Ideas and information about your RV
This article tells a really good story about some of the reasons there are so many RV problems, why dealerships end up looking bad, and manufacturers don’t look so wonderful either. After I read this I started thinking that the average person may be well served to get every RV inspected before buying.
If you don’t want an inspection, hire someone to go through and do a pre-use testing of the unit to ensure that there are no surprises when you hit the road.
To all of our happy camper friends and families, we wish you a safe and happy Independence day!
God Bless America!
Rick, Pam and Jerry
The link in this post on twitter from Arizona RV Salvage says a lot about why learning to properly and safely drive an RV is important and can teach you how not to end up the way this poor person did.
Check out this brief video.
I have made several changes to the website, and I would really appreciate input from anyone who has time to check changes and provide constructive ideas, criticisms and suggestions for Stuff you think would be nice to see here.
Thanks Very Much
Rick
So the question comes to mind that if someone doesn’t know how to fix a problem, how can they identify possible problem, or problems in the making. So some of what it takes to be a good technician, or inspector is knowing how things work. Having worked on problems with a variety of different devices and being able to identify problems that are waiting to happen due to neglecting maintenance are just a couple of examples where you build up the knowledge needed to make a good judgement, or identify a problem in the making.
Without exposure to a vast array of things, like plumbing, electrical systems, both 110 Volt AC and 12 volt DC systems, hydraulics, mechanical drive systems, gasket and sealing systems, insulation, general construction and maintenance of all of these things how can someone know what they are looking at?
There are a lot of really great technicians at RV dealerships and other RV mobile repair services that do a really good job, but how many have had the exposure to every aspect of the construction that goes into today’s RV’s? have they been exposed to every aspect of construction of an RV or Home? How many years of experience do they have in all the various areas listed above, giving them experience with design or problem recognition?
In short, is the person you are going to put your trust in, someone with years of experience, or hours of training, have they designed and built anything similar to your RV?
My experience extends very deep into years of technical design, maintenance and remodeling, knowing every aspect of how a home and RV are made, and I have lived in an RV and maintained it for several years now.
The question is “Who do you want to trust?”
You can find me @RickRovingTech on Twitter, not a lot of exciting stuff yet, but keep your eyes open.
Up coming video on a generator tune up, new brushes in the generator and more.
Upcoming Oxidation cleaner testing on a classic rig coming soon too.
Thanks to my sweet Bride Pam and all her work, I now have a business Facebook page!
Http:www.facebook.com/ricktherovingtech
Was your head spinning when you left the dealer where you got your new RV?
They gave you a walk thru, but most of what they said went out the window or you just weren’t getting everything they were telling you?
Here is where RV101 comes into the picture, I have decided to offer hands on, one on one basic training classes for first time owners. This will be tailored to the specific needs of the new owners, providing training and tips on how to do the basic set up and take down. Preparing for travel, knowing what you really need to have and some of the what you might want to have as well. Adding to that will be tips on how to care for your new home on wheels, maintaining water systems, batteries, tires and many other things to help you have more worry free travels.
In addition I will give you information on where to find the things you need as you travel including some tips on places to stay, good deals I have found along the way and even some places you might want to avoid. Most of all I hope to share thoughts and Ideas that will make owning your RV something you will enjoy for years to come.
Looking forward to helping you get on the road, have fun and do it safely.
Safe RV travel starts with making sure your home on wheels is ready to hit the road without any surprises along the way. Basic items to check for should start from the ground up, starting with the tires.
One of the biggest problems I have seen on the road and heard about from friends is that they had a blow out. typically this is due to one of a few different issues.
1- Tires are not properly inflated
2- Tires are not the proper size for the load
3 -Tires are old and have not been cared for during their lifetime.
4- The load inside the RV is more than what it is supposed to carry
5 -The tires are undersized or the wrong type for the load
When it comes to tire care in general, here are a few tips that will help prolong the life of the tires and minimize the risk of failure on the road.
(1) Check the tire inflation before leaving on any long trip, the few minutes it takes could save you a lot of money and your life.
(2) Never use Glossy tire coatings, most of these can actually degrade the rubber and lead to premature failure of the sidewalls.
(3) Clean them and use a UV protection, or tire covers while parked for long periods.
(4) As much as possible, when parked for extended times, like being in a storage area, get the majority of the load off the tires by blocking and lifting the RV up. Reducing the load to a minimum reduces the risk of fracturing the sidewalls of the tires due to sitting with a load on them for extended periods.
(5) Tire sidewalls are designed to naturally lubricate themselves as they flex under normal use on the road, lack of flexing on the overall sidewall can degrade sidewalls which can lead to failure on the road.
(6) Check to see that all of the lug nuts on the wheels are properly torqued to rated specifications.
(7) Check for any damaged brake lines and the brake fluid is at the proper level.
(8) Check to see that the braking system operates correctly, which can be done in many different ways depending on the type of braking system on the RV. Check the manual or call your dealer for specific ways you can test your brakes before you hit the road.
(9) Do a visual inspection of your suspension system, looking for loose or broken components, also look to see if there is any evidence that your shocks are leaking. A damaged suspension, or bad shock can lead to stability and control issues on the road, which may lead to loosing control of the RV in poor road conditions.
(10) Next is check to ensure that all of your lights operate properly. Running or Parking lights as some call them should clearly mark all of the corners and sides of your RV. These make sure you are visible on the road in dark conditions.
(11) The Brake and Turn signals should be checked as separate functions, even though the turn and brake lights are often the same light, they may be placed in different areas on the RV, some may use an amber light for turn signals and are separate from the brake lights. It is important that you check each function separately, such as braking, turning, and four way hazard light functions.
Look for additional posts coming soon regarding the various tow vehicles, either the RV or the Towed vehicle. The majority of these are still covered above with some variations on the towing and towed units.
I am contracting with RV Driving School as an instructor for all sizes and types of RV’s, with the purpose of helping you have safe and fun travel. If you go to the RV Driving School link you can see more information there, and schedule an appointment with either myself or another instructor in your area.
