Here's how to keep things rolling
04:00 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Besides changing the engine oil, checking tire pressure and other regular maintenance familiar to owners of any motor vehicle, there are chores associated with many of the features unique to recreation vehicles.
Mark Polk of Fayetteville, N.C., has written The RV Book and put together 15 DVDs, all about how to maintain RVs (available at www.rveducation101.com).
"I get asked 50 questions a week by e-mail," he says, adding that the maintenance problems that he hears about most often involve roofs. "The membrane roofs are guaranteed by the manufacturers," he says, "but it's the owner's responsibility to inspect the seals" around vents and other rooftop protrusions.
"It's a case of out of sight, out of mind," he says, because few owners bother to climb on top and do a proper inspection.
Mark White, who owns Mark's RV Supplies in Albion, N.Y., says he sold a lot of new awnings, most of them to RV owners who damaged their old ones through carelessness or failure to keep them clean.
"People neglect to roll up the awnings in high winds or heavy rains, and they're damaged," he says.
Gary Hosking, an owner of Campers' Barn, an RV dealer in Kingston, N.Y., says that maintaining the batteries – keeping them charged and the connections clean – is key to a happy RV experience.
Here are some tips based on www.marksrv.com, the Web site for Mark's RV Supplies:
•Lubricate your awning hardware at the beginning of each season. Clean the awning with a mild solution of bleach and liquid dishwashing detergent to remove and prevent mildew.
•Axles, springs and spring fittings should be checked at the beginning of the season when the RVs bearings are lubricated.
•Install voltage monitors to be sure your appliances are protected from low voltage, which can damage refrigerator and air-conditioning compressors.
•Check the furnace burner and combustion chamber and clean if needed. A soot streak outside above the furnace vent means a cleaning is necessary.
•Prepare your RV for winter storage by draining the water heater, water lines and tank, and the waste tanks. Put antifreeze in the traps. Or, take it to a dealer to have it winterized.
•Propane gas systems should be checked yearly for pressure and leaks. This requires a manometer and is best done by a dealer or a service center.
•Regularly lubricate electrically operated steps.
Take advantage of the state parks. They're inexpensive, easy to get to and almost always in especially scenic locations.
Make reservations. Though RV spaces usually are available during the week, the parks are often packed on the weekends, especially in summer and over holiday weekends. Reserve online ( www.tpwd.state.tx.us) or by phone (512-389-8900), then be patient; Texas Parks & Wildlife may respond slowly.
Get a good spot. Your reservation holds room for you in the park, not a specific camping spot. If you're planning a weekend trip, try to arrive on Thursday when you'll have a better selection of spots. Most will be full by Friday night.
Pick your services. Most state parks have parking spots with water and electricity. Some also include sewer hookups and cable TV. Prices range from $10 to $25 a night. Select the combination that best fits your needs. Several state parks offer free WiFi.
Enjoy the state's two national parks: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, halfway between El Paso and Midland, and Big Bend National Park, in the southwesternmost corner of the state. The view from the top of Guadalupe Peak, at nearly 9,000 feet the state's highest point, spans two states and two nations and is a close second to our favorite vista, from the famous South Rim trail in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend. Big rigs beware: Most national park campsites offer only water and electricity, and some campgrounds impose length limits. Check in advance.
Bring a bike. Many parks have cycling trails to scenic points. Some trails are paved; even the dirt ones usually are passable. Biking allows you to cover more territory than hiking, and it's great exercise.
Become a state parks member. For $60 a year, you get free entry into the parks and discounts in park stores. Entry fees generally are $2 to $5 per person per day, in addition to the campsite fee, so after just a few visits, the card pays for itself. (Tip: A parks membership makes a great birthday or holiday gift.)
Keven Ann Willey