Dons CAMPER and RV INFO

BOOK - The ULTIMATE RV Owner;'s REFERENCE

2017-11-28T11:11:00.002-05:00

Check out this great reference book designed for RV Owners.

This book provides so much useful data on RV’s that I will just list a few of the subjects covered here.

RV FINANCIALS: Searching for the right RV, Negotiating for an RV, RV Values, Purchasing an RV, RV Depreciation, Selling or Trading an RV.

CAMPING: It includes numerous tips on; Camping in an RV, selecting the best campground, improving your campsite, and what to look out for in your campground while you are staying there.

RV MAINTENANCE: RV Electrical and mechanical Systems, Troubleshooting Tips, Generator repairs, Fridge repairs, Door malfunctions, Outdated accessory updates.

RV USE and SAFETY: Proper RV operation and critical Safety tips, Driving Tips, Pre-travel checklists, On the Road tips.

And much MORE!

And it has a comprehensive Index included for quick reference on specific RV subjects.

Click on the link below to go directly to the product on Amazon!

Coming SOON! A new site for RV Owners.

2017-10-19T08:30:00.001-04:00

This site will be updated soon to provide our fellow RV Owners a forum to communicate about different problems and situations that are unique to the world of owning and operating an RV.
It will provide posts on specific subjects and even some solutions for other RV owners to use themselves, as well as giving fellow campers a place to ask questions or provide even more data on each subject.

KEEP WATCHING! The changes will start showing up soon!

Have a great Day!

RamblingDon

How to minimize Sun damage while Camping in your RV

2017-07-29T09:03:00.000-04:00

A Sunny day in Arizona.

OK, I'm sure you think you know all of the facts about the Sun and how it can damage your skin.

Sure, you want that great tan, but you don't really want to end up with old wrinkled skin before your time.

Well, just in case you missed something, below is a link to my article on HubPages where I explain such things as; the UV Index, peak Sun damage hours, SPF, and other facts you need to understand if you really want to minimize your potential skin damage from the Sun while camping in your RV.

Ways to avoid those damaging UV rays from the sun.

RV Financials - 5 Part explanations of RV pricing, selling, trading and financing

2017-06-01T16:35:00.000-04:00

Every RV owner or potential owner should read these five articles.
They take the reader through the intricacies of the world of RV financials.

You learn about how an RV is valued as well as how it Depreciates.

And, it provides valuable information on how to get the most for your older RV if you trade it in on another one, or sell it yourself.

This information will help you not only understand the way dealers value your RV, but also how to get the most for your RV.

So, click on these links and learn, before you lose money.

I strongly recommend that you read all of these articles, in sequence, before you consider any Rv purchase, so here they are below;

RV Financials, Part-1 - RV Prices, where the world of RV pricing is explained for the novice.

RV Financials, Part-2, Understanding RV Depreciation where you will get a better understanding of how much an Rv can depreciate every year.

RV Financials, Part-3 - Understanding the RV Trade-In Process where you will get an inside view of how RV dealers work you into accepting their offer for your old Rv when you want to trade.

RV Financials, Part-4 - How to Sell your RV yourself. Here you can pick up on how to properly sell your RV and get the maximum possible price.

RV Financials, Part-5 - Resale Expectations. Be prepared for the reality of your RV's true value.

The Right Gear for your RV CAMPSITE

2017-04-11T10:20:00.000-04:00

by DON BOBBITT

SO, you are planning your first trip in your RV.

And, you're planning on being at this great campground for two whole weeks.

Sounds great, Huh?

Well, right now you need to ask yourself, do you have all of those little things that will make your camping experience a great one?

Click on the link below to read my article on HubPages where I describe the options you should consider to make your camping experience a wonderful one.

Whether you have a Motorhome, a 5th wheel camper, a tag-a-long, or a Pop-Up, this Hub can help you make the right choices in grills, chairs, outside lighting, rugs, tables and more.

Set up your RV Campsite for Fun and Comfort.

How to Balance your RV Power Load on 30Amp Service

2017-04-05T17:10:00.000-04:00

An RV AC Power Control Panle typical of most RV's.

Even though many of the Rv's on the market now are designed with 50-Amp power connections and management systems, you can still find many campgrounds that have only 30-Amp power service available.

When this happens to many of us, we are at a loos as to what we can do to operate our RV with all if it's modern appliances on this restricted power source.

Click on the link below to read my article which describes numerous things you can do to balance your power load throughout the day when your camper is in a campground with only a 30-Amp Service.

The article includes numerous tricks and tips which can keep your power usage to a minimum while still enjoying your camping experience.

Balance your RV Power Load on 30Amp Service

Check out this 50-Amp to 30-Amp adapter for your 50-Amp RV.

The OLD MAN in the KEYS - Evolving Chapters

2017-04-03T09:34:00.000-04:00

Seagulls, Palm Trees and smooth GULF Waters

OK, Here are a set of links to my chapters about being AN OLD MAN IN THE KEYS.

These are writings about my observations while staying down here, and include photographs, people and how they act while on their vacations, little pieces of natural beauty I see, and of course, some of what I consider the better Tiki Bars and casual dining places.

So, come back here regularly, or just follow this blog post to be notified when I have written a new chapter.

Don Bobbitt

The OLD MAN in the KEYS - Part - 1

Livin' in the Keys for a While

The OLD MAN in the Keys - Part - 2

Being an Observer

The OLD MAN in the KEYS - Part - 3

Maybe it's the Pelicans

The OLD MAN in the Keys - Part - 4

Or it could be the TIKI BARS

Work Camping. Is it right for you?

2017-03-12T10:32:00.000-04:00

Work Camping is a great way to travel for longer periods of time and make a little money while you do so.

There are thousands of campgrounds around the country that will give a camper (or camping couple) a part-time job and a low price for a campsite if they have the right skills and even better experience.

Campground owners always need people to perform low-impact labor around the campground to keep things operating well.

They will need clerks to check people in and make reservations. They will need people to repair plumbing, electrical problems and do house-keeping. And they will need people to maintain their landscaping.

So, if you are interested in Work Camping, and are good at these things and especially if you have done this before in another campground, click on the link below to read my article on HubPages where I explain Work Camping and the details about this special lifestyle.

by Don Bobbitt

Replacing your RV TV ANTENNA

2017-01-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

Batwing RV TV Antenna with a bent lobe.

All of the RV's I have owned in the past have had a "Batwing" antenna on them.

The older RV's will have the original version that was designed for use during the days of Analog TV transmissions.

The newer Rv's will have an antenna that looks the same and the old design, but the new design will contain an amplifier that will pick up and amplify DIGITAL TV signals.

It is more efficient and should always be the preferred purchase for anyone who needs to replace their older version.

Well, the link below opens an article of mine that recounts my experience with an employee at an RV parts and service center when I needed to replace my TV antenna after it was broken in a campground.

Replacing your RV TV ANTENNA

Hopefully, you will enjoy this little story about my encounter with an authentic, self-proclaimed "expert".

Understanding RV Financials - Part-1 - RV Pricing and Values

2016-11-18T09:27:00.000-05:00

Important Tips and references for an RV Buyer

So, you're interested in buying a NEW RV?

Or, maybe you're just interested in trading in your old one for a newer one?

Well, before you do this, you need to go to the appropriate web sites and get the latest official pricing that the typical dealer will use when you start your negotiations.

You need to know the numbers these dealers will use and then you are better armed to make a better deal for yourself.

Click on the link below to read my article in my Hubpages site that explains these pricing standards.

RV Financials, RV Pricing, part-1

by Don Bobbitt, November, 2016

RV TRAVELING - Making my Long Range plans for next Summer in my RV.

2016-11-16T16:44:00.001-05:00

Our campsite in 3-Flags, a TT RV Resort in Wildwood Florida.

If you're going on a relatively long trip and camping in several different places, a smart RV owner absolutely must make his plans early.

Even if it's just a skeleton of a travel outline, good planning is an absolute must for us all.

My wife and I are planning on spending most of the Summer, in 2017 traveling up the SouthEast states and then spending a couple of months in the eastern parts of Virginia.

Then, we plan on a slow series of hops back South and then a couple of months in the Northern and Central parts of Florida, before we land at our homebase an settle in for a few months.

Click on this link to read my my blog RVandCamper Info.

There I will be detailing our plans as we work out the details of our whole Summer in our RV and taking suggestions from you, my fellow campers.

TRAVEL - Going to the Keys? Better be prepared for the wild traffic.

2016-09-25T10:03:00.001-04:00

Everyone I have ever met have either been to the Keys on a vacation or are hoping to go there at some time in the future.

I have been to the Keys several times over the past. I have stayed in hotels right on Duval Street, I have stayed in a nice Bed and Breakfast, and more recently, I have been down here in my RV motorhome for longer stays in nice campgrounds located in the upper Keys.

The one thing every visitor needs to realize is the fact that the famous Overseas Highway is for the most part a two-lane road. Oh sure, it has areas where it is two-lane with a center turn lane, and a few places where it is a dual highway.

But for the most part, it's an old two-lane road with pretty much all of the available; hotels, condos, restaurants, Tiki bars, marinas, and other stores line up right on US-1 itself.

So, if you're coming down, be prepared to handle the traffic and deal with your fellow tourists.

Click on the link below to read my HubPage article where I explain how to handle this uniques traffic situation;

How to handle the traffic in the Keys

How to select the right Grill for your RV and your outdoor lifestyle

2016-09-21T09:09:00.000-04:00

A typical model of tabletop Grill used by campers.

One of the things a camper does often is cook out on their Grill.

It's just what you want to do when you are camping; you stay outside more often and you eat foods that you can easily and quickly prepare while you're outside.

This kind of lifestyle and foods literally demands that you have a decent Grill for preparing these meals, appetizers and even snacks.

The problem for campers is, the perfect Grill for their RV, regardless of type must inherently be totally different from one that suits their lifestyle at home.

Click on the link below and read my HubPage article with all of the details on what you need to know when selecting your perfect Grill for your RV.

How to select your RV Grill

This is the very popular Coleman RoadTrip Grill;

Campground Memberships - Save big with the right memberships for your camping lifestyle.

2016-04-18T09:14:00.000-04:00

Campgrounds and Camper Priorities

Eventually, we RV campers will have stayed at so many different campgrounds that we tend to take them for all granted and start looking for savings wherever possible.

You know what I mean, we’re always running around the country in our RV, and at each campground there is a charge for your stay. The savvy Camper soon learns where to get the best deals on their favorite campgrounds.

Even though we might only stay for one or two nights at one campground or maybe we’ll settle in for several weeks at another, after a few years of traveling the country in our RV, many of them tend to blend together in our brains but we end up prioritizing them by cost first and quality later.

You see, far too often, it ends up that when we do get to our camping destination, we have an agenda so full of things to do, we hardly take the time to just sit back and enjoy the campground itself.

We all have our priorities when it comes to what we want in a campground. Some of us just want a place to sit, eat and sleep as we run around the local area doing whatever it is that entertains us, but at the back of our minds the cost is always in our minds.

Campsite at Orlando Thousand Trails Campground

Campground Membership Clubs

Well, my wife and I are members of TT, and we have been for over a decade.

It’s not that this particular camping club is better or worse than the many others available for campers to join situated around the country, it just happens to be the one we picked, way back then.

RV Membership clubs provide access to groups of campgrounds, sometimes only in one region of the country, and sometimes nationwide.

Their membership fees are usually offset by such things as; reserved sites, higher grade sites, better amenities, and often just better locations than your average Mom and Pop campground.

The Thousand Trails Family Camping Club

Thousand Trails, or as we all it TT, is a membership camping club, which has been around since the early sixties. It was bought out a few years ago by another big campground management company called Encore RV Resorts.

And even though the Thousand Trail campgrounds now have a big Encore sign in front of their entrance, we TT members have lifetime contracts that allow us to stay at all of the original TT camping sites, and often some of the Encore sites, for no fee.

The specific campgrounds a member can use and the allowed length of your stay varies with the different memberships, along with a number of other constraints, but my membership is a pretty good one and I can settle in at any of the TT sites for up to 3 weeks at a time.

My Favorite Thousand Trails Campground

The reason I’m explaining this is that the TT campground, near Orlando happens to be one of my favorites and I end up there quite often.

This specific Campground has become one of my favorite get-aways for a lot of reasons. Of course, you can go online to their main site, thousandtrails.com and look through the many amenities available at all of their campgrounds.

This specific TT campground is popular for two reasons.

First of all, when kids are out of school, usually during the Summer, a lot of families will be spending a week or two here, enjoying all of the campground amenities and, of course, being only a dozen miles from the great Disney World is the big draw during this period of time, too.

But they have a second season when this campground is popular. This campground is popular with the Snowbirds that come to Florida in the winter. Snowbirds is the special name used for the many people who live in Canada and the northern states who want to get away from their cold winter climates.

The easiest way for them to do this, short of buying a second home, in Florida, is to own a motorhome and when the seasons change they come down and rent a campsite, in this wonderful semi-tropical climate, for anywhere from three to six months.

They get to run away from the cold winter, as I said, and they get to take advantage of, not only the fantastic weather, but the nearby access to all of the great forms of entertainment that exist in and near Orlando.

So why do I like this Campground?

Why am I camping here, so often?

Well sure, there are a lot of other things you can do once you are retired, like I am, and are living in Florida year-round.

But I’m a diehard camper who just can’t stop traveling around in my motorhome, finding an interesting area and then planting my motorhome and myself in the middle of a group of fellow campers.

You fellow RV campers understand. It’s probably the; socializing, the cooking on a grill, swimming in the pool, and maybe even playing Bingo, miniature golf, horseshoes, or even taking long walks along the available nature trails that keeps drawing me to this campground.

Of course, being less than 100 miles from my home makes the decision to “run over to Orlando” a lot easier.

But, again, I just like this TT campground.

As I have already mentioned, an extra treat for me is that when I am camped here, I am only a few miles from the great tourist center, Orlando itself and all of the entertainment available there. Do I go to Disney World? OF course, not.

Or rather, not normally, but when my grandchildren come to visit, we often end up camping here for the convenience and low cost for me.

Typically, I just drive over into Orlando, which is within a fifteen minute drive and “dip my toes” into the many great things there are to do in this tourist mecca, and when I am done, I can slip away and within minutes be back to my motorhome in my favorite campground, until I feel that urge to explore, yet again.

In case you didn’t know it, there are several Hot Air Balloon companies operating in the area, and we often see them float over our campsite.

I can often be sitting outside my RV, morning coffee in hand, and look up to see one or more of these Hot Air Balloons float over my head. I can wave at the shouting tourists who are on their Balloon ride, as they float by, viewing our campground and the neighboring fields and farms from above.

And, of course, some days, you know, the lazy ones, I can just prop my feet up on an adjacent lounge chair, under the shade of my umbrella, and read a good book.

It's Like a second Home, but different.

Sure, I can do these things and some of the others that I enjoy regularly, in my home and never leave my house.

But to me, there’s just something about going to a different location, doing the same mundane things you might do at your home but getting a different feeling of joy from doing these things in a different environment.

With all of this said, can you blame me for having a motorhome and a place, or places, to run away to. Places where I can camp and do all of the things I have listed here, whenever I get a little bored with my day-to-day world.

I don’t know what it is, but running away to my favorite campground helps keep me feeling young. That in itself should be enough of a reason for most of us. Right?

And, if even this campground bores me? Well, there is the Peace River TT campground in Wauchula, Florida, the Five Flags CG in Woodland Florida, and dozens of other nice TT campgrounds around the country for me to try out, at my leisure.

You might ask me; am I pushing TT or Encore? Am I giving you a sales pitch, even overly promoting this specific company? Honestly, no!

Campsite at Thousand Trails in Orlando Florida

Other Membership Campground Clubs

But, I am recommending something to you that are not aware of a basic fact most regular RV owners already know. And that is; if you want to get the most from your RV, you should probably do your research and join a camping club or two that offer you sites, at reduced pricing that are in places you will want to use for camping and explore over the years ahead.

Some will offer free camping, some will offer reduced price camping, and they will all offer you different lengths of stay. All of them will give you a way to extend your travels allowing you to enjoy the RV lifestyle, pretty much anywhere in the country.

Oh, and I am also a member of several other Campground Clubs, such as;

Passport America

Passport America is a special club that has contracts with over 1200 campgrounds around the USA. Their specialty is that they give you a one or two day (sometimes longer) stay at their member campgrounds, at half the regular price.

This discount makes them popular for overnight and other short stays for Campers who are heading to a campground too far away to get to in one day.

KOA Kampgrounds

KOA is a chain of campgrounds around the USA that has a reputation for clean and efficiently run campgrounds. Their membership gives you 10% off of their regular price.

Good Sam Campgrounds

Good Sam is a membership club with several thousand affiliated campgrounds who will give a member a 10% discount off of their regular price.

They also have a stringent ranking system for each campground that you can use in your selection process.

There are many other Membership clubs out there from those who provide value and those for the campers who want the highest levels of luxury when they camp.

One of the very nice Campground Sunsets I have enjoyed in my travels.

Membership Campgrounds can save money.

Me? I’m sitting here, feet propped up and writing this article at my Picnic table outside my camper.

Who knows? I might finish the article today, and place it on my web page ….. or, if I pour another glass of wine, I may finish it tomorrow.

What the Heck! I have the time, I'm saving money because I use my favorite campground memberships a lot.

by Don Bobbitt

Campsite Trash Can

Your RV Generator and How it Works - Tips on Maintenance

2016-04-11T10:39:00.000-04:00

Many of the larger RV campers today have built-in generators.

These generators will typically operate on the motorhome's fuel system while owners of towed campers will have a portable generator they can use.

Portable Generator - pic by Marion Doss via Flickr

Below is a link to my article on my HubPage site that provides a short history on the evolution of RVs and their use of generators.

It then goes into how Gas and Diesel Generators function differently and provides some tips on the proper maintenance of your RV Generator.

Also, I have included links to a couple of very good YouTube videos that are full of tips on RV Generator maintenance.

I recommend that everyone read this article and comes away with a better understanding of how their generator operates.

Your RV Generator and How It Works

Thanks for viewing this Blog Post by Don Bobbitt.

If you liked the content of this Blog, I would appreciate it if you give me a +1 by clicking on the symbol below:

How to keep Warm in your RV

2016-04-11T02:00:00.000-04:00

Every RVer will eventually end up in their camper when a surprise cold snap hits on a cold night ,wondering how to keep warmer without having that propane furnace running throughout the night.

For the more experienced camper, careful pre-planning has them sitting cozy in their RV while the Winter cold has a minimal effect on them.

When you travel up North (anywhere north of Florida) you can wake up with this stuff on your car. Pic by Don Bobbitt

But it often ends up that some of us, are just happily camping and when an unanticipated cold snap hits the area, and we are left spending several nights and days, cold and uncomfortable.

But regardless of our level of preparation, there are a few simple things we can do to improve our comfort. Try using some of the tips listed in this article of mine on HubPages.

Click here and read my article;

How to keep Warm in your RV

This HUB is a very good list of things that the average RV or Motorhome owner can do improve their comfort when camping in cold climates or weather situations wen traveling.

by Don Bobbitt

Check out this quality Ceramic heater for your Camper. It can cut down on the propane used by your camper's furnace.

RV HEATING Systems Controls - Here is a Tip on how they operate.

2016-04-08T17:24:00.000-04:00

A Winter Camping Surprise, Pic by Don Bobbitt

As I have mentioned before, my wife and I have often camped in the Tampa area of Florida during the Winter.
And, we quickly learned that, even in Florida, it can get quite cold at night.

As all campers soon learn, when you are traveling in your camper and cold weather does hit, you can often end up looking for multiple ways to keep yourself warm.

By the Way! I have another Blog article on How to Keep Warm in your RV. So check it out for a nice collection of very useful tips for the RVer.

Anyway, as is often the case, when you purchase a newer or even NEW RV you have to go through a learning curve to pick up on all of the Rig's newer and different features.This new feature I am describing pleasantly surprised me.

You see, several years ago I traded for a new 2008 HR Neptune XL in January 2009, and the following winter we were in Florida for what was my coldest and longest winter period in my new Rig.

Well, at the time one of the things that I specifically had on my "Dream RV Checklist" was that my AC units be Heat Pump AC's and not the old standard design of Air Conditioner.
My reasoning was that a Heat Pump can also generate heat pretty efficiently until the outside temperatures get down to around 40F, and the newer ones can even function adequately down close to freezing, as a general rule.

So, rather than run my Propane Furnace in the evenings and during cold days, I decided to use the Heat Pumps. We would be much more comfortable without the dry heat of the Propane furnace, and we would save on our Propane costs by using the electricity supplied at the Campground as part of the site rental price.

Well, that first cold night, I went to bed with the Heat Pump set to 52F, turned on our Electric Blanket and settled down to a comfortable night in my RV.

I'm a light sleeper, and tend to be sensitive to changes in my surroundings. So, when I woke up at 3:27 that first morning, I instinctively knew something had changed. I listened for a while and I finally realized that my Propane Furnace in the Living area was running and not the Heat Pump.

I checked my outside temperature gauge, and it showed that the outside temp was at a chilly 27F.

I knew that Heat Pumps do not function at this low a temperature. So, I went in to the Living area, and checked the master Control Panel, and sure enough, the electronic control system had done a great thing for me.

At some point, the system had sensed the lower inside temperature, and had automatically switched the Heat Pump OFF and switched the Propane Furnace over to my preset temperature of 52F.

So, as my wife accuses me, being one of those males that rarely reads the book, I had discovered, by chance, a new comfort function that I now admire greatly.
Perhaps you should check your RV climate control functions, yourself.

I will have to read more on this, as soon as I can find where I put my owners manual! LOL!

Have a great Day!

Don

How to recognize the different Types of Campers and RV's

2016-04-07T19:33:00.000-04:00

Over our lives, my wife and I have owned a number of different types of Recreation Vehicles.
We originally started out camping with tents, and we eventually moved up to Pop-Ups, then Trailers and then finally Motorhomes.

We changed types of campers as we found over our lives that our camping lifestyle changed in parallel with our normal life changes.

At one point, when our kids got old enough to be embarrassed by being with us (teens), my wife and I got totally away from camping and we spent over ten years enjoying a houseboat on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

And one thing we realized, during that time, is that lake life on a houseboat is similar to camping in a lot of respects.
Other avid campers, we know, prefer a variety of the other types of campers and this article lists the basic information on the most popular designs below.

To be honest, they are all great vehicles for traveling and camping, and each presents it’s own advantages and challenges; so, it really comes down to which one is the most enjoyable for you and your family.

For the novice camper, the information listed below is a good reference for deciding which type of RV they might want to look into purchasing, so click on the link below:

How to recognize the types of Campers

by Don Bobbitt, April 2016

RV Slides - add room to your RV, but they must be maintained.

2016-04-05T13:17:00.000-04:00

The addition of Slides to RV’s has revolutionized the interior designs of RV’s, by giving you, the owner much more floor space to enjoy once you arrive at your campsite.

If your RV has one or more slides, and nearly all of the newer ones do, there are a few things you should know.

The first thing to mention is the type of drive system for the slides on your RV. There are still some Hydraulic Slides, but the majority are Electrical on Motorhomes and the large fivers and tag-alongs.

And, there are even hybrid systems of these two on some of the other RV designs.

Regardless of the type, each requires specific periodic maintenance to assure they operate properly. Be sure to read your owners manuals to educate yourself on what you should monitor to assure properly functioning slides.

If the owners manuals are vague on this, as many are, I recommend a call to your manufacturer’s technical team (usually called customer support), and query them on the locations of the key parts, and what you should know and be able to check things, yourself.

Slide Awnings

Many RV Slides have awnings attached on the top. This is a great device that was once an option, but has become standard for all manufacturers. These awnings keep debris off of the top of the RV, as well as directing rain away from your top seals on your slide.

As good as these awnings work, if you have been parked for several weeks or longer, with your slides open, you should occasionally get your ladder out and check the top of the slide.

You may be surprised at what you find. It's not unusual to find such things as; deal leaves, twigs, mud-dauber, wasp, and other insect nests, along with even the occasional birds nest.

If there is something I need to remove, I will reach between the top of the slide and the slide awning, using an extendable painters pole.

I have a number of different “screw-on” attachments that I have purchased and I have made a few myself just for reaching and cleaning those hard to get to places on the top of an RV slide.

Hydraulic Slide

Hydraulic Slide drive systems were once favored by manufacturers, and these do require some additional maintenance over an electrical system.

They utilize a Hydraulic reservoir in the system, and the level in the reservoir, as well as the seals on the drive and hoses will require periodic monitoring for degradation and small leaks.

I understand that there were once some RV’s that utilized a single hydraulic system for both Jacks and Slides, but I don’t have any specific names available at this time.

Electric Slides

Electric Slides are dominant today and relatively simpler to maintain, especially without the heartache of the extra hydraulic systems maintenance requirements.

Electric Slides function by applying power to a gearbox, which pushes the “straight gear” attached to the bottom of the slide, thus moving the slide in or out.

When your Slides will not close?

Newer electrical slides have a "control box" attached to each slide that manages the function of the slide. These boxes often go bad, but if you have a newer design, such as a Bounder, when these controllers quit, there is an "emergency close" function that is not documented, but if you call the manufacturers customer service they can tell you how to get your slide to close under these conditions.

Slide Tool:

Some of the older manufacturers provide a manual way to close a non-functioning slide. If your RV has Electric Slides, then it probably came with a strange looking rod, about 12-inches long.

This is your Emergency tool for manually closing a jammed slide, or one with an electrical problem, or whatever has caused it to not operate properly. Keep this tool in a safe place.

Lubricate the Gears:

Here's a maintenance tip here for the owner of an older RV that believes in Preventive Maintenance. You should lubricate your slide gears and any alignment grooves/braces that the slide itself rides on when operated.

This is probably the number one cause of problems with slides jamming, so check your owners manual for specific requirements for your rig, or if you can’t find the information, lubricate them every 2-3 months at a minimum.

Using Jacks with Slides

Another cautionary note on your slides. When you are going to be at a campsite, even for an extended period of time DO NOT use Slide Jacks.

The only possible exception, is if your manufacturer specifically requires or allows you to do so, and I don’t know of many that do.

If you put a Jack under your extended slide, and the RV settles, or the tire pressure lowers, or whatever, it can cause permanent damage to your Slide mechanism and/or the slide seals where they will not seat and seal properly to the RV body.

Level your RV, extend your Slides, and enjoy yourself. They are designed to operate on a level vehicle, and stay set up almost indefinitely.

Slide Seals

The other big thing to monitor and care for on a slide is the weather seals. When your slide is fully closed, a set of rubber seals around the perimeter of the slide join to a set of seals on the body to keep the outside air and weather from entering the coach.

Conversely, when the slide is extended fully, another set of seals around the inner perimeter of the slide join to another set of seals on the body to again keep the outside weather on the outside while extended.

These gaskets make a big difference in the cost of heating and cooling your coach, and the seals must be kept in good condition, stay supple, and not dry out.

See the figure above as an example of a seal that was cut too short on a slide. With a gap this big (over 1-inch) your AC is going to work overtime to make up for the lost cooling; and, if you are in a cold climate, cold air will be seeping in and causing your furnace to cycle more often.

And, even more costly are the long rubber-type gaskets along the top, bottom, and sides of your slide.

When these are not lubricated regularly, they can start to harden, or even worse, crack and tear.

When you get to your site and set up your RV, be sure to check that all of these gaskets have flexed and seated properly, and are providing a good seal between the RV and the slide.

NOTE: A good tool for reaching up and adjusting slide gaskets is your awning pull rod. You can slide it between the slide body and the gasket easily to straighten the gasket.

Also, when you button up your RV as part of your "walk-around" before leaving the site, check that all of your slides are firmly against the RV body at all four corners.

If not, re-set the slides, and of this problem persists, contact your manufacturer for what you should do. I had this happen with one of my RV's, and the people at an "approved service center" had to re-align the slide which is a tricky operation.

Oh Yeah, ask and make sure that the techs assigned to work on your RV, for anything, is an approved, trained tech.

by Don Bobbitt, 2017

How to keep COOL in your RV

2016-02-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

OK, you're HOT!

That's my assumption, if you are reading this Blog Post.

And in an RV, if you don't take certain precautions, you can get really hot while vacationing in the deep South of the United States.

But, don't despair, there are some things you can do to make your RV much more comfortable in the heat and it only takes a little thought and self-management.

Click on the link below and read how to keep Cool in your RV when things get a little too hot.

How to keep COOL in your RV

Spring is Near! Are You ready for your first Camping Trip?

2015-10-20T09:56:00.000-04:00

Ready to be de-winterized

That's right!

Winter happens every year and pardon the pun but it is often an uncomfortable time of the year to one degree or another.

And, if you have an RV, the weather can really cause you some problems if you have not prepared your "home away from home" for its potential onslaught.

So, are you and your Camper ready to get out there and have your family enjoy a nice camping trip to one of your favorite campgrounds?

Click here to read this interesting article full of tips for the RV owner:

Some Tips to prepare for your first Spring Camping Trip

and you will read a list of suggestions to help you properly prepare for your early Spring trip.

QUICK RV TIP, A Tool for Closing those hard to reach Windshield Curtains

2015-03-07T09:07:00.000-05:00

Close those RV Windshield Curtains easily

This is one of a series of QUICK RV TIPS for RV owners.

They are simple things you can do as an RV owner to make your camping and travel more comfortable and enjoyable.

I have written the tips, which are short and informative, and listed them on my site; RVANDCAMPER.ORG. Click on the link above to read the actual article;

by Don Bobbitt, 2015, Copyright Don Bobbitt, 2015, All Rights Reserved.

You are welcome to read this article and share it with your friends, but if you wish to use it commercially, then you must have the Authors permission, in writing.

QUICK RV TIP, RV Tires, A Quick Check you can make while on the road.

2015-03-06T09:02:00.002-05:00

RV TIRES, A Quick Safety Check

This is one of a series of QUICK RV TIPS for RV owners.

They are simple things you can do as an RV owner to make your camping and travel more comfortable and enjoyable.

I have written the tips, which are short and informative, and listed them on my site; RVANDCAMPER.ORG. Click on the link above to read the actual article;

RV Sewage Management - Best Shaken Not Stirred

2014-03-12T19:03:00.000-04:00

Typical RV Service Center

One thing that a camper ends up knowing how to do, is how to properly dump and maintain their RV Sewage tank.
And, I can tell you that almost all of my fellow campers have a Horror story they tell about "that time they saw....."
Because, honestly, when something does go wrong while someone is dumping an RV Sewage tank it is definitely a bad situation, that they will remember for the rest of their life.

The link below is to an article of mine on HubPages where I describe the best ways to service your RV Sewage tank, and some useful tips on doing this naturally nasty job efficiently and without incident.

Check it out:

RV Sewage - Best Shaken Not Stirred

JOKE - Little Johnny and Salesmanship!

2014-02-13T08:27:00.002-05:00

Such a Smart Young Man!

The teacher gave her students a weekend assignment. It was to sell something, and then give a talk on
how they did and what they had learned about salesmanship.

Little Sally led off. "I sold Girl Scout cookies and I made $30" she said proudly. My sales approach was to appeal to the customer's civil spirit,and I credit that approach for my obvious success."

"Very good", said the teacher.

Little Debbie was next. "I sold magazines" she said. "I made $45 and I explained to everyone that magazines would keep them up on current events."

"Very good, Debbie", said the teacher.

Eventually, it was Little Johnny's turn. The teacher held her breath.

Little Johnny walked to the front of the classroom, and dumped a box full of cash on the teacher's desk. "$2,467", he said.

"$2,467!" cried the teacher, "What in the world were you selling?"

"Toothbrushes", said Little Johnny. "Toothbrushes" echoed the teacher. "How could you possibly sell enough tooth brushes to make that much money?"

"I found the busiest corner in town", said Little Johnny. "I set up a Dip and Chip stand, and I gave everybody who walked by a free sample."

They all said the same thing: "Hey, this tastes like dog poop!" Then I would say, "It is dog poop. Wanna buy a toothbrush?

Little Johnny explained;
I used the President Obama method of giving you some crap, dressing it up so it looks good, telling you it's free, and then making you pay to get the bad taste out of your mouth."

Little Johnny got five stars for his assignment. Bless his heart!

------------------------------------