This week on the RV Podcast:
- It’s RV Present Season, and should you’re planning on visiting a present, we’ve got RV present tricks to prevent time AND cash.
- When you use a late mannequin Ford Heavy Responsibility truck to drag your RV there’s a significant recall that it is advisable to find out about
- In Mike and Jen’s storytime, the risks of unhealthy climate and overconfidence
- All this plus the RV Information of the Week, and solutions to your questions arising in Episode 529 of the RV Podcast.
You’ll be able to watch the video model on our RV Way of life YouTube channel by clicking the participant under.
When you desire an audio-only podcast, you may hear us by means of your favourite podcast app or hear now by means of the participant under.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Period: 39:27 — 23.2MB) | Embed
RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK – Tips about Visiting an RV Present
We have misplaced depend of what number of RV exhibits we have attended. So, listed here are our RV present suggestions for attending, whether or not that is your first RV present or your hundredth…
Jennifer and I like attending RV exhibits. We go to and report from most of the greatest and greatest RV exhibits yearly, and smaller exhibits, too. It is a good way for us to remain up-to-date on the newest improvements within the RV neighborhood to share with our RV Way of life neighborhood.
We additionally attend RV exhibits as a result of we actually take pleasure in them! We all the time run into fellow RVers we have met on the street, and it is a fantastic place to make new mates, too.
The RV Present season begins in January and runs by means of late Could. After summer time break, it picks up once more in September and runs till virtually Thanksgiving. To see an entire month-by-month RV Show Schedule, see our calendar at https://rvlifestyle.com/rv-show-list/
The next RV present suggestions will assist whether or not you are attending massive RV exhibits recognized nationwide or native exhibits close by. It does not matter the scale of the present or your objective for visiting; they may assist you’ve one of the best go to attainable.
What to Convey
You want simply two issues:
Crucial is comfy sneakers. At a giant present just like the Florida RV Supershow in January or the Hershey RV Present in September, you’ll cowl plenty of floor. 4 or 5 miles just isn’t uncommon.
And also you’ll desire a pen or a marker, like a Sharpie. That’s for the map you’ll be utilizing, which we are going to clarify now..
Know the Format
Get a map! First, verify on-line. or go browsing to familiarize your self with the present format and the placement of the RVs you most need to see. Each massive or regional RV present has an internet site and an internet map you may print out. Then, research it together with your pen or marker in hand.
Ideally, you are able to do this the night time earlier than or earlier than the doorways to the present open. If that is not attainable, not less than do that earlier than you stroll off in a random route.
Spotlight any of the must-see cubicles, latest fashions, and new merchandise you actually need to see.
As you do, essentially the most environment friendly path to see every little thing you need will reveal itself. Do not forget to consider stopping for snacks and loo breaks! Mapping this out can save LOTS of time. In truth…
Plan Every Day the Night time Earlier than
In case you are attending one of many massive RV exhibits that you could’t see in a day, I extremely advocate you propose every day the night time earlier than. Take your map and pull up the present’s web site to assessment the particular occasions every day, like academic seminars.
Divide and Conquer
When you’re anxious you will not get to every little thing you need to do, divide and conquer! If attending an RV present together with your partner or mates, you may cowl completely different sections and attend completely different seminars.
Then, you may share highlights with one another on the finish of the day.
Schedule Breaks
As you propose your day, do not forget to schedule in breaks! Search for good locations alongside your route that may be one of the best place to relaxation, and mark it.
There are often extra chairs obtainable close to meals distributors and seminar areas (the place you may sit between seminars). It’s also possible to schedule a mid-day break while you return to your RV for lunch.
Plan Your Meals
There might be a lot of meals across the present, but it surely’s often dearer and typically much less handy than consuming in your RV. So, when making your each day plan, think about the place you need to eat and when.
Do not Overschedule
As you propose out all these items, do not overschedule your self! Severely, take your time! There’s a lot to see and revel in that you do not need to rush by means of it.
Attempting to do an excessive amount of in too little time is the surest approach to flip a enjoyable RV present right into a irritating expertise. A two-day go to is the least period of time you must allocate for a bug RV present. Three days is right.
Do not Be Pressured to Purchase
That is an IMPORTANT TIP! Don’t be pressured to purchase that day. Fairly a couple of gross sales reps will attempt to put time stress on you to make the sale. Do not give in to it.
In truth, if a salesman says, “This deal is barely good for in the present day” then you must most likely stroll away. In my view, that is a purple flag that the salesperson is relying extra on his salesmanship than supplying you with an sincere whole lot.
The very best deal should not require you to purchase a journey trailer, fifth wheel, toy hauler, motorhome, or any RV by the top of the enterprise day.
Go to the Distributors however Do not Purchase the First Factor you see
Do not buy the very first thing you see or suppose you want from the Vendor shows. Chances are high, one other vendor has the identical merchandise. You may be capable to discover it at a greater value or select from extra kinds and colours.
Mark attainable purchases in your trusty map, and circle again round to it should you determine to purchase it. If you purchase one thing, ask them if they will put it apart for you so you may choose it up on the way in which out, so you aren’t having to lug it round with you as you stroll the present.
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ – Wendy Bowyer
Wendy Bowyer stories on the new points most talked about this previous week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.
This week within the RVLifestyle Community, the massive information is we at the moment are a personal, members-only website and we opened signups for our first Campout of the yr – to Nashville in late April. We’re so excited!
Additionally with our transition to a personal group, we launched our first of what is going to be a number of free, self-paced programs for members solely. The programs have materials to learn and watch, quizzes on the finish, and a chance to talk with others additionally taking the course as you go. Referred to as Grasp the RVLifestyle Module 1, we hope to launch extra this yr and are already getting nice suggestions.
Additionally this week our Thursday night time LIVE goes to be about managing unhealthy roads and climate – a really well timed subject!
Bear in mind the RVLifestyle Neighborhood has three different membership levels, with the starter membership value not more than a cup of espresso.
In the meantime, in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, it’s enterprise as regular.
One put up I would wish to let you know about is from Chantal. Final fall Chantal went from south Florida to northern Indiana close to Lake Michigan and stated it was a fantastic first journey. However whereas there, they were inundated with stink bugs. Again house in South Florida, they had been nonetheless discovering stink bugs contained in the RV many weeks later – one thing that had by no means occurred earlier than. She was questioning in the event that they introduced them again to Florida with them (feels like she did!) and needed to share a tip she discovered to take away them. The tip: She put a little bit of dish cleaning soap in water and shone a brilliant gentle on it. Sounds just like the bugs had been drawn to the sunshine, drowned within the soapy water and in lower than 24 hours she caught one thing like 20 bugs.
Effectively, many appreciated the tip, and so many had stink bug horror tales!
Lori stated they picked up stink bugs in Ohio final September and she or he nonetheless retains discovering them in her rig and so they’ve been to Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona for the previous few months.
Jo Jo stated the stink bugs crawl behind siding, in cracks and might lay dormant in an RV till it heats up, after which they arrive out. She stated they’re horrible and her canine will not depart them alone – and the bugs, for many who do not know, actually do stink!
Some say should you lock up your trailer in a sizzling spot they may all die inside and you can find the corpses on the flooring and counters. Others stated they’ve success vacuuming them. Others had related strategies as Chantal, however by far, the overwhelming settlement within the feedback is they’re undoubtedly exhausting to eliminate and no matter you do, do not squish them as a result of that solely makes every little thing worse.
Additionally within the RVLifestyle Fb Group, Jason is on the point of go to the RV Show in Tampa and asked the group for some tips about possibly buying an RV there.
This IS RV Present season, so I needed to share this query as a result of it had nice recommendation.
First, many stated to do your analysis. Know which fashions and producers you have an interest in, map out the present, and go to these models. (If you do not have issues narrowed down, the variety of RVs there might be overwhelming).
Then if you’re shopping for a trailer or Fifth Wheel, make certain you’ve sufficient truck to drag it. Do your homework, run the numbers.
Then lastly as soon as you recognize what you need to purchase, many counsel occurring RVTrader – an internet website that sells used RVs – to see what the going value is so you recognize what’s a good value and must you determine to purchase on the present, use that info as a negotiation instrument.
Plenty of nice suggestions right here!
RV Information of the Week
Since plenty of RVers use these to tow their fifth wheels and journey trailers, we need to warn you that Ford Motor is recalling practically 300,000 diesel-engine vehicles as a result of a faulty gas pump might trigger a lack of energy, elevating the chance of a crash.
Biodiesel deposits might kind on the pump drivetrain curler elements, which might result in failure of the excessive stress gas pump,” the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration says.
Drivers whose automobiles are affected by the defective gas pump might expertise “prolonged crank whereas beginning, a Examine Engine Gentle, noise and decreased engine energy.”
Ford says it isn’t conscious of any stories of accidents, accidents, or fires linked to the gas pump downside.
The recall applies to the next truck fashions:
- 2020-2022 Ford Tremendous Responsibility F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600
- 2021-2022 Ford F-650, F-750
Ford sellers will replace the powertrain management module software program freed from cost. Notification letters are anticipated to be mailed to homeowners of affected automobiles on Jan. 13.
RV QUESTION OF THE WEEK
QUESTION: I wish to outfit our Leisure Journey Van and Honda CRV to journey collectively. We have now by no means towed. Do we have to get professionally skilled, or is that this one thing we will simply be taught on our personal? Is U-Haul a great firm to put in the towing gear? – Despina
ANSWER: There are a number of methods to tow a car behind your motorhome, however the two hottest methods are with a tow dolly, a kind of trailer that your car sits atop, or flat towed, with all 4 wheels down, which is by far and away the most well-liked and the one we advocate for you.
To flat tow with all 4 wheels down, you first want to verify the car could be towed that approach. Examine the car guide, name your seller, or search on-line. However your Honda CRV can certainly be flat towed like that. Some individuals name it dinghy towing.
To take action, you will want:
- A small tow bar
- A base plate that attaches to the entrance of the automobile
- A supplemental braking system that connects the RV and car’s braking programs to manage the added weight
- Security cables in case the tow bar disconnects
- And an emergency brake system that engages the car’s brakes if the tow bar connection fails.
You may get all that from a provider.
There are a number of, resembling Demco, NSA RV Products, and Blue Ox, which might be the most well-liked.
Blue Ox has a really useful and complete towing guide resource online that you could learn that goes into nice element.
They’ve an inventory of their Blue Ox dealers throughout the nation who can set up every little thing for you. Most are at RV dealerships.
As to U-Haul, sure, U-Haul can set up car towing gear at a lot of their areas, too. You’ll be able to name those close to you to see what they provide.
After you have bought the gear and had every little thing put in, whoever does that may present directions on easy methods to hook up and tow.
And you must be capable to be taught these items yourselves. Follow hooking up and unhooking and in a giant car parking zone, driving and turning.
You’ll be very glad to have a “toad” with you in your RV journeys/ That approach, everytime you need to run errands and discover, you don’t have to interrupt camp.
Hope this helps!
Mike & Jen’s Storytime
The hazards of overconfidence… particularly when there’s ignorance concerning the climate. And this week, as large chilly grips a lot of the nation, our story might have much more relevance.
It occurred a few years in the past. Speeding to get to our RV property in Tennessee. It was a close to 500 mile drive from Florida to our RV property in Tennessee.
The climate was okay firstly, however by the point we reached Birmingham, AL, it began to rain. We must always have checked the climate and spent the night time at a full hookup campground we all know close to Huntsville as a result of it was a horrible driving day. If I had checked the climate, I’d have recognized it was going to worsen… a lot worse.
By the point we received off I-65 and began making our approach by means of Tennessee, we had been dedicated. We had 100 extra miles to go and there was no place to in a single day. The temperature dropped. Quick. The rain grew to become freezing rain.
Fifty miles out, it turned to ice.
Darkness fell. The ice turned every little thing white. The roads had been slippery however I drove slowly and made it to our property.
However as a result of every little thing was white I assumed I used to be on the drive. I wasn’t. I got here inches, actually inches from tipping the RV and the truck in smooth rocks that edge the driveway. Our wheels gouged big trenches on the sides of the driveway.
It was inconceivable to see and we took the opposite half of the driveway and drove again to the principle street. We went subsequent door, spending the night time on a neighbor’s land. He even allow us to hook as much as energy.
The following morning, with ice masking every little thing, we noticed how shut we got here to catastrophe.
The lesson is to do not have tunnel imaginative and prescient since you are overconfident. And know the climate forecast.
Within the daytime, we had been simply in a position to get into our spot.
However an ice storm within the useless of the night time isn’t any time to maneuver an RV.
We had been very lucky that we did not lose management on the icy highways or tip over in our personal driveway. However we got here away with some priceless classes.
Overconfidence and ignorance of the climate can have disastrous penalties.
RV Way of life Espresso?
We launched the RV Way of life COFFEE line! We have now a darkish roast and a medium roast. Espresso lovers know which they like one of the best… What a fantastic reward thought for RVers!
☕Darkish Espresso Lover – click here. Gentle Espresso Lover – click here.
Feedback are closed.
Trending Merchandise
