville, NC (PRWEB) April 7, 2006 -- RV Education 101, founded in 1999 by Mark and Dawn Polk, produces educational DVDs, books and e-books on how to use and maintain Recreation Vehicles (RVs). In a continuing effort to make the learning process easier for RV consumers, RV Education 101 just released free RV video tips on its two websites
www.rveducation101.com and www.rvuniversity.com

Mark Polk, the producer and host of Americas most highly regarded series of RV training DVDs said, “It has always been my thought that people can learn a topic easier if they can visualize it, rather than read about it. Of course that’s the premise behind all of the titles in our RV DVD library too. By providing a new resource of instant, free RV instruction through short video tips we can help new RVer’s learn important basics about their RV, in a visual medium. These short video tips will encompass subjects ranging from LP Gas Safety, RV Roof Care & Maintenance, Wastewater Management and everything in between.”

The RV video tips will be delivered through Polk’s free, monthly e-newsletter. RVer’s who are signed up to receive the RV Education 101 e-newsletter are among the first to view a new video tip each month. The video tips will be archived at www.rveducation101.com making it simple for people to view them as often as they like. When you sign up, your e-mail address will only be used to distribute the newsletter and will never be sold or given to another entity. To sign up for the RV Education 101 newsletter http://www.rveducation101.com/email/index.asp?siteID=0
Polk, who is also the author of the newly released book “The RV Book” offers this informative, monthly RV newsletter and numerous free RV informational articles, advice and tips on his two websites. Polk said, “We strive to provide pertinent information for the RV consumer while continuing to foster excellent consumer satisfaction through our various RV related products. Our goal at RV Education 101 is simple; to help RVer’s, until they are comfortable operating and using their RV and to make their entire RV experience safe, fun and stress free.”

In other news, RV Education 101 recently took its individual Travel Trailer and Motorhome DVD titles and put them into value packs with other DVD titles that apply. There are three value packs to choose from and each one includes four RV training DVD’s, which equates to almost three hours of one-on-one RV instruction. Dawn Polk added, “Not only does this eliminate the guess work as to which titles should go together, but we save the RV consumer a significant amount of money with the box set discounts and S&H charges. All of our DVD titles are still available individually too.”

For more information on the in-depth RV Education 101 DVD’s, books, e-books and other RV products, go to
www.rveducation101.com
# # #

RV WALK THRU / RV WALK THROUGH

2006-03-25T21:32:00.000-05:00

In America, a commonly used term for a dealer orientation class given, when an RV is sold is interchangeably called an RV walk thru or RV walk through....

It is RV education 101's goal to assist you in learning how to use and maintain your Recreation Vehicle.

When Mark and Dawn Polk worked at an RV dealership, they were very thorough when giving RV walk thrus.

Many times the comments were heard "My head is in a whirl" even after 2 hours were spent going thru all of the systems. Walk through information can be overwhelming and studies show the information CAN NOT be retained immediately. That is why our RV Education 101 videos are so important. They can be viewed over and over until the information is retained.

The RV Education 101 walk through videos are NOT technical in nature. They were designed not to overwhelm you, so you can digest the important basic information needed to learn how to operate your RV.

In 1998 Mark started his research (Mark is always very diligent about researching everything) to see if there was a consumer reference video for an RV walk thru video and he did not find a single one available.

So with his many talents and resources, he produced his own. The RV Education 101 video series

The RV Education 101 videos and DVD's have been widely successful with many thankful RVers writing and calling, expressing their sincere gratitude for having been able to learn from the in-depth "type specific" information that was provided in the videos and DVD's.

Many big name RV companies and RV dealerships had their certified technicians review the RV Education 101 videos for correct content and easy to understand viewing style. RV Education 101 was given the thumbs up!

RV Education 101 is proud to say their videos and books are currently available thru many outlets to include:

www.rveducation101.com
KOA
Escapees
Camping World
RV Bookstore
Trailer Life
Barnes and Noble
and over 106 RV companies.
There are also over 500 RV Dealers that use the RV Education 101 videos, DVD's and books with many more in the works.
Texas State College uses our RV Education 101 video series to give a basic orientation of what an RV is all about to their beginning technicians.

We are very thankful to be a part of the RV Community and hope that we truly have made a difference in EDUCATION awareness within the RV industry.

A sincere and heartfelt THANK-YOU to all of you!

Mark and Dawn Polk
http://www.rveducation101.com/trainingvideos.htm?siteID=0

RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based Company that produces educational videos on how to use and maintain your RV. Mark Polk, the owner, started in the RV industry as an apprentice technician in the early 1970's. After retiring as a CW3 from the military (where Polk was a certified automotive maintenance technician, and was in charge of some very large maintenance operations throughout his career) in 1996, he got back into the industry he had a passion for. Polk has an extensive background in RV service, sales and management. He felt so strongly about educating the consumer that he left his position as an RV Sales Manager in 2000 to devote himself full time to his company. Mark’s program includes instructional videos and other materials to make your RVing lifestyle even easier. Mark also provides the RV Savvy segments for the RVTV program and can be seen on the Outdoor Channel. You can order Mark's complete line of RV Education 101 material from www.rveducation101.com

For Sale: 2003 Trail Lite 28QS Class C Motorhome

2006-03-07T10:20:00.000-05:00

Here is a great deal on a Class C motorhome!
Well maintained 28 ft Trail-Lite (28 QS) with 2 slide outs and a rear queen bed. Ford Triton V-10.
30,000 miles. NADA average Retail with adds is $47,700.
Selling price $39,500
Price also includes:
ADCO RV cover,
tire covers,
day / night shades,
2 Maxx Air Vent covers,
Maxx Air Turbo Fan (with built-in Cover),
window awnings,
2 Maxx Air window vents,
4 pack DVD training set

Mark@rveducation101.com
910-484-7615
910-484-8276

RV Education 101 March Newsletter

2006-03-06T17:39:00.000-05:00

Quote of the Month

'The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you are learning you're not old.’
~Rosalyn Sussman Yalow US Medical Physicist
______________________________

THE RV BOOK by Mark J. Polk NEW in 2006!

The RV Book is your personal guide to understanding and enjoying your RV. "RV Expert" Mark Polk turns complex into easy, making all of your experiences safe, fun & stress free. RV’s give us the freedom to go wherever we want, whenever we want. But, nothing will ruin a trip or a vacation quicker than not understanding how to properly use and maintain your RV.

Mark Polk, the author of The RV Book said "Buying an RV is a major investment and it can be overwhelming when just starting out. In the book I tried to touch on all aspects of RV ownership; from selecting and buying the right RV to setting it up at your favorite campground. What type of RV is right for you? How do you tow or drive an RV? How do you safely use an RV? How do you take care of your new RV? I have researched and gathered all of this information, into one place, to simplify the entire process of RV ownership. Whether you own an RV now, or you are getting ready to purchase one in the future, I know that by reading The RV Book you will feel more comfortable about using an RV."

For Pop-Ups, Travel Trailers, Motorhomes and everything in between. After 20 years of fulltime RVing, I still discovered new information while reading The RV Book. Mark’s book is so well written and informative... he patiently explains each basic necessity that every RVer should be aware of to assure safe operation of their RV. -Peggi McDonald, author of RV Living in the 21st Century

Watch as Mark explains what the RV Book is all about.
Watch the video clip HERE
You need a Windows Media Player to view the video clip

$19.95 BUY NOW

______________________________________________

Editorial by Mark
Hello Everybody,
Well February started off good for me with the Steelers winning the Super Bowl. Sorry to all of you Seahawk fans. The rest of the month was spent getting ready to film 13 more RV Savvy segments for the RVTV show. The RVTV crew returned the last week of February and fortunately the weather cooperated with us just enough to finish filming the segments before they had to leave.

The other thing I mentioned last month was that we planned to attend a couple of RV shows, and that we were possibly considering upgrading from our Class C motorhome to a Class A. Well we did attend a couple of shows and we also ordered our new motorhome. It’s a 2006 Bounder 35E. I have always been a big fan of the Fleetwood Bounder. I used to sell Bounders and had a very thorough understanding of how they are built and many reasons why I considered a Bounder to give you the most for your money compared to similarly priced units.

It’s difficult to describe all of the emotions involved with the decision to purchase a new motorhome. Of course we are extremely excited and a bit apprehensive, but in all of my years in the RV industry I have witnessed too many people putting off their dreams until it was too late. This has always been a dream of ours and we decided if we didn’t do it now we may never do it. We want the boys to continue to experience RVing while they are still young and want to go, and we want to enjoy the RV lifestyle for as long as we are physically able to.

In a way it was sad last weekend when we were unloading our motorhome and getting it ready to sell. So many wonderful memories were created during our trips and adventures in our Class C. Although it is difficult to let this one go we can’t help but look forward to what future RV experiences the Bounder has in store for us. The really hard part now is waiting two months for it to be built!!

Anybody looking for a good used Class C motorhome just send us an email and we’ll see what we can work out. It’s a 2003 Trail Lite 28QS with 2 slide-outs. Mark@rveducation101.com

HOT News! HOT News! Beginning next month (if everything goes as planned) we will replace my monthly newsletter RV tip with an actual video clip tip of the month that you can view. The clips will be short tips, covering all types of RV related topics, designed to make RV ownership a little easier for you. So be sure to check in with us next month and get your FREE RV video clip tip of the month. If you know anybody else that might be interested in getting our newsletter and video clip tip of the month send them this link to sign up. http://www.rveducation101.com/email/index.asp?siteID=0

Enjoy the newsletter & happy camping

Mark
_____________________________________________
Feature Article by Mark

De-winterizing & Sanitizing the Water System

We have had a very mild winter this year and with spring just around the corner it’s time to start thinking about taking your RV out of storage and prepping it for another great camping season. Some of you who live in colder climates may need to wait a while longer, but the information will still be available at http://www.rvuniversity.com/ when you need it. This month we’ll concentrate on de-winterizing and sanitizing the water system.

At the end of your camping season you drained the water system, winterized the RV and put it in storage. One problem with this is that on most RV’s when you drain the fresh water holding tank there is still some water left in the tank. Let’s say you do manage to drain all of the water out of the tank. There is still moisture in the water system. Just imagine what can grow in that moist tank while it sits for three or four months. I’d rather not think about it.

This is the water tank that you drink from and the water you use to wash dishes and take showers with. We cannot assume that it will stay safe and fresh like the water system in our home. Contaminated water is extremely dangerous. We not only have to deal with a water system that hasn’t been used for sometime, but when we travel in the RV we hook our water system up to a different water source every time we stop to spend the night some where. We hook up to city water, well water, and eventually contaminated water. You’ve probably heard people say don’t drink the water if you go to Mexico. Well that can be true anywhere.

There are no guarantees that any water is completely safe for us to drink, but if we take certain precautions we can keep our RV water system safe to use. So where do we start? The first step after winter storage is to de-winterize the RV water system. I took this checklist from my Checklists for RVers E-book to help you with the de-winterizing process.

Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized. Follow this simple checklist to get your water system ready for this years camping season.

- If you used non-toxic RV antifreeze open all drains and drain the antifreeze from the system into a
container. If you do not have a bypass kit on the water heater, drain the antifreeze from the water heater.
- If you put any antifreeze in the fresh water holding tank be sure and drain it.
- Close all of the drains.
- Re-connect the outside shower hose if it was removed.
- To remove antifreeze from the 12-volt water pump, add water to the fresh water holding tank, turn the
pump on and open all water faucets. Run water through the system and then turn the pump off.
- Take the water heater out of the bypass mode and hook a hose up to the city water inlet on the RV. Turn
the water on and open all water faucets. Run fresh water through the system for several minutes.
Don’t forget the outside shower if equipped.
- Flush the toilet.
- Check the entire water system for leaks.
- Fill and drain your black and gray holding tanks at least once.
- Inspect the termination valve and lubricate the valve handles.
- Treat the black tank with holding tank chemicals.
- Re-install any water filter cartridges you removed for winterizing.

What we have accomplished so far was to remove the remnants of RV antifreeze from the water system. Now we need to sanitize the water system so it is safe and ready to use this camping season. This is another excerpt from my Checklists for RVers E-book

Take a quarter cup of house hold bleach for every fifteen gallons of water that your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach, with water, into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water tank almost completely full of water. Turn the water pump on, open all hot and cold faucets and run the water until you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close the faucets. If it’s possible, drive the RV or pull the trailer so the water can move around to assist in cleaning the entire tank. Let it sit for at least 12 hours. Drain the entire system again and re-fill the fresh water tank with potable water. Open all of the faucets and run the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process again to eliminate all signs of bleach from the water system.

Now that the RV water system is de-winterized and sanitized here are a couple of other ways to assist you in keeping it safe to use:

Always use a white, non-toxic RV drinking hose. Hoses not labeled safe for drinking can contribute to lead and other dangerous chemicals getting in the water. Use the white non-toxic hose for hooking up to the water source and take along a green or black garden hose for all other uses, like flushing out holding tanks or washing the RV. When you’re not using the drinking hose roll it up and connect the two ends together. This will keep dirt and other debris from getting in the hose. The next time you use the hose, run some fresh water through it before hooking it up to the RV.

Next you need to filter the water going into the RV with a high quality filtration system. Water filters do not purify the water but they can control and remove bacteria, lead and other dangerous contaminants found in drinking water. You basically have two choices on how to filter your RV water system. You can install an inline water filter directly to the water line that you drink from, or you can filter all of the water going into the RV. I prefer to filter all of the water going into the RV. This helps to protect the entire water system and even filters the shower water to help prevent any type of skin irritation.

Follow these simple steps can assure that the fresh water system in your RV truly is fresh.

Happy Camping,
Mark
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If you want to actually see what it’s like to travel to Alaska by RV we offer three great Alaska travel DVDs.

Alaska by RV Video details
Alaska’s Inside Passage Video details
The Last Great Road Trip: Alaska Video details
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Marks Tip of the Month

If you have a generator, remember to exercise it on a monthly basis. In gasoline generators the fuel breaks down and gums up causing hard starting and surging problems. This can happen in as short a period of time as one month. I used to think that I could avoid exercising the generator by adding a fuel preservative to the fuel tank and then running the generator long enough to get the preservative through the generator set. You definitely should use a fuel preservative whenever the unit will be in storage, but there are many other reasons to start and exercise the generator on a regular basis. Moisture build up can cause damage to your generator. When you exercise your generator it heats up the generator windings and eliminates this moisture build up. This monthly exercise regime also lubricates all of the engine seals and components and helps to prevent carbon build up.

So, what exactly does exercising your generator mean? For a gasoline generator it means that you start and run the generator with at least a 50 percent load for at least two hours each month. It is extremely important that you run it with this minimum rated load. Generators are designed to run with a load placed on them. Our motor home has a 4,000 watt generator so I can either turn the roof air conditioner on in the summer time, which is about 2,000 watts or I can use a couple of small portable electric heaters if it’s cold out. It’s always better to let your generator run for longer periods than it is for short periods. Check your generator owner’s manual for load ratings specific to your unit.
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Onan Spring Tune Up Checklist

If you want years of trouble free service from your RV generator it requires more than a monthly exercise routine. Click on this link for a great Onan spring tune up checklist to help get your generator ready for another camping season. http://www.funroads.com/articles/onanspringtuneup.jhtml

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RV Mobile Business

This is something that may really catch on in the future, taking your business on the road. Whether you own a medical or dental office, veterinary clinic, or beauty salon why not make it mobile. A major consideration with our new RV was being able to conduct business when we travel. Here is a site that can help you when you’re ready to go mobile. http://rvmobilebusiness.com/

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Do's and Don'ts for Better Generator Performance

The Do’s:
• DO keep your generator clean by wiping it periodically with a clean cloth.
• DO turn off all appliances in cold weather before starting your generator, for best long-term performance.
• DO check owner’s manual for periodic maintenance schedule.
• DO check the exhaust system regularly for damage or leaks. Make sure the exhaust pipe extends out at least one inch beyond the vehicle perimeter.
• DO check the carburetor pre-heating selector (if one is installed) to be sure it’s in the proper position for the surrounding climate. (See your Operator’s Manual for proper settings.)*

This is just a partial list of the Do’s & Don’ts for better generator performance. To see the entire list go to>
Learn more http://www.funroads.com/service/dosdonts.jhtml
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'RV Friendly' Momentum Keeps Rolling

I personally think the RV Friendly signs are a terrific idea. If you haven’t heard about these signs they are basically highway signs that let RVers know where to exit for facilities that can accommodate RVs. Michigan is the seventh state to adopt the RV Friendly road sign initiative. Read the full story>>
http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?ID=1062811

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The RV Lotto

If you haven’t played the RV Lotto lately you don’t know what you’re missing. As of February 2006 we have given away 1,540 free RV related prizes. We designed the RV Lotto just for RVers, and to help promote small RV companies who offer unique products for RVers. In return, the companies we help to promote offer the FREE RV prizes to you, the RV Lotto players. It truly is a win, win situation for everybody. When you register to play we will never give your email address to anybody and it is only used to announce the weekly winning numbers.
http://www.rvlotto.com/members/founders/
rveducation101/register.php
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The Wireless Trips WiFi Finder

Now that you’re out there enjoying the open road how do you find over 1,400 WiFi locations; especially the ones in the direction you are traveling? It’s just a mouse click away>
http://hotspots.wirelesstrips.com/?m=L
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RV Rescue Makeover selects one winner out of more than 3,000 entries

Find out what deserving family won the extreme RV rescue makeover and can it be done in only 3 days in front of a live audience?? Read more> http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?ID=1069453
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Now Available- Better Business Bureau: Buying a Recreational Vehicle DVD

Learn the biggest mistakes RV buyers make in this 50-minute DVD from RV Travel and the Better Business Bureau, so you can avoid making them yourself. Information for this program was developed through extensive research; examination of consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau; and interviews with industry leaders, dealers, RV repair professionals and actual RVers. Viewing this Better Business Bureau DVD is the very best insurance you can get to avoiding making some of the classic and often costly mistakes new RVers make.

Released in October 2005.

BUY NOW DVD$19.95
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Viewer feedback about RV Education 101 RV training videos

"Hello to both of you, Dawn and Mark. My name is Stephen Mason. As you both know, when my wife and I went to pickup our TT, the dealer did a walk through with us. And I did ask many questions. When we got home with the TT, I forgot everything that they told me... I had to call the RV Dealer up a few times, and ask many questions. And I kept getting a different person for a different question. THEN the Asst. Service Manager, told me about your RV Education 101 web site. I hurried home and downloaded the 101 RV Tips E book. Wow, so much good information. Then I said to my wife, if the E Book is this good, I wonder how good the Tapes and DVD must be. Well, the next day I contact Dawn and order 3 tapes. When I received them in 3 days, I had to watch all of them. THEY ARE GREAT and very informative. I want to take this time out and tell you both that I am happy that we have people like you both to help people like me who know nothing about anything and now learning a lot from your tapes. Again, thanks to the both or you.

P.S. I also told the RV dealer that they should order the collection of all your Tapes and DVD and I will pass your name around also Steve....

RV Training Videos
http://www.rveducation101.com/trainingvideos.htm?siteID=0
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Campground Cooking By Pat Watson

Pat and her husband, Francis, live in Holland, Ohio, and love cooking and entertaining their friends and family, especially at KOA campgrounds! Her new cookbook, "Campground Cooking", is a collection of more than 200 fun, easy recipes designed for RV cooking. Pat says all of the recipes can be made using an RV oven, crock-pot, microwave or electric skillet. She even has sections on cooking with foil and recipes for grilling. Many of the recipes can be adapted for cooking over an open fire, and it's great for busy cooks at home.

CAMPFIRE MUSTARD ROAST
1 chuck roast Mustard (yellow) Cover chuck roast generously with mustard on all sides. Put in a container and let marinate overnight. Cook over a grill or open fire to desired doneness, similar to cooking a steak. Do not remove mustard before cooking.

Now available as an instant e-book! Cookbook details 77 pages

RV Education 101 strongly supports the sale of these Cookbooks. Pat is donating 10% of her profits from the book to benefit the KOA Care Camps Trust for kids with cancer. You can find out more about KOA Care Camps here:http://www.koacarecamps.com/
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Contributed by Peggi McDonald, Author of "RV Living in the 21st Century"
I received an email this week from website visitor Carol stating she just returned from a clean-up tip to Waveland, Mississippi. The damage remains extensive and devastating but it was so fulfilling as well. Carol suggested that maybe several RVers could venture down that way to pitch in and roll up their sleeves. I called Anne Pierson from Happy Camper ½ camp club www.camphalfprice.com/index.php?ref=16&id=6
because she is from there. Anne relayed that most of the ‘clean up’ was being done by church groups and Habitat for Humanity, that would be a good place to start.

Contact state websites to see if they have a listing on where help was needed – Louisiana - www.louisianatravel.com 800-994-8626
or Mississippi - 800-927-6378 – www.state.ms.us
Alabama - 800-252-2262:
www.touralabama.org

Do you have your copy of Peggi’s RV Packing Tips e-book?
It’s really like getting “Three E-Books in One” http://rv101.rvliving.hop.clickbank.net/

About RV LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Peggi has taken the best of her internationally-acclaimed first book and has revamped and updated it to reflect the changing technology and rules in post-9/11 North America. This book is for the new or experienced RVer. There are so many tips from “how to” subjects as well as practical advice on "what to do" when you have medical problems on the road, and how to choose an emergency roadside service. The security tips for your house while you are away and health & safety tips are just a couple of subjects out of many that are invaluable and give you peace of mind! There is so much information we couldn’t possibly list it all.

RV Education 101 highly recommends this book:
"RV Living in the 21st Century" Details
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This is still the busy time of the year for RV shows

If you haven’t attended any RV shows in 2006 it’s not too late. Find out what RV shows are coming up and which ones are close to where you live> www.rvia.org
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Campground Attractions by KOA –

Come Camp With Us Day 2006
Join KOA For Another Special Day of Camping!
Reservations Begin On February 1

Are you spending enough quality time with your family and friends? At Kampgrounds of America, we know how much you value that time. That's why we want to invite you to stay at any of our participating KOA Kampgrounds for FREE the night of Friday, May 12, for the third annual Come Camp With Us Day. Your KOA stay can begin on any day prior to May 12, but May 12 must be included in the reservation.

This FREE day of camping is a great chance to get your RV or tent ready for the summer season. Or if you haven't experienced the joys of camping, come on out and give it a try on May 12 - absolutely free, with no strings attached!

This year, KOA is also partnering with Thales Navigation, makers of Magellan navigation systems, to offer those who reserve a campsite online for Come Camp With Us Day a chance to win one of 14 free Magellan navigation systems to be given away, one each week. Thales Navigation has also pledged a substantial cash donation to support KOA Care Camps for children with cancer. Everyone making a reservation for the May 12 Come Camp With Us Day will automatically be entered to win a free Magellan navigation system.

We're giving away more than half a million dollars in free camping on May 12. Campsite quantities are limited, so don't wait.

Free-will donation boxes will be available at KOA stores on May 12 for campers to make donations to KOA Care Camps. Care Camps is a non-profit charity that helps send kids with cancer and their siblings to one of 34 special summer camps where they can enjoy camping and recreational experiences together.

No other special offers may apply, although regular Value Kard discounts can be applied to all other days of your stay.

All New, 2006 KOA Campground Directory - The 2006 KOA Directory is all you'll need to plan your family's camping fun, whether your trip takes you across North America or just down the road from your home. Order your copy today! http://koa.com/orderadirectory/
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Emergency Kit Check List by Les Doll a working certified RV technician and author of: How to inspect and evaluate a used motorhome the "PAINLESS" way e-book

You can pick and chose what you think you might need:
__ 12-volt compressor
__ Bailing wire
__ Brake fluid
__ Bungee straps
__ CB radio (hand-held)
__ Come-a-long
__ Crowbar
__ Drill and bits
__ D-rings and chain
__ Duct tape
__ Electrical repair stuff (wire, crimp connectors, crimping tool, tape, etc.)
__ Engine oil (3 quarts) (1qt)
__ Epoxy glue
__ Fan belt(s) (spare for each belt)
__ Flares and reflectors
__ Flashlight (with spare batteries)
__ Fuel filter
__ Fuel line and clamps
__ Fuses (for both truck and trailer)
__ Hacksaw and replacement blades
__ Hammer
__ Hand cleaner
__ Hand tools (varied assortment)
__ Hose repair kit (for both radiator and heater hoses)
__ Ignition parts (plugs, cap, rotor, cables etc.)
__ Jack and handle (for truck & trailer)
__ Jumper cables
__ Leather gloves
__ Nuts and bolts (varied assortment)
__ Permatex (non-hardening) and RTV silicone sealant
__ Pipe wrench
__ Plastic tarp (6 x 8-foot)
__ Power steering fluid
__ Puncture-Seal (2 cans)
__ Rags or shop towels
__ Rope
__ Sandpaper (for epoxy, etc.)
__ Small holding tank & fiberglass re-pair kit
__ Spare H.D. flasher
__ Spare light bulbs (turn signal, brake, etc.)
__ Spare lug nuts
__ Spare bearing set and wheel seal for trailer
__ Super glue
__ Extra fire extinguisher
__ Tow strap
__ Transmission fluid
__ WD-40
__ Wheel chocks
_ Windex (cleans anything)
__ Wiper blade

How to inspect and evaluate a used motorhome the "PAINLESS" wayThis e-guide was written by Les Doll, a working Certified RV technician, with years of RV construction and maintenance experience. In this guide you will find many little-known secrets and methods used by professional buyers to evaluate a used RV. This one of a kind electronic guide is your step-by-step road map to the selection of a trouble free used RV.

BUY NOW $14.95
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Happy Camper Half Price Camping Club is excited to announce that their 2006 Camping Guide is now available both in print - and on CD-Rom!

Features include: * The entire fully-detailed 2006 Camping Guide * A 30-day FREE trial membership - which makes it a great GIFT * RV Education 101 Sampler: Safety Articles, Tips, Hints * Classic RV Essays by Chuck Woodbury * Recipes * Camping Tips * and MORE! * Self-contained, with bonus-features available online:

Join 1/2 price camping today at http://www.camphalfprice.com/index.php?ref=15
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Information packed, RV Education 101 instant download e-book Library:

http://www.rveducation101.com/ebooks.htm?siteID=0

The Three Primary Systems of an RV How does an RV work? How do you get hot water, cold food and satellite TV when you're out in the middle of no where. How is it possible to use a microwave when you're driving down the road and what makes the shower work when you aren't even connected to a water source? This e-book has the answers! $12.95 47 pages
http://www.clickbank.net/sell.cgi?rv101/8/RV101_3PrimarySystems

How to Buy an RV, Before you Buy it Looking for your first RV? Don't buy it before you have read this e-book. Take control of your RV buying experience and save thousands of dollars. $12.95 56 pages
http://www.clickbank.net/sell.cgi?rv101/7/RVBuying

The Complete Guide to Dinghy Towing This e-book will explain everything you need to know about towing behind a motorhome in an easy to understand format. Our goal with this e-book is to help you learn how to properly tow a dinghy, and to assist you in making the right decisions to meet your particular towing needs. $12.95 33 pages
http://www.clickbank.net/sell.cgi?rv101/6/Dinghy_Towing

What, you would rather watch a video than read a book. Well you're in luck, we have videos covering all of the information you will get from the e-books at> http://www.rveducation101.com/trainingvideos.htm?siteID=0

Not really sure where to go on an RV trip this year. Check out our RV travel videos and start planning that big trip now>

http://www.rveducation101.com/travelvideos.htm?siteID=0

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When you think of the East Coast you usually think of big cities, but there are many natural areas that have been set aside as well. Our adventure begins in Virginia Beach as we follow the coast south through the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
One-third of all the saltwater marshes along the East Coast are located in Georgia. An eco-tour explains how important the marsh is to the creatures that inhabit it, like oysters, crabs, wading birds, and manatees.
The Everglades is the place to visit for natural wonders. The national park is one of the most unusual in the country. The East Coast contains many natural wonders that most people are not aware of, come along for the ride!

...Available in DVD $26.95 & VHS $21.95 Video details Order Now!
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Other Popular Products at RV Education 101

"Live Your Road Trip Dream"

Travelers Guide to the Firearms Laws

Family Outdoor Emergency Kit
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Everything a dog might need in an emergency whether at home or on the road. The Canine Companion kit contains 42 first-aid, health care, wound care, bandaging, and comfort/safety items; with easy to follow instructions written by Dr. Bloomfield, specifically for each product. RV Education 101 feels this kit is a smart necessity if you are going to travel with your dogs. Canine Companion - "Emergency First Aid and Travel Kit for Dogs"
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RV DVD Value Packs

We just made it easier for you to learn about YOUR RV! We took our individual matching Travel Trailer and Motorhome DVD titles and put them together into full sets for you. Not only does this eliminate the guess work as to which DVDs should go together, but you also SAVE a significant amount of money with the value set discount. After watching this complete RV DVD library by RV expert Mark Polk, you will master your own RV experiences. Another great thing is this only counts as 1 item, so you only pay $4.95 for S/H!

There are 3 value sets currently available. Class A Motorhome, Class C Motorhome & Travel Trailer/5th Wheel. Each set includes 4 DVDs. Get your RV DVD value set today!

http://www.rveducation101.com/trainingvideos.htm?siteID=0
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Some Interesting Facts About LP Gas

http://www.worldlpgas.com/mainpages/aboutlpgas/index.php
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The RV Book, a newly released guide to understanding and enjoying RV’s

If you do enjoy reading as opposed to watching a video, and you are interested in learning more about RV’s this is the book for you.

$19.95 BUY NOW
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Do you want a better understanding of how your RV electrical system works?

This is a fairly short, but very comprehensive article I ran across that might be able to clear up any questions you have about your RV’s electrical system> http://www.smithae.com/rv.html
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Rest Areas and Welcome Centers by William C. Herow

This is a very popular title and now it has been completely updated and revised! Quickly and easily locate rest areas, welcome centers, roadside turnouts, and scenic vistas along America's Interstate highways. Find out where these areas are and the facilities available such as restrooms, phones, picnic tables, vending machines, RV dump stations, and designated pet walk areas.

Rest Areas & Welcome Centers also includes Cracker Barrel locations and discount stores like Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, K-Mart, and Target. Easily find travel centers like AmBest Truck Stops, Flying J Travel Plazas, Love's, Petro, Pilot, and TA Travel Centers. These places welcome RVers with services such as propane, diesel fuel, restaurants, and dump stations. Some even offer free overnight parking!

Also included is state tourism contact information, a convenient list of toll-free numbers for hotels and motels across America, and an RV dump station locator. Rest Areas & Welcome Centers is a valuable resource for anyone that travels America's Interstate highways. 240 pages, a must have book for every RVer.

Select this link to view a sample chapter (Adobe Reader PDF, 184KB)

$12.95 BUY NOW
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General and Unsubscribe Info

About us:

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to provide you with helpful information to make all of your RV experiences more enjoyable. I left my position as an RV Sales and F&I manager in 2000 to start my own company, RV Education 101. We produce educational videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. The reason I left my job was due to my concern about the lack of educational and safety awareness material available to the RV consumer, in other words, you. We are a small company. My wife Dawn left her position in RV sales to help start the company and is our Sales and Marketing Director. We currently have a 28-foot Class C motor home. We have two boys, Tyler 9 and Josh 15, both avid RVers and two dogs, Gracie and Buck. Gracie is the good one. If you would like to learn more about us and RV Education 101 feel free to visit our website> http://www.rveducation101.com/
RV Education 101 Newsletter © Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006 Mark J. Polk, except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. Reprint only with permission from copyright holder(s). All trademarks are property of their respective owners. All contents provided as is. Advertisers are solely responsible for ad content.
To contact us with feedback or questions, email to: info@rveducation101.com
To subscribe, please email http://rveducation101.com/email/
RV Education 101 Newsletter is an opt-in ezine available by subscription only. We neither use nor endorse the use of spam. Your email address will ONLY be used to distribute this newsletter and will NEVER be sold or given to any other entity!!
Happy Camping,
Mark
http://www.rveducation101.com/RV Education 1013969 Stedman Cedar Creek RoadFayetteville, NC 28312910-484-7615

De-winterize & Sanitize your RV Water System......By: Mark J. Polk

2006-02-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

At the end of your camping season you drained the water system, winterized the RV and put it in storage. One problem with this is that on most RV’s when you drain the fresh water holding tank there is still some water left in the tank. Let’s say you do manage to drain all of the water out of the tank. There is still moisture in the water system. Just imagine what can grow in that moist tank while it sits for three or four months. I’d rather not think about it.

This is the water tank that you drink from and the water you use to wash dishes and take showers with. We cannot assume that it will stay safe and fresh like the water system in our home. Contaminated water is extremely dangerous. We not only have to deal with a water system that hasn’t been used for sometime, but when we travel in the RV we hook our water system up to a different water source every time we stop to spend the night some where. We hook up to city water, well water, and eventually contaminated water. You’ve probably heard people say don’t drink the water if you go to Mexico. Well that can be true anywhere.

There are no guarantees that any water is completely safe for us to drink, but if we take certain precautions we can keep our RV water system safe to use. So where do we start? The first step after winter storage is to de-winterize the RV water system. I took this checklist from my Checklists for RVers E-book to help you with the de-winterizing process.

Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized. Follow this simple checklist to get your water system ready for this years camping season.

* If you used non-toxic RV antifreeze open all drains and drain the antifreeze from the system into a container. If you do not have a bypass kit on the water heater, drain the antifreeze from the water heater.
* If you put any antifreeze in the fresh water holding tank be sure and drain it.
* Close all of the drains.
* Re-connect the outside shower hose if it was removed.
* To remove antifreeze from the 12-volt water pump, add water to the fresh water holding tank, turn the pump on and open all water faucets. Run water through the system and then turn the pump off.
* Take the water heater out of the bypass mode and hook a hose up to the city water inlet on the RV. Turn the water on and open all water faucets. Run fresh water through the system for several minutes. Don’t forget the outside shower if equipped.
* Flush the toilet.
* Check the entire water system for leaks.
* Fill and drain your black and gray holding tanks at least once.
* Inspect the termination valve and lubricate the valve handles.
* Treat the black tank with holding tank chemicals.
* Re-install any water filter cartridges you removed for winterizing.

What we have accomplished so far was to remove the remnants of RV antifreeze from the water system. Now we need to sanitize the water system so it is safe and ready to use this camping season. This is another excerpt from my Checklists for RVers E-book

Take a quarter cup of house hold bleach for every fifteen gallons of water that your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach, with water, into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water tank almost completely full of water. Turn the water pump on, open all hot and cold faucets and run the water until you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close the faucets. If it’s possible, drive the RV or pull the trailer so the water can move around to assist in cleaning the entire tank. Let it sit for at least 12 hours. Drain the entire system again and re-fill the fresh water tank with potable water. Open all of the faucets and run the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process again to eliminate all signs of bleach from the water system.

Now that the RV water system is de-winterized and sanitized here are a couple of other ways to assist you in keeping it safe to use:

Always use a white, non-toxic RV drinking hose. Hoses not labeled safe for drinking can contribute to lead and other dangerous chemicals getting in the water. Use the white non-toxic hose for hooking up to the water source and take along a green or black garden hose for all other uses, like flushing out holding tanks or washing the RV. When you’re not using the drinking hose roll it up and connect the two ends together. This will keep dirt and other debris from getting in the hose. The next time you use the hose, run some fresh water through it before hooking it up to the RV.

Next you need to filter the water going into the RV with a high quality filtration system. Water filters do not purify the water but they can control and remove bacteria, lead and other dangerous contaminants found in drinking water. You basically have two choices on how to filter your RV water system. You can install an inline water filter directly to the water line that you drink from, or you can filter all of the water going into the RV. I prefer to filter all of the water going into the RV. This helps to protect the entire water system and even filters the shower water to help prevent any type of skin irritation.

Follow these simple steps can assure that the fresh water system in your RV truly is fresh.

Happy Camping,
Mark

RV Education 101 Simplifies RV Ownership by Releasing RV DVD Value Packs

2006-02-15T17:16:00.000-05:00

For six years RV Education 101 has been the leader in educating RV owners on how to use and maintain their RV. To make the daunting task of RV ownership even easier, RV Education 101 just released RV DVD Value Packs equal to almost three hours of one-on-one RV instruction.
Fayetteville, NC (PRWEB) February 14, 2006 -- RV Education 101, founded in 1999 by Mark and Dawn Polk, just made it easier for Recreation Vehicle (RV) consumers to learn about RVs with the release of three RV DVD Value Packs. Mark Polk, the producer and host said, “We took our individual Travel Trailer and Motorhome DVD titles and put them in sets with other titles that apply.” There are three to choose from and each value pack includes four RV training DVD’s, which equates to almost three hours of one-on-one RV instruction. These DVD value packs provide a thorough understanding of how a Recreation Vehicle works and can be viewed as often as needed. Some of the topics included are; operating, maintaining, winterizing, storing, towing, safety cautions and warnings, and the RV essential items needed for the complete RV experience. Dawn Polk added, “Not only does this eliminate the guess work as to which titles should go together, but we save the RV consumer a significant amount of money with the box set discounts. All DVD titles are still available individually too.”Polk, who is also the author of the newly released book “The RV Book” offers a free monthly RV newsletter and numerous free informational RV articles and tips on his two websites http://www.rveducation101.com/ and http://www.rvuniversity.com/ He said, “Buying an RV is a major investment and a new RVer can be overwhelmed when just starting out, nothing will ruin a trip or a vacation quicker than not understanding how to properly use and maintain your RV. This is where the RV training videos fill such a valuable need.” One new RVer stated, “When we got our first RV we did everything we could to take notes when the dealer gave us our RV walk-thru, but with the gas system, water heater, A/C, water and waste tanks, dumping etc. our heads were in a whirl. We thought we had taken good notes, but, of course there were things we heard differently. The line of RV Education 101 videos/DVD's are a must have for every RV'er.”Mark Polk is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. His 30 plus years in maintenance include an extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management. He writes monthly RV articles for Camping World, KOA and RV Travel. Mark is well respected in the RV industry, having top RV companies support and endorse RV Education 101’s efforts for RV consumer training awareness. KOA’s assistant vice president of marketing, Shannon Scheiwiller who works closely with RV Education 101 stated, "RV Education 101 is the industry’s expert voice of RVing, safety and machine expertise." She further states, "RVers are hungry for two things - vacation ideas and machine information." Polk said, “Our goal at RV Education 101 is simple; to help RVer’s until they are comfortable operating and using their RV and to make all of their RV experiences safe, fun and stress free.” For more information on the RV DVD Value Packs, or RV Education 101 RV products, go to http://www.rveducation101.com/

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/2/prweb346014.htm

Get Control of Your RV Electrical Systems

2006-02-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

The Latest News from Camping World by Mark J. Polk
I have always been an advocate for monitoring the AC line voltage coming into your RV. Campground electricity can fluctuate a great deal. If you don't know what the voltage is coming into your RV, you risk damaging thousands of dollars' worth of electrical appliances and electronic equipment. I have always recommended that RVers use some type of portable digital meter to measure AC line voltage, frequency and test polarity. You should test the AC voltage at the campground to make sure it is in an acceptable range before using any appliances or electronic equipment, and you should monitor the voltage throughout your stay at the campground. Likewise, if you are using a generator you should monitor the AC frequency output of the generator. Frequency is the number of times that electricity alternates per second. Appliances in the U.S. are designed to operate at 60 cycles per second, or 60 hertz. Most people assume that when you start the generator everything will work just fine. But what happens if it is not adjusted properly? When you use your generator, the governor in the generator must hold the speed constant at, or close to, 60 hertz from no load on the generator to a full load. Depending on the load placed on the generator, AC voltage can range from 105 to 130 volts and the frequency can range from 58 to 63 hertz. If the generator is not operating properly, less than 58 hertz or more than 63 hertz, you can damage electronic equipment and appliances in your RV. These portable monitoring devices work okay, but many of them don't warn you if there are problems with the voltage or frequency, and depending on where you plug the meter in, it can be difficult to monitor your RV electrical systems. What about the DC voltage in your RV? How are you supposed to monitor the condition and voltage output of your battery(s)? You can check the battery condition at the monitor panel, but really, how accurate is that? I want to actually see what the battery voltage is at any given time. I want to know if something was accidentally left turned on in the RV when I'm getting ready to put it in storage. I want to know when it's time to charge the battery(s), or if they are overcharging. I want to be warned if a high or low voltage or frequency problem exists, and I want to know this on the AC and DC side of the electrical systems. Is this asking for too much? Not anymore! I recently discovered an AC/DC Monitor System at Camping World that does everything I want, and more! With the AC/DC Monitor System you can constantly monitor your RV electrical system's status, on an easy-to-read, backlit display. The monitor can display four different readings simultaneously and it has user-selectable minimum/maximum alarms. It shows the DC voltage for two batteries, positive terminal DC current, true AC voltage and AC frequency. If you purchase the optional AC current sensor it will monitor AC current too. On top of all of this it displays the room temperature and time, and it uses less than 6 milliamps (mA) when the backlight is turned off, so it won't run your battery(s) down. Installing the AC/DC monitor is not that difficult. Before you start drilling holes in the wall, you need to select a suitable location where it will be easy to monitor the display; and where cabling can be routed through a wall or cabinet to the battery, shunt and AC transformer locations. The monitor comes with a cutout template, the screws to mount the display, and easy to follow installation instructions. If you don't feel comfortable installing the monitor yourself, you can have any Camping World SuperCenter install it for you. Voltage below 105 volts or above 130 volts can damage electronic equipment and some RV appliances. I mentioned earlier that campground electricity varies depending on the demand placed on it. If everybody at the campground is running their air conditioners, the voltage can easily drop below an acceptable level. With the AC/DC Monitor System you will be warned when a condition like this exists, saving yourself the untimely and costly repairs to your RV appliances and electronic equipment. There are numerous electronic devices and equipment in your RV that can drain the coach battery(s) when you're not using the RV. Some examples are the TV antenna booster, the propane gas leak detector, clocks in radios, or accidentally leaving a 12-volt light on. Now when you're getting ready to leave your RV, or put the RV in storage, you can glance at the AC/DC monitor display and you'll know if something was left turned on. Monitoring the AC/DC electrical systems of your RV has never been easier. Just think: no more dead batteries because of under- or over-charging, or leaving something on. No more wondering about the voltage that's coming into your RV, or the frequency range of the generator. No more risking damage to your electrical appliances and electronic equipment. Finally, you control the destiny of your RV electrical system rather than it controlling you. Happy Camping!Mark J. Polk Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101. He also hosts the RV Savvy segments for RVTV, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina-based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV so all of your RV experiences are safe, fun and stress-free.Mark's videos and DVDs are now available at any Camping World Supercenters and at CampingWorld.com.

Learn RV's the Easy Way, by Video and DVD!

2006-02-12T13:56:00.000-05:00

One RV Consumer had this to say: When we got our first RV we did everything we could to take notes when the dealer gave us our RV orientation, but with the gas system, water heater, A/C, water and waste tanks, dumping etc....our heads were in a whirl! We thought we had taken good notes, but, of course there were things we heard differently. These RV (RV Education 101)educational videos / DVD's are a must have for every RV'er!

training videos

RV Spring Preparation 101 by: Mark Polk

2006-02-12T13:54:00.000-05:00

Our motor home has been sitting idle since returning from a hunting trip to Pennsylvania after Thanksgiving. I winterized it, cleaned it and took the necessary precautions to store it for a few months, so it would be ready to go when we were ready to go. Well I have cabin fever, and I find myself searching a road atlas with my morning coffee for new destinations to visit. I am even convinced that the motor home is talking to me. “Come on, let's go, the weathers getting nice let's get outta here”. I finally succumbed to it calling me and decided to take it out of its deep winter sleep and prepare it for spring.

March is a fairly safe bet, in this part of North Carolina, that the worst of the whether is over. If by some chance it does dip down to freezing temperatures, I figure I can turn the furnace on to avoid any possibility of the water system freezing. Now that the decision is made we need to figure out what steps to take to prepare the coach and the chassis for camping and traveling. If you're like me, you want to have some type of logical sequence to follow rather then haphazardly checking the unit out. I made a simple checklist to use so that nothing is overlooked. I prefer to do the majority of spring preparation myself. If you're more comfortable having someone else do it contact a reputable RV dealer and schedule an appointment to have it done.

In an attempt to keep this article at a reasonable length not all steps can be explained in great detail. This is an excerpt taken from my “Checklists for RVers” e-book http://www.rveducation101.com/ebooks.htm?siteID=0

Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized. If you used non-toxic RV antifreeze you need to run fresh water through the entire system until the antifreeze is gone. To remove it from the 12-volt water pump add water to the fresh water-holding tank, turn the pump on and open all water faucets. When antifreeze is out of the system turn the pump off and take the water heater out of the by-pass mode (if applicable). Re-install any water filter cartridges you removed for storage.

At this point I like to sanitize the water system. Make sure all of the drains are closed and drain plugs are installed. Take a quarter cup of household bleach for every fifteen gallons of water your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach with water into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water holding tank completely full of water. Turn the pump on and open all faucets, run water until you smell the bleach. Close the faucets and let sit for twelve hours. Drain all of the water and re-fill the tank with fresh water. Turn the pump on and open all faucets until you no longer smell bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process to eliminate all signs of bleach.
With the water system under pressure Inspect for water leaks. Check the operation of the toilet.

Wash the unit thoroughly. This is a good time to inspect the roof and body seams, and window sealant for cracking that would allow water to get in. Consult a dealer for sealants compatible with these materials.
Inspect the operation of the awning and check the awning fabric.
Inspect the tires for signs of dry rot. Inflate all tires to the recommended COLD tire pressure.

Lubricate all hinges and locks with spray lubricant.
Remove any tape or protective covering you may have put over LP gas vents to keep insects and rodents out. Check any mousetraps you may have put out. Open all doors and compartments and check for rodent intrusion and water damage.
Inspect and clean the interior.

Plug in any appliances that you unplugged for storage and replace any dry cell batteries you may have removed. This is a good time to put new batteries in items like smoke alarms.
Test the operation of the carbon monoxide alarm, LP gas leak detector and smoke alarm.
Check the fire extinguisher. Be sure it is fully charged.
Reset any breakers you may have turned off. If you removed any fuses for storage re-install them.

Clean or replace air conditioner filters if it wasn't done prior to storage and remove any covers that were put over air conditioners.
Open vents and windows and air the unit out.

If you removed the coach and chassis batteries for storage install them. Whether they were removed or not check the electrolyte levels, clean the terminals and clamps, and check the charge level in all batteries. Recharge batteries as necessary.
Check the operation of the electric steps if applicable. Lubricate step mechanism.
Test the operation of the hydraulic jacks if applicable. Check hydraulic fluid level.
Test the operation of the back up camera and monitor if applicable.

If you didn't change the oil and filters in the generator prior to storage this is a good time to do it. Inspect the generator exhaust system for damage prior to starting. Start and run the generator for one hour with at least a half rated load on it. Consult the generators owner manual for load ratings.

Turn the generator off and plug the unit into shore power. Turn the refrigerator on in the electric mode. Allow sufficient time to cool and check for proper operation.
Check all 12-volt interior lights and accessories.
Test the monitor panel for proper operation.
Check the operation of slide outs if applicable.

Check the remaining 120-volt appliances for proper operation.
Test the Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) for proper operation.
Turn the refrigerator off, leave the doors open and allow sufficient time for it to get to room temperature so it can be checked in the gas mode.

Before I use the LP gas system I have a leak test and gas operating pressure test preformed. A qualified technician with the proper equipment should do these tests.
After this is accomplished turn the LP gas valve on and check the operation of all LP gas appliances. Be sure the water heater is full of water before testing the water heater. If a gas appliance is not operating properly have it inspected by a qualified technician. Insects are attracted to the odorant added to LP gas and build nests that can affect the appliance from operating properly.

If your unit was in long-term storage and you didn't change the engine oil and filter prior to storage this would be a good time to do it
Check all fluid levels in transmission, power steering, engine coolant, engine oil, windshield washer and brakes. Consult vehicle owner's manual.
Start the engine and check for proper readings on all gauges. Check for proper operation of dash air conditioner.

A full chassis lubrication should be preformed if it wasn't done prior to storage.
Check the condition of windshield wiper blades replace in necessary.
Check the operation of all chassis lights.

Make sure the vehicle emissions / inspection sticker is up to date.
In addition to this if you have a pop up or travel trailer the wheel bearings and brakes (if equipped) should be inspected at least once annually. Inspect any canvas for dry rot and tears; inspect all hitch work and the coupler for damage. Inspect the breakaway switch and pigtail for proper operation.
This list is not all-inclusive, but it seems to work for me. Now for the fun part, load your clothes, food, and personal belongings, hit the road and have fun exploring this wonderful country we live in.

Happy Camping,
Mark

Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101. He also hosts the RV Savvy segments on RVTV, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. Our goal is to make all of your RV experiences safe, fun and stress free. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Return to:http://rveducation101.blogspot.com/

RV Education 101 instant download E-books

2006-02-12T13:03:00.000-05:00

RV E-books
RV E-Book Library
NOTICE: These RV E-books are instant downloads to your computer so you can read them immediately after purchasing. ClickBank handles the order processing for each of these E-books. Once your credit card is approved, you’ll be redirected to the download page where you’ll find instructions for saving the RV E-book to your computer.

The Original Checklists for RVers An RV Education 101 3rd edition E-book By Mark PolkRV Education 101's Mark Polk knows first hand that checklists help to simplify our daily lives. If we don't write down what we need to remember, inevitably we forget something. This can be especially true with RVs because there are just too many things to remember. You will want to protect you and your investment in a routine and safe manor. Mark Polk has an extensive background in RV service, sales and management. In this e-book, Mark has compiled all the checklists an RVer will ever need, all in one place. In this 80 page e-book, there are over 35 checklists applicable for pop-ups, travel trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes, to use from the time you purchase your RV until you store it for winter and EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! It includes checklists for Pre-delivery Inspections, Basic Inventory, Tools & Supplies, Getting There Safely, Campground Set-up, Pre-Trip, Home Security, Dinghy Towing, Essential Items, Nice to Have Items, Traveling with Pets, Awning Operation, Winterizing & De-winterizing your RV, Storing your RV, Battery Testing Chart, Spring Prep, and much more. This e-book has been updated with 10 extra checklists! Checklists for RVers will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You can read it on your computer or print it for reading later.
BUY NOW!! $12.95 80 pages

Click here if you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The Three Primary Systems of an RV LP Gas System / Water System / Electrical System
An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark PolkThere are many different types of RVs and many different price ranges, but they all have a few things in common. They offer us the same comfort and conveniences of our home when we are traveling.
For RV's to offer these temporary living quarters three things are necessary: 1) LP gas so we can cook, have hot water and stay warm. 2) Water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and showers. 3) Electricity for cooking, lights, keeping food cold, entertainment and creature comforts
But just how does an RV work? How do you get hot water, cold food and satellite TV when you're out in the middle of no where. How is it possible to use a microwave when you're driving down the road and what makes the shower work when you aren't even connected to a water source? This e-book has the answers!
The Three Primary Systems of an RV will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW!! $12.95 47 pages

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How to Buy an RV,Before you Buy it An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark Polk
Purchasing an RV is a major investment, similar to buying a house. It is after all your home away from home and we need to slowww down the buying process and make some educated, well informed decisions. When we purchase an RV it's easy to overlook something, forget to check something, or possibly not be properly informed about something. Whatever the case may be you don't realize it until after you buy it and then it's too late. If you are considering purchasing an RV this e-book was written for you. Let Mark Polk, an ex-RV sales manager, walk you through the entire process of buying an RV, before you buy it. This e-book is loaded with valuable information and teaches you how avoid making costly mistakes. Polk covers everything from knowing what your needs are to signing on the dotted line. Learn which type of RV is right for you, how to select the right RV dealer, tips on negotiating the price, finance terms and interest rates, extended service plans and much more. When you're finally ready to go shopping for the perfect RV there is a valuable buyer's checklist included so nothing is overlooked. Take control of your RV buying experience. This is the best $12.95 you'll ever spend when you realize how much it saved you. How to Buy an RV,Before you Buy it will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW!! $12.95 56 pages

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Dinghy Towing An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark Polk
A motor home offers us the freedom to explore the open road. We can go where we want when we want. But what happens when we arrive at a destination where we plan to stay put for a day, a week or a month? How do explore the area, or take a quick trip to the grocery store? One option is to disconnect everything from the motor home and take it. What a pain this can be just for a loaf of bread. Another option is to tow a vehicle behind the motor home. Now when we need a loaf of bread or want to take a day trip we have our transportation readily available. This makes much more sense, but just how do we do this? That's what this e-book is all about. It will explain everything you need to know about dinghy towing in an easy to understand format. Our goal with this e-book is to help you learn how to properly tow a dinghy, and to assist you in making the right decisions to meet your particular towing needs.
Dinghy Towing will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW!! $12.95 33 pages

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Pop-Up Basics 101 An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark Polk
If you are considering purchasing a pop-up, or already own one and have questions about towing, weights, hitch work, backing, campground set-up, LP Gas, Water and the Electrical system this e-book is for you. Pop-Up Basics 101 will walk you through what a pop-up is and how it works. There are several useful checklists to refer back to when you are getting ready to leave on a trip, when you arrive at the campground, when it’s time to store your pop-up and when you prep it for use the next spring. It discusses how to safely match the pop-up with the tow vehicle and provides safe driving and towing tips. It also gives some easy advice on how to master backing your pop-up. Pop-Up Basics 101 will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW!! $12.95 42 pages

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What to Know Before You Tow: A Complete E-book on RV Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing By Mark PolkIf you’ve ever had questions or concerns about towing, weights, hitch work and backing this e-book has the answers. Mark Polk, the owner of RV Education 101, stated that he wrote this guide because these are topics that the RV consumer needs to understand so RVing can be fun rather than worriesome. The guide is packed with information on subjects like properly matching your tow vehicle and trailer, trailer weights, backing techniques that really work, proper hitch work, towing tips, driving tips, controlling sway, weighing your RV and much more.This guide will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW !! $12.95 39 pages

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Preventive Maintenance Checks for Motor Homes An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark PolkMark is a retired US Army Maintenance Chief Warrant Officer Three. He knows what is required to keep large fleets of combat vehicles prepared for the rigors of war. The same thing required to get many years of reliable service and use from your RV. Preventive Maintenance is the cornerstone for maintaining your RV in peak running and operating condition. Preventive Maintenance is maintenance that you the owner can perform on your RV before a problem exists. This guide, with 30 pages of preventive maintenance checks, is designed to prevent or identify potential problems that could lead to mechanical breakdown, or failure of a component or system on your RV. Preventive Maintenance consists of cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, adjusting and servicing your RV. Preventive Maintenance does not supersede the scheduled maintenance recommended by the chassis and RV manufacturer and it is imperative that those schedules are followed. Some of the scheduled maintenance for your RV must be performed by an RV dealer, chassis manufacturer or authorized service center. Preventive Maintenance Checks for Motor Homes will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW !! $12.95 33 pages

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A Collection of RV Tips An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark Polk
This e-book is a direct result of feedback from RV Education 101 consumers. We have had numerous requests to compile some tips that would be useful to RVers, regardless of their level of experience. Some of the tips are very basic and simple while others are more detailed and technical. There are tips that will save the RVer time and money, and some that will prevent untimely, costly repairs to the RV. Some of the tips are common sense, some you learn from experience, and some were passed on from other RVers. My six year old son Tyler is an avid RVer. When he found out I was writing this e-book he wanted to contribute some of his own tips based on his RV experiences. I included Tyler’s Tips and for his contribution I dedicate this e-book to him. A Collection of RV Tips will be downloaded immediately after purchase and is delivered in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
BUY NOW !! $12.95 27 pages

click here if you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Return to: http://rveducation101.blogspot.com/

RV Education 101 Bargain Box Sets

2006-02-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

Relax in the comfort of your own home or RV and we will walk you step-by-step through all of the systems of your RV. Buying an RV is exciting and when you pick it up, the only thing on your mind is getting it home and planning that first trip. Yes, the dealer gave you a walk-through of the unit, but there was so much information and excitement that it was overwhelming. Now it’s in your driveway and you can’t remember everything they covered during the RV orientation, so we put it into video form so you can watch it again and again.

RV Education 101 Bargain Box Sets
RV Education 101 just made it easier for you to learn about YOUR RV! We took our individual matching Travel Trailer and Motorhome DVD titles and put them together into a full set for you. Now, not only does this eliminate the guess work as to which ones should go together, but you also SAVE a significant amount of money with the box set discount. After watching this complete RV DVD library by RV expert Mark Polk, you will master your own RV experiences. Another great thing is this counts as 1 item, so you only pay $4.95 for S/H!

These titles are still available to purchase individually also.

Travel Trailer / 5th Wheel DVD Bargain BOX SETAn $86.00 Value
INCLUDES:
Travel Trailer / 5th Wheel - DVD
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing - DVD
Winterizing & Storing your RV - DVD
Marks Recommended 10 minute RV Essential Items -DVD
BUY NOW $69.95

Motorhome (Class A) DVD Bargain BOX SET An $86.00 Value INCLUDES:
Class A Motor Home 101 - DVD
Towing Behind Your Motorhome - DVD
Winterizing & Storing your RV - DVD
Marks Recommended 10 minute RV Essential Items -DVD
BUY NOW $69.95

Class C Rental / Owner DVD Bargain BOX SET An $86.00 Value INCLUDES:
Class C Rental / Owner- DVD
Towing Behind Your Motorhome - DVD
Winterizing & Storing your RV - DVD
Marks Recommended 10 minute RV Essential Items -DVD
BUY NOW $69.95

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Dinghy Brakes 101 (As seen on RVTV) by: Mark J. Polk

2006-02-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

I received an email from an RVer questioning the need for a supplemental brake system on the vehicle they tow behind their RV. I responded to the email by stating that in most cases it's the law that requires brakes on the towed vehicle or trailer, but the most important reason is for your safety and the safety of others.

Most U.S. States and Canadian Provinces have their own laws on the requirement for brakes on a towed trailer. The word trailer also applies to a vehicle being towed behind a motor home. These laws are normally based on the amount of weight being towed. One problem with this is that it might be legal to tow a 2,000 pound trailer with no brakes in the state where you live, but as soon as you cross the state line of a bordering state it is illegal to tow the same trailer without brakes. Add to this your insurance company may not cover you in the event of an accident involving a trailer with no braking system. Again, the most important reason is for your safety and the safety of others. For a complete list of 2004 braking laws for the U.S. and Canada go to http://www.roadmasterinc.com/laws.htm

The brakes on a tow vehicle or motor home are designed by the vehicle manufacturer to stop the weight of that particular vehicle, not the additional weight being towed behind it. This additional weight adds a substantial increase to the distance required to stop safely.

Travel trailers and 5th wheels come equipped with electric brakes and RV dealers educate the RV consumer on the requirements for adding an electronic brake control to the tow vehicle. Some Pop-ups are ordered with brakes and some without. Again, this is often times based on the braking laws for the state you live in. Keep in mind that once you cross a state line it could become illegal. My advice is if you're going to purchase a Pop-up get one that has brakes.

The real culprit for disregarding braking laws is a motor home towing a vehicle behind it. Most people assume that because of the size of the motor home there is no need for a supplemental brake system on the towed vehicle and many RV dealers fail to communicate the requirement for a supplemental braking system.

Tests performed on a flat stretch of dry pavement have shown that an unhitched motor home traveling at a speed of 50 mph needed an average of 132 feet of braking distance to reach a complete stop. Under the same speed and surface conditions, but with the added weight of a small car in tow, the stopping distance of the motor home expands to an average of 209 feet. A significant distance! In an identical test performed using the Roadmaster BrakeMaster™, the coach and towed car averaged a stopping distance of 137 feet. That's a mere 5 feet more than the unhitched stopping average.

I for one was guilty of towing a vehicle without a braking system for quite some time. A close call, while driving through a major city during rush hour, suddenly educated me on how important it is. Another thing that surprises people is how much the vehicle they're towing actually weighs. Take your towed vehicle to a set of scales and have it weighed. Make sure it has everything in it that will be in it when you are towing it. After you weigh it double check to make sure the receiver on the motor home is rated to tow that amount of weight and that you aren't exceeding any of the motor home weight ratings like the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). The GCWR is the maximum permissible weight of the fully loaded motor home and the fully loaded towed vehicle combined. Most RV chassis manufacturers base their GCWR on the assumption that a supplemental brake system is being used.

There are many different types of supplemental braking systems available on the market today. These types include surge, hydraulic, air and vacuum. Some are simple and some are more complex. After researching all of my options I chose the BrakePro™ by Roadmaster Inc. I decided on the BrakePro™ for several reasons.
It's portable and will work on any towed vehicle.
It doesn't require any modifications to the existing brake system.
It brakes your towed car proportionally and simultaneously to the motor home braking.
It's is easy to install and use.

The BrakePro™ is an inertia-activated, truly proportional braking system. A "smart chip" senses your motor home's rate of deceleration and signals a magnetic valve to release a proportionate amount of air; resulting in your towed car braking in proportion to your motor home. In other words, the harder you brake, the harder it will brake. Regardless of the brake system that best suits your individual needs the important thing is that you have one. There are many reasons to have a braking system on your towed vehicle.

It's the law
It can void your vehicle warranty
It can void your insurance
It will reduce wear and tear on RV brakes and other components
Liability

But, most importantly it SAFELY reduces the stopping distance and helps to protect you, your loved ones and the safety of others.

Happy Camping,
Mark
Video Details
BUY NOW DVD - $24.95
Quicktime samples:
Video Sample 1 - Video Sample 2

Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101. He also hosts the RV Savvy segments for RVTV, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. Our goal is to make all of your RV experiences safe, fun and stress free. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Return to: http://rveducation101.blogspot.com/

RV Fresh Water 101 (As seen on RVTV) By: Mark J. Polk

2006-02-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

At the end of your camping season you drain the water system, winterize the RV and put it in storage for the winter. One problem with this is that on most RV's when you drain the fresh water holding tank there is still some water left in the tank. Let's say you do manage to drain all of the water out of the tank. There is still moisture in the water system. Just imagine what can grow in that moist tank and in the water lines while it sits for three or four months. I'd rather not think about it.

This is the water tank that you drink from and the water you use to wash dishes and take showers with. We cannot assume that it will stay safe and fresh like the water system in our home. Contaminated water is extremely dangerous. We not only have to deal with a water system that hasn't been used for sometime, but when we travel in the RV we hook our water system up to a different water source every time we stop to spend the night some where. We hook up to city water, well water, and eventually contaminated water. You've probably heard people say don't drink the water if you go to Mexico. Well that can be true anywhere. We stopped at a campground one night just to get a few hours of sleep and I didn't bother to use the water filter. The water coming out of the faucet was cloudy and had small particles suspended in it.

There are no guarantees that any water is completely safe for us to drink, but if we take certain precautions we can keep our RV water system safe to use. So where do we start? First of all you should always use a white non-toxic drinking hose. Hoses not labeled safe for drinking can contribute to lead and other dangerous chemicals getting in the water. Use the white non-toxic hose for hooking up to the water source and take along a green or black garden hose for all other uses like flushing out holding tanks or washing the RV. When you're not using the drinking hose roll it up and connect the two ends together. This will keep dirt and other debris from getting in the hose. The next time you use the hose, run some water through it before hooking it up to the RV.

Next you need to filter the water going into the RV with a high quality filtration system. Water filters do not purify the water but they can control and remove bacteria, lead and other dangerous contaminants found in drinking water. In our “Easy RV Add-On” video we demonstrate installing and using Hydrolife water filters. Video Details

Hydrolife filters use a filter media called KDF. It uses electro chemical oxidation reduction to neutralize harmful chemicals and bacteria. It also uses carbon to reduce pesticides, fungicides and other organic contaminates. You basically have two choices on how to filter your RV water system. You can install an inline water filter directly to the water line that you drink from, or you can filter all of the water going into the RV. I prefer to filter all of the water going into the RV. This helps to protect the entire water system and even filters the shower water to help prevent any skin irritation.

Possibly the most important step you can take is to keep the fresh water system sanitized.

This is an excerpt from my “Checklists for RVers” e-book.
http://www.rveducation101.com/ebooks.htm?siteID=0

At a minimum you should sanitize the system every spring when you take the RV out of storage and any time you notice stale water or an odor. It's really quite simple to do. You can start by draining the water heater. Go to the outside compartment where the water heater is located. The drain plug, or pet*censored* is located in the bottom left hand corner. Remove the plug and open the pressure relief valve on top of the water heater to assist in draining. CAUTION: NEVER drain the water heater when it's hot or under pressure.

Next you need to locate the low point water line drains. It may take a while to find them, but I assure you they are there. There will be one for the hot and one for the cold water lines. This is the lowest point in the water system. Open these and let the water drain out. Now, find the drain for the fresh water holding tank and drain all of the water from it. At this point you can turn the water pump on for a moment to force any remaining water out. Do not let the pump continue to run once the water stops draining. Close all of the drains.

What we have accomplished so far was to evacuate the majority of water from the system. Now take a quarter cup of house hold bleach for every fifteen gallons of water that your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach, with water, into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water tank almost completely full of water. Turn the water pump on, open all hot and cold faucets and run the water until you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close the faucets. If it's possible drive the RV or pull the trailer so the water can move around to assist in cleaning the entire tank. Let it sit for at least 12 hours. Drain the entire system again and re-fill the fresh water tank with potable water. Open all of the faucets and run the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process again to eliminate all signs of bleach from the water system. Once this is done it is safe to use your water system.

If you follow these simple steps you can rest assured that the fresh water system in your RV truly is fresh.

Happy Camping,
Mark

Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. Our goal is to make all of your RV experiences safe, fun and stress free. http://www.rveducation101.com/

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RV Education 101 Free Newsletter Subscription

2006-02-12T10:34:00.000-05:00

Newsletter Subscription Request
Please provide your email address to sign up for a FREE Monthly RV newsletter from Mark!
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As a bonus for signing up, you will receive a free RV Community E-Cookbook.

Your email address will ONLY be used for distributing the RV Education 101 newsletter and will never be sold or given to any other entity!

I left my position as an RV Sales and F&I manager to start RV Education 101 due to my concern about the lack of educational and safety awareness material available to the RV consumer, in other words, you! We are a small company. My wife Dawn left her position in RV sales to help start the company and is our Sales and Marketing Director.

After tent camping for years, then a career in the Army (more tents) a used pop-up, and a travel trailer we currently have a 28-foot Class C motor home. We have two boys, Tyler 8 and Josh 13, both avid RVers and two dogs, Gracie and Buck. Gracie is the good one!

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to provide you with one of the best RV newsletters available; packed with as much helpful information as possible to make all of your RV experiences safe and more enjoyable.

Each monthly edition of the newsletter includes a short editorial, a feature article on great topics ranging from How to improve your Fuel Economy to Winterizing your RV, a tip of the month, RV recipes, a contest with great prizes, our monthly product discount (only available to our newsletter readers), classified ads and some very informative RV related links to visit. The really great news is it is absolutely FREE!!!

We only promote products and publications that we totally believe in and that are beneficial to RVers. Your e-mail address will ONLY be used for distributing this newsletter and will never be sold or given to any other entity.Sign up today and check out our archives for any issues you may have missed out on.

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Happy Camping!

Mark

Don’t forget to tune in to a brand new RV television show called RVTV, www.rvtv.ca debuting on the Outdoor channel in January 2005. Mark will be featured in the RV Savvy segments offering some more great information for RVers.

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about Mark Polk

2006-02-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based company that produces and sells educational videos, DVDs and E-books on how to use RV’s.
http://www.rveducation101.com/ Mark Polk, the owner, with his extensive background working for an RV dealership, stated he saw a real need for the videos. “We would sell the RV and give the customer a walk-through (or orientation, of the unit) but between the excitement and the vast amount of information given in a short period of time they would only retain maybe 20% of it”. “These videos give the customer something to refer back to, and they can watch it in the comfort of their own home or at the campground, as many times as they like, prior to venturing out with their new RV. Just think about how many times it takes of hearing your favorite song before you can even think about singing along? 16 or more times!!!!”

Mark J. Polk was introduced to RV’s in the early 70’s. His friend’s father was the General Manager for an RV dealership and would take them camping all of the time. Before long he was working for the dealership washing RV’s, and soon after that he was working as an apprentice RV technician.

Not long after graduating from high school Mark joined the Army and was a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic. 5+ years later he graduated from warrant officer school as an automotive maintenance technician and was in charge of some very large maintenance operations throughout his career. He retired from the Army in 1996 as a Chief Warrant Officer Three.

Chief Warrant Officer Three Mark Polk was awarded a first place maintenance award from General Shelton. General Shelton later became the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and served two 2-year terms under both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush.

At the time of this award, CW3 Mark Polk was responsible for providing technical guidance and implementing policies to ensure responsive repair and maintenance support for over 420 assigned major equipment items valued in excess of 13 million dollars. Under Marks technical supervision and guidance, Mark established the standard in his brigade for maintenance excellence by winning first place in the Chief of Staff Army Maintenance Excellence Competition in 1995.

Mark was honored to have worked under, and receive this award from General Shelton, as General Shelton was given the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award the United States Congress can bestow. General Shelton has been internationally recognized for his public service and, in 2001, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

After retiring from the Army, Mark got back into the industry that he had a passion for. He started out selling RVs for a dealership in North Carolina and was soon promoted to the sales and F&I manager. Polk was concerned about the lack of education and awareness for the RV consumer and while still working for the dealership, started his own company, RV EDUCATION 101 in November 1999, until he could devote his full attention to RV EDUCATION 101 in 2000.

Mark is a published RV writer. He writes monthly articles for RV newsletters to include:

RV Education 101 newsletter
KOA Kompass Newsletter
RVTV Newsletter
Poulsbo RV Newsletter
RV Family Circle of Trust Newsletter
Camping World Newsletter
RV Travel bi-weekly newsletter
Happy Camper discount club Newsletter

Mark has also written articles for RV consumer and trade publications for:

RV News
RV Business
RV Companion
Pop-Up Times
RV Free Wheelin’
Trail Blazer
RV Pro
RVers Corner Newsletter
Happy Camper Newsletter
Campers Choice Newsletter
Bella RV Newsletter

Mark also conducts seminars at RV Industry Shows and RV Retail shows. Mark’s latest adventure is with RVTV as their “RV SAVVY GUY” airing on the Outdoor Channel.

About Us

http://www.rveducation101.com/

"The Family"
Josh and Tyler (our 2 sons)

Oh scary! Josh, Tyler & Dawn at Halloween!

Mark and Kevin filming

Our little "Gracie" girl

Our very active "Buck"

Dawn & Kevin filming

Mark

Josh and Tyler (Mark & Dawn moved the old 1920's out building log by log from the very back of our property, it is now used for a potting shed)

Josh & Buck

Marks RV Tire Tip

2006-02-12T10:24:00.000-05:00

The tires on your RV are the most vulnerable component affected by overloading the RV. There are numerous reasons for this. First and foremost is when the tires are not inflated properly for the load. Failure to maintain correct tire pressure can result in fast tread wear, uneven wear, poor handling, and excessive heat build up, which can lead to tire failure. Another problem is when you weigh your RV the total weight of the axles may be within the axles weight rating but it may be overloaded on one side of the axle or the other. For example, let's say you have an axle that is rated for 6,000 pounds. When we weigh the RV the weight on that particular axle is 5,950 pounds. We are with in the weight rating for the axle, but when we weigh each axle end separately we discover that one end weighs 3,400 pounds and the other end weighs 2550 pounds. We are still within the 6,000- pound axle weight rating, but the tires are rated for 3,000 at 80 PSI. This means the axle end that weighs 3,400 pounds is overloading the tire by 400 pounds, even if the inflation pressure is correct.

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THE RV BOOK by Mark J. Polk

2006-02-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

THE RV BOOK
Your personal guide to understanding and enjoying your RV. "RV Expert" Mark Polk turns complex into easy, making all of your experiences safe, fun & stress free. RV’s give us the freedom to go wherever we want, whenever we want. But, nothing will ruin a trip or a vacation quicker than not understanding how to properly use and maintain your RV.

Mark Polk, the author of The RV Book said "Buying an RV is a major investment and a new RVer can be overwhelmed when just starting out. Whether you own an RV now, or you are getting ready to purchase one in the future, I know that by reading The RV Book you will feel more comfortable about using an RV."

"I tried to touch on all aspects of RV ownership; from selecting and buying the right RV to setting it up at your favorite campground. What type of RV is right for me? How do I tow or drive an RV? How do I safely use an RV? How do I take care of my new RV? I have gathered and researched all of the information, into one place, to simplify the entire process of RV ownership."

For Pop-Ups, Travel Trailers, Motorhomes and everything in between

After 20 years of fulltime RVing, I still discovered new information while reading The RV Book. Mark’s book is so well written and informative... he patiently explains each basic necessity that every RVer should be aware of to assure safe operation of their RV. -Peggi McDonald, author of RV Living in the 21st Century

Read a PDF excerpt from "The RV Book"

Click here if you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader..

$19.95 BUY NOW

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RV Shows, Your Fix for the Wintertime RV Blues

2006-02-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

by Mark Polk
We took one last camping trip in our RV before parking it for the winter. We had a great time and when we returned I cleaned it, winterized it, and prepared it for storage. When I got the RV cover out, the reality finally sank in that there would be no more RV adventures until sometime this coming spring. It's always a bit depressing to park the motorhome, with no plans to use it for two or three months. It's sort of like when football season ends, or Survivor ends and you need to wait several months for the next season to begin.

What I discovered will help you through these rough times is to attend some RV shows. You might need to park the RV for the winter but that doesn't mean you can't think about RV's, look at RV's, or plan the next trip in your RV. RV shows offer the avid RVer a fix to get through the wintertime blues. You don't need to be in the market for a new RV to attend an RV show. It's a lot of fun to just look at all the new RV models coming out, and to dream a little bit. If you're not shopping for an RV just be careful and keep reminding yourself that you're only there to look. With all of the excitement, not to mention a good salesperson, it's easy to make a hasty buying decision.

There is a lot of ground to cover at an RV show and a wealth of information available. RV shows aren't just for RV dealers to showcase their new products. RV shows are a great source of information from knowledgeable representatives, on every aspect of the RV industry. You will find lots of information on campgrounds, RV resorts and new destinations you can visit. You will get to see a wide variety of RV aftermarket products and accessories available for RVers, and many times there will be some great RV seminars you can attend. RV shows are a good place to talk to RV manufacturer representatives and other industry experts. Many of the RV manufacturers send knowledgeable representatives to assist RV dealers with their products. This is a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have about a particular RV brand or model. RV shows are also a great place to just talk with other RVers. Many of these people have years of RV experience and knowledge of different RV related products.

If you are a new RVer, or if you are in the market for a new RV, these shows are a great place to start your research. RV dealers come from miles away to attend RV shows. When you attend an RV show don't be afraid to ask questions about the RV dealership and the products they have to offer. Not only will you find a good selection of RV dealers to check out, but there will be every make and model of RV imaginable too. RV shows are a great place to do some comparison shopping too. Keep in mind that RV's are available in entry, mid-line, and high-end models. When comparing prices, make sure it is apples to apples. One RV may look like another one, but you need to compare the options, construction, equipment and features they both have to offer. If you are in the market to buy an RV you should have some idea of what your needs are, what you want, and how you plan to use the RV. This is extremely important. Here are a few things to consider before you buy at an RV show.

What type of RV is best suited for you and your family?
What type of floor plan will work best for you and your family?
What price and payment will comfortably fit in your budget?
Do you plan to travel cross-country with the RV or is it going to be set up at one location and left there?
If you're going to be towing the RV is the tow vehicle capable of handling the weight of the RV and do you have the proper hitch work to safely tow it?
How many people will be in the RV and what are the sleeping requirements?
Is there enough seating space?
Do you need a slide-out(s) for additional living space?
Is their enough outside storage, and are the storage compartments large enough to accommodate what you plan to take?
Is there enough closet, cabinet and drawer space for all of your personal belonging?
Are there enough cabinets and drawers in the kitchen? Don't forget about the pots and pans.
How much counter space does it have in the kitchen? Is it enough?
Where is the dinette table in relation to the range, oven and the refrigerator? Does it make sense?
How does the bed feel when you lay down? Is it long enough and wide enough?
Are there windows where you want windows?
Can you reach the microwave?
Is the A/C ducted throughout the unit? If not will it cool the entire unit?

Do you prefer a split bathroom where the shower is separate, or a bathroom where everything is together?
Is the bathroom big enough? Can you stand up in the shower and sit on the toilet?
How much fresh water can you take with you? Is it enough?
How large are the gray water and black water holding tanks?
Are they large enough for the way you plan to use the RV?
How much LP gas does it hold? Is it enough for how you plan to use the RV?
If you want a motorhome drive it before you buy it.
Do you need a generator?
If equipped with a TV where is it located in relation to the seating arrangements?
Do you need a phone jack?
Does the RV have an awning? If so, where is it situated, does it interfere with any storage compartments or windows etc?
How long is the warranty for on the RV? Do you need extended coverage to protect your investment?
How is the RV constructed?
If you're buying a motor home do you want gas or diesel? Which type is more practical for how you plan to use it?
This is just a partial list, but it should help you make a more informed decision before you purchase an RV. Another important consideration is the options on the RV. When a dealer orders an RV they order the options that they feel will help sell the RV based on their experience. On the other hand they can limit the options to make the price more appealing, but it may be some options that you really want or need. Sit down with a sales person and review what options are on the RV and what options are available. If you found a floor plan that you really like but it's not equipped the way you want talk to the dealer about ordering one for you. Do not rush into anything. I know that waiting is difficult, but remember slowww down, it will be worth the wait to get the RV you really want.

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, RVIA, offers a very good, searchable database to assist you in locating upcoming RV shows. Just click on this link to find an RV show close to where you live, http://rvia.org/rvshows/index.cfm RV shows are usually advertised on local television and radio stations too.
So what are you waiting for? Find out when the next RV show will be in your area and make it a point to attend. This can be just the RV fix you need until it's time to take your RV out of storage for another great camping season. Oh, and don't forget to wear some comfortable walking shoes too! Click here for more Information on an instant download e-book I wrote to help you through the entire RV selection and buying process. http://www.rveducation101.com/other.htm?siteID=0

Happy Camping,
Mark

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RV Education 101 Newsletter Editorial by Mark

2006-02-12T08:07:00.000-05:00

Hello Everybody,
I don't know about anybody else but I feel as though I'm in some kind of time warp. It seems like just yesterday I was working on last month's newsletter. I don't have much news to report for the rest of January. My new book, The RV Book, and our new DVD, Towing behind a Motorhome, were both received quite well. I would like to thank all of you who purchased one or both of these new RV Education 101 products. I don't think you'll be disappointed, but then again, I say that from a biased standpoint.
We finally parked, winterized and covered the RV for the winter. It's always disappointing to park the motorhome for the winter. To help make the time pass I'm in the planning stages for our second RV trip of 2006, an early spring fly-fishing trip to Pennsylvania. I can hardly wait to hit some of the small trout streams I fished as a kid!

Something else we are considering this winter is whether to upgrade to a new motorhome, or keep our current one for a while longer. We have been completely satisfied with our Class C, but feel as though we are out growing it now. The boys are getting bigger and we would like something that we can work out of easier when we travel.

With that said our plan is to attend a couple of RV shows this month. I always enjoy going to the shows but it's even more exciting when the possibility exists that you might be buying a new RV. Even if you don't plan on buying an RV you should attend some RV shows. There's a lot to see and do at RV shows, and it helps pass the time and gets you excited about this years camping season. That's why I decided to write this month's feature article on what else, RV shows. I'll update you next month on where we stand with the RV upgrade situation.

I almost forgot, WAY TO GO STEELERS! I have been a dedicated Pittsburgh Steelers fan for as long as I can remember, and have waited for this game since Super Bowl XIV.

Enjoy the blog & happy camping,
Mark
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