RV Trax Panama City

Author: admin

  • Campground Etiquette

    Campground Etiquette

    Before you make reservations, we recommended asking about the campground and RV park rules and security provisions. This assures that you and your family knows what to expect when vacationing. When checking in, obtain a copy of the rules and review the rules with your family and make sure everyone understands them. Disobeying campground rules can result in fines and expulsion. Please remember that the rules were made for a reason, even if they seem meaningless. Experienced and respectful campers know that most rules are just common courtesy. It is very frustrating when a neighbor disobeys basic courtesy rules that keep the neighbors happy. Remember to treat others like you would like to be treated. Your neighbor at one campground might be your neighbor at another campground as well. Also, realize that most campgrounds and RV parks have varied security and safety measures. When making reservations ask if if the area is safe and if they have security gates or cameras and is it well lit at night? The safety of you, your family and your RV is important, therefore you should take the extra precautions for safety. Installing motion detector lights on your RV will help to deter intruders and animals. While walking around the RV park and surrounding areas, use the buddy system and tell your children how to be safe also. Give them instructions about where to go for help. To gain great memories, from your RV trips, taking a few extra steps will ensure the safety of you and your family. Always respect other fellow camper’s sites, RVs and privacy. Even if walking through a campers RV site is quicker, You should always walk around occupied sites, even if it is quicker to cut through, to be polite. Imagine how startling it would be to see someone you don’t know walking past your door! Almost all campground’s or RV parks have quiet hours. Follow those! Avoid playing noisy games or listening to the radio outside during the quiet hours. Noises are often louder than you think. Make sure your pets are quiet as well. To keep your neighbor’s happy clean up after your pet as well. No one likes to step in your pets animal waste left on the ground. When leaving always lock the doors! It doesn’t matter if you’re only taking a walk around the campground. A campground is just like a neighborhood. You don’t know who your neighbors are therefore you don’t know if you can trust them Whether traveling across the country or just taking a day trip across the state, taking a few safety precautions will ensure a that you and your family have a great memorable vacation..


     

  • Wheel Chocks and Leveling

    Wheel Chocks and Leveling

    When backing up or pulling into a campsite with your travel trailer or fifth wheel, stop at the approximate spot where you plan on parking the unit. Check the leveling from side to side. If it is not level, pull forward or back about an foot. Put leveling blocks at the tires on the low side of the unit and pull onto the blocks. Verify the unit is level side to side and chock the wheels front and rear. Disconnect the unit and adjust the front jacks so the unit is level front to rear. Added stability can be encountered by leaving the front of the unit slightly low and extending the rear stabilizers, then adjust the front jacks back to level. This applies a little more load on the stabilizers to reduce rocking of the unit. It is important that the rig is level to avoid damaging the refrigerator cooling unit and for drains to work properly. Travel-trailer owners need to know to block the back and front of the tires on both sides of the vehicle, while parked at their campsite. Weight distribution through-out the camper will shift while you are enjoying the amenities of your home on the road. If the weight happens to be concentrated in the rear of the camper, well the front may pop up and you might find yourself taking an unplanned tour of the campground.

     

     

  • Fresh Water Pump Noise

    Fresh Water Pump Noise

    RV Fresh Water Pump Noise

    Most RV’s are equipped with a fresh water storage tank and a on demand fresh Water Pump , which provides satisfactory service for most RV’ers. A common complaint is the noise and vibrations associated with the pump usage. Newer recreational vehicles are very susceptible to this problem, because most newer RV fresh water supply plumbing is manufactured with Pex Tubing. This tubing has many advantages, but this tubing is very rigid and tends to chatter, because it cannot absorb the on demand pump pulsations and vibrations, resulting in a “hammering” type sound emitting throughout the RV.

    Installing flexible Braided Hose at the water pump inlet and outlet will reduce these noises considerably. Installing a inline Accumulator Tank at the pump outlet pressure port is very effective at reducing pulsating noise and eliminates short cycling of the pump.

    The best alternative is to replace the old style pressure activated pump with variable speed Flojet Pump. This modern pump utilizes a water flow sensor instead of a pressure switch. The flow sensor enables a variable water pump motor speed for precise water flow control determined by the water demand required. This pump is very efficient and requires lower battery amperage draw.

  • Exercising The Generator

    Exercising The Generator

    Exercising the RV Generator

    Generators are a convenient and important accessory for your Recreational Vehicle that makes it a self contained unit. With a little maintenance and regularly starting the RV Generator, you will be rewarded with many hours and years of service.

    Today’s fuels absorb water and break down quickly, sometimes within two months, and leaves unwanted gum deposits in the generator carburetor, thus causing surging, poor running conditions, or it may not start at all. Most generator manufacturers recommend starting and exercising the generator at half load every two weeks. Running an Air Conditioner will often be a sufficient load. We have come across many carburetor issues even when a Fuel Stabilizer is added to the fuel system, when it has not been started regularly.

    Always remember to turn off generator loads such as Air Conditioners, Electric Water Heaters, Microwaves, Coffee Makers, etc. before starting or stopping a RV Generator to avoid damaging generator electrical controls and components. If a generator is surging. Turn it off immediately and seek Service to avoid damage. Do not mess with the throttle linkage trying to clear it out, to avoid expensive generator damages.

    All gas and diesel generators produce deadly carbon monoxide gas, so always inspect generator fluid levels, any signs of fuel leakage and for a damaged exhaust system before starting. A damaged or leaking exhaust can introduce deadly Carbon Monoxide gas into the RV. It is highly recommended to purchase a Carbon Monoxide Detector and mount it inside the RV as high as possible for you and your family’s safety. Remember Carbon Monoxide is a odor free and invisible gas that will kill. .The tail pipe should protrude at least one inch past the outside vehicle side wall of the RV. Gen-Turi has a exhaust tube that deflects exhaust sound and gas above the roof line, where it is much quieter and safer. When using a Portable Generator, always keep the exhaust pointed away and as far as possible from the RV.

    You should always use a fuel system Stabilizer added to the fuel system, when stored, and allow the engine and generator run to allow the preservative to enter the fuel delivery components. Exercising the generator regularly will allow heat from the generator to vaporize away moisture. If the gas generator cannot be started on a regular basis, it is sometimes best to drain the carburetor of gasoline, following safety precautions when handling fuel. Most carburetor bowls have a drain screw to make this easy. Check the generator owners and service manual for proper procedures.

    Always consult the Generators owners manual for proper service intervals. These intervals vary from usage. Most generators have a hour meter to keep track of the time the generator has run. Performing these simple steps will reward you with many hours of convenient electrical generating service.

  • Drinking Water Filters

    Drinking Water Filters

    Filtering Drinking Water

    There are many health reasons to be concerned about the water we drink, especially with an Recreational Vehicle. You and your RV travel and stop at many destinations, that will have many water quality issues. There is not any way to know the health risks that may be encountered from the local water supply, or especially the contaminants introduced from the campground. Freshwater sanitation of your RV is equally important to maintain a clean water system. I recommend installing the best water filtration systems available. A dedicated filtered water drinking tap and ice maker line run from the water filter is very important.

    Most water filtration systems only filter contaminants by physically straining the water. A much better system is called the Metal Trap Ultra Dual Filtration system by Hydropure Technologies. This system works for city water and well water systems. This system works on the principal of chemical oxidation, absorption and ion exchange, whereas it removes and traps the unwanted contaminants. This is a two stage system, whereas the first stage filters iron, copper, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) from most well water systems. It also removes chlorine, chlorinated organic compounds, herbicides, pesticides and residual pharmaceuticals

    As water enters the second stage, activated carbon filters down to one micron. The activated carbon filters out the foul tasting and potentially harmful chemicals and contaminants. This one micron sediment filter will remove dissolved calcium particles, oxidized metals, viruses, bacteria and fine silt.

    These water filtration systems have good installation instructions, quite easy to install and work . exceptionally well. The RV system is rated for 6000 gallons and a larger version is available for your home rated at 14,000 Gallons.

  • Wall Mounting a Flat Screen TV in your RV

    Wall Mounting a Flat Screen TV in your RV

    Wall Mounting a Flat Screen TV

     

    Instructions:

     

    1. Purchase the television Wall Mount Kit.
    2. Locate the studs in the wall where you want to hang the TV.
    3. Measure the height where you would like the television mounted and mark location with a pencil.
    4. Take out the back bracket from the kit and place it on the wall with the drilled screw holes at the studs. Drill the bracket if necessary, for proper alignment. Verify the wall mount bracket is level.
    5. Attach bracket to the wall at the studs with the screws enclosed in the kit. (Verify the length of the screws is not too long to protrude out the RV exterior wall). Two sided tape or construction adhesive applied to the back of the bracket before screwing will enhance wall and bracket strength.
    6. Attach the other half of the kit to the back of the television, using the screws enclosed.
    7. It is recommended that you have someone to help lift the television to the mounting bracket on the wall. Slip TV onto track attached to the wall. Slide TV across the track to verify it is centered, then tighten the screws on the bottom track until the television no longer slides freely.
    8. Secure wiring with cable hooks or hide in a flat conduit if necessary. Exposed wires can be disguised by painting a wall color.

     

    Congratulations, you have now mounted a flat screen TV in your RV.