Thomas & Deborah - Nebraska flat lands

Saturday July 30

All this flat land of Nebraska and Iowa is a nice break from the Rockies. About dusk last night we ran through a swarm of some winged Nebraskan insect. It covered the windshield and nearly blinded us from finding the North Platte Walmart. (OK, even in a 44’ Monaco Executive, Walmart still makes for a convenient sleeping pad, and they’re everywhere. Some local ordinances, however, have disallowed spending the night. Be certain to look for signs, or better yet, check with the management.)

This morning we knew we would have to wash the windshield before driving much farther. Next door we found the Tornadoes 16 and Under, a local female sports team offering a “donation only” car wash. To see their eyes when we pulled up to their little buckets of soap was quite likely the highlight of the trip. “It’s free, right?” Thomas asked. “Uh, free-will donation…” one of the girls stammered. There was certain relief when we explained we just needed the front washed. Great group of kids and sponsors.

Another bonus of North Platte, NE was the Bailey Rail Yard of the Union Pacific. It’s the largest in the world, so they constructed an observation tower for the general public. The yard encompasses 2,800 acres and sorts some 3,000 rail cars a day. Well worth the stop.

Only about 350 miles to go. We should be in Manitowoc, Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon.

RV Adventure Preperation

Recently RV Daily Report published an article called "FCCC Offers Summer RV Preparation and Safety Tips.” Service Trainer, Michael Cody gave some great tips, and we thought we’d share the article with our RV Country community! Remember, these tips are not only great for summer, but for any time you're heading out on an RV adventure. So read on RV'ers... and before you take off, take one more minute to check these items:

• Tire care and maintenance are key, so begin by checking the condition of your tires, inspecting each one closely for sidewall cracks on both sides, excessive wear and cuts on the treads and sidewalls. Measure your tread depth and make sure you’re rolling on at least 4/32-inch-deep tread on the front axle tires and 2/32-inch-deep tread on the rear axle tires.
• Check each tire’s pressure and adjust it to the manufacturer’s specified pressure per weight on each corner of the coach. Remember: All RV tire manufacturers recommend four corner weights to account for variations in weight distribution once travelers get their own belongings on board. It’s worth noting that it does not matter whether you use nitrogen or air from a compressor – tire pressure must be adjusted to the coach’s weight before traveling.  Review your chassis’ servicing records to ensure it’s not overdue for any regular maintenance.
• Make sure crucial fluids are at proper levels, including engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, diesel exhaust fluid and windshield washer fluid. For engine coolant, FCCC recommends its Fleet Charge 50/50, pre-charged with SCA. This is an ethylene glycol-based diesel-specific coolant formulated for heavy-duty cooling systems.
• RVs are loaded with lights of varying functions, but all are important to check: high and low beam headlamps, taillights, turn signals, back-up lights, tow power lights and emergency four-way flashers.
• And finally, because not every emergency is road-related, make sure all smoke alarms, LP leak detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working and have fresh batteries.
• Check fire extinguishers for a full charge and be sure they’re stowed where they can be reached quickly should you need them.

Should you need assistance, we invite you to contact us to schedule a service appointment with your friendly RV Country Service Advisor. We'll be happy to make sure your RV is in tip top shape!

Happy RVing!

Thomas & Deborah - Road trip bucket list!

Friday July 29

Deborah here. We are having a blast! If you haven’t gone on a road trip before you simply MUST add it to your bucket list. Really… Never, ever had so much fun… ever. We slept blissfully on the Comfortaire mattress that came with the Monaco Executive, enjoyed a delicious breakfast, then headed off to cross the majestic Rocky Mountains. We’ve cruised, and traveled round the world, yet never have enjoyed ourselves more than sitting side by side watching God’s glorious creation pass by our window.

We crossed into Nebraska shortly before dusk and enjoyed the open plains and corn fields as we ate a light dinner in the coach. Then off again to drive a bit farther and feast upon the golden hues of the setting sun. Spectacular day indeed!

The photos really can’t do justice to the splendor of the Rockies. This is a great way to see the country; it’s like having a luxury apartment on wheels. (At the risk of sounding corny, they really do sell fun at Paul Evert’s RV Country!)

Tomorrow we continue across the Great Plains. Remember: add a road trip to your bucket list.

Thomas & Deborah - On the Road!

Thursday July 28

Hi again. We're Thomas and Deborah and we're on our way to Manitowoc, Wisconsin in a 2006 Monaco Executive. Please see our first blog for an introduction. More about us later, but we've completed our first full day on the road. The 550 miles today added to the 240 we covered Wednesday evening puts us in Green River, Utah. It's been a leisurely pace. Beautiful scenery, beautiful drive.

We've delivered coaches about 10 times for Curt and Paul Evert's RV Country and part of the fun is learning each coach and its accouterments. I've grown to appreciate many, like the interactive cruise control, or Smartcruise. It matches the speed of the vehicle in front of you. I wouldn't leave it on all the time because it can get confused, but on a two-lane road, when we couldn't pass for many miles, it perfectly matched the pace of the truck in front of us and I sat back and enjoyed the ride. It would be awesome if you were traveling with someone; you wouldn't have to keep adjusting your cruise to match theirs.

Another of my favorites is the HWH Computerized Leveling system. Press a button and the air suspension does the rest in seconds--flawlessly.

But my all time, can't-live-without option is the Aladdin. It's just what a former truck driver techno-geek loves. This system gathers information from everywhere and delivers it to the video screen by the steering wheel: temperatures, transmission performance, power output, cruise control set points, speed, tank levels, even compass heading. It has answers to a thousand questions.

Regardless of what we're driving, however, a road trip is a wondrous way to suspend time. We've been gone a little over 24 hours and already feel we've been on vacation for weeks. Travel; it makes life last longer, in a good way.

Thomas & Deborah - Departure Day

Wednesday July 27

Yesterday we wrote about planning a road trip, and we’re about to see how we’ve done. These excursions Deborah and I take for Paul Evert’s RV Country are logistically challenging because we must plan three trips before we leave home.

We begin with a nice long road trip in a luxurious roomy Monaco; this year it’s a 44’ Executive, one of the best. We’ll spend 4-5 days working our way across country listening to books on CD, sightseeing, and watching the landscape go by in opulent comfort. The leather, ceramic tile, Corian countertops, and fine woodwork are of a quality that exceeds our home (remember, I teach school for a living). It’s a relaxing, pampered life with many easy miles covered each day.

Once we get to the Monaco Pre-rally, however, all that comfort comes to an end. Within minutes of arriving, we move out completely. The pre-owned coach we drive will serve as the sales office at the rallies, and the sales staff is all too eager to move in. Most of our belongings go in a large box stowed in the show trailer. We go from royalty to minimalists and begin life on our Honda Valkyrie with very little luggage space. Deborah is very proud of the fact that she fits clothing for 12 days in a saddlebag half the size of a piece of carry-on luggage. The GPS, tourbooks, toiletries, tools, and rain gear all need to be carefully tucked away into very small spaces along with our clothes. We’ll cover far fewer miles in a day and avoid the interstate if at all possible.

At the end of the FMCA rally we’ll return to Madison, load the bike into the show trailer, and begin the third leg of our endeavor: another road trip back home. This year will be a marathon sprint because of the late date; I have to be back for the start of school.

We’ll keep you posted on how we manage… these blogs are about to get MUCH shorter.

Thomas & Deborah - Preparation Day

Tuesday July 26

Well, one more day and we’ll be hitting the road; we’ve been planning for several weeks now, and prep time is almost expired. Road trips typically require pre-planning: thinking through the entire trip and determining what you’ll need. Maintenance? Itinerary? Route? How much does one plan for? Traveling can be uncomfortable and difficult due to lack of pre-planning. A little practice, however, and skillful pre-planning makes road trips less stressful and well worth the time.

It’s possible to over-plan and under-plan, and every traveler must find a balance. Insufficient planning can be disastrous, like running out of money! Plan too much and the rigidity and over-packing take the fun out of the trip. I take along tools, just in case, but I must settle for a small, portable collection of the absolutely necessary. Conversely, Deborah and I don’t make reservations for the night. We like flexibility. We enjoy the adventure of not knowing. Granted, a few times we’ve had to drive later than we preferred or settle for noisy truck stop parking, but for us the freedom is worth it.

There are strategies that can make planning a trip much easier. A checklist, for example, to avoid leaving something behind. Another helpful strategy is to have a travel bag always packed with necessities; that way one need only remember the one travel bag instead of a dozen items. I have a road bag that I bring on every road trip: flares, jumpers, first aid kit, gloves, multi-tool.

An RV is a like a huge travel bag, for us. We keep our 5th wheel stocked with dishes, cutlery, games, toiletries, etc. We can leave for a three day mini-vacation with little more than locking the house, putting the dog in the truck, and backing up to the trailer. We’re off within an hour, and the RV becomes our home where we know there’s a clean comfy bed wherever we end up parking for the night.

Tomorrow, we haul our carefully thought-out collection of necessities down to Paul Evert’s RV Country, load it all into the Monaco Executive and head out. We’ll let you know where we end up sleeping…

Guest Bloggers: Introducing Thomas & Deborah!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Hi! We’re Thomas and Deborah Craig, and we love to travel, hence our photo by the Old North Church in Boston some 3,000 miles from our home near Fresno. This year, our wander lust inspired us to drive to the Monaco Rally in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Since we’re making the trip, we thought we’d invite you along by way of this blog. Our itinerary includes driving cross country to Wisconsin, touring the Great Lakes on motorcycle, and driving back home. What makes this trip a little different is that we don’t own this 44’ Monaco Executive; we’re borrowing it.

How did we manage that, you ask? Curt Curtis is the general manager and co-owner of Paul Evert’s RV Country, and he also happens to be a friend of ours. He needed this beautiful coach delivered to Wisconsin, and we obliged. We've taken along our big cruiser motorcycle, so while the coach is at the Monaco and FMCA rallies, Deborah and I will tour that part of the country on bike. This is one of several such opportunities we’ve had since 2003.

Acadia National Park, 2003, on a previous Paul Evert excursion

So this little journal of our trip will hopefully provide some entertainment and information. We’ll enjoy sharing our journey, our search for great food, and perhaps a few driving/RVing tips (prior to going to college and becoming a high school English teacher, Thomas drove an 18-wheeler for 10 years).

We’re planning on departing Fresno Wednesday afternoon, July 27. If you’re heading that direction, look for us and say hi. Thanks for reading, and say a little prayer for us if you think of it!

RV Lifestyle: The Dreaded Black Tank

If you’re new to the RV Lifestyle, you may have many questions. Such as, why are there so many tanks and what is each one for? In this post, we’ll talk about the dreaded black tank. The black tank is what holds human waste and toilet paper. It needs special attention so that you can keep the odor under control and avoid getting clogged up.

One quality product that we recommend is "Aqua Kem". This product will help eliminate waste odor, break down solid waste and toilet tissue, and its 100% biodegradable. At RV Country we carry it in various sizes so there is surely one to fit your needs. From the "Dri-kem" singles, to the 64 oz bottle, be sure you have this product on hand!

Stop in and see us or visit our website to request the item you’re looking for.

Smell ya later!  HA HA HA!!

Sewer Hoses for the RV Lifestyle

So, you want to know what the best sewer hose is to buy? One of our favorites and a TOP seller at our parts store is the ‘Dominator’. The Dominator is durable and reliable. Which is exactly what you’ll want in a sewer hose. You don’t want to be one of ‘those’ who are seen wrapping their hose with duct tape to fix a leak. (EWW!) So, durable and reliable are what you’re going to want. We suggest starting with at least a 15 ft hose, but the more you travel and the more experience you get, you’ll know what size works best for you. The 15 feet sewer kit with elbow Superior drainage, holds its shape after installation. Durable, UV stabilized, rugged poly construction. Convenient, fully assembled and ready to use. Patented rotating fittings.

Stop in and see us or visit us on-line. This is one accessory you’ll want to be sure to have before you leave home!

Don't forget the TP!

How many times during your camping trip or RV adventure have you come upon the moment when you realized that you forgot to pack toilet paper?  It's okay, sh.. happens, errr, what we mean to say is, it happens to the best of us.

You're so busy worrying about bug spray, pillows, snacks, movies, pet food, etc., etc., that you end up forgetting one of the most important items you’ll need. That's why we are taking this time to remind you that toilet paper should be first on your list. Well at least in the top five!

Now if you’re new to the RV lifestyle you may be not know this, but in an RV you have to use toilet paper that is going to dissolve quickly and is biodegradable.  You have your choice between 1 ply and 2 ply, but ultimately what you want is paper that will quickly dissolve once it hits the water. The brand is up to you. We’ll recommend a few, but its probably going to take you buying a couple different brands for you to find the one you and your family like best.

The brands we found to be top sellers are Aqua Soft, Valterra, and Camco. You can find these in our parts store, or even visit us on-line to request it.  You’ll still want to be cautious about how much you use in one flushing, because no one likes a backed up hose.

With that being said, don’t forget your toilet paper and happy flushing!

Keystone RV Recall: Axel Assembly

Keystone RV is recalling 197 model year 2011-2012 Cougar High Country Travel Trailers produced from Nov. 3, 2010 through May 26, 2011, for having 4400 pound axles installed instead of 5200 pound axles. If a vehicle is loaded to the maximum stated GVWR of 10,000 pounds, the 4400 pound axle will be overloaded.

Overloading the axle could lead to an increase risk of axle failure, property damage and/or vehicle crash. Owners may contact Keystone Customer Service at             1.866.425.4369      . See Keystone's safety recall no.11-166.

Owners may also contact Paul Everts RV Country to schedule a service appointment.

The Importance of a Water Regulator

Before owning an RV you probably never gave much thought to water pressure or the need to regulate it, but the piping in your RV needs to be taken care of just as much as any other part. Too much water pressure can cause the pipes to burst, leaving you to experience an indoor wading pool - or worse - such as only partial use of your shower, toilet, or any other appliance that uses running water to function and sometimes no water at all.  A regulator helps you keep an eye out for potential danger, and will prevent the water pressure in your system from surging to a level high enough to cause damage.

You can’t always be sure of the water pressure in camp grounds. If there aren’t many campers in the park with you, or at night when not many people are using running water, the pressure can go up at any time. For this reason, a water regulator is something you will want to be sure to add to your RV necessities before heading out on the road.

If you don't already have one, stop in and see us or order one on-line!

Happy RVing!

The Importance of a Fresh Water Hose for the RV Lifestyle

A fresh water hose is an important essential to add to your "must have" accessories. An RV fresh water hose is designed for drinking water, is constructed of FDA approved materials, and usually comes with a white jacketed cover. Sorry folks, your garden hose is not safe to use as a drinking water hose, so be sure to have a couple of these fresh water hoses on hand. If one springs a leak you'll want to have an extra tucked away so that you don't have to scramble looking for a new one when you aren’t near a store. Due to sanitation concerns, you'll never want to use these hoses for anything else. You can keep a regular garden hose to use for washing your RV, or for connecting to a black holding tank flushing attachment. That will keep dangerous bacteria away from your fresh water hose fittings. It's also important to remember that when you store your fresh water hose, keep the ends together to keep them clean. Be sure to flush your fresh water holding tank with bleach every few months to help keep bacteria from forming. A teaspoon of bleach to 20 gallons of water is plenty, and this will also help clean your fresh water hose. After flushing with the bleach solution, flush again with fresh water. If you don't already have one, or need a couple new ones be sure to stop in and see us - or you can even order one on-line.
Happy Rving!