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 Camper News
Living in your RV before you 'hit the road'
Getting ready to be a full time RVer puts you through an entire spectrum of emotions. While some folks know exactly what
they want to do and do it others are involved in trying things out
Steve and I lived in our fifth wheel in a RV park for two years before we ‘hit the road’. We did virtually
no traveling except for a two week vacation and the two weeks we headed for the hills when the whole town was evacuated in
anticipation of a levee break.
From that experience we learned one major thing that is more important than all the other lessons we learned. You have
to be good friends with your partner to live 24/7 in small quarters such as a recreational vehicle.
An Ode to Aphid Munchers A house full of ladybugs... oh yes, there were oodles They got in the flour, they
got in the noodles The 'raisins' looked red 'Cause they got in the bread They got in the bagels and the cinnamon streudels
They hid in the curtains... they hid in the rugs They hid underneath our big coffee mugs And then in the night They'd come
out and bite That's when I learned how to hate Ladybugs!
FTRVer readers Barb and Butch, formerly of Iowa, have a slightly different approach. They are living in their motorhome
right in their backyard. They take occasional weekend tours to prove that the rig is ready. Barb shares a great tip about
deciding what to put into her home on wheels:
‘We are retiring next month and have planned to full time RV for several
years now. It is very close to being
a reality. We are very glad to see this website taking shape and just in time too!
“I thought I would pass along one of many tips we have come across in the getting ready process. We have been living
in our motorhome since July and it is parked in our own backyard. The house is for sale but hasn't sold yet. The purpose of
living in the RV ahead of time was to make many minor adjustments.
“I have made many trips to the house for things I need and I have made as many trips the other way with things I
never use! My husband weighed our 32' Holiday Rambler Motorhome on our last outing and we are still okay. We are traveling
with a cat who isn't at all sure she wants to be a traveling cat but she will have to adjust.
Thanks Barb (and Butch) for the cool tip.
I think many of us already full timing could put that one to use by parking near our storage facilities and eliminating
stuff we never use which might make room for things we would like to have aboard.
And maybe when Barb gets her cat to accept life as a full time feline she will send along her tips on how she did it.
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RVs Go Undercover
Protect Your RV Investment With a Cover
or Portable Garage
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You have a large investment in your motorhome, travel trailer, fifth-wheel or
other RV. Unless you’re a fulltimer, it may sit for weeks, maybe even months, exposed to elements including wind-driven
dirt and dust, snow, bird droppings, tree sap and acid rain.
Especially harmful are the sun’s ultraviolet (UV)
rays that can cause paint and interior surfaces to fade, while vinyl, rubber, leather and fabrics can dry, crack and deteriorate.
Unless you are one of those extremely lucky and rare individuals who has a permanent garage in which to park your
RV, you will have to rely on protection from an RV cover or portable garage.
The least expensive protection for your
coach comes with an RV cover. While there are different cover designs and materials available, the most important considerations
are ease of use and quality. So it is important to find an RV cover that is easy to handle yet strong and durable. After all,
a cover does no good if it is seldom used because it is too hard to put on and take off.
Custom-fit covers made for
a particular RV provide better protection than universal or ready-fit covers because they follow the exact contours of the
vehicle. For instance, custom-fit covers will not move around in the wind as much as an ill-fitting universal-type cover.
When ordering a custom-fit cover, make sure you include provisions for such things as roof-mounted air conditioners, mirrors,
spare tires and other appendages. Covers will also usually have, either as standard or optional equipment, openings for doors
so you can go into and out of the vehicle without going through the hassle of removing the cover.
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| An important consideration, when
selecting a cover, is the type of fabric. You can compare RV cover fabrics to one another by the weight-per-foot of material,
the length of the warranty and the cost. High-quality RV covers are “breathable,” which allow moisture to escape.
If the cover does not breathe well, corrosion-causing moisture can get trapped against the vehicle’s finish and promote
rust. Breathable covers help reduce the formation of mold and mildew and also allow heat to escape to keep interiors cooler.
High quality covers will also be water resistant and will provide protection against UV radiation.
Speaking
of UV radiation, tires can be destroyed by the environment in as little as just one season if not properly cared for. It is
critical that RV tires are protected from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays as well as ozone. Tires on vehicles kept
in storage are subject to premature cracking, especially in the sidewall area, which can lead to blowouts. Incidentally, for
vehicles used frequently, oils in the tires come to the surface during flexing and protect the rubber from ultraviolet light.
For vehicles not used frequently, tire damage can be greatly reduced with the use of protective coverings. Quality
protective coverings that guard against environmental damage are available for your tires.
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| Tire cover construction often
features seams that are overlapped, with double needle stitching for extra strength. Also, in some models, reinforced grommets
located on each side of the cover allow for a tailored look and, most importantly, eliminate loss to wind.
An alternative
to an RV cover is a portable garage such as the Cover-It Instant Garage. Although they often are more expensive and not as
convenient as an RV cover, there are many styles of portable garages available on the market. Typically, these use a steel
or aluminum frame covered with a fabric material much like that used for RV covers. If you are considering a portable garage,
first check to make sure that your local building codes and neighborhood covenants allow “temporary” structures.
The big advantage of portable garages is that you can drive in and work in and around an RV with ease — that
is, if you buy one that is big enough. When selecting a portable garage, it’s important to check the construction of
the frame and how the fabric is attached to this framework. The fabric used on portable garages, like covers, must provide
protection against sunlight damage and keep the RV moisture free.
Portable garages used in northern climates must
be able to handle snow loads and in windy areas must be securely anchored and constructed so they don’t take off like
a kite. Again, when ordering, make sure to account for appendages like air conditioners, antennas and other considerations.
Although an RV cover or portable garage can be an expensive addition to an already costly rig, in this case, an ounce
of protection is definitely worth a pound of cure.
ADCO RV COVERS
ADCO Products Inc. is the exclusive
supplier of RV covers to Camping World. ADCO offers a full range of high-quality RV covers using fabrics including Sunbrella
Glen Raven Mills Inc., Dupont Tyvek and SFS Aqua-Shed. Their ready-fit covers come in SFS Aqua-Shed and Dupont Tyvek RV fabrics,
while custom-fit covers are available in all three fabrics. Custom-fit covers not only offer the advantage of custom tailoring,
but also the convenience of a zippered entry door.
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| Considered ADCO’s premier
RV cover, custom Sunbrella covers come with a five-year warranty and feature a durable fabric, that is also used for marine
applications, awnings, outdoor furniture and convertible tops. The fibers are solution dyed, so the fabric retains its color
permanently. Woven acrylic fibers are also naturally resistant to moisture and mildew and will not harden or crack.
ADCO
features Tyvek RV fabric in a 100% Tyvek custom-fit model and in the top paneling on Tyvek ready-fit models. Ready-fit covers
come with a two-year warranty; custom fits come with a four-year warranty. Dupont Tyvek RV fabric features microscopic pores
that both resist water and allow trapped moisture to evaporate from inside the cover. The polypropylene sides, used on the
ready-fit models, ensure maximum breathability and virtually eliminate mold and mildew. With the ability to block 99.8% of
the sun’s UV rays, these covers are highly recommended for locations with intense sunlight. Tyvek covers keep out 98%
of dirt and dust particles larger than three microns and provide protection against rain and pollution, bird droppings and
tree debris.
SFS Aqua-Shed, a new fabric for ADCO, is available in a 100% SFS Aqua-Shed custom-fit model, which has
a three-year warranty. SFS Aqua-Shed is also utilized in the top paneling of the ready-fit version and comes with a two-year
warranty. SFS Aqua-Shed features triple-layer resistance to high humidity and rainfall in addition to protection against UV
rays. As can be found on all of ADCO’s ready-fit covers, strap and buckle attachments prevent billowing in windy locations
and allow for a custom look. Reinforced corners resist tears and snags. SFS Aqua-Shed ready-fit covers are available to fit
most recreational vehicle types.
In addition to RV covers, ADCO also manufactures Ultra Tyre Gards to protect RV tires
from environmental damage, which can cause blowouts. These covers feature bungee-ball attachment systems and are a necessary
addition to any RV in storage.
| Bill Siuru
RV View
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RV POWER MADE EASY
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12V DC AND 120V AC POWER
What powers the accessories in an RV? Electrical power to operate lights, jacks, slide-outs and other 12V powered accessories
comes from a 12V battery or a battery bank consisting of two or more batteries joined together. Microwave ovens, most TVs
and VCRs, toasters, blenders and other 120V accessories must be powered by AC from shore power, a generator or from an inverter
which changes 12V DC power to 120V AC power.
SHORE POWER
Most RV parks and campgrounds have
AC power of various voltages available fro almost every site, except designated tent camping areas. A typical campsite’s
power pedestal will have three types of plug-in receptacles: 15 amp, 30 amp and 50 amp. Most RVs can hook up to the 30 amp
receptacle; larger coaches and fifth wheels require 50 amps, though adapters are available to allow them to use the 30 amp
connection, with limited use of on-board accessories like air conditioners. Smaller RVs like pop-up campers may only be fitted
for 15 amp household-type connections, though pop-ups now frequently sport rooftop air conditioners, just like larger RVs,
and are wired for 30 amp connections.
No matter what kind of power your RV uses, always use a heavy-duty,
outdoor grade, grounded electrical cord to connect between the RV and the power pedestal. If your RV is 30 or 50 amp, use
a 30 or 50 amp cord to make the connection. Avoid connecting your 30 amp system to an adapter and a 15 amp extension cord
to reach the pedestal outlet; use an approved 30 amp extension cord. The smaller cord can overheat, plus it cannot provide
enough power to safely operate appliances like air conditioners without risking brown-out damage to compressors and motors.
Brown-out conditions mean not enough electrical power is reaching an appliance to operate it at peak efficiency. Continuing
to operate an appliance on too-low power causes overheating of components and premature failure.
When your
RV is connected to AC power, a converter transforms the 120V AC to 12V DC power to operate 12V accessories, such as light
fixtures and water pumps, inside the RV. Converters also recharge the RV coach battery whenever 120V AC is available.
GENERATORS
Gasoline, diesel or LP-powered generators are a source of 120V power when shore power is unavailable. Generator power
gives you all the convenience of AC power for your accessories, whether you are sitting in the stadium parking lot before
the big game or on the banks of your favorite trout stream. Portable generators give you power to go for use at home, at the
jobsite or while camping. Built-in generators in an RV can power all its AC accessories. Motorhomes typically have large generators
that operate on the same fuel type(gasoline, diesel or LP) as the engine. These generators can even provide AC power while
the motorhome is traveling down the road, making it possible to operate air conditioners or other AC-powered accessories en
route to your destination. Trailer and fifth wheel generators usually operate on LP. Today’s generators are lighter,
quieter and more compact than ever before. There are even generators small enough to fit some pickup and van campers.
INVERTERS
Inverters draw 12V power from a 12V battery and convert it to 120V power, letting you operate AC accessories without
shore power or a generator. Inverters operate quietly and without the exhaust of generators, providing AC on demand from your
12V battery without cranking the generator. Inverter/charger combos are engineered to not only provide AC power for appliances
and accessories, but also DC power to recharge your battery when your generator is running or when you are plugged into shore
power. Inverters come in a variety of power levels, from portables that plug into a 12V accessory outlet to power a laptop
or game to inline models that power selected AC outlets in your RV.
SOLAR PANELS
You can help
keep your battery bank charged so your inverter always has DC power available by mounting one or more solar panels to the
roof of your RV. Solar panels convert sunlight to electrical power that can be used to charge batteries or operate appliances
via the inverter. Like inverters, solar panel kits come in various sizes and configurations. Portable models are small enough
to set on the vehicle’s dashboard and plug into the accessory outlet to charge the chassis battery while the vehicle
is parked. Link two or more roof-mounted panels together to keep the coach batteries charged.
By combining DC and
AC power sources, your RV can be self-sufficient when it comes to electrical power, giving you the freedom to take the comfort
and convenience of home wherever you go.
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Return to A Class Motorhomes
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