Saturday, August 27, 2011

Hub City RV's RV Maintenance Schedule

ROOF


Clean and Condition Rubber (Every Year) Use a Rubber Roof Cleaner and Conditioner

Inspect Vents, Stacks and AC (Every Year) For Cracks and Missing Pieces

Inspect Roof Sealants (Every 6 Months) For Cracks, Lifting or Peeling

ELECTRICAL

Check Battery Fluid Level (Every 6 Months) Refill as Necessary

Check Signal, Brake and Clearance Lights (Each Trip) Repair as Necessary

Check Interior Lights, Switches and Electrical Accessories (Each Trip) Repair as Necessary

Check Battery Terminals (Every 6 Months) Use Sandpaper to clean

WATER SYSTEM

Flush Fresh Water System (Every Year) Use Tank Cleaning Product

Flush Holding Tanks (Every Year) Use Tank Cleaning Product for Sensors

Use Waste Digester Black Tank (Each Trip) To Avoid Solids Building Up

Winterize (Every Year) To Avoid a Costly Freeze Up Water System

APPLIANCES

Water Heater (Each Year) Flush To Expel Mineral Deposits

Refrigerator Burner (Every 6 Months) Clean Rust and Debris from Burner

Furnace Exhaust (Each Year) Look for Bee Hives and Spider Webs

Have Propane Inspection (Each Year) To Check for Operation and Leaks

EXTERIOR

Inspect Window Sealant (Every 6 Months) Look for Lifting, Cracking or Peeling

Inspect Exterior Doors Sealant (Every 6 Months) Look for Lifting, Cracking or Peeling

Inspect Edge Mouldings (Every 6 Months) Look for Lifting, Cracking or Peeling

Inspect Exterior Lights (Every 6 Months) Look for Lifting, Cracking or Peeling

Chassis

Repack Wheel Bearings (Every Year) Or as Necessary

Adjust Brakes (Every Year) To Ensure Proper Operation

Check Tire Pressure (Each Trip) To Ensure Long Life

Torque Wheel Nuts (Each Trip) So Your Wheels Stay On

Lubricate Stabilizer Jacks (Every 6 Months) To Ensure they do not Seize

SAFETY

Check Smoke Detector Battery (Each Trip)  Change as Necessary

Check CO2 Detector Battery (Each Trip) Change as Necessary

Check Fire Extinguisher (Each Trip) Change as Necessary

SLIDES OUTS

Check Operation (Each Trip) For Binding

Check Seals (Every 6 Months) Check for Loose or Gaping Seals

Lubricate Rollers and Glides (Every 6 Months) To Ensure Operation

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Pachena Bay Campground on Vancouver Island British Columbia

The best thing about Pachena Bay Campground is certainly not the drive in. From Port Alberni B.C. it is about a 80 kilometer drive down an active logging road that takes 2 hours. Can you say washboard ! Parts of this road you need to slow down to 10km/h to not destroy your rig. I think a lot of units start to leak from twisting and flexing too fast down roads like this. Important Note: To units with poor tires or wheel bearings that have not been re-packed, this will be the ultimate test of your luck. Now really if you drive slowly and sensibly this road is totally do-able, but make sure your rig is up to snuff. I think what makes Pachena Bay Campground popular is it's location, right at the head of the Westcoast Trail. There is a constant flow of people starting and finishing the famous 7 day trek. Today is Canada Day 2011 so my youngest and I thought we would do a day hike of the trail. She was quite impressed with the bridges and 4 and 6 story ladder systems. This trail is quite challenging in it's entirety and a day hike will give you an idea of what a 7 day trek would be like. Last year some friends and I did the trail, but that's another story. After dinner we went out for a tear on our mountain bikes. We ran into what we think is the most scenic campsite, R1 has an ocean view and is right on the beach. The next morning we spent the day exploring the expansive sandy beach. You can see eagles in their nests and the tidal pools are full of nature. No trip to Pachena Bay would be complete without visiting Bamfield. Bamfield is a destination for ocean kayaking, sport fishing, the Westcoast Trail and is home to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

RV Electrical Systems




Recreational vehicles operate primarily on 12 volt (battery) power. This battery can be charged by the power converter or the tow vehicles alternator. When the RV is plugged into AC power, the power converter converts it to DC power. The tow vehicle charges the battery through a charge line off the starting battery. The charge line must have an isolator to prevent drawing the starting battery. The fridge, air conditioner and 110 power outlets have direct AC power when the RV is plugged in. Most of the newer units have gas and electric hot water tanks and microwave ovens which get direct power as well. All appliance ignitors, pumps, stereos, fans, interior and exterior lights run on 12 volt power. Trailers that have 12 volt electric brakes, are equipped with a break-away switch that is connected to the tow vehicle. If this switch is pulled, it will lock up the trailer brakes to stop the trailer in the event of a break-away. The brakes are activated by an electronic brake control, located in the tow vehicle. Lastly, the 12 volt system has a fuse box (similar to automobiles) and the 110 system has breakers.