Is your toad both safe and legal?

Toad Stop is a state of the art braking system for vehicles being towed behind a motorhome. I need to preface this article by informing you most states have laws requiring a braking device on vehicles being towed by a motorhome.

There are many great features incorporated into the Toad Stop system, but what I appreciate most is the major components are located under the hood and out of the way. The system is always ready to go with consistent performance.

Toad Stop meets and exceeds all state laws requiring towed braking systems. It has an emergency breakaway switch, passive braking micro-switch and a test activation switch.Conventional “dead pedal” systems are woefully inadequate because they are using a power brake system that is not operating. Ever try to stop a car with power brakes when it wasn’t running? It’s like trying to put on a pair of pants with the legs sewn shut. Toad Stop uses it’s own vacuum pump and the vehicles vacuum assist which means it has instant braking available even when the car engine is not operating.

The primary system is activated when you apply the brakes in the motorhome. Toad Stop uses the current to the motorhome brake lights to activate the system. A red light indicator comes on in the motorhome cockpit when the towed vehicle brakes are applied. An adjustable secondary micro switch hooks to the receiver hitch and activates the towed vehicle brakes when you are slowing down or using the motorhome exhaust brake. In essence it acts like an electric surge brake.

With Toad Stop there is never any over-braking which leads to premature wear. Toad Stop continually measures and monitors what each vehicle is doing and gives you the perfect stopping combination every time.

Another cool feature of this system is the ability to manually stop your towed vehicle when it is not attached using the trigger switch. If the person driving looses consciousness the passenger can safely stop the car by simply pulling the trigger. Drivers with foot and leg disabilities use the Toad Stop trigger switch as their primary stopping mechanism.

If you are mechanically inclined you can do the installation yourself. The directions and full color schematics are excellent and the company will provide technical installation assistance by phone if needed. Watch the video for a better idea about what is involved with the installation process.

The procedure for hooking up the system is to find empty space in the engine compartment to fit an electric 12 volt motor, an actuator and an air reservoir tube. Connect the supplied vacuum hose to these components and hook up the electric. Secure the breakaway switch near the front center line of the vehicle. Run a couple electric wires through the firewall along with the actuator cable that runs through a pulley located on the floorboard behind the brake pedal. Hook up the receiver hitch micro switch and you're ready to roll.

There is no other system like it on the market. You can read more about this system
here: Toad Stop or phone them at (800) 478-7883


Keeping you safe AND legal - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV near great attractions at a fraction of the cost

I recently became a proud member of the Elks USA lodge 1930 in Moses Lake, Washington. This fine organization is famous for community involvement providing college scholarships, veteran outreach programs and promoting many other charitable causes. Elks membership is a boon to RVers because many of the lodges provide RV parking with hook-ups in highly desirable areas.

I like using the Elks RV facilities because they are usually located where I want to be. Enjoying sightseeing or visiting family from the convenience of a centrally located Elks lodge is a real plus.

As an example we recently visited one of our sons who is an Army Infantry Officer stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He lives in Tacoma and even though we were not able to find a traditional RV park nearby, we were able to stay at the Elks lodge 174 in Tacoma for $15 a night. This is one of the better lodges sporting a restaurant, bowling ally, indoor pool, gym, handball courts and a golf course. This lodge has your average RV park beat by a mile!

Most Elks RV campsites have water and electric (without sewer) and many have a dump station. Some are located at choice locations like lodge 552 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan which has four prime RV spots right on the water. You have to pay big bucks for this kind of view at the other campgrounds but here it's only $20 per night.Elks lodges come in a varriety of sizes and ammenities, but one thing they all have in common is a group of friendly people. Staying at an Elks lodge is like staying with family, and it will save you money. Annual dues are very affordable and if you travel as little a several weeks a year you will more than pay for the dues with the money you save using the RV facilities.

The Elks Lodge #2103 in Carmichael, CA sells a three volume RV directory of Elks lodges with RV sites including information on the type of hook-ups, directions and other important information.

You'll find more information about the Elks here: Elks USA

Many other organizations offer reduced rate or free RV parking. Many Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts allow dry camping on their property and will sometimes allow you to hook-up to water and electric from their building. Here is an example of a large VFW parking lot where members are welcome to drycamp for free. If you are a veteran but not a member of the VFW chances are the Post Commander will allow you to dry camp if you ask.

Staying optomistic about RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Save money by doing your own basic generator maintenance

RV generators are great because they allow you to run all your electrical stuff without being hooked up to shore power. It’s not uncommon for us to pull off on a lonely roadside, fire up the generator and use the microwave to make lunch.On excessively hot travel days we use the generator to run both our air conditioners to keep the coach cool. Generators have become standard equipment on motorhomes and on many 5th wheels and travel trailers as well.

RV generators provide 120 volts of alternating current (AC power) and are powered by gasoline, propane or diesel. Since generators are crucial to the RV lifestyle it is important to maintain them properly. Maintenance procedures and intervals vary depending on manufacturer and model, so I recommend you consult your generator manual for guidance on the proper maintenance schedule.

Basic generator maintenance requires the following items be done:

Change the oil and oil filter every 100 hours or once a year whichever comes first.
Change the fuel filter when required.
Clean or change the air filter every 50 hours of use or more frequently if operated in dusty conditions.
Check belts for cracks or fraying, bolts for tightness and fuel lines for leaks.
Check the antifreeze level on generators that are water cooled.
Record the hours so you know when to preform the next maintenance.

The video below goes into detail on the basic maintenance procedures.


If you would like to receive up to date articles by the Professor of RVing, click on the orange RSS feed icon at the top in the blog heading. I need your help in reaching new readers so please take a moment to recommend this blog to your fellow RV friends who would benefit from this content. Thanks a million - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers volunteer at Guide Dogs for the Blind

Wayne and Sarah Gabel are from Damascus, Oregon. They've been volunteers with Guide Dogs for the Blind for six years. Sarah says they've been foster parents to over 45 dogs ove the years so they very much enjoy working with this program.They prepare food for over 150 dogs in various stages of training. New arrivals have been in training in peoples homes since they were puppies so when they are introduced to the school they are a little disoriented. That's where Wayne comes in with "canine cuddling" where he goes into the pen of new arrivals and just holds them and pets them for 15 minutes each day. This helps the dogs adjust to their new environment and gives them needed human contact.

Once these dogs (all Labrador breeds) are finished with their training they are assigned to their new owners who themselves undergo training with their new partners.

If you would like to raise a puppy, donate to the program or take a tour at the California or Oregon campus you'll find more information here: Guide Dogs for the Blind
Thank you Wayne and Sarah for giving of yourselves to help man's best friend help us. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Retractable RV door screen makes for a better view

Mrs. Professor used to complain about not being able to see out of the entry door window while traveling because the screen blocked her view. I fixed the problem and will report the results in a future article, but here is a great solution if you can talk Atwood into selling you one.

Paul and Cary Carleton are RVers from Snohomish, Washington. They have a lovely motorhome but Mary had the same problem as Mrs. Professor so Paul got to work on an idea to fix the problem. He noticed a retractable screen on a newer model coach and decided to find one to install in his own motorhome. It took him a long time and sloothing to find the manufacturer. Atwood is the manufacturer of these cool retractable screens and they should consider making them available to Joe RVer and not just to manufacturers.

The screen runs on a track on each side of the window and is held in place in the down position with a magnet. The housing has a retractable spring allowing for easy operation. Paul had to make it fit with some minor alterations, but the end result is sweet! Now Mary can see the sights more clearly as they drive down the RV road. Rolling up yet another RV story - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV key helper makes storage compartment access a breeze

We were RVing at the Oregon coast last weekend and while visiting a local store I asked to use the bathroom. The clerk told me where it was located and handed me a key with a (no kidding) basket attached. I smiled and thanked her and tried not to look conspicuous walking down the store isles with this contraption. I thought, "I should just be grateful it isn't attached to a piece of furniture."

Misplacing a key can be a frequent occurrence if you're anything like me. I keep a set of RV keys on a neck strap with a quick release clip for setting up and breaking camp. RVer Jerry Headly from Ridgfield, Washington has an older Country Coach Affinity. He keeps this classic beauty in mint condition and has made a few modifications along the way. His motorhome has the older type barrel lock compartment latches requiring a short and bulky key. Jerry decided to make this key more efficient by putting it on a wooden handle. Using a piece of dowel (an old broom handle will work) he cut a slit in one end then drilled a hole and bolted the key to the extension.Not only is the key easier to use, it's also easier to find when he lays it down somewhere. You can use this same techinque with any type of key. If you're a welder, you could easily attach a nicely crafted metal handle. Unlocking new RV ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Making the RV laundry closet work for you

RVers Christine and Lon Cross are from Yorba Linda, California. I caught up with Christine at a recent Country Coach rally. A gourmet cook and avid RVer Christine knows exactly what she wants when it comes to the interior of her motorhome. She prefers the stacking apartment sized washer and dryer for her laundry closet. Since the dryer is a front loader it is located on the top shelf of the closet because it's easier to work with in this configuration. As a side note, when she's not doing laundry she uses the dryer as a "chip locker".

Underneath is the top loading wahsing machine. To enhance this working space she had the light moved from the top of the closet to the side by the washing machine. One of the prblems with this arrangement is the dryer shelf prevents the top loader lid from opening completely. To overcome this issue she had her husband install a magnet underneath the dryer shelf. The magnet holds up the lid freeing boath hands to do the laundry. Simple yet ingenious! Turning out RV ideas like a sping cycle - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Consider RVing the Oregon coast in fall

I've been away from my computer this weekend because Mrs. Professor and I took our nieces RVing to the Oregon coast. Being retired Navy, I've had the privilege to see many coastlines and from my perspective none match the breathtaking beauty of the Oregon coast. Northern California has exquisite beaches and rock formations, but Oregon takes the number one spot in my view.

Some of my favorite towns on the Oregon coast (beginning in the southern part of the state and working north) are Bandon, Yachats, Waldport, Newport, Depoe Bay, Rockaway Beach just past Tillamook and Seaside. Cruising up US Highway 101 you'll discover countless beaches and viewpoints highlighting rock formations like the Devil's Punchbowl, long stretches of public beaches, sand dunes, lighthouses and state parks.

This weekend we decided to visit the Newport area. During the early fall months you can see the California gray whale migration as these mammoth creatures slowly lumber towards their winter quarters in the Gulf of California. Walking along the beach you'll see numerous shore birds, shells, agates and perhaps a female dungeness crab laying her eggs in the sand.We chose South Beach State Park as our RV home for the weekend. The park is located about a mile south of the Newport bridge. They offer many spacious RV camping sites with water and 30 amp electric (no sewer - although they do have a free dump station). If you are bringing a few extra guests, no problem because they also offer Yurt rentals (the round type tent shelters pictured here). The bathroom and showers are modern and clean and provide lots of refreshing hot water. Like many of the state campgrounds along the coast it's just a short walk from your campsite to the beach.The kids love the beach and the tide pools full of sea life. We even took a drive over to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and climbed the more than 100 stairs to the top where we were rewarded with a spectacular view.Newport is home to the Hatfield Marine Science Center which is run by Oregon State University's marine biology department and is involved in research and visitor education. The center has many unique displays including tide-pool touch pools, many aquarium tanks and science exhibits and best of all it's free. And right around the corner you'll find the famous Oregon Coast Aquarium (not free) with a load of exhibits including the "Passages of the Deep" a 1.32 million gallon exhibit featuring three realistic ocean habitats connected by a 200-foot long underwater tunnel with sharks swimming overhead.

Newport is the largest town on the Oregon coast and has many restaurants and a fisherman's wharf area where you can view sea lions basking in the sun and arguing with each other about who knows what. Here you'll also find several attractions including the Undersea Gardens and a wax museum. If you like deep sea fishing, there are several fishing boats leaving every day. In season, whale watching expeditions are also available.

Fall and winter are excellent times to visit the Oregon coast because tourism is slow and you feel like you have the campground, beaches and tourist attractions all to yourself. There are hundreds of attractions, fine restaurants and tons of places to just relax and enjoy nature. Out living the good life on the RV road - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Motorcycles ride piggyback on this RV

David and Sue McCarron have been full time RVers four years. They love touring local areas they visit using their motorcycles. Since they each have their own motorcycle they had their tow body built so they could store both motorcycles behind the cab of their Volvo semi-truck towing vehicle. Here you can see the built-in motorcycle racks.An electric wench attached to a swing arm allows David to load and offload the motorcycles easily.He uses cargo straps attached to the handle bars and to eye-bolts. He removed the passenger pegs on his motorcycles and attached the rear eye-bolts. The harness comes together at a central point where the cargo straps are attached. David lowers the bikes with a hand-held push button wench control.The tow body has plenty of storage like these drawers. It also has cabinets and utility boxes. The tow body was made by Herrin in Kilgore, Texas. This is a great way to store and transport motorcycles if you have a rig like this. The McCarron’s purchased this used semi for less than the cost of a new medium duty truck and it's designed to stop commercial sized loads so a few motorcycles and a 5th wheel are easy work for this kind of rig.Besides motorcycles, these trucks can also be configured to carry a small automobile along with towing your 5th wheel.

By the way, did you know you can subscribe to my blog and receive an email notification whenever I post a new article? (which is quite frequently) Just click on the RSS feed button at the top of the page and you’ll be tuned into the the best RV blog in the country. Also, you can help me and the RV community by sending a link of this blog to your RV friends. Here is the link http://rvtravel.com/blog/rvnow/index.shtml

Continually unloading great RV ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Six rules for RV happiness

Yesterday I wrote an article on David and Sue McCarron's Volvo sleeper cab. They are out having the time of their lives RVing around the country and touring local areas on their motorcycles once they set-up camp.
David shared his philosophy of RVing which he calls, "Six rules for RV happiness."
1. Any driving day must be limited to 250 miles or five hours.

2. Regardless of rule one you must stop in time to completely set-up completely in daylight

3. You must set-up for at least 48 hours

4. Because of the size limitations of the 5th wheel they limit occupancy as follows: Drinks for six, dinner for four, sleeps two. The sleeper cab is the "condo" for overnight guests.

5. The driver does not start the engine until the "navigoddess" knows where we are going and how we are going to get there.

6. If in snow, you're doing it wrong!

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Tour the inside of an RV-like semi-truck sleeper cab

Full time RVers Dave and Sue McCarron tour the country in this nice Volvo semi pulling a Grand Teton 5th wheel. I did an article last year on why truckers ide their rigs at rest stops and someone asked me to do a story on what the inside of one of these sleeper cabs looks like inside.

Sue gave me the tour and I am impressed. The dinette offers a nice place to relax and eat a meal or watch TV. It also turns into a spacious double bed. The overhead bed holds extra gear with seat belt type webbing. A fold-out ladder gives access to the overhead bunk. David calls this their "condo" because when their kids and grand kids come to visit they sleep in the truck.

David paid $56 thousand for this rig and says, "It's a mucher better and safer way to tow a heavy 5th wheel than a medium duty truck, cheaper too. I bought this truck for two reasons, safety and economics. It has great brakes designed to stop 80 thousand pounds and it is a joy to drive with air suspension and auto-shift."Sue likes the microwave oven and the built-in pantry. There is also a refrigerator behind the driver. It also has a porta-potty and shelving convienient for travel books. The sunroof brightens up the cab. Day or night the "black-out" privacy curtains provide a restful environment.They use their motorcycles for local touring and store them behind the cab using an electric hoist. I'll do a video in a future article to show you how he does it.David is a resident of Texas and says he doesn't need a commercial licence to drive this rig because it is registered as an RV. Plenty of pulling and stopping power gives this couple confidence on the road.

Will RV snowbirds fly south or stay home in 2008?

How will fuel prices and the uncertain economy effect the winter migration of RV snow birds this year? Some of my full-timer friends have already begun their journey from parts north headed toward the beautiful sunsets of southern California, Arizona, the Rio Grand Valley and Florida. Many of them live in park models or in their RV at a park model adult community. Not surprisingly, many of them left their RVs at their favorite park and drove their car or pick-up home at the end of last season.Southern destination adult parks are very popular and park models are becoming increasing popular options for senior adult living. These parks have everything you need including church services, swimming pools and spas, work-out rooms, craft and hobby shops, tennis, shuffle board, horse shoes, community sponsored dances, potlucks, bingo and all manner of entertainment. You can participate as much or as little as suits your lifestyle.

The Bureau of Land Management in California and Arizona normally sees thousands of migrating RVers spending the winter months boondocking in the desert. During the last few years Mexico has also experienced a greater number of RVers descending on it's beaches.

The Rio Grand Valley boasts over 350 adult "Winter Texan" parks and last year they were close to full. So were the parks in Florida and along the gulf coast. The big question is whether they will flock back to their winter roost or stay closer to home.Not all snowbirds exhibit the same habits during the migration period. For instance, many prefer to stay home until after the holidays to be with family then make a mad dash for the boarder. Others begin slowly making their way south sometime in October with the idea of being in place by mid November. Some decide not to go at all, but after the first snow fall change their minds.Quartzsite, Arizona is a good place to take the pulse of how the migration is moving since it is a kind of mecca for south western bound RVers. Last year attendance was significantly down at Quartzsite and many friends of mine who are vendors have told me they will not return in 2008. You can count on me reporting live from Quartzsite this year as the RV season hopefully kicks into high gear.It remails to be seen just how many RVers will stay home. I'm forecasting a significant drop in the numbers of RVers heading south in 2008. I anticipate a high park reservation cancellation rate (perhaps as much as 20% or more) even though current reservations look promising. So if you're not sure whether you'll head south this winter don't let the lack of a reservation stop you.

Senior adults who maku up the lion's share of the snowbird demographic have suffered losses to their retirement investments due to recent market turmoil which will dramatically affect RV travel plans this year.

Regardless of what happens with the economy there will be an RV snowbird migration this year. It may be smaller than previous years, but it will not be cancelled. Snowbirds are invested in the RV lifestyle and are also invested in long time friendships that are renewed each winter as the flock gathers in the southernmost regions of our nation. For a snowbird, winter is the best time of year! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVs need to be properly rigged for a rainy day

The rainy season is soon approaching and I thought it would be a good time to review proper rigging for a rainy day. The most obvious task is to close the windows (unless you have window awnings deployed). You would think this is a "no-brainer" but I must confess I've gone off and left windows open when rain was forecast. It's a good thing I have a fake leather couch because water just beads up on it.

The Fantastic Vents close automatically when it begins to rain, but many standard bathroom vents don't usually have this feature so you need to remember to close them. In my 5th wheels I experienced the "rain seat" in the bathroom on more than one occasion. Speaking of 5th wheels, the overhang makes a great place to stow a few things to keep them somewhat dry.Hopefully you've checked your roof and made any necessary repairs including inspecting the caulking and seals around vents, antennas and AC units. Cleaning the RV gutters and perhaps adding a short gutter extension will help keep you high and dry.

A critical issue for rain rigging is the proper deployment of the awning. If you know there are going to be wind gusts, I suggest leaving your awning stowed. If, however, you are enduring a week of constant drizzle, then having the awning act as an umbrella is a good thing. Your awning will help keep your entry area dry and accessible. If you decide to deploy the awning be sure to lower one end so the rain will run off. A good friend was injured and lost his 5th wheel awning when he tried to lower one end after many gallons of rain water had collected in it. He laughs about it now, but it sure wasn't funny when it happened.

Be sure you're not camped in a flood zone. This past Spring a motorhome caught in a flood moved in next to us. Water had filled their storage compartments and they were desperately trying to dry everything out before the next storm hit.

Another consideration is the footing of your RV. If you are camped on grass I highly recommend putting down boards with a much larger footprint for your landing jacks and landing gear. One year we had to be towed out of a fairground campground because the rain soaked ground became too soft.

With a few precautions RVing in the rain can be a rewarding experience. Our family created many happy memories playing games, drinking hot chocolate and just hanging out in the comfort of our RV while the rain danced on the roof. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Does your motorhome suffer from parasitic loads?

Have you ever parked your motorhome for a while and when you went to start it the battery was dead? Parasitic electric loads can cause this problem. These are small battery draining electric leaches like a stereo, clock, tank gauges, satellite TV in standby mode, security systems all using just a few milliamperes (mA) which ad up to a dead battery.

Jerry Campbell from St. Louis, Missouri was experiencing difficulty maintaining his chassis battery when his coach was parked for any length of time, so he bought a Trik-L-Start unit to tackle the problem. When you are plugged into shore power the Trik-L-Start automatically maintains your starting batteries and will ultimately extend battery life. The charge rate is tapered so it minimizes water loss.It is easy to install and uses DC power from your house battery charger so there is no AC hard wiring required. It also works with solar panels when you are boondocking or have your motorhome in storage away from AC power. A one year warranty is standard and it comes complete with all the hardware you need for installation. It's durable, waterproof and can be mounted in any position.A great value at under $50 and it can be used temporarily or mounted permanently. These units come standard on the Winnebago and Itasca class A diesel motorhomes so you know it is a reliable product. It works just as well on a gas powered motorhome. You can read more about this product here: Trik-L-Start

Helping tame your parasitic loads - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

The revolutionary Veranda by Country Coach opens new possibilities for RVing

Innovative high end RV maker Country Coach breaks new ground with it’s new motorhome design. What makes the Veranda unique is the deck. The passenger side wall lowers to make a 13 feet by five feet six inch deck. There is a 37 inch LCD high definition TV on the deck with a switchblade lift that stows the TV. There are five floor plans to choose from including one with a galley island facing the deck.

The patent pending lifting mechanism and folding wall are truly revolutionary in the RV industry. This design creates a wide open feeling making the living space seem huge. When closed, the double pane four foot wide sliding glass doors preserve the view while easily gliding out of the way creating an eight foot wide passage. It also has screen doors. The sliding glass doors seal out the elements as well as creating a quiet interior when closed.

The deck is lined with a heavy duty waterproof flooring and the automatic awning provides plenty of shade. Move a table and chairs out on the deck and you have a great place for a relaxing dining experience.The deck takes 20 seconds to open and 30 seconds to retract and is raised and lowered by a very dependable HWH brand mechanism which can be retracted manually.In the video below I demonstrate how it works. What will they think of next? You can learn more about it here: Veranda


Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing