What is Boondocking?

Boondocking or Dry Camping is when you camp in your RV without sewer, water or power connections. You should start out with a full fresh water tank and empty holding tanks. The fresh water capacity will normally not exceed your black and grey water capacity. The challenging part is maintaining battery power. If you carefully conserve power a single battery can last 2 to 3 days. If its cold and the furnace is needed this can cut you down to less than a day. There are a few options available to extend your batteries life like LED light bulbs, Solar charging systems, Generators or a Battery upgrade. LED light bulbs are 75% more efficient than incandescent bulbs. A Solar charging system will provide a charge even on a cloudy day. A Generator will allow for battery re-charging and full 110 power for air conditioning, microwave or even a plug in hair dryer. A battery upgrade could involve two 12 volt batteries wired in parallel or two 6 volt batteries wired in series. It is important to not let your battery fully discharge when boondocking because it is difficult to bring it back. I recommend charging your battery each day to maintain it. This can be done by plugging your trailer into a properly wired tow vehicle and running the engine. In a motorhome, starting the engine will charge the house battery as well. Dry camping can be a challenge, but camping off the grid can be quite rewarding.

What you need to know about buying a used RV

The number one thing to watch out for on used Recreational Vehicles is water damage or leak issues. Water damage in RV units is very costly to repair and can be difficult to detect. We see many RV buyers getting caught up in floor plans and upholstery colours that they lose site of this fact. We find that many of the units available privately have been sitting and ignored for some time and this is the reason they are put up for sale. The current owner is not using it any longer and has lost interest in it. Most of the seasoned RV’ers that use their unit frequently rarely have their unit for sale. They usually will trade theirs in for their next unit. People that are unfamiliar with RV’s should have a reliable technician inspect a unit before they purchase it. Did you know it is recommended to have a RV’s seals inspected two times a year. Leak issues aside there are many other things to consider when purchasing a used RV. A good look into the 12 volt system. Are the batteries good? Is the system charging? Do the propane appliances work? Are they up to current propane codes? Has the propane system been certified? Have the wheel bearings and brakes been checked? It is not unusual for a RV Dealership to spend $1500 servicing a used travel trailer and $2500 for a motor home.

 

Check out our RV Maintenance schedule click here

 RV service information click here

Check out our used inventory click here

Top 50 Reasons to Buy a New Puma Travel Trailer or Fifth Wheel

1. Heaviest Frame, Chassis and Axles in its Class
2. 5/8 One Piece Floor Decking with 25 year Warranty
3. Largest Fresh and Waste Water Tank Capacity
4. E-Z Lube Axles
5. 2 X 3 Floor Joists
6. Rack and Pinion Slide Out with Manual Override
7. 10’’ Laminated I-Beams in Slide Opening
8. 2 X 2’s Sidewall Framing on 16’’ centres
9. 4.5’’ Crowned Roof Rafters
10. 3/8’’ Roof Decking for a Walk on Roof
11. One Piece Rubber Roof with 12 Year Warranty
12. Extra Large Baggage Doors for Optimal Storage
13. Tinted Safety Glass Windows
14. Radius Entry Doors
15. LP Tank Cover with Easy Access Lid
16. Cable and Satellite TV Hookups Standard
17. Beech Glazed Cabinetry
18. Steel Drawer Glides
19. Pantry Standard in all Pumas
20. “Beau” Linoleum Floor with 7 Year Guarantee
21. Skylight with Shade Standard
22. Standard Storage Bin under Jack Knife Sofas
23. LED Interior Lights Standard
24. Digital Thermostat
25. Storage Under Queen Beds
26. Foot Pedal Flush Toilets Standard
27. Power Roof Vent in Bathroom Standard
28. Powder Coated Steel I-Beam Frame
29. Type A Pex Water Line with Crimp Fittings
30. Easy Access Low Point Water Drain
31. Radius 2 and 3 Tiered Steps
32. Rain Gutters
33. Darco Underbelly
34. 6 Gallon Auto Ignition Water Heater
35. Radial Tires
36. 80’’ Interior Height
37. Floor Ducted Heat
38. 55 Amp Converter with Battery Charger
39. Innerspring Mattress
40. Solid Wood Drawer Fronts
41. Kitchen Skylight
42. Large Double Sink
43. High Rise Kitchen Faucet
44. Bronze Hardware, Light and Bath Fixtures
45. Cabinet Doors under Dinette Seats
46. 30,000 BTU Furnace
47. CO2 Detector
48. LP Leak Detector
49. Fire Extinguisher
50. Smoke Detector

Click here to see our Stock of New Puma's



RV Camper Trailer Specials

Despite the weather its shaping up to be great season here at Hub City RV.
We have a great inventory of new 2014 Puma and Canyon Cat towables. And as
always a large selection of used Motorhomes, Trailers, Fifth Wheels and
Campers.

RV Parts Specials

RV Pro Dual Pivot Slider Fifth Wheel Hitch $699.00 RV Pro Equalizer Hitch
$399.00 RV Pro 3500lbs Electric Tongue Jack $239.00 Camco Rubber Roof
cleaner and conditioner $18.99

RV Tech Tips

Wheel bearings on tow able units are often overlooked. Wheel bearings
should be re-packed every 3000 miles. If a bearing overheats it will ruin
the axle.

Another item that is often overlooked is the yearly treatment of RV unit
rubber roof’s. RV rubber roofs degrade from UV Rays, dirt, pine needles
etc. Cleaning and treating your rubber roof goes a long way to avoid
costly roof replacement.

RV Service Special

Re-pack wheel bearings single axle $169.00 and $269.00 for tandem axle.
Includes grease and axle seals.

1-888-390-7780

Hours Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 11-4 Sales only

Hub City RV
7357 Industrial Road
Lantzville, BC  V0R 2H0
(250) 933-0700

Please visit our website at the following location:
http://www.hubcityrv.ca

RV Lingo, Slang or Terminology

Dinghy (or Toad) – Vehicle towed behind your motor home.
Basement – Storage area beneath the floor of the motor home, usually accessible from the outside.
Dump Station – Facility where you can empty your black and gray water holding tanks.
Full Hookup – Campsite with direct connections to electricity, sewer and water amenities.
Holding Tanks – There are three different holding tanks on most motor homes:Black, Grey and Fresh
Genset - A RV’s electric generator
Diesel Pusher – Motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the rear of the vehicle.
Full Timers – People who live in their RV full time.
Snowbirds – Those who travel south during the winter months.
Equalizing Hitch- A hitch that utilizes spring bars that are placed under tension to distribute a portion of the trailer’s hitch weight to the tow vehicle’s front axle and the trailer’s axles. This hitch is also known as a weight distributing hitch.
Dry Weight- The weight of the RV without any fuel, freshwater, propane or passengers.
Dry Camping- Also known as boon docking, dry camping refers to camping without any hook-ups. It is namely camping without hooking up to any electric, sewer or water facilities. You can still have electric from your RV batteries and water from your freshwater holding tank.
Converter- An electrical device for converting 120-volt AC power into 12-volt DC power. Most RVs with electrical hookups will have a converter, since many of the lights and some other accessories run on 12-volt DC
Delam- A shorten word for delaminating. Delaminating is a condition found on a fiberglass RV where the fiberglass skin of the RV separates from the body of the RV. This is usually the result of an undetected water leak, which over time, causes the luan backer that the fiberglass is bonded with to rot. When this backer rots, there is nothing to hold the fiberglass to the body of the RV and this is where you will notice the delam bubbles on the outside walls of the RV.
Honey Wagon- Euphemism for the sewage pumping truck. Honey wagons are used to empty RV holding tanks in places where full hookups and dump stations are not available.
Inverter- An electrical device for converting 12-volt DC power into 120-volt AC power.
Puller- The slang term for a motorhome with a front-mounted diesel engine.
Shore Power- Electricity provided to the RV by an external source other than the RV batteries.
Slide In- The term for a type of camper that mounts on a truck bed, because this type of camper slides into the truck bed.
Tow Bar- A bar used for connecting a towed vehicle to the motorhome for towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Deep Cycle Batteries– Batteries designed to be recharged multiple times from a discharged state without damage.  The best choice for batteries used as house batteries in an RV
House Batteries– Batteries used exclusively to power DC appliances and lights in a RV.
Potable Water– Drinking Water.
Self Contained– RV having kitchen, sleeping, potable water and sewage retaining equipment as a minimum.  Bathing, heating/cooling and electrical are often essential components of fully self contained vehicles.

If you hear of any I have missed let me know and I will add them.

RV Storage Covers

In the winter many of our customers want to cover their RV units to avoid leak issues. This is a great idea especially here on the Wet Coast, I mean West Coast. The West Coast is known to develop a little rain and snow from time to time. Alot of people cover their units with a tarp. Now this is a good idea provided an air-space is left between the RV's roof and the tarp. This will allow air circulation and prevent condensation. Wrapping your RV up tight with a tarp will usually cause more condensation damage than the leaks it may prevent. Another option is a custom fit RV Storage Cover. These covers are designed to envelope the entire unit. The material used is called Polypropylene. This material is rugged, water repellent and still breaths to let out vapour and condensation. And if you the cover when your your unit is clean, its still clean when you take it off. Not covered in black streaks, pine needles and moss. We can get these covers for most Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Campers and Toy Haulers. Want a quote click here to contact us.



Black Water Holding Tanks


There are a number of things you must do to ensure your black water holding tank functions as it should. One of the biggest mistakes that is made is leaving the black water tank gate valve open when set up in a park with full service. This is OK for the grey water tank as it will flow, because its sink and shower water. If the black water tank valve is left open the fluids will run and the solids will stay causing a mountain of you know what in the tank. This will eventually lead to a clog in the black water holding tank and it is challenging to find someone to fix this. The proper method of using the black water tank is to keep the valve closed while in use. Use RV toilet waste digester to break down the solids and control any odors. Drain the black water tank when it is at least half full or more. It is a good idea to close the black water tank valve after draining and flush with clean water and drain again. Once the tank is drained and flushed, we put about a gallon of water and 2 ounces of waste digester down the the toilet. You are now ready for your next trip. There are many waste digesting products available. Some are liquid, some are powder and some are tablets. Most are very effective if used as directed.

3'' Black Water Tank Gate Valve

 

Liquid Waste Digester