Issue 895 • May 7, 2018
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QUICK TIPS
Keep annoying–and potentially deadly–generator fumes away from your patio and avoid annoying your neighbors as well at dry-camping rallies or when boondocking. The patented air-cooled Gen-turi generator exhaust system redirects noxious fumes above your RV roof line. It fits almost any generator exhaust pipe, using included 1-1/4″ and 1-1/2″ (1″ and 1-5/8″ adapters available by special order) adapters. It attaches to the side of RV with eye bolts and shock cords and disconnects and disassembles for storage. It’s for use only while RV is stationary. The polycarbonate resin pipe won’t rust.
Don’t neglect your RV battery
The RV coach battery(s) is one of the most important yet neglected components in the RV. The converter in an RV also has a battery charger. Whenever you are plugged in to electricity or the generator is running, the coach battery(s) is being charged. It is also being charged by the automotive alternator when you are driving the RV or in the case of a towable RV if you have a charge line wired into the light plug. This constant charging depletes the electrolyte level in the battery(s) cells. If the battery(s) is not maintained properly it will fail prematurely. Depending on how often the battery(s) is being charged will determine how often it needs to be checked. You should check the battery(s) at least monthly and if you use the RV on a regular basis and/or you leave it plugged in when you’re not using it you may need to check more often. If you are not familiar with batteries and battery maintenance then consult with an authorized service center. — Mark Polk
Save your awnings with plastic gallon jugs
Winds often come up unexpectedly and can blow with strong gusts, then fade away. You may not always receive adequate warning signs and get caught with your awning extended when you’re snoozing or away for a short walk. An easy and quick safeguard is to fill plastic gallon jugs with water and hang from the outward ends of your awning. The weight of the water will minimize the awning from lifting and flapping–possibly damaging the fabric or arms–if a sudden wind rushes through your campsite. Filled jugs placed on the bottom edge of screen rooms or sun screens will also do the job.
SHORT TIP: Unless you are using your oven a lot, leave the pilot light turned off when you are not cooking. It uses a surprising amount of propane.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Deanna (at) rvtravel.com .
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WEBSITES OF THE DAY
Traveling Mom’s free things to do list!
Well, this isn’t just one list, it’s many useful lists about tons of things to do (for free!!) in every state. Cha-ching! Put those dollar bills away.
Amazon’s must-read books
Well, the link pretty much says it all. If you’re looking for your next book, this list might be just the place to start.
The best view in every state!
I’ve always been intrigued by climbing up things and seeing the views from the top: towers, mountains, cathedral domes, you name it. This list points out the place with the best view in every state (from both high and low places.)
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
New & interesting finds at Amazon.com
See what really cool stuff Amazon is featuring today. It’s a whole lot of fun just browsing through all these great items. The selection changes every day, so check back often. You never know what you will find, which is part of the fun of visiting here. Check it out.
RVing news from around the Web
•RV industry is booming but not without its concerns.
•Fire destroys fifth wheel trailer in Bend, Oregon.
•Sex offender captured after RV pursuit was hiding in train car, authorities say.
•It’s migration time for Arizona snowbirds.
•Proposed campground in Hearst San-Simeon State Park is first step in low cost accommodations on coast.
It’s tornado season: Be prepared!
For about $18, you can rest assured that anytime severe weather threatens, you’ll be notified, even if cell service is down, the Internet is down or power fails. The RVtravel.com staff travels with this small, handheld, battery-powered NOAA weather radio. If severe weather is on the way, the radio sounds an alert, followed by detailed information about the storm to let you know to seek shelter or move away. Get one for yourself and one for someone you care about who travels a lot. Learn more or order.
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LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
What did the policeman say to his bellybutton? You’re under a vest.
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. Associate editor: Deanna Tolliver. Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring.
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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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I have a question for Tim about the Teflon strips he used under the rollers of his slide out. Where did you get them?
We rented a Rialta in 1997. The best thing we ever did.
Could we share the space?
Was it comfortable to sleep in and quiet?
Gas mileage?
Use of on-board generator?
We ended up buying a Trailmanor folding travel trailer. We now have a 24ft travel trailer with two slide outs. We love it. We’re boondockers and don’t use a generator. Solar energy works great fo us. We took a four-month trip through the U.S. and Canada from Mexico, 16,000 km without a generator. What a wonderful planet we live on.
I hate people who bring generators. I like to camp to be in the outdoors and listen to the wildlife and the sound of water lapping on a beach. Get a bloody solar panel. If you need your electrical toys that bad,then stay in a place with electricity…or go rent a cabin. I don’t want to listen to your noise!
Our first trip with our new travel trailer [1983 Jayco Bunkhouse] was to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. We stayed at Cherry Hill Park right off I-90. A Class A pulled next to us [a hookup site]. Our son, who was 4 years old, went to bed at 8 PM. We didn’t have an air conditioner so the windows were open. The Class A started up its generator with the exhaust blowing right into our bunk house bedroom! I knocked on his door and told him his exhaust was blowing right into our bedroom and our 4-year-old couldn’t go to bed because of the carbon monoxide fumes in the bedroom. I asked him to please turn it off and he said that when his wife was done cooking dinner he would shut the generator off. I said he didn’t need the generator as the site has electricity. He said he was DRY CAMPING and didn’t hook up. An hour later, after sitting outside in a nice breeze, the generator was shut down. The office at the campground was no help, either, but did apologize, saying they didn’t know he would run his generator right next to us at a ‘shared hookup’ site.
We bought our first camper in 1975, a Winnebago Chieftain and at that time I have no idea if rental was even available