Welcome to RV UNIVERSITY, Anonymous Thursday, March 28 2024 @ 11:07 pm UTC

RV University This Week 11/08/2010

  • Monday, November 08 2010 @ 12:21 pm UTC
  • Contributed by:
RV News and Stories


RV University this Week
Your weekly source for interesting
RV articles, tips, tricks, video clips and advice

From the Industry Leader in RV Education:
RV Education 101
U of RV Journal #81 - November 8, 2010

Bookmark and Share

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.”
~Mortimer Adler





by Mark Polk






Hi Everybody,

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was considering getting a motorcycle and possibly taking a cross-country trip on it. I'm not sure if you would call it a mid-life crisis or a childhood dream, but I found a bike at a really great price and drove down to Georgia last week to pick it up.

It is a used Victory Touring Cruiser and it seems to be in really fantastic shape. When I went to pick it up and the previous owner was going over some of the features on the bike (my orientation class) I realized just how much I need to learn before I will feel somewhat safe venturing out on the road with a 700 pound motorcycle. It's been a long time since I owned, or rode a motorcycle and as with motorcycles, RV's and everything else there is a learning curve involved.

Maybe it's time for motorcycles 101!

One common problem around this time of year is dead RV batteries . Be sure and check out this week's feature article to discover how easy it is to check your RV battery state of charge. Performing some simple checks and battery maintenance can extend the life of your RV batteries and save you some money.

Until next week, plan your trip, travel safe and enjoy your RV experiences. Remember, getting there is half the fun!
Mark Polk

**REMINDER! Don't forget to winterize your RV!


Don’t Guess, Test your Battery State of Charge The only way to know the condition of your RV battery(s) is to test the state of charge. All batteries will lose a charge over time, not to mention the parasitic loads that can drain RV batteries in storage. You should test the battery state of charge periodically and charge any battery that is at or below an 80% state of charge............ Read the article





Pine beetles keep rangers busy around Laramie
The pine beetle epidemic isn't over yet, and neither is the work the U.S. Forest Service is doing on the national forests around Laramie .......

Tennessee State Parks Offer Special Discounts to Veterans; Nov. 11 Designated Free Day
Veterans Day Designated a Free State Park Day for Tennessee Veterans, Including Complimentary Golfing and Night of Camping ........

Medford may change recreational vehicle storage ordinance
People who live in Medford, Wisconsin might be getting faced with some stricter rules about what they can and can't have parked on their property ........

Peco fined for wire tied to tree — for 18 months
The PUC said that customer Rebecca Mueller contacted Peco in November 2007 to complain that she could not drive her recreational vehicle into her driveway because the overhead wire running to her house was too low ........


The RV Poll will return next week- check out past polls


...with Mark Polk

Q. We recently purchased a new Class C Motorhome. . We were surprised to discover that the lavatory sink is connected to the black water tank. We are new to RVing and were wondering if this is unusual. We were under the impression that it would be connected to the grey water tank.

Mark Says:
Some RV manufacturers do connect a bathroom sink to the black water holding tank. It can a space issue or in some cases a holding tank location issue.

Some smaller RV's (like truck campers) often times only have one holding tank that is combined for the black and gray water.

It's not always a bad thing because it allows additional water in the black water holding tank, which in many cases owners don't use enough water to cover the contents in the black water tank and assist with odors etc.

The two factors that will come into play with this plumbing are: the additional water going into the tank can fill the tank sooner (depending on how much water you use at the sink, and the size of the tank) and the P-trap under the sink will need to have water in it to help prevent possible odors from the black tank entering the RV by way of the sink drain.




by Mark Polk

Mark's RV Quick Tip:
Check the awning everyday before traveling. Make sure that it is securely stored and all travel locks and knobs are tight and latched.


...with Mark Polk

Safety Chains or Safety Cables –
These are used on trailers in case of a hitch failure. One end of the chain is attached to the trailers A-frame, and the other end to a permanent fixture on the tow vehicle, normally the receiver. The chains are crossed to form a saddle that would prevent the coupler from contacting the road surface in the event of an accidental separation. Safety cables are also used on vehicles being towed behind a motorhome.


Let RV Education 101 help you save money in 2010
This weeks featured product:

RV Packing Tips, RV Life Lessons and Easy Living Hints E-Book Three E-Books in One! This e-book does NOT suggest what to pack. HOWEVER it DOES deal with HOW TO FIND SPACE for what you have on board. Informative tips, hints and ideas include Peggi's personal favourites. PLUS much-loved suggestions from those they met along the way. During Peggi & John's 20-years of Fulltiming, they have continually moved from place to place – Experience is a comprehensive teacher, but sometimes it comes with expensive price tags. With this e-book you can avoid their mistakes and the pricey invoice that accompanied most of them! Excerpt: "During a propane fill last winter, our rubber gasket on the horizontal tank-fill valve stayed on the propane nozzle of the truck that filled our tank. Without this gasket it was impossible to add propane into our tank. We didn't realize this gasket was missing until we tried to fill up with propane. Thankfully the missing rubber ring is available from most propane dealers; ours was replaced at no cost. Apparently it happens frequently - this was a first for us in 19-years." With this e-book purchase, Peggi will send you updates to your e-mail as she gets them.
Sale Price $12.95
Buy Now


RV Links:

Own a motorhome?
Membership in FMCA brings with it a wealth of benefits and services
— all specially designed to meet the needs of motorhome owners.
The value of these benefits and services far exceeds the cost of the annual dues.
Benefit highlights




Are you an RV dealer? RV Education 101 created a program just for your customers! The RV Orientation Online Training Program.

This online RV training program includes an RV orientation video similar to the walk-through class you receive at the RV dealership. The RV Orientation video is 54 minutes long and is packed with information on topics like campground setup, the LP gas system, water system, wastewater system, electrical system, RV appliances, RV accessories and much more. We even added a bonus chapter on RV safety features, and some bloopers to make it more entertaining. The video is generic and covers all types of RV’s including motorized and towable RV’s. If your RV dealer does not offer this online RV training program you can purchase it here

We also offer RV Dealer bulk discounts on our training materials. Our Walk through DVDs have helped tens of thousands of RV consumers learn how to properly operate and maintain their RVs. Hundreds of RV dealers across the country are benefiting from what our program has to offer the customer oriented RV dealership. Contact Dawn today for your RV dealership pricing: dawn@rveducation101.com



A product that Mark personally uses: Camping/RV Battery Chargers- BatteryMINDers® are the new generation of SMART, pulse type "computer-on-a-chip" chargers, that safely charge and maintain all size / type / brands of batteries including starter, deep cycle and sealed types including AGM “dry” made by OPTIMA, ODYSSEY, EXIDE, INTERSTATE, et al. They do all of this without ever overcharging, no matter how long they are left on charge – days-weeks-or even months. Dubbed the chargers with "brains," they are the first to fully-automatically reverse the primary cause of early battery failure known as "sulfation". Sulfated batteries once considered beyond recovery can now be brought back to long-term useful condition. Certain models of BatteryMINDers® can more than double the useful life of new batteries.






RV Education 101 & RV University went mobile!
Check us out on the go
http://www.rveducation101.mobi
&
http://www.rvuniversity.mobi
from your phone!. .....


Share your thoughts & experiences with other RVers and Campers


Money Saving DVD Sets Available

Travel Trailer / 5th Wheel Training DVD Sets
Class A Training DVD Sets
Class C Training DVD Sets


16 RV Single DVD Titles in our Library

An Introduction to RV's
Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro
RV Awning Use, Care and Accessories
RV Safety Features, Tips and Tricks
Pop Up 101
Travel Trailer 101
Class A Motor Home 101
Class C Rental / Owner
Winterizing & Storing your RV
EZ RV Add Ons and Must Have RV Products
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing
Motorhome Towing
RV Campground Basics
Marks Recommended 10 minute RV Essential Items
Deep Cycle Battery Care & Maintenance for RV's and Boats
RV Care and Maintenance


15 RV Instant Download E-Book Titles in our Library

The Original Checklists for RVers
Winterizing and Storing your RV
THE RV BOOK now available as an ebook
The Three Primary Systems of an RV
Insider's Guide to Buying an RV
RV Buyers Survival Guide
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing
A Collection of RV Tips
Pop-Up Basics 101
Dinghy Towing
Deep Cycle Battery Care and Maintenance
RV Awning Use and Care
RV Safety Features, Tips and Tricks
RV Care and Maintenance
RV Campground Basics


Go for the RV Gold Program
The Go For the RV Gold program is loaded with one-on-one RV training videos, feature articles, RV tips, crossword puzzles, member discounts for RV services and RV products, quizzes, and much more. This is the only online RV training program that will teach you everything you need to know about your RV at such a reasonable cost, and totally at your leisure with no deadlines. There are customized worksheets provided for navigation, so nothing is missed or overlooked. There is a space provided for you to make notes for each topic and then a feature to print the worksheet when completed.

At the end of the program there is a 25 question final exam. If you pass the final exam (you need a 72% or higher score) you will receive your “Go for the RV Gold” training certificate that you that you can proudly display in your home or RV. P.S. If you don’t pass the final exam, you will be given an opportunity to take it again until you do pass, so you can receive your Go for the RV Gold certificate.

National Interstate Insurance company offers a 5% safe driver discount when you successfully complete the “Go for the RV Gold” program. Just present your “Go for the RV Gold” certificate of completion to an authorized National Interstate Insurance agent.

The membership fee is only $49.95 per month for 3 months. Billing is on a 30 recurring basis until the final payment is made. This equates to only $12.49 for each in-depth weekly RV training course. When you select the recurring billing payment option you receive the a new RV training module each month. You can’t beat this low pricing for one-on-one RV education training in the comfort of your own home or RV. There is no driving to get to the training location, no packed classrooms and no time restraints.

Note: There is second payment option available where you can pay the full $149.85 program price in one payment. If you select this payment option you will receive all 3 RV modules (12 weekly courses) at one time, after payment and registration.

This program compliments our current line of RV Education 101 training dvds!


3 payments of $49.95 or a 1 time payment of $149.85 Buy Now



General and Unsubscribe Info

About us:

Our goal with RV University This Week is to provide you with helpful information to make all of your RV experiences more enjoyable. I left my position as an RV Sales and F&I manager in 2000 to start my own company, RV Education 101. We produce educational videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. The reason I left my job was due to my concern about the lack of educational and safety awareness material available to the RV consumer, in other words, you. We are a small company. My wife Dawn left her position in RV sales to help start the company and is our Sales and Marketing Director. We currently have a 35-foot Class A motor home. We have two boys, Tyler 13 and Josh 19, both avid RVers and two dogs, Gracie and Buck. Gracie is the good one. If you would like to learn more about us and RV Education 101 feel free to visit http://www.rveducation101.com

RV University This Week © Copyright 2010 Mark J. Polk, except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. Reprint only with permission from copyright holder(s). All trademarks are property of their respective owners. All contents provided as is. Advertisers are solely responsible for ad content.

To subscribe, please go to: http://rveducation101.com/email/

To unsubscribe, please go to: http://rveducation101.com/email/unsubscribe.asp

RV Education 101 Newsletter is an opt-in ezine available by subscription only. We neither use nor endorse the use of spam. Your email address will ONLY be used to distribute this newsletter and will NEVER be sold or given to any other entity!!

Happy Camping,

Mark & Dawn

http://www.rveducation101.com

RV Education 101
150 Bay Ridge Rd
Harrells, NC 28444-8896
910-484-7615

mark@rveducation101.com

dawn@rveducation101.com

Copyright 2010 by RV Education 101



RV University, a site providing Recreation Vehicle safety, RV maintenance information, RV tips, RV advice and RV instruction for using and maintaining an RV by Mark Polk.
Our best selling "how to" RV walk through orientation videos and e-book titles.
.