Owning an RV certainly comes with as many responsibilities if not more than in owning a vehicle. Failing to winterize an RV can cause unpleasant surprises come spring. If lines aren’t properly flushed and systems cleaned out, freezing temperatures can cause expansion and damages, leading to contamination and costly repairs.To winterize your RV you can either do it your self or hire a certified RV technician. For those do-it-yourself types, here are a few things you will need before getting started.• Non-toxic RV antifreeze (The amount depends on the layout and length of your plumbing lines. Two to three gallons will normally do).• A water heater by-pass kit, if not already installed.• A wand to clean out holding tanks.• A water pump converter kit, or tubing to connect to the inlet side of the water pump.• Basic hand tools to remove drain plugs.Now to go through the steps of preparing your RV for winter. • If you have any inline water filters remove and bypass before starting.• Drain the fresh water holding tank.• Drain and flush the gray and black holding tanks. If your RV doesn’t have a built in tank flushing system clean the black tank out with a wand, or use a product like Flush King that allows you to clean both the black and gray tanks. Lubricate the termination valves with WD 40.• Drain the water heater. Remove the drain plug and open the pressure relief valve. CAUTION (never drain the water heater when it is hot or under pressure)• Open all hot and cold faucets; don’t forget the toilet valve and outside shower.• Locate and open the low point drain lines. There will be one for the hot and cold water lines. Using the water pump will help force water out, but turn it off as soon as the system is drained.• Recap all drains and close all faucets.• By-pass the water heater. If you do not have a by-pass kit installed the water heater will fill up with antifreeze before it goes through the water lines, wasting six gallons of antifreeze.• Install a water pump converter kit, or disconnect the inlet side of the water pump (the line coming from the fresh water holding tank). Connect a piece of clear tubing to the inlet side of the pump and put the other end into a one gallon container of non-toxic RV antifreeze.• Turn the water pump on and pressurize the system. Starting with the closest faucet, slowly open the hot and then cold valves until antifreeze appears. Replace the antifreeze container as required.• Repeat this process on all faucets from the closest to the farthest away. Don’t forget the outside shower, if equipped.• Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears.• Turn the water pump off and open a faucet to release the pressure. Go outside to the city water inlet. Remove the small screen over the inlet and push in on the valve with a small screwdriver until you see antifreeze. Replace the screen.• Pour a cupful of antifreeze down each drain. Pour a couple of cups in the toilet and flush into the holding tank.• If your water heater has an electric heating element make sure it is turned off. This will protect the element if the unit is plugged in while being stored.• Make sure all the faucets are closed.• Consult your owner manuals for winterizing icemakers and washing machines. That’s it you’re done! That wasn’t so bad was it? Now remove your batteries for winter storage!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/preparing-your-rv-for-winter-500255.html
About the Author:
Greg Chapman of Greg Chapman Motors is a knowledgeable and leading provider of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s. Since 1959, Chapman motors has supplied reliable used cars in Austin and the surrounding area and is known as one of the bad credit car dealers in Austin. For more information please visit http://www.gregchapmanmotors.com.
]]>When choosing RV furniture it is useful to know the relationship between color and mood. Color, strictly speaking, is light energy. Energy reflected from objects. For people, it’s the only type of energy we can actually see and, believe it or not, these colors can affect our mood.
Dr. Max Lescher, a Swiss professor of psychology and the inventor of the Lescher Color Test, knew that the importance of color originated from prehistoric man, when their lives were completely governed by day and night, light and dark.
Day brings bright, warm colors, safety with action, and an increase in metabolic rate. Night brings cool, dark hues, with rest, danger, inaction and slowing down.
In the late 1950s, the color researcher Robert Gerard found that in human beings, both psychological and physical activity seem to increase as the wavelength of the light increases. So the brighter the light, the more active humans are.
In other words, colors like reds, oranges and yellows stimulate us more than colors like greens, blues and purples.
He felt the color blue has a therapeutic effect - for example as a tranquilizer and relaxant in anxious individuals and as a way of reducing blood pressure in the treatment of hypertension.
There was an experiment later on to test this theory. Prisoners were randomly assigned to different color themed wings. Some were assigned to wings where the theme was red, some yellow, others blue, and finally green. After some time, it was found that those in the blue and green wings were less inclined to violence than those in red and yellow wings.
Pink also seems to have a calming effect within minutes of exposure. It seems to suppress hostile, aggressive, and anxious behavior.
To test this theory further, medical experts measured how blood pressure, pulse, and respiration rates tend to increase most under yellow light, moderately under orange, and less under red. They decrease most under black, moderately under blue, and minimally under green.
With this in mind, you want to be careful when picking the colors of your RV furniture. Below is a guide outlining what colors bring what moods they bring about.
Red - Associated with: Vitality, Energy, Courage
Physical effects:
Stimulates brain activity, increases heart rate, respiration and blood pressure, gives energy and self-confidence.
Orange - Associated with: Happiness, Confidence
Physical effects:
Energizes, stimulates the appetite and digestive system, removes inhibitions, and fosters sociability.
Yellow - Associated with: Awareness, wisdom, clarity
Physical effects:
Energizes, relieves depression, improves memory, increases awareness, perception and understanding. Also stimulates the appetite.
Green - Associated with: Balance, love, peace
Physical effects:
Soothing, relaxing mentally as well as physically, helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety, offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony.
Blue - Associated with: knowledge, relaxation, health
Physical effects:
Calming, lowers blood pressure and decreases respiration. Ideal for sleep and over-active children. Enhances communication and decision-making
Indigo - Associated with: Intuition, imagination, understanding
Physical effects:
Strengthens intuition and imagination, increases dream activity. Helps connect us to our unconscious mind.
Violet - Associated with: Creativity, wisdom, inspiration
Physical effects:
Suppresses appetite, provides a peaceful environment, relieves tension, and is good for migraines. Promotes inner strength, wisdom, kindness, artistic talent and creativity.
Final thought - Always imagine how you want you and your occupants want to feel and experience when picking the color them in relation to your RV furniture for your mobile home.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/rv-furniture-color-theme-497562.html
About the Author:
RV Furniture Guide is the best place to go for tips and resources when looking for RV Furniture. Please visit our website at http://rvfurnitureguide.blogspot.com/
]]>It is believed that feng shui utilizes the natural laws of the universe to help you achieve your goal with the help of positive chi flow. In laymans terms, its the art of arranging furniture in order for one to receive good luck. The principles of this art can not only benefit you in your home furniture, but it can be applied as well when choosing and arranging RV furniture.
Here are some basics which can be applied right away:
- Clear up clutter from your RV. Get rid off all the things you don’t need nor love. You want positive chi to move freely.
- Put your seats at right angles to each other. This will also make it more conducive for conversations amongst family.
- Make sure that the coaches and the bed does not face away from the entrance.
- Your bed should not be facing a mirror. In fact, there should be no mirror in the places that you are found off. It is said that this will bring about bad luck and third parties into your relationship.
- The stove in your kitchen area should not be across the refrigerator or sink. The practical reason is that you don’t want heat to go in your refrigerator as it will consume more electricity. The feng shui reason is that you don’t want the elements of fire and water to clash.
- Make sure that you put in as much natural light and air as possible. You wan’t to welcome fresh positive chi into your RV.
- Place your bed against a solid wall.
- If you have a pet turtle. Do not bring him along.
- Pick your parking spot wisely. Stay away from electrical poles as the magnetic fields will disrupt your sleep.
- Place the television set in the living room area instead of the bedroom. I know that this is a hard habit to break. If you must place it in your bedroom, cover it with a plastic (not cloth) table cover when you are not using it.
There are more feng shui concepts that you can apply when you are arranging your RV furniture. There are concepts like object and color placement (where you will make use of a feng shui star chart), there are color coordination principles you can follow, and so on and so forth. If you are seriously want to apply some advance concepts, there are multiple sources online and books on the subject. You can also consult a feng shui master or an interior designer.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/feng-shui-tips-for-your-rv-492173.html
About the Author:
RV Furniture Guide is the best place to go for tips and resources when looking for RV Furniture. Please visit our website at http://rvfurnitureguide.blogspot.com/
]]>” Fivers”, “Fifth Wheels” and “Fifth Wheel Trailers” are all phrases that refer to a single style of recreational vehicle. The stems from the design and way of hitching the trailer to the truck.The hitch is placed in a tow vehicle bed almost directly over the tow vehicle’s rear axle. This adds a great deal of stability and towability to the trailer. Since the hitch is mounted over the rear axle of the tow vehicle, a pickup truck or medium duty truck is used to do the towing. Fifth wheel rvs usually range in length from about 20 feet to over 40 feet long with the bigger models becoming a real dwelling when they are fully set up for camping.These rvs are almost always constructed with a cut out section in front to allow the hitch pin to extend over the tow vehicle bed to reach the hitch. This extended area used for the main bedroom although a few have located a living room area in this spot.The full profile fifth wheel rv comes with everything you would need in adwelling. Fullsize recliners andloveseat along with a bigscreen tv and entertainment center are part of the lounge area optons. Larger designs include a computer desk and sometimes a fire place.The “galley” will have a refrigerator-freezer combo, a range with oven and a microwave stove to handle the meal preparation. Upscale rvs feature solid surface counter tops and other luxury touches to rival the finest kitchen found in any dwelling.Bathrooms also range from the simple to the sumptous. Glass walled walk in showers are not unusual in the larger units.The upstairs bedroom may feature a queen or king size bedplaced in a slide-out with storage under the bed. Larger trailers a dresser and larger closet across the very front of the trailer.Heating is done with a gas forced air heater ducted throughout the living area. A roof mounted air conditioner keeps the inside cool during the hotter days.One common feature of this style of rv is the ample storage both within and underneath the living area. Most recent include a ample “basement” storage area in the forward area of the rv. This allows for inclusion of all the things that make a fifth wheel home while away from home base.Today’s fifth wheel trailers offer the ultimate in travel trailer living. They have maximum living space, easy towing, and reasonable prices for the full time rv’er.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/full-time-rver-climbs-into-some-fifth-wheel-travel-trailers-492585.html
About the Author:
———-
To learn more take a look at Full Time Rving or ==> http://www.thorntonnetsales.com/Suggests/rv_living/
The world is becoming small to smaller day by day and Internet is playing a very important role in doing so. Internet has almost becoming a microcosm of the world outside. Without moving out you can buy, sell and get information on anything. Whether it is buying a new car or selling your old one, you get full auto guide to every sale or purchase. Internet has made our lives so easy that everything seems a click away.
Similarly, your search for a good ATV sale can also be ended on web. Internet provides many automotive resources like automotive directory, automotive portals, auto parts directory and even automotive blogs to give you latest updates as well as reviews on latest launch in the market.
Advertisements also serve your purpose. Automotive directories and websites place advertisements of various new and used automobiles for sale. Whether it is ATV or luxurious Jaguar people/ dealers advertise on various automotive websites/ blogs to attract customers.
No wonder online advertisements make your search for ATV easier but that does not put an end to your queries. The advertisers on any automotive website can also use good images to mislead the customer. Therefore, all other aspects like price, specifications, colors, etc. can be checked online but a purchase should not be made unless you take a test drive, especially in case of a used purchase. I don’t stick to my line because authorized online dealers would not cheat you and would bring your dream car safely to your doorstep, though overseas.
Apart from advertisements you can widen your search by using various search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. By typing ‘ATV for sale’ in the search box you get numerous websites catering this keyword, you have to pick out some good automotive websites dealing in it. These websites work like our usual automobile showrooms thus, giving you a facility to buy any automotive online to save energies and time. There are automotive directories which serve as a reservoir of links to automotive websites. In case you are searching for a specific automotive part there are auto parts directories, which collect their URL. Even community Forum proves itself to be a good auto guide as several questions are discussed on varied automotive topics by the people to find an answer to them.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/using-the-internet-to-find-an-atv-for-sale-493804.html
About the Author:
Myself webmaster of www.automotive-portal.info, a free automobile directory offers auto parts & vehicles listings, cars, motorbikes reviews, automotive dealership resources and more.
]]>If you are in the path to shopping for RV furniture then you have come to the right place. This article will help you get ready to make the right choices for your RV.
There is a plathera of RV furnitures to select from. You have to choose among RV furniture for the dining area, for the living room area, for the sleeping area and so on. You have to be sure to pick the one that fit your personal taste and style. As much as you want practicality and functionality, trust me, you will want to personalize your choices a little bit.
When choosing RV furniture, for both interior and exterior, just stick to the basics and know your budget. Lets look at them one by one shall we?
Outdoor RV Furniture:
These should be durable, easy to clean and can be stored and set up quickly. Your best bet is compact camping chairs. Not only do they fit the criteria above, they are economical as well.
Alternatively, can choose the more “luxurious” padded rockers and recliners if you have a little more budget. Even if they are not as small and compact as camping chairs they they still fit the bill. They are made of a special woven fabric which are supposedly “breathable” for a nice cool flow.
You cant have chairs without a table can you? Picnic tables and foldable card tables are what you want. Whats the use of travelling with an RV if you can’t have a picnic in every other stop.
Basically, for exterior RV Furniture, tables and chairs that are easy to clean and easy to store are all you need.
Indoor RV Furniture:
The first thing you need to know is the dimensions of your interior. After that, decide what type of feel you want the inside of your RV to be. Like I said earlier, you dont want to just have a generic feel in your RV. Road trips can be long and you need the extra punch to make it pleasurable.
Captains chair - You have to make sure that the captains chair you pick is comfortable. Great ones are the ones with swivels so that you can take advantage of the space. Spin that sucka!
A great space saver is a soffa or pullout bed. You cvan get one ready made or make a customized one. This popular choice has a wide array of designs, colors and fabrics to choose from.
Beds - If you decide to get one, you should not only consider comfort but the size as well. Remember that your RV is your home away from home and it should feel that way. Make sure that you pick one that you know will give you a good and comfortable nights sleep.
Tables - should be sturdy. You can stick them to the wall or floor or you can get a foldable one for more space. It really depends on your preference.
Getting RV furniture can be a fun experience. Take your time and know what ambiance you want and you will find that traveling with the right RV furniture will make your travel very relaxing and stress free.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/the-basics-of-rv-furniture-selection-490031.html
About the Author:
RV Furniture Guide is the best place to go for tips and resources when looking for RV Furniture. Please visit our website at http://rvfurnitureguide.blogspot.com/
]]>Think of mini vans and the first thing that comes to mind might be dumpy, mid-sized cars hauling kids to soccer practice. The market is saturated with unattractive, cookie-cutter vans that may look big on the outside, but inside are surprisingly cramped. The new Mercedes Sprinter aims to change the way you think about vans, and people have been taking into notice.
With its sleek, sloping front and multitude of available options, Mercedes has created a van that’s suitable for nearly everyone’s needs while still looking stylish and maintaining a high quality standard. The Mercedes Sprinter is like a blank palette. It’s available in a cargo and passenger model, meaning that it can be customized to satisfy a variety of individual tastes, including family and business needs.
Family-wise, its one of the best options available. The Sprinter offers 10 removable seats (and still with storage room to spare), as well as 2.7 liter turbo diesel direct fuel injection engine, which gets 28 mpg at 55mpg. So now on your family camping trips, not only will you be able to comfortably pack all of your equipment, children, even your dog, but you’ll also get better gas economy than an RV.
Even with its wide, tall body, the Mercedes Sprinter has smooth steering and an excellent turning radius, moving swiftly around tight corners. It also comes standard with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel to make the drive even easier.
If you’re on the market for a business vehicle, the cargo version is an economical, as well as stylish option. It comes in your choice of standard, high, or mega roof height. Body length can be one of three options’ 233 inches, 273 inches, or 289 inches. And finally you have the choice of 144 inch or 170 inch wheelbase. A towing capacity of 7,500lbs, allows you to haul nearly anything you need. With all of the different combinations available, there is a size to fit any business’s needs.
Although the Sprinter is a practical cargo van, it can also be used as a charter vehicle, bringing passengers to and from destinations or on tours. Its cargo area makes it ideal as an airport shuttle. But it could also serve as a smaller, more intimate tour bus.
Other available options and add-ons to tweak the Mercedes Sprinter to your liking include rear parking assist, automatic climate control, sunroof, and heated seats. Standard safety features are antilock breaks, an emergency window, and stability control. And as a bonus, its size makes it easy to add just about anything else you can think up. A sleeping bench, mini fridge, entertainment center all is possible with this spacious and functional vehicle.
So if you’re on the market for something with more flair than the typical, dull minivans. Take a look at a Mercedes Sprinter and imagine the possibilities that lie within. A comfortable family car, a stylish camper, or a business opportunity the Sprinter has them all covered with the quality you’d expect from Mercedes.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/mercedes-sprinter-is-more-than-a-mini-van-485890.html
About the Author:
If you are planning to go for a sleek and stylish model vehicle that can meet business as well as family needs, then you can think of Mercedes Sprinter. Smooth driving and home-like facilities makes it a customized functional vehicle. For details, visit http://lakeshorechrysler.com/.
]]>The production of motorhomes is currently experiencing an up turn in growth that will most likely increase in the coming years. The size and quality of motorhomes varies greatly, from the multi-million pound models that are more akin to palaces than to mobile homes to the smaller tourers that provide a cost effective way to holiday. For the industry to carry on growing however certain changes will have to be introduced to maintain profitability; these changes are likely to affect workforces and methods of construction.
The first concern of industry players is to reduce the cost per man hour used in the construction of motorhomes. By doing this companies will be able to increase their profits by achieving the same number of sales while decreasing the production costs of each unit. Unfortunately for this to occur, it is likely that employment will suffer as customers pursue cheap prices.
Constructing motorhomes will also change. In the past motorhomes were constructed using a ’stick-build’ method, today however this is rapidly being changed. The old method involves welding a frame from individual components and then bonding this to the chassis. This method is however extremely time consuming and expensive; understandably, more advanced methods are now being employed.
The industry today is adopting a system that uses pre-moulded sub-assemblies that fit directly onto the chassis subsequently reducing the man hours of construction and the cost per unit. While this method is not yet widespread, if the industry wants to continue to be profitable, it will have to adopt these methods wholesale.
Motorhomes were in the past constructed from aluminium and wood but this is changing rapidly. Modern plastics can perform just as well as these materials and hence have been extensively utilised. In addition, these plastic components are often pre-moulded and already contain all of the fixtures and fittings as well as insulation. The result is that these components can be bolted straight onto the chassis greatly reducing the time spent on construction; once again making the manufacture of motorhomes cheaper.
Another change that is likely to take place in the motorhomes industry is the power source used in the home. Diesel engines that are largely inefficient and expensive to run are being replaced by turbine engines as these are lighter and use less fuel for the same output. As with much of the motoring industry, solutions such as hybrid engines and hydrogen power are also being studied as a means of propulsion that do not use fossil fuels. Ultimately making motorhomes more eco-friendly is the primary goal.
Modern motorhomes are also utilising increasingly advanced waste management systems. In the past owners have always dreaded emptying the chemical toilet but this is changing with a modern trend for advanced, clean and effective systems. Leakage is an obvious problem with the hazardous chemicals used, so reducing this is an important objective.
Many of these changes, although being used by some manufacturing companies are not yet widespread across the industry. It is logical however that as these methods become more effective they will be increasingly used. With the demand for low prices ever growing and for the industry to carry on being prosperous, it must take these changes on board to maintain profitability.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/advances-in-the-motorhomes-industry-483980.html
About the Author:
Motoring expert Thomas Pretty looks into developments used in the construction of motorhomes and how they are reducing prices.
]]>There are many different caravan dealerships in the UK that sell many different types of caravans that are on offer today. There are certain steps that need to be taken before considering buying a caravan. Although many dealers take very good care of the items they are selling there are sometimes hidden faults. For example, the main problem that people have with caravans is damp and this is primarily caused by rain and water getting into the exterior lining of the caravan. It can get into interior fittings and outer panels and it in most cases is the most costly to repair on a caravan. In some cases it can run up to the high hundreds of pounds.
It is important for dealerships to make sure there is no damp in caravans before they go on sale as it can drastically make the price drop and in some cases make the model unsellable.
Damp can be found in all the walls and roof of the caravan, in order for a person to spot a damp patch in a caravan they need to know what the damp patches look like. The most noticeable sign to look for is a musty smell when entering a caravan. This is a major sign that the caravan has got damp patches and needs fixing. But it is still mandatory to check as well just in case it is a false sign, but also you will need to check if there is no evident smell as the damp may be there but in a smaller scale.
The main areas to check for damp in a caravan are the corners of the walls and the roof lights as water can get into the caravan from these places without any visible damage. Also, around the windows and doors are main places where damp can occur because the sealant holding the rubber to the frame can leak and let water in during rainfall. The panels in a caravan will go very soft and spongy when damp occurs. Also after the damp has done the damage a tide mark will be left on the wallboards and panels, which is an easily noticeable indication to find where the damp has originated.
If a dealership manages to stop damp happening to their caravans when on sale will allow them to keep a very high price tag. This will mean constant service and checks to the caravans to keep them in peak condition. After you have sorted out all the problems that caravans can have you need to decide which caravan would most suit you from the dealership. The range is very wide with very small 2 person caravans ranging to a very large whole family caravan.
To choose which caravan best suits you it is vital to decide what your needs are and what purpose the caravan is going to be used for. For example a very large caravan for the whole family would be used for long family vacations within driving distance. This means the large caravan will have lots of comfort as it will be acting as a small home from the time you arrive to the time you leave at the end of you holiday. This means it will have a lot of equipment and space but this also boosts up the price considerably. If you are a family of no children a smaller, simpler and easier caravan would be good to take on holiday.
This allows you to put your own equipment into the caravan as a smaller model will come with less equipment than a large style caravan. This allows for some customisation and you can do this with a smaller price tag than a much larger caravan. Ultimately the choice is yours, either go for a leviathan of the road or a smaller model, depending on your needs the choice should be simple enough.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/the-importance-of-damp-when-looking-at-caravans-479619.html
About the Author:
Caravaning expert Thomas Pretty looks into what considerations to make when visiting caravan dealerships.
]]>When selecting a New Zealand campervan rental agency, it is vitally important to keep liability cover in mind. Without cover, you are responsible should your vehicle sustain damage or be involved in an accident.
Visitors should be aware that vehicle insurance is not compulsory in New Zealand. While your rental vehicle may be covered, if you have an accident with an uninsured vehicle you may be required to forfeit your bond, regardless of fault.
Keep in mind that because liability charges for hire vehicles are usually banked immediately, significant delays and currency conversion fees may apply to any refund. Tourists should be wary that although they may have travel insurance, these policies do not usually cover modified vehicles such as campervans or motorhomes.
To protect your interests and ensure a safe and happy visit to New Zealand, look for a reputable rental agency. Professional agencies will offer a range of liability reduction options to suit your needs.
Standard liability charged when hiring a camper or motorhome in New Zealand can run up to ten thousand dollars. This amount is generally charged to your credit card prior to collecting the vehicle.
To ensure peace of mind, it is recommended that you select the maximum liability reduction option available from your chosen agency. Premium liability reduction cover is charged as a minor additional daily fee, and can reduce your liability to anywhere from a few thousand dollars to nothing.
A popular choice for New Zealand campervan hire and motorhome rental is Apollo Motorhome Holidays. This highly recommended agency provides VIP cover with a zero dollar liability option. Visit the Apollo Motorhome Holidays website for further information at www.apollocamper.co.nz
Article Source What’s the best New Zealand vehicle rental liability option for me?
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/whats-the-best-new-zealand-vehicle-rental-liability-option-for-me-406833.html
About the Author:
Elysha Loiterton
Sales and Marketing Department
Apollo Motorhome Holidays Pty Ltd
698 Nudgee Road
Northgate Qld 4013 Australia
Phone: +61 7 3265 9200
Web: www.apollocamper.co.nz