RVer Recalls UFO Flight

It’s Halloween and I thought my fellow RVers would enjoy a scary tale about a time I was part of a UFO flight. So, gather around the campfire as I take you on a journey at tax payers’ expense. Many moons ago I was a Navigator on a KC-135 Tanker in the 916 th Air Refueling Squadron of the Strategic Air Command. We were on a training mission refueling a flight of FB-111 bombers somewhere over Utah. (This is a photo I took of an F-4 preparing to refuel to give you an idea of what we were doing). It was 4:00 a.m. and after about 20 minutes of routine refueling the aircraft commander turned control over to our female co-pilot. In those days women were just beginning to come onboard tankers as pilots, so when the FB-111 flight heard her voice they asked if she would like to see the “Zippo trick.” She was happy for them to “show off” their trick so one at a time they flew out in front of us to our starboard side and hit their fuel dump switch. Now to appreciate what happens next, I need to tell you that the FB-111 has two jet engines and the fuel dump is between the the engine nacelles. After they had jettisoned fuel for a few seconds it would enter the atmosphere and expand into a contrail of fumes. At the very moment they shut off the fuel dump switch, they would ignite their afterburners for a brief moment. This would torch off the vapor trail and create a fabulous display of burning color in the atmosphere. This burning cloud was “cigar” shaped and would change colors from bright orange to red and green and blue as it burned out in the night sky. They did this about 15 times and I began to imagine some farmer looking out his kitchen window and saying, “Hey Martha, they’re back, those UFO lights in the sky! Come look for yourself, I’m calling the Sheriff.” The scariest part of this story is that it is true. The “Zippo trick” was named after the famous Zippo cigarette lighter. So if you’re RVing in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah or Texas and see strange “cigar shaped” lights in the night sky, don’t panic, just relax knowing your tax dollars are hard at work. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Catching a Few Rays is Not OK for your Tires

UV radiation is an enemy to RV tires. Over time the sun’s rays will break down the rubber on the side-walls of your tires unless you do something to stop it. The best way to protect your tires is to cover them. You can use standard tire covers designed to fit over your tires but these require you to snug the cover over the tire and secure the bottom. I used these on my last two 5th wheels and always got dirty putting them on and taking them off. Another approach is to put snap buttons on the exterior and snap a cover over the tire well. A newer approach is to get in the grove with a slide in contour wheel well cover. Christine Franks with Motor Coach Design (MCD) demonstrates this application. The cover slides into a grove that holds the tire cover neatly in place. The bottom has an adjustable weight to hold the cover at the bottom of the tire no matter how your RV is leveled. MCD is located in McKinney, Texas. You can contact them at (800) 804-1757 or check out their website where you’ll also find several other RV items of interest MCD.

Secure Those Slide Out Corners Before They Blow Away

Many RVs including Travel Trailers, 5th Wheels and Motorhomes with slide out rooms have these corner pieces installed. They are an easy way to cover the slide out trim pieces that join together at a 45 degree angle. The problem with these pieces is that they become loose over time and eventually blow off on the side of the road somewhere in Texas. One solution is to remove them and reapply adhesive using a clamp to hold them in place until the glue thoroughly cures. A better way is to remove them, drill and countersink three or four holes, then reapply adhesive and screw them into place. Once the glue cures, cut the protruding screws off on the back side where the slide out meets the wall. This application will help keep these pieces in place, even in Texas. Keeping you from loosing it on the road - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Entertained By Road Signs

As a long time RVer I’ve crossed the country back and forth and enjoy seeing unusual signs. We frequently see signs that say things like “Elk” or “Deer Crossing” or “Moose next 5 miles”. When I first began driving I would get excited and attentive, thinking I might actually see wildlife. We laugh at these signs now because in our experience these signs actually mean, “There is no chance at all you’re going to see anything of the sort.” So why do states waste the metal and manpower to erect signs like these? So hunters can have a little target practice? Just about every other sign you see with a “dancing deer” has bullet holes in it. It would be more entertaining for states to put up signs like, “Road Kill next 5 miles” or “Birds” or “Armadillo Crossing”. Granted, if you hit a moose or a large deer doing 65 mph you could get killed, but, other than entertainment value do these signs really help? Let me know your opinion. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Find a Place to Store Magazines, Maps and More

Full time RVers Jim and Bronwen Soukup needed a place to store magazines and other large items of the paper variety. Jim came up with an idea to use the shelf that houses the heater hoses for this purpose. He visited an office supply store and purchased a couple of plastic paper organizers. He mounted them on top of the heater hose shelf in his motorhome and now the reading material is neat and tidy. I’ve also seen nice home-made wood racks on the heater hose shelf. What is otherwise unused space in many motorhomes can be made into practical storage. Helping you with more ideas than you’ll ever be able to use - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Tips for Camping in a Hospital Parking Lot

Many hospitals have designated RV parking. In fact, many hospitals have hook-ups that patients and family members can use for free. Here is an example of one such hospital. This RV parking area was an afterthought so they worked it into an existing parking area. It only has electric and water but a sewer pumping service is available for a fee. These RV facilities are often found at hospitals that have long term treatment programs like cancer treatment and guarded pregnancy (requiring the mom to be in hospital care to bring the baby to full term). Hotel costs are often prohibitive for people in these situations which is why the RV solution is a great alternative. Patients and family members can live on the hospital campus in the comfort of their own RV. If you need to use one of these facilities make sure you check in with the administrative office. These spaces are usually on a first come first served basis and require some connection with a patient in the care of the hospital. I’ve used hospital RV facilities several times in conjunction with the care of family members and it is very convenient. A fixed income cancer treatment patient told me that she didn’t know what she would do if it were not for the RV parking available at the hospital. She counted it a great blessing to be able to stay there for free while undergoing treatment. If the hospital RV parking is full or they don’t have RV hook-ups you may still be able to park your self contained RV in the out-back hospital parking lot. Check with the hospital administration office or the security office to get permission to do this. Helping you stretch your dollars - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

What Fire Trucks Have In Common With RVs

Look in a kid’s toy box and somewhere in there you’ll find a fire truck or a fire hat but probably not an RV. Kids love fire trucks because they make noise, are big and red, have flashing lights and shoot huge streams of water on fires. RVs on the other hand are not so exciting. Since the Professor of RVing is a personal friend of Sparky the Fire Dog, I got a tour of one of these cool machines. As I was checking out this fire truck I began to notice that it had a few things in common with an RV. First of all it carries ladders and almost every RV I see has a ladder strapped on it somewhere. The next thing I noticed is that these things are big and RVs can also be big. They have huge holding tanks and so do RVs. They also have pumps and can shoot huge amounts of water. While RVs can’t do that, they do have smaller water pumps that dribble water. OK, I know it’s a stretch but the thing that caught my eye was the enormous sky lift on this truck . It goes up about 65 feet and allows firemen to hose down a house from altitude. In order to safely do this they need to be close to level. This truck has huge leveling and stabilizing arms that allow the truck to safely operate the sky lift. So what do if find on the back of this fire truck to help them do this job? As I zoom in a little closer check out the RV product that the fire department depends on to save lives and property. That’s right, you’re looking at an RV level. I installed one of these on my 5th wheel so I could level it when I pulled into a camp site. They aren’t a precision instrument by any means, but they’ll quickly get you close to level so you can move on to other things like fighting a fire or setting up camp. Keeping it on the level - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Some History Behind an RV Favorite - The Jeep

World War II was responsible for the development of the Jeep which the War Department officially designated the “Truck, Command and Reconnaissance, 4x4”. This vehicle quickly became the GI’s favorite mode of transportation replacing the mule. We don’t know for sure how the name “jeep” came to be applied to this vehicle but it’s the name that stuck. This hardy combat vehicle carried GI’s through WWII, Korea and Vietnam. My wife’s father was seriously wounded when he drove a jeep over a land mine during the Korean conflict. General George C. Marshall described the jeep as “America’s greatest contribution to modern warfare.” The famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, said, “Good Lord, I don’t think we could continue the war without the jeep. It does everything. It goes anywhere. It’s as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat.” That sentiment still carries on in the RVing community because you’ll see the jeep being towed behind many motorhomes on the road today. Because it’s a true four wheel drive, it can be towed 4 down (four wheels on the ground) without any additional equipment like a transmission fluid pump or the need to disengage the power train. The jeep was eventually retired and replaced by the “High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle” or Humvee as it’s commonly known. These are also frequently seen towed by motorhomes. Besides being a great vehicle to tow, the jeep is also an “off road vehicle” which means that RVers are not limited to paved roads. They can explore back-country “jeep trails” in mountainous terrain or the many miles of desert trails in the South Western United States. A truly remarkable vehicle whose technology not only changed modern warfare, but made a major contribution to outdoor recreation. If you live in snow country you know full well the benefits of having a 4x4 under you. There’s no substitute for the kind of traction you’ll get out of a 4x4 thanks to the WWII era creators of the jeep. Steering you straight - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Professor of RVing For President

While others are getting out of the race, I'm getting in. It’s official, I am throwing my name into the hat and running for President of the United States. My platform is simple, “I promise to stay out of Washington and on RV-1 as much as possible.” There, isn’t that simple? I won’t take a salary and I will veto every single bill that Congress sends to my RV desk (unless it’s a bill that directs that the taxes on fuel actually be spent on maintaining roads and bridges). I will open the entire White House for tours and mandate that all National Parks install HUGE RV parks with full hook-ups using the money they collect from entrance fees. I will nominate only RVers to the Supreme Court and all other government positions and like me they will receive no pay for their services, because I don’t want them to show up for work. Gridlock is what I promise because if our government isn’t passing new laws and regulations we can have eight years of being left alone. OK, since I don’t have a committee I will need to rely on grass roots support. That means you’ll need to write my name in on your ballots. Write it like this: For President of the United States: Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing. Don’t expect me at any debates or to be out kissing babies, I’m too busy RVing for that! Thank you for your support!

RVers Now You Can Make Beverage Cans Into Re-sealable Bottles

No more flat drinks, bees or bugs, floaters or spills using the “Snap Capp”. This product turns your 12 and 16 ounce aluminum beverage cans into a bottle. They will keep your carbonated drinks fresh and they are reusable and dishwasher safe. They come in an assortment of bright colors so you can personally identify your own can (no more back wash from someone else’s can). You can learn more about them here “Snap Capp”. I saw these at a sporting goods store called “G.I. Joes” for $2.00 each. Just think, you can slap one of these babies on a high powered energy drink and send it with your grandkids when they return home. I’ve got you covered - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers and Hammocks a Perfect Match

RVers have long enjoyed napping in hammocks. However, in the old days, we had to find two trees close enough to rig up the hammock and then you had to worry about squirrels dropping pine cone bombs on you. No, that's not the Professor of RVing lying in repose at the mortuary (unless you consider Camping World a mortuary). No, it’s the Professor laying down on the job. This neat hammock folds up and fits into a carrying bag and is easy to assemble. For only $35.92 at Camping World it’s a great deal if you’re short. I’m 5 feet 10 inches tall and just barley fit on this hammock. It has a storage net underneath and comes with a carry bag. Now if you're into making your own gear check out this link to make your own hammock. Excuse me while I continue my research checking my eyelids for holes - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Paper Maps Take a Back Seat When RVers Use a GPS

The GPS system is a HUGE blessing to the RVing community! GPS stands for Global Positioning Satellite system developed by the US military and now available to the general public. The US Air Force spent $750,000 to send me to navigator school for a year. I flew KC-135s and would have donated body parts if I could have had the use of a cheap GPS back then. Unfortunately the military was only in the research and development phase of this AWSOME invention. I used Microsoft’s Streets and Trips hooked up to a GPS for a couple of years before acquiring my new Mio Digi-Walker C520 portable GPS system. This little beauty has a 4.3 inch wide screen and is sleek. It has no external antenna yet is very sensitive and picks up seven or eight satellites even inside your rig with the windows closed. It will save you money on fuel and take you anywhere you want to go in the US and Canada. The reason we ditched Streets and Trips is because I didn’t have room for my laptop computer in our Honda CRV that we tow behind our motorhome. The Mio can easily be moved from the motorhome to our Honda because it’s attached to the windshield by a suction cup that is secured by a thumb activated latch. This navigation system has all kinds of pre-programed data for points of interest like shopping, fuel stops, restaurants, hospitals and you name it. I tried a Garmin in the same price range and didn’t like it because it wouldn’t tell me the name of the street I needed to turn on when I approached it. If you want a nice looking easy to use GPS system then you need to check out the Mio. Like all new GPS systems, it has a touch screen and runs on batteries. The batteries will only last for an hour without being plugged into a power source. The GPS comes with a 110 recharger and a 12 volt recharger. It also comes with windows compatible software so you can interface with your computer. It has a built-in media player which will play tunes and even show movies. With integrated bluetooth technology you can even use it to talk on your cellphone hands free. And to top it all off, it will store pictures so you can make it into a “slide show” picture frame while you’re sitting in the parking lot waiting for your spouse. The key feature of these portable GPS units is that they will pay for themselves just on the fuel you will save from never being lost again. If you have the address of the place you want to go or the GPS coordinates, you will find it with ease using a GPS. I love using a GPS because if my wife falls asleep (which frequently happens on longer trips) I can find my way to where we’re going without waking her to look something up on the map. I also like these systems because it increases my confidence level about where we are (not lost) and if we ever break down on a lonely stretch of road, I can give the towing company precise GPS coordinates of where we are. If they don’t have a GPS then I can zoom out on my GPS map and give them the nearest cross street. You can purchase this unit on the internet for under $300. How much is it worth to never be lost again? Watch the video below as I take the Mio out for a test drive.
Keeping you headed in the right direction - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Hitting the RV Trail in Europe Part II

This is the second installment of the story of Steen and Karyne Fouillet Marcussen full time RVers in Europe. “My husband and I just adore this way of life, and I must say, I would not have believed someone telling me some 6 years ago that one day I would live aboard an RV.”
“We wild-camp (boondock) as often as we can, as for us it is truly relaxing. We usually drive everyday between 25 and 100 km, enjoying some incredible scenery, and finally sipping a glass of champagne on the evening once chosen our night-camp. It can be a beach, with the waves crashing a few meters from the rear of the RV where we have the bed. We open our eyes, and the first thing we see… is the sea.It can be a lake, a forest, but also a square in a village with a nice restaurant nearby, a fishing harbor where we enjoy hearing the fishermen coming back from sea at 5 or 6 AM, the hull full of goodies… that we can buy a couple hours later at the fish market. For us, wild camping is exciting, yet comfy onboard our well organized RV… It is like a real holiday.”

They love to travel and have a hard time staying in one camping area very long. “I get itchy feet just writing about it… That is maybe the only draw-back about fulltiming: you just don’t want to stay anywhere anymore. You want to be everywhere at the same time, and any stay longer than a month seems too long. You just want to hit the tarmac, enjoy the drive, enjoy the scenery, the destination, and the departure next day again… “The fulltimer’s itchy feet syndrome”.”In France they have a kind of equivalent to the American Bureau of Land Management camping. “In many European countries, wild camping is prohibited, in some it is tolerated, in others, it is organized. In France, it is organized, through a network of “aires de services”, all registered in a book with the same name. They are vast parking areas with little security, apart from the fact that we are parked next to other RVs and we always keep an eye on each other. We can empty and fill up tanks, plug into the main if necessary, and stay for a limited time (around 2 or 3 days usually)… we pay for the services between 4 & 6 Euros, plus some charge for camping overnight as well.”They tell me that the European RV parks, like our parks in America, range from nice to run-down. If you have a long motorhome you have to pay for the number of sites your motorhome covers. For instance a 36 foot motorhome would cover three typical European camp sites. Some of the campgrounds have many activities and some don’t have any. “France is known to be one of the most RV developed country in Europe. Unfortunately, it is also the country with the largest amount of rules and regulations. In order to avoid people living permanently in campsites, they are prohibited to open more than 10 month a year.” Prices for a campsite in France vary from 20 to 45 Euros ($1.40 per Euro exchange rate) per night.

“Portugal still offers a few really wild surfer’s beaches on the West coast, as well as some inland lakes, where the “GNR” (local police), just come to have a look, say hello, and leave us alone. Security is not too bad, but one must always stay on guard.”“Spain is a country full of contrasts. There, one can find very luxurious beach-side campsites for up to 55€ a night, offering many services such as various restaurants, sports rooms, games and animations, medical services, water and sewage connection for every pitch… but usually they are packed full of retired customers gathering together for many years, coming from Germany, Scandinavia or England to enjoy the warm winter months that Spain offers. Some campsites however offer less services, are more rural sometimes, and are also cheaper, around 20 € for a night. Food, beverages and petrol (1€/litre) in Spain is a lot cheaper than in France.For fulltimers, an interesting discount between 40 and 50% is normally offered out of tourist season.”“South-European natives can be a bit “noisy” when they gather on the week-ends with 15 or 20 family members + children in their caravans, car-boot open with loud music (it can be Flamenco as well as Techno), all laughing and speaking loudly, drinking wine, Pastis and/or beer, while women are cooking a Paella or other barbecue and salad dishes… Sometimes up to 4 generations meet up together.”

Steen is an author and has written several books available on Amazon.com (Africa Go-Go and 2000 Carats) while Karyne has developed a business selling safety and security products to European RVers. Her company is called “RV on GUARD Ltd.” She is always on the lookout for new and innovative RV products that are not available in Europe such as burglar-alarms, gas detectors, road safety products, and personal security. So if you have a product you think would be a hit in the European market, then drop me a line at jimtwamley@gmail.com and I’ll pass it on to her. She is also working hard at establishing a network of full-time RVers throughout Europe - a kind of European Escapees club. Keeping you up to speed on the international RV scene - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Hitting the RV Trail in Europe Part 1

Full-time RVers Steen and Karyne Fouillet Marcussen enjoy the RV lifestyle touring Europe. Steen is Danish and Karyne French and they travel with two cats and a Rottweiler named “Big-Boy”. Karyne says, “We just love this life, going from the few wild-camping beaches or lakes left today in Europe, to the camps for services.” Her English is much better than my French, and her mention of “camps for services” is her translation of what we would call an RV park with full hook-ups, laundry, etc. Their story begins with luxury living in a gorgeous 5 bedroom villa overlooking a golf course in the coastal town of Marbella in the south of Spain. He a successful businessman, she a model for european fashion-houses. “We got fed-up with the artificial way of life we lived. Almost no friends nor family surrounded us, loads of unnecessary luxury…” They decided to downsize their lifestyle and moved to France on a four acre property with a “lovely domaine” (nice home). Not satisfied in France, they moved back to Spain where they purchased their first motorhome. It was an “Elnagh” made in Italy. European motorhomes are notoriously small in comparison to US motorhomes. They have cassette toilets (the kind where the toilet bowl is shallow and folds out of the way into a container box on the wall). She says, “We blindly started the experience of a life-time: becoming fulltimers… but we didn’t know that yet… it was supposed to be an “in-between” situation, until we could find another property to invest in…” They relate that when they picked up this new motorhome form the dealer they got a one hour lesson on how everything worked (sounds familiar). As former yacht owners, they were used to the idea of living in a moving vehicle but the European RV was just too small. It wasn’t long before they traded their european made RV for an American made 29 foot Fleetwood Class “C” motorhome. “It is not the most luxurious model nor the biggest I could find, But size wise, I wanted something I could drive easily in most campsites.” Karyne describes the differences between American RVs and European RVs, “The main difficulty I had with an American RV versus a European model, was that everything was different: the toilet is a tank, not a cassette (the first time I emptied it… no, you don’t want to know! Have you seen the movie “RV”?), electrics are complicated as there is 12V, 110V, and the added 220V UK plugs as "Yankee the Beast" (their nickname for their RV) came from the States through UK for one year before ending in Spain and in Portugal with me. The LPG is also in a tank instead of a bottle (in Spain there are only around 30 petrol stations offering LPG, in Portugal there are a few more, and in France it is not a problem).”

Karyne remodeled their RV by upgrading the bedroom with luxurious bedding, lighting , curtains and window treatments.She also turned the galley into a showplace.
But how about driving on the roads in Europe? When I was stationed in Belgium I drove an ambulance on those narrow, built for carriages, cobblestone roads and it wasn’t easy. Karyne says, “Most country-lanes are Ok, but it is another matter with many town-centers, bridges, tunnels, pay tolls and campsites. RVs in Europe are a lot smaller than ours, and we were often getting “too close for comfort” so I prefer to do the driving as my husband is sometimes… less patient!” She tells of a time they were stuck in a narrow european campsite and, “We had to maneuver 10 times before being able to get out without taking the fence with us… before the 10 pairs of eyes watching us... How embarrassing…” Now that is an experience that most US RVers are intimately familiar with if we’re willing to admit it.

From my own experiences RVing in North America it appears they have the same kinds of problems there that we do here. Have you ever followed a sign to a campground only to find nothing. I'll never forget the time we were stuck on a narrow two lane road unable to go under a low hanging bridge. It’s not fun but makes for a great story later. These kinds of experiences are not unfamiliar to our Eurpoean RVing friends. Having traveled extensively in Europe myself I could easily visualize this story: “We once tried to follow a sign for a campsite up in the mountains South of Spain, and ended up squeezed between low-hanging balconies and tight corner-streets of a very charming narrow mountain village. 20 men came out of the only bar and shop of the village, yelling and razing arms to the left and right, trying to get us out of there… Going back was impossible as we couldn’t turn around anywhere on the hair-pin curved mountain track that led us to this tiny village. Speaking Spanish fluently, I asked if we could exit the village going forward with our RV, and they said that it would be Ok, although it would only be a dirt track… We made it, but never found the campsite and the villagers didn’t know about it either, so we went to a large hotel and asked the manager if we could camp in his large parking lot. That evening we had a very nice soothing long-drink with a lovely meal in the elegant restaurant of the hotel.”

They were headed to a nice boondocking spot on the beach in Torre del Mar in Spain and ran into road construction. “I wanted to go around town through a large avenue. Unfortunately there were road works and an unavoidable deviation through town. I knew I was gona get in trouble, but I had no choice. I turned into a one way lane to get out of town… one of those lanes where all the car-mirrors are tipped inwards… I said to my husband that the best thing to do in such situation is to close your eyes and just go fast and straight and hope everything will go Ok… he was green, don’t know why. Finally, of course, I went very slowly, zig-zagging between the badly parked cars, making sure my tail didn’t touch anything… and exciting a few drivers in a trance, cramped on their hooter… Oh well, that’s RV life in Europe.”

I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed these accounts of European RVing. Check in tomorrow for Part II of the story. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

For RVs with Pets on the Go This New Product Is Perfect

Many RVers both full time and part time have pets. We often take our dog with us when we go out touring in our towed vehicle. When he tags along, we always make sure he has plenty of water. Now there is a product that not only helps you keep water in the car for your pets, but you can also carry it along on hikes. It’s called the Hydro-Go and was invented by Veterinarian Mary Burns who also invented the now famous Drinkwell system. It is a multipurpose system that allows water from the water bottle to fill the flip-out bowl watering dish. When your dog is finished drinking you can conserve the water by pouring it back into the bottle. The watering dish detaches so you can use the cavity of the water bottle as a food dish. It has a wide shoulder carrying strap and holds 32 ounces of water. I saw this product on sale at Amazon.com for around $15.00. Put one of these in the cab of your truck if you pull at 5th wheel or travel trailer or in your towed vehicle if you have a motorhome. Your pets will love you for it. You can read more about this product at Hydro-go. Watch the video below for a demonstration of this product.
Looking out for your pets - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Take the RV WIndshield Postmortem Bug Idenification Quiz

Show me an RV that doesn’t have bugs on the front and I’ll show you a rig that is operating in cold weather or hasn’t been anywhere recently. I try to clean the bug-guts off the front of my motorhome whenever we stop long enough to allow me to do it. Most of the time I try to keep them off the windshield, but it's a constant battle. If you're anything like me, you pull into a fueling stop and use one of those long handled window washers to clean the bugs off your windshield. After you’ve paid the bill and climb back into the cockpit you admire the nice clean window, taking note that you left a streak near the mirror on the passenger side. Nevertheless, you pull onto the highway with a good feeling knowing you can see out the window again. Then it happens, the first bug strikes the glass and you think to yourself, “Oh man, I just cleaned this and that stinking bug ruined it!” Next a dragonfly gets stuck in your windshield wiper, wings flapping away, an annoying reminder the window was once clean. Next you hit an entire colony of bees as they cross the road loaded with pollen. The sound is maddening as hundreds of these little creatures thump and splat onto the front of your coach. Come on now, you know what I’m talking about here. It's the dark side of RVing. The Professor has come up with a remedy for this unpleasant drama that plays out every time you travel. Instead of cursing the bugs embrace them. That’s right, look at it as a new game. Try to identify the kind of bug it was that just gave up it’s life to paint itself in unique designs on your windshield. To help you make this mental adjustment, I’ve assembled a postmortem bug identification quiz below. Try to determine what kind of bugs these are - the answers appear at the bottom:
Answers: 1. Oreo Beetle 2. Common Honey Bee 3. Dragonfly

If you got one out of three correct, you're semi-rational and still have a sense of humor. If you scored two out of three you've been on the road too long and need a day off. If you guessed three out of three, you shouldn't drive again until your Doctor says it's OK.
Keep smiling - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Battling Your RV’s Worst Enemies

RVs are exposed to many enemies and successfully combating them is the secret to the longevity of your rig. The common enemies of the RV are ultra violet radiation, road vibration, tree limbs, neglect and one of the most costly - water. It’s the rainy season again and once again water threatens damage to our RVs. Water is a very powerful force in nature (just think of the Grand Canyon) and it can do its penetrating work on our RVs just as well as it can on rocks. If water gets into your RV it will stain the ceiling, cause mold and mildew and worst of all dry-rot. Once that happens you have no choice but to tear it out and rebuild it. Water has to have an entry in order to cause damage, so prevention is the cure. The most common ways water enters an RV is through holes in your roof like around the air conditioner, holding tank and refrigerator vents, TV antenna and lights. Windows can easily be the cause of leaks, but I always check my lights first. My Country Coach motorhome has running lights that I recently discovered were filled with water. The water was finding its way into the lights but could not escape so it was trickling down through the light wire hole making its way inside my coach. As it turns out there was a crud buildup inside the rim of the light lens which acted as a water tight barrier. This “crud” barrier allowed water to accumulate inside the lens assembly until it filled to the point it could enter the inside of my motorhome. To remedy this situation I removed each lens with a screwdriver blade. The lens cover just pops off with a small amount of pressure. Next I wiped the lens holder rim clean with a cloth. I thoroughly cleaned the crud covered lens. After that I drilled holes in the bottoms of the lens itself so that it will be able to drain. I know some of you will think this procedure will cause even more problems, but having a combination running light/rain gauge is not my ideal. I put the holes at the bottom of the lens (duh) on the outside of holder where the lip intersects the lens. It’s been raining for a few days now and so far so good. Instead of drilling a drain hole, you could seal the unit with caulking, however, whenever you needed to change the bulb you would have to cut through the caulking and reapply it. Another more expensive alternative would be to remove the old lights and install new LED marker lights that are completely sealed units. Installing these new lights would allow you to completely seal off the wire opening preventing water entry. The bottom line is that you MUST keep water from entering your coach otherwise it will severely damage your RV. Helping you preserve and maintain your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Get a Charge from Discovering the Unique and Unusual

Trekking across this land in an RV is a wondrous life. I enjoy being surprised by the unknown around the next corner. The RV lifestyle exposes the rich textures of American culture. You actually get out in it, smell it, hear it, touch it…. experience it. RVing adds dimension to your existence so that every day when I wake up I wonder to myself, “What new thing will I see and experience today.” Since I’ve been a full time RVer my expectations for satisfying exploration have eclipsed anything I imagined before taking the leap, selling our house, buying an RV and hitting the road. My only regret is that I won’t be able to do or see it all - this country is just too big! The more you see of it the realization sets in that this vast country (which ordinary folk view as “fly-over” territory) contains so much cultural wealth that it would take ten lifetimes to experience it in any depth. So, I’ve begun to appreciate that fact and realize the benefits this lifestyle affords. We can park the RV and take our touring vehicle into the heart of our culture. As guests we are treated to a front row seat to the many places and people who make this such a wonderful place. I stopped in at a Batteries Plus store in Eugene, Oregon to purchase some video tape for my camcorder and met David Lawrence. For a year and a half David has been collecting AA batteries from customers who bring them for replacement. No two are exactly the same and, so far, he’s assembled 680 unique batteries. When asked which are the most unusual he pointed out the “pink” Energizer and the Spiderman as the most unique. It never ceases to amaze me what I find as I traverse the side streets of our cities and the backwaters of the countryside. You never know what new things tomorrow holds for you to enjoy, but rest assured, when you RV you can expect your life to be filled with unpredicted pleasure as you explore this land. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Frustrates Future Flap Failure

Our Motorhome has two types of flaps, the standard mud flaps behind each wheel in their respective wheel wells and the rear monster flap. Mud flaps are important because they restrain the small ballistic missiles your tires pick up and hurl back at the under-parts of your coach. This is especially critical when your radiator is down range. If you’re missing a mud flap you’re just asking for trouble in the form of a punctured radiator core. I was tooling down the RV road somewhere out in the middle of South Dakota when I pulled into a rest stop for lunch. (Is it just me or does this kind of stuff always happen in South Dakota?) Anyway, I got out to stretch my legs and do my routine walk around safety check and I saw this. This mud flap had just been installed a few days prior to this and somehow was sucked up onto the tires. The tires had worn the flap down making holes in it - no problem though, we were parked in an authorized smoking section. I replaced it at the earliest opportunity taking the added measure of securing the top and bottom of the mud flap to the wheel well frame with self tapping screws and fender washers. (Do you suppose that’s why they call them “fender washers”?) Now the mud flap stays in place and I haven’t had any further problems with it. Keeping you from flap failure - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Easily Modify Your RV Cabinets

Can you tell which cabinet door did not come with this motorhome? If the owner didn’t tell me I wouldn’t have a clue that it was an addition. The cabinet door in the middle of the photo was added. They ordered this door from a cabinet shop. They simply took in one of their other doors, gave the shop their measurements of the cabinet opening and they were able to fabricate a door that looked just like the others. In order to make the hole in the cabinet where the door would be placed you first draw an outline on the wood where you want to cut out the opening. Next you drill a hole in each corner large enough to insert your scroll saw blade. Then you simply cut out the opening being careful not to cut into the bottom (the floor) of the cabinet frame. Installing the door is a simple matter of lining it up where you want it and screwing in the hinges. I recommend that you drill small holes before you put in the screws to avoid cracking the wood frame. Before, they had to get on a chair in order to reach way back in the corner to access their stuff. Now they simply open the door and get what they need. Helping you to get the most out of your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Propane Heaters Safer Now but Still Require Caution

RVers have been using propane heat for almost as long as there have been RVs. Most RVs come with a forced air heater that operates on electricity for the blower and uses a propane burner for a heat source. These heaters provide a warm comfortable environment for your RV and a big bite from your budget. Alternative heating sources are more common now but they all need to be handled safely. Properly installed catalytic heaters are very cost effective. They should be vented to the outside of your rig and installed in a safe place away from any flammable material. (You can read my complete story about this particular catalytic heater here: Catalytic Heater). As with all the heaters I’m going to talk about, they all require that you keep a window or vent open to allow for replenishment of oxygen (the stuff your body requires in order to keep breathing). Propane heaters with ceramic elements are very popular because many of them provide both radiant and forced air heat. The Mr. Heater company (Mr. Heater) makes many portable heater models, but the BIG Buddy is a good choice for the RV. This BTU beast has multiple settings allowing you to pump out 4,000, 9,000 and 18,000 BTUs an hour. The nice thing about this unit is that it has a built-in oxygen shutoff sensor and tip-over cut-off switch for safe indoor operation. I put a unit like this in one of my previous 5th wheels and I ran a flexible connector hose from the propane storage rack to the heater inside my coach. You can use a portable propane bottle with this model as well, however you may not bring the bottle indoors. Follow the manufactures directions carefully when using it in this manner. Mr. Heater also makes the “Portable Buddy” that has the same safety features as it’s big brother but uses a one pound cylinder and lasts 3 to 6 hours. It can also be connected to a larger propane tank. The nice thing about these heaters is that you can take them with you to workshops, enclosed porches, cabins, hunting blinds, tents and anywhere you need heat. Coleman makes the ProCat catalytic heater that can also be used inside an RV. It runs on two D cell batteries (up to 20 hours) and 1 pound propane cylinders pumping out 3,000 BTUs per hour (Coleman). As an added safety recommendation, I would advise that you also install CO2 detectors in your RV. Also, never go to sleep with these heaters running because if they burn up all your oxygen while you’re asleep you won’t wake up. Tank top heaters are for outdoor use only - NEVER use this kind of heater inside your RV. Please do not use your propane oven or stove top burner to heat your RV. People die every year because they try to heat their living spaces like this. Finally, check your fire extinguishers to make sure they are fully charged and ready to go to work in an emergency. Helping to keep you warm and comfortable - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Most RVers Carry an Auxiliary Table and the Choices are Growing

Not every RV campsite comes with a table. Most state and federal campgrounds have picnic tables but many private RV parks do not. If you are wilderness camping or boondocking the only table you will have is the one you provide. Many Rvers prefer to use their RV table for meals and don’t need an outside table. Others like eating outdoors or playing games outdoors and therefore need a handy table. Card tables have been popular campground tables for many years because their legs fold up for portability and storage. With the advent of new materials portable tables have taken a new direction. I like the new light weight plastic tables available in several sizes convenient for RV use. You can buy these tables at most large department stores and sporting goods stores. The “Foldaway” picnic table by North X Northwest is nice because not only do the legs fold-up but the benches fit neatly and snugly under the table. The only thing I don’t care for on this model is that you can tip the bench and fall over if you aren’t careful. Another model, made by this same company is nice because it all folds-up into an integrated carrying case. The biggest problem with this model is that the seats are small and you can’t adjust them. Yet another table made by this same company is the “Picnic Roll-Up Table”. I like this model because you can use your portable camping chairs with it. It is light weight aluminum and actually rolls up and fits into a tote sack. It is not as sturdy as other tables, but if you don’t abuse it it should last a while. This is a good time of year to shop the big chain department stores and sporting goods stores for camping equipment because they are trying to reduce their inventory before they have to store it. You can save a bundle on the stuff you need for RVing if you shop carefully. Helping to keep you in the right gear - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Shower Stall Technology Helps RVers on Laundry Day

When we first began full time RVing my wife insisted that we must have a washer dryer in our rig. We shopped and chose the Splendide washer/dryer combo that is manufactured in Italy. These units fit in nicely with the RV lifestyle and are becoming more popular. If you are not familiar with these units, they run a wash cycle and when complete, move to a drying cycle. Very handy as you do not need to physically move the cloths from one machine to another. They are also very economical on water, electricity and space. In our 5th wheel, we were able to use the space over our combo machine as extra closet space that would have otherwise been occupied by a stackable unit. These machines have their drawbacks in that they only do small loads. For instance a typical load would be a set of sheets and pillow cases as one load or a pair of jeans and two shirts and a couple pairs of socks. So, you need become accustomed to doing smaller loads. It really is not a problem because you don’t have to worry about loading the washed clothing into the dryer. You can load the machine, set the timer and go out to dinner and they’ll be done when you return. One of the major drawbacks to these units is that if you don’t know what you’re doing, you end up with lots of wrinkles. There are several methods for doing laundry in these machines that achieve a near wrinkle-free result. I recommend that if you own one of these machines or plan to buy one that you get the book “Wrinkle-Free RV Laundry Using Your Combination Washer/Dryer Unit” by Sandra Jones. Click here to see this book: Wrinkle -Free RV Laundry In this book Sandra shows you how to get the most out of your machine using her tested techniques. One of the things that we do is to take out our shirts and blouses and hang them up to air dry and then put them back in the drying cycle to “fluff” them after they are almost dry. Our technique works well for us, but requires more effort. The RV began to look like a commercial laundry with clothes hanging everywhere on cabinet door handles, so I installed a shower curtain rod in our hallway near the machine for this purpose. These rods are also handy for hanging ironing, for steaming garments or temporary storage while you hang up a pile of clean laundry. They're an inexpensive solution and require no tools, screws, glues or nails to install. Simply twist the ends and the rod expands against the opposing walls and holds itself in place. So we borrowed technology from the shower stall to help us achieve an elegant solution with another application. Helping you get the most out of your RV appliances - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Grab Some Extra RV Storage Using Your Dinghy

RVers, especially full-time RVers, are always looking for more storage space on their rigs. Switching from a 5th wheel trailer to a motorhome was a chore because it took us a long time to re-orient our stuff to the different RV format. One of the surprises for me was the added space afforded by our dinghy (the Honda CRV we tow behind the motorhome). I use the car to store my satellite antenna and cables while we travel. In the 5th wheel, I had to completely break down my satellite system in order to get it to fit neatly in the 5th wheel "basement". The satellite is the last thing I take down before we break camp and it stores neatly in the back of the Honda CRV. One of our RV neighbors we met in Georgia this year is a workcamper. He tows his truck behind his motorhome and using a shell on the back of his truck combined with a slide-out storage tray he is able to carry a lot of extra cargo. Another form of storage that will increase your carrying capacity are the storage containers that mount to the roof rack of your dinghy. These roof mounted racks can't handle heavy loads, but they are very useful for storing light weight items. These Thule models cost around $500 dollars. As a safety pointer, be sure not to exceed the towing capacity of your RV. Keeping you loaded up with RVing ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Rig Your RV Awning Properly for Rain

I sold one of my previous 5th wheels to a good friend of mine, and he managed to destroy his awning the first few months out. He related to me that he was in Arizona at an RV park and had his awning out - straight out. During the night it rained and when he emerged the next morning he saw his awning had become a giant bowl of rain water. He attempted to let one side down when the whole thing collapsed drenching him and tearing his awning off the rig. He managed to escape with minor injuries and a good story. The best way to rig your awning for rainy weather is to keep it rolled up. Why? Because rain is frequently associated with weather fronts that bring gusty winds that can rip your awning right off your rig. Usually, before it rips it off your rig, it pulls it up, flops it over the top of your RV and beats the opposite side with the flailing poles and then tears it completely off. We are currently in Oregon, getting itchy to head south, but in the meantime it's raining here. As you can see in the photo above, I use my awning as a porch to keep rain off my windows and the entry and to keep my outside stuff dry. However, If I leave the RV for any length of time, I roll up the awning. If I'm home and the wind starts to kick up, I roll it up. I learned the hard way not to wait until 3:00 am to go out in a monsoon to roll up the awning. If I think the wind is going to threaten my awning, I roll it up before I go to bed. However, weather being what it is, you should always rig your awning so it has a steep enough pitch to allow rain to freely run-off. I usually tilt one side of my awning lower than the other to accommodate a no-notice downpour. Newer, high-end RVs have automatic awnings with a wind sensor and roll up when the wind threatens. I don't have one of these, and I'm happy to deploy my awning manually, but I do keep an eye on the weather when it's out. Helping you stay high and dry - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar