Do I hear the MOVING word again????

AHHHHH yes I do.  Well it doesn't scare me like it use to.  The RV life has definitely simplified life for us!!  Pack up the loose stuff and breakables, bring in the slideout, lift up the stabilizers, make sure tanks are empty and valves closed, awnings are in, antenna is down, unplug, lock doors, hook up and go.  Still a lot to do to prep and of course since it is winter we also have to unskirt again.  This happened about this time last year too...lol.

So Carls boss invited Carl and I both out to dinner on a Tuesday night after Carl was off his shift.  Ok well how do I dress where are we going and what does he want are the first things that went thru my mind.  Carl laughs and said you know what he wants but the rest I don't know.  So he asks his boss where are we going because my wife has issues of over or under dressing for an occasion.  So I get called and asked where do I want to go (hmmmm someplace good I am sure) and had this town had an Olive Garden it wouldn't be a question that is where we would go, but alas we don't.  And I highly doubt at 7 p.m. we are going to drive 2 1/2 hours to Billings just for Olive Garden.. So Outback Steakhouse is the only other place next to Applebees here I know I like.  Outback it is.  We get there everyone is chatting and telling stories and his boss apparently loves to hear stories of Carls' guiding days.  We ate talked some more it is snowing out roads getting worse.  Finally decided everyone was done time to go.  Guess what nothing mentioned about moving.  Ok maybe it was a thank you- you are doing awesome dinner....

Now during this time while at work Carl had slipped on ice and hurt his hip but kept moving didn't stop so it didn't really affect him to the point of stiffness until stopping for his day off.  So a week goes by nothing was ever brought up, Carl is laid up in pain and me going crazy...thinking how in the heck can I live with this man I love so much when he annoys me and is the worse patient on the face of the earth.  I am told he is a guy it goes with the territory.  I honestly would rather one of my kids get sick or injured.  Finally he has had a week off and as the pain starts easing up somewhat we start talking about the nice, but wondering what the heck dinner was all about.  Thinking there is still something more to the whole thing we went to the shop.  Said point blank what is going on.  We all know something is up so just say it.  Well yes but we don't have to accept it.
They want to move Carl back to Helena, but this time to manage the shop:0)  So could this be the last move for awhile yeah who knows.  Carl is already moved, but I have things here to tie up.  Photo shoots coming up, quick trip to NY to get our new family member, come back and prep to move the rig, more photoshoots.  Seriously considering waiting until the end of April and then moving it to the lake for the summer.  But we may move it in March and again in April/May and then in September again for the wintering place.  I feel like there is so much to do but really it is in spurts and nothing I can do until the time arrives.  So in the meantime the kids and I will rent a hotel one preferably with a slide a couple times a month and break out of the rv life.  I think it will be a nice time.

Oh don't worry the kids and I will still have fun and still have lots of adventures set for this year:0)  We have agility and AKC shows scheduled, I have photoshoots.  One that will take me to Denver (pending) and another that will take me to Kansas sweet not far from my family there so will go visit them while I am in the area, we have country jam in Grand Junction, a photoshoot possibly in Wyoming so we will still be very busy and have lots of fun along the way:0)

This is just one reason I never changed my mailing:0)  UPS Store is my best friend of the moment!!

Drano

So they say every RVer has a sewer story something like that of Robin Williams movie RV to tell. Well 1 1/2 yrs in and we have ours now:0/ 4 days ago after a cold spell then warmer days followed the gauge was saying 3/4 bordering on the full and knowing we had a few warm days with us thought we would fill up the black water tank and dump it. Yeah NOT!
Days 1 and 2- So we are full and it is nearing dark and nothing is moving in the out direction so we thought great things are frozen so I fire up our 170,000 BTU heater and run it under the RV for several hours to heat things up and help thaw out. Next morning still nothing moving so remove everything from the basement cabinet and open up the 2nd door and blast the heater directly on the tank itself. Another tank of Propane later still nothing! Now note it has been in the glorious 40s and even one day hit 50 degrees…welcome to our beloved false spring here in MT…the calm before the nasty spring storms are upon us. So we started inquiring around and talking to others and surfing the net for possible solutions to this delicate situation…lets just say fortunately there is 3 gas stations just up the road from where we are parked…lol. Carl insisted I should be able to unscrew the bolts and remove the valve…I got 2 unscrewed about the time he called back and asked me to give better detail what it looked like under there….remember he works ALL the time so really I know more about our rig than he does and insisted before I started out on this venture that I didn’t feel easy that this was going to work and I felt like this would be something like Robin Williams getting hosed. Well after being able to give him a better description he said stop put the screws back. He was glad he decided to call back otherwise he wouldn’t get to come home to sleep for at least a week as I would be so hot with him insisting I should be able to go this route…lol. Hangs up saying Welcome to RV life honey…yeah thanks




Day 3- More research, get a hand auger and insert thru the toilet…nothing. Shove it up thru the outside pipe ….NOTHING still. All this time it is just me as Carl is working not able to break away. Me growing more impatient and thus far no answers other than we might have to take it into the shop…but the shop is closed until next week (well they reopened today after a month long closure). I resorted to the wet/dry shop vac to siphen out from the toilet entrance so we can at least use our own bathroom. Was rather disgusting and esp when trying to scoop it out and pour down the sewage drain outside. Lets just say this was NOT exactly the highlight of my day. To top it off I was only able to get so much out. I also discovered working in the sewage field was not in the cards for me! AND I think those that choose to work in this field are NUTS…I don’t care how much you get paid but hey all the more power to ya and in this economy I suppose at least its a job…but EWWWW Yuck gross no thanks for me.

Day 4- Get a name for a local guy that works for the RV Center that is closed but does his on side business. Phew at last someone locally to talk to for help. So he said to do the hand auger…been there done that but what the heck lets do it again. Nope nothing. So Carl shows up for a few and we called the guy back -he said to run a hose with some kind of high pressure down the toilet…Nothing but getting fuller… Next tip… drill exactly in the center of the backside of the valve to get to the blade…Problem where there is space, but not enough space to get a drill back there…NEXT? Now we cut into the valve about 2″ back from the front of the valve handle so we can see the blade and pull it all the way open as it is possible that this could be detached when we tried opening when it was really cold and stuck in the closed position. Guess what yep you got it…NOPE not the problem…so now we have to replace a valve that was perfectly fine! Carl has to leave- has a call in Big Sky he must get to…ok fine I will figure something out. He said I just as well pick up all the mess between the hose, auger etc and put the insulation back and close up the skirting etc. I say back to him that little comment of Welcome to RV life have a great day.

Me being stubborn and really ticked at this point and knowing that SOMETHING HAS to work!!! Called the guy back and said well I know we can’t use Drano as that is something we have been told in the very beginning of our RV journey that you NEVER EVER use. SO is there something comparable that we can use to try and unclog our tank. He said back up whoever told you to never use Drano was misinformed themselves that it IS perfectly SAFE to use Drano on the RV system….ARe YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!! SERIOUSLY???? He said he never mentioned that to me as typically that is the first thing people think of and do.
So I get the 10 miles into town and go to Walmart where I know it will be cheapest and WOW didn’t know there were so many options. Question of the moment now -is which one will best get the job done??. All the while talking with a friend in KS that called and she was like so what are ya doing…well just looking at the drano aisle lol – this got a good laugh going which I very much needed at this point. Anyhow finally even though said not for toilets…this isn’t a regular toilet for all intense purposes this is nothing more than a septic system and it is safe to use on metal and plastic pipes. After reading the back of nearly every Drano bottle decided to go to the Max and get the heaviest duty thing on the shelf. Its an emergency I am SICK of dealing with this issue so lets go the red bottle…;0) Now it said for clogs use half the bottle…serious clogs use whole bottle…I considered this SERIOUS at this stage lol so dumped the whole bottle. Waited the 30 mins rather than 15 mins for good measure. Then started dumping the hot water down as directed….FREAK OUT session… as I saw the foam back up into the toilet and the water rise higher and higher. So quickly shut off water and at this point on the verge of tears when I hear a BLURP BLURP WHOOOOOOSH…. WOOHOO it worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DRANO is my new BFFN(best friend for now)…oh along with the A&W Rootbeer and Slim Jim I picked up while at Walmart…wasn’t really sure how they were going to help and fit into the equation, but realized in the midst of my delimma that I hadn’t eaten or really drank anything all day long and that I was a wee bit light headed. It gave me that last little oomph to keep going at this project that laid before me. I would say that not being able to use your toilet is right up there with no hot water…only with water you can boil if need be no matter what a pain it might be.
Now back to more important things in life…like planning our New York trip to get our new family member that will fortunately not be contributing to toilet issues. OH and an FYI I found during my net surfing time…CALGON water softener works great at breaking down things while it sets in the tank and keeps down odors. I hadn’t used any of the regular RV chemical stuff in a month as it really didn’t seem to help with odor too well without dumping the tank every 3 or so days whether needed or not…but maybe just maybe it was helping break things down.

Much of Nothing Vacation

Well I won't say nothing we have been busy at partially relaxing.  With the RV paid now we decided to splurge a little on things for the past year we haven't had any part of you know BIG homecooked meals NOT containing bleck- noodles, eating out a little more, a more laid back attitude in things, got my hair done, a new outfit for me and the kids.  This was a temp thing of course tight budget will still happen as I am simply cheap.  I want my cake and eat it too but the cheap part of me still searches for the best bargain to get what I want.

Ingers definition of every childs dream sundae

So far we have visited with my mom had a nice 3 hour lunch, went and spent a couple days at one of my sis', flushed the hotwater tank....let me tell you not a fun or pretty job...bleck.  Not sure when the last time it was flushed to be honest with you, got the hose heat taped for winter this will remain our winter one rather than doing it and undoing the hose ever summer and winter.  One of the joys of the RV being paid off we could afford to do this now:0)  We will skirt as soon as we find out the official rules at this park too many varying stories going on even from what the manager says one day to the next but yet still nothing in writing.  Come spring we will take the RV to SLC Utah and get a nice skirt fitted for it. 

With Carl injuring his back prior to vacation we have decided to just keep things low key.  I ended up with a wedding the last weekend of his vacation anyhow so it would have been cut short... but then had we been gone I wouldn't have known about it...lol so everything works out as it does for a reason.  We have taken little walks which he can handle so far I am the worry wart that he will over do things and not say a word because ya know he's da man and all... lol no just kidding but he will try and hide any minor pains until they are too much to bare then say something to me.  He has enjoyed being able to actually learn more about our RV and the more we have looked at others there are a few things we wish we had for ours but really ours for the age was beyond its time and we have a lot of what some of the newer ones have such as oak cabinets, corian counter tops etc so I am still content esp since it is P-A-I-D!!  We will save and if there is one that is upgraded a bit more such as built in bunkbeds like we saw today in one....ah what I wouldn't kill for that one section of the RV as the room closes off like their own bedroom.  Funny thing it isn't much bigger than ours something like 1/2 foot longer thats it.

Benjamin helping drain and clean the hotwater heater

No schedule this week it comes and goes as it pleases what happens happens.  I have learned my husband just doesn't understand VACATION but he is learning to chill out a little.... very little but for me noticeable.  He has decided I think to take 2 days a week off now so we will see if he can do it once he starts getting back into the swing of things.  He has actually enjoyed helping with the little things around the rv and getting things prepped for winter something he didn't help with last year and was too uptight and  caught up in paying it off to really stop.

Lets see oh our one really sad thing is our cat had to find a new home turns out Chip our pomchi pup is asthmatically allergic.  I laughed and jokingly said what if she was- well as it turns out it does and in our case has happened.  We think there is another trigger for her asthma so trying to figure that out but most of her episodes have now slowed way down since deep cleaning which we are still doing but she is feeling some relief at least.

Worlds Most Expensive RV

HOLY TOLEDO!! too much for this simple country girl. Don't get me wrong I like my luxuries but this is WAY over the top for me even. GRANTED I would love that 235 gallons talk about just going and not stopping often for fuel...that I can handle.

World's Most Expensive RV

With the weak economy, a lot of people are looking for vacations closer to home. Even the super-rich are looking for local pleasures and what better way to do it that in the world's most expensive RV. $2.5 million allows you visit national parks while still enjoying all the comforts of your mansion. Allow us to introduce the Platinum Plus RV!



* Need to take a quick day trip? Easy ... use the sports car stored underneath.
* Need gas? No, you don't. The tank hold 235 gallons

Hwys and interstates

If blue highways have three numbers, what are the red highways people talk about? What color are the interstates then?

A couple responses received:

Well, we're talking about colors used on maps a few years ago. After a lot of stop and go tries, they finally settled on blue for interstates with green for those with tolls. Red is for primary state and US paved roads while other paved roads might be that color. State markers are oval and US highways in a shield. Then paved county and other roads are gray while all-weather roads are dashed.

The Blue Highways used in the title of a book by the same name referred to secondary state and county roads which were shown as blue on maps some 40 years ago.

not all blue highways have 3 numbers...usually just the spurs do.

Explanation regarding highways: http://www.us-highways.com/#uslog

Tires

On an email yahoo group I am with there has been important discussions taking place about tires. It is soooo important for good tires I felt I should get that information on here before something tragic happens. Everyone will have their own opinions as to how old is too old whether it be some magic number or when the tire shows evident signs of wearing, I am just asking everyone be safe and go on the side of caution.

First great hint: Learn
how to read the age of a tire! Find
the 4-number code stamped into an
oval on the sidewall - the first two
numbers refer to a week of the 52 in
a year and the second two are the
final digits of that particular
year. EXAMPLE 3603 - the 36th
week of 2003. So say your dealer put
these on a year ago they put on 5 year-old tires (with
plenty of nice tread left) and
referred to them as "slightly used." DON'T let this happen
to you a potential blow out is awaiting.

The second piece of advice to
follow: make sure you let a tire
dealer know you want fresh tires
when you buy, and check out the date
code before they're put on your vehicle.
It's your money and safety of your family
and everyone around you on the road at risk
don't be afraid to walk away and say no when they
want to put tires on that are old.

Maine RV Bill to be killed

sponsor moves to kill-rv-bill

I think it would be nice if we RVers sent a letter of gratitude now. Just remember those that were rude nearly made her dig her heels in and say nope she was passing it no matter what! So some tact should have been shown in the letters to stop this bill.

Pending Maine RV laws

First off my thoughts are that Maine hasn't thought this out very well. Their rv season is shorter than some, this could increase accidents on the road due to a wary traveler as MOST but not all I realize esp with the current state of economy only lay over a few hours to rest then carry on. I would say yes if you see same RV in a spot for more than say 12 hours let them know they need to move on to an RV park if they intend to stay still longer. Before you know it bars are only going to want alcohol sold only in bars so they make all the money. Well I don't know if this will pass but here ya go in the event you see this blog and are planning a trip that way.

Here's a clip from newspaper article about the pending parking
legislation in Maine:

The Yonder Hill Campground in Madison used to be filled to capacity
every summer night with recreational vehicles. But that was years
ago. RV owners have found they can skip the $36 campground fee and
park overnight at the Skowhegan Wal-Mart for free.

The campground’s owner, Allen York, said he often sees 25 to 30 RVs
parked at the Wal-Mart.
In recent years, he said, there has been a cultural shift in how
RVers travel, influenced in part by Web sites that use searchable
databases to guide RVers to free parking spots.

“What has happened is nothing short of a phenomenon,” York said. “All
of a sudden, we are looking at empty lots when we should be in the
prime season.”

The owners of the state’s 275 campgrounds are pushing legislation
that would ban RVs from parking overnight at commercial lots, such as
Wal-Mart. The Legislature’s Health and Human Services committee voted
8-2 to endorse the bill, L.D. 114, which may come up for a vote in
the House this week.

Proponents say the measure would help local campgrounds and RV parks
stay in business and also allow the state to recoup nearly $1 million
in lost state lodging taxes. They say it’s unfair that licensed
campgrounds must comply with regulations, such as supplying drinking
water and waste-removal facilities, while parking lot owners don’t.

I think it's evident from the first paragraph the RV and Campground
industry is behind the push for this legislation. They are of course
enticing the legislators with the promise of money through taxes.

Read the article here:
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/102103262.html

Maine Acting to Severely Restrict Overnight RV Parking

Escapees Club E-News Release - 5/7/09

LD114 / HP98, a bill in the Maine State Legislature, is being pushed through the legislative process. This bill will make it a civil offense to park an RV overnight on any public parking lot in the state. You can view the bill text and status at http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billpdfs/HP009802.pdf

Here is some of the text of the bill:

Ҥ 2502. Camping in parking facilities prohibited.
A person may not park or occupy a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 10, section 1432, subsection 18, in a commercial parking facility overnight. For purposes of this section, "commercial parking facility" means a parking structure or area open to members of the public for the purposes of parking their vehicles while patronizing one or more commercial establishments, but does not include a mobile home park or recreational vehicle park allowed by a municipality or a camping area licensed by the department. A person who violates the provisions of this section commits a civil violation subject to a fine of no more than $100, which must be suspended for the first violation and may be suspended for subsequent violations.”

Due to the way this is worded, these restrictions will apply to any publicly accessible parking lot. This will include casinos, truck stops, and even dirt or gravel boondock parking areas throughout the state.

This is not the first time that RVers have been faced with such a challenge on a state level. Several years ago, similar legislation was introduced in both Montana and Nevada. Due to the protests from RVers all over the country, those attempts to ban RV parking failed. We now face a similar challenge in Maine.

If this legislation passes, it may well set a precedent for the rest of the country, and we could see our freedom to choose where we park permanently revoked! All RVers and concerned individuals need to take immediate steps to contact the Governor of Maine, the State Chamber of Commerce, and Maine tourism offices as soon as possible to voice their opinions.

Great haste is needed as the House bill has already been reported out of committee with a “Pass as Amended” recommendation. Please make use of the contact list included below and write, call, or email right away! Maine residents: Please contact your senator and representative ASAP! Your input as a constituent carries far more weight than that of individuals from out of state.

Please remember that a calm, logical approach will make your letter or email much more likely to be read and considered. Here are a couple of sample paragraphs to aid you in writing your letter or email.

While RV parks are the best accommodations for RVers, sometimes commercial parks are full, or perhaps the RVer simply cannot find a local park, especially if it is late in the evening. Other issues come into play as well. For instance, how tired is the RV driver? Were it not for easily accessible public parking lots and other similar locations that offer a resting place to RVers, you would see an increased accident rate. Far too often, RVers will drive too long, too late, or continue searching for an RV park way past their safety and comfort zone. Knowing that they are welcome to pull into a parking lot and get a few hours of rest anytime of the day or night is an enormous safety net for the traveler.

Typically, RVers make significant contributions financially to places that welcome them and, many times, will return to an area for an extended stay if they have been received in a friendly manner. Unfortunately, signs banning RVs from parking areas do not appear very friendly to the tired traveler who is just looking for a spot to rest. Please do not implement legislation that will send the RVing public away from your state, but rather welcome them with open arms and show them you care about their safety and respect their lifestyle.

Please take a moment to contact these offices in Maine and let them know how you feel!

Governor John E. Baldacci
Office of the Governor
#1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0001
Phone 207-287-3531
Fax 207-287-1034
http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/contact/citizen_services/share_views.html.

Maine State Chamber of Commerce
7 University Drive,
Augusta, Maine 04330
Phone: 207-623-4568
http://www.mainechamber.org/mx/hm.asp?id=ourstaff

Maine office of tourism:
1-888-624-6345
www.visitmaine.com/contact.php

Maine Tourism Association
Phone: (207) 623-0363
Fax: (207) 623-0388
mtainfo@mainetourism.com
www.mainetourism.com

Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland
207-772-5800
info@visitportland.com
www.visitportland.com

The Maine Legislature website is at http://janus.state.me.us/legis

You can access contact information for, and send emails to, all of the House and Senate members through that portal.

Dogs in Pickup Beds

Until yesterday when someone made a comment about riding in truck beds how it was legal for people in this one state but not the dog- I honestly never thought about the legalities from state to state for our dog to ride in the bed like I do for gun laws. So still searching and so far I have found tether laws.

STATES WITH TETHER LAWS
The following 24 states have tether laws:
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Here's my thing out on the ranch or in the backwoods camping and say my dog gets sprayed by a skunk, finds the nearest cow patty, river or mud hole she thinks would be fun to play in....she is NOT coming in the cab of my truck. We have one truck it doesn't matter she can go in cab or bed either way no biggie. BUT in the other it is all blue velor interior and she is no questions asked not allowed in the cab except maybe in an extreme situation. she has mostly white fur which will be a pita to get the fur out of the truck.

She LOVES the bed of the truck. I know from reading around that many of you think that is not an excuse or reason to allow her in the bed of the truck...whatever get over it. Everything in life is fun and games until someone gets hurt then you want to make a law against it or how it is enjoyed.

We leave the back window open so one if I need to get her attn for barking or two if in the one truck she is allowed to come in and out as she pleases but prefers to be out. When I walk away from the truck to ensure that something doesn't grab her attn and she jump or someone decide she is so pretty they want her and entice her to come out of the truck I do tether her with enough lead so if in the one truck she wants to go inside the cab if the direct sunlight gets to be too much for her mostly white coated body. We use solar fans on the windows to help control temps inside and of course the back window is open for her. We always carry a bowl and gallon water jug to be sure she has water in the summer months.

I really don't care if you are for or against my dog or dogs in general riding in pickup beds this is an individuals right and more stupid people making stupid laws is not going to change how we do things. Don't get me wrong in the beginning I worried about her falling or worse jumping. But you know we took it slow and as time went on she learned the motions of the truck and how to position her body on turns. When I speed up she lays down, when I slow down she sits up and when I stop she stands. It has really been enlightening watching her as she learned. Has she lost her footing?- sure did she fall out? no. I didn't use to allow her on the toolbox, but that is her preference so got a non skid strips to cover the top to help give her better footing.

I had to blog this because in my searching for LAWS I keep getting the bads of it by animal nut activists that can't help but put their noses in other peoples business and claim those that let their dogs in the pickup bed are stupid ignorant people that don't love their dogs. GET OVER YOURSELVES!! We LOVE our dog. If she is in the bed of the truck which is typical and really even when she isn't in the back I rarely do speed limit anyhow. We don't drive like a bat out of hell. Don't like the fact I don't do speed limit when it is safe pass me I don't care but don't honk and flip me off because you think it is just not right.

Worried about your kid getting bit because you weren't paying attention to YOUR child that goes over and wants to pet the pretty puppy tethered or not but in the back of a truck=child could get bit. So you go and sue the owner for your child being bit by a dog that was in the confines of its own property. All the dog was doing was guarding its territory its YOUR neglegance and you take NO responsibility for YOUR actions or lack there of. It is people like you I cannot stand and is ruining this country.

As fulltime RVers after coming across the one information about a state that allows no dogs in truck beds something that has/had never crossed my mind before is what led me to an online search and sorry but all you people that feel the need to butt in is making it really difficult to find the actual laws that states no dogs in pickup beds because the net is filled with "horror" stories of the whys you shouldn't do it; how we that do allow it should have our rights to pet ownership taken away. The only concrete thing I have found is the tethering law in the states listed above. I have read from some where it is illegal in the state in which they reside but no reference as to where they got that information so until I do see that I am not reporting those states as having the law of no dogs in pickup beds.

If it is a law in your state and you want to make reference to it to help inform me and others then please do so politely with reference link so it can be found.

DO NOT go on a bashing about pet owners that allow this are stupid because I will delete your comment.

Everyone is entitled to their thoughts and opinions and what you read here is mine. Do I love my dog you bet sometimes more than my husband and kids; I don't care what in life you are doing it can be dangerous even the simplest things...if you want to go live in a bubble go for it, but leave my world alone. She doesn't ride in the back in extreme weather winter or summer but fortunate for us we are in MT and there is enough enjoyment times she can ride in the back and there is enough farmers and ranchers to keep this stupid law out of Montana:0) If you don't like it move to a state that does not allow this or look the other way so you can't see my dog in the back of her beloved truck.

Some common RV questions

Knowing I had ALL these questions concerning the differing tanks in the beginning when they came up today by another newbie thought I should post them here in my blog for other newbies out there so you know you are NOT alone;0)

Could someone let me know how do you know if they are full or empty?
(Most RV's have an indicator panel that tells you. There are several buttons and each button is for a different tank.) Now fortunately over the course of the winter we noticed when it the black tank was full and emptied it when checking with the panel to be sure. After this last move for some reason the panel is no longer lighting up the levels? It is going in for a full check up soon and we will find out why. Everything else is working but lighting up tank levels but fortunately you can see thru the toilet and see when it is time to empty.

Is there a valve you need to turn before filling the fresh water tank?

(Most RV's have a valve that reads "City" or "Water Tank". When in the City position, you are using water from the supply hose. When in the "Tank" position, you are filling the tank.)

Also since we will only spend a few hrs boondocking as we rest until continuing our journey how much fresh water should we fill it with so we do not have as much weight?

(You only need a few gallons to flush the toilet or wash your hands.) BTW boondocking is a term used if you will not be hooked up at the rv park, but rather out and about in a parking lot for a night or rest area and the like.

Also how big are all the tanks?

(This varies from RV to RV. By size, usually, the White (drinking water) tank is the largest, the Gray (shower and sink waste) is next and the Black (toilet) is the smallest.) Fortunately our rig came with ALL manuals;0) Some areas were still vague and questions were still necessary.

See how stupid (LOL) my questions can be?

(We all had to learn this once.)

Best Advice given:
Take your unit into a dealer and pay them an hour to walk you through it and explain how everything works. Alot of the RV's are different enough that it might be worth spending a little to make sure you understand everything.

Wash & Wax without Washing

I love these near daily tips I get from this site that comes straight to my email. I have to reblog them in the event I need to look them up so I know where on my blog to go get them.

RV Tips - RV Tip of the Day .com
RV Tips to inform or remind RVers of things
that make RVing safer, easier and the RV lifestyle enjoyable.

Wash & Wax Without Washing
As a full time RVer it's tuff to keep the RV clean. With so many RV parks not allowing washing on site it can be a long time between wash jobs.

Some years ago there was a product being pitched to RVers that let you wash your rig without water. Just spray it on, wipe clean and buff to a shine.

To the RVer, the product's primary appeal is that you can wash your rig without violating no-wash rules. Although I have not seen this product mentioned in RV circles in quite a while it's still available. My only complaint is that it's expensive.

I've discovered that you can make something that works very well at a fraction of the price. All you need is a spray bottle, liquid automotive wash & wax and just enough water to get some wetting action going. I've been using liquid Simonize 500 Series but only because I got a half gallon at Sam Club at a good price. Your favorite brand of liquid should do fine.

Because wash & wax products are different you'll have to experiment to determine the best mix of product to water. The mix really isn't critical so start with a 50-50 mix and adjust from there as you use it and see how it does.

Once you have your spray bottle in hand choose a starting point and work on one section at a time. Spray the area and clean with a damp...not wet... cloth. Rinse the cloth often enough to keep it clean. Give the wax in the product a chance to dry then buff with a clean dry cloth.

I think you'll be surprised at how well it cleans and the wax job is far superior to the typical wash job. Furthermore I've never heard of an RVer being expelled from an RV park for 'waxing' their rig.

RV Lingo

Some RV lingo to help complete newbies:0)

The RV world uses some terminology that may not be understood by the RV "newbie". Listed to the right are some common words used in the RV World. You may decide to print this page as you might find this list helpful in learning the RV lifestyle.

Arctic Package: A feature on an RV that adds additional insulation, storm windows and heat pads/strips for the holding tanks and water lines, to enable the RV to be used in cold weather.

Axle Ratio: The ratio between the pinion and ring gears in the differential that multiply the torque provided by the engine. It is the number of driveline revolutions required to turn the axle one time. As an example, with a 4.10:1 axle the driveline turns 4.1 times for each full axle revolution. The higher the number, the more torque and thus more towing power. However, the higher the number the slower your vehicle speed.

Backup Monitor: A camera in the back of a motorhome, with the monitor positioned somewhere on the dashboard for the driver, to aid in backing up the motorhome. It is also used while driving to see the traffic behind and to keep an eye on your towed vehicle.

Ball Mount: The part of the hitch system that supports the hitch ball and connects it to the trailer coupler. Ball mounts are available in load carrying and weight distributing configurations.

Basement: The storage area below the floor of the RV, accessible from the outside. Basement storage usually refers to storage in a Class-A or Class-C motorhome.

Black Water: The toilet water stored in a holding tank under an RV.

Boondocking: Camping in your RV without water or electrical hook-ups.

Brake Controller: A control unit mounted inside the vehicle that allows the electric brakes on the trailer to become activated in harmony with the braking of the tow vehicle. The controller can also be used to manually activate the trailer brakes.

Break-Away System: A system designed to automatically lock the trailer brakes in the event of a hitch failure, where the trailer may break away from the tow vehicle.

British Thermal Unit (BTU): A measurement of heat that refers to the quantity required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree F. (Fahrenheit). RV air conditioners and furnaces are BTU-rated.

Caravan: A group of three or more RVs traveling together. Like a miniature version of a 16-wheeler "convoy".

Chassis: The framework that supports the body and engine of an RV.

Class A Motor home: Motor home that range from 24'-40' in length. A bus style RV. If it has the shape of a large bus, it is a Class A. It may have a front or rear engine, be gas or diesel.

Class B Motorhome: Also known as camping conversion vans. Class B Motorhomes are built within the dimension of a van but with modification to provide basic living accommodations. Models usually range from 16'-21' in length. a conversion van. It looks like a van you could buy at a local car dealer, but it is converted or built inside to be a mini RV.

Class C Motor Home: Motorhomes that range from 16'-32' in length. It looks like a very long P/U truck with a camper body. Part of the camper part extends up over the cab. They can be long, but the give away is the cab with two doors. It is one vehicle.

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.

Coupler: The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball of the hitch.

Diesel Puller: The term for a motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the front of the vehicle. Also know simply as a Puller.

Diesel Pusher: The term for a motorhome with the diesel engine mounted in the rear of the vehicle. Also know simply as a Pusher.

Dinghy: A car or other vehicles that is towed behind an RV. Also known as the toad.

Dry Camping: Also known as boondocking, 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.

Dry Weight: The weight of the RV without any fuel, freshwater, propane or passengers.

Dump Station: A facility for dumping or emptying your black water and gray water holding tanks.

:

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.

Fifth-Wheel Trailers: Towable RV that is designed to be coupled to a special hitch that is mounted over the rear axel in the bed of a pickup truck. Is similar to a TT, but the body has a gooseneck that extends up and over the bed of the tow truck. There is a hitch similar to what a semi tractor has that the rests in the middle of the truck bed.

Fiver: A fifth-wheel RV.

FMCA: Family Motor Coach Association

Fresh Water Tank: A tank in which fresh water is stored for later use.

Full-Timers: RVers who live in their RV year around.

DW: Dry weight. The weight of the RV with no supplies, water, fuel, or passengers.

Fold-down: Also known as a "pop-up" or "camping" trailer. A towable RV in which the upper half collapse to make a compact, lightweight unit.

GAWR: Gross Axel Weight Rating. The maximun allowable wieght that an axel is designed to carry.

GCWR: Gross Combination Weight Rating. The maximum allowable weight of the combination of tow vehicle and trailer/fifth wheel, or motor home and dinghy. It includes the weight of the vehicle, trailer/fifth-wheel or dinghy), cargo, passengers, and a full load of fluids (fresh water, propane, fuel, etc.)

Gray Water: The water drainer from the sinks and shower in an RV.

GTWR: Gross Trailer Weight Rating. Maximum allowable weight of a trailer, fully loaded with cargo and fluids.

GVWR: Gross vehicle Weight Rating. The total allowable weight of a vehicle including passengers cargo, fluids, and hitch weight.

Hook-ups: The electrical and freshwater connections at each RV campsite.

Motorhome: An RV built on or as an integral part of a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, combining transportation and living quarters in one unit.

Newbie: Someone new to the RV world.

Pull-Through: RV campsites that allow vehicles to drive straight in and hook up without having to back in.

RBR: Really Big Rig.

RV: Recreational Vehicle. Vehicles that combine transportation and temporary living quarters for recreation, camping, and travel.

Slideout: An option in many RVs where a portion of the unit can expand to create more room in the RV.

Snowbirds: RVers who live in the warmer, southern regions of the country during the winter months. Stick Home: your traditional former house house vs your home on wheels that you can change your backyard at any time;0)

Tag-along: A towable, usually a travel trailer. TOAD: This is a car or other vehicle that is TOWED behind an RV.

Towable: RVs designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle (car, van, or pickup truck) and of such size and weight as not to required special highway movement permit. Towable RVS do not required permanent on-site hook-ups.

Travel Trailer(TT): A Towable RV with an A-frame and coupler that are attached to a ball mount on the tow vehicle.

Truck Camper: A unit loaded onto or affixed to the bed or chassis of a pickup truck.

UVW: Unloaded vehicle weight. Weight of the RV - including factory-installed options, with full LP-gas tank or cylinders. The UVW does not include fresh water, dealer-installed accessories, or gasoline/diesel fuel.

VBR: Very Big Rig.

RV Holding Tanks

I am posting this here partially so I know right where it is in the event I may need it, but also for others that may happen across my blog and be new like we were this past year starting out and had NO clue. This one detail of keeping black tank CLOSED except only dumping when full is so crucial. Fortunately we learned early on before any damage was really done as we could have had a huge issue.

If your RV is parked, and you have a sewer hook up, it's okay to leave the gray tank valve open, but you should leave the black tank closed. When the black tank is nearing the time when it needs to be emptied... the night before, close the valve on the gray tank and let it fill from use of the sinks and shower. The next day, open the black tank first and let it drain.

Most newer RV's have a built in black tank rinser. If your RV has one, connect a hose (NOT your drinking water white hose!) to the rinser and let it spray water in the black tank helping you flush it. The tank rinser hose connection should be near where the other water connections are.

If you do not have a built-in rinser you can get a toilet wand at your favorite RV store. Connect the wand to a hose and insert it down through the toilet into the black holding tank.

Once you have drained and rinsed the black tank, close that valve and add a couple of gallons of water and your favorite chemical. Now open the gray tank valve. Be sure the black tank is closed before opening the gray tank valve. You do not want to mix contents between the two tanks.

As the gray tank empties, it will flush out the sewer hose of any residue from the black tank. Then leave the gray tank valve open again for daily use as it can fill fast when several people are using sinks and showering. If it fills, it will overflow into the lowest drain, which is usually the shower. Not very pretty and can be quite stinky!

You may want to read the following articles at RVbasics.com:

• Holding Tank - The Basics
• Holding Tank Chemical Additives - What you should know about them
• Technique Fixes Thetford RV Toilet Waste Valve Leak
• Chemical Toilet Products Advisory for
  Consumers in California
• RV Waste Water System Care & Maintenance
• RV Sewer Hose - The Basics
• RV Macerator Pumps - the Basics

The Safe Side

I read this on a friends blog and felt it was worth passing on:

Lets be serious for a moment shall we

I am not really the serious type

but it is time.

Have you ever watched What Would You do?

Well here is something you need to watch

http://www.abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/story?id=6888300&page=1

This shook me to my core

Not because of the predators

but because most children that are abducted

are abducted by someone who they know or know of,.

SCARY!

So I have found a solution

I have actually had this program per say implemented into our home for about 6 months now

and I have to say

it was tough for me to watch

it was even harder to think the world has come to this.

The Most importantt thing is

giving our children the right information that could save their life!

This solution of mine is called

The Safe Side

http://www.thesafeside.com/

"Stranger Safety DVD

One of the most important things you can do to protect your children is to talk with them about potentially dangerous situations. This Emmy Award-winning DVD can help. It keeps kids engaged while introducing them to seven easy-to-remember “Hot Tips.” Hosted by “Safe Side Superchick,” and featuring a cameo by John Walsh, the program is fun to watch and never scary.

Moms and who ever might read my sassy lil' blog

Please pass this on to all you know

Because I feel now that I have empowered my children

So that they know who their safe side adults are and that don't knows and kinda knows

NEVER ASK A CHILD FOR HELP

The tips in this DVD have made me understand what I need to do to make sure my kids are always on the safe side

How about you?

RV Refrigerator Tip

In light of the fridge issue we had during our cold snap this winter.  I just came across this informative video and thought I would post it for others that may not have known or end up looking for a solution to an issue they may have.

Hard water and clogged black water

*** Does HARD WATER plague your plumbing? 

Having spent a number of years in the ‘naturally soft water’ country of the Pacific Northwest, it was a shock to us when we learned about the affects of hard water on RV plumbing

. In the last few months we’ve helped out with a number of RV plumbing failures in the Southwest, all related to hard water. Seems like the stuff makes deposits inside pipes, and can even eat through fittings.

Some swear by “the vinegar treatment.” Once a year, it is said, a solution of white vinegar and water should be pumped through the RV water system, allowed to sit and dissolve hard water deposits. We haven’t tried it yet, so if you’d like to be an RV Guinea Pig, let us know how it works.

First, turn off your “city water” supply and the power or gas to your hot water heater. Drain your hot water tank, and re-close the drain fitting. Next, if there’s water in your fresh water holding tank, drain it out. Now turn on the RV water pump. Open all your water flowing fixtures and run them until air spurts out. Turn off the fixtures and water pump, you’re ready for Phase 2.

You’ll need plenty of white vinegar. We’d recommend dumping about 4 gallons of the stuff into your fresh water tank, along with an equal amount of fresh water. If you can, drive your rig ‘around the block’ to swish the solution around in the fresh water tank. Of course, you took the time to close the fresh tank drain valve before pouring in the vinegar!

Back home, turn on the water pump. Open your valves, one at a time, and let the water flow until you smell that good old strong vinegar odor. Close the valve, and repeat with all the fixtures in your rig. You’ll also be doing the “hot” side too, so your hot water tank will fill with this same solution. Allow the solution to “sit” for several hours–overnight would be good if you can.

Afterwards, drain your fresh water holding tank and hot water tank. Refill the fresh tank with fresh water, and thoroughly run all fixtures until the odor and any color is gone. You may need to do this several times to get all the hard water minerals out of the system.

Photo: Telltale signs of hard water where hot water pressure valve “wept” minerals.  

*** A simple suggestion on how to clear a CLOGGED BLACK WATER TANK - HERE. Task takes a few minutes to perform and no tools are required.

When the black water will not come out due to a clog of “you know what” here is what to do:

1. Assure there is at least 1/3 of a tank of gray water.

2. Hook up the sewer hose.

3. Open only the grey water valve.

4. As soon as the hose has plenty of gray water in it, raise the hose and close the gray water valve.

5. While holding the hose up, open the black water valve. (That will now be the only port open).

6. The gray water will be forced in through the throat of the black water opening and just like magic the clog is dissipated!

If it does not clear it repeat the process. It only takes a few minutes.

TRAVELLING WITH PETS

TRAVELLING WITH PETS – KOA shared these tips in a Google RV Alert – 

• Ask if the RV Park allows pets on the premises.
• Ask about park's pet rules such as use of pet-pens; or size/breed restrictions; or if # of pets is limited.
• Never lock pets inside an RV without the A/C running or proper ventilation. John and I prefer to use several fans working off our inverter rather than A/C – just in case park power goes out.
• Provide pet with plenty of water. Ours are in their ‘house’ (a cage) when we are gone.
  Never tie a pet to an RV with a metal chain. A power surge or improperly grounded facilities can travel along the chain and injure or kill the pet.
• Check type of metal steps on the RV. Small holes in steps may allow claws to become stuck and cause injury when pets try to free their foot. You may have to cover with carpet for protection.

checking into a campground

neat tip FOR CHECKING INTO A CAMPGROUND. “This great idea came from Fulltimers… 

In large type, print your name; mailing address and phone number; type of RV; license number and State/Prov; type of tow car (if applicable): license number and State/Prov; any club name(s) such as FMCA, Escapees, Good Sam etc.; and membership number(s) on a half sheet of paper. Highlight the info and laminate the page at a Kinko’s or other copy center. Now when checking into a campground or RV park, hand the ‘card’ to the hard-working clerk so they have all the info needed to get you to your site in a timely manner”.

RV Fridge

Talk about a year of learning especially in MT living with our family in an RV. Well our fridge quit working or so we thought....later learned we had a bad regulator..remember the nonworking furnace time. Ok well then the fridge worked again:0) Only for a few days later it quit working!! So we figured ok whatever it is cold enough outside (our negative temps well below zero) we stuck everything out in the ice chest.

We got to talking with another RVer from Bozeman and they brought up the question about our fridge. They have a brand new 2008 RV and it quit working during the cold snap so I came home and checked ours out. Guess what IT WORKS!!!! So I have inquired information where I always go from fellow lifer RVers for answers and here is the answer I got:

Your RV refrigerator is what is called an amonia/hydrogen gas obsorption type with a cooling unit on the backside. It is different than what is in your home. The home kind have compressors with freon. The home style works kind of like an air conditioner in your home and cool down quickly.

The fridge in your RV works off of heat. That is why you have 2-3 possible operations, gas/12v elec/110v elect. Not all fridges are 3-way, some are just 2-way. But they all work the same. If you open up the exterior vent on the outside of your RV where your fridge is located. You will see a series of coils going up the backside of the unit. This is what is called the "cooling unit." the cooling unit has amonia, hydrogen gas and water inside of it. It works off of heat supplied by your propane burner or electric heating element. so whether you operate your fridge on electric or propane, it is working with the heat that is produced. This causes the fluid inside of the unit to boil and perculate inside of the cooling unit. It actually will then "remove" the heat from inside of fridge. That is how it gets cold. This process takes between 5-8 hours to get as cold as it is going to get. If you will remember when the weather is nice outside, your fridge takes along time to get cold, doesn't it?

So with all the cold weather outside, your cooling unit isn't getting enough heat to work...

Also here is a website to explain it as well: http://www.rvmobile.com/tech/Trouble/cooldoc.htm

Makes sense actually. So we are back to a working fridge with these glorious warmer temps we have had:0) We are to get below zero again but not as drastic as before, but will be keeping our cooler nearby just in case.