Replace Your Old RV Toilet Seat

Do RVers care about their toilets? You bet they do! Like you I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about my toilet because it’s just there and works fine most of the time. So when it’s not working properly it captures my attention (at least once a day). I don’t know about you, but one of the most annoying things to me is a loose toilet seat. You know what I’m talking about, it’s the toilet seat that requires a seat belt because when you sit down you don’t know if you’re going to slide off onto the floor. Usually this is caused by loose bolts. I know you’re thinking, “Yes professor you have a screw loose” but really these toilet seat bolts are usually only plastic and are hard to keep snug on the porcelain. I decided to fix the problem by coughing up twelve bucks and buying a new one. I went to Home Depot and even found one that matched. The nice thing about this new seat is easy removal for cleaning. Just move the retaining clips counter-clockwise and the lid will lift off. Replace the retainers and turn the clips clockwise to reattach the seat. There, now I’ve given you something to think about - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

A Look at the Rugged Toy-hauler Pop-up Combo RV by Starcraft

RVers are becoming more concerned as the price of fuel skyrockets. One solution is the “pop-up” trailer because it’s low profile cuts wind resistance which helps with fuel economy. Starcraft has been making folding camping trailers since 1964 and the quality and engineering that goes into their trailers is top-notch! Our family began RVing with an old Apache pop-up trailer. We loved this trailer because it had enough room for a family of seven. That was a long time ago and now Starcraft has taken the folding camping trailer to new levels of excellence and versatility. I love the combo toy-hauler RT design. You can take your favorite toys along and have very comfortable living quarters at the same time. The platform on the front has tie-downs and the rails also double as ramps so you can take along one quad or two motorcycles (depending on the model). This is not your grandfather’s pop-up, no siree, It has a 6 gallon water heater, a 35 gallon fresh water tank, Furnace with electronic ignition and a Dometic 1.9 cubic foot 3 way refrigerator. There are many options available like a stereo system, oven, RVQ carryout gas grill and 13.5 Duo-Therm air conditioner. It even has an electric tongue jack. The combo shower/toilet has a privacy shower curtain and though small, will get the job done. Getting to a remote campsite is easy because these trailers have plenty of undercarriage clearance and can handle tough terrain. These rigs are easy to set-up and will provide you and your family with years of enjoyment. Watch the video for a more detailed tour of this outstanding RV. Jim Twamley - Professor of RVing

RV Toys That Teach

It's less than a month before Christmas, and most RVers have kid's for whom they need to purchase gifts. If you have kids or grandkids from one and a half to five years old the "Off-road Ollie's Outdoor Pursuits" may be just the thing for them. It has an RV pulling a trailer with a magnetic hitch. In the trailer is an off-road motorbike. It sports a canoe that attaches to the roof of the RV and really floats. It comes complete with a little girl and boy that push a secret button on the RV allowing the roof to open to let them into the RV. The RV makes an engine sound when pushed along and best of all no batteries are required. This toy originates in the UK so I could not confirm whether it is free from lead paint. You can purchase this toy at Toys that Teach. There is also a set from "Mighty World" toy company that is a hiking and camping set. Complete with a boy and girl hiker, tent, campfire, BBQ, ice chest and all the stuff you need for camping. This set is for ages three and up. Click here to check out all the Mighty World toys. If you plan on ordering toys off the internet you better hurry because soon vendors will not be able to guarantee delivery by Christmas. Keeping you on top of your shopping game - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

What to Look for in a RV Storage Facility

My neighbors didn't complain, but I know that storing my RV next to my stick house didn't make them happy. I tried my best to keep my RV looking good and thereby reducing any "visual conflict" with the neighborhood. The unfortunate reality is that stick house neighborhoods and RVs just don't mix. The houses really make the RV's look bad! For this reason many RVers prefer to store their rigs at commercial storage facilities. Vandalism and pilfering are common problems when you leave your RV on the street unattended. Unfortunately it can also occur in commercial storage facilities. Anyone with a code can get into the place and that leaves your RV vulnerable. To help you select the safest storage unit I have a six point list. 1. The facility should be manned daily by bonded employees and have a security patrol that checks on the facility after hours. 2. The facility should have regular hours when you can enter and exit and is security armed with motion sensors or trained guard dogs after hours. 3. It must have surveillance cameras that cover all the storage spaces and the video footage recorded 24 hours a day. 4. The gate code only works during regular hours and is changed on a regular basis. 5. They must have satisfactory fencing and gates (will it keep out your typical teenager?). 6. They must have a good track record with no reported break-ins or vandalism. On point six you can check with the Better Business Bureau or ask for the contact information of two clients that have stored their RVs there for at least one year. The best possible storage is a completely enclosed unit that is lockable form the outside. Unfortunately, this type of unit is very expensive compared to open storage. Many RV storage facilities have covered storage which keeps weather and ultra violet rays from damaging your rig. Should you elect to store your RV in open storage or covered storage, make sure you have a good dead-bolt lock in addition to your regular locks on your entrance doors. Be sure all your windows are locked and in the case of a 5th wheel or travel trailer your kingpin or tongue lever has a high quality lock as well. And finally, make unexpected visits to your storage facility during the day and drive around the outside at night just to see how things look. Good RV storage facilities will also have a dump station and a wash rack. Helping you keep your RV save and sound - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Stepping Up to Extra RV Storage Space

RVers are always looking for more storage, it's the nature of the beast. Fellow RVer John Culver found some extra storage in his entry steps. His Monaco motorhome came with one step that doubled as storage, so he looked at the other step to see if he could also make it into storage. Sure enough, he discovered a hollow space under the step and he did a little "re-manufacturing" to make more storage. It's amazing how much wasted space you'll find in RVs. Granted, you don't want to overload your rig with excessive weight, but handy storage areas like these stairs can spread out the load and make your RVing experience more enjoyable. Have you found an extra space in your RV that you'd like to share with us? Tell us about it by clicking on the "comments" section below. Thousands of your fellow RVers read this blog every day and will benefit form your suggestions, even the most simple suggestions. This month marks the one year anniversary of RV Now and I thank you for your readership. Keeping you informed on all things RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Fake RV Fireplaces Fire-Up Your Propane Bill

Many RV manufacturers have been installing fake fireplaces in their RV floor plans. These are really nice for atmosphere and they actually give off heat. They also take up space that could be used for storage and most folks don't use them much. Another drawback is they use a lot of propane gas but so does your furnace. (If they are the electric models they also draw a lot of electricity - hat tip to the folks contributing in the comments section).When you're buying an RV the manufacturers are selling you a dream. They're promoting an idea of home and hearth, warmth and romance, luxury and leisure. The fake fireplace helps to sell these units otherwise they wouldn't include them. If you want the fun of the fake fireplace, then by all means, pick one of these units. If you want efficient cost effective heat then have a catalytic heater installed instead. These units will warm your RV much more efficiently and be more cost effective though less romantic. We had these fake fireplaces in our last two stick houses and only used them three or four times. Those of you who have these units in your RV's please tell us if you think they are worth having. Tell us what you think by clicking on the light blue "comments" section below. Helping you get the right options in your next RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

American Bathing Practices & RVs

RVers often wear hats in the morning to conceal the fact they have "bed hair" and haven't bathed. They'll get around to it eventually because they're RVers and there's no hurry. Seeing this tub the other day reminded me of an observation by famous journalist Ernie Pyle that back in the 1930's most Americans only bathed once every two weeks. You've seen this old style bath tub in westerns with a cowboy leaning back in the suds smoking a stogie while someone (often a pretty girl) pours in more hot water. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency, 90% of Americans report bathing once a day while 5 % report bathing more frequently. Unless the 5% unaccounted are RVers, I would assume American RVers are bathing at least once a day. Some RV's actually have short tubs limited only by the capacity of the hot water heater to fill them. Most RV's however, have a shower or some combination of shower and toilet and we are using them! So, sometime between the 1930's and now Americans have become obsessed with bathing. We know it's not due to a desire to enjoy a stogie because it's quite difficult to keep one lit in the shower. It must be some other factor like "feeling clean" or adhering to a social norm or the pleasure of hot water cascading down your skin. For me I like feeling clean and a hot shower "wakes me up". If you're wondering where to invest your spare change you might want to consider putting it into companies that make soap, hair shampoo and body gel because Americans, and especially RVers, aren't about to change their bathing habits. Not even a severe drought in the American South can change that. Americans will still bathe even if they have to use moist towelettes. Keeping it clean - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Replacing Aging RV Marker Light Lenses

I was driving down a pretty country lane in my RV when a low hanging branch whacked my 5th wheel. I didn't think much about it, but on later inspection discovered a cracked marker light lens. When I did an inspection of my motorhome marker lights I discovered one that was cracked on the rear cap. How that happened I have no idea (knowing me, I probably backed into a tree limb ).These lenses are cheap (usually under a dollar) and easy to replace. Most RV stores and auto parts stores carry them in stock. These lenses are important because they help keep water from entering your coach. If there is a crack the light may fill up with water and leak into your RV. Ultra violet radiation also tends to fade and weaken these lenses so you may want to inspect them and replace those that have had the most exposure to the sun. You may need to use a screw driver blade to help pop the lens cover off, but most of the time you can just pull them off with your fingers. When you inspect these lenses, be sure to look carefully at the caulking around the fixture. Make sure there are no cracks in the caulking and that it is firmly affixed to the surface of the RV. If you discover that the caulking is failing take the fixture off and scrape off the old caulking and replace it with new. Many interior RV water leaks can be traced to a leaking marker light. Since these marker lenses are so cheap you may want to replace them all with shinny new lenses. This is also a good time to check and replace your bulbs. Reflecting on RV maintenance - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Happy Thanksgiving RVers

What do RVers have to be thankful for?

T toll-free roads
H holiday weekends
A automatic leveler
N National Parks pass
K keyless entry
S spectacular scenery

G God’s creations
I interstate highways
V vacation
I inverter
N nice neighbors
G GPS


Some great destinations for RVers to consider:

T Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Virginia)
H Henry Doorly Zoo (Nebraska)
A Acadia National Park (Maine)
N Niagara Falls (New York)
K Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks (California)
S San Antonio Riverwalk (Texas)

G Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina)
I Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Montana)
V Vermont!
I Inyo National Forest (California)
N National Mall (Washington D.C.)
G Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana)

Happy Thanksgiving - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Rethinking RV Countertop Space

Space is critical in recreational vehicles and every square foot must be carefully engineered for comfort and functionality. Meal preparation, cooking and clean-up are much easier if you have adequate countertop space. Many RV manufacturers have employed the “fold-down counter extension” in their models, but the problem is they don’t always remain level and you can’t put much weight on them. The kitchen "island" has become a popular addition to RV floor plans, but they take up too much space. Tiffin Motorhomes is using this very functional roll out cabinet design. I like this design because it gives you a great deal more countertop space when you need it and retracts back into the cabinet when you’re finished using it. I love this idea because in my world flat spaces tend to collect more junk. This system won't allow you to collect junk for long because you have to stow it when you travel. I would also like to see this concept used in desks and bathroom cabinets. Another less expensive way to give yourself more countertop space is to use a stove-top cover. These can be the folding metal type or a wood top that also doubles as a cutting board. We’ve had both of these types of stove-top covers and liked them both. The folding metal type looks better, but the wood top is more functional. Helping you find more working surfaces in your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Tool Box A Must For RV Towing Vehicles

I pulled my 5th wheel next to my assigned RV site in the pouring rain. I had a hard time backing into a tight spot at an RV park in Arizona. I wasn’t expecting rain, after all, it was Arizona, so I was glad to have all the tools I would need for a quick set-up close at hand. For a travel trailer or a 5er you need a stabilizer crank, some boards for the landing gear, tire chocks, water hose, channel lock pliers, electric chord adapter, water pressure gauge and a multi-meter (to check out the utilities). I kept all these things in my handy locking truck-bed toolbox. These toolboxes come in various sizes and are made from aluminum, steel or plastic. They can insert in your truck bed with wings that hold the box up off your truck deck so you can slide lumber and other long items under it. You can also get boxes that rest on the bottom of the truck bed without wings. Downdraft off the face of a 5th wheel trailer will blow stuff out of your truck bed if it isn’t secured and these toolboxes keep your stuff safe and dry. Clearance is an important consideration if you’re pulling a 5th wheel because the thickness of the toolbox could interfere with the operation of the king-pin pivot overhang. So, before you purchase one make sure you have adequate clearance tolerances. I enjoyed my truck-bed toolbox because it held a large amount of gear and it locked so I didn’t have to worry about people walking off with my stuff. Since I used the truck as a touring vehicle I liked having my tools with me. My biggest problem was keeping it clean and organized. Most of them come with sliding trays that will help you with this task. Even trucks with modified tow-bodies employ these boxes. They are a “must-have” if you pull a travel trailer or 5th wheel. Some folks even mount them on the back of trailers. Helping you keep it all together - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Pill Organizers for the RV Lifestyle

As I wrote in my previous post, I like to use the showers at RV parks and campgrounds. Part of my morning routine is to take my medications and vitamins. I take so many that I need to keep them organized. I picked up a couple of the “day-of-the-week” plastic pill organizers at the drugstore for this purpose. One of the side benefits of these pill organizers is that they remind you what day it is. It’s a well known fact that retired folk frequently loose track of what day it is. We can tell you what time it is, but the date on our watches (if we wear one at all) is so small we can’t read it, so the plastic pill organizers come in handy this way. As functional as they are, pill organizers are not without problems. I would put them in my shower tote and dutifully take my medicine as part of my morning ritual. Unfortunately, these neat little plastic pill organizers would come open spilling the contents in my shower tote. I corralled them into a larger plastic storage container and eliminated the spillage problem. Do you have a novel way of organizing your pills you’d like to share with us? If you do, please leave us a note in the light blue “comments” section below. Helping keep you organized in a healthy way - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Where Do RVers Prefer To Shower

I was drying off from my long luxurious hot shower at the RV park when I heard singing coming from the stall next to me. It wasn’t the best singing I’d ever heard, but it was pleasant enough and it was a sign of a happy camper. So why wasn’t I in my own RV shower? Most modern RV bathrooms come complete with showers. Sometimes they’re combined with the toilet, shower and sink in one small space like you’ll find in most truck campers. Other showers are luxurious sporting built-in seats and large enough for two and a half people. In my view there’s a two-fold problem with RV bathrooms. First, hot water heaters are usually only six to ten gallons and are rapidly depleted by the first person to shower leaving the next person out in the cold. Second, since the majority of RVs only have one bathroom it’s difficult for two people to share at the same time. This is why I prefer to use the RV park or campground shower facilities. Some park facilities are modest but clean. Whether they are top of the line or modest, I prefer to use them. I can take a long hot shower and have plenty of room to shave and groom and sometimes you get free entertainment. I keep my shaving kit and shower supplies in a plastic tub I carry to the shower. If we’re camped at a WalMart parking lot I just wait my turn for the shower but still operate using the same plastic tub. The reason I like the plastic tub is because sometimes the RV shower facilities where I set the tub are wet from a previous shower. I also keep a clean pair of underwear in my tub and my rolled-up towel as well. The tub keeps everything nice and dry. To prevent picking up a fungus from the shower floor I wear a pair of shower shoes. Some people even carry a small spray bottle of bleach to “sanitize” the shower floor before they step in (they’ve also been known to use this on public toilet seats as well). I think it’s a bit of overkill, but hey, if it makes you feel better why not. So, let’s take an informal survey. How many of you prefer to use your RV shower and how many of you prefer to use the RV park or campground showers? Click on the light blue word "comments" below and tell us your thoughts. Keeping it clean - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing and Road Scholar

Don’t Let RV Road Angst Spoil Your Fun

Some RVers are too proud to admit it, but a certain amount of secret angst rides along while driving down the road. It’s the nagging feeling that something is not quite right with your rig even though you’ve checked everything twice. It can be a funny noise you’ve never heard before or the haunting memory of a spot of fluid on the asphalt under your engine. You run several scenarios through your mind including your engine flaming out on a narrow road with no place to pull off or a blow-out on some tumbleweed infested road in Nevada where the last service station was boarded up with a sign reading, “Regular Unleaded $1.32”. We handle this RV road angst by telling ourselves it will be OK because even in the worst case scenario our refrigerator still works, the bed is comfortable and even though we don’t have cell phone coverage out here in the desert someone will help us before we run out of food and water. Then your heart beats rapidly when a warning light illuminates on your instrument panel. “What’s it gonna be this time? Transmission? Engine? Tires?” You have a hundred thoughts run through your brain in a fraction of a second. You look down at the red light on your dash and see it’s only the exhaust brake indicator and not a problem at all. RV road angst is real and it only gets reinforced with all those stupid Good Sam and Camping World junk mailings telling you to dump your insurance and sign up with them because your piece of junk RV is going to break down the very next time you go out and they want to be the first ones to tow you back to some expensive repair shop. I don’t even open this junk mail anymore because it makes my blood pressure go up thinking about being towed. Unfortunately, until Japanese companies start making RV’s, we’ll have to put up with our RV’s breaking down on the side of the road. By the way, if you have a diesel pusher motorhome do not let the tow-truck operator tow your rig until he has physically disengaged the drive train (see your operator’s manual) or it will ruin your automatic transmission. Also, should you break down pull over as far as practical and be very careful of traffic when putting out emergency flares and triangles. Keep these items on the curb side of your vehicle so you don’t have to open a storage door on the traffic side of your RV. Should you have a flat on a class A motorhome, don’t even think about changing it yourself - call a tow truck. Even on smaller RV’s think twice before changing a tire yourself. One of my dear friends had one of his legs amputated when a drunk driver ran over his legs while on the roadside changing a flat tire on his Travel Trailer. Your good sense and judgment will help resolve any problem RV road angst can bring. So, keep on RVing with a smile on your face because the worst day RVing is better than the best day at work. Jim Twamley - Professor of RVing

Early Work Campers Rode the Rails

Many RVers today are work campers using their RVs as living quarters while they work on the road. Work campers represent a wide range of occupations including medical professionals, artists, construction crews, relief workers, campground hosts and many others. However, RVers were not the first workers to take their homes on the road. One of these early work campers captured my attention as a youngster. He was sitting in a rolling red car at the end of a long train. I vividly remember waiving to him as he sat in the caboose dressed in stripped overalls a red bandanna around his neck and a conductor hat. Leaning on the open bay window, one arm cocked over the sill he returned my wave and for a moment I visualized myself as that guy, riding the rails seeing all manner of strange and wonderful things. I also began to wonder what that strange little car looked like inside as my boyhood imagination began to fill in the blanks. As it turns out, the caboose was very much like an RV with accommodations like bunks for sleeping, an oil stove for warmth and cooking, a conductor’s office and any creature comforts the crew wanted to include. No one knows for sure how the “caboose” came by it’s name as they also had many other names like “clown car,” “doghouse” and “hearse” among others. Pictured above is a 1930’s vintage “Bay Window Caboose” because it’s midsection extended out like a bay window. This allowed the crew to better view the sides of the train. The caboose carried the conductor, a brakeman and a flagman. Before automatic air brakes the engineer signaled the caboose with the train whistle and the brakeman would climb out onto the cars and begin cranking the braking wheels. Another brakeman riding in the engine would work his way towards the rear and meet the caboose brakeman in the middle after setting the brakes on all the cars. Once the train stopped the flagman would get out and walk a good distance to the rear of the train and use flags (lanterns at night) to warn other trains they were stopped. As the train proceeded down the tracks crew members would watch the wheels of the train for smoke emanating from friction bearings and other signs of trouble. The caboose served as a home away from home for crew-members who were often away for days or weeks at a time. The end of the line came for the caboose when it was replaced by air brakes and “End of Train” devices referred to by railroad crews as FREDs (Flashing Rear End Device). These devices allow the engineer to monitor and control the longest trains without the help of additional crew members. Trains hold a special fascination for the kid in me. Each time I see one, I imagine being the engineer rolling down the line, one hand on the throttle the other on the whistle. When the train passes and the guard rails ascend back to their century posts, I ease my big diesel pusher across the tracks and smile. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Lights Himself Up, Read the Shocking Details

The other day I was wiring in a new 110 power outlet in my RV. You're not supposed to work on wiring or electric fixtures while the electricity is on. You're supposed to turn off the breaker to the fixture so you won’t get shocked. Well, I thought I was good enough to bypass that step, after all I’ve wired hot connections many times before. The work was progressing well until I inadvertently allowed my body to complete the circuit at which time, in cartoon fashion, my body went stiff while my hair stood on end making punk rocker’s jealous. A warm sensation beginning at my fingers (which were attached to the two opposing wires) traveled up my arms giving me that special warm tingly feeling that only live electricity can provide. Following this instant reminder of the power of nature the electric shock ceased and smoke began wafting out of my ears. I smoothed my hair back and finished wiring the receptacle knowing it couldn’t shock me again. Satisfied everything was properly connected I marched outside to my electric bay to reset the breaker. Problem was none of the breakers tripped during my human multi-meter act. For the next twenty minutes I wondered around looking for the answer but couldn’t figure it out. I busted out the RV manual and began looking at the electrical section and there it was something quite simple. I slapped myself on the forehead as I gazed at a picture of the Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) receptacle. Yes, all I had to do was push that little red button back in and problem solved. This little guy monitors the current leaving and compares it to the current returning and if there is a variance it trips off. So, when your connected to shore power or your generator and the RV receptacles go dark, check that little red button on your GFI receptacle first. Keeping you plugged in and powered up - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Homeless Veterans Live in RV’s

Today is Veteran’s Day and so we at RV Now render honors and salute you with the utmost respect and say a hearty “Thank You” for protecting our Constitution and American way of life. I’m a proud veteran and my son is currently a 2LT in the Army. So we love and appreciate our men and women in uniform past, present and future. This week we were told (interesting they chose this week to release this) supposedly one in four homeless people are veterans. There is a reason for this which I will explain. The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a non-profit organization, didn’t really go out and pole the homeless people using scientific means to arrive at this number, they just pulled it out of the air based on “estimated” data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Census Bureau. I don’t know about you, but I find suspect any data the government produces. Why? Because it has been wrong so many times in the past. It’s not that the government is intentionally lying, it’s mostly in the way they ask questions and gather information and then marshal it to support a government program. The VA has a vested interest in making sure there are plenty of homeless veterans represented in the numbers because it increases funding for their homeless veterans program. Like it or not that’s just how government statistics work. OK, before you start sending me hate mail, let me tell you that I too am a homeless veteran because I live full time in an RV. The Census Bureau doesn’t have any other category in which to place me so I count in this stupid statistic. I’ve met thousands of veterans who are also full time RVers living quite comfortably in their RV’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. They don’t miss any meals and in fact they often go down the the senior center for free meals with their friends. When they do this they get “counted” as homeless seeking assistance. None of them are out holding a sign asking for money. That is not to say there are not a great many homeless veterans living on the street. The military taught them how to survive outdoors (the infantry jokingly refers to itself as the “mud and rain boys”). I’ve actually interviewed many homeless people (something the people writing these reports ought to try sometime). Some are veterans, most are not. Recently my brother-in-law and I picked up a hitchhiker who was a homeless veteran. He loved his lifestyle and would not change anything about his lifestyle. He gets a paycheck from the VA every month and has a checking and savings account. He likes to live in “camps” where groups of homeless people congregate. These people are not “insane” or suffering from some psychological war injury, although they will play that “game” with the VA in order to get a monthly check. No, these people actually CHOOSE to live like this. Just like I choose to be a full time RVer. Many people don’t understand how one could choose to be a full time RVer without being a taco short of a combo plate, but that’s the reality. I’m homeless by choice and wouldn’t have it any other way. Many more men would be homeless if it were not for the military giving them a shot at a good life. The military takes a snot nosed kid who has run over his parent/s and turns them into men. There are many successful men who can directly attribute their success to the discipline and skills they learned in the military. The military and the war in Iraq does NOT turn men into raving lunatics who panhandle on street corners. Take some time and actually go talk to these people with the signs and find out what their life is about - you’ll be surprised. The military is a microcosm of the U.S. population therefore we have our share of criminals in the military. These kids on the margins of the law somehow get waivers to join the military and we give them a chance. Unfortunately many of them do not change their ways and get booted out but they’re still considered “Veterans” by the VA depending on the type of discharge they get. I suspect these people would have been homeless anyway. Alcoholism and drug abuse are huge contributors to homelessness and veterans are no different than the rest of the population. The military has it’s share of alcoholics just like any other profession (however we weed out the druggies early because of aggressive drug testing). I tell you this to help you get a perspective on the issue because these so called “facts” presented by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the VA and other government organizations are manufactured to get funding for programs that we don’t need at taxpayers expense. The church was doing just fine taking care of the homeless until the government got involved and now it’s become a “Homeless Industry” with high paid CEO’s running not-for- profit organizations to take care of the “homeless problem”. These people take advantage of your caring heart and play your “heart strings” to get you to send money and support candidates who have a “homeless platform” with the aim to pass more laws and charge taxpayers more money to take care of something that is not a problem in the first place. In fact, I will argue that this new homeless industry has actually encouraged more homelessness. Why should someone have to work when everything is just handed to them? I’ve worked with the homeless and know first hand what I’m talking about. That's me in front of a warehouse full of food I was able to "rescue" from destruction and redirect to the truly needy. For the most part homeless people are homeless by choice. Their life choices lead them to this destination and nothing you do for them, no amount of money, no amount of food, no amount of shelter and no amount of love will make them choose differently. Still feeling sorry for them? Then go work with them for a while and see if you still feel the same way. Happy Veteran’s Day - Jim Twamley, Homeless Veteran and Professor of RVing

RV Roadside Delight

I'm on the road with my RV today so I'm filing this story early for your reading pleasure. Today's topic is "Roadside Delight." Sometimes we endure long stretches of road without much scenery to capture the imagination but during your travel day something is sure to surface to the level of "delight". This Woody passed me on the freeway and there was no way I was going to catch him, so I just admired this American classic as it vanished in the distance. I decided to pull into the next rest-stop and there waiting for me was this fine automobile. That's the thing about RVing, you never know when you'll see something interesting on the road. Just look at that marvelous woodwork - now that's craftsmanship. The lines on this car are stunning and back then it was made without lasers or robot welders. Here it is, a one car auto-show at a rest-stop. RVing is all about the journey and the life enhancing encounters you have along the way. You never know when you'll meet and make a new friend, see something you've never seen before, or like this day, something from the past. The nostalgic magic evoked fantasies of surfboards, swimsuits and sand. Beach Boys music began to echo in my brain and, well.... it was a good vibration! "Lets go surfin now, Everybodys learning how, Come on and safari with me" - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Brush Up On Your RV Dipsticks

RVers should be very mindful of the fluid levels in their towing vehicles and motorhomes. You should check all your fluid levels prior to hitting the road. After a few miles your dipstick may begin to look a little tired. Sometimes, you can’t even tell what the fluid level is because the the stick is too dark and the fill lines are hard to make out. There are a couple things you can do to make this situation better. You can drill a couple of small holes in the blade where the “low” and “full” lines are and as the fluid covers these holes you can readily tell the level. I used a wire wheel brush to clean up my automatic transmission dipstick. Now I can clearly see where the lines are and I don’t have to guess what the level is. Many of these dipsticks are so long you could use them as a flag pole. I curl mine around into a loop when I take it out so I’m not dragging it in the dirt. Helping you get the maximum use out of your reading glasses - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Now Before It’s Too Late

Ask any former full time RVer who’s now off the road and they’ll give you some sage advice. “Keep RVing as long as you can because once you stop you’re done.” I’m a full time RVer in my early 50’s and I plan to do this till I die, even if it kills me. It makes my heart glad when I see folks in their 80’s and 90’s out RVing. I know they love the great outdoors and their RV magic carpet is the perfect vehicle to bring them enjoyment. I have a friend who is a social worker in a major hospital. Her job is to work with terminally ill patients. She makes friends with these folks and walks with them to death’s door. She’s truly a remarkable person doing a job that most people can’t handle for more than a few months. She’s also a reader of RV Now and all of us here salute you for your selfless dedication to your patients. We were talking about her work last week and she said something that made me have an “Aha” moment. She told me it’s sad people wait until they’re dying before they really begin to live. Think about that for a moment. If you just found out you only had a few months or weeks what would you do differently? Hopefully you’re already maxing out your life’s credit card and wouldn’t need to change much. What RV trip would you take that you’ve always dreamed of? How would it alter you travel plans this year? How would it change your lifestyle? Let’s not wait until the last minute to begin living! Start today because today is really all you have. Give someone an extra hug, call that someone you’ve been meaning to call. Eat at better restaurants. Spend more time with the kids and grandkids. Give your husband an extra kiss. Hold your wife’s hand and present her with her favorite candy. Do the things you’ve always wanted to do like learn how to scuba dive, go on a cruise, get a massage, take a hot air balloon ride, watch more sunsets, or learn to play the ukulele. That wonderful, life enhancing, virtuous thing you’ve been thinking about, dreaming about, that occupies your thought life and makes you smile - go do it! Helping you peg your life’s speedometer before you get pulled over - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Take the Odor Outside your RV With a Portable Propane Stove

I grew up camping and some of my earliest memories are waking up inside a tent and hearing voices outside. The smell of coffee and bacon hanging thick in the morning air as I rubbed my eyes and crawled out of my sleeping bag. I would unzip that enormous tent flap zipper and emerge to see my mom busy cooking on that faithful old Coleman white gas camp stove. If I shut my eyes I can still hear her pumping air into that red canister to make the fire burn more intensely. There’s nothing like bacon, eggs and pancakes off a camp stove griddle. It’s a taste sensation that just can’t be duplicated indoors. Besides, cooking those big breakfasts for a bunch of hungry campers inside your RV creates unwanted odor and a big mess. So, on those occasions when you have a crowd, take it outside with a portable propane stove. Coleman still makes the old school stoves, but it also makes some nice compact portables that use liquid propane gas. This one folds up like a waffle iron for storage and when open it becomes a two burner stove. Very handy for RVing because it’s small and light weight and therefor easy to store. Here is an even smaller grill, but it only has one burner. This model has the old school design that works well in a windy environment because the lid and sides act to block the wind from degrading the burner flame. These are small and practical stoves designed for occasional use. If you plan on doing more you’ll need a heavy duty stove and many models and styles are available. The “Weekender” comes with legs to make it a stand alone stove with a hefty 60,000 BTU capacity. It’s still in the portable class but clearly the big brother of these portables. If you're going to get really serious, there are even larger multi-burner stoves available, but you’ll need a small crane for setting them up. Helping you satisfy those hungry campers in the great outdoors - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Power Up Your RV With Pneumatic Air

RVers are concerned with air pressure in their tires, but they may also have air bag stabilizers on their tow vehicles or pneumatic power tools they need to use. This requires an air compressor that will do the job. I’ve owned several air compressors in various sizes and configurations. I'm currently using a Master Power, 2 Horse Power, 150 psi, 5 gallon capacity air compressor by Cooper Tools. I like this unit because it's basically square and fits neatly in one of my slide out trays in the motorhome basement next to a power outlet. It will handle two hoses at once so you can have a hose for both sides of your coach or have two air tools hooked up at once. Since motorhome tires have a required tire air pressure of 110 psi (depending on load and manufacturers recommendations) you will need a heavy duty air compressor to handle this amount of air pressure. Most motorhomes with air brakes and air bags have a valve that allows you to use the onboard air compressor. The problem with this is that these systems are set to cut off at around 130 psi so it takes a long time to fill your tires because it has to cycle back and forth until your tires are topped off. A positive point is that motorhome air is "dried" so no moisture enters your tires (a bad thing). If you use a stand alone unit, you should attach an air drier before using it to inflate your tires.I like my Master Power unit because it has a fold down handle and rear wheels allowing you to “tip and roll” the unit wherever you need it. Relying solely on the motorhome unit does not afford the luxury of moving the compressor so depending on the length of your rig, you will need 50 or 60 feet of hose to air up all your tires. Another problem in using the motorhome unit is that you’ll irritate your neighbors with your noisome engine running and the air compressor cycling off and on because it takes much longer to air up using your motorhome’s air compressor than it does a quieter less obtrusive stand alone compressor. The drawback to the electric air compressor is that it requires electricity to work, so you will need to run it off of shore power. Air compressors suck up good deal of electric current so you will need to use a heavy duty extension cord. If you’re out in the boonies most motorhome generators will power these units. However, the smaller portable generators like the Honda 2000 will not. I purchased this unit from COSTCO for $150.00 and I have seen a similar model at Sears. A portable unit like this is useful in many ways including blowing out dust from your water heater, refrigerator chimney and external heater orifice. They also come in handy for powering pneumatic staplers, nailers, grinders, wrenches, buffers, drills and many other pneumatic tools. Compressed air has many uses and having access to a unit like this makes RV maintenance more convenient. Helping you blow off some compressed air - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Dry Air Makes a Happy RV

Many RVers are preparing their rigs for winter storage. One of the considerations is to include a dehumidifier of some kind. The obvious reason is to prevent mold and mildew and the accompanying smell. The easiest and most economical way is to use a chemical dehumidifier like the Dri-Z-Air brand. These consist of a two stage plastic unit that holds the dehumidifying crystals in the top and allows moisture to collect in the bottom. The crystals are cheap and the unit is easy to use. The only drawback is that you will need to empty the water and change the crystals at intervals during storage. Other products such as DampRid do the same thing. DampRid also has a plastic container that holds the crystals on top and collects the water in the bottom. You can purchase a large quantity of DampRid available in a detergent sized bucket. Electric dehumidifiers can also be a good option like the Dry Wave air dryer. It uses about the same amount of electricity of a standard light bulb and requires that your RV be connected to electricity while in storage. Keeping you drier than antiperspirant - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

This is Not your Typical RV Bumper Junk

I’ve seen all kinds of paraphernalia strapped on the backs of RVs. Everything from boats to wash tubs. This is important stuff and what could be more important than a barbecue? The problem with most BBQ’s that RVers use is that they're just too small for a full fledged tail gate party. For that you need a Big Daddy BBQ and there really isn’t a convenient place to store one on the typical RV. So, for those of you thinking about building a “rack on the back” for such a purpose, let me show you what a fellow RVer has done. He has a heavy BBQ so he purchased a Blue Ox carrying rack and attached it to the back of his motorhome. You can also set this up so you’ll still be able to tow a car. The rack comes with a slide out ramp which he uses to roll the BBQ into position. A 12 volt electric wench attaches to the BBQ frame which was beefed up and equipped with larger wheels. He uses ratchet tie down straps to secure the the unit to the frame. I like how he uses his BBQ cover with the “spider web” truck bed elastic chord. This is a great way to bring your BBQ appliance with you on the road. Nothing beats good BBQ especially when you're RVing. Keeping the ideas rolling your way - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Noise Can Drive You Crazy

Did you know there is such a thing as “aeroacoustic noise” sources in your RV? That’s how scientists describe noise in your rig caused by outside wind forces. Do you suppose when one of these scientists is out driving his motorhome he turns to his wife and says, “Honey where’s that aeroacoustic noise coming from?” Since this is a blog it’s also a kind of “forum” for sharing information. We would like to know about wind noise or any other kind of noise you’ve had in your RVs and how you fixed the problem. Your information could help other RVers identify and fix their aeroacoustic noise before it drives them crazy. Just click on the light blue word "comments" and leave us your story. Looking forward to hearing from you - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Wind Deflectors, Do it Right or Don’t Do it at All

Just how effective are those RV wind deflectors you see on trucks pulling 5th wheels and travel trailers? Though somewhat technical (what you’d expect from a Professor of RVing) this information could save you some serious cash. Trucks pulling trailers lose a majority of their energy at highway speeds through aerodynamic drag. Using computational fluid dynamics scientists study air flow as it interacts with test models in a wind tunnel. These studies have determined that in order for an RV wind deflector to work efficiently it must be within a few feet of the trailer due to the fact air flow created by the deflector closes in within a few feet unless it’s conducted by another surface. Cab extension gap seals and side fairings will help to make this possible. (see the article, “On the Aerodynamics of Tractor-Trailers” by M. Hammache and F. Browand here: Technical Link). According to these scholars, the best place for an air deflector is actually on the trailer itself because that's where the majority of the drag occurs. When you place a rounded “nose cone” on the trailer you eliminate the gap of a cab wind deflector and the aerodynamic drag is significantly reduced. So, if you’re looking to save a bunch of money by installing one of these over the cab deflectors make sure it’s as close to the trailer as possible and also install gap seals. If you don’t do this you’re throwing money to the wind. In fact, if the gap is too large, it will end up reducing your fuel economy because you're actually increasing the drag. The bottom line is that trailers, like the Titanium brand, made with an aerodynamic nose are more fuel efficient than any after market cab mounted wind deflector. The more aerodynamic the trailer, the better the fuel economy. Preventing the money from blowing out of your wallet - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Remedies For Cold Weather

As a full time RVer I strive not be where it gets cold. In fact, I am normally moving in a southerly direction this time of year. However, I’m not always able to be where the outside temperature averages 70 degrees, so I need to be prepared for cold weather in the unlikely event it catches up with me. Last October we spent a bone chilling night at a Flying J in Wyoming when an early snow storm rolled through the area. The coldest places inside the 5th wheel were the overhead vents. These vents are covered by a thin plastic bubble that allows cold to penetrate into your RV. We used a vent insulator to plug this hole and it worked great. They are held in place with Velcro and put three inches of insulation between you and the cold. Not only are they excellent for winter, but they’re reversible (shinny side up) so they work great in summer when you’re running your air conditioner. These are available at most RV parts stores or you can make one yourself out of a piece of Styrofoam or foam rubber. Helping you stay warm and comfortable - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing