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.
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Tuesday, October 4, 2022
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DID YOU MISS reading this morning’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter? Good stuff there.
Page Contents
RVing Basics
I keep running across warnings about RV “hot skin conditions.” What does that mean?
A hot-skin condition is not good. It’s when the skin (and chassis, hitch, wheels, etc.) of your RV develops more than 2 or 3 volts above the earth (ground) below it. Any hot skin over 40 volts AC can be lethal under the right conditions.
Is it okay to feel a little tingle when I touch my RV’s front door to open it?
NO! NEVER! If your RV is properly grounded from the shore power connection, it should never be more than 2 or 3 volts above earth ground. If you can feel a tingle, you likely have at least 20 volts of hot-skin voltage. That means you’ve lost the electrical ground on your RV and it can develop lethal voltages (up to 120 volts) at any time. Any tingle is a warning to immediately unplug from shore power and get the wiring fixed before someone gets hurt or killed. For a complete discussion of hot skin conditions and how to protect yourself, go to www.rvtravel.com and search for “hot skin” to learn how to test for it on your RV.
Quick Tips
Roadside emergency equipment
I’m sure you’ve seen semi-trucks along the side of the road with three triangular reflectors spaced out behind it. They are there to alert people to move over a lane as the rig is disabled for some reason. These triangles are inexpensive and should be in your RV safety emergency kit along with several flashlights and road flares to signal a night breakdown. You might also want to have an orange vest with night vision strips on it. Obviously, the best piece of emergency equipment is a cell phone to call for help. —From So, You Want To Be an RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle? [Revised]. Available on Amazon.com
Editor: Here are many roadside emergency kits available on Amazon.com (Where else?!)
Simplify your RV meals
Try cooking one dish meals with an easy-to-make side. Most RV kitchen spaces aren’t meant for gourmet cooking. Try pairing one dish with a simple salad or another side you can easily put together. —From RV Living Full Time: 100+ Amazing Tips, Secrets, Hacks & Resources to Motorhome Living. Available on Amazon.com.
“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:
“First, don’t just drive around the dealer’s parking lot. Find an RV driving school and take lessons. No matter the size or type, an RV is not the same as your car. Second, SLOW DOWN. If you think you have to go 500 miles a day, you don’t want an RV. The whole idea is to see the country, so take your time, stop and smell the flowers. Third, you are driving a house so it will have rattles and it is often compared to a stick house in a small earthquake. Fourth, join a club whether it is national or a chapter in your area. Not only will you meet new people, but if you are having a problem someone else in the group might have had the same problem and can help you. At our rallies, there is always someone with a glitch and all the guys gather to troubleshoot (well, that is what they call it!). Most importantly, have fun and be careful.” —Mary Scherer
Protect your RV “pigtail”
That 7-way connector on your travel trailer or fifth wheel is a critical component. When not plugged into your tow rig, the thing is susceptible to the onslaught of dirt, rain and even bugs. Here’s a plug cover that slips right over your precious plug and keeps out the crud. One user says, “This works perfectly to keep the plug on my RV clear. I remove it when not in use and place it in my ‘RV emergency tool kit.’ This way, it’s not knocked around when driving.” Learn more or order.
Random RV Thought
When selecting a campsite in a campground with a looped layout, select a site on the inside of the curve in the road so headlights of passing vehicles will not beam at you at night.
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
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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.
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the biggest mistake I did when buying camp trailer was not having enough water; 20 gallons total! last two days when boon docking. Second turning too sharp bumper ding the front of camper very first time I did this getting fuel. And the back of camper swings way out also. The most thing for safety purposes is equalizer hitches. WIND is not your friend crosswinds the worst.
Do they make an HC-1 that is twice as long ?
No. How’s that for succinct? I just looked on their website and they have the HC1, with a shell length of 10′ and overall length of 13′, and the (new) HCT (Traveler), which has a shell length of 14′ and overall length of 17′. Maybe a future version will be even longer. Thanks for asking, Donald. Take care. 🙂 Diane at RVtravel.com
I’m always reading about being able to pick your spot in a campground. Been traveling for four years and have never run across that option.
You often can if you make reservations.
I’ve never had head lights be a problem but maybe that’s a problem in motor homes.
In lots of places you can pick your spot but to do so some charge a fee. They also are charging a fee to lock in a certain type of site. Like all business, campgrounds are figuring out how to charge more. Welcome to post pandimic!.
triangular reflectors at Walmart is about 5.00 cheaper amazon and free shipping
Great point about an RV driving school. My wife and I enrolled in a RV driving school so she could learn how to pull our travel trailer. It was a great experience, we both learned a lot. For her, it gave her the confidence to know that she could pull the TT if needed. The Instructor took her on narrow roads through the country, put her in stop and go traffic, taught her how to enter a freeway, and gave her two great pieces of advice. If you are slowing down traffic and you can move over, move over! If you cannot move over than the drivers behind you should have left a little earlier. Worth the investment!!!