Welcome to my special section dedicated to all
of you who enjoy the RV lifestyle and also those of you who are contemplating
joining us in the great outdoors. There are so many benefits to spending
time in any sort of RV that I can only mention a few here at the beginning.
We will be discussing this more in time to come. Have you ever thought about or communicated
with the great friends you made at the last motel you stayed at? Friendship
and camaraderie is a big part of staying at some of the wonderful campgrounds
available, not only in North America, but around the entire world! You
will often make lasting friendships to cherish for a lifetime. Campers
are naturally friendly, helpful people. We all have a lot of stress in our lives. I
know of no better way to deal with it than to be out in the relaxing environment
nature provides us with. Who would not calm down enjoying a beautiful
sunrise or sunset camped beside a fresh body of water listening to the
natural sounds provided by a chorus of forest dwellers. Leave the hurry
up schedule of the city behind and re-establish your basic family bonds
we sometimes seem to have no time for. If you are a young family and are lucky enough
to have children, just think about the wonderful things they can learn.
How about learning the importance of family, teamwork, respect of all living
things, conservation, the art of conversation are only a few. And let's
not forget fun! I am sure you can think of lots of others.
I have created this site to assist all types of campers.
I will adding links of interest to all and constantly updating. If you
have or know of a site that you feel should be included here please send
it along to me. I will be creating a camping tips section and will be happy
to include any that you might have. Any question that you have will be
answered. I will help you with purchasing or servicing any type of RV or
camper. Having trouble with a dealer? I can assist you there also. Use
the links provided here to contact me.
ADD A LINK
Send me your suggestions for new links or a camping tip of yours.
Help Line
Ask anything at all about the RV lifestyle.
RV
Web Sites Links
to all sorts of sites related to camping.
Spring has arrived in much of the northern areas of North
America and I know those suffering from what we call cabin fever are itching
to get out camping. Let me offer you these suggestions that sometimes we
forget about in our haste. If you are a do-it-yourselfer these things can
be done right in your yard to ensure your first outing is an enjoyable
one. If not check with your local service centers, they should be offering
Spring Specials. If they are not, ask why! Let's start with the exterior: Roof check---- There are many types of roof
materials that have been used over the years. They are all still susceptible
to the ultra-violet rays from the sun. Check closely for dried and cracked
sections of sealant. These must be cleaned and new sealant applied. The
new sealant must be compatible with the surface it is applied to. If you
are unsure you can ask me. This is one area that is often neglected. Remember
that by the time you notice a water stain on your interior ceiling panel
a lot of damage has already been done! Openings----- All of your windows, entrance
doors and compartment doors are sealed with caulking. This too must be
maintained. If you look closely you will probably notice a silicone bead
along the top edge of these. After time this will lift and peel off easily.
When this happens the silicone bead should be replaced. Depending on the
age and manufacturer it may become necessary to remove and reseal all of
these openings. Complete removal is the only sure way of doing this operation.
If your windows are screwed on from the outside make sure all the screw
cap moldings are in place. They have a tendency to shrink and disappear.
Take out a screw or two to inspect. Find a rusty one then we must look
further. Corners------This is an important area also.
Replace missing screw covers here also. Definitely check a few screws here.
Dry rot very often begins in this area. These moldings should be resealed
properly as needed. Frame------- If for no other reason than appearance
lets scrape that rusty frame including the entry steps and put a fresh
coat of paint on. For years all RV manufacturers have been notorious for
using poorly painted frames. I am happy to report that has been improving
the last few years. However a lot of us do haul our units down some pretty
gravely roads. Running Gear-- Very important! Most people won't
want to get involved in this. I suggest you go to your service center and
ask about that Spring Special. Especially for those people in Northern
areas wheel bearings must be serviced every Spring. At the same
time tires, brakes, springs, shackles and hangers can all be inspected
at the same time. Propane---- You must check all exterior connections.
First look for obvious damage possibly caused by ice or maybe rock damage
we didn't notice when we put our RV away for the Winter. Then soap all
connections one at a time with a solution of water and liquid dish soap
or a commercial propane leak detector and watch for bubbles. A complete
propane leak test should also be offered by your local service center.
If you have access to a compressed air tank, this can be used to clear
out the areas around any exterior appliances such as your furnace or hot
water heater. Being careful, blow out any debris gathered in these areas.
a minute cobweb in your hot water heater blower tube will greatly affect
its operation. Several types of small spiders and also bees are attracted
to the smell of propane. Finally there is nothing like a good wash and
wax job to spruce our unit up. There are many types of surfaces used so
be careful to chose a product that is compatible to your unit. There is
nothing like a clean, shiny RV to turn heads when you pull into your favorite
camp site. Next week we will move inside and spruce up
and service the interior. E-mail
me if you would like me to notify you when this next section is posted.
Dave's
RV World
