RV 101® / RV Education 101®

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, General, RV History, RV products, RV trivia, RV Types | Tags: 2014 winnebago, New Winnebago Brave, Winnebago Brave, Winnebago Flying W, Winnebago Industries

Posted by: Mark Polk | 3:50 pm

RV Driving Tip – The 2 Second Rule

I think most drivers have heard of “the 2-second rule”, but what does it really mean? It is a simple rule to help you maintain a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. When you stay at least 2-seconds behind the vehicle in front of you it helps reduce accidents.

But, what about when you are driving or towing an RV?

The way I was taught the 2-second rule is, it is 1-second for every 10-feet of vehicle length. The average length for a vehicle you drive is 20-feet, hence the 2 second rule. If we use this as a formula a 40-foot RV would need to stay at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front of them. Try to remember 1-second for every 10-feet of vehicle length.

During periods of adverse weather you need to increase this following distance based on road conditions. If the roads are wet multiply your safe following distance by 4, and if there is snow or ice multiply your safe following distance by 10.

Be safe and have a great camping season

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Destinations, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV 101 safety tips, RV 101 tips, RV driving safety, RV driving skills, RV driving tips and hints, the 2 second rule, the two second rule

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:05 am

RV Consumer E Magazine May 2014

Welcome back to another edition of RV Consumer Magazine May 2014, your premier provider for RV education and information.

Along with May flowers comes warmer weather, and for RV enthusiasts that means one thing, camping season has arrived. In the last issue of RV Consumer Magazine Mark concentrated on preparing your RV to go camping. In this issue he reviews all the RV safety stuff prior to heading out on your first RV trip of the season. The new digital magazine format includes lots of helpful RV how-to videos that play right in the magazine, and don’t miss Mark’s article on how to deal with all types of RV odors. Read all of this and much more in the May edition of RV Consumer Magazine:

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Maintenance, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training | Tags: Free Digital RV Magazine, RV consumer, RV consumer magazine, rv education, RV Education 101, RV how to

Posted by: Mark Polk | 6:26 am

Tents for Troops T4T Camping Program

Conger family enjoying T4T Photo courtesy T4T

As a small token of appreciation for what our active duty men and women do for their country an organization called Tents for Troops (T4T), founded by Charlie Curry, is attempting to help provide some well deserved camping R&R for our soldiers. The type of camping T4Ts is helping provide is far from those miserable conditions soldiers endure when deployed and living in field conditions, trust me been there done that got the tee-shirt.

The Tents for Troops web site locates RV parks and campgrounds across America that are willing to offer free camping for active duty military personnel. The way it works is an RV park or campground owner commits to a minimum of two RV/campsites for two nights, “Two sites, Two nights” (owners have the option of providing more than two sites) Active duty military personnel wishing to stay at the park or campground can then call and make reservations for a site at no charge. There are tent and RV sites available.

The Tents for Troops web site offers a map of the US depicting participating RV park and campground locations and the guidelines troops need to follow to use this free camping service. The site also provides information on how RV parks and campgrounds can join the program and help show their support for our active duty US military personnel.

If you know an RV park or campground owner that might be interested in participating in this program pass the information along or visit the tents for troops web site.

Happy RV Learning
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: free camping for active duty military, free camping program, RV campgrounds, RV parks and campgrounds, T4T, tent camping, Tents for Troops, Tents for Troops camping program

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:17 am

RV Consumer Magazine April 2014

RV Consumer Magazine is the leading digital RV e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, qualified RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education. Please share RV Consumer with all of your RVing friends!

This month’s issue of RV Consumer Magazine features two RV spring preparation articles to help get your RV ready for the 2014 camping season, and don’t miss my article on The Evolution of RV Slide-Outs. In addition to these informative RV articles you can learn more about your RV with our RV how to videos and the interactive RV play & learn crossword puzzle.

There is also a PDF link to the magazine for those of you who don’t care for the flipbook style format.

Happy RV Learning
Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Batteries, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV 101 videos, RV checklists, RV consumer magazine, RV how to videos, RV magazine, RV maintenance, RV product videos, RV slide outs, RV spring checks, RV spring preparation, RV videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:05 am

RV 101 – 5 Important RV Spring Checks

Truth be known, there are probably 50 or more checks we could make on our RV prior to venturing out on the first camping trip of the season. If you don’t want to perform 50 checks on your RV here are 5 checks I consider absolutely essential. P.S. If you are not comfortable working on your RV make an appointment with your local RV dealer to get your RV ready for camping season.

RV Batteries

I like to start with the RV batteries. The condition of your RV batteries depends on how well they were cared for when they were in storage. A battery in storage will lose up to 10% of its charge every month. If you checked and re-charged the battery periodically during storage the battery should be ready to go. If you didn’t check and re-charge the battery the first step is to fully charge the battery.

Note: Water should only be added to lead acid batteries after fully charging the battery, unless the water level is already below the plates. The plates need to be covered at all times.

After the battery is fully charged check and add distilled water as required. If the battery was removed for storage reinstall it making sure it is connected properly. If you are not comfortable working around batteries let a qualified service facility check it for you.

RV Water System

After sitting in storage for several months the RV water system needs to be de-winterized, checked for leaks and sanitized. If your unit was winterized using non-toxic RV antifreeze you need to run fresh water through the entire water system until all traces of the antifreeze are removed. Hopefully no antifreeze was added to the fresh water holding tank, but if it was the first step is to drain any remnants of antifreeze from the fresh water tank. Next add some potable water to the fresh water holding tank and turn the 12-volt water pump on. Open all of the water faucets and run the water until there are no traces of the pink antifreeze. Make sure you open both hot and cold faucets. Take the water heater out of the by-pass mode (if applicable). If the water heater wasn’t bypassed the antifreeze needs to be drained from the water heater tank. Now you can replace any water filter cartridges that were removed for storage.

When I take the RV out of storage I like to sanitize the RV water system. Make sure all of the drains are closed and all drain plugs are installed. Take a quarter-cup of household bleach for every 15 gallons of water your fresh water tank holds. Caution: If you have an on-demand water heater with a copper heat exchanger, the water heater must be by-passed. Do not run chlorinated water through the water heater. Mix the bleach with water into a one-gallon container and pour the solution into to the fresh water tank fill. Fill the fresh water holding tank with potable water. Turn the water pump on and run water through all hot and cold faucets until you smell the bleach. Close the faucets and let this solution sit for twelve hours. Drain all of the water and re-fill the tank with potable water. Turn the water pump on and open all faucets running the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process to eliminate all signs of bleach.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Batteries, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: get your RV ready for camping, RV 101 articles and videos, RV batteries, RV checklists, RV how to articles, RV maintenance, RV spring checks, RV spring preparation, RV Tips & Hints, RV tire maintenance

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:13 am

RV101 – How much can my Tow Vehicle Safely Tow?

There are lots of concerns and confusion when you try to determine how much your tow vehicle can safely tow. There are weight ratings, terms, formulas and calculations that make it difficult for RV consumers to determine how much their tow vehicle can safely tow. My goal with this post is to take some of the confusion out of the equation.

Of course the first step is to verify the published Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight Rating (MLTWR) or tow rating for your tow vehicle. When you verify this information it is important that you know the year, make, model, cab and bed configuration, engine size, transmission and if the tow vehicle is 2WD or 4WD. Additionally and perhaps most importantly you need to know the rear axle ratio of the tow vehicle.

After you collect all of this information you can do a search on the Internet for towing guides. These guides are designed to provide correct tow ratings and information, or at least what the vehicle manufacturer claims is correct information. Try to use a towing guide published by the vehicle manufacturer for the type of vehicle you are searching for. Note: Pay close attention to any footnotes concerning your specific vehicle.

When you verify or locate the MLTWR for your tow vehicle there are two major concerns to safely match trailer weights with your published tow rating.

1) Try to find a trailer with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) that is equal to or less than the tow vehicle’s MLTWR (tow rating). The trailer’s GVWR is the maximum weight the trailer can weigh when it is fully loaded for travel. By doing so, the tow vehicle is capable of towing the trailer even if the trailer is loaded to its maximum capacity. Most trailers have a significant difference between the dry or unloaded weight and the GVWR, and in most cases are not loaded to the GVWR. This gives you a safer margin between the vehicle tow rating and the trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or how much the trailer actually weighs.

2) After you find a trailer that meets the criteria in #1 add the weight of the fully loaded tow vehicle and the fully loaded trailer together and make sure it is less than the tow vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). The GCWR is the maximum amount of weight the tow vehicle and the trailer can weigh when they are combined. You can take the tow vehicle to a set of scales and have it weighed, and you can look at the trailer’s dry or unloaded weight and then add a safe amount to cover the weight of any cargo and personal belongings you plan to take in the tow vehicle and in the trailer when you go camping.

There are other important concerns like proper hitch components, brakes, and trailer tongue weight or pin weight for a 5th wheel trailer, but if the tow vehicle and trailer pass these two requirements you are working towards a safe trailer towing combination.

Of course lighter is always better where trailer weights are concerned.

To learn more about your RV take a minute to visit RV Education 101.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

RV Education 101
http://rveducation101.com/

RV 101® Travel Trailer Ultimate Video & E-book Bundle
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/travel-trailer-ultimate-e-book-and-video-bundle

RV 101® 5th Wheel Ultimate Video & E-book Bundle
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RV 101® Motorhome Ultimate Video & E-book Bundle
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Travel Trailer & 5th Wheel Trailer RV Orientation Video Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-101-rv-orientation-for-travel-trailer-s-5th-wheel-trailers

Tow Your Travel Trailer Like a Pro Video Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-101-trailer-towing-basics

Tow Your 5th Wheel Like a Pro Complete Online Video Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/tow-your-5th-wheel-like-a-pro

Motorhome RV Orientation Video Training Course
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Drive Your Motorhome Like A Pro Complete Online Video Training Course
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RV Care & Preventive Maintenance RV DIY® Online Video Training
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RV Essential Items Video Training Course
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Winterizing and Storing Your RV Video Training Course
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Travel Trailer 4 Video Bargain Set Plus Free RV Checklist ebook
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5th Wheel 4 Video Bargain Set Plus Free RV Checklist ebook
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Motorhome 4 Video Bargain Set Plus Free RV Checklist ebook
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———————–
A Collection of RV Education 101 E-Books – 9 RV E-BOOK BUNDLE SET
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/a-collection-of-rv-education-101-e-books-9-rv-e-book-bundle-set

An Introduction to RVs E-book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/an-introduction-to-rvs

Insider’s Guide to Buying an RV E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/insider-s-guide-to-buying-an-rv-downloadable-pdf-e-book

Owning & Operating an RV E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/owning-operating-an-rv

The Original Checklists for RVers E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/the-original-checklist-s-for-rvers

Official RV 101® Guides for Travel Trailer Bundled Set
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guides-for-travel-trailers

Official RV 101® Guide To RV Water Heater Use & Care
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-water-heater-guide

Official RV 101® Guide – Trailer Towing, Weights & Safe Towing Explained
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-trailer-towing-myths-weights-confusion-explained

Official RV 101® Guide to RV Generators
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-to-rv-generators

Official RV 101® Guide to RV Water Systems
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-to-rv-water-systems

Official RV 101® Guide to Understanding Trailer Sway
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-to-understanding-trailer-sway

RV Campground Basics E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-campground-basics-e-book-course

RV Safety Features, Tips & Tricks E-book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-safety-features-tips-tricks

RV Care & Maintenance E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-care-maintenance-e-book-course

Winterizing & Storing Your RV E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/winterizing-storing-your-rv-e-book

RV Battery Care & Maintenance E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-battery-care-maintenance

Trailer Towing Basics E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/trailer-towing-basics-e-book

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: how much can I safely tow, how much can my truck tow, RV how to series, RV safety, RV towing safety, towing safety, traikler towing safety, trailer towing DVDs, trailer towing topics, trailer towing videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:44 am

RV 101 – Top 5 RV Exterior Cleaning Tips & Tricks

When you are traveling and camping in your RV the exterior gets dirty quickly. The key to keeping your RV exterior looking new is to clean it often. If you allow bugs, dirt and black streaks to stay on the RV’s exterior surface too long it can be hard to remove. I like to thoroughly clean our RV after returning from a trip. Let’s look at my top 5 RV exterior cleaning tips for a new looking RV.

1) Use a car wash soap that is compatible with the surface of the RV.

2) Use a long handled brush with soft bristles to reach the high spots and use a wash glove or mitt for the easy to reach areas.

3) When you use commercial cleaners, like black streak remover, always read the instructions for best cleaning results and to protect the RV’s paint and graphics from possible damage.

4) Rinse the area you plan to wash first. Always wash from the top down. When you are rinsing the soap from the surface avoid spraying water in any of the appliance vents.

5) You have probably heard lots of ideas for removing dead bugs from the front of your RV, but the best advice I can offer is clean it as soon as possible and use lots of water on the front of the RV to make the chore of removing bugs and road debris easier. I have had decent luck with bug and tar remover products too.

Well there you have it, a nice clean RV until you head out on your next RV trip.

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To learn more about your RV take a minute to visit RV Education 101.

Happy camping

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Maintenance, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: cleaning RV exterior, how to keep your RV looking new, how to remove RV black streaks, RV cleaning tips, RV cleaning tips & tricks, RV Education 101 videos, RV how to videos, RV maintenance tips and hints, RV101 vides, washing RV, waxing RV

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:38 am

RV Consumer Magazine February 2014

RV Consumer Magazine is the leading digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, Qualified RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education. Please share with all of your RVing friends!

In this issue of RV Consumer Magazine discover some of the latest technology for staying connected on the road, read the next installment of RV Hot Skin Voltage Conditions, learn more about boondocking in Quartzsite and enter a contest to win a free one-year membership to Harvest Hosts.

Happy RV Learning

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV consumer magazine, RV DVDs, RV Education 101, RV how to videos, RV information, RV magazine, RV products, RV training, RV videos, RV101 tips & hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:43 am

RV 101 – 5 Minute Fix to a Warmer RV

When you use your RV for cold weather camping it’s nice to have a warm place to retreat back to after enjoying some outdoor activities. What would you say if I told you it’s possible to prepare your RV to be warm and cozy for cold weather camping in just 5 minutes?

Let’s give it a go!

Minute #1

The first thing we want to do is test the RV furnace. Make sure the LP gas supply is turned on and fire up the furnace. The fan should come on and within a minute or so you should feel heat coming from the heat ducts in the RV.

Minute #2

Check the propane level in your LP cylinders or tank and check the condition of your auxiliary battery(s). The furnace consumes more LP gas than other appliances and requires a fully charged battery if you are not plugged into an electrical source. Checking the propane level is self-explanatory and you can check the battery condition using the RV’s monitor panel or with a multi-meter.

Minute #3

Pack warm clothes, extra blankets and don’t forget the electric blanket! Sweatshirts, sweatpants and a good pair of winter socks makes resting and relaxing inside the RV much more enjoyable when it’s cold outside. For your personal protection in cold outdoor temperatures dress in layers and make sure you have the proper clothing and footwear to stay warm and protected when outdoors.

Minute #4

Pack a couple portable electric heaters. Supplementing the heat with thermostatically controlled ceramic heaters does wonders. These heaters work extremely well and you don’t need to be concerned about fire or carbon monoxide.

Minute #5

Keep the heat in the RV. Make sure all windows and vents are closed and close the curtains or shades to help keep the heat in. Remember heat rises, use some foam cushioning or aftermarket accessories to seal the area around roof vents.

Okay, it might take a little more than 5 minutes to prepare your RV for cold weather camping, but it’s worth it when the end result is a nice warm RV on a cold winter day. There are other concerns with cold weather camping in your RV, like protecting the plumbing system from freezing, but when it come to staying warm this 5 minute fix will do the trick during those cold weather camping trips.

Happy Cold Weather Camping,

Mark Polk

RV Online Training

Click here to watch the video

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, General, RV Batteries, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: camping in cold weather, RV 101 videos, RV cold weather camping, RV Education 101 tips, RV furnace maintenance, RV furnace tips and hints, RV LP gas furnace tips, RV winter camping tips, RV winterizing, RV101 tips and hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:55 am

RV 101 – RV Sewer Hose Tips & Tricks

Let me ask you a question, when you arrive at your camping destination whose job is it to connect the sewer hose, empty the holding tanks and disconnect and store the sewer hose when it’s time to leave. Well if you are the chosen one like me here are a few tips and tricks to help make the job easier.

It never fails, one day you are going to camp at a destination and discover you don’t have the right adapter for the campground sewer or dump station drain outlet. The reason for this is not only do sewer drain outlets come in different sizes, but some are smooth pipe connections while others are threaded pipe.

You want to take along universal sewer hose connectors and adapters like this one from Valterra Products that help make the job of connecting the sewer hose easier. With this connector it doesn’t matter if the connection is 3 or 4 inch pipe or if the pipe is smooth or threaded. This EZ Coupler universal adapter will fit them all.

When it’s time to leave and you empty and flush the RV holding tanks you need to store the sewer hose until the next time you need it. You don’t want all these long messy hoses taking up space and leaking all over everything. Something I never leave home without are a couple drip caps like these.

They fit all standard 3” bayonet fittings and if you compress the hose and put a cap on both ends it saves space and keeps storage compartments clean.

So for all you lucky guys and gals who have the chore of RV sewer hose duty these simple RV sewer hose accessories help make your life much easier.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types | Tags: how to empty RV holding tanks, RV Education 101 videos, RV holding tank maintenance, RV how to videos, RV sewer hose connectors and adapters, RV sewer hose fittings, RV sewer hose tips and tricks, RV waste water maintenance, RV101 videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 1:12 pm

RV101 – Top 5 Tips for Buying an RV on a Budget

If you buy an RV and don’t have any money left in your budget to use and enjoy the RV it will be nothing more than a large lawn ornament sitting beside your house. So, the big question is how can you buy an RV on a budget that works for you?

In a nutshell the price you pay for the RV along with the interest rate and term of the loan will determine what your monthly payment is.

I would like to offer you my top 5 RV buying on a budget tips.

1) The first step is to look over your monthly budget and determine how much you can afford to pay each month for an RV, without getting in a bind. Earlier I mentioned that the term of the loan was one factor that determines your monthly payment. The longer the term of the loan is the lower the payment is, but you need to be comfortable with making this payment over the entire life of the RV loan.

2) How much are you comfortable putting down on the RV? Of course the more you pay in the form of a down payment the lower your monthly payment will be. Most lenders require a 10 to 20% down payment in either cash or trade-in. Some lenders do offer zero down programs, but these programs have certain guidelines to qualify. The type of RV, dollar amount, term of the loan and your credit rating can all factor into these types of loan programs. Keep in mind with zero down the interest rate and monthly payment will be higher.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Maintenance, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, RV Types | Tags: buying a new RV, Buying an RV, Buying an RV on a budget, buying used RV, How to buy an RV, RV 101 articles and videos, RV dealerships, RV financing, RV interest rates, RV lending banks, RV loans, selecting RV type

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:26 am

RV Consumer Magazine January 2014

RV Consumer Magazine

Happy New Year

RV Consumer Magazine is the leading digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, Qualified RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education. Please share with all of your RVing friends!

In this issue of RV Consumer Magazine take a look at what’s new in RVs for 2014, and get Mark’s perspective on some of the trends shaping the future of the RV industry.

Find out what Mark considers to be the top 5 RV essential items you should never leave on a camping trip without

And check out the latest technology in RV patio awnings in a video featuring the WeatherPro patio awning by Dometic.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

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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 Types | Tags: 2014 RVs, green RVs, new model year RVs, new RVs for 2014, RV 101 videos, RV consumer magazine, RV Education 101, RV essential items, RV how to videos, RV magazine, RV tips & hints, RV trends, RV videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 11:11 am

RV 101 – Top 5 RV Essential Items

In my Checklist for RVers E-book I list 20 essential items you should never leave without on an RV trip. Today I am going to condense that list to my top 5 RV essential items. Here we go!

1) RV Electrical Adapters & Extension Cord

RV Electrical Adapters

You never know what type of electrical service you might encounter during your RV travels. Depending on your RV you will need electrical adapters that allow you to plug-in to the electrical service provided. There are electrical adapters that go from 50-amp to 30-amp, 30-amp to 20-amp etc. I recommend keeping a variety of these adapters on hand in your RV. Keep in mind that if you do plug-in to a 20 amp service you will be limited in what 120 volt devices you can use in the RV.

In addition to various electrical adapters you should always take an extension cord along on RV trips. Ideally you want an extension cord designed specifically for your RV’s electrical system, with the same gauge wire and ends that match the RV and the campground service your RV is rated for. Typical household extension cords are not rated for 30 plus amps. If you do use a household type extension cord it should be at least 10-gauge wire.

2) RV Sewer Hose Connectors & Adapters

RV Sewer Hose Adapters

It never fails, one day you are going to camp at a destination and discover you don’t have the right adapter for the campground sewer or dump station drain outlet. The reason for this is, not only do sewer drain outlets come in different sizes, but some are smooth pipe while others are threaded pipe.

Companies like Valterra Products offer solutions for all these different types of campground sewer and dump station connectors with kits designed to work in nearly all situations you encounter along the way. In addition to a selection of sewer hose connectors and adapters it’s a good idea to take an extra length of sewer hose too, like a 10-foot and a 20-foot hose. You never know how far away you will be parked from the campground sewer drain. I also recommend using a heavy-duty type sewer hose. They do not cost much more and will last longer than a standard RV sewer hose.

Another option is to use a product like the RV Sewer Solution. It is similar to a macerator but doesn’t require electricity. Watch Video

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: RV checklists, RV drinking water hose, RV electrical adapters, RV essential items, RV must have products, RV products, RV sewer hose connectors and adapters, RV surge guard, RV tips and hints, RV water filtration system

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:26 am

RV101.TV RV Video Countdown to Christmas

RV101.TV Video Countdown

Don’t forget about your RV this holiday season. In the spirit of RVing RV Education 101 presents a holiday countdown of FREE helpful RV video tips everyday, now through Christmas Eve.

Visit our Facebook page each day from now until Christmas Eve and watch a free RV how to video hosted by Mark Polk of RV Education 101.

Like us on Facebook to get great RV tips and information on a daily basis.

Happy Camping in 2014,

Mark Polk

RV Education 101 Facebook page.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: free rv videos, RV Education 101 videos, RV how to videos, RV installation videos, RV product videos, RV101 videos, RV101.tv videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:01 am

National RV Trade Show- 2014 RV Updates

Winnebago display at National RV trade Show

Every year I attend two of the largest RV shows in the country. In September I head to the Pennsylvania RV & Camping show in Hershey, PA. and each December I trek to Louisville, KY. for the National RV Trade Show. I am getting ready to leave for Louisville as I write this post.

When I attend these RV shows I try to cover them from an unbiased perspective to offer RV owners, prospective owners, and RV enthusiasts an inside look at what’s new with RVs for the upcoming model year. At the Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show I saw lots of innovative companies designing and manufacturing new model year RVs that stood out and caught my attention. These companies are responding to RVers wants and needs with lighter towable RVs, smaller more fuel efficient motorized RVs and all the modern day technology you could possibly want in a Recreation Vehicle. There was no shortage of larger more luxurious RV models either.

It really doesn’t matter what you are in the market for when it comes to an RV, today’s RV manufacturers have something for everyone.

I will be posting daily updates of the 2014 RV models, RV products and latest RV technology from the Nationl RV Trade Show on our

Like us on Facebook to get great RV tips and information on a daily basis.

Happy Camping in 2014,

Mark Polk

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:36 am

RV Consumer Magazine November 2013

RV Consumer Magazine

Welcome back to another information packed issue of RV Consumer Magazine. In this issue get some tips on camping in cold weather, discover how easy it is to winterize your RV, get some helpful RV storage and RV battery tips and much more.

Read archived issues of RV Consumer Magazine

Mark Polk

Subscribe to FREE RV Consumer Magazine

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:48 am

RV 101 – RV Carbon Monoxide Refresher

RV generator exhaust

When the weather is cold I like to remind folks about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. Carbon monoxide gas is invisible, odorless, and deadly!

It is produced by the partial combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. This includes gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, wood, & coal. It is extremely serious when combustion by-products are not vented outside, or when you are exposed to any source of CO gas. Carbon Monoxide is the number one cause of poisoning deaths each year in the United States.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is toxic and can be deadly to both humans and animals. CO poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide gas is inhaled. The severity of the CO poisoning depends on the level of CO gas you are exposed to, and the duration of the exposure. The good news is the threat of CO poisoning can be lessened through awareness and education. Let’s take a look at what we can do to prevent the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

When it comes to RVs and camping carbon monoxide gas usually results from:

Exhaust leaks from a vehicle engine or a generator.
Improper use of portable gas powered heaters.
Someone else’s vehicle or generator when camping in close quarters.
Malfunctioning or unvented LP gas appliances

It wasn’t until January 1, 2005 that every new RV was required to have a CO detector installed. That means there are literally millions of older RVs out there with no CO detectors. If your RV doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector you need to purchase a battery operated carbon monoxide detector designed for use in RVs. Test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV, and on battery operated models replace the carbon monoxide detector batteries when you change clocks for daylight savings time.

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:01 am

GM Introduces 2015 Chevy & GMC HD Models

The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra Denalia HD models were unveiled on September 26th, 2013 at the State Fair in Dallas, Texas.

General Motors President North America Mark Reuss introduced the new 2015 HD models. The 2015 Silverado HD and 2015 GMC Sierra models feature new cabs and interiors, and segment-leading capabilities across the range including the highest payload – 7,374 pounds – and the highest conventional trailering rating – 19,600 pounds. (Photos by Mike Stone for Chevrolet)

2015 Silvrado HD Photo for editorial use only Copyright GM

2015 Silverado HD Photo for editorial use only Copyright GM

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 1:26 pm

RV Consumer Magazine – Inside America’s Largest RV Show

Welcome back to another edition of your premier provider for RV news and information. RV Consumer Magazine is the leading digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, Qualified RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education.

In this special October edition of RV Consumer Magazine Mark Polk takes you inside America’s largest RV show in Hershey, Pa. to check out the 2014 RV models. With over 50 manufacturers and 20 acres of RVs on display there is lots to see. Also included in this issue is Mark’s 2014 Chevy Silverado review from hood to hitch.

Start reading right now

Happy RV learning,

Mark Polk

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 2:13 pm

RV 2014 from America’s Largest RV Show

I just returned from America’s largest RV show in Hershey, Pa. where I had an opportunity to take a firsthand look at some of the new RVs and RV products for 2014. It was an exciting RV show and attendance records were broken from previous years, which is a good indicator that 2014 will be another great year for current RV owners and new RV buyers entering the market.

While I was there I also interviewed some interesting and innovative RV companies like Winnebago, Little Guy Worldwide and Host Industries. I am posting the interviews below so you can see and hear what is happening in these companies for 2014.

I will provide complete coverage of the RV show in the October issue of RV Consumer Magazine. RV Consumer is a free digital magazine that is published monthly and packed with informative RV news, RV tips, RV articles, RV videos, RV products and much more. Go here to subscribe now.

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Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

RV Walk Through and Hooking up at the Campground

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:58 am

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RV Education 101 Resources

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When it comes to RV training we have YOU covered:

The RV Education 101 You Tube channel offers over 140 helpful RV videos produced and hosted by RV expert Mark Polk. Join the nearly 6,000 subscribers and get notified every time RV Education 101 releases a new RV how-to video. With over 2,275,000 views this is the place to learn more about your RV:

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New Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure Good for Towing and Off-Road

I talk about having the right tires for the job all the time. Tires are manufactured to perform a specific job on a specific type of vehicle. There are passenger car tires and Light Truck (LT) tires. There are all-season tires, winter tires, mud & snow tires and performance tires.

Vehicles used for towing and hauling heavy loads need the right tires for the job. Having the right tires on your tow vehicle can be the difference between getting to your RV destination safely and a towing disaster. When you are replacing the tires on a truck or SUV used for towing or hauling heavy loads an important consideration is the load range or rating of the tires. When you consider the trailer’s tongue weight you are adding a significant amount of weight to the tow vehicle’s tires. Other considerations include safety concerns like braking and handling characteristics and the tires tread life. Commercial tires do a good job when it comes to towing and hauling heavy loads and performing well on the road.

Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure

Goodyear recently announced a new member of the Wrangler tire family, the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure. The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure is a commercial tire so it works well in towing and hauling applications and 20 of the 44 tire sizes available are designated as “Pro-Grade” fitments, appealing to those adventurous types who enjoy heading off-road at a moment’s notice.

The all-new Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure tire features a layer of DuPont Kevlar that offers versatility for highway or off-road driving and rugged toughness over pavement, gravel and dirt, plus superior traction through rain and snow. It contains Goodyear’s exclusive Durawall Technology, which offers toughness and helps resist cuts in the sidewall area.

I mentioned earlier that 20 sizes of this new tire are designated as “Pro-Grade” fitments. What that means is, these Load Range E tires come with two layers of Kevlar and a heavy-duty steel belt package. The Pro-Grade tires represent a version for three-quarter ton and/or one-ton trucks that regularly haul or tow heavy loads.

The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar carries a 60,000-mile tread life limited warranty on standard load and LT sizes.

For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com.

Don’t skimp when it comes to tow vehicle tires. Purchase a tire that can handle the job.

Mark Polk

All of this and more in this issue, start reading now

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 11:27 am

RV Consumer Magazine – September 2013

RV Consumer Magazine

Welcome back to another edition of your premier provider for RV news and information. RV Consumer Magazine is the leading digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, Qualified RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education.

In this issue of RV Consumer Magazine discover how to get back to nature and enjoy some of our state and national parks, US Army Corps of Engineer and BLM campgrounds.

Learn some RV boondocking etiquette, read some interesting RV poll results, and get another great recipe from the Cooking Ladies.

Subscribe to FREE RV Consumer Magazine

Happy RV learning,

Mark Polk

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:51 am

Why Consider an RV Extended Service Plan?

RV refrigerator maintenance

I get asked lots of questions regarding how RV appliances can be affected or are sensitive to infrequent use, excessive vibration and in some cases neglect or improper operation.

Most RV appliances operate differently than the appliances we are accustomed too in our homes. For example the water heater in our home works automatically, with no operational steps required, and very little maintenance. When you want hot water you open a tap and there it is. On the other hand the water heater in our RV requires certain procedures to operate and use it. The LP gas supply needs to be turned on, or it must be switched to the electric mode (if equipped) to use in the 120 volt AC mode. The tank must be full of water prior to lighting it, and depending on the type of water heater it is you may need to go outside to physically light the burner. If you forget to drain the water for winter storage the water can freeze, expand and break the tank.

That can be a lot to remember, and unfortunately if you forget one of the required steps to properly operate the appliance it can lead to component failure and expensive repair and replacement costs.

This is true for other RV appliances as well. If you don’t operate the RV air conditioner properly you can damage the compressor or other expensive components. If you don’t have the proper amount of AC voltage coming into the RV appliances can be damaged.

Another common problem is excessive vibration. Most appliances aren’t designed to take the abuse many of the country’s poorly maintained highways and roads subject the appliance to. Fittings and screws come loose, sensitive electronics and circuit boards get damaged, and in many cases continued exposure to vibration results in total failure of an appliance.

The problem is there is no fix for damage caused to RV appliances because of infrequent use and excessive vibration. I recently read that the Good Sam Extended Service Program will hit a record $10 million in refrigerator repair payments this coming month. Ten million dollars in refrigerator repair payments, can you believe that?

This is why I always recommend that RV owners purchase an RV Extended Service Plan. After the factory warranty period expires replacing an RV appliance can get very expensive. And RV appliance problems associated to infrequent use and constant vibration will normally occur after the factory warranties have expired.

The key to RV Extended Service Programs is to purchase a good reputable plan, one that will be there when you need it, when you are traveling on the road away from home. I use the Good Sam extended service plan. The plan offers all of the features and benefits that are important to RV owners. Take some time to review some extended service plans and purchase one that meets your needs, then you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing you are protected from unexpected expenses.

Happy Camping,

Mark Polk

All of this and more in this issue: Start reading now

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:48 am

RV 101 – How to Select a Portable Air Compressor for your RV Tires

Portable air compressor

I think most RVers understand the importance of maintaining proper tire inflation pressure. The most common problem is if you wait until you’re on the road to check tire pressure the tires are too hot for proper evaluation. Checking the inflation pressure when you stop to refuel doesn’t make sense either; you will get higher pressure readings and if you let air out the tires they are underinflated when they are cold. Another problem is when you are at the campground and you want to check the tire pressure there is no available air support to do it.

So what’s the answer? You might want to consider purchasing a portable air compressor that you can take along on RV trips. The problem is air compressors can be confusing to understand, especially if you are trying to find one that is capable of increasing the inflation pressure in large motorhome tires. Let’s start with some air compressor basics.

Air compressors have 3 main ratings associated with them, Horsepower (HP), Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) and Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). Understanding these 3 functions of an air compressor can help us select the right portable air compressor for the job.

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:23 am

RV Consumer Magazine – August 2013

RV Consumer Magazine August 2013

Welcome back to another edition of your premier provider for RV news and information. RV Consumer Magazine is the leading digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, Qualified RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education.

In the August issue of RV Consumer Magazine get some tips and hints on how to properly determine the inflation pressure for your RV tires, learn what brake fade and brake overheating is – and what you can do to prevent it, get some tips on how to get to your destination safely…

Happy RV learning,

Mark Polk

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:26 am

RV 101 – Top 5 RV Maintenance Mishaps

Dry battery Cell

There are lots of things to remember and maintain on an RV. Sometimes we tend to overlook the simplest maintenance requirements on our RVs. As the old adage goes, sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. Unfortunately these simple oversights can result in costly repair bills to correct the problem too.

Here are my top 5 RV owner maintenance mishaps:

1) Checking and adding air when the tires are hot:

I see it all the time, people checking their tire pressure when the tires are hot. You should always check and inflate tires when the tires are cold, before traveling more than one mile. Hot air expands and will give you a false reading. If the tires are already hot wait several hours before checking and adjusting inflation pressure.

2) Neglecting to periodically check the water level in lead acid batteries:

Eighty five percent of lead acid batteries manufactured in the U.S. die before they should. One of the leading causes for battery failure is overcharging the battery. Overcharging a battery results in severe water loss and plate corrosion. This is a common problem with RV batteries. The RV converter has a built in battery charger and lots of RV owners are under the impression that if you leave the RV plugged in when the RV is in storage it will keep the batteries topped off. While keeping batteries topped off is extremely important the problem is that many, but not all, RV converter chargers provide a constant charge of about 13.5 volts which is too high for fully charged batteries, and the electrolyte is boiled off resulting in an early death for the batteries. There have been advances in converter charger technology and many of today’s converter chargers are equipped with 3-stage battery chargers that will prevent batteries from overcharging. Another problem is during times of high battery usage and recharging the electrolyte is boiled off. Periodically checking and adjusting the water level in the batteries can save and extend the life expectancy of the battery. When you add water, use mineral free water. Distilled water is best and only fill the battery cell to 1/8 inch below the vent well. Be careful when working around batteries. Battery acid is extremely corrosive and explosive.

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:34 am

RV 101 – How to Prevent Brake Fade

Brake fire

The brakes on your motorhome or tow vehicle were designed to effectively stop a specific amount of weight. When you add more weight to the equation it not only affects your stopping distance, but the heat generated by stopping the additional weight can lead to brake fade. When I was in the military, in charge of large fleet maintenance operations, one of my goals was to teach vehicle operators how to properly use their vehicle braking system. Brake fade is a reduction in the vehicle’s stopping power usually related to overusing the brakes when hauling a heavy load and/or when descending steep grades.

Many vehicles are equipped with some type of auxiliary braking system that helps slow the vehicle down without overuse of the foot brake. These auxiliary braking systems are usually some type of exhaust brake or transmission retarder. Note: If your vehicle is equipped with a transmission retarder watch the transmission temperature gauge when using the retarder. The transmission fluid temperature can quickly start to rise resulting in other problems. If your vehicle is not equipped with an auxiliary braking system you can slow the vehicle down by shifting the transmission into a lower gear or using the tow/haul mode if equipped.

Truck & Truck Camper

We just returned from cross-country RV trip to Colorado with our truck and truck camper. The loaded weight was within 400 pounds of my vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, so I was cautious of my stopping distance and using my vehicle brakes to slow the truck and camper down when descending steep downgrades. My truck has a tow/haul mode that helped limit my speed when descending grades, and on particularly steep and long downgrades I would put the transmission in a lower gear.

As I have seen many times before, when we were descending a downgrade, somewhere in West Virginia, there was a truck that caught on fire because of the heat generated from overusing the vehicle’s brakes. Brake fade is a serious problem that can happen quickly in any vehicle equipped with a friction braking system. When you add more weight, as is the case with a motorhome towing a vehicle or a truck towing a trailer, brake fade is more apt to occur even with a supplemental braking system or trailer brakes.

The good news is dealing with brake fade, and vehicle fires resulting from overusing your vehicle brakes, is just a matter of being educated on what brake fade is and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you.

Safe Travels,

Mark Polk

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:27 am

RV Consumer Magazine July 2013

RV Consumer Magazine

Happy 4th of July!

The July issue of RV Consumer Magazine is a special RV product spotlight edition. As you gain experience using your RV you discover new and innovative RV products and accessories that help enhance your RV experiences. This issue features some of those cool RV products that help make our camping experiences more fun and less stressful, what I consider to be RV products for today’s RVer.

This month’s issue is packed with RV product videos and RV how to installation videos.

Start reading right now

Enjoy this issue of RV Consumer Magazine

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

James Bell’s GMC Sierra Towing Tips Web Video.

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 2:34 pm

GM goes Glamping with GMC Sierra & Airstream trailers

General Motors recently took the media on a glamping trip (glamerous camping) and let them experience towing and backing with a 2014 GMC Sierra truck and Airstream travel trailer.

Watch the video to see what Chief Engineer of Full Size Trucks, Jully Burau had to say about the glamping event.

In another video GMC hosts Trailering Academy featuring the 2014 GMC Sierra. Click the link below to watch the video.

Mark Polk

Click here to start reading now

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 2:28 pm

RV Consumer Magazine June 2013

RV Consumer Magazine

RV Consumer Magazine is a free digital magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on all things RV.

In this issue of RV Consumer Magazine get some great ideas for what to include on your summer RV bucket list, learn how to maximize the efficiency of your RV’s refrigerator, get some tips & tricks on how to keep things cool in your RV this summer and learn how to make meatloaf muffins to take along on your next RV trip.

As always this edition of RV Consumer Magazine is packed with RV how to videos, RV tips and tricks, RV care & maintenance topics and much more.

Subscribe to RV Consumer Magazine

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 11:10 am

Axle Ratios – Towing vs. Fuel Economy

I am restoring a 1971 Dodge Power Wagon that I plan to drive frequently when the restoration is complete. As a daily driver one of my concerns with the truck is to improve fuel economy, but still be able to tow my vintage 67 Yellowstone travel trailer if I want too.

Old Vehicle Technology

71 Dodge Power Wagon

When this truck was built most auto makers were using 3-speed automatic transmissions (with no overdrive). When you combine a non-overdrive transmission with a 4.10:1 axle ratio and a big block engine the result is 3,000 plus rpms at 60 mph, and about 10 mpg in fuel economy, if the wind is blowing in the right direction.

To improve fuel economy and still be able to tow with this early model truck required some serious modifications on my part.

1) I changed the gear set in the axles from 4.10:1 to 3.55:1 (since it’s a 4-wheel drive truck the front axle needs to match the rear axle)

2) I replaced the big block engine with a 318 poly head engine that I rebuilt.

3) I am adding a lockup 727 transmission to assist with lowering the rpms at highway speed. It’s still a 3-speed transmission, but when the torque converter locks-up the rpms will drop considerably at highway speeds.

My end goal with this truck project is to get in the 2,200-2,400 rpm range when I am driving at 60 mph, and to approach 15 mpg in fuel economy.

What about Modern Day Trucks?

These are just a few modifications I am making to the 71 Dodge in an effort to improve fuel economy and still be able to tow, but what about today’s trucks and SUVs? How does the axle ratio affect fuel economy in modern day vehicles? Do you need a lower axle ratio to tow a trailer? Can auto manufacturers build trucks that meet stringent government imposed fuel standards, and still offer the power and performance we expect from a truck?

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Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:24 am

RV 101 – 5th Wheel Hitch Clearance

5th wheel hitch clearance

Question: Have you heard of a way to raise my fifth wheel a little higher on the hitch? I’d like a little more clearance between the camper and my truck. I had to go over a small hill and the 5th wheel dented the bed rail!

Answer: Lots of newer trucks are taller and have more road clearance (especially 4WD models) which in turn makes the bed rails sit higher. When you install a 5th wheel hitch there are lots of factors to take into consideration, one being that the 5th wheel sits level when connected to the hitch. In addition to sitting level there should be a minimum of 5 inches of clearance (6 is better) between the bed rails and the trailer.

With that said some 5th wheel hitches have height adjustments, and almost all pin boxes (the 5th wheel king pin) are adjustable. If the 5th wheel hitch is adjustable you want to start with it. Try raising the hitch to give you the additional clearance you need above the bed rails, but don’t let the trailer get too far out of level.

If the hitch itself is not adjustable you will need to have the pin box adjusted. When you lower the pin box it gives you more clearance above the bed rails. Again don’t lower it too much. As the 5th wheel moves out of level it will add additional weight on the truck’s rear axle. The pin box is heavy so don’t try and adjust it without help and make sure you torque all bolts to the manufacturer specs.

Keep in mind that even with 6 inches of clearance between the bottom of the 5th wheel and the top of the bed rails it could still hit the bed rails when negotiating steep dips like some driveways and other steep inclines can present.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

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https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/motorhome-video-bundle

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A Collection of RV Education 101 E-Books – 9 RV E-BOOK BUNDLE SET
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/a-collection-of-rv-education-101-e-books-9-rv-e-book-bundle-set

An Introduction to RVs E-book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/an-introduction-to-rvs

Insider’s Guide to Buying an RV E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/insider-s-guide-to-buying-an-rv-downloadable-pdf-e-book

Owning & Operating an RV E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/owning-operating-an-rv

The Original Checklists for RVers E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/the-original-checklist-s-for-rvers

Official RV 101® Guides for Travel Trailer Bundled Set
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guides-for-travel-trailers

Official RV 101® Guide To RV Water Heater Use & Care
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-water-heater-guide

Official RV 101® Guide – Trailer Towing, Weights & Safe Towing Explained
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-trailer-towing-myths-weights-confusion-explained

Official RV 101® Guide to RV Generators
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-to-rv-generators

Official RV 101® Guide to RV Water Systems
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-to-rv-water-systems

Official RV 101® Guide to Understanding Trailer Sway
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/official-rv-101-guide-to-understanding-trailer-sway

RV Campground Basics E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-campground-basics-e-book-course

RV Safety Features, Tips & Tricks E-book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-safety-features-tips-tricks

RV Care & Maintenance E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-care-maintenance-e-book-course

Winterizing & Storing Your RV E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/winterizing-storing-your-rv-e-book

RV Battery Care & Maintenance E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/rv-battery-care-maintenance

Trailer Towing Basics E-Book Training Course
https://rvonlinetraining.com/p/trailer-towing-basics-e-book

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 5th wheel hitch, 5th wheel hitch adjustments, 5th wheel hitch clearance, 5th wheel installation, fifth wheel hitch adjustments, how to hitch a 5th wheel, RV 101 tips, RV tips & tricks

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:37 am

RV 101 – How Tall is your RV?

When it comes to your RV’s height you have what are referred to as soft clearances and hard clearances. An example of a soft clearance would be a radio antenna. An example of a hard clearance would be the roof air conditioner. You might get away with the antenna hitting an overhead obstruction with little or no damage to the RV, but if you hit the roof air conditioner there will be lots of damage.

That’s why it’s important to know what your RV height clearances are. From a level surface measure from the ground to the top of the highest hard clearance on your RV, and post the height where it is easy to see and serve as a constant reminder.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

Click here to start reading now

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV 101 tips, RV clearance tips, RV Education 101, RV height clearance, RV height tips, RV ride height, rv tips and tricks, RV video tip

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:10 am

RV Consumer Magazine May 2013

RV Consumer Magazine is a free digital magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on all things RV. In this issue of RV Consumer Magazine take an RV safety refresher course before heading out on an RV trip, learn some tips to help you plan for safe, fun and relaxing RV trips, polish up on campground etiquette and read Mark’s interview with Tim Custer, General Manager for RV Trader.

This edition of RV Consumer Magazine is packed with RV how to videos, RV tips and tricks, RV care & maintenance topics and much more.

Subscribe to RV Consumer Magazine

RV Consumer Magazine

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

Click here to read this issue of RV Consumer Magazine

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Destinations, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV 101, RV consumer magazine, RV Education 101, RV how to, RV information, RV magazine, RV safety, RV trailers, RV videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 11:49 am

RV 101® – RV Tire Pressure Gauges

Is your Tire Pressure Gauge Accurate?

Tire inflation gauge

We often talk about the importance of checking the inflation pressure in tires, but is your tire pressure gauge giving you accurate information?

As a Maintenance Warrant Officer in the Army, I was responsible for tool calibration programs. Certain tools required regular calibration to ensure accuracy. I always use a quality tire pressure gauge, but realized after several years of using this gauge I never had it checked for accuracy. Many of the inexpensive gauges ($5) you can purchase can’t be calibrated, and if the reading is inaccurate the gauge is worthless. This is why you should spend a little more ($15-$25) and get a quality inflation pressure gauge that can be calibrated. I am a real believer in the old saying; you get what you pay for.

If you have any doubt about the accuracy of your tire pressure gauge there are a couple things you can do to check it.

1) You can check the air pressure in a tire with the gauge in question and then check the same tire with another gauge. If there is a significant difference in the readings (4 or more psi) between the two gauges one or both gauges may be inaccurate. If both gauges read within 1 to 2 psi of each other the gauges are more than likely accurate.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Tires, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: checking RV tire pressure, RV 101, RV help, RV how to, RV information, RV Tips & Hints, RV tire inflation, RV tire pressure, RV tire pressure gauge, RV tires

Posted by: Mark Polk | 4:23 pm

RV 101 – Buying a Used RV

Used RVs

RVs are like automobiles in that they depreciate rather than appreciate in value. The good news is used RVs have already suffered the brunt of depreciation and the pricing usually reflects this. Pricing for a used RV involves many factors. A few of these factors are the age of the unit, the condition, mileage if applicable, and options the RV is equipped with.

Most importantly is the overall condition of the RV. The NADA for RVs is a good reference guide to use, and the values listed in the NADA are based on the RV being in good condition. Good condition means that there is no damage and everything on the RV is in proper working condition. In other words you should be able to buy the RV and and use it with no problems or issues. If not, the price of the RV goes down.

Regardless of whether you are purchasing the RV from a dealer or private owner it’s important they demonstrate everything on the RV is working properly. Appliances in an RV are expensive to replace. If you get the RV home and discover the refrigerator does not work it can cost well over $1,000 to replace. In addition to everything operating properly you need to inspect the unit thoroughly for damage, including damage that is not always visible, like water damage. If you’re not sure what to look I strongly recommend you take somebody with you who is familiar with RVs.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Buying RV, General, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Types | Tags: Buying an RV, buying used RV, how much is used RV worth, inspecting used RV, NADA RV pricing, NADA RV values, RV values, used RV values

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:41 am

RV Consumer FREE E-Magazine – April 2013

RV Consumer E-Magazine
Your monthly source for interesting
RV articles, tips, tricks, video clips and advice

From the Industry Leader in RV Education:
RV Education 101® – also known as: RV 101®

RV Consumer Magazine – April 2013 –

CLICK HERE

**REMINDER! Like the RV Education 101 Facebook page.
We post helpful RV information often and would also
appreciate feedback, tips, RV related photos and comments from you!

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Batteries, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training | Tags: RV consumer magazine, RV destinations, RV how to, RV information, RV magazine, RV news, RV products, RV tips & hints, RV videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 5:18 pm

RV Education 101 Launches Auto Education 101 Site

Auto Education 101

HARRELLS, N.C. — RV Education 101 announced today the launch of a new Auto Education 101 blog site for auto enthusiasts.

Co-owner Mark Polk explained, “Towing a trailer or towing a car behind a motorhome is a major part of the RV experience. Periodic maintenance on your RV and on tow vehicles is the cornerstone to a safe enjoyable RV trip.

“I have considered a spin-off of our RV Education 101 training site for automobile enthusiasts for quite some time now,” he added. “Auto Education 101 is a blog site where folks can learn more about auto care and maintenance topics while also enjoying classic car and truck restorations, truck reviews, product installation videos and other useful and fun information car and truck enthusiasts are interested in.”

Equal-i-zer Hitch is sponsoring a classic truck restoration project that Polk is currently working on. The plan is to use the restored 1971 Dodge truck to tow a vintage 1967 Yellowstone trailer that Polk restored earlier to some RV and auto shows.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Detroit NAIAS GM, General, RV Maintenance, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: auto blog, Auto Eduction 101, auto maintenance, auto shows, RV Education 101 launches Auto Education 101

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:33 am

Protect our National Parks for Future Generations

Old Faithful

“Of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.”~Theodore Roosevelt

Unfortunately it seems Teddy Roosevelt’s words fell on deaf ears. Our National Park Service already has a $12 billion backlog in park maintenance, and the National Park Service’s annual budget has remained nearly stagnant, at $2.86 billion, since 2008.

To me this signals that National Park funding is already inadequate, and threatens the future of all our federally protected land.

Now add to that the National Park Service gets hit with 5% sequestration budget cuts mandated by Congress and President Obama. These additional cuts will increase an already unmanageable maintenance backlog and result in fewer employees, fewer visitors, park closings and the local economies suffering the brunt of it.

Rather than creating jobs for this fantastic recreational service provider, with an estimated 279 million visitors annually, our government is cutting jobs. Where is the sense in this?

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV History, RV Tips & Hints, RV trivia, RV Types | Tags: national park funding inadequate, National Park Service budget cuts, national parks suffer budget cuts, protect our national parks, protect our national treasures, RV 101, save our national parks, save our state parks

Posted by: Mark Polk | 8:29 am

RV Consumer Magazine March 2013

RV Consumer Magazine is a digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE NOW

In this issue of RV Consumer Magazine:

Discover how ethanol gas blend E15 could potentially harm millions of vehicles
Get some RV driving and towing tips just in time for the 2013 camping season
Learn what you need to know about camping during the cold winter months
Get the basics on RV batteries
Learn some tips on how you can update a tired old RV

Have a great camping season,

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Batteries, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV History, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV trivia, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: camp in winter, E15 gas blend, how to update your RV, RV 101, RV batteries, RV battery maintenance, RV consumer magazine, RV driving tips, RV how to, RV magazine, RV tips & hints, RV towing tips, RV videos

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:08 am

RV 101 – Get your Trailer Ready to Roll

k25 For optimum trailer brakes everything in the trailer brake system must be in proper working order. If you own a travel trailer, 5th wheel trailer or other towable RV it is important that you perform routine maintenance on the the trailer brake system. Intervals for trailer brake and wheel bearing inspections vary depending on the axle manufacturer. If you don’t have the trailer axle manual a general guideline for inspection intervals is annually or every 5,000 miles. This routine inspection should include trailer brake linings, brake wiring, brake drums, brake springs & mounting hardware, brake magnets, wheel bearings and races and seals.

Important Note: If you are not comfortable performing this type of maintenance on your trailer have the inspection/work done by an authorized RV repair facility.

Caution: Before removing any tires/wheels to work on the trailer brakes certain safety procedures must be followed. The trailer needs to be parked on a hard flat level surface. The tires on the opposite side you plan to work on must be chocked (front & rear) to prevent any possible movement forward or backward. The trailer must be jacked up according to manufacturer instructions and properly rated jack stands installed to support the trailer’s weight while the work is being performed. Never go under a trailer that is not properly supported by jack stands.

5,000 mile/annual inspection:

Brake Linings:

brake lining

Inspect the brake linings for wear and any contamination that can affect the operation of the brakes. It’s not uncommon to see oil, grease and other contaminants on the brake linings. As brake linings wear and/or are contaminated the braking force diminishes. Inspect the brake linings for cracking (typically caused by excessive heat from braking) or excessive wear. If the linings are only 1/8 inch thick they should be replaced.

Brake Adjustments: As the brake linings begin to wear the brake actuating lever must travel further to apply the same braking force against the drums. Eventually the brake linings cannot effectively reach the drums and manually adjusted brakes need to be adjusted. This requires a brake adjusting tool and proper clearances from the manufacturer. It’s probably best left to the professionals.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Batteries, RV Electrical System, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 5th wheel maintenance, 5th wheel pre trip checks, RV 101, RV 101 tips & tricks, RV how to trailer maintenance, RV maintenance, RV pre trip checks, RV trailer brake maintenance, RV trailer wheel bearing maintenance, trailer brake inspection, trailer wheel beraing inspection, travel trailer pre trip checks

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:00 am

RV Consumer Magazine February 2013

RV Consumer Magazine is a digital e-magazine designed to inform and educate the RV consumer on RV products, RV information, RV videos, RV how-to topics and RV education.

In this issue Mark Polk with RV Education 101 explores the future of tow vehicles, the new SAE J2807 towing standard, RV tips and tricks to keep your trailer brakes in tip top shape and everything you need to know about purchasing new trailer tires.

Don’t miss Mark’s interview with Joe Jamieson, founder of The Automated Safety Hitch System and get another great camping recipe from The Cooking Ladies. As a bonus feature catch a photo preview of Mark’s trip to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) where he checked out some new year model truck’s and tow vehicles.

Click to start reading the February 2013 issue of RV Consumer Magazine

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Detroit NAIAS GM, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: Detroit auto show, NAIAS photos, RV consumer magazine, RV how to videos, RV information, RV tips & hints, SAE J2807, tow ratings, tow vehicles, trailer tires

Posted by: Mark Polk | 7:45 am

RV 101- How to Back a Trailer

Trailer Backing technique

For many RVers, the thought of backing a trailer into the campsite can make your palms start to sweat and your stress level go off the chart. When I worked for an RV dealership we were constantly rearranging the s…ales lot, moving and backing trailers. When we set-up RV shows, in an effort to use all available space, we would back units within inches of walls, RVs and other obstacles.

The technique we used for backing trailers was almost fool-proof, when there were two people working together. If you have trouble backing your trailer or pop-up try this. First decide who will drive and who will spot and give directions. Let’s say your wife is driving. For this technique to work, you are her eyes, and she needs to do exactly what you tell her to do. This, of course, also means if there is an accident it’s your fault!

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: assisted trailer backing technique, backing an RV, how do I back a trailer, how to back a trailer, learn to back a trailer, RV how to, towing tips and hints, trailer backing technique, travel trailer backing

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:25 am

RV 101 – Polk’s Top RV Tire Tips & Hints

I talk about RV tire safety all of the time. The reason I do is because tires are a critical safety topic concerning towable and motorized RVs, and are quite often overlooked. Just recently I read a newspaper article that summed up what I am talking about. The article stated, “The Rubber Manufacturers Association found that 29 million drivers believe that tires require no regular maintenance.” Let’s take a look at my top RV tire tips & hints for safer RV trips.

1) Two of the biggest problems with RV tires today are overloaded tires and under inflated tires. With multiple slide-out rooms, large holding tank capacities and the ample amount of storage space available on today’s RVs it’s easy to see why so many are overloaded. We have a natural tendency to fill every nook and cranny of available storage space on our RV.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Destinations, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: RV maintenance tips, RV tire inflation, RV tire information, RV tire inspection, RV tire life, RV tire safety, RV tire tips, RV tire tips & hints, RV tire videos, RV tires

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:04 am

2014 Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra Video Interviews at NAIAS

While attending the 2013 North American International Auto Show, NAIAS, I had the opportunity to interview some Key GM Personnel about the all-new 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. I wanted to ask some specific questions about the truck’s performance, load & towing capabilities, and fuel economy.

I had concerns that the more stringent Federal CAFE fuel economy standards being imposed on automakers over the next decade would affect the truck’s power and performance as it pertains to towing travel trailers and fifth wheel trailers. To address my questions and concerns GM arranged for me to speak to the Marketing Director for Chevy trucks and two Chief engineers for GM full & mid-size trucks and GM small block engines.

Polk Video interview with Jeff Luke, GM Executive Chief Engineer, Full Size and Mid-Size Trucks

Polk Video interview with Jordan Lee, GM Chief Engineer, Small Block Engines

Polk Video interview with Maria Rohrer, GM Marketing Director, Chevy Silverado

Happy RV Learning

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Detroit NAIAS GM, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 2014 Chevy Silverado review, 2014 GMC Sierra review, Chevy Silverado towing, GM Eco Tec3 engines, GM interviews at NAIAS, GMC Sierra towing, truck towing tips, video interviews at Detroit auto show

Posted by: Mark Polk | 2:04 pm

2014 Chevy Silverado Review – From Hood to Hitch

Let’s get back to the main reason I went to the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. General Motors invited me to NAIAS to look at their completely redesigned 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1/2 ton trucks. On the second and third days of the show I had an opportunity to interview some key GM personnel about the redesigned 1/2 ton truck line-up, and to take an up close and personal look into what to expect for 2014.

As many of you know I drive a Dodge, but I was really impressed with what GM is doing with it’s trucks and across the board as an auto maker.

A good place to start is under the hood. The new 1/2 ton truck line-up will come with 3 engine options. All 3 versions are the all-new Eco Tec3 engines. One thing I was really impressed with was GM incorporated many of the same features found in the new Corvette engine into their truck engines.

The 2014 Silverado and Sierra will come available with options for a 4.3L V-6, 5.3L V-8 or 6.2L V-8. These engines were designed by GM specifically for use in full-size trucks. All 3 Eco Tec3 engines come with direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing (VVT) and cylinder deactivation. So, not only does power and performance promise to be strong for the new truck buyer, but fuel economy is significantly improved too. I thought it was a great idea to still offer the more powerful V-8 powerplants, but incorporate the cylinder deactivation to run the engine on 4-cylinders when you don’t need all that extra power.

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Posted in Detroit NAIAS GM, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 2014 Chevy Silverado, 2014 Chevy truck review, 2014 Chevy truck towing, 2014 GMC Sierra, all-new GM trucks for 2014, Chevy & GMC truck ratings, GM truck towing topics, Polk reviews 2014 GM trucks, Towing tips & hints, trailer towing safety

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:16 am

2014 Corvette Stingray Preview

I just returned from the 2013 North American International Auto Show, NAIAS in Detroit. I had a great time looking at all the new vehicles and all the technology going into today’s automobiles.

RVing with Mark Polk is a blog about RVs, but I had so many requests from folks who wanted to see more photos of the all-new 7th generation Corvette Stingray reveal that I couldn’t resist. It’s a beautiful automobile with so much advanced technology it will blow your mind. So for all you aotomobile, and especially Corvette enthusiasts out there, enjoy!

All Photos Copyright:© 2013 John F. Martin and General Motors. These images are protected by copyright but provided for use under a Creative Commons 3.0 License for the purpose of editorial comment only. The use of this image for advertising, marketing, or any other commercial purpose is prohibited.

2014 Corvette Stingray at reveal

Chevrolet unveils the 2014 Corvette Stingray at a special event Sunday, January 13, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The new Corvette is the most powerful standard model ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). It will accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds. It’s expected to be the most fuel-efficient Corvette, exceeding the EPA-estimated 26 mpg of the current model. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

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Posted in Detroit NAIAS GM, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General | Tags: 2014 Corvette, 2014 Corvette engine, 2014 Corvette pictures, 2014 Corvette Stingray debut

Posted by: Mark Polk | 4:19 pm

2014 Chevy Silverado #NAIAS

I am at the North American International Auto Show #NAIAS to check out the all-new Chevy Silverado and #GMC Sierra. Today I had the opportunity to interview key GM personnel to find out more about these newly designed trucks.

2014 Chevy Silverado

I spoke with Maria Rohrer, Marketing Director @Chevrolet, Jordan Lee, Chief Engineer small block engines and Jeff Luke Executive Chief Engineer Full & Mid-Size Trucks.

GM is really excited about its redesigned trucks for 2014 and with features like continuously variable valve timing, direct fuel injection and cylinder deactivation they have every right to be.

GM Eco Tec3 Engine

Be sure to check out all three of my interviews in the February edition of RV Consumer Magazine

Mark Polk

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 2014 Chevy Silverado, 2014 GMC Sierra, Eco Tec 3 engine, GM trucks, NAIAS

Posted by: Mark Polk | 3:22 pm

2014 Corvette Stingray at NAIAS

20145 Corvette at NAIAS

I arrived at the NAIAS yesterday. General Motors invited me as their guest to look at the all-new Silverado and Sierra trucks. As an added bonus I had the opportunity to go to the reveal of the all-new 2014 7th generation Corvette.

GM fixed up an abandoned building for the major event. It was a great evening and the 2014 Corvette is spectacular. For all you Corvette lovers out there the Stingray is back for this iconic automobile

2014 Corvette Stingray reveal

2014 Corvette

Mark Polk

Read past issues of RV Consumer Magazine HERE

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Posted in General | Tags: 2014 Corvette, 2014 Corvette revealed at NAIAS, NAIAS corvette news, new Corvette NAIAS

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:26 am

The 5th Wheel Automated Safety Hitch System

What do you get when you take a Federal Aviation Agency certified Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic who was an Air Force Pilot, a Federal Aviation Agency certified Air Transport Pilot and an Inventor and Industrialist and you give him a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer?

You get the Automated Safety Hitch! If you never heard of the Automated Safety Hitch before it is the brainchild of Joe Jamieson. Joe had major concerns about the over-all weight of 5th wheel trailers, the amount of pin weight being placed on the truck’s axle and how difficult it was to stop a heavy 5th wheel trailer going down the road at highway speeds.

So, he decided to do something about it. All I can say is everything about the Automated safety Hitch makes sense. Joe’s invention takes the trouble, inconvenience and hazards of hitching up, driving with, and unhitching traditional gooseneck and 5th wheel trailers a thing of the past. According to Eberstein & Witherite car and truck accident lawyers this safety hitch could decrease your chances of accidents, and thus of needing them!

When I asked Joe to highlight some of the Automated Safety Hith System features he explained,

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 5th wheel hitch system, 5th wheel towing, 5th wheel towing safety, 5th wheel trailer towing, Automated Safety Hitch System, towing safety, trailer towing safety, trailer towing tips and hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 2:34 pm

GM invites Polk to North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) media days are 14-16 January 2013. This is where the global automotive community comes together to catch up on the latest news and events, and where some of the automotive world’s most eagerly anticipated new vehicles and latest automotive products and services debut.

General Motors invited Mark Polk to attend the NAIAS Media Days. Brad Lowery, part of the General Motors Corporate Social Media team wrote “We would love to have the opportunity to bring you to NAIAS during Media Days as our guest, as we feel you have an interest in what we are trying to do. I thought of you as it would be a good opportunity to get you up close and personal with the new GM trucks, and see the other great GM vehicles.”

In addition to many other vehicles premiering at the show, General Motors will have their all-new 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra on display. With a revised frame, all new engines, all new interior and all new sheetmetal GM is excited to show off its 2014 truck lineup.

Polk will not only have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the all-new GM trucks, there are meet-and-greets, and interview opportunities with the GM truck team as well. “I am very excited to attend the show. I am a big advocate when it comes to towing safety and trucks play a critical role in all things towing. I have questions and concerns about what direction the future of trucks and tow vehicles is heading as it pertains to Recreation Vehicles. With the requirement to meet stringent federal fuel economy standards over the next decade I have concerns about performance, load capacity and towing capabilities. This show is a great venue to address all of these questions and concerns and I can provide feedback to the RV consumer.”

For more information on RV Education 101 contact Dawn@rveducation101.com

Photo Information: General Motors makes no representations with respect to the consent of those persons appearing in these photos, or with regard to the use of names, trademarks, trade dress, copyrighted designs or works of art or architecture that are not the intellectual property of General Motors.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 2014 Chevy Silverado, 2014 tow vehicles, Chevy tow ratings, Chevy trucks, GM truck tow ratings, GM trucks, towing safety, trailer towing tips & hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:06 am

RV Consumer Magazine January 2013

The January 2013 RV Consumer Magazine issue was just released. This is our RV 2013 issue. Take an inside peek at the new RVs for the 2013 camping season. Get some RV tips and hints on how to prepare for the upcoming RV show season. Find out what Mark’s next big project is for 2013 and much more. RV Consumer E-magazine is free by subscription and is brought to you by RV Education 101. All of this great RV information is just a click away.

RV Consumer magazine is delivered in a digital flip-book style format, online monthly by subscription. It is free of charge and your e-mail address will never be sold or used for anything other than delivering our RV e-newsletter and RV Consumer E-Magazine. For up to the minute RV news and information subscribe now and start receiving this information packed e-publication directly in your in-box each month.

If you experience trouble with the CAPCHA code (prevents SPAM) while signing up for the newsletter please send an e-mail to Dawn with Newsletter sign-up in the subject line and we will get you signed up for the new magazine: dawn@rveducation101.com

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

http://www.rveducation101.com

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http://www.rv101.tv

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, Mark's RV Garage Series, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints | Tags: RV, RV 101 videos, RV 2013, RV consumer, RV consumer magazine, rv education, RV help, RV how to, RV maintenance, RV product videos, RV shows, RV tips and hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 10:25 am

Truck Towing Standard SAE J2807 Update 2013

truck with 5th wheel

I first wrote this article back in 2010 and have waited patiently for 2013 to get here so the new SAE J2807 towing standard could be implemented. I have said for years that from a consumer safety standpoint there needs to be standards to measure tow vehicle weight ratings against, rather than allowing auto manufacturers to determine their own vehicle tow ratings.

Several years ago domestic and some foreign auto manufacturer engineers worked with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to establish standardized testing across the board for tow vehicle ratings. The standard was revised, agreed on and established with a implementation date of 2013. This gave all auto manufacturers sufficient time to prepare for and implement the new standard.

I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with my original article and in closing I’ll talk about where things currently stand with the new standard.

What is J2807 and why is it important?

If you haven’t heard, SAE J2807 is a standard that will be used to determine the trailer weight rating for all tow vehicles. I don’t always agree with mandated standards, government or otherwise, but there is one standard that I am highly in favor of. That standard is called “Performance Requirements for Determining Tow Vehicle Gross Combination Weight Ratings and Trailer Weight Ratings,” or in shorter terms Society of Engineers (SAE) Standard J2807.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: 2013 towing standard, Dodge truck towing, Ford truck towing, GM truck towing, SAE J2807 Standard, safe trailer towing, towing safety, towing tips and hints, trailer towing tips

Posted by: Mark Polk | 12:09 pm

RV 101 – RV GPS Buying Tips

The Global Positioning System or GPS was invented by the U.S. Department of Defense. The cost for GPS research and development was excessive, but the nuclear threat at the time outweighed the cost. Twelve billion dollars later the development and deployment of strategically placed satellites and ground stations made calculating geographical positions with pinpoint accuracy easy.

RV GPS shopping tips

The rest, as the saying goes, is history. For the past decade and a half we have enjoyed the features and benefits Global Positioning Systems have to offer. You simply punch in an address and like magic the small box guides you to your destination. GPS technology made finding travel destinations easy for automobile owners, but RV owners still had real-world concerns about using this technology. RVs are longer, taller and heavier than your average automobile, and a GPS designed for automobiles could get the RV owner in some challenging predicaments.

Driving or towing an RV can be a white knuckle experience when the GPS leads you to an overpass that is too low, a bridge not rated for the weight or a residential neighborhood with low hanging tree branches. Several years ago I remember searching for a GPS that was compatible with larger and heavier RVs. That search lead me to a GPS designed for professional truck drivers. It did a good job, but it was still missing features RV owners would like to have in a GPS unit.

Eventually I started seeing some GPS units designed specifically for use with RVs and decided it was time to upgrade my truck driving GPS model. Having some experience with non-RV GPS models there were some specific features and benefits I wanted in an RV GPS.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Campgrounds, RV Destinations, RV products, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: Garmin RV GPS, Magellan RV GPS, Rand McNally RV GPS, RV 101 tips, RV consumer tips, RV GPS, RV GPS buying tips, RV GPS tips and hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:42 am

RV 101 – RV Consumer Christmas Discounts

RV Consumer Magazine December 2012

In our December issue of RV Consumer Magazine the editor and staff at RV Education 101want to offer some special holiday product discounts to our magazine subscribers. If you have an RV enthusiast on your Christmas list these RV products make great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.

Take a look inside this issue for a new product offering and save 15% instantly on all orders.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from us to you.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk

Read past issues of RV Consumer Magazine HERE

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Posted in Beginning RVer, Free RV Consumer E-Magazine, General, RV Maintenance, RV products, RV Tips & Hints, RV Training, RV Types | Tags: RV 101, RV books, RV consumer magazine, RV DVDs, RV Education 101, RV help, RV how to videos, RV information, RV product specials, RV products, RV Tips & Hints

Posted by: Mark Polk | 3:35 pm

Trailer Towing – ST Tires vs. LT Tires

Let me begin by saying when it comes to the type of tires to use on a travel trailer or 5th wheel trailer I think there is a lack of information and understanding on the topic. If you head over to the RV forums and type in “ST vs. LT tires” be prepared for a good deal of debate and varying opinions. I can quite honestly say that regardless of how well this article explains the information lots of folks will continue to embrace their original opinions. It’s one of those controversial subjects like gas vs. diesel. My goal with this article is to attempt to clear up some of the confusion on this topic so RV consumers can make an educated buying decision.

Before going any further let’s take a look at what the ST and LT tire designations actually mean.

ST tire designation: ST stands for Special Trailer tire. ST tires are designed for use on trailer axle positions only. They are not designed for the load or traction requirements of a drive or steering axle. ST tires have strengthened sidewalls to prevent the tire from rolling under the rim in turns and when cornering. All ST tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph. ST tires feature materials and construction designed to meet the higher load requirements and demands trailer towing presents.

Tim Fry, senior development engineer with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company stated, “The major difference is reflected in the polyester cords used in ST tires. These cords are bigger than they would be for a comparable P or LT tire. Typically, the steel wire also has a larger diameter or greater tensile strength to meet the additional load requirements. Because of the heavier construction for an equal volume of air space, an ST tire is designated to carry more load than a P or LT tire.”

LT tire designation: LT stands for Light Truck tire. One definition at www.tiresafety.com defines an LT tire as any tire line or size which would typically be applied on a light truck (SUV, pickup, van). As such it could be an LT-metric tire for use on a one-ton truck or a P-metric ‘light truck’ size of a typical tire used on an SUV. Light trucks (pickups) and SUVs differ from standard passenger cars in their overall strength, load carrying capacity, center of gravity, and driveline complexity. For this reason, the tire options for light trucks and SUVs are often more complex than passenger cars. Factors such as load range, ply rating and sizes vary greatly from those of passenger car applications.

These are just definitions to provide a basic understanding of what the ST and LT tire designations mean. Please hold back from any debate until you read the rest of the article. Now let’s dig a little deeper.

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Posted in Beginning RVer, General, RV Maintenance, RV Safety, RV Tips & Hints, RV Types, Trailer Towing Topics | Tags: best tires for trailer, chinese trailer tires, Light Truck tires, RV towing tips & hints, special trailer tires, ST tires vs LT tires, ST trailer tires, trailer tire blowouts, trailer tires, trailer towing, trailer towing safety

Posted by: Mark Polk | 9:28 am

RV Consumer Magazine November 2012

The November Issue of RV Consumer E-Magazine was just released.

The November issue is our annual RV cold weather edition. In this issue learn how to winterize your RV in 7 easy steps, read an article on interior and exterior RV winter checks, discover why so many snowbirds head to Arizona during the cold winter months, get some RV tips and hints on maintaining RV batteries in cold weather and much more.

All of this great RV information is just a click away.

RV Consumer magazine is delivered in a digital flip-book style format, online monthly by subscription. It is free of charge and your e-mail address will never be sold or used for anything other than delivering our RV e-newsletter and RV Consumer E-Magazine. For up to the minute RV news and information subscribe now and start receiving this information packed e-publication directly in your in-box each month.

If you experience trouble with the CAPCHA code (prevents SPAM) while signing up for the newsletter please send an e-mail to Dawn with Newsletter sign-up in the subject line and we will get you signed up for the new magazine: dawn@rveducation101.com

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk