Seems like they appear overnight.  You never noticed them before and then all of a sudden there they are, black streaks down the sides of your RV.  Black Streaks are the result of time and neglect.  Anyone owning a recreational vehicle has vertical surfaces that are susceptible to acquiring black streaks. Though they may not be prevalent on new surfaces, most smooth and semi-smooth vertical surfaces will get them. It is simply a matter of TIME. &n...

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The birds do it, the bees do it and even RVers do it – getting your “nest” on wheels ready for the coming season! As the days begin to grow longer and warmer, it’s time to prepare your RV for hitting the road!  Taking a little time now will help ensure enjoyment all through the year.  A few hours of preparation can save you a huge amount of hassle in the long run. And remember to always make safety your first priority. If you prepared your RV properly last...

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Motor homes, 5th Wheels, Travel Trailers and truck Campers can experience a problem with the build up of humidity, even in the high New Mexico desert climate.  This is especially true if your recreational vehicle or boat has been stored for any amount of time, or if you travel to humid climates. Humidity build up can create problems with mold and mildew and perhaps lead to dry rot if it seeps behind walls and into the floor.  The obvious solution to a humidity problem is a dehumid...

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It happen every spring!  Our service department is booked with appointments for generators that either wouldn't start, or if they did start they had that all too familiar surging sound. This is the result of letting the generator sit for periods of time without starting and exercising it.  Do not let your generator sit for periods of time without starting and exercising it.  In gasoline generators the fuel breaks down and gums up causing hard starting and surging problems. T...

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One of the best things about traveling in a RV is being able to have water on tap inside, for cooking and cleaning, for personal needs, and for drinking. The water pump draws water from an onboard storage tank and pressurizes the water system for on-demand use. When you’re in a trailer park or a campground, you can usually just hook a potable water hose to an available water spigot to supply pressure to the water system. Always use a clean potable water hose to avoid contamination and prev...

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Here's another area that few of us give much thought to--until we have a flat tire on the road. Lug nuts play a critical role in RV safety. Here are some thoughts and tips on dealing with lug nuts.   Lug nuts and their mates, the lug stud, are designed to be torqued to a given point. The nut and stud, when put under twisting pressure (loosely translated "torque") actually stretch a bit. When the pressure is taken off, the metal snaps back, allowing the nut and stud to mate. One technician...

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Winter RV camping isn't for everyone.  If you’re going to be adventuresome and brave the cold, exercise caution, educate yourself and be prepared for any emergency. The single biggest factor in accidental deaths during the cold, in both homes and RVs, is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.  Every year people die because they attempted to use something for warmth that is not meant to be used in an enclosed space. Most RVs are equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, circui...

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A Trident 8 year warranty on your RV's paint and fabrics could be the best investment you can make in your RV.  Here are some reasons why: Any painted surface will be protected against fading or discoloration.  In the New Mexico climate, the brutal sun pounds down on your RV's exterior almost every day.  This can create oxidation which will erode the paint finish.  Plus, the Trident Protection Plan will provide protection against any permanent damage caused by hard water s...

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Odors in our motor homes come in many different forms and are caused by many different sources. Some odors are pleasant, like fresh coffee brewing in the morning, and some are not so pleasant. The “not so pleasant” category includes holding tank odors, pet odors, cooking, smoke, and must and mildew odors, just to name a few. Some of these odors result from everyday use of the motor home. Others come from the motor home sitting in storage. Here are the top seven tips to help control ...

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Taking Care of Your RV Tires Will Save You Money, and Might Save Your Life! Proper Tire Inflation Correct tire inflation is a key component in tire care. The recommended maximum inflation pressures for your tires are indicated on the certification label or in your owner's manual. Since RVs can be loaded with many different configurations, the load on each tire will vary. For this reason, actual air pressure required should be determined based on the load on each individual tire. Inflation pre...

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It doesn’t make any difference what type of RV you own, if you’re not working really hard to squeeze every mile per gallon out of the gas or diesel fuel you purchase, you should be.  Whether you're towing a pop-up camping trailer, 5th wheel, travel trailer or driving a class-A motor home, with the high prices of gas and diesel today, you’ve got to focus on fuel economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sensible driving can save bundles on today's rapidly risin...

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Do's and Don'ts for Cleaning Your RV Interior There’s good news and bad news when it comes to cleaning the inside of your “home away from home”. The good news is that RVs are compact - usually no more than a few hundred square feet. The bad news is that our RVs are exposed to elements unlike your stick and mortar home.  They are exposed in the pine-sappy woods, on the sandy seashore or in the dusty desert. And the fact of the matter is, your RV is made of l...

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Some people call RVing "camping" but really, it's like having a house on wheels.  Having electric in your RV seems decadent compared to true "camping". The ability to run a microwave, hair dryer, TV, toaster, washer/dryer or even an espresso machine - is brought to us by the magic of "shore power" (usually) or a 12-volt system with an inverter In this article we’ll discuss electric derived from the post and plug. Amps Draw It’s important to note that in an RV you can&r...

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Tips for a Maintaining Trouble-free RV Holding Tanks Holding tanks, certainly not the glitz and glamour of hitting the open road, are a fact of life when RVing. Most RVs have a black tank, one or two gray tanks and a freshwater tank. There’s no getting around it – without holding tanks we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the “home-style” plumbing features in our rigs. But holding tanks present mystery and perhaps even a bit of confusion to a new RVer. What, when, how&he...

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From time to time most RV owners, who are not full timers, have to store their RV for a while. It may only be for a few weeks or it could be for several months. Even though the RV is stored you need to take a few extra steps to protect it from the sun. Yes, the sun can be the worst enemy of your stored RV.  This is especially true if you live in New Mexico where the atmosphere is thinner and the sun's rays are stronger. Of course if you have a garage for your RV then you are one of the for...

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The term "dry rot" is actually a misnomer because the decay is caused by certain fungi capable of carrying water into the wood they infest. The water can be transported far away from the source and the wood will often feel dry to the touch thus the term dry rot.  Gradually, the wood decomposes and its strength is lost.  Such damage is often inconspicuous until it's final stages, working behind the paneling on the structural framing of the RV.  Dry rot in an RV can be caused by a...

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Hot summer days can mean more RV refrigerator problems - what to do? When temperatures are blazing,  your refrigerator is working hard. Any additional help you can give it will ease it's load. 1. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Decide what you need to take out or put in beforehand, do it quickly and close that door. 2. If you find you are opening the fridge door often for beverages or cold water, consider using a separate ice filled cooler to store these items.  You ...

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The roof on your recreational vehicle is just as important as a roof on any landlocked house. It protects you and your home from some of the destructive forces of nature, Part-timers, as well as full timers, need to plan regular maintenance for the tops of their RVs. Proper roof maintenance will keep your rig snug and dry. Two types of roofing materials are generally used on recreational vehicles: metal and rubber. Metal RV Roofs: Metal roofs, usually aluminum, are found on many older motorho...

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The generally accepted method of sanitizing your RV's fresh water system as outlined below involves filling the fresh water tank with a solution of household bleach and running the solution through each faucet. Then letting it stand for at least three hours. Finally, flush the system once or twice to remove the taste and smell. This procedure is one you'll find in most any book about RVing is tried and true but be sure to read on to find out what I do. Start with a nearly full fresh water ta...

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RV awnings are a great feature to have on your RV. There are different types of RV awnings and they serve different purposes. There are window and door awnings that provide shade over your RV windows or entry door. There are slide out awnings that protect the slide out roof from debris and water. And there are patio awnings that provide us with shade when we want to sit and enjoy the outdoors. The awnings on your RV will provide years of reliable trouble free operation, if you take the time to d...

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Your RV furnace operates on the 12vdc system, You do not have to be plugged in to 120v power use it.      If your thermostat only controls the furnace and has a switch to turn the furnace on/off, switch to ON position. If your thermostat controls the furnace and the air conditioner make sure the switch is set to FURNACE.   Set the thermostat to a warm temperature.  The furnace blower should come on after 15-30 seconds.         The blower w...

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