The RV Fulltimer Blog » recreational vehicle http://www.fulltimerblog.com The Only Continually Updated RV, Camper, Caravan, and Motorhome Fulltimer Resource Anywhere Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:51:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Television on the Road- Entertainment Systems for RV and Caravan Travel http://www.fulltimerblog.com/guestbloggers/television-on-the-road-entertainment-systems-for-rv-and-caravan-travel/ http://www.fulltimerblog.com/guestbloggers/television-on-the-road-entertainment-systems-for-rv-and-caravan-travel/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:55:52 +0000 RawWebDesign http://www.fulltimerblog.com/?p=73

 

Travel trailers, fifth wheels, RVs – call them what you will but for those of us that love to live in them they are home. And one likes to surround oneself with the amenities of modern living whether the home is mobile or not. Some place the priority of mobile living on escape – going to the country, finding the quiet and relaxing. Others want to embrace the RV lifestyle while remaining connected to current events and their favorite television programs. Still others, especially those with children, find that it is important to bring along with their home TV, music, Internet and video games. The priorities of entertainment vary and are as numerous as the models and options of travel vehicles.

These days technology is certainly on our side. The entertainment system options in RVs have changed dramatically in the last few years. Television screens alone have made an amazing difference to the necessary efficiency of travel trailers and RVs. Where before a small, relatively speaking, 19″ screen required a much bigger devotion of space than do the massive screens of today. Doing away with the tube was perhaps one of the biggest advances in RV entertainment technology. In addition to efficiency of space these flat screen TVs add the possibility of multiple televisions. This is especially helpful for a family traveling with kids.

Often new RVs and travel trailers come equipped with entertainment systems. When shopping for a new vehicle it is important to understand what is included with the quote. Often one sees a show model which is outfitted with the fullest package while the quoted price does not include the full entertainment system displayed. While entertainment system upgrades are generally available make sure that the hike in cost is realistic when compared to the actual cost of the additional components. This is an important consideration when one considers that electronics stores often offer great deals on the various components of an entertainment system. However, the additional cost can be worth it for a vehicle that is fully equipped and ready to roll on day one. A professional or factory installed entertainment system can save a lot of space and do away with the eyesore and hassle of the cables and connecting hardware of additional equipment.

If one already owns a travel trailer or RV and is looking to upgrade the entertainment system it is important to consider such things as size, storage and compatibility. Certain questions should be answered. Can this component be hooked up with minimum hassle such as pulling out existing components to get at the plugs in the back? When not in use can it be stored while respecting the efficiency of space? Can it be plugged into and powered by the existing power sources of the RV?

The options for entertainment on the road are vast and today’s technology makes them incredibly flexible. Finding the right options for you and your travel companions is important. Take the time to make the right choice.

This article was written on behalf of RVSaveALot.com. For more information about RVs and Travel Trailers please visithttp://rvsavealot.com/

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]]> http://www.fulltimerblog.com/guestbloggers/television-on-the-road-entertainment-systems-for-rv-and-caravan-travel/feed/ 0 Getting More Hot Water in Your RV http://www.fulltimerblog.com/guestbloggers/getting-more-hot-water-in-your-rv/ http://www.fulltimerblog.com/guestbloggers/getting-more-hot-water-in-your-rv/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:45:44 +0000 RawWebDesign http://www.fulltimerblog.com/?p=67

If you’ve been unhappy with the quantity of hot water provided by your conventional RV water heater, there is an alternative. In November 2006, I decided to take the plunge and invest in a tankless water heater for our RV. I was really tired of G.I. showers. As a Viet Nam era veteran, I’d had more than my share of them when I was younger. We did our research and made our choice. Now, I’ll never go back to a conventional water heater again! Read on and I’ll tell you how I am now able to take a hot shower whenever I want, for as long as I want.

Basic Water Heater Design

A conventional water heater uses a storage tank to heat its water. It fills the storage tank with a quantity of water, then heats it up to a specific temperature and keeps it there. This is true whether we’re talking about your home or your RV. In a home, this usually doesn’t present much of an issue. Most home water heaters are at least 30 gallons in size, many are much larger. If you continuously run out of hot water at home, the solution has always been to replace your 30 or 40 gallon heater with a 60 gallon model, or even larger; problem solved. Unfortunately, as RV’ers, we don’t have that luxury. Most RV water heaters have either 6 gallon or 10 gallon tanks. Even if a larger heater is available, there is always a size and weight consideration in an RV. Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon, so even if you had room for a 20-30 gallon unit, the extra 80-200 pounds of water plus the weight of the bigger unit is usually a problem. Simply put, changing the size of your water heater is usually not an option in an RV.

The Alternative

The alternative is a technology that’s been around for more years than you might think – tankless water heaters. A tankless heater is just what the name implies, it doesn’t have a storage tank.

Instead, it heats the water on-demand as it flows through the unit. This seems simple enough, but actually wasn’t really a viable alternative until the last 10 years or so. It took the computer revolution to make the technology viable and inexpensive enough to make it commercially feasible. With modern microcomputer controllers, the heating rate and flow can be controlled with enough precision to make the tankless heater a great alternative.

How a Tankless Water Heater Works

Instead of a storage tank, a tankless heater has a coiled chamber in it that works similar to the radiator in your car. Your car’s radiator is designed to remove heat from water as it flows through. This cools your engine. The tankless water heater works the opposite and heats the water as it flows through. This means as long as you have water flowing, and don’t run out of whatever fuel (propane, electricity, etc.) you use to generate the heat; you have continuous hot water.

Understanding The Differences Is The Key

There are several key operational differences between tankless and conventional heaters. If you’re considering a tankless heater, you should be aware of these differences in order to have a successful experience.

When we were doing our research to make our decision, I went to many of the forums on the Internet to see what people were saying about their experiences. What I found was amazing. In almost all cases where someone was unhappy with their decision to “go tankless”, it was due to a misunderstanding of how they work. This misunderstanding led to unrealistic expectations, which led to dissatisfaction with the product.

A conventional heater heats the water in a storage tank to a specific temperature, typically about 120° Fahrenheit, and keeps it there. That means you will always get 120° water from your hot faucet when you turn it on, until the tank begins to replenish the tank from the cold water source. Then, the temperature of your water will slowly decrease until the hot water in the tank has been completely replaced with “cold” water. It which time, the water temperature from your hot faucet will be equal to the temperature from your cold faucet. With only 6 to 10 gallons of storage capacity, this usually doesn’t take long. The typical person takes a shower at somewhere around 105° at a flow rate of roughly 1.5 gallons per minute. Since you need to mix some cold water into the hot to lower the temperature from 120° to 105°, that gives you about 5 to 7 minutes from a 10 gallon tank before the water temperature drops below the 105° point and you begin to feel the shower is too cold to be comfortable. During this time of course, you’ve been constantly lowering the amount of cold water in the mix to keep the shower at a constant 105°.

A tankless water heater works very differently. It heats its water based on temperature rise and flow rate. The computer controller prevents the temperature from ever exceeding the preset maximum, typically the same 120°, just like a conventional heater. What you should understand is this means the temperature of your hot water can be lower than the maximum if one or both of 2 conditions are present. If your source water (the cold water) is very cold or if your flow rate is very high, your hot water temperature may be less than 120°. The tankless heater we purchased is rated to heat water 85° at a flow rate of 1 gallon per minute. A little simple math will help us understand this. If my source water is 64° and I set my shower at a flow of approximately 1 gallon per minute, then the hot water would be the maximum of 120° because 64° + 85° = 149°. Typical groundwater temperatures range from about 42° in Michigan during the winter to about 72° in Florida during the summer. Of course, if you lower the temperature of the source water and/or raise the flow rate, that changes the equation. Taking a bit of an extreme as as an example, if I’m in Michigan during the Winter (42° source water) and I set my shower at 1.5 gallons per minute (a typical shower rate), then the temperature rise of the heater I have is closer to about 70° than 85° at that flow rate. That means the temperature coming from my hot faucet is 42° + 70° = 112°. At that rate and temperature rise, I would need to mix far less cold water with the hot to get my desired 105° shower. It is possible, at very low temperatures (cold climates) and high flow rates (2 gallons per minutes or more), that you may find yourself taking a shower with nothing but hot water since 100° to 105° is about the maximum the heater can produce. The bottom line is this. As you change climates, the way you mix your hot and cold water to achieve a desired result will change also. As long as you understand this, and it doesn’t bother you, you will have a successful experience owning a tankless water heater.

There are advantages to these differences as well. The first of course is there is no storage tank to run out of hot water. As long as the water flows, and you don’t run out of propane, you have a constant flow of hot water at a consistent temperature. Once you have your hot and cold water mixed, there is no need to move it during your entire shower. The second advantage is cost. A conventional water heater keeps the storage tank hot around the clock, whether you are using the hot water or not. This requires energy (fuel) even when you don’t need hot water. A tankless heater only uses energy while it’s heating water. This can represent a significant savings. In our case, we’ve noticed about a 25% savings in propane since we switched the heater, and I have a tendency to take long showers – just because I can. You may see as much as a 50% savings in propane costs according to the manufacturer. For me that works out to a return period of less than 4 years. In 4 years my tankless water heater will have paid for itself in propane savings alone. That’s great! Especially considering I get to take REAL showers instead of G.I. showers.

Conclusion

Based on my experiences, a tankless water heater is beyond a cool toy, it is an essential part of my RV. I will never be without one again. Even if I decided to quit RV’ing full time and go back to a conventional home, it would have tankless water heaters in it. The model we chose is the RV-500 from PrecisionTemp. It is the only tankless water heater designed specifically to be a direct replacement for conventional 6 gallon and 10 gallon RV water heaters. Installation was a breeze, I even did it myself. If you’re not inclined to do it yourself, any qualified plumber can install it in a short time. If you are a do-it-yourself’er, both the documentation and the support I got from PrecisionTemp when I had questions were superb. The quality of the unit is excellent and it has operated flawlessly since installation. I went ahead and got the model with the Cold Weather Protection kit so I could stay in cold climates, even though we typically head to warmer climates in the Winter.

Learn more about the RV-500 on our website at CoolRVToyz.

Phil & Karen King are full time RV’ers. They travel 12 months a year and have extensive RV’ing experience. They are the founders of CoolRVToyz, a web site dedicated to bringing the latest, and coolest gadgets to the RV lifestyle, including The Ultimate RV Parks List & Campgrounds Directory, the largest, most accurate and most complete camping Campgrounds Directory available. Best of all, it’s fully downloadable into your favorite GPS or trip planning program.

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]]> http://www.fulltimerblog.com/guestbloggers/getting-more-hot-water-in-your-rv/feed/ 0 Fulltime RVer: Looking Back on 606 Days on the Road http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/606-days/ http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/606-days/#comments Wed, 07 May 2008 20:43:09 +0000 RawWebDesign http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/606-days/

We’ve got a guest post today from my Dad, who recently ended a 606-day stint as a Fulltimer with my Mom. I asked him to reflect on his journey, and this is what he wrote back:

“After our full time journey in our RV, it was good when we were finally be able to settle back home in Central Arizona after visiting 26 states over the course of 606 days.

Would we do it all over again? It’s hard to say. We experienced the majesty of driving the coast of Big Sur, and we walked among the mighty redwoods of Northern California. We huddled in our 5th wheel as a Category 2 hurricane passed over our campground on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and we marveled at the splendor of the mammoth caves in Kentucky. We spent way too many noisy nights at “Camp Wal-Mart”, and way too few glorious nights at 5 Star RV resorts. We dined at 68 different Cracker Barrel restaurants, and used our oven in our RV exactly once. We had no traffic incidents, accidents, dents, flats, or scrapes, but we blew out our black water holding tank in a campground in Jacksonville, Florida because I wasn‘t paying attention to details! Our 2004 Ford 6.0L diesel blew a head gasket just outside of Truth or Consequences, NM and left us stranded there for 6 weeks, But… Truth or Consequences ended up being the best town we visited, with absolutely wonderful people, great BBQ, and delightful hot spring soaks under star studded nighttime skies! Through our journey, there were times we cried tears of laughter, and there were times when we cried tears of despair.

Our GPS was the best investment we ever made, and $4.00/gal diesel fuel was the worst.

We walked the quiet Florida beaches at sunrise, and held hands under the starry skies in Texas. The last night we spent in our 5th wheel was our second best night, and the day we sold our RV was actually sweeter than the day we bought it.

So… would we do it all over again? We’re just too close to look at the whole experience objectively, but IF we did it again, we’d do it a little smarter next time, a little sweeter next time, a little less hurried next time, we’d be more prepared next time, with a much bigger budget, and we‘d do it in a quality Class A RV with a small car in tow.”

A big thanks goes out to my Dad, Nick Spencer, for so graciously contributing his thoughts to FulltimerBlog.  Thanks!

-Brad

]]> http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/606-days/feed/ 0 4.5 Secret Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as Your RV http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/45-secret-reasons-to-buy-a-fifth-wheel-as-your-rv/ http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/45-secret-reasons-to-buy-a-fifth-wheel-as-your-rv/#comments Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:43:31 +0000 RawWebDesign http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/45-secret-reasons-to-buy-a-fifth-wheel-as-your-rv/

All of us have been through this before… you decided to get an RV but are overwhelmed by the sheer number of styles- let alone makes and models. There are too many “ifs, ands & buts” to make a clear decision this early in your learning curve. So, how do you choose the best one?

In my opinion, the 5th Wheel (or Fifth Wheel) offers a lot of advantages that the other styles do not. Actually, I believe there are 4.5 compelling reasons to consider a 5th Wheel over the main competitors; Class A B and C’s, Travel Trailers, Campers, Camper Vans, Slide-Ins, SURV, or Buses.

Without further ado, here are the 4.5 Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as your RV:

1. You don’t have a cabin ruining your space.

You are only using the cabin while you are driving, which is a rare time in most RVers vacation. So, why have your whole RV built around your cabin? Why not make better use of that space and put a couch or desk up there instead? In a 5th-Wheel, you can!

2. More layout options:

Since you don’t have all of the engine, transmissions, and more, you can design your space to work better for you. There are so many ways a fifth-wheel can be set up, you can find a style that suits you better than in a classic RV.

3. No Need to Tow Another Vehicle:

You have a separate vehicle already with you all the time. All you have to do is unhitch your 5th Wheel and you are off the grocery, a restaurant, or a night on the town. Never worry about your tow dolly, a car-in-tow, or pulling a second vehicle like you would have to with an RV.

4. Provides Better Value:

You already have a truck, so why buy a whole new engine, transmission, and all of that? Using your truck to pull means there is one less vehicle to worry about in your life. Less worry means more time to sit back and enjoy your new 5th Wheel.

4.5 Easier to Inspect and Buy:

You don’t need quite as much information when looking to buy one of these used. Actually, as long as you use your noggin and a good Used RV Buying Guide, you should have no trouble getting a good deal on one of these. But, make sure to get a good buying guide or you might get a lemon!

]]> http://www.fulltimerblog.com/uncategorized/45-secret-reasons-to-buy-a-fifth-wheel-as-your-rv/feed/ 0 4.5 Tips for Finding the Best RV Campground for Your Road Travels http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ultimate-guide-to/45-tips-for-finding-the-best-rv-campground-for-your-road-travels/ http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ultimate-guide-to/45-tips-for-finding-the-best-rv-campground-for-your-road-travels/#comments Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:40:40 +0000 RawWebDesign http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ultimate-guide-to/45-tips-for-finding-the-best-rv-campground-for-your-road-travels/

A few years back I had the bad luck of going to a campsite that made my question my decision to be an RV lover. Despite all the research I had done, when I reached the campground we were headed to after a LONG day on the road, we discovered a campground that didn’t even resemble what we had been told.

The “hotel-like amenities” was more like a wooden shed. The “pool and pond” was more like a dirty lake that even the kids were afraid to enter. The “restaurant” made McDonald’s look like a 5-Star restaurant, and the noise from a near-by freeway was unbearable.

It was anything but relaxing. And- there was a no-refund policy.

My point is, you’ve got to do the right kind of research before you commit to a place to vacation- even if it’s just a weekend. In order to research right, you’ve got to know what to look for. Without further ado, here is my 4.5 Tips to Finding the Best RV Campground for Your Road Travels:

1. Ask Question On The Phone About Price, Discounts on Long Stays, and If They Can Accommodate the Size of your RV:

These are all crucial questions that you can ask. Also, consider asking for a reduction in price if you don’t need cable, internet, or a dump station.

2. Do They Allow Pets?

If you’ve got dogs (or any type of pet) in transit with you, you need a place that will allow pets. A complete write-up on tips and tricks for RVing with pets is something you should really check out if you travel with dogs and other pets a lot. One great place to read up on traveling with pets is here.

3. What Activities Do They Have?

They might have a pool, lake, activities department, arcade, restaurants, or hiking trails. But you’ll never know if you don’t ask. And planned activities can make a rainy weekend still a bunch of fun for the kids.

4. Do They Have Internet?

This might not seem like a big deal- but my business is run from computer, and Internet is crucial for me to receive Email, surf the Web, and get news. If you don’t use the internet in your RV yet, you are missing a whole part of RVing. If you want to learn more about using the Internet in Your RV, check out this guide.

4.5 Do They Accept Mail?

If you are going to be at the campground for a long time- like over a winter- does the campground accept snail-mail? Some do, some don’t. Getting this figured out may save you the need to get a PO Box each time you move locations.

]]> http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ultimate-guide-to/45-tips-for-finding-the-best-rv-campground-for-your-road-travels/feed/ 0 What is a Good RV 5th Wheel Model? http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ebooks/what-is-a-good-rv-5th-wheel-model/ http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ebooks/what-is-a-good-rv-5th-wheel-model/#comments Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:39:13 +0000 RawWebDesign http://www.fulltimerblog.com/ebooks/what-is-a-good-rv-5th-wheel-model/

A great question I recently heard is:

“What is the best model to buy if I want a 5th Wheel RV?”

My Two Cents:

5th Wheels are something that you have to pick based on some of your priorities. For instance, I found someone that just loves their Montana Fifth Wheel because it has a large desk…

I would suggest going out to the RV Dealer and looking for one yourself. See what fits you right. You are the one that is going to be using it, and each and every person lives in their space differently.

Have you thought about buying used? You can save a lot in depreciation and the first owners have usually corrected the things that inevitably gone wrong in the first few monthes or years of the 5th Wheel’s life.

Whether you decide to buy used for new, it’s always wise to educate yourself on how to buy an RV with wisdom and save a few bucks.

There are two great books on the subject:

The first book is the Used RV Buying Guide. The guy who wrote this has been working on RV’s for years and even has a “Spot the RV Problem” quiz on this site.

The second good buy is Malia’s RV Checklists which cover everything you need to know BEFORE and AFTER the RV purchase. Very good information at this site.

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