RV University this Week E-News Issue 121
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Transcript of RV University this Week E-News Issue 121
by RV Education 101
Inside this Issue: Mark’s Editorial (Pg 2)
This Week’s Q & A (Pg 5)
This Week’s RV News (Pgs. 7 & 8)
Article “Cost Effective RV Fun” (Pg. 9)
Feature Article “Maximizing your RV Mirrors” (Pg 10)
This Week’s RV Buzz Quick Tips (Pg 12)
Article “Finally a Towing Standard” (Pg 14)
Fun RV Trivia (pgs. 16 & 17)
RV How-To Videos for the Do-It-Yourselfer (Pg 18)
RV Play & Learn Crossword “RV Fresh Water” (Pg 19)
U of RV Journal #121 28 November 2011
Learning RVs the Easy Way
From the industry leader in RV Education
RV University this Week
Your RV
University
Weekly
E-newsletter
is here!
Hi Folks,
I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I enjoy the fall season as
well. The only downfall is that lots of RV owners prep their RV for winter
storage about this time of the year. For some folks it is understandable when
snow is piling up and it’s difficult to keep a car on the road let alone an RV.
But for other RV owner’s fall and winter can be a great time to get out and
use the RV.
When you think about putting the RV in storage remember my slogan,
“Just RV It.” It may be necessary to winterize the RV plumbing system, but
that doesn’t always prevent you from using the RV. There have been many
winters when I winterized and de-winterized our RV 2 or 3 times so we could
go camping.
During my years as an RV sales manager I remember feeling kind of
disappointed when I would see a five or six year old RV that only had 6 or
8 k miles on it. I know it’s difficult for some people to get time off to use their
RV, but I also think there are many times you could use it, but don’t.
My goal is to encourage people to get out and use their RV’s. It doesn’t
matter if it’s a weekend, a long holiday weekend or the trip of a lifetime.
I have an RV friend, Adauto, who lives in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil who I stay in
touch with. He does a great job translating our e-mails when we correspond.
Adauto started an RV club and really promotes RVing among its members.
Recently he sent me a map and some photographs of their last big RV trip.
When he says big he means big. From start to finish it was over 7,300
miles. And they just left on another 40 day RV trip to the Brazil Country
Interior. I am including more on Adauto’s trip on the next page.
Until next week, plan your trip, travel safe and enjoy your RV experiences.
Remember, getting there is half the fun! Mark
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Adauto’s RV Trip
Some Interesting Background Information:
I thought you would enjoy hearing more about my RV friend in Brazil.
Adauto bought his first motorhome in 2007. Until that time he had a travel
trailer. All of his RV trips were in Brazil and South America. He is planning an
RV trip in the USA next year. In 2013 his plans are for a European RV trip.
Adauto explained that in the past it was less expensive to own and maintain
a travel trailer, because a travel trailer was cheaper (he owned a used one)
and the family vehicle was appropriate to tow it. Motorhomes are expensive
and there is an added necessity; another car to tow behind it.
He told me a motorhome in Brazil is very expensive. A 9 meter (30 ft)/ 150 hp
diesel motorhome (new) costs around US $230,000. A 11 meter (36 ft) /280
hp is close to US $350,000. Prices are high due to taxes and low demand.
Adauto said he thought Brazil’s yearly motorhome production is currently
less than 300 units, and that production is increasing, but it will take decades
to reach acceptable prices.
He continued to explain that in Brazil the travel trailer industry collapsed after
the 80s due to a new driver’s license requirement (E category) to tow a travel
trailer. It wasn’t a problem for him because he was young and already had a
D License. But for others, normally people over 50 years old, it was a big
disaster. It was not possible for these people to take a E driving license; they
had a B License. This resulted in all of the travel trailer traditional industries
closing, except one, Motortrailer do Brasil. But this year the law was
modified, bringing back the old B category license requirement to tow a
trailer, thus rescuing the travel trailer industry.
Last year Adauto and his family left on December 18th for what would be a
7,300 mile plus RV trip. This year they left on November 26th for a 40 day RV
trip to the Brazil interior.
More >
4
Adauto’s RV Trip
Getting Ready to Go Camping San Rafael
Punta Del Este
Argentine Motorhome European Tourist in Chile
Very
Cool
Adauto’s
RV Route
Continuity gives us roots; change gives us
branches, letting us stretch and grow and
reach new heights. ~Pauline R. Kezer
Question: When it comes to leveling an RV I read
this somewhere, "We don't need perfection, but try to
get within about a half inch from one side to the other”
The quote was referencing leveling the RV from side
to side. Does the author mean half an inch on the
level, as in raising the level half an inch to reach the
level mark?
This Week’s RV Bulletin Board
Answer: There are primarily two reasons for leveling an RV.
1) It must be fairly level for the refrigerator to work properly.
2) You don't want to feel like you are in one of those carnival fun houses
when you move around inside.
Here is how I like to explain it. The bubble in the level you are using does not
have to be perfectly centered between the lines on the level. If the bubble
is touching one of the lines on either side the RV is level enough. When the
bubble is touching one of the lines on either side it is approximately 1/2" out
of level, which is acceptable.
5
RV Education 101 Christmas Special
Now through 20 December 2011 all single DVDs & DVD Box Sets in our RV
training library are 10% off. Surprise the RVer on your list with a gift that keeps
on giving. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
6
RV 101 Christmas Specials
Great
Stocking
Stuffers
BUY NOW>
RV News for the RV Consumer
Freightliner Custom Coach Corporation (FCCC) offers RV service
discounts during the slow season. If you have a Freightliner chassis, and
your RV travels take you close to FCCC headquarters in Gaffney SC,
Freightliner offers RV owners discounts on RV service during the slow
season. They have hook-ups at no charge to customers and you can go
sightseeing while the RV is getting worked on.
Discount ed service dates Dec. 2011 thru Feb 2011
Protect the RV Home Mortgage Interest
Deduction- Earlier this month a proposal from the
members of the Super Committee (Joint Select
Committee on Deficit Reduction) included the
elimination of the second home mortgage interest
deduction (MID).
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NOW is the time to act to ensure the MID is not included in the final plan, or
any future tax reform plan. Click to take action now through RV ACT.
Own a Motorhome? Membership in FMCA brings with it a wealth of
benefits and services, all specially designed to meet
the needs of motorhome owners. The value of these
benefits and services far exceeds the cost of the
annual dues. Click for info
More Information>
RV Insurance Corner
Sponsored by
This week’s RV poll question is:
Have you ever spent Christmas in your
RV?
Adding your RV to your auto policy is inadequate because it fails to cover
many of the things included in a specialty RV policy. For example, most
RV insurance provides coverage for awnings, furniture, permanently
installed items and fixtures, and plumbing and electrical systems unique to
RVs.
Typical RV policies also provide unlimited towing and roadside labor
coverage. Auto policy towing coverage is often inadequate for RV
expenses. With most auto policies, the towing reimbursement is usually
on a per occurrence basis. Because the fees to tow an RV or to change
an RV tire are much higher than the same for an auto, these fees often
exceed the per occurrence limits on an auto policy.
Another consideration for RV owners is that they get the benefit of
specialized claims service when they choose to insure their RVs with
specialty RV insurance as opposed to having RVs put on auto policies.
The adjusters assigned to claims by insurance companies with specialty
RV products usually have expertise with RVs, losses to RVs, and settling
the value of the loss.
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This
Week’s
RV Poll
RV
Insurance
Corner
Specialty RV Coverage’s There are a number of specialty coverage’s available,
designed to protect you and your property. Specialty RV
coverage’s are what differentiates RV policies from auto
policies.
Click here to participate in this RV poll
9
Cost Effective Weekend RV Fun
Sometimes spending your weekend at home is just plain boring. There really
isn’t much to do, but on the other hand you don’t have much time before the
weekend is over and it’s back to work again. How about a weekend RV
getaway close to home? Not only can a quick RV trip alleviate the boredom,
but it is cost effective too. A 200 mile, or less, round trip from home won’t cost
much in fuel, food or campground fees and it might be just what the doctor
ordered for some well deserved relaxation and time to recharge.
Read the full article>
This Week’s Feature Article
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Proper mirror adjustment is probably the most important part of preparing to
tow or drive your RV. Did you know that almost 30 percent of the hazards
you encounter come from the rear? This is why getting the maximum viewing
area from your tow vehicle or RV mirrors is so critical. Let’s take a look at my
top 7 tips for maximizing your mirrors.
For the most part, there are two types of mirrors commonly found on
motorhomes; the type that extend out in front of the motorhome on long
arms, and the type that are fixed to the sides of the motorhome. I will be
discussing both types of mirrors in this article.
Read the Article>
RV Driving & Towing Resources
Drive your Motorhome Like a PRO DVD
Tow your 5th Wheel Like a PRO DVD
Travel Trailer Towing & Backing DVD
Learn everything you need to know about driving or towing an
RV at a fraction of the cost of driving schools.
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Save 10% on all
DVDs with
your Christmas
discount now!
RV Buzz Quick Tips
RV Buzz Tip #1
RV Buzz Tip #2
Click to download an RV Tire Care & Use Brochure
RV Buzz Tip #3
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For the most part there are two types of awning
fabrics, vinyl and acrylic. Acrylic fabric is a
woven cloth that lets air circulate through the
fabric. Avoid scrubbing acrylic awning fabric.
Scrubbing can remove the water retardant
finish. For stubborn stains blot the awning
cleaner on the fabric and rinse off.
It always amazes me how many people you see
adding air to their tires when they pull off the
interstate to refuel. You should never add air to
tires when they are hot, hot air expands & you
get false pressure reading. Always check and
add air to the tires when they are cold, before
traveling more than one mile.
The weight rating on a vehicle’s receiver
indicates the maximum amount of weight the
receiver itself is rated for. Your tow vehicle may
be rated to tow 7K pounds, but if the hitch
receiver on the vehicle is rated at 5K pounds
that is the most you can tow. Never exceed the
lowest weight rating in the system.
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Over 998,000 Views
Finally a Towing Standard on the Horizon
To learn more about this product click to watch the video 14
What is J2807 and why is it important? If you haven’t heard, SAE J2807
is a standard that will be used to determine the trailer weight rating of all
tow vehicles.
I don’t always agree with mandated standards, government or
otherwise, but there is one standard looming out there that I am highly in
favor of.
That standard is called “Performance Requirements for Determining Tow
Vehicle Gross Combination Weight Ratings and Trailer Weight Ratings,”
or in shorter terms Society of Engineers (SAE) standard J2807.
Read Article>
On the Lighter Side, 10 things you never do with your RV
15
I thought it would be fun to lighten things up a bit and talk about some things
you should never do with your RV! Some of these are just plain old common
sense, some you learn the hard way and some… well; you just don’t do it
with an RV!
Here is my list of what not to do with your RV starting with #10
10) While traveling on the interstate see what your top speed is in your RV.
9) Assume you can fit under that two lane road bridge that doesn’t have the
height posted.
8) Wait until next week to winterize the RV when the current temperature is
below 30 degrees.
7) Attempt to empty the holding tanks when your sewer hose almost
reaches the campground sewer drain connection.
6) Loan your brand new RV to your best friend for a week. You might be
looking for a new best friend.
5) Back the RV into the campsite hoping there is nothing behind you.
4) Take your 35 foot RV on the scenic mountain parkway where the posted
sign reads “No RV’s over 25 feet allowed” Trust me on this one!
3) Take your brand new RV on a hunting trip with all the guys, trust me on
this one too!
2) Believe the RV salesman who says, you’re truck can pull anything on this
lot!
And #1 if you read “My First Real RV Adventure” article you will remember
when you are camping in bear country you never put your trash bags
outside the camper door! ~RV101
Some Interesting RV Trivia & History
16
How did RVing get started in America?
I personally think it can be attributed to when the American automobile
industry embraced assembly line production. By the end of 1913 the time it
took to assemble a Model T chassis was cut from 12.5 hours to just 2.7
hours. Early in 1914 the construction of the entire automobile was
completed on Ford’s moving assembly line. By 1916 the price dropped to
$360 dollars . Reducing the assembly time and using interchangeable parts
drastically cut production costs, making the Model T affordable to the
average working middle class family. In 1916 sales exceeded 472,000.
Soon autocamping would become a well known term. Autocamping was
basically loading your automobile with extra clothes, food, blankets and
camping supplies, and heading to the country in search of the perfect
picturesque getaway to set up camp. It was an alternative to other
vacations. It was recreation. Autocamping quickly spread across America.
People could travel with cooking and camping equipment in their vehicle
and avoid riding on trains and staying in overcrowded hotels. This was the
great appeal of autocamping which in my opinion lead to the craze that we
know of as RVing today.
17
A Funny Story about Henry Ford
You may have heard me tell this story before, but I think it is worth
repeating. It was quite common to see Ford and his friends pictured in the
newspaper, autocamping alongside the road enjoying nature and good
company. It was said during one camping excursion on a rainy day, the
Lincoln touring car with Harding, Ford, Edison, Firestone and Luther
Burbank got stuck in the mud on a road in West Virginia.
Ford sent his chauffeur off looking for help, and he returned with a farmer
driving an old Model T. After the Lincoln was pulled from the mud Henry
Ford extended his hand, to shake the farmer's hand. "I guess you don't
know me but I'm Henry Ford. I made the car you're driving." Firestone
chimed in, "I'm the man who made those tires." At that point he introduced
two of his fellow campers: "Meet the man who invented the electric light,
and the President of the United States." Luther Burbank was the last person
to shake the farmer’s hand. "I guess you don't know me either?" he asked.
"No," said the farmer, "but if you're the same kind of liar as these other darn
fools, I wouldn't be surprised if you said you was Santa Claus."
Some Interesting RV Trivia & History
The famous Ford Model T
U of RV “How To” Videos
Click Here
to Play
Some practical tech talk
on RV Batteries
Click Here
to Play
How-To Control Gray Water tank Odors
18
RV Battery Tech Talk
Control Gray Water Odors
Fresh Water Crossword Puzzle
Play & Learn RV Crossword Puzzle
Click
To Play
19
R U
RV educated
??
Well that wraps up another U of RV e-newsletter. We hope you enjoyed this
week’s edition and keep a look out in your mailbox for next week’s RV news.
We want our e-newsletters to be fun & enjoyable to read, but more importantly
we want them to be educational. If there are topics you would like to see in
future issues e-mail me at [email protected] and let me know what
they are. We’ll see you right back here again next week. Until then
Happy RV Learning
Mark & Dawn Polk
ENJOY YOUR RV: Don’t
give up on your dreams of
exploring the country in
your RV; instead plan to
make your dreams come
true. You worked hard to
buy the RV, now you need
to work just as hard on
enjoying your RV. Plan
your RV trip, load it up,
hook it up, fuel it up
and…
U of RV E-Newsletter
20
Our goal with this RV e-newsletter is to provide you with helpful information to
make all of your RV experiences more enjoyable. I left my position as an RV Sales
and F&I manager in 1999 to start my own company, RV Education 101.
We produce RV educational videos, DVDs and e-books on how to safely &
properly use and maintain your RV. The reason I left my job was due to my
concern about the lack of educational and safety awareness material available to
the RV consumer, in other words, you.
My wife Dawn left her position in RV sales to help start the company and is our
Sales and Marketing Director. We currently have a 35-foot Class A motor home &
a 16-foot vintage Yellowstone trailer . We have two boys, Tyler 14 and Josh 21,
both avid RVers and three dogs, Roxie, Gracie and Buck.
Copyright , Mark J. Polk except where indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved
worldwide. Reprint only with permission from copyright holder(s). All trademarks
are the property of their respective owners. All content provided as is. Not all
content may be the opinion of the e-newsletter editorial staff or RV Education 101.
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