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First some helpful websights.
Does you Trailer, RV, etc have any Manufacturers Recalls? Click here to find out.
Every book you could ever want about RV'ing.
Some real good general up keep tips.
Some of my favorite home remedies and tips.
Always keep a can of cooking spray in the camper. Use it for the obvious, but use it on hinges, hitch parts, stabilizer jacks, etc. It works great, doesn't stink like WD40, and is environmentally friendly.
Big Safety issue. If you ever smell a strong smell of what seems like cat pee, it's the ammonia gas leaking out of your refrigerator. TURN IT OFF. Ammonia gas can be flammable. Have a reputable mechanic inspect it. If you have a Dometic Refrigerator, be sure to check the recalls link above. There were alot of recalls on Dometic for safety issues.
Other refrigerator smells. Pour some fresh coffee grounds into a bowl and close them up in the fridge for a day. Works great. Also some folks say pour just a touch of vanilla extract in a bowl and close it up in the fridge. Always leave your fridge door popped open when fridge is not in use.
Always change your smoke detector battery at the begininning of every season, and test before every trip. You'd be suprised how often I find ones with dead batteries. Not Good !
To Level or not to Level: Most of us all have this mind set to level the trailer side to side and back to front anytime we park it. This is important when using the refrigerator. The ammonia gas in the fridge must be able to gravity fall in order for it to work. However when the camper is in storage, keep it nose high, or tail high, or side to side unever whatever works for you. Give the rain water a way to run off. Most roof leaks occur when the water has a place to lay. No matter how good your roof is, if water lays somewhere long enough, it will eventually eat away at the sealants and find a way into your RV.
Tires. Buy a can of tire shine type product. Look specifically for one that softens rubber, but most importantly has a U.V. protectorant. Yes, suntan lotion for tires. Applying u.v. protectorant to your tires at least once a quarter will double your tires lives. Using tire covers helps keep U.V. away but doesn't do anything to keep the tires soft, so if you're using tire covers, do the protectorant as well.
You can find it at Wal Mart or any Automotive Store.
Roof Vents: I can't believe the number of trailers & RV's I see that have mold growing on the ceilings and walls. Always, no matter what time of year, allow your trailer to breathe. Crack roof vents and / or windows just slightly to allow the temperature inside the trailer to be equal to the ambient temperature outside. Otherwise every night condensation will form when the interior temperature exceeds the outside (skin) temperature.
Freezing Temperatures: One of the biggest mistakes we see is people leaving all their faucets, showers, etc closed. Make sure to open every faucet all the way. When ice warms, it expands and needs somewhere to go. With the water system sealed tight there is no room for expansion.
Winterizing, besides leaving the faucets open the lines should be blown out or RV antifreeze pumped in. Personally, here in N.C. I don't believe in the antifreeze. If you drain your water heater, and use an air compressor to blow out the lines you should be fine. However I do recommend a little antifreeze in the sink trap, shower trap, etc. For detailed instructions, drop us a line.
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For more helpful info, check out this web site