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.
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Happy RV Learning,
Mark Polk
Is your RV ready for the upcoming camping season?
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.
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.
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 
RV Storage Tip #1
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.
Question: We own a motorhome and my question is; when we are not using it, and this could be for several months at a time, should I start the engine periodically?
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.
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.
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.
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.
How much water should I add to my RV battery?
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 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 
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.
Whenever I discuss RV roof care and maintenance I like to start with the basics, washing the RV roof.
Welcome back to another issue of 
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:
Welcome back to another edition of 
Purchasing a Recreation Vehicle 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 buying decisions. I have witnessed many poor 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There has always been confusion when it comes to the type of tires used on travel trailers and 5th wheel trailers, or any type trailer for that matter. I think lots of folks are somewhat familiar with what are referred to as P-rated (passenger) or LT-rated (Light Truck) tire designations because that is what we use on our automobiles, SUVs and trucks. When you purchase a travel trailer or 5th wheel trailer and the time comes to purchase new tires people are confronted with a new type of tire designation, ST-rated or “Special Trailer” tires.
When summer temperatures arrive you want to make sure your RV refrigerator can deal with the heat. Today I would like to offer some tips and tricks so the RV refrigerator can do its job more efficiently.
Heat created by the cooling process is vented behind the refrigerator. Periodically inspect the back of the refrigerator and the roof vent for any obstructions like bird nests, leaves or other debris that might prevent heat from escaping. The outside temperature directly affects the operation and efficiency of your RV refrigerator too. When it’s hot out try parking your RV, with the side the refrigerator is on, in the shade.
In this special edition of RV Consumer Magazine readers can take a trip through RV time at the RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum, and read an informative article on how to protect your RV water system. You can also test your RV knowledge by playing a crossword puzzle on RV fresh water systems.
Question: I read an article you wrote about the ideal ratio of hitch weight to overall trailer weight. The numbers you gave for trailer tongue weight were 10 to 15% of the loaded trailer weight, and the reasons you stated made a lot of sense to me. Recently I was talking to an RV salesman at our local dealership and he claimed the ratio didn’t matter if you use a weight distributing hitch. I am not sure if he is correct or not. I would appreciate your take on his statement.
I get asked this question a lot. What are the pros and cons of covering your RV? My answer is always, the pros outweigh the cons 10 to 1. The only real cons I can think of is putting the cover on and taking it off.
Take a minute to think about the water system on your RV.
Your RV generator is powered by an internal combustion engine. When it comes to maintenance internal combustion engines need two things to operate properly and help prolong engine life; it needs fresh air and clean oil.
The first step is to start and run the generator for a couple of minutes. This warms the oil up making it easier to drain the crankcase. Just keep in mind the engine, oil filter and oil itself will be warm so be careful. Shut the engine off, place a drain pan under the oil drain plug or tube and drain the old oil.
One reason RV travel is so popular is you can travel with your pets. Today I would like to offer some tips to make RV travel with pets as comfortable as possible for you and your pets.
Welcome back to another edition of 
Water damage is at the top of my list for maintenance concerns on RVs, and most of the time it originates at the roof. There are numerous reasons for this. Every where the manufacturer cut a hole in the RV roof has the potential to leak, and everywhere the sidewalls and end caps meet the roof is another potential source for water leaks. When you add all of the twisting and flexing that takes place on the road it’s just a matter of time before sealants give way to water damage.
When you go camping you depend on your deep cycle batteries, especially if you are dry-camping. To make sure your batteries are up to the task and to help extend the life of your batteries there are a few simple preventive maintenance (PM) checks we can perform.
Getting to your favorite camping destination is half the fun as the saying goes, but getting there safely is the most important thing.
On the interior window frame you will notice numerous screws. These screws secure the clamp ring to the frame and seal the window. Using the correct screwdriver tip remove all of the screws. Keep in mind when the screws are removed the window is ready to come out, so it’s a good idea to have somebody outside too. If the sealant around the window is still good it might take a little effort to get the window out, but it will come. You might also notice some small spacers around the window frame. Make a mental note where the spacers are located for installation.
With the window and interior paneling removed I could assess the damage. In lots of cases it’s necessary to remove the corrugated aluminum sheeting from the exterior too, but the damage was minimal and I was able to make repairs to the window frame and wall from the interior. After the framing repairs were completed and new insulation was installed I cut and stapled new interior paneling to fit around the window opening. Now it’s time to re-install the window.
One common problem RV owners experience is odors coming from the black water holding tank. Most of the problem is associated with the way the RV toilet and black water holding tank is designed. RV holding tanks have a vent pipe going from the tank to the roof of the RV. The holding tank odors accumulate in the tank and can’t really be vented outside because there is no air pressure to help force the gasses (odors) up and out of the roof vent. When the air pressure is higher inside the holding tank, than it is inside the RV, the odor escapes into the RV by way of the toilet when you flush it. Some of this can’t be prevented but there are a couple things that help. One is to use plenty of water. The water level in your holding tank will help control odors. You need to get in the habit of adding more water to the holding tank whenever you flush the toilet. It is important you keep the water level above the contents of the holding tank to help control odors. And of course holding tank treatments help too. Another problem is people don’t add enough water after they empty the holding tanks. You need to know what size holding tank you have and make sure you add enough water to completely cover the bottom of the tank, at a minimum, every time you empty the tank. And there are aftermarket roof vents designed specifically to help pull the gasses from the tank and vent it outside.
After reading one of my articles a person wrote asking why I promote the use of a weather radio during RV trips. His logic was, in today’s world you have smart phones with weather apps, TV and satellite dishes. Why would you need a weather radio too?
We recently had a situation occur that reaffirms my thoughts on this subject. There was bad weather moving through the area where we live and the potential for tornadoes and flooding was high. We live in a remote area, away from cell phone towers and our phone reception is spotty at best. As the bad weather approached we lost our Direct TV satellite reception and the weather app on my phone did not work.
I plugged the weather radio in and set the audible alert notification. In less than 20 minutes of turning the radio on the alert sounded and a weather service warning, from a local National Weather Radio office reported a tornado was spotted less than 15 miles from our house. Needless to say without the weather radio we would not have a clue a tornado was spotted or the location and path of the tornado.
Today I want to talk briefly about RV tires. I cannot tell you how many times I hear tires get blamed for a tire blow-out. The truth is if you dig a little deeper the tire itself is usually not the cause for a blow-out.
As an RV owner it is your job to make sure the tires are properly inflated for the load. The first step is to determine the actual load that is on the tires. The only way to do that is to have the fully loaded RV weighed, preferably by individual wheel position. If you discover a tire is overloaded you need to lighten or redistribute the load. After you know the actual loads you can go to the tire manufacturer’s load and inflation tables to see what the correct inflation pressure for the load is. This inflation pressure might be different from the information on the certification label and that is okay, but keep in mind you should never exceed the maximum inflation pressure that is on the tires sidewall.
I have owned and camped in nearly every type of RV there is. When asked my favorite type RV my response is a motorhome, based on convenience, but a truck camper is my favorite for camping in general. I relate my passion for truck campers back to my days in the military. In 1984, as a young Maintenance Warrant Officer, I was stationed with the 3/36th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 3rd Armored Division in West Germany. This assignment would turn out to be one of the most challenging during my military career. The Cold War was still going strong, and we spent months out of the year deployed on field training exercises. My primary job was to keep all our assigned wheeled and tracked vehicles operational during this rigorous training schedule, and to oversee vehicle recovery operations.
Welcome back to another edition of 
If you’re like me you enjoy using your RV as much as possible throughout the year. This includes taking RV trips during the colder winter months so you can enjoy the beautiful winter scenery and activities like, snow-skiing, ice-fishing and snowmobiling. Winter RV trips are lots of fun, especially when you and the RV are prepared for the cold weather.
A problem I see at campgrounds, and that I get asked about frequently, is how to back a trailer into a campsite. Backing a trailer is perhaps the most nerve-racking part of owning a travel trailer or 5th wheel trailer. For some RV owners just the thought of backing the trailer prevents them from taking trips and enjoying their RV. Based on my observations at campgrounds backing a trailer has probably contributed to more than one failed marriage too.
Mark Polk
