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Running Water
We didn't have our new 5th wheel very long when we started customizing the inside, including changing a piece of plumbing behind the toilet.
We got to a campsite and were sitting out by the fire playing some soft music when I noticed the sound of running water. Sure enough, the fitting behind the toilet had blown out, and we had water running all over the trailer and out through the floor.
Luckily, I have a large box of old towels in the camper and they came in handy for soaking up water from the carpet in the living room.
Submitted by:
MayLynn Whitlock,
Texas
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Help is on the Way – Part 1
This is a first of a two–part series to help RVers address their concerns about the amount of money they spend on gas or diesel fuel for Rving activities.
Three sets of numbers keep going up. The first is the number of RVs sold each year. The second is the price of fuel (which fortunately, dropped slightly, in the beginning of September). The third is the number of people interested in hybrid powerplants to conserve fuel.
Rving is a year–round lifestyle with 8–million–plus RVs driven by RVers in the southern climes heading north in the summer and RVers in the north heading south in the winter.
In Part 1, we'll discuss ways to conserve fuel, and lower fuel and Rving costs. We'll address RVer hybrid options in Part 2.
What Can We Do Right Now? – RVers can drive fewer miles on RV trips, provide proper RV maintenance, carry less weight, and make use of discount programs. RVers can reduce distances driven on RV trips by picking destinationscloser to home, taking fewer trips, but staying out longer, and eliminating "out of the way" stops and locations.
continued…
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Do you have questions about RV technical issues, the RV lifestyle or RV's in general? Ask Mark!
Since winter is approaching fast, I though I'd cover some winter camping and winterizing for storage questions this month.
Happy Trails!!
Mark
Dear Mark,
We recently bought our first travel trailer. What do I have to do to winterize it?
Paul Schell.
Mark says…
What needs to be done really depends on the climate you are storing the rig in. If it only gets below freezing on the occasional night and warms up during the day, you may be fine simply draining the fresh water tank and plumbing system, and emptying the holding tanks. However, it is always safer to fully winterize the plumbing system. Your owner's manual should have information about the procedures to use, but here is a short checklist for you. First, get all the water out of the rig that you can: drain all tanks, open all faucets and low point drains, and drain the water heater. Next, you can either blow the remaining water out of the lines using a regulated compressed air source, or use your water pump to pump RV water system antifreeze through all of your fresh water piping. The idea is to get all the water out, so that it doesn't freeze and crack a pipe or fixture. Next, remove all perishables, and any items that may be damaged by freezing, from the rig and its storage compartments. Disconnect your house batteries and your starting battery (if applicable) and store them in a place that will not freeze. Make some accommodation for periodic charging… Most batteries self–discharge over time, so it's a good idea to charge them overnight every month or so. Finally, provide for some ventilation inside the RV's living space by leaving a window cracked and a vent open slightly. You can also cover furnace and refrigerator vents, and air conditioners, to help keep pests and debris out. Check on the rig regularly, and keep an eye out for any leaks or other problems. For more specific winterizing tips, take a look at the Water, Water Everywhere article on my website.
Read More Questions…
Do you have a question for Mark?
Please submit your question via e–mail to woodalls@escapees.com. Questions should be about RV technical issues, general RV or RV lifestyle.
Please remember, material will be edited. Because of the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, individual replies will not be possible, nor can we acknowledge receipt of your material. Selected questions will be answered in future issues of the Diamond Club newsletter in the Mark, My Words column. The Mark, My Words column also appears in Escapees magazine, a bi–monthly publication of the Escapees RV Club. For more information visit www.escapees.com/magazine
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Create Your Own Personal Travel Website… at woodalls.com.
Announcing a new Diamond Club member benefit! Powered by MyTripJournal.com, your personal travel website will allow you to:
- Plot your own journey with My Trip Journal's custom mapping software,
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- Download a personal, high quality archive at the end of your trip!
You can get your free personal travel website for 30 days… if you like it, then sign up for a longer term and save 15%! Aren't you glad you're a Diamond Club member?
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