Monday, July 29, 2019
Welcome to another edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and small-space living tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, tips on our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you.
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Today’s Thought
“You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chicken Wing Day!
Tip of the day
The following is courtesy of Onan generators
Do diesel generators need exercising like gasoline generators?
Yes, regular exercise helps lubricate the seals and engine components and keeps carbon from building up. Regular exercise also heats up the generator windings and removes or expels excess moisture. In sets equipped with brushes, exercising helps prevent corrosion buildup on the slip rings.
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It may seem strange that not using a machine could cause performance problems, but with RV generators that’s exactly the case. Regular “exercise” is an important part of keeping your generator healthy. Lack of use can cause moisture buildup and fuel system damage that makes it run poorly. In fact, in as little as 30 days, the fuel in gasoline-powered generators can begin to break down into gums and varnishes that clog the fuel system. Fuel varnishing results in hard starting and surging. (A surging generator never settles at a stable operating speed.)
To prevent such problems, we recommend running gasoline generators at a minimum of 50 percent capacity (for example, 2000 watts, or one air conditioner for a 4000-watt set) for two hours at least once every four weeks. A long two-hour exercise period is preferable to several short periods.
RV Electricity – This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
Battery disconnect switch options.
REMINDER: Mike will teach three classes on RV Electricity (one per day) at the Enumclaw RV Show August 1-3, near Seattle and Mt. Rainier. See his topics and the schedule here.
• Sign up for Mike’s monthly RV Electricity Newsletter. (Here’s a link in case you missed his most recent issue on July 28.)
• While you’re at it, be sure to join his new Facebook group, RV Electricity.
RV club of the day
RVing Women
This is the biggest club for women RVers. Its website is the cyber meeting place for members, but they get together in real life, too, for support, companionship and fun. Any RVing woman, whether single, widowed or who travels alone for another reason, should join.
Reader poll
Free travel information
Washington State Visitors’ Guide. This is the essential, one-stop source for Washington state travelers. With stunning photography, detailed maps, and insider information on the state’s must-see attractions, the guide highlights the unique and appealing aspects of each of the state’s diverse travel regions. Order a printed directory or download instantly.
OTHER RESOURCES
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION.
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT.
• LATEST RV RECALLS.
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Website of the day
Six tips to know when calling AAA for road service
If you are a member of AAA, there are some tips you should know when calling for AAA road service. These tips will help you get assistance quicker, and help avoid any problems when you call AAA.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• RV Electricity – Using a Non-Contact Voltage Tester (with video).
• Do you need a special RV driver’s license? You might!
• Try this when you can’t find a campground with vacancies.
#855
Trivia
The Tater Tot was invented in Oregon by two brothers, Nephi and Golden Grigg, the founders of Ore-Ida. Oregon is also home to the world’s first riding mechanical corn dog.
Leave here with a laugh
A grandmother visiting her daughter in her fifth wheel was preparing pancakes for her young grandsons, Kevin and Ryan. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their grandmother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'” Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!”
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Advertising director: Emily Woodbury. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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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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This newsletter is copyright 2019 by RVtravel.com
when did aaa go from towing 15 miles to 5 miles
I colored my hair for 32 years straight, but decided to stop when I hit 50. I’m still getting used to being grey though, and I get a little unpleasant shock when I see my hair in the mirror some times. I suppose I’ll get used to it.
And men don’t color their hair?
Maybe that will be another question (then we can compare the two sets of responses). We certainly don’t want to have the guys feel neglected on these polls. 😉 —Diane at RVtravel.com
My long experience with gas motors has taught me to add StaBil to a complete fresh fill of gas, run it for 10 minutes, then leave the engine (generator or auto) alone. This has worked perfectly for me on engines stored for 6 to 7 months, for many years. I have no experience with Diesels.
I have read you should exercise your genny for 1/2hr each month, I have read 1hr each month and now this article by Onan states 2hrs every 4 weeks. Hard to know which is correct. Or maybe it doesn’t matter as long as you run it at least every month. Does anyone have more insight?
We don’t boondock very much, so we use our (gas) motorhome’s generator very little. I try to run it 30 to 60 minutes once a month year-round. I’ve been doing that for the past 12 years with no gen problems at all.
Is it just me? I expected the article to be about diesel generators but other than the first paragraph, the rest was about gas generators.
Not just you! Actually, beyond the first word, which is an assumption that they are addressing the actual question, there is nothing specific to Diesel generators. Onan needs to rewrite this!
My friend had thousands of dollars damage done to his RV by red squirrels. His insurance did not cover it. AAA tells me I’m covered! Good deal.
“Oregon is also home to the world’s first riding mechanical corn dog.”
I’m betting it’s the ONLY riding mechanical corn dog too.
I’m trying to visualize a corn dog with wheels and a saddle. Or is it similar to the Oscar Meyer Weiner mobile? This is something I will add to my bucket list.
The joke of the day is just like kids isn’t it. Wonderful.
The item on AAA roadside assistance is a good & worthy reminder
.My experienced with CAA (Canadian) and more specifically AMA (Alberta Motor association) in my home province is that when you need a tow truck, its quicker calling a towing company directly asking if they are an AMA (CAA/AAA) affiliate, and go direct. You will in some instances to be asked to pay out of pocket, but will be reimbursed by the provider.
I say this after having waited lengthy periods of time to connect with an AMA operator, while watching the meter go south on my cell phone.
My experience with my beloved AMA, is that they sell a wonderful product, but sometimes lack badly on the set-up and delivery end, which in some instances could put you and you rig at risk.
I have discussed this with AMA here and there is nothing they can or will do about it. They just have so much budgeted for operators to take your call. A good towing company affiliated with AMA/CAA/AAA I’ve found is generally on call 24/7.