Full Time RV Maintenance - Do You Need A Surge Protector For Your RV?

From Blog Posts

To the question, "do you need a surge protector for your RV?" I answer a resounding YES!

If you have read very much of my stuff, you have heard me talk about this subject before. I am a believer! I have personally known several different RV'ers who have either plugged their rigs into plugs that were wired incorrectly, have been plugged in at a park that experienced a brown out (too low) or a power spike (too high) and because they had no surge protector they burned out various TV's, microwaves, and assorted other electrical devices that they will continue to discover on down the road.

In this article I recently read do you need a surge protector for your RV? the author was saying that someone asked him if it was worth spending $300 to have one. I call that $300 worth of insurance that you are definitely going to need if you travel very much.

Case in point, this month, we are parked at a fairly large, fairly nice RV park just on the outskirts of Houston TX. . .got set up. . .all is well, until we turn on the big a/c unit. Immediately the surge protector shut us down. . .okay, that's fine, we'll just use the smaller unit until the next morning when the maintenance personnel can check things out. The problem. . .the ground was not properly connected at the box. . .fixed that. . .all is well until the outside temps begin going up, and everyone in the complex decides to run their a/c. . .our voltage meter dropped all the way to 104. . .surge protector once again shut us down.

Annoying. . .yes, but replacing appliances and a/c units would be much more annoying.

This is not a problem we have really ran in to all that often of having the voltage drops. . .and NO, we will NOT be returning to this park for this reason, but I am thankful that we have protection from this issue.

It is my understanding that this is a common occurrence in parks on the East and West Coasts, where they are not really set up for big rigs in many of their resorts.

Have any of you had these issues, or even had the lights dim when the a/c kicks on? I would be interested to hear what areas of the country experience these issues the most.

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time for the past eight years, and have traveled fulltime for the past three years. Follow our tales by clicking on the RSS feed at the top of the page, or check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

The RV Doctor: Are Surge Protectors Needed in RVs?

I indeed, heartily recommend a surge protector for RVs. I tend to the favor those that are hard-wired into the AC system, but that's just a personal preference. Certainly the portable, in-line type is just as effective. ...

Publish Date: 04/06/2011 13:29

http://www.rvdoctor.com/2011/04/are-surge-protectors-needed-in-rvs.html

RV Surge Protectors

In all honesty you should stick to the hardwire devices over the RV portable surge protectors. The reason should be obvious. The portable models plug in outside of the camper, so it is easy for someone to steal it from you. ...

Publish Date: 03/09/2010 18:20

http://reviewsurgeprotector.com/rv-surge-protectors.html

The Lazy Daze Companion: Surge Protectors

There are two basic types of surge protectors: a portable protector is intended to be plugged into the campground utility box, while a hard-wired protector is permanently wired inside the RV and is always ON, so so speak. ...

Publish Date: 01/17/2011 20:37

http://lazydazearticles.blogspot.com/2011/01/surge-protectors.html

Full Time RV Maintenance - RV Fresh Water Tank - Potable Water

From Blog Posts

I am always, always intrigued by the types of questions, and the variety of questions that RV'ers ask. . .either on blogs, or forums or on the numerous websites that I read on a regular basis.

A discussion on Keeping Water Fresh in your RV fresh water tank caught my attention today, because they were discussing putting bleach in the RV's fresh water tank, and then carrying potable water to use for drinking.

Now, we try to avoid using bleach in anything that will be going down the potty into the RV's black water tank, just because we don't want to kill the good little beasties, and enzymes living down there that eat up all the bacteria.

However, I can see the writers point. We also carry potable water when we know we will be using the RV fresh water tank only. For some reason, the water out of there just tastes funny to me, and it makes funny tasting coffee, so before we disconnect we fill a gallon jug from the filtered water tap at the sink.

I'm curious as to whether others have had this problem, and how you dealt with it.

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time for the past eight years, and have traveled fulltime for the past three years. Follow our tales by clicking on the RSS feed at the top of the page, or check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

What Does It Really Cost to RV Carrying Water | Lite Thots Blog

Go RVing and leave the water behind; save in fuel costs and increase engine performance. Make the kind of water filter you need when you get there. Why fill your fresh water tank before leaving home? Well, it will help slosh last year's ...

Publish Date: 05/10/2011 8:31

http://www.litethotsblog.com/rv-lifestyle-2/3215-what-does-it-really-cost-to-rv-carrying-water/

Now I could see the validity of following the instructions in this next link, as long as none of the bleach water got flushed down the potty.

Checking your RV Water System | See Where the Road Takes You

I came across a couple of different articles to help you out next time you want to check your RV water system yourself. Here are a couple tips from RV Basics: Start with a nearly full fresh water tank. Turn the water heater off and let ...

Publish Date: 02/01/2001 2:00

http://seewheretheroadtakesyou.com/checking-your-rv-water-system

Full Time RV Living - It's an Emotional Decision

From Blog Posts

I read a great post this morning describing the emotional and mental acrobatics we go through when deciding to sell EVERYTHING and live full time in our RV.

I hope you will take the time to read their story, it brought back all those moments of indecision I felt when we were making those decision eight years ago. . .looking back, we know we did the right thing, and we are loving every moment of this lifestyle. . .

Emotions in planning Full Time RVing

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time for the past eight years, and have traveled fulltime for the past three years. Follow our tales by clicking on the RSS feed at the top of the page, or check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Full Time RV Travel - Boondocking - or Another Perspective to Save Money on Overnight RV Parking

From Blog Posts

In one of my favorite RV Newsletters the owner Chuck Woodbury wrote the following:

Two weeks ago in our weekly reader survey we asked if you had ever spent the night with your RV in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Fifty-seven percent of you answered yes. When we asked that same question seven years ago, only 46 percent. What that means is a lot more RVers are holing up in Wal-Mart parking lots these days.

THE REASON IS OBVIOUS: the average price of a full-hookup site in an RV park today is $40.96. That's according to a recent survey by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. So holing up for a night in a Wal-Mart parking lot buys an extra 100 miles of gas.

I AM A BIG BELIEVER in campgrounds and RV parks. But I am not a big believer in staying at them when I simply need a place to sleep for the night. To pay $30 to $40 for that is crazy. For RVers in transit -- on their way to somewhere -- staying for free when convenient saves money, perhaps enough to make a trip affordable in the first place.

I salute Wal-Mart for its service to the RV community. There are few places to park along the road anymore where you can grab a free night's sleep without getting booted out. If Wal-Mart suddenly pulled the plug on its overnight parking, I suspect some RVers could no longer afford to travel or would travel less with their RV.

I believe there is an opportunity for an RV park to grab some of these Wal-Mart RVers. Why not offer in-transit RVers a place to park overnight for $10 if they arrive after 7 or 8 p.m? The RVer gets no hookups, no restroom password, they can't swim in the pool, and the free coffee at the front desk isn't free. But they can sleep. And then they can leave. I believe a lot of RVers would go for this.

If parks could find a way to make this work, then the entire RV industry would benefit because RVing would be more affordable. As is, fewer and fewer people can afford to do it -- and that means fewer RV sales for manufacturers and dealers and fewer folks enjoying one of the most wonderful leisure activities ever invented!

Read the entire piece, and sign up for Chuck's awesome newsletter HERE

I think Chuck's proposal has a great deal of validity.

Do you think it could work?
Do you think it would be abused?
Do you often camp without hookups, just to save a buck?

Leave a comment, and share your thoughts. . .

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time for the past eight years, and have traveled fulltime for the past three years. Follow our tales by clicking on the RSS feed at the top of the page, or check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

The Zen of Boondocking Part XIV – Camping along scenic byways

By Bob Difley National Scenic Byways, a program administered in part by the National Forest Service (FS), describes routes through some of the most scenic.

Publish Date: 05/07/2011 17:07

http://blog.rv.net/2011/05/the-zen-of-boondocking-part-xiii-camping-along-scenic-byways/

Because we have Android Phones, I found this next article very interesting:

Camp and RV ~ Android Application v3.7.1 By AllStays | Travel & Local

*Walmart (with Parking or No Parking noted with frequent user reports.) *Overnight Parking like casinos & other places. *2800 Truck Stops with amenities, if RV friendly, and what is nearby. *Outdoor Supply Stores (Camping World, REI, ...

Publish Date: 03/03/2011 12:08

http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-allstays-app-camprv-qjDAx.aspx

And this next article is just funny. . .with a little common sense thrown in:

RV parking at Walmart

Dear Dr. RV Shrink: We have been using Walmart parking lots for overnight stays while traveling between destinations. We think this is a wonderful opportunity offered by Walmart. We call them our “Pit Stops.” We do our shopping, ...

Publish Date: 12/31/2010 18:31

http://rvshrink.blogspot.com/2010/12/rv-parking-at-walmart.html

Full Time RV'er Jobs - You can find work on the Road

From Blog Posts

Are there jobs for RV'ers? Absolutely. . .

We are often asked, can you really find jobs on the road? To that I say. . .positively, yes!

Are you going to get rich?. . .or even make a living? Although there are those who will argue the point, I would have to answer. . .probably not.

But, depending on how many hours you are willing to work, you can most assuredly cover the cost of parking the RV, and sometimes even earn a little additional pocket change.

For us, covering the cost of RV parking is more than sufficient to make working on the road worth it. We can then free up the funds we had budgeted for parking expenses, and use that for doing touristy stuff, or whatever else we find fun to do.

We will be discussing this topic in depth on this blog, so check back often for updates. . .and if you have questions, we'll be happy to share what we know.

In the meantime, I'm including a few of my favorite go to links for more info on the subject. . .

RVers Workers On Wheels Newsletter #669 ~ April 29, 2011

TX: Seeking RVers for Oilfield Well Site Locations ~ WY: Help Wanted - Paying Wages and Campsite Various Jobs ~ WA: Pay Plus for Seasonal Work Camping Position ~ AR: Work Camping House Sitter Wanted, Year Round ...

Publish Date: 04/30/2011 0:49

http://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/RVers_Workers_On_Wheels_Newsletter-669.html

RV Quick Tips: Workamper News: The RVers job source

Workamper News: The RVers job source. If you are among the fortunate whose RV lifestyle is not affected by the current economic chaos, the ups and downs of the real estate market and Wall Street, and there is always enough spendable ...

Publish Date: 04/19/2011 17:05

http://www.rvquicktips.com/2011/04/workamper-news-rvers-job-source.html

Full-Time RVers…Get a Job | RV at Clem's Yet?

Seasonal jobs: Working RVers often find work on Christmas tree farms and retail lots. There are also apt to be more short term retail jobs in the stores near the holidays. In the fall, check out the pumpkin patch. ...

Publish Date: 02/22/2005 2:00

http://rvatclemsyet.com/full-time-rvers-get-a-job

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Full Time RV Maintenance: Sewer Slinkies and other Black Water Topics

From Blog Posts

From Blog Posts

While black water issues are not necessarily my favorite RV topic, a friend, who recently began RV'ing was asking me how to prevent the "smell" that sometimes happens if you neglect to dump often enough, especially now that it is getting warm.

I explained the basics of course. . .don't leave the black water valve open. . .ALWAYS, ALWAYS keep it closed. . .unless you would like to build up a little mountain of tissue and other assorted nasties in the bottom of the tank.

At one of the RV Shows, we got to know a girl whose company specialized in black water tank proctology. . .oh the stories she had to tell.  I'm pretty sure having a constipated sewer hose is something you want to avoid at all costs.

Keeping the valve closed, and using lots and lots of water is the best way I know of to keep everything dissolving. . .and believe me, that is a good thing.  You will quickly determine how often you need to dump. . .we personally do not use any additives when we are sitting still, and usually, dumping once per week is more than sufficient.

Now here, in the picture below is an example of RV'ing that totally confuses me.

From Blog Posts

How, pray tell, is all the "stuff" supposed to make it all the way to the end and into the sewer itself?  I just don't get it!  I decided that if the pipes leading from my house to the city services were always kept as straight as possible with as few turns as possible, then that is probably how I needed to set up the RV drain hoses. . .so the pic below is how our slinky is set up.

From Blog Posts

As much as I would love to have one of those nifty macerator style systems, I can't justify spending $250 or so, as long as what we have is working so great.

I'm including a few links below so you can get even more ideas of how to take care of "things," and just in case you need it, here's info on how to get up to date listing of DUMP STATIONS across the USA. . .

Good luck!

RV Black Water Tank Odor Elimination | Woodall's Campgrounds, RV ...

Yet another method to eliminate black water holding tank problems and odors. The author has over 35 years of RV experience and likes this method the best.

Publish Date: 11/10/2010 20:06

http://blog.woodalls.com/2010/11/yuck-the-nastiest-part-of-a-rv-is-inside-the-black-water-tank/

Camco 40123 RV Quickie Flush with Back Flow Preventer | A ...

Fairly easy to install. It was not RV Quickie real pleasant drilling a hole in the black water tank, make sure the tank is empty before you do it, but it was well worth the effort. Great 40123 RV addition to my RV. ...

Publish Date: 04/24/2011 13:51

http://cool-tirestyle-portable-12volt.co.cc/Product-Advice/camco-40123-rv-quickie-flush-with-back-flow-preventer/

The Icky Job of Cleaning Your Black Water Holding tank | RV at ...

Cleaning your black water tank for your RV is important for the lifespan of your tank, personal hygiene and comfortable living while camping. There are not many steps for keeping your RV black water tank clean, but it's important to be ...

Publish Date: 01/24/2011 16:26

http://rvatclemsyet.com/the-icky-job-of-cleaning-your-black-water-holding-tank

Full Time RV Living: Staying in Touch on the Road

I'm not one that really feels a need to make changes just for the sake of changing things, but if you can show me the advantage of making the change then I am more than willing to try things out and experiment.

Such was the case when my nephew told me I needed to switch my email account over to GMail or Google.  I had used Yahoo Mail with great results for years and was very happy with it, but since he was very knowledgeable in the computer world, and he made Google sound so enticing, I decided to give it a try.

Wow. . .what a world of difference.  Everything you need is right there.  Let me explain. . .

EMAIL - Now, email is email. . .right, so I can't really tell you there is too much difference in getting my emails every morning.  It's all the other programs that go along with the email account that make the difference.   For example. . .

GOOGLE READER - All my favorite blogs that I love to read every day are all in one place.  I simply set up my Google Reader account, click on, add new account at the top of the page. . .copy and paste the blog address in, and there you go,  everytime there is a new post on a blog, I automatically get an update.

I even have blogs divided into folders, RV Blogs, Business Blogs, Ministry Blogs, etc. . .

Now, I am not sure how I set this up, but I was able to add a NEXT button into my GOOGLE CHROME BOOKMARKS BAR. . .when I finish reading one blogpost. . .I just click on NEXT. . .and so on until I reach the end of the list.  I love it!

GOOGLE DOCUMENTS - No more Word Documents for me. . .I now create all my documents in the Google Documents File.   NOW, no matter where I am, as long as I can log in to my Google Account, I have access to all of my documents and information.

The other day, I forgot to take my shopping list with me to the store. . .no problem.  I opened my shopping list file on my phone, and was able to see exactly what was on my list.

I haven't even discussed PICASA for organizing all your pictures, or BLOGGER for building your travel blog.

I could go on and on about how much I love it, and I'm not even getting paid for all this love. . .but if you would like to get even more in depth information about all the wonderful ways GOOGLE could work for you while you are out on the road. . .you hafta check out the website of some fellow RV'ers.

GEEKS ON TOUR -  Now, although there is a fee of $39 per year to become a member, and get all the inside scoop goodies. . .there is plenty of FREE info on their website, especially if you are a newbie, and still needing to learn just the basics.  I highly suggest you check their website out.  I have not had the privilege of meeting them in person yet, only online, but I know that when we finally meet them, it will be like spending time with folks we've known all our lives.  You can feel the warmth and caring come through in their writings, their lessons, and on their videos.

Leave a comment and share with everyone your tips for staying in touch on the road. . .