Rv Maintenance Tips And Information For The Diy

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AcmeAdapter.jpg ()In this Episode I talk about safety and how to Identify and explain what you are looking for when you go to the parts guy. Quite often the terminology makes it hard for you to explain and harder for the Parts Guy to see your vision. I lay it out in simple terms. I also explain certain things that have to work in specific ways for additional appliances to work properly. https://radioarizonarv.com/images/LPFittingCatalog.pdf (LP Fitting and Adapter Catalog) http://www.arizonarvpartscenter.com/category-s/797.htm (Check Out Arizona RV Parts Center for LP Fittings and Accessories.) The post https://radioarizonarv.com/%e2%86%93episode-23-lp-fittings-adapters-part-2/ (↓Episode 23 – LP Fittings & Adapters Part 2) appeared first on https://radioarizonarv.com (Radio Arizona RV). Support this podcast

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/marshall-excel-changeover-reg.gif ()This is Part 1 of the LP Fitting episodes. The point of this episode is to help RV’ers to keep safety at the forefront when repairing their LP system. The proper tools should always be used along with properly checking for leaks after any repair that is done. The simple way is to use the liquid leak detector that bubbles up. You can buy it ready made or make your own with dish soap and water. It is also important to buy quality LP Hoses and Regulators! I recommend that you only buy LP Hoses and Regulators that are made by companies that specialize in LP Hoses and Accessories. There is some Junk on the market and I would recommend that you avoid any LP Hoses and Regulators that are made by companies that make dish drainers, toilet chemicals and other non-LP related products. Safety First! This episode brings attention to replacing an Auto Change Over Regulator that is mostly found on Trailers with 2 LP Tanks. It a

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ElderlyonBike.jpg ()RV’ers everywhere stay in well kept, safe and secure RV Parks. Rv’ers everywhere bring their bicycles with them and should take advantage of the security found in most RV Parks. To ride a bike on a busy street takes the fun right out of it and it creates a situation that is not safe nor inviting. In my area the roads are very rough along the shoulder and there are tractors, buses and large pieces of equipment continuously using the roads and it is a hazard for the most cautious bicyclist. Riding a bike is a great way to get exercise and we all need that. Exercise is an important part of life as we get older. RV Parks can become the safe place to ride without any anxieties of riding on local streets and highways. In an RV Park the roads are usually flat and maintained to give you a safe and comfortable place to get that much needed exercise. Don’t over think this, just buy a bike that you can afford and is in good cond

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Wasp9902.jpg ()Wasp Action Cameras are nice way to capture those moments on your ATV, 4 Wheel Drive, Pedal Driven Bicycle or whatever your passion is. This is a great product available at reasonable prices. GoPro is the Gold Standard but Wasp is the undisputed Champion for providing quality at affordable prices for the the guy who just wants to record some footage without the price tag and complicated equipment. More and more RV’ers are riding ATV’s and enjoying 4 Wheel Drive vehicles and the Wasp Action Cameras are an inexpensive way to record by video or use the still camera function to capture some of those moments that are just to hard to explain. A picture is worth a thousand words! The Wasp 9902 and 9905 are two easy to use and operate cameras and are very affordable. Below you will find links to purchase and the owners manuals. Click the Play Button and Listen to the Entire Episode! Wasp – Gideon 9902/9904 Manual https://radioar

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BlueAwningSmall.jpg ()Introducing High Quality Window Awning Fabrics at Low, Affordable Prices. These are available from Sunpro Mfg and come in 7 Solid Colors with a 3 Year Warranty. The high quality 13oz material is will last for many years to come. Sunpro Mfg makes them to fit all Carefree of Colorado and A&E Window Awnings. Low Prices & Free Shipping! http://www.sunpromfg.net/Replacement-RV-Window-Awning-Fabrics-p/spwa.htm (Learn More about Sunpro RV Window Awning Fabrics) Sunpro Mfg RV Window Awning Replacement Fabrics are made of our Time Tested Sun Tuff 13oz vinyl fabric. This is the same vinyl that we use for our 13oz Slide Out Fabrics that have been in service for many years. The Sunpro Awning Fabrics are available in 7 solid colors and are made to fit your existing Window Awning Hardware. Why Do You Only Offer the 13oz.? Out of all of the awnings on an RV, the Window Awnings have the least amount of exposure to the sun. They are almost a

Thttps://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/RoofGard_Gallon.gif ()his episode is the last of a 3 part series about Repairing, Cleaning and Treating an RV Rubber Roof. Treating the Rubber Roof is the final step of the 3 main steps to Maintaining and Extending the life of the RV Rubber Roof. Treating the Rubber Roof comes in at the end of the cleaning and repair stages. Before you treat the Rubber Roof you will want to recheck the roof for any minor repairs that you might have missed after cleaning. It is important to do these repairs before you treat the roof because the Dicor Lap Sealant or any similar brand of rubber roof sealant will not adhere if the treatment is applied first. We highly recommend Dior Lap Sealant because Dicor manufactures rubber roofs and they know what works. After all of your repairs are done you can take the Dicor Roof Gard or a similar product and go up on the roof and either use a spray bottle or sponge mop and start applying in small areas and work in a pattern and trea

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/RubberRoofClean_Group_copy.jpg () If you are going to clean your Rubber Roof you might as well wash your RV at the same time, it is more work but, it is easier to do it all at once in most instances. I recommend using a cleaner that is made for rubber roofs such as Dicors Rubber Roof Cleaner, it is designed to clean the rubber better than a product not made for cleaning rubber roofs. If you don’t want to buy a product made for rubber roofs than I would suggest using Dawn Dish Washing Soap, it is safe cleaner for most applications. It is still best to use a cleaner made and has been tested on rubber roofs. When cleaning your rubber roof with a product that is made for it you will need to exercise caution and not let the cleaner run down the sides, it can cause damage. When I clean my roof I will keep the sides of the RV wet and that will reduce any potential for damage. The cleaner can remove wax, stain the Gel Coat, Stain Awnings and Covers. Don̵

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/rubberroof-view.jpg ()This is Part 1 of a Multi-Part series about Rubber Roof Maintenance and Care.This episode is about Rubber Roof inspections and finding problems before they become disasters. Rubber roofs are  a great roof for any kind of RV and there are many reasons why. They do not create Black Streaks, they do not create Mold, the Rubber itself does not leak unless it is torn or a leak develops from a roof accessory that is mounted to it such as, a roof rack stanchion, sky light or something else that requires drilling. Leaks are an Enemy to an RV. It is very important to check for leaks and fix the leak as soon as possible. Leaks create mold growth and water damage, even a small leak that is not fixed in a timely manner can create hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars of damage. The ongoing water leak destroys paneling, flooring, cabinets, ceiling panels, insulation and just about anything else it comes in contact with. Check inside cabinets an

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/UPSLOGO.jpg ()This Podcast explains why at the beginning of 2015 UPS and Fedex not only raised their rates but, at the same time introduced Dimensional Shipping Rates (DSR). DSR has been created to offset additional shipping costs created by companies like Amazon. Amazon will ship an iPhone in a box that can hold 100 iPhones thus, UPS and Fedex are shipping big boxes that way nothing and take up a lot of space. Instead of dealing with the problem they are passing on the new expenses to the consumers by raising there rates by at least 5% in the best case and 25% or more the rest of the time. The shipping game has changed! The DSR’s have made shipping with UPS and Fedex more difficult and expensive. The items that really get hit the hardest are large boxes that do not way very much. For example, an Air Conditioner Shroud may only way 18 lbs including the box but, because of the size of it could ship at the dimensional rate of 129 lbs. That is not affo

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/LP_CO_COMBO_BLK.jpg ()Safety First! Have you ever wondered why your LP or CO Detector just starts beeping for no apparent reason? It has died! They have a expiration date and as a safety precaution it lets you know when it is dying and that it is time to replace it. To many people hear a beeping CO or LP detector and consider it as an annoyance and they just take the batteries out or disconnect it all together! That is not a good move, they are installed for your safety. Since 1996 New RV’s were required by law to have an LP leak detector installed and in 2005 all New RV’s were required by law to have a CO and LP leak detector installed. If you purchase a new RV it will have both detectors already installed. If you purchase a used RV depending on the year it may have one or the other installed. If it is older than 2005 but not older than 1996 you will want to install a CO leak detector or replace the LP leak detector with a combination LP/CO l

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/WaterfIlter.jpg ()Check Episodes 11 & 12 First – It will make better sense. The decision is yours! A RV Water Filter, Reverse Osmosis system, Water Softener? Do you need any of the aforementioned? Maybe just a Water Filter is all you need? In this episode I will explore the options of the 3 water systems that are widely used in RV’s to produce better water quality. Reverse Osmosis, Water Softeners and Water Filters are pretty simple systems within themselves and I will explore which might be best for you. At the bare minimum you will probably want a Dual Filter water filter system. A basic water filter system will at least make your water safe from the various bacteria’s and other microscopic living creatures found in most water supplies. When choosing the water system that will work for you there are several factors to consider. Do you the have the space for it, is it in your budget and what is your ultimate goal. The Reverse Osmosi

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/WaterSoftener.png ()Today there are many Portable Water Softeners for the RV’er to choose from. At the end of the day they all virtually do the same thing just some with salt others with potassium. They are pretty simple to hook up and use and store when not in use. A Water Softener does just as its name implies, it softens the water by removing the minerals that make it hard. Hard water leaves water spots and has minerals that ruin appliances such as coffee makers and washing machines. The minerals also build up in pipes, faucets and ice makers. Even your shower is affected by hard water, the soap does not lather up. Hard water also leaves scale build up on shower, tubs, shower/tub doors and sinks making it much harder to keep clean. Portable RV Water Softeners are a great addition to improving your water quality. They are very easy to use and maintain making them very practical for most RV’ers. They will need to be recharged from time to tim

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/reverse_osmosis_water_filter_replacemnt.244113009_std.jpg ()Reverse Osmosis Systems for RV’s can be a great addition if you have the space for it. For an RV the RO System is the same as a house for the most part, just a little smaller. An RO System is the proven way to remove salt from the water source and gives you fresh salt free water. It is a simple system to use and maintain although quite often it is hyped up to as a complex system. I am not sure the hype is true because it is very simple to install, understand and maintain. After the initial install it is a matter of replacing the filters when needed. This is a pretty simple system to understand. This is single faucet system, it does supply your entire RV. There are two pre-filters, one sediment and one carbon. After the filters the system will have a flow restrictor and the membrane. The membrane is many layers of materials that filters out all of the bad stuff that made it through the first

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Help.jpg ()Seriously, You Need To Listen to This! Buying an appliance part should not be painful although quite often it is. Taking the right approach and going to the Parts Counter with the right information will simplify this sometimes painful process. Bring your Appliance Model Number to the RV Store and the parts guy should be able help you with ease. It happens everyday, someone needs a part and they do not have the Model Number. It is very difficult to figure out what the part number is unless us or any parts guy has the model number. For example: Dometic has hundreds off refrigerator models and a very small amount of parts are interchangeable. In other words one door handle might only fit 2 or 3 models out of hundreds. Or a furnace blower motor for example: Suburban has hundreds of different models of furnaces and almost as many different blower motors. Even bringing you motor to the store can be a challenge for the parts guy. He will try to physic

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Ultra-Slim_Complete-Pak-1024x863.jpg ()The Portable Power Pack is a great tool to have to charge Cell Phones, Tablets, iPads, iPods, iPhones and any other device that requires charging. The best thing is, these Power Packs can jump start a Full Size PU Truck! I was very skeptical when these were first shown to me, I had to see real results and I did. The salesman jump started his suburban with the battery disconnected, he did it about 8 times. It is the real deal! They come in 2 sizes and are very compact and extremely portable. The other nice thing bout these Portable Power Packs is that they can easily be carried in a back pack, tool box, stored on an ATV for emergency purposes. Every ATV’er should be prepared for emergency situations that come out of nowhere. batteries go dead, light get left on and in the desert a dead battery can be a dangerous situation. The Portable Power Packs also have adapters to charge cell phones, tablets and more. Chec

RV Awning Drops and End Panels are a great way to create an outdoor space that actually expands the living area. You can create a shaded area to enjoy the sunny days or it can double as a wind barrier at night to create a warm space for enjoying the evening. The Awning Drops are easy to use, just slide it into the Utility Groove on the Awning Roller Tube. The End Panels attach to the Tension Rafter on Manual Awnings or on Electric Awnings they attach at the side of the RV to the awning hardware and out at the roller tube.Both Products are great for adding extra privacy and are extremely easy to use. The Awning Drops can be angled out to give you more room under the Awning while in use. We also make them with our ProZip zipper upgrade so the bottom section can be removed leaving the upper section on the roller tube. This makes it much easier to remove the lower section in windy conditions and then the Awning can be retracted and avoid any wind damage. Listen to the Full Episode for the Whol

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Fender_Cover.jpg ()Fender Covers are a simple way to cover your RV tires and protect them from the sun. Fender Covers are easier to put on than traditional vinyl tire covers and they look great. Either type of Tire Cover will protect the tires and reduce the potential for failure. Just make sure you cover them. Vinyl Tire Covers serve a purpose and that is to keep the sun off the tires to reduce damage and to extend their life. We sell Vinyl Tire Covers in White and Black. some RV’ers tend to think the black will make the tires hotter and ruin them. That is not the case, black tires get a little hotter but, not enough to cause damage. The difference between black and white is very minimal in terms of heat build up. Black will look nicer for a longer period of time. The best solution are Fender Covers that attach to the side of the RV. They are easier to put on and remove. They stay much cleaner than traditional tire covers and definitely look nicer.

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/awningfades.jpg ()All most all RV’s have a Patio/Main Awning installed to provide cover from the elements. If you are one of the many and enjoy using your RV Awning you will need to maintain some part of it sooner or later. An awning can function properly for decades or until the parts become obsolete. The fabrics are the most common part of an awning to fail and they are well worth the money to replace. RV Awnings are a great piece of equipment to have on an RV. A&E and Carefree of Colorado are the two most popular brands sold today. Zip Dee and Girard are two other quality manufactures of awnings usually found on certain brands of RV’s or high End motorhomes. Our conversation is going to revolve around A&E and Carefree. They both are good awnings whether it is electric or manual and both have stood the test of time and have been used on RV’s for decades. Either brand will need some maintenance and that is what this podcast is ab

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/STFSTD-2T.png ()In this Episode I discuss the value of Slide Out Awnings and Replacing the Slide Out Fabrics. Sunpro Mfg offers 13 oz and 18 oz Slide Out Awning Fabrics for all brands of Slide Out Awnings. Sunpro has 7 different colors in the 13 oz and 2 colors in the 18 oz. With a 3 or 5 Year Warranty you can’t go wrong with a Sunpro Slide Out Awning Replacement Fabric. Slide Out Awnings are a great way to keep debris and who knows what out of your RV when you bring your slide out in.    Slide out awnings were never made to keep water out from leaking seals although, they do help in this regard. You should always repair a water leak and not let it to continue because a leak will usually get worse. The fabrics don’t last forever as some might think and they will need to be replaced at some point in time. The hardware will last for decades with Carefree Free of Colorado and A&E by Dometic. You might need to replace a part here and there but

https://radioarizonarv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/LeafSprings.jpg ()In this episode I get into the importance and simplicity of Travel Trailer Leaf Springs and the importance of inspecting them and being prepared to replace a damaged Leaf Spring before it leaves you stranded. Most Travel Trailers and 5th Wheels have leaf springs and this would also include Utility Trailers as well. Over the years I have listened to a lot of customers complain about their broken leaf springs or related parts and how now they are stranded until they get it repaired. In a lot of scenarios the breakdown could possibly have been avoided. One of the problems leaf springs or suspension problems create is they usually break while you are traveling and not parked. And it is not always easy to find the suspension parts you need on the road, it can be hard even when you are not on the road. Not all RV Parts stores carry suspension parts and they might not have what you need when you need it. It can create a real problem when you ar