Powerful Spray Saves The Day For RV Outdoor Fun

We are staying at an RV park on the beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. The other day I went outside to walk the dog and was attacked by biting flies. Red itchy welts began emerging on my arms and legs. It's too hot to wear long sleeves and pants, so I opted to use bug repellent instead. The next time I went out I sprayed on Cutter's Advanced insect repellent and they didn't come near me. There I was enjoying the morning while the guy next door was swatting at himself and bellowing his shirt to rid himself of the flies. I've been using this product for a year now and have found it to be effective. The bottle says it will repel mosquitoes, chiggers, biting flies, no-see-ums, gnats and fleas. I really don't like being bitten by bugs I can't see, the boogie-man of bugs those famous no-see-ums. We travel all over the country and never know when we'll encounter a bug pest fest so we make sure we have this product close by. Besides working great this stuff doesn't stink like products containing DEET (diethyltoluamide) which was developed by the Army in 1946 to combat bugs. Cutter's Advanced formula is non-greasy, non-stinky, and lasts a long time relying on Picaridin 7.0% as the main ingredient. We don't know whether this ingredient is effective in repelling ticks, so if you need to get ticks off stick with DEET containing products. Make sure you follow the directions on the back of the label. Debugging your RV holiday - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Would You Like Chips and Salsa With Your RV Paint Job?

Shelly & Steve Lechner are full-time RVers traveling North America in their 1999 Safari Trek. This couple recently took their motorhome into Mexico to be professionally painted by the Navarro Brothers and saved mucho dinero - $4,000 dollars. Here they are with Mr. Navarro and the finished coach.The paint on their aluminum sided Trek was beginning to bubble and corrode. The bubble trouble was especially apparent around the rivets. Steve says that during the sanding process they found several places where the corrosion had completely eaten through the siding.I asked Steve what gave him the idea to have the work done in Mexico and he said a fellow RVer suggested he contact them. He Googled “Navarros Paint Shop,” then called to set up a date and time to meet Mr Navarro at the border for an estimate.

Steve and Shelly drove to the border and stayed at the Happy Hollow RV Park. Here is an aerial view I took while hiking on the mountain overlooking the campground. The park is located on an Indian reservation just outside the border crossing into Los Algodones, Mexico (pictured below). The photo also shows the the parking lot on the U.S. side which belongs to the Indian reservation. You may park there at a cost of $5.00 a day and walk across the border - RV parking is also available). Steve met Mr. Navarro at the park where he provided a detailed list of what he wanted done and Mr. Navarro gave him an estimate.Steve says, “A list of everything you want done is a MUST, and I mean everything! they do good work but they don't read minds. You need to list things like the steps, the wiper blade arms the jack plates the mirrors etc. I went over my list and explained what I wanted done, he inspected the coach and we bargained a little and settled on a price.
They did a professional job of preparation and applying three coats of paint.I asked Steve what he would do differently if he were to do this project again? He said, “If we were to do it again, we would not plan on living in the coach while the work is being done." "There are several hotels and a nice bed & breakfast within walking distance.The refrigerator needs to be secured during painting (a fire hazard in the paint booth). Take several cases of water and snacks. Plan on inspecting the coach at least twice a day, this way you can ensure they are doing everything to your satisfaction. Women seem to have an eye for detail so use em gents!”Steve and Shelly purchased auto insurance form Sanborns in Yuma, Arizona which cost them around $11.00 a day. They crossed into Mexico at Los Algodones with no problems. Passports will be required next year. Firearms and ammunition are strictly prohibited in Mexico and possession will bring an automatic prison sentence.I asked Steve if he was satisfied with the quality of work and would he do it again? He replied, “All said and done we were are very satisfied with the work. Is it perfect? No, but what is? I would do it again in a New York second.”Personally I’m a huge fan of Los Algodones, Mexico and enjoy eating in the restaurants, shopping in the stores and using the dentists and pharmacies so abundant there. I agree with Steve when he says, “The people of Algodones are a proud lot and speak far better english than most of us speak Spanish. It is in their nature to bargain and deal. Treat them with respect, and remember all of this when Mr. Navarro gives you the quote.”

Brushing up on my Spanish - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Shelf Organization Consolidates Storage

Sometimes an RV idea is so simple it's powerful. My full time RV friends John & Evelyn Culver wanted a way to keep their pantry stocked but not overstocked. They added slide out shelving to several of their cabinets to hold canned goods. Unfortunately the can labels were hidden and they had to pull every can out of it's tidy placement to see what it was. This meant that they would sometimes run out of something they needed for a meal and sometimes they would over-buy things of which they already had an ample supply. To alleviate this problem they used a Sharpie and marked the tops of all the cans. Now all they need to do is look at the lid top to see what they have. This helps RVers because when you know what you already have you won't overstock your pantry with heavy canned goods. It provides economy of space and a neat and orderly pantry. Helping you with a "can do" approach to storage issues - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Tackles Corrosion Control With Adaptive Shelter

We are camping 100 yards from the beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. It’s windy here and the salt air causes corrosion on anything made out of metal. Our campground neighbor Neal Lund is a “Winter Texan.” He’s actually from Minnesota but has been coming down here for the last three winters. You can’t help but notice the silver tent-like object in front of his motorhome. As it turns out this is a portable shelter for his 2003 Harley Davidson “Fat Boy” motorcycle. This product is made by Cycle Shelter. It’s a portable non-contact (meaning it won’t scratch your bike) stand-alone storage unit; a one-size-fits-all unit that’s easy to assemble and comes with a carry bag. Neal says this shelter has withstood sustained winds of over 50 miles per hour broadside without additional ropes or tie-downs. He should know because he has a miniature weather station on top of his motorhome. He added a plywood floor with a front wheel cradle attached. I asked him to explain the little bell on the bottom of the front fork and he told me it was for warning rhinoceros and giraffe to get off the road. “So far it’s worked,” he said. The plywood provides additional support and he doesn’t need to stake it down because the weight of the bike holds it firmly in place. The shelter is vented to prevent condensation and Neal says it really does help protect the chrome. Living at the beach still requires a lot of TLC in order to keep this beauty in mint condition. Riding a big Harley down a coastal highway is a marvelous experience and worth the trouble of a little extra work. Having the Cycle Shelter makes it much easier to prevent salt air corrosion and ultra violet damage. For the return to Minnesota this week he’ll load his car and motorcycle on the trailer he tows behind his motorhome. The Cycle Shelter is yet another example of how RVers adapt their hobbies to the RV lifestyle. Your under cover reporter - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.