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

 



2003 Newmar London Aire 4557

This top model was specially built for the Newmar family in 2003 and comes with 7 page order sheet, here are just a few of the options. The 2003 Newmar London Aire 4557 is originally from the US and can be licensed in either country. It is powered by 500 horsepower Cummins turbo diesel on a Spartan chassis. Fully painted body, two slides and 3 solar panels. External vehicle proximity with warning signal, 12 Kw generator, Tag wheels, Central vacuum, Water softener, Power drivers window, Washer and dryer, Dishwasher, Side by Side fridge, Large sink, Cooktop Microwave, Corian countertops, Custom ceiling lighting, Main Air Conditioned 24,000 BTU and Basement Air Conditioning 9,000BTU, Freezer in basement, Leather airride driver seat, Both seats powered with vibrators. Easy bed sofas with drawers, Ceramic roof coating, Tire pressure sensor, 50 amp power, Star Choice satellite. This coach is competively priced for both the US and Canadian market. Also will come with a safety report so you know exactly what your buying. If you want to view this unit or other Class A's we have in stock click HERE





LED Lights for RV'S

LED Lighting for RV's has come a long way in the last few years.  I remember buying some of the first LED bulbs a few years ago and paying $65 per bulb.  These early bulbs were outrageously expensive and provided very dim light.  Fast forward to today and we have a great selection of bulbs available in the $20 to $35 dollar range.  These new bulbs are very bright and expected to last about 10,000 hours.  The real bonus for people that dry camp, or camp without a 110 power supply, is that they use 90% less power than a standard bulb.  Most types of bulbs are now available and many LED lights come with adapters for screw in or press in style connections.  We also have complete interior fixtures with dimmers, LED taillights and LED clearance lights.  Now is a great time to upgrade your RV to LED lighting.

Starlight Revolution LED bulbs

ECO-LED bulbs



Green Longlife LED fixture

Bargman LED clearance lights

LED tailights



What's the deal with Truck Camper Jacks?

There are a number of Camper Jack manufacturers. These include Hijacker, Happijac, Atwood, Rieco Titan and Brophy. The most common in these parts would be the Hijacker hydraulic jacks. Hijacker jacks were made in Victoria British Columbia by Victoria Industries for many years. Recently Victoria Industries was sold to Demco and they will not continue manufacturing camper jacks. This is a shame really, because we could easily get rebuild kits for these jacks and now they are no longer available. The other maker of hydraulic jacks is Rieco Titan, which are not very common in this neck of the woods. Today most manufacturers use Happijac screw type jacks. They are available with a manual crank or 12 volt electric motors. Atwood makes a screw type jack, available with a manual crank or 12 volt electric motor. Rieco Titan has a tripod jack available. These jacks are manual screw type and usually get unbolted and removed, or swing up under the campers wing wall. Lastly, there are Brophy jacks, common on campers of the 70's and 80's. These have a winch and cable and are not very portable.

Hijacker Hydraulic Jack

Atwood Electric Jack

Rieco Titan Screw Jack

Happijac Electric

Brophy Jack

When Do Your Dreams Begin?

If you've turned on the news recently, you've probably been subjected to a litany of depressing statistics, economic disaster and global crises.  The world is constantly in turmoil, the economy is in the toilet, and we should all just pull the covers over our heads and hide it out. Hurry up and wait for things to change seems to be a popular plan.  So many people plan their whole lives for their dream trip, only to put it off because things seem uncertain.  How many people do you know that work their entire adult life, dreaming of retirement, only to pass on a few months into it.  What are we waiting for?  Everyday, customers come in telling us that they've planned their RV trip for years, but they're waiting until things "settle down".  When was the last time things were settled? If there's one thing we've learned, it's that there are no guarantees. If your dream is to get out on the open road, see the country, live the rv lifestyle- do it!  You don't know what's around the corner.  Stop worrying about the future- live the present.  Go RVing!

Hub City RV's New Parts Department

Now that we're all settled in to our new location, we finally have our Parts Department up and running. We have a fantastic selection of RV parts, and accessories, with more on the way; hitches, batteries, plumbing, electrical and more, including a great selection of vintage parts for those classic RV's.

Conveniently located in Lantzville, just minutes past Nanaimo, our Parts Department is open from Monday to Saturday. We're looking forward to seeing you!

Hub City RV Has Left That Building

It's been a crazy few months for all of us at Hub City RV. About six months ago, we had the bright idea that it was time for a change, so we started exploring new properties for our dealership. We found a great location, only a few minutes south of our existing spot, and close to Nanaimo, where many of our customers reside. So we took the plunge. It seemed like a good idea at the time.. After three months (it was supposed to be one) of major renovations at the new location, we're finally moved. Well, mostly. All our units are in, the offices are sparkling and new, and the coffee's on. We're still a work in progress (especially the Parts Department), but we're here and we're excited for the future. To all our loyal customers- we're looking forward to showing off our new digs. And of course we can't wait to meet our new friends. So stop by- we're open for business!

Toquart Bay

Hidden away on the West Coast of Vancouver Island is the rustic beauty of Toquart Bay. Well off the beaten path, this forestry campsite provides only the basics of camping. What it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in raw, West Coast scenery. With camping right on the beach, and a well-maintained marina for the fishing enthusiasts, outdoor lovers have it all here. The Broken Islands group are a favourite with kayakers, who will camp throughout the Islands as they explore by sea. Because the campground is accessed by a rough road, off the highway to Tofino, it is still relatively undiscovered. Bears, eagles and an abundance of wildlife make this a great outdoor adventure. Whether you fish by day, kayak, or just sit back and enjoy the view, this beauty of a campground is a must-see on your Island adventures.

What is a Class B Motorhome

A Class B or Van Conversion is a RV built into a full size van. These units normally have a raised fiberglass roof to allow enough height to stand inside. Some Manufacturers lower the van floor and this allows them to use a lower roof. Don't let the size of these units fool you, many of them have all the same amenities as large Motorhomes. For example hot water, shower, flush toilet, fridge, stove, furnace and air conditioning. There are many Manufacturers building Class B Motorhomes in the United States. The two most popular brand are Pleasureway and Roadtrek. And they are Made in Canada. People like these compact units because they are easy to park. This can be a real benefit when travelling across country. Large Motorhomes can be quite challenging to park in some Cities and Towns. The only real drawback to these units is price. They are quite labour intensive to build. A new top of the line Pleasureway has a retail price of well over $100,000.
Click here to view our stock of Class B Motorhomes

What to know about Fifth Wheel Hitches

There are two basic types of fifth wheel hitches, one for short box trucks and one for long box trucks. The short box hitch has a method of moving the entire hitch behind the axle, which allows the user to get the fifth wheel at 90 degrees to the truck. With the hitch in the forward position the front corner of the fifth wheel can hit the truck, causing extensive damage to both. The long box truck does not require a hitch that moves back because there is ample clearance. There are a variety of methods of adjusting your short box hitch to the rear position. Some have pins to pull and manually slide, some have levers and some are automatic; all require frame brackets. For some of the newer trucks no drill frame clamps are available. There are a couple other options, like an oscillating head and weight rating. Oscillating head basically means that not only can the hitch head rock front to back, it can rock side to side as well. Most fifth wheel hitches have a weight rating of between 12,000 and 25,000 pounds. Installation for most vehicles is between 3 and 4 hours labour, as it involves drilling quite a number of holes in your truck's frame and bed. Hitches generally start at about $675.00 and up, depending on your requirements.

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Special on Huskey Long Box 5TH Wheel Hitch $499.00 Click Here

What is a Class A Motorhome?

There are two basic types of Class A Motorhome. One is a rear engine diesel, commonly known as Diesel Pusher. The other usually has a gas engine up front and is known as a Class A. Both motorhomes have a bus type appearance from the outside. Class A Motorhomes are completely built by RV manufacturing companies. This means they start with a chassis and build the entire coach, including the driver and passenger areas. There are a variety of options and features you will find on Class A Motorhomes. These include: built in generators, in motion satellite systems, solar panels, multiple slide outs, multiple air conditioning systems and even heat pumps, in addition to all regular options like awning, tv antenna, stereo and microwave. Most of the body construction of these units is now laminated type with metal or aluminum frame or a combination. The exteriors are usually RV fiberglass siding and, as always, the better coaches have moulded front and rear fiberglass caps. Class A Motorhomes range in size from 22 to 44 feet. It is unusual to find a diesel pusher under 30' although there are some exceptions. Many people are afraid to drive these units because they are typically quite large. You would be surprised at the increase in visibility these coaches offer. Many of the buyers for these units have owned most other types and consider Class A's the ultimate RV. Click to view our selection of Class A Motor homes.
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