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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: campground hook ups, RV, RV campground, RV campground connections, RV electrical adapters, RV extension cords, RV fater filter, RV hook ups, RV leveling, RV sewer hoses, RV surge protection, RV water regulator

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:59 am

Upgrade your RV Antenna with a HD Digital RV Antenna

Last year I started having problems with our old bat wing style TV antenna on the RV, so I decided to replace it with a digital RV antenna. After some research on the topic I decided to go with the Rayzar Z1 HD digital RV antenna by Winegard. There were several reasons I selected this antenna. It is low profile, lightweight and it picks up free HD channels wherever you travel. Another reason I selected this antenna is because it can replace the existing antenna with minimal effort.

You can purchase the Rayzar z1 as a complete unit or as the antenna head with adapter. It would be easier and less expensive to go with the antenna head that retrofits directly to the existing antenna, but as I mentioned earlier our antenna has seen better days so I opted to go with the complete unit.

Caution: Exercise caution when you are working on the RV roof, a fall can result in serious injury or worse. If you are not comfortable working on the RV roof have the work done by a qualified RV service facility.

The first step was to remove the old antenna. I use a plastic scraping tool to remove the old sealant and access the mounting screws. Whenever you remove old sealant from a rubber roof be extremely careful not to tear the rubber roofing. Remove all of the sealant and the mounting screws, but do not attempt to remove the antenna before you remove the antenna handle on the inside of the RV.

Go inside the RV and remove the old antenna handle. Remove the Allen screw from the handle using the correct size Allen wrench. After the handle is removed the entire assembly can be removed from the ceiling.

Go back on the roof to remove the old antenna. Disconnect the coax cable and carefully separate the antenna from the roof. In most cases there will be putty tape under the antenna base. I use the plastic scraping tool to work around the base releasing the old sealant. Try not to tear the roofing material. After the antenna is removed clean any remaining sealant that was under the antenna base. As a final step I like to clean the roof surface with some denatured alcohol on a rag. Do not pour the alcohol directly on the roof surface.

If this was a new installation this is where you would select a location for the new antenna and drill a hole through the roof. Since I am replacing the existing antenna the hole is already there.

The instructions state to position the antenna in the hole with the arrow on the base plate facing the front of the RV, and draw an outline around the antenna base. The outline is used so you can apply an approved sealant around the inside surface of the line to seal the antenna base to the roof when it is installed. I prefer to apply the sealant directly on the antenna base so I know the screw holes are covered and I will get a good seal.

Connect the coax cable from the RV to the coax on the new antenna following the instructions. Position the antenna on the roof with the arrow at the base of the antenna facing the front of the RV.

There are screws provided to secure the antenna to the roof. I tighten the screws until I start to see the butyl tape ooze out around the edges. Remove any exposed butyl tape and apply an approved sealant over the screw heads and around the base of the antenna. This antenna has a smaller footprint than the original antenna so there were two existing screw holes in the roof that were not covered by the new antenna base. I added some sealant over the screw holes and as a precautionary measure I will add some roof sealing tape over the sealant after it cures.

You are finished on the roof. The remainder of the installation is done inside the RV. Install the plastic extrusion in the hole and rotate it until the keys line up with the bottom of the antenna. With the keys aligned push the extrusion up until it bottoms out. Check to make sure the antenna rotates and follow the instructions to cut the extrusion to the proper length for your ceiling.

Follow the instructions to assemble the new handle and install the handle using the screws provided. Test the operation of the handle by pushing up on the handle and rotating it in either direction. The antenna on the roof should rotate as the handle is turned.

If this were a new installation the next step would be to install the provided wall plate and make the 12 volt DC power connections and the coax cable connections. Since I am replacing the existing antenna I already have a video switch box to make my coax cable connections.

After all of the connections are made turn the TV on and follow the TV’s instructions and perform a channel scan in the antenna mode. The new HD digital RV antenna will access local HD and digital broadcast channels in the area. To maximize the number of channels you receive you can fine tune the position of the antenna by rotating the handle.

Note: If you still have an analog television in your RV you will need a digital TV converter box to access local HD and digital broadcast channels.

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV products, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: digital antenna for RVs, how to install a RV antenna, RV antenna, RV HD antenna, RV TV antenna installation, Winegard TV antenna for RV

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:09 am

RV Spring Preparation Checks

Is your RV ready for the upcoming camping season?

When I park our RV after the last trip of the season I look forward to this time of year rolling around again, time to go camping. Last winter I was a little lazy and put the RV in storage knowing there were some maintenance related issues that would need to be addressed this spring. When you combine those items with routine spring preparation checks you need to dedicate some time to get the RV ready to go camping again.

If you follow my work you have more-than-likely heard me use the term preventive maintenance. I spent an entire career in the Army teaching young soldiers the value of preventive maintenance, and a second career passing the same valuable lessons on to RV owners. For those of you not familiar with the term, preventive maintenance is maintenance you perform on your RV, automobile, house or anything else before a problem exists. Preventive maintenance checks are designed to prevent or identify potential problems that could lead to mechanical breakdown, malfunction, or failure of a component or system on your RV. It consists of cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, adjusting and servicing your RV.

To go one step further with my explanation I like to explain that a lack of preventive maintenance and/or scheduled maintenance will eventually result in emergency maintenance. For example, if you don’t check the air pressure in your tires (preventive maintenance) the under-inflated tire over heats and prematurely fails resulting in (emergency maintenance). Emergency maintenance usually leaves you stranded alongside the road, not exactly how you want to start the first RV trip of the season!

To learn more check out our RV Care & Preventive Maintenance Video Course

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Batteries, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV 101 tips & tricks, RV check up, RV checklist, RV maintenance, RV maintenance tips and hints, RV spring checks, RV spring preparation checks, RV videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:42 am

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 12:31 pm

RV Extension Cords and Power Cords

Sometimes when you camp in your RV the RV power cord is not long enough to reach the campground electrical connection. When this happens you need an extension cord that is compatible with the electrical system on your RV. Valterra Products has you covered with their full line of Mighty Cord RV extension cords and detachable power cords.

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Electrical System, RV products, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: 30 amp RV extension cords, 50 amp RV extension cords, Mighty Cord RV Extension Cords, RV extension cords, RV power cords

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:08 am

RV Awning Care & Maintenance

Awnings are a great feature to have on your RV. There are several different types of RV awnings and they serve different purposes. There are window and door awnings that provide shade and keep rain away from your RV windows or entry door. There are slide-out awnings that protect the slide-out roof from debris and water. And there are patio awnings. Patio awnings extend the living area of our outdoor world. Similar to the front porch of your home, the patio awning provides us with shade and cover from a light rain when we want to sit and enjoy the great outdoors.

The awnings on your RV will provide years of reliable trouble free operation, if you take the time to do a little preventive maintenance and cleaning.

Perhaps the most important component of an awning is the fabric. Fabric used on RV awnings is one of two types, acrylic or vinyl. Acrylic fabric is a woven cloth that lets air circulate through the fabric. This air circulation allows the fabric to dry quickly when it gets wet. Acrylic fabrics are water repellent, but not waterproof. Vinyl awning fabric is mildew resistant, but not necessarily mildew proof. Mildew can form on the dirt and dust that collects on the fabric. It will be worse in high temperatures, humidity and if the fabric is stored when it is wet.

Some awnings have an aluminum or vinyl wrap-around weather guard that protects the awning fabric when it’s in the travel position. When you open the awning for the first time each year, or if it has been stored for a while, you will need to inspect the awning fabric for any signs of mildew or stains. Remember vinyl awnings will mildew. To prevent dirt from embedding into the woven fabric of an acrylic awning fabric you should simply hose the fabric off on a monthly basis. Avoid scrubbing acrylic awning fabric. Scrubbing can remove the water retardant finish. For stubborn stains blot the approved cleaner on the acrylic fabric with a sponge or soft cloth.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: how to maintain an RV awning, RV awning care, RV awning maintenance, RV awning operation, RV awnings

Posted by: Mark Polk | 12:05 pm

RV Trip Planning Checklist

When you are getting ready to take a trip in your RV there are lots of things that need to be done. Planning the trip itself can be overwhelming. Travel guides, magazines, state tourism boards and Internet sites offer valuable information to help you plan your next RV trip. To help make planning your trips a little easier I wrote this trip planning checklist. This is an excerpt from my Checklist for RVers e-book

Here are some tips to help you plan for your next RV trip:

Route your trip on a GPS designed for use in RVs or from an Internet trip planning site.
Plan your itinerary to include what campgrounds you plan to stay at.
Give a family member or a friend a copy of your itinerary and contact information.
Make campground reservations well in advance, especially during the peak travel season.

Limit your traveling to 350 miles a day or less. Not only will your trip be more enjoyable, but this will allow plenty of time to get set-up at the campground before it gets dark outside.
Make sure your emergency roadside service plan is up to date. If you don’t have an ESP you should consider getting one prior to leaving on your trip.
Check and refill any prescription medications you will need for the duration of the trip.
If you’re under a doctor’s care take a copy of your medical records.

Check the weather conditions where you will be traveling each day. Add a good weather app to your smart phone if you don’t already have one. Your phone may not always get a signal so take a weather radio receiver with you.
Don’t travel in the RV when there is bad weather, or during periods of high winds.
Add emergency contacts or other important phone numbers to the contact list in your phone.
Take a spare set of eyeglasses or reading glasses.
Take a spare set of keys for the RV and tow vehicle if applicable.
Make sure you have all your owner’s manuals and warranty information for the RV.
Take passports (if necessary) and check expiration dates.
Take a copy of your extended service contract in the event you need repairs on the road. If you don’t have an extended service plan you might want to consider getting one, especially for extended RV trips.

Conduct pre-trip checklists on your RV and on the tow vehicle if applicable.
Make sure everything is loaded in the RV.
Complete the home security checklist.
Make one final walk-around of the RV.
Have a safe trip!

This trip planning checklist does not cover everything required to plan an RV trip, but it’s a good start. You can add to this list to tailor it to your specific needs. For more checklists like this check out our Checklist for RVers e-book

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: how to plan an RV trip, RV 101 checklists, RV checklists, RV destinations, RV trip planning, RV trip planning checklist, RV trips

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:14 am

RV DIY Floor Covering Project

img_20161201_094738833

Today we’re going to tackle an RV floor covering do-it-yourself project in our used RV project 5th wheel trailer.

Click here to watch other DIY videos on our used RV project 5th wheel trailer.

The original floor covering in the RV is showing some age and we thought it would be a fun weekend project to replace it. When it was time to decide on a new floor covering we wanted something that was rated for commercial traffic, and that looked good too. After some research I found Infinity Luxury Woven Vinyl. Infinity LWV products are popular in the marine industry and they are making a presence in the RV industry too. Infinity offers numerous collections of luxury woven vinyl products in more than 100 colors. We decided on the Linen luxury fabric because it highlights some of the RV’s interior treatments. img_20161201_094755033_hdr

Infinity luxury woven vinyl is anti-microbial, soil and stain resistant, fade resistant and easy to clean. It has a dense cushion backing, and its pet friendly which is great for us. Here is how we installed Infinity LWV flooring in the RV.

The first step of the pre-installation process was to determine where we wanted the new flooring and then remove the existing flooring, which in our case included carpet and vinyl.

With that done we can start on the installation. It’s important to note when you work with this product it must be rolled face out, with the cushion in. Do not crease the fabric at all. The warranty is voided if it is rolled wrong, creased, or if the product was cut, fitted or installed. Let’s get started.

Note: Prior to cutting the product inspect it for any problems. If the fabric does not meet your expectations contact Infinity’s customer support.

Preparing the Floor for Installation

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Posted in RV products, RV Training, Uncategorized | Tags: infinity lwv flooring, RV DIY, RV DIY articles

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:20 am

Top 5 RV Storage Tips

When temperatures drop we winterize our RVs so we won’t have problems next spring, but winterizing your RV is only part of preparing the RV for winter storage. Lots of folks don’t think about it, but proper RV storage procedures are just as important as winterizing the RV’s plumbing system.

Here are my top 5 RV storage tips:

These RV storage tips do not cover everything you need to be concerned about when storing your RV, but it’s a good start.

RV Storage Tip #1
When preparing the unit for storage I always wash the exterior and clean the interior thoroughly. Make sure all awning fabric is clean and dry before stowing the awnings. This is a good time to inspect all of the roof seams, body seams and window sealant for any cracks or openings that would let water penetrate the surface. Water can get in the smallest openings so it’s important that you closely inspect all of the sealants. Consult your RV owner’s manual or RV dealer for sealants compatible with any surfaces you are resealing.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Batteries, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires | Tags: how to store your RV, RV maintenance, RV storage covers, RV storage tips, RV storage tips and tricks, RV winterizing, Storing your RV

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:00 am

RV Tire Inflation Question

Question: Can you tell me the correct pressure to inflate my RV tires to prior to taking a road trip? My travel trailer tires show a max psi of 70lbs on the tire’s sidewall. I can’t seem to get a straight answer from our local shops, and I want to make sure I don’t overheat or damage them. Thanks for any information you can provide.

Mark’s Answer:

This can be a bit confusing, but I’ll try and explain it. Tire manufacturers publish tire load and inflation tables for the tires they manufacture. In a perfect world you would know what the actual load placed on the tire is and you could go to the load and inflation tables for precise inflation pressures based on that load.

Of course things never work out that way. Since we know this isn’t always practical there are a couple methods to help determine tire inflation pressure. On the front left corner of the travel trailer you will find a Federal Certification Tag or label and a Tire and Loading Information label. These labels display information on tire inflation pressure, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The tire inflation you see on this label is based on the trailer’s designed load limits. If no additional weight is placed on tires this inflation pressure is accurate. The question is how much weight is placed on each individual tire? The only way to answer that is to have the RV weighed by individual tire position. If you can’t or don’t weigh the RV by individual tire position using the information on the certification label is the next best thing.

The inflation pressure molded into the sidewall of the tire is the maximum amount of air pressure you can ever inflate the tire to if a full load was placed on the tire. You can locate the maximum load range on the tires sidewall.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: how much air do I put in RV tires, RV tire care, RV tire inflation, RV tire maintenance, RV tire pressure

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:14 am

RV Consumer E-Magazine November 2016

rv-consumer-magazine-cover-november-2016 Welcome back to another edition of RV Consumer E-Magazine. In this cold weather issue Mark discusses important topics like winterizing your RV, cold weather maintenance and RV storage. This issue also features a fall and winter camping tips article and three RV videos of the month.

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Happy Camping,
RV Education 101

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Batteries, RV Campgrounds, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, RV Types | Tags: cold weather camping tips, Cold weather RV tips, RV magazine, RV maintenance, rv storage, RV tips, RV winterizing

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:03 am

How to Apply RV Sealants

Periodic roof inspections and maintenance can extend the life to your RV roof, and the work is not difficult for RV owner’s to perform.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: how to apply RV sealants, how to reseal RV roof, RV roof care, RV roof maintenance, RV roof sealants, RV sealants

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:00 am

Is your RV Sewer Hose Long Enough?

Have you ever arrived at your camping destination only to realize the RV sewer hose wasn’t long enough to reach the sewer drain outlet? I think this happens to most of us eventually. To help solve the problem I recommend keeping some RV sewer extension hoses on hand in the RV.

There are several different types and sizes of extension hoses available.

For starters lots of RVs have offset drain outlets inside the sewer compartment making it difficult to connect to the RV drain outlet itself. There are 2-foot extension hoses, referred to as compartment hoses to help solve this problem. Some of these extension hoses have built-in rotating fittings making it easy to connect to those tight compartment fittings.

The day will surely arrive when you need additional length hose to reach the campground drain outlet. There are 5 and 10-foot extension hoses available to add length to your sewer hose. Connecting two hoses together is easy with the standard bayonet fittings.

Keep in mind you get what you pay for; like everything else some RV sewer hoses are better than others. The vinyl wrap the hose is made of comes in different thicknesses, and heavier vinyl hoses are less prone to pin holes and wear. Some RV sewer hoses are made with better connectors for a secure leak- free connection at the campground.

You will be glad you have extension hoses on hand when you need them. I personally keep a 2-foot, 5-foot and 10-foot extension hose in the RV, in addition to a 20-foot drain hose. Research the various brands of extension hoses available and purchase a couple different size hoses just in case. If your RV travels take you to different campgrounds I can almost guarantee you will need extension hoses someday. Watch the video

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: RV campground connections, RV essential items, RV holding tank maintenance, RV sewer extension hose, RV sewer hook up, RV sewer hoses

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:50 am

RV Consumer E-Magazine October 2016

rv-consumer-magazine-cover-oct-2016 In our special RV 2017 edition of RV Consumer e-Magazine take an inside look at new 2017 RV makes and models inside America’s largest RV Show with Mark Polk. Read Mark’s interview with John Serro’s grandson about the new vintage style Serro Scotty trailer line being reintroduced in 2017, and read a review on Dometic’s new dual zone portable refrigerator/freezer that can refrigerate and freeze food at the same time.Get all of this and more in this issue of RV Consumer e-Magazine.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: 2017 rvs, hershey rv show, motorhome, new RVs, RV magazine, RV show, travel trailer

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:10 am

How Much Water Should I Add To My RV Battery?

How much water should I add to my RV battery?

That’s a good question, but before I answer your question let’s talk briefly about checking the electrolyte levels in your lead-acid batteries. Checking the water level in lead-acid battery cells on a regular basis can save, and extend the life of your RV batteries. The more a battery is used and/or charged the more water evaporates from the cells. I recommend checking the water level monthly and after each RV trip. If you leave the RV plugged in, constantly charging the battery, you should check the water levels bi-monthly.

Next it’s important to know you only add water to a fully charged battery, unless the water level is already below the plates in the cell. If the water level is below the plates add just enough water to cover the plates and recharge the battery. When a battery is fully charged the water level is at the most accurate level. This is when you should check battery water levels.

Note: If you are not comfortable working on or near lead-acid batteries have a qualified RV repair facility perform the battery maintenance for you. When you work around batteries wear goggles and gloves, remove all jewelry and do not smoke or use any open flames.

To answer your question when you add water to a battery you only fill the cell to 1/8 inch below the bottom of the fill-well or split-ring. If you look inside the battery cell you will see a plastic ring that extends down inside the cell roughly 1 inch. This is what is referred to as the fill-well or split-ring. The electrolyte solution in lead-acid batteries is a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. If you add too much water a couple things will happen that can be detrimental to the battery and to you.

Adding too much water can deplete the required electrolyte solution of acid and water resulting in compromised battery performance.
Adding too much water will result in corrosion caused by overflow during charging. Sulfuric acid is extremely corrosive and can can ruin paint, burn your skin and damage clothing.

Over filling a battery is bad, but even worse is when a battery is under-watered. When a battery is not recharged in a timely or when the plates are not covered by the electrolyte solution the plates begin to sulfate. The sulfate material attaches to the discharged or exposed portions of the plates and begins to harden into crystals. Eventually the sulfate material cannot be converted back into active plate material and the battery is ruined. Battery sulfation is the number one cause of battery failure. Always make sure the plates are covered by the electrolyte solution. When you add water to a battery only use mineral free water, distilled water is best.

Follow these basic battery maintenance procedures and add years of life to your lead acid RV and automobile batteries. For more information on RV batteries, check our RV Battery Care & Maintenance E-book course

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Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk
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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Batteries, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training | Tags: add water to RV battery, battery electrolyte, RV battery maintenance, RV battery safety, RV battery sulfation, RV battery tips, watering RV batteries

Posted by: Mark Polk | 6:41 am

Portable Refrigerator/Freezer for Camping, Backyard BBQs & Sporting Events

When I was a teenager and went tent camping in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania we packed coolers with ice to keep our food cold and frozen. I remember making runs to the local country store every couple days to pick up more bags of ice for the coolers.

Those days are long gone. Now when we go camping, tailgating, to a sporting event or on RV trips we take a portable refrigerator/freezer by Dometic. They come in a variety of sizes (from 28 to 95 liters) and with numerous options to meet your specific needs. If you are on-the-go and need to keep drinks or food cold or frozen these portable refrigerator/freezers by Dometic are essential equipment.

We started with a smaller portable unit and when our needs changed we checked out the new CFX-95DZUS Dual-Zone Portable Refrigerator & Freezer. It is loaded with features and options, but the most unique feature is the separate compartments so you can refrigerate and freeze at the same time. One compartment is 54 liters and the other compartment is 40.5 liters for a total storage capacity of 94.5 liters. The dual-zone feature is available in the CFX-65DZUS and CFX-95DZUS models. On the CFX-95DZUS model you can set either compartment anywhere from -8 degrees F to +50 degrees F so you can make either the 54 Liter side or the 40.5 liter side freeze or refrigerate (or both sides freeze or both sides refrigerate).

It comes with removable wire baskets for easy loading & cleaning. The CFX-95DZUS holds 117 12-oz. cans so keeping your kids entire sports team hydrated, or keeping beverages cold for an outdoor party is easy. It also features a dairy compartment for perishables.

The tough and tested exterior is made to endure the harshest outdoor environments. It has durable latches, hinges, and drop-down handles designed to stand the test of time. It operates on 12-volt and 24-volt DC power or 120-volt AC power. Just plug it in and the powerful but energy efficient compressor starts cooling immediately. There is a USB port to charge a mobile device, and it has a built-in battery protection feature that can be set to Hi, Med, or Low when you are using 12VDC. This feature prevents the vehicle battery from draining if the 12-volt outlet stays powered when the vehicle is not running.

The features don’t stop there. When it is turned on you will notice a digital temperature display and a soft-touch control panel. The temperature an be set from -8°F to +50°F (-22°C to +10°C). The memory feature maintains presets if the system is turned off and there is a quick-chill turbo feature too.

The CFX-95DZUS model also has an iOS & Android app to control the portable cooler functions with your smartphone. I mentioned earlier that these portable refrigerator freezers are great for RV trips, back yard BBQs, sporting events, camping and tailgating. If you are active and on-the-go and need to keep food and drinks cold or frozen check out these versatile portable refrigerator/freezers by Dometic

Happy Camping,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV products, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: coolers for camping, Dometic portable refrigerator freezer, dometic rv products, portable coolers, portable freezer, portable refrigerator freezer

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:00 am

Polk’s Top 10 RV Battery Tips

This article pertains to deep-cycle lead-acid batteries used in RV applications. Properly maintained deep-cycle batteries should last for 6 or more years. Unfortunately some RV owners replace RV batteries every year or two. Extending battery life is not that difficult, it just requires some basic care & maintenance.

Today I would like to offer my top 10 tips to extend the life of your RV and automobile lead acid batteries.

Caution: Always keep safety in mind when working around lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries contain sulfuric acid that is extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns or blindness. The hydrogen gas produced by lead-acid batteries during charging is very explosive. When you work around batteries you need to wear goggles, gloves and remove any jewelry. Do not smoke or use any open flames around batteries

Polk’s Top 10 RV Battery Tips

Routine maintenance and recharging a discharged battery as soon as possible will extend the life of the battery. The leading cause of dead lead-acid batteries is sulfation. When a battery is in a low state-of-charge, small crystals start forming on the plates (sulfation) and if it remains in this condition for an extended period of time, without recharging, the battery is ruined. Sulfation starts when a battery’s state of charge drops below 80%, or 12.4 volts. Recharging a battery in a timely manner helps prevent sulfation.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Batteries, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: dead RV batteries, deep cycle battery cycling, deep cycle battery tips, RV battery charging, RV battery maintenance, RV battery tips

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:00 am

How To Clean Your RV Roof

Whenever I discuss RV roof care and maintenance I like to start with the basics, washing the RV roof.

Caution: Safety first, whenever you are working on your RV roof exercise caution. A wet roof can be extremely slippery and a fall can result in serious injury or death.

I personally use Dicor’s Rubber Roof Cleaner, but regardless of the cleaner you choose never use products that contain petroleum distillates, citric ingredients or harsh abrasives on your RV roof. These chemicals will damage rubber roof membranes.

I like to start at the front of the RV roof and work towards the back of the RV. Start by rinsing the roof to remove any loose dirt or debris. Next, spray the roof cleaner on the roof surface. I use a medium bristle brush attached to a broom handle, but you can use a sponge or other cleaning cloth if you prefer.

I like to work in 3 X 3 foot sections at a time. Scrub the roof surface in a circular motion so the cleaner can really work into the roof’s surface. After a section is cleaned rinse it thoroughly with water.

Note: It’s a good idea to keep the sides of the RV wet so rinsing the cleaner from the roof’s surface does not leave any streaks or stains on the sides, front or rear of the RV.

It may be necessary to repeat the cleaning process on stubborn stains, or on a roof that has not been cared for properly.

That’s really all there is to cleaning your RV roof, and this simple preventive care and maintenance procedure can add years of life to your RV roof.

Watch the RV roof cleaning video here

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: clean and protect your RV roof, how to clean your RV roof, RV roof care and maintenance, RV roof cleaning tips, RV rubber roof maintenance

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:47 am

RV Consumer e-Magazine September 2016

Welcome back to another issue of RV Consumer e-Magazine

In this issue read Mark’s assessment of who is responsible for what when it comes to trucks towing trailers, discover some simple portable RV satellite solutions, and read a guest contributors informative article titled, Camp Hosts – Who We Are & What We Do. And don’t miss watching the featured RV videos of the month. All of this and more…

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Read this issue in a digital flipbook format

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV History, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: camp hosts, campground hosts, RV consumer magazine, RV magazine, RV satellite information, RV satellite tips and tricks, trailer towing topics, trucks towing trailers

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:00 am

What kind of RV Roof do I Have?

It’s important you know what type of RV roof you have so you can properly clean and maintain the roof. For the most part there are two categories RV synthetic roofs fall into:

1) Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer or EPDM

2) Thermal Poly Olefin or TPO.

You may have heard various techniques for determining the type of rubber roof you have, but you need a sure-fire method, so there are no questions left unanswered.

You should be able to locate this information in the RV owner’s manual. If not, the easiest method I know is to go inside the RV and locate an overhead roof vent. Using the proper type screwdriver remove the vent trim ring. Most RV manufacturers will leave a section of the roofing material stapled to the inside of each side of the framed vent opening. If possible remove a staple so you can look at both sides of the roofing material. If one side is a white or a dove color and the other side is black it is EPDM. If the roofing material is all one color, top and bottom, it is TPO. Some TPO roofing has a fleece backing too, but the thing to remember is if the roofing material is all one color it is TPO.

If your RV roofing is EPDM, and you want to make repairs or touch-up the sealants you can use Dicor lap sealant.

If your RV roofing is TPO you need to do a bit more research prior to using any sealants. Beginning in 2011 new forms of TPO roofing entered the RV marketplace. Basically if the TPO roofing was manufactured in 2010 or earlier or if it has a fleece backing you can use Dicor lap sealant for repairs and resealing. If the TPO roofing was manufactured in 2011 or later, or if it does not have a fleece backing you need to use the Dicor Ultra Sealant System for resealing and repairs.

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: EPDM RV roof, RV roof maintenance, RV roof sealing, RV roof types, RV rubber roofs, TPO RV roof

Posted by: Mark Polk | 6:22 am

RV Consumer Magazine August 2016

RV Consumer Magazine cover August 2016 Welcome back to another edition of RV Consumer Magazine.

In this month’s issue discover another side of RVing referred to as park model living and destination camping. If your RV has an onboard generator, or you own and use a portable generator don’t miss the RV generator 15 minute tune-up article, and watch this month’s featured video titled 10 Tips for Hot Weather RVing.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: how to stay cool in RV, RV destination camping, RV generator service, RV magazine, RV park models, tips for hot weather RVing

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:00 am

What to Avoid When Buying an RV

Purchasing a Recreation Vehicle (RV) is the second largest purchase many people will make in their lifetime. When you make the decision to spend that kind of money, it’s important you make wise RV buying decisions. I have witnessed many poor RV buying decisions during my time in this industry and I would like to offer some pointers on how you can avoid some of these pitfalls.

First on my list is making a hasty buying decision. What this means is purchasing an RV without doing any research beforehand. Hasty buying decisions are common in a high pressure selling environments. This is especially true when a salesperson tells you prices are only good for today, or once this model is gone we can’t get another one like it. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment. Lots of folks purchase RVs at RV shows where the excitement level is high only to discover later it is the wrong type, too big, too small or too expensive. Whatever the circumstances are, a hasty buying decision can be a costly mistake.

That leads me to the next mistake people make. When I sold RVs it was common for people to be a bit intimidated by the size of RVs. The thought of towing a 30-foot trailer can be intimidating, so RV buyers decide on a 24-foot model instead. I tried to explain to folks, when you tow a trailer you don’t really notice a difference between a 24-foot or 30-foot trailer. Sure it is heavier, but with the proper tow vehicle and hitch components the length of the trailer is not a major factor to base the RV buying decision on. This is true with motorhomes too. I can’t tell you how many people purchase an RV and after driving or towing it came back to the dealership wanting something larger. This is another expensive proposition.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: Buying RV, match truck to RV trailer, RV buying tips, RV shows, RV towing tips, RV types, types of RVs, what to avoid when buying an RV

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:03 am

Winegard Carryout G2+ Portable RV Satellite Solution

My favorite pastime is traveling the country in our RV. I enjoy visiting new and interesting places, and experiencing new adventures in the RV. I also enjoy keeping up with my favorite satellite programming during our RV road trips. There is nothing quite like settling in the RV at night and watching your favorite show or a good movie on TV. The last thing you want to do is ruin your evening trying to set-up the satellite antenna, or acquire a good signal.

What I want in our RV is a super simple portable RV satellite solution. After some research I discovered the Carryout G2+ automatic satellite antenna by Winegard.

Let’s start by looking at a few concerns you might encounter with RV travel and satellite TV reception:

Ease of set-up
Accessing the satellite signal
Viewing TV using more than one satellite receiver

Ease of Set-Up

If you’re like me you don’t want headaches and stress when it comes to setting up a satellite system in the RV.

Switches to change satellite provider

I found the Carryout G2+ set-up to be really easy. You make a few simple connections and before you know it you are watching your favorite TV program. The G2+ system is compatible with multiple satellite providers. We use Direct TV and that is the default setting on the power inserter, but it can easily be changed. Just follow the settings in the instructions to change the switches to a different provider.

g2 connections Next you simply connect the supplied 25’ coax between the G2+ and the power inserter, connect the 3’ coax between the power inserter and your receiver, and connect an HDMI or coax from the receiver to the TV. After the connections are made power up the receiver, the TV and the power inserter and the automatic antenna will start searching for a signal. That’s all there is to it. It literally took less than 20 minutes to set the system up right out of the box.

Accessing the Satellite Signal

One thing I really like about the Carryout G2+ is that it’s portable.

roof mount hardware It works great for RVs, and it can be used on other camping trips, for tailgating, backyard BBQs and more. The G2+ also offers several mounting options. Some options include temporary tripod and window mounts and there are more permanent roof, ladder and vehicle mounts. My primary goal was to use the G2+ on the RV so I opted to convert the portable Carryout G2+ into a permanent roof mount using the roof mount kit available from Winegard.

sat on roof The G2+ features the latest technology in satellite acquisition. It is small, but powerful and it is fully automatic. What that means is after the connections are made the automatic antenna quickly goes to work locating the maximum signal strength. Keep in mind if there are trees, buildings or other obstacles in the path no satellite antenna will get a signal, but with a clear unobstructed view to the southern sky the G2+ quickly locks in on the strongest signal.

Viewing TV using more than one Receiver

For the past 8 years or so we used and enjoyed an older Winegard satellite antenna on our RV. It works great, but one disadvantage is you can only connect the antenna to one satellite receiver in the RV. This meant if someone was watching TV in the living room and someone else was watching TV in the bedroom both viewers had to watch the same channel. When we decided to upgrade the antenna one requirement was the new antenna needs to have the capability to connect to two receivers in the RV.

sat The Carryout G2+ solved this concern too. The antenna has two output connectors, one for the main receiver connection and another for a second receiver. You simply run a separate coax from the second antenna port to another receiver in the RV. Now you can view any program you want on both TVs as long as both programs are on the same satellite.

If a portable satellite antenna is the best choice for you, based on your needs, I highly recommend the Winegard Carryout G2+. It works great for someone on-the-go and as a temporary or permanently mounted antenna for your RV. The G2+ is compact in size, easy to connect, and easy to use. It really is a super simple portable satellite solution.

For more information on the Winegard Carryout G2+ and other satellite solutions visit www.winegard.com

Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk