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Aluminum vs Fiberglass Siding
One question people always ask me is: “What is the difference between aluminum siding and fiberglass siding on an RV?” This article will teach you some of the advantages, disadvantages, and differences. The easiest way to tell the difference between aluminum siding and fiberglass siding is that aluminum is usually wavy (but not always). Fiberglass siding is usually smooth. Aluminum Siding Aluminum sided campers usually have wood frames in their walls. That’s because the aluminum is stapled to the wood studs. They are also usually insulated with fiberglass insulation. Inside the RV is a panel stapled to the wall that you see on the interior of the camper. Advantages Usually…
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Vehicle Requirements to Pull an RV
What kind of vehicle do I need to pull a camper? This is one of the most common (and important) questions when someone is considering purchasing an RV. The vehicle that pulls an RV is called a “tow vehicle“. Tow vehicles vary in weight and size. You don’t need a 1 ton dually diesel truck to haul a camper. There are many people pulling campers with medium sized SUVs or even mini vans. That being said though it is very important that you do not overload a tow vehicle. Doing so could be very dangerous. An overloaded tow vehicle can be very dangerous. Not only could you blow the engine…
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How to Work an RV Refrigerator
We are all familiar with a refrigerator, right? Actually RV refrigerators are nothing like the ones in your home (except that it keeps your food cold). Standard home refrigerators cool quickly using a compressor. RV refrigerators actually run on gravity with a completely different type of cooling system. Let me start this by saying some of the large fifth wheels and travel trailers do have a regular 110 AC, house type, refrigerator in them. We are not going over operation of this type of refrigerator. For this article we are focusing on RV refrigerators. One important difference with an RV refrigerator is that it will take the refrigerator about 24…
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Pre-Delivery Inspections
Have you ever wondered what an RV dealership has to do once a new RV arrives at the lot? They do a “Pre-Delivery Inspection”. So, what is a Pre-Delivery Inspection? Well, unbeknownst to most customers it’s really normal for a camper to leave the manufacturer not completely ready for the customer. Frequently campers come in with incorrect wiring, waterlines reversed (cold going to hot), trim not secured properly, bad soldering, or just plain missing items. This is why the manufacturer of every travel trailer, 5th wheel and motor coach pay the dealer to have their technicians do an inspection before the unit is delivered to the customer. This inspection is…
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How to De-Winterize an RV
Spring is on it’s way and once the temperatures are reliably going to stay above 32 degrees you can now safely “de-winterize”. The following steps will show you, in order, how to: run all the antifreeze out of your water lines, ready the water heater and take it out of bypass mode, and ready your holding tanks for summer use. I assume you winterized your camper properly (or had it done at a dealer) last fall. If not, you may have some issues to deal with this spring. Before we get started it is important to note that some of the links below may be affiliate links. This means that…
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5 Steps to Taking your RV out of Storage
Thinking about getting your RV out of storage? Here are 5 things you can do to make your life easier while getting your RV out of storage and ready for the camping season. Before we get started it is important to note that some of the links below may be affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This is how sites like ours pay to “keep the lights on”. 1. Ready the Battery The first step in taking your RV out of storage is to ready the battery that hopefully you took out in…
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Leveling an RV
How to level an RV is something every RV owner needs to know. Sooner or later everyone divides the duties for who does what when you get to the campground. My job happens to be leveling the camper. To “level a camper” means to make sure the camper is level or even side to side and front and back. Before we get started it is important to note that some of the links below may be affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This is how sites like ours pay to “keep the lights…
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What is a monitor system? How does that work?
Most new travel trailers and fifth wheels are equipped with a monitor system. This monitor system indicates your battery power level and the levels of fluid in all of your tanks. Not sure how full your black/sewer tank is? No need to wait until sewer is backing up into your camper just push a button and check. There are a number of buttons on these monitoring systems. Typical buttons are as follows: Battery Indicator The battery indicator shows you the level of the power or charge in your battery. 4 LED lights=charging or fully charged 3 LED lights=good 2 LED lights=fair 1 LED light = low This is a battery…
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So, you are ready to pick up your camper. Here is what you will need.
You have finally decided on your perfect camper and you are ready to pick it up and bring it home (or hopefully to some awesome camping site). Here are the things that you will need to bring a camper home. Ideally, if you bought your RV from a dealership, your salesperson would have assisted you in ensuring that your tow vehicle was ready when your camper was ready to leave the lot. All of the following items are available at your local RV dealership, even if you purchased your RV from a private seller. Keep in mind that depending on what your vehicle needs, it may take a full day…
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RV Tire Guide
Tires are an extremely important part your RV but they are often overlooked. A perfectly planned trip can be ruined in an instant if you are traveling on bad tires. Not only that, you could lose your life in a serious accident. As an RV technician I am not an expert on tires, but after a lot of experience and speaking with several people who are, we have compiled some tips that everyone should know to travel safer. Don’t worry, we know it can get confusing and we will keep it pretty simple. Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will…
