Welcome to the Beginner’s Guide to RVing from RVtravel.com. The information we present here every Monday through Friday is for brand-new RVers – those in the market to buy their first RV and those who just purchased theirs. If you are an experienced RVer, this material may be too basic for you.
This newsletter is funded primarily through advertising and voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thanks to all of you!
Monday, June 27, 2022
If you did not get an email notifying you of this newsletter, sign up here to get one every time it is published.
[activecampaign form=38]
DID YOU MISS reading this morning’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter? Good stuff there.
Page Contents
RVing Basics
Can I trust that an RV salesman will tell me the truth?
Not necessarily. He/she will try to sell you the RV and as many add-ons as possible—an extended warranty, insurance, roadside assistance, tire protection, etc.—which are high-profit items. Some salespersons are perfectly honest, but others will say just about anything to make the sale and then ramp up the price with additional products, often priced far higher than elsewhere. It’s hard to tell the good ones from the bad ones. Most salesmen and saleswomen are paid by commission, so they use whatever techniques they can to sell you an RV. Never buy on your first RV sales buying outing, no matter what the pitch. Do your homework. Take your time.
Do you have a quick tip about identifying a good salesperson?
Ask him or her if they currently own an RV or have in the past. If not, be cautious. Also, ask the salesperson how long he or she has been with the dealership: If it’s been for years, that’s a good sign. Keep in mind, too, that the first thing a salesperson will do is try to earn your trust. He’ll ask you if you have dog. You say “Yes.” “Aren’t they great?” he’ll say, trying to establish common ground. He/she might ask, “Do you plan to bring your grandchildren along on trips?” and you’ll say, “Oh, yes. I know they’ll love it.” The salesman will say, “My grandkids love traveling with my wife and me.” Etc. The salesman knows what he’s doing. He wants you to think of him as a friend, whose pitch you will then buy “hook, line and sinker.” Be careful.
How can I tell if there are any recalls on a used motorhome I’m considering buying?
Check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall database here. RVtravel.com publishes recalls as they are issued. If you haven’t already, sign up to receive our free newsletters here.
Quick Tips
Watch your rear!
“Here is a tip I use while driving down the highway. I installed a Fresnel lens on the rear window of my 31-foot Class C motorhome to enable me to see close to the rear of the rig. Doing this gives me the added advantage of being able to know when I’ve passed another vehicle and it’s far enough behind to allow me to change lanes. When I can see the headlights of the overtaken vehicle in the Fresnel lens, it’s safe to go. The normal rearview or side-view mirrors do not give a good estimate of how far ahead of the overtaken vehicle you are.” Thanks to Fred C.!
Quick way to sanitize the public water hose connection
Worried about what the last guy may have done to the water hose connection at your site or at the filling area? Get yourself a bottle of “spray Clorox” and spritz the water tap threads before hooking on your own hose.
Easy protection for your real-glass glassware!
“Put wine or other glasses in an old white cotton sock. I have had these fall from an overhead cabinet into the sink and never a chip, crack or breakage. I hope this can be posted so that others can enjoy a glass of wine (or other beverage) without having to resort to plastic cups.” Cheers to Trish Doyle!
Clean water stains off your RV ceiling
Water stains on your RV ceiling? Take a clean sponge, soak it with hydrogen peroxide, straight out of the bottle. Carefully rub the stain with sponge and follow up with a clean paper towel. Best to test an inconspicuous spot first, and be sure the floor below the area of the ceiling you’re working on is protected from drips.
“Exercise” your generator
Don’t just exercise the pooch, exercise the generator, too. Fire it up and run it at half-load (or more) for two hours each month.
Looking for the perfect RV to buy? Read Tony Barthel’s hundreds of RV reviews here, and make sure you’re subscribed to our other newsletters, where he writes daily reviews.
Common Terms Used by RV Salespeople
MOUSE HOUSE: Slang term used for a finance company.
Another one next issue. Courtesy of the Burdge Law Office.
If you could tell someone new to RVing just one thing, what would it be?
From the editors: We asked our readers this question. Here is one response:
“Don’t be in a hurry and remember you are going to make mistakes.” — Dr. Willie Live
Random RV Thought
Carry an extra 10 feet of sewer hose with appropriate fittings installed just in case the (campground) sewer is located too far from your waste outlet for your regular hose to reach. And an extra water hose is a good idea, too – 10 feet will probably suffice.
By RV Travel publisher Chuck Woodbury
Book for newbie RVers a must-have!
If you are planning to buy your first RV or are just getting started with your first rig, this book by RVtravel.com publisher Chuck Woodbury should be a must-read. The ABCs of RVing answers important questions that newbie RVers don’t even know enough to ask! Read this, and you’ll save countless hours of research and avoid making costly rookie mistakes. It’s available in both a Kindle version and printed edition.
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
Advertising: Advertising@rvtravel.com
Help desk: Contact us.
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
RVtravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2022 by RV Travel LLC.
Many RV dealers have small onsite campgrounds or nearby campgrounds with whom they have negotiated better rates for a couple of days. If you have never used your RV, take advantage of this or find something near the RV dealer. All new RVs will have issues. Ours had a leaky water intake to the icemaker, two doors that would not open, a shelf collapse in the bedroom closet, a broken awning, and a broken air conditioner. Nothing major (two service calls to fix it all), but a real annoyance if we had hit the road right away only to have to travel back for service. Check EVERYTHING out. Use electricity and gas to heat your water to make sure both work. Run your furnace. See how quickly your RV heats if it’s cool weather or how fast it cools down in hot weather. If you don’t camp in a rainstorm, hose the top of the RV like crazy to check for leaks. Look especially around the vents and skylights. Check the cell signal inside and out to make sure your RV doesn’t block service.
New to Rv’ing: Keep your speed at a comfortable level . 5-10 mph below the speed limit doesn’t take much longer to reach your destination and you will arrive feeling more relaxed.
Plus, take 5 minute rest stops every so often. Get out and stretch.
The subject of “water stains on the ceiling”, If you are considering buying anything with water stains on the ceiling RUN don’t make the deal. Water stains are the warning signs of much greater problems!!! Happy Trails