Draining an RV Water System

When you return from a trip and you’re not going to use the RV for a while you need to drain the entire water system to prevent it from getting stale and musty. You can start by draining the water heater. Go to the outside compartment where the water heater is located. The drain plug, or petcock is located in the bottom left hand corner. Remove the plug and open the pressure relief valve on top of the water heater to assist in draining.


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Caution: Never drain the water heater when it’s hot or under pressure.

Next you need to locate the low point water line drains. It may take a while to find them, but I assure you they are there. There will be one for the hot and one for the cold water lines. This is the lowest point in the water system. Open these and let the water drain out. There’s one more thing left to do, find the drain for the fresh water holding tank and drain all of the water from it.

At this point you can turn the water pump on for a moment to force any remaining water out. Do not let the pump continue to run once the water stops draining. Close all the drains. Now, do not make the mistake that this is how you winterize the RV water system. If you do, it can be a very costly mistake next spring. All we have accomplished so far was to evacuate the majority of water from the system. If by accident you forget to drain the water system and you get that notorious stale odor all is not lost. You just need to sanitize the water system.

Start by draining all of the old water out, and then close all of the drains. Take a quarter cup of house hold bleach for every fifteen gallons of water that your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach, with water, into a one-gallon container and pour it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill the fresh water tank completely full of water. Turn the water pump on, open all of the hot and cold faucets and run the water until you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close the faucets and let it sit for about twelve hours. Drain the entire system and re-fill the fresh water tank with potable water. Open all of the faucets and run the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process again to eliminate all signs of bleach from the water system.

Once this is done it is safe to use your water system. It’s also a good idea to use a water filter at campgrounds and to keep bottled water on hand for drinking.

Happy Camping,

Mark

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

Draining an RV Water System

Learning About Industrial Air Compressors

An air compressor is a device that compresses air volume. When used in an industrial sense, they are used to operate several different types of tools, machines, and hydraulic devices. While you can easily use oil based generators to power most of the machines and other things found at a job site, doing so with industrial air compressors is faster, more efficient, and far cheaper than it would be if you went with the other option.


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Some of the more common uses for industrial air compressors include a commercial style air conditioning system. This is a great application as it is ideal for massive air conditioning systems which involve the air being moved throughout a large building or over long distances. This is due to the fact that these compressors can force air through the heating and coolant systems on a larger scale than anything else that could power that would be able to.

Car washes are another type of business that profit from the use of industrial compressors. Regardless of whether the car wash is found at a local gas station or an actual car wash company, most car washes use these to power the jets of water and cleaning solution which are sprayed onto vehicles. The compressors also spin the rotating cleaning devices which are used in the car washes. Not to be forgotten, industrial refrigerators, which are incredibly important, especially for grocery stores and factories, depend on the compressors to run their coolant and ventilation systems. Not only do the compressors help to push air through the coolant systems but it also will help to push the coolant solution throughout the refrigerator’s pipes.

There are also many different handheld mechanical tools which are used in plenty of jobs and on plenty of job sites regularly. Using industrial grade units will really help to give a person more diversity when switching out the tools that they want to use as there are plenty of air tools available now to make their job much easier and, as the cord is longer than an electrical cord, there is usually very little worry about whether or not a person will run out of room when they’re making things.

Learning About Industrial Air Compressors

Duromax Generator Reviews: Grab the Best Source of Electricity

On almost every power generator websites Duromax generator reviews are available. It is clear to every person that very soon we are going to lose our global sources that generate electricity. This is going to happen because of the increase rate of harmful gases in our environment. Maximum countries are facing this electricity crisis like Africa, India etc and in such situation of electricity crisis portable power generators work as a boon. The best part of these generators is that they are completely independent of the electricity. It is a solution that can help human in case of natural calamities that causes electricity cutoff.


Portable Generator Parts

There are so many websites like Amazon.com etc which use to post the Duromax generator reviews. Duromax is one of the top three portable generators. These are completely reliable and durable. Best part of these generators is that they are provided with an engine which is associated with a natural liquid gas (propane) tank. Portable power generators are provided with an automatic transfer switch that remains in contact with the power supply. Whenever electricity is cut out this generator starts automatically and provides electricity. As compared to the normal generators portable generators are far better. These are portable and handy thus, require less space.

Duromax generator reviews can be seen on multiple websites that shows that it is the most popular brand of portable generator. Even in day time portable generators can work efficiently. They can run fridge, AC, Geiger and all other daily electronic appliances without any problem. It is very compact so you can easily carry them to any location without any sort of stress and strain. If we move towards its rate then power generators are not very expensive. As per their features their price is just appropriate. Normal person can easily afford them.

In Duromax generator reviews many customers have mention that it is a fully equipped machine that does not require any additional wire for its connectivity. It has circuit breaker that is divided into various circuits. It is highly trust worthy that you can easily recommend it to your close ones. Portable power generators are well suited to all climates. They can easily work indoor and outdoor too. It has lots of pros over normal hose generators. They make you comfortable and relax in case of electricity. The best part of these generators is that they are just perfect for every house. They are capable to complete your house.

Duromax Generator Reviews: Grab the Best Source of Electricity

Jigsaw Tips

As with almost any tool, being aware of a few “tricks of the trade” will make the use of your jigsaw both easier and safer. Here are a few tips that may help:


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1. Wear safety goggles or glasses when using your jigsaw. You won’t be doing a lot of “jigsawing” in the future if you hurt your eyes. In addition, if you will be cutting materials that generate a lot of dust, wear a dust mask.

2. Before beginning a cut, make sure that your cutting line is clearly marked. Simple but important for a good job!

3. If you will be cutting small pieces of material, be sure and fasten down (e.g., with a clamp or clamps) the pieces before you begin cutting. Otherwise, the piece of material will probably slide and mess up your cut. Also, if the material you will be cutting is soft, place a small square of cork or similar material between the clamp and the soft material you will be cutting to prevent the tightened clamp from marring the material’s surface.

4. To ensure a smooth and accurate cut, be sure and use the correct jigsaw blade.

5. After turning your jigsaw “on”, let the jigsaw come to the full speed you have it set for before beginning your cut. Additionally, in selecting what speed to set your jigsaw on, the general rule of thumb is faster speeds for softer materials and slower speeds for harder materials.

6. Only move your jigsaw blade forward with enough forward pressure to engage the blade with the material and to allow it to cut steadily. Never force your jigsaw blade forward! Let your blade do the work.

7. When cutting metal or other hard materials, you can apply a thin line of lubricant alongside the cutting line to help control cut particles.

8. Always disconnect your jigsaw from its power source before beginning any sort of maintenance or cleaning.

9. Periodically during extended use, wipe off both the jigsaw handle/grip to help ensure your safe control of the jigsaw.

10. Do not use gasoline, carbon tetrachloride, or ammonia to clean your jigsaw as these chemicals may damage your jigsaw’s plastic parts.

11. When removing a blade or accessory from your jigsaw after prolonged use of the jigsaw, be careful not to touch the blade or accessory with your bare fingers as the blade/accessory will probably be extremely hot. Either let it cool off or put on protective gloves before you try and remove the blade or accessory.

12. Do not lift or carry your jigsaw by its cord as this may damage your jigsaw’s cord connection. Damage to the jigsaw’s power cord connection is best done by the jigsaw’s factory service center.

I hope these tips help!

Jigsaw Tips

Finding Parts for Old Motor Homes; RV Junkyards and Recycling

If you own an older motor home you may have problems finding parts because those models are no longer need built or the manufacturer has gone out of business. Even if you own a new recreational vehicle you may want to find stronger and sturdier parts that are no longer offered on the newer motor homes, but they used to be used on other older motor home series. This is when a good motor home junkyard comes in handy.


Portable Generator Parts

Believe it or not there are a lot of motor home junkyards in the United States and they make great places to get parts. Some recreational vehicle junkyards have motor homes that are over 30 years old and that means you can find nearly any part you need. The junkyards are well known to those RV repair shops, which will use them to get parts when they cannot find a part in the catalog they need to repair someone’s motor home or recreational vehicle.

There are very large recreational vehicle and motor home junkyards in 13 states and many junkyards do have motor homes in them although they are not specializing in only recreational vehicles. If you need an obscure part for your motor home it makes sense to cruise the junkyards.

I have only been to two RV junkyards. But in each case I had found things that were very valuable and cost very little. Parts, which were stronger than anything you see in the market today. Things I could not get anywhere else and they were not listed in any catalog. Perhaps you might consider this in 2006 and help the world recycle all those old RVs.

Finding Parts for Old Motor Homes; RV Junkyards and Recycling

How to Clean a Carburetor

The carburetor is a part of the engine that allows it to do the job it is intended to do. It carefully mixes the right amount of air and fuel to allow combustion and produce power. Without this device, the engines would not work. During the 1980s this device was replaced by the automatic fuel injector. However, the carburetor is still very common in some high-performance vehicles, as well as motorcycles and many other small engines.


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Maintenance Steps

It is very important to keep the carburetor clean for it to run properly. If the carburetor is not periodically cleaned and maintained, its ability to regulate the combustion can seriously be compromised, resulting in the motor to not run properly.

The first step in keeping your carburetor running properly is to remove it from your motor. After you have done so you will be able to clean it, disassemble it, and keep it in running condition.

How to Clean

After you remove the carburetor from the motor, cleaning it in a cleaning solvent would be the first thing you should do. You can do this by using a special tool designed for cleaning carburetors. After you have cleaned the carburetor with the cleaning solvent, as well as finished disassembling it, you must then make sure that all ports and jets are cleared. You can accomplish this by flushing out these parts with compressed air.

It is very important that you use proper care when cleaning out the carburetor. If you intend to do this, make sure that you use the proper equipment necessary perform this function. Do not use wires, or other machine-powered products to clean the carburetor. This is because the carburetor is carefully calibrated to a specific setting. Using those products might damage the product.

How to Clean a Carburetor

Makeover and Remodel Your Motorhome or RV

Ten Good Reasons to Remodel Your RV:


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1.Remodeling is the most economical way to get a true upgrade. As opposed to trading in your RV, remodeling enables you to add the features you need and the look you’ve always wanted at a mere fraction of the cost of a new RV.

2.Remodeling is the process of customizing and decorating an RV to suit your specific lifestyle as well as your personal tastes. There’s no other way to accomplish this task.

3.Tasteful and competent remodeling adds value to an RV. This added value ultimately results in a higher selling price. Remodeled RVs also tend to sell faster because interested buyers don’t want to miss out on an irreplaceable item.

4.Remodeled RVs tend to be of a higher quality than those that that haven’t. Remodeling, when done properly, is a successful collusion of creativity, quality materials, and workmanship. While some companies claim to accomplish this feat at the factory, it’s hard to compete with a proud owner that has all the time in the world.

5.The primary difference between a 5,000 RV and a 5,000 RV is the interior. Shrewd owners use skillful interior remodeling and selective upgrades to create a luxury RV at a fraction of the cost of a new high-end model.

6.Remodeling is extremely enjoyable as well as rewarding. Whether you’re changing the style, or adding new features, remodeling projects are often filled with excitement and anticipation of a new living space.

7.Even though high-end RVs cost considerably more than a typical home, many lack even the most basic amenities including dishwashers, garbage disposals, book shelves, desks, and Internet access.

8.Remodeled RVs have significantly more storage space than new models. RV manufacturers don’t have the time to install closet organizers, drawer dividers, rotating shelves, and pull-out cabinet inserts.

9.Even though there are more than two million full-time RVers, there’s no such thing as a special model for full-timers. The qualities that make a good full-timing RV have to be implemented by its owners.

10.A huge number of people routinely remodel their RVs. The five most commonly performed remodeling projects are:

a. Replacing or upgrading the flooring

b. Reupholstering the furniture

c. Upgrading the window treatments

d. Painting or wallpapering the walls

e. Replacing the dinette with a table and set of chairs

Makeover and Remodel Your Motorhome or RV

Custom Motorhome Interior Design

When it comes to creating a custom interior design for your home on wheels the possibilities are endless! When considering a home remodel or renovation the first step is to talk to a contractor who understands buildings codes and local regulation. Likewise, when you decide it’s time to give your motorhome or RV a new face, the best option is to contact someone with years of experience in custom RV renovation.


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Time to Renovate:

Now that you’ve made the big decision to keep the RV that’s taken you on so many great trips and created so many amazing memories, you’ll need to make a plan of action for remodeling. Three of the biggest components to any remodel are floors, cabinets, and furniture. By updating any or all of these items you will drastically alter the appearance of your RV.

RV’s can be fitted with beautiful wood flooring that will look just as good in your RV as it does in your kitchen at home. For those who prefer tile, that’s no problem at all! All types and patterns of tile can be installed whether it be sleek modern look or a floor fit for a king, you decide how grand the appearance.

Next on the list to be remodeled are cabinets and furniture. Undoubtedly technology has changed substantially over the past few years. This means that there is a good chance that your RV is sporting a TV that isn’t quite up to par with today’s standards. By remodeling your cabinets you will not only be able to fit a new flat screen TV, but will simultaneously create more cabinet space! There are just as many options for furniture. You can choose to reupholster your existing furniture, or outfit your RV with all brand new seats to match your new floors and cabinets!

Installation:

Picking out all of the new materials that you wish to use in renovating your RV is the easy part! Installing floors, cabinets, and furniture will most likely be a lot more work than you will want to tackle by yourself. The best way to ensure that your new custom items are safely and properly secured is to have a professional service complete the work. Those who set out to do the work themselves on a Saturday morning may find themselves a little discouraged at how daunting the work load can be. If you want something done right, have a professional do it! You have come too far to cut corners now, so make sure to have your new custom interior completed by a qualified professional.

Custom Motorhome Interior Design

RV Living Verses Apartment Living

A couple of years ago my wife and I decided we were going to travel the US in a semi-retired state. We kicked out the kids (all over 21), sold our home and purchased an RV. Well live situations change and we didn’t get on the road, at least not yet. We ended up staying in the area and taking full time jobs. But we decided at the time to stay in the RV as full-timers.


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The purpose of the article is to offer some insight as to the possibilities of using RV’s instead of apartments and the advantages of Rving. First a little background for those that are not familiar with the Recreational Vehicle (RV) terms. RVs are classified into several different categories.

Class A are the bus like vehicles you see traveling down the road. These are also called Motorhomes and for good reason. Class A’s are the cream of the crop so to speak. They are the most expensive in terms of cost but have the most storage and amenities. I have seen some really nice Class A’s and when it comes time for us to upgrade or trade in our current RV we will be looking at the Class A again. However, my tastes start in the 0,000 range, which is a little hard for me to justify.

Next are Class B, these are mini motorhomes. They are built on a light to medium truck chassis and can be identified by the truck cab appearance of the vehicle. In my opinion, these will not be suitable for full time use unless you really like small places. Some newer Class Bs are including what are called slides which are sections of the RV that ‘slide out’ from the body giving you more living space inside. Living space is what you will be looking for in the long run.

After the Class B comes Fifth Wheels. Fifth Wheels are trailers that are pulled by pickup trucks. So to get a fifth wheel you will also need a pickup truck of appropriate size. I would figure at least a ¾ ton pickup. Fifth wheels offer an advantage over Class A and Class B in that once you have the fifth wheel set up on a campsite, the truck is detached and can be used as a means of transportation. With Class A & B RV’s you will need to either tow or bring another vehicle with you to get around. Fifth wheels approach the Class A RV in amenities and in some cases have more space. Dollar for dollar you will get more living space in a fifth wheel than a Class A.

However, you do need an expensive tow vehicle (truck) which has to be considered as part of the purchase. The fifth wheel is also part of a class considered as ‘Towables’. The next ‘towable’ is the travel trailer (TT). These are similar to the fifth wheel except in the connections to the tow vehicle. With TT you connect to a hitch that sits near the bumper of the vehicle. Hence, just about any vehicle has the capabilities of towing a TT depending on size and weight of course. Class A, Fifth Wheels and Travel Trailers are the 3 main RV that you will find people living in on a fulltime basis. After the TT comes the camper class. These are light weight RV really not suitable for full time, however, I have met people that are full-timers in pop-ups, truck campers and even tents. The top of the line for the camper class is probably the truck campers.

These are units that slide into the bed of a pickup truck. In general, the max length is no more than 12 feet from front to back and maybe 10 feet side to side. They are very compact. These offer the ultimate in freedom, in that they are quick to setup and take down so that you can move quickly from place to place. However, just like the class A & B, your home is also your transportation, unless you bring another vehicle with you. The last group of towables is the popup or tent trailers. These have a study box frame and as the name implies pop up or lift up to raise the roof over the frame. This class of campers usually have soft sides made of cloth. I have used popups for years as an alternative to hotels while on assignments around the country. Even did some camping in the middle of winter with snow on the ground in a popup. Needless to say, a heater was required and it ran all day and all night. At night it wasn’t able to keep up with the cold so the morning was a little fun getting out of bed. It was 20 degrees outside and about 50 inside.

That is a basic overview of the types of RV’s available. As mentioned before, Class A, Fifth wheel and Travel Trailers are the units that most people will find suitable for full-time living.

Our experiences with living full-time in an RV.

We currently have a fifth wheel. Ours is from Jayco and is 38 feet long with 3 slides. One slide is in the bedroom, the other two slides are in the living room one on each side of the trailer. After almost 3 years in the RV as full-timers, we both love it. My wife likes to say it takes less than an hour to clean from front to back, floor to ceiling.

Let’s start with the financial side of living in a RV. You have the cost of the RV. These are to be treated just like cars. If you buy new, you will take a beating on depreciation. However, like a home, the interest is tax deductible. So the best deal seems to be a unit that is a year or two old and financed. If you want to buy new, figure a discount of about 25-30% off from the list price. Our unit was a 2003 still on the lot in 2005 with the 2006 units being delivered. The sticker price was over ,000. We paid ,000 saving us about 38 percent. Now at the time we did not have a tow vehicle so the dealer delivered the fifth wheel to a near by campground.

Oak Grove in Hatfield, PA is a year round campground. This is important. You want to find a campground that offers year round operations. You don’t want to have to move out in the wintertime. A lot of camp grounds close from November to March or early April. When we started there our rent was 5 a month and included water and electric. Our only other expense was propane for heating and hot water. Oak Grove supplied 2- 100 lb propane tanks and they automatically changed the tanks for us. This is really nice, kind of like automatic oil delivery when you own a house. During the warmer months we hardly use any propane, maybe a bottle every other month if that. However, wintertime we will use 3-4 bottles a month due to the heater. Currently propane runs about a bottle. So from the standpoint of renting an apartment to living in an RV expenses are normally cheaper. My daughter pays 0 a month for an apartment near us and we pay on average 5-450.

Other benefits of living in a RV – people! The people you find camping are the most wonderful folks you will ever come across. They are friendly, helpful, young at heart and just plain nice to be around. We have been avid campers since before we were married. I used to sneak down to DE where my wife (girlfriend at the time) and her family were camping and pitch a tent, then make myself part of the family. In the almost 40 years we have been together and camping we have never met anyone that was rude, a thief, or not willing to lend a hand if asked. In fact we have had more offers of help without asking than anytime we lived in a house or apartment.

It’s funny, but when I traveled and stayed at hotels, you almost felt like a ghost or leopard or something. Heaven forbid if you said ‘hi’ to someone in the elevator or hallway. But when camping, everyone waves as you walk by, some will offer drinks or have you sit by the fire and chat for hours. Its like we are all family.

Speaking of fires, what is it about a campfire? To sit down at night around a nice campfire is so relaxing. Nothing needs to be said, just watch the flames and it seems all the stress just floats away. But campfires have another benefit, food. Nothing tastes better than food cooked over an open fire. Try doing that in an apartment.

Rving has another benefit, vacations. If you live in an apartment, you vacation consist of going to a destination, finding a hotel/motel, eating out every meal, and taking enough clothes with you for the length of the vacation. When you live in a RV, your home goes with you. 30-40 minutes to pack the RV, disconnect the utilities and hook up to the truck and you are on the road. When you get to your vacation destination, another 30-40 minutes and you are ready to enjoy the sites. Meals are not a problem, you have a complete kitchen already stocked just like at home, since it is home. On a special diet? No problem, you normal routine is uninterrupted. Clothes get dirty, a lot of RV come with washers and dryers, so you can do your laundry while relaxing in the evenings or before you get started for the day. Rving is usually cheaper too. When you compare the expenses you will find the RV trip is a lot cheaper than hotel/restaurant trip.

These are just a few of the things to consider when you look at living in an apartment verse living in a RV. I hope you have found the information useful.

RV Living Verses Apartment Living

Fema Has Campers For Sale Super Cheap – But Should You Buy One?

It will come as welcome news to many people. The trailers that FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) stockpiled in 2005 are again coming on the market for sale. Consumers have been buying them for a song.


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But should you hop on the buying bandwagon? Here’s a list of pros and cons.

The advantages:

Price: As I said, they’re going for a lark. The Washington Post reported an average sale price of ,367 on these trailers and mobile homes reputedly worth ,620 each. In other words, buyers are paying about 40 cents on the dollar.

Condition. Many trailers were hardly used. Some are like new.

Availability. As of their most recent post, FEMA claims an excess inventory of 120,000 units. They say they will be selling trailers and mobile homes for the next 3 years to clear inventory.

The disadvantages:

Price. The majority of the 10,839 travel trailers FEMA sold between July 24, 2006 and July 23, 2007 were sold as scrap. So tht’s , 936 for campers for sale and ,479 for mobile homes that you cannot live in.

Condition. Many trailers are not in great shape. Those sold in the past have been uninhabitable. Which, in FEMA parlance, meant they could be used only as office space or storage containers. It was FEMA’s way of handling the high levels of formaldehyde fumes given off by the building materials that you’ll recall stung the eyes of Katrina victims and gave them unremitting upper respiratory problems.

The units coming on sale now are not classified as scrap. They’re “repairable”. Generally, that means they need up to ,500 of work done to repair damage they suffered from sitting empty in damp places and being moved several times.

Availability. They are currently parked at an airport in Hope Kansas. And you have to pay to make them road worthy, and then to move them.

Our original question.

Should you buy one? Of course, the answer depends on where you are, how much you have to invest, and what you want to use it for.

FEMA campers are being scooped up monthly. The irony is that due to the economy, there are thousands of  campers for sale at auction each month from government surplus and seized  and repossessed inventory with starting bids as low as 0.  People just don’t know how to find them. There is no reason to ignore the FEMA campers. Just keep your eyes open for better deals on better RVs. They are out there and abundant.

Fema Has Campers For Sale Super Cheap – But Should You Buy One?