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We have taken some of the most popular topics, and grouped those letters together on separate pages. This is called the "Tips and Letter Archive" page.
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I suggest everyone check their medication cabinet and remove all medications containing Phenylpropanolamine. This drug has now been linked to many major health problems. For more information, see www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm Owner’s manual: I recently got a ‘73 or ‘74 Dodge 22 ft motorhome and I do not have an owner’s manual. I was wondering if any of your readers could help me get my hands on one. Info needed: I live in Langley BC and own a 1989 Islander van conversion and want to put a roof air unit on it. Does anyone know the best place to go for info, and to see what is available; and any idea of the prices involved? John Haygarth Newbie RVers: We have recently purchased a 5th wheel and would like information that may be helpful, as we are new to this. We would like to camp around Armstrong BC without paying too much. Harriet Wilson Harriet, Try these websites: http://www.camping.bc.ca and http://www.armstrongbc.com/ for information on Armstrong. Lori Masse Campground upgraded: A letter in your July/August issue (Campground Gone RVT 82 pg 7) mentioned the Lakeview Campground. I would like to inform your readers that this campground has been renamed as Willow Springs RV Park and Campground, given a good scrub from top to bottom, and up-graded with new services. David and Dianne Lee Need truck wash: We live in Victoria BC and have recently upgraded to a 34 ft Class A. Are any of your readers aware of RV washes in our area? I know there are a couple of coin washes, but I was wondering if there are any drive-through types that may be for buses or trucks. Love your magazine. Frank Jonasen US gas prices: Help!! We just retired and were planning a trip across the central US to Maine ending in Newfoundland. We can't get any info on gas prices in the US. Can you help us with the name of a website that will let us access that information? Lloyd Grandy Lloyd, Here is a great website with updated info: www.gaswatch.org/ Lori Masse CB channel: Could you publish the different CB channels that we RVrs could monitor when on the road, those that the truckers use in Canada and the US? (This question and answer has probably been asked and published in previous publications, and my wife and I have missed it!) Many thanks for this. We enjoy the magazine and all the information contained. Good work! Terry and Shirley Stephen Great food and service: We enjoy reading The RV Times for helpful hints and interesting letters. On our way to Alaska this year we stopped in Fort Nelson at the Backroads Sports Bar & Grill for supper; the service was great and the food was excellent. Also, there was an RV campground next door. We would like to thank Kris and Doug for the hospitality and Rod for fixing a hub on our friend’s 5th wheel! Bob and Arlene Dumping charge in PP: We just returned from a great week at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park. Upon leaving this Provincial Park, we found to our amazement there was a $2 fee for dumping our holding tanks. Does anyone know if this is standard in all Provincial Parks? I can see a charge if you are not using the Park and just use their dumping facilities. I think since we paid $18.50 per night, there should not be a added charge for dumping. Wayne Scramstad Propane tanks expiring: I can't locate any information on the requirements for OPD valves for RV propane tanks. Since ours will expire within the year, we'd like any up-to-date info you may have. Anne Freeman Anne, When the tanks expire and you have them re-valved, the shop should automatically install the new opd-type valve and re-date the tank for a further ten years of use. In this area we recommend The RV Camper Clinic on Production Ave. Call Chuck at 604 530-0911 for cost and time frame for performing the work. Brian Yeates Battery problems: I have a 1979 Class C Shamrock motorhome on a Dodge one-ton chassis. I'm having problems keeping the batteries charged, and would like to correspond with an expert on electrical problems in similar vehicles. Any suggestions? Theo Theo, Please forward details of your battery problems, specifying whether it is the chassis or coach battery giving the problem and exactly the circumstances of failure, drain or other fault. It can be very difficult to trace electrical problems, but perhaps with the right information we can give you some areas to start your troubleshooting and eventual repair. Brian Yeates E-mails from Mexico: The query about the Baja in Dear Sheila (Info on Baja RVT 81 pg 22) prompted me to write about an excellent book we read when we took our first foray there last year. It’s called Exploring Baja by RV by Walt and Michael Peterson, published by Wilderness Press in Berkeley, California. We ordered it through our local bookstore. It’s a treasure trove of information, given kilometre by kilometre, interspersed with vignettes from their many years of travelling. Michael is Walt’s son, and grew up in Mexico. We enjoyed ourselves immensely while there, but of course, like any developing country, things are done differently than at home. The roads were generally pretty good, with only a few sections badly potholed. They are, however, very narrow, with less room than we are accustomed to for side-to-side wandering! We found the people very pleasant, the beaches glorious, and the fruits and vegetables sold by the vendors delicious. I’d like to ask your readers about communicating from the mainland of Mexico via computer. We plan to go there from December to April and hope to get a laptop for the trip so we can use a GPS mapping program we’ve heard about. Because we’ll be gone so long, we’d also like to use e-mail. I understand the best thing to do is get a Hotmail or Yahoo address. Does anyone know if one is any better than another? Can we type up our messages in the RV and then take the laptop into an Internet cafe, or do we put it on a disk, and take that in? Do we need a server with a 1-800 number? I’m sure there are lots of Canadians who have done this, but we haven’t run across any yet. We would also like info on the best way to make phone calls. We thought the Ladatel card would be fine, but received a bill of $4 for a short call we made, and assume we should not have dialed the Canadian operator with the card. We understood from talking to a Telus person that was the cheapest way to do it, but clearly, it wasn’t. Elizabeth McGee Elizabeth, I just spent two weeks helping bring a 55 ft. yacht from La Paz in Baja, Mexico to Stockton, California using a GPS mapping program and can tell you it is super. It shows right where you are all the time within a few feet. You’ll love it. My wife, Gloria, has a laptop that she takes to Mexico, but we have always gone into an Internet cafe and rented a computer in order to access our e-mail and send messages out. There are several ways that you can send messages from Mexico using a laptop, but it is totally dependent on whether or not your normal e-mail accounts are independent of your normal ISP (Internet Service Provider), i.e. your dialup service (AOL, Compuserve, Shaw Cable, etc.) or not. Examples of e-mail accounts that are independent of your ISP are what you spoke of – Hotmail, Yahoo, and others. It also depends on whether or not you plan on using your own laptop to send messages or plan to rent one at an Internet cafe. I’ll give you some of the options possible and what is recommended from a security standpoint by our son, John, a computer expert who designs websites. 1. If you plan to use your own laptop at an Internet cafe, make sure that you have strong firewall and virus protection, and that you’ve backed up critical files before doing so. There are many such firewall and virus protection programs available. Also, make sure you check all of the fees that are required for what you want to do so there aren’t any "surprises" as you’re ready to leave. 2. If your e-mail accounts are local to your ISP, you’ll need to know whether or not you can access your ISP e-mail accounts (the e-mail accounts that are from another Internet source), since you are not dialing in directly and using the ISP software (AOL, Compuserve, etc.). If your ISP allows you to do so, and you haven’t yet done it, set up an Internet POP e-mail account before you leave (most of them have this service). This will allow you to access your ISP e-mail account messages from anywhere on the Internet (such as an Internet cafe) 3. If you don’t want to use your laptop, but would rather type messages on it, save them to a disk, and use the info on the disk to send to someone, then you should get an e-mail account independent of your regular ISP e-mail account, such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or others. These types of accounts can be accessed from anywhere on the Internet. If you were able to establish an Internet POP e-mail account with your ISP, you can use that as well. Once into your Hotmail account, for example, you can either type a new message and send it, or insert the disk with the message previously typed on your laptop into the rented computer, access the disk with your message on it, and use the Attachment feature in your e-mail program to attach your message to the e-mail that you wish to send. Attach it, address it and then send it, and it’s on its way through cyberspace to its recipient. The only thing you’ve risked is the loss of a floppy disk. From a security and practical standpoint, No. 3 is the best choice. Using a rented computer to send a simple message is much less risky than hooking up your laptop to an unknown network. You have no idea as to any power fluctuations (assuming you plug into power), or what their network status is. Microelectronics are easily damaged by incompatible systems interaction. Re phone calls from Mexico, the lowest cost method we have found is to purchase a Sprint phone card at home. The Ladatel cards cost more and other methods, such as the phones on businesses along the street urging you to make credit card calls to the U.S. and Canada, cost a great deal more. Your long stay in Mexico sounds exciting and I certainly envy you. If we at Vagabundos del Mar Mexican Travel Club can assist you with vehicle insurance, pre-paid visitor permits, fishing licenses or further questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-47-4-BAJA. Fred Jones Slide-out advice: We recently picked up The RV Times for the first time and were very pleased with the wealth of information covered. We will definitely subscribe! We have a question for your readers and would appreciate getting their responses. We are planning to purchase a truck and trailer and have heard various pros and cons regarding slide-outs on trailers; they leak, you get dryrot, and they are more trouble than they are worth. What experiences have the folks out there in trailerland had? We do not want a trailer over 27 feet, so the slide-out would be a real advantage for floor space. Blaine and Lola Denesyk BC Parks New Camping Party Definition: I have been subscribing to The RV Times for a number of years and find interesting information in every issue I receive. I think there is a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the BC Parks new Camping Party Definition. (RVT 81 pg 29) According to the definition: Vehicles per camping party: One vehicle and trailer. Well, this is a clear definition, but what is a trailer? According to the insurance company and the Motor Vehicle Act, a towed car is considered a trailer. Why? Because as soon as a car or light truck is hooked up behind a towing vehicle (this, in most cases, is a motorhome) it becomes, legally, a trailer. It becomes totally dependent on the towing vehicle. It cannot use its own engine anymore. It cannot use its own steering anymore. It cannot use its own lights anymore. It cannot use its own braking system anymore. No one is allowed to be in the (car) trailer when it is towed. It cannot be used as a car anymore; it has become a trailer. And that is exactly how the insurance company and motor vehicle act classifies it. These are existing rules and regulations, which cannot be changed by BC Parks. If BC Parks insists in charging for this "trailer," how about charging for boot trailers, utility trailers, and on and on? How about a car towed on an extra flatbed trailer? And a motorcycle on a trailer? Charging for one type of trailer is not acceptable and does not agree with equal rights for everyone. It is also in contrast to BC Parks own rules of one vehicle and a trailer. Jan W. Ihmels Jan, We have received a number of letters questioning this new change. Following is the explanation from BC Parks. Please note the final paragraph for info on how to have your opinion count. Lori Masse From BC Parks Changes to BC Parks’ 2001 Camping Party Definition 1. What’s changed? BC Parks’ revised camping party definition is now more equitable and easier to understand, and requires far less personal information from campers. Its primary focus is on the number of people and vehicles in the party. A camping party can have up to four campers 16 years and older. The party size maximum is eight persons (children under 16 years of age included). A camping party may have one vehicle (RV or non-RV) on-site. If it brings a second vehicle (non-RV) on-site, and the park facility operator says there’s space for it, it will pay an additional half fee. Children under 16 years of age are free, but regulations requiring the designated representative being 16 year of age or older remain unchanged. So, when booking a campsite, campers will no longer have to explain their living arrangements, the nature of their relationships, their respective addresses or the ownership of their vehicles. 2. What was wrong with the old definition? BC Parks’ previous definition was outdated. Campers and park facility operators told us it no longer reflected the make up of modern households. It was also difficult to understand, sought too much personal information unrelated to camping in a park, and treated identical camping parties differently. 3. Why the limit on the number of campers on-site? To reduce wear and tear, and to ensure a pleasant camping experience for all campers in the campground. Previously there was no maximum. 4. I commute daily to the park. I need my second vehicle. Why can I no longer do that without incurring further fees? Over the years many campers complained that BC Parks’ second vehicle policy was unfair. That policy allowed some campers a free additional vehicle on site while others had to pay a full second fee for the same privilege. BC Parks wanted a second vehicle fee low enough to recognize that certain camping parties needed a second vehicle on-site, but high enough to encourage a camping party to leave an unnecessary vehicle at home. 5. Is this party definition change just another hidden fee increase? The proposed changes were not intended to raise additional fees. Some camping parties will pay a little more than what they would have paid last year and some will pay a little less. Overall though, BC Parks expects general camping fee revenue to remain unchanged. 6. Is there an additional charge for boat trailers on-site? BC Parks encourages boating in many of our provincial parks, as it does hiking and biking on approved trails. For that reason there are no additional campsite fees for boats (or bicycles) on-site. 7. Why is there an additional fee for vehicles towed into a campground? Campers have often requested fees based on the number of vehicles and people on the campsite, rather than ownership or use of the vehicles outside the park, or how the vehicles arrive at the park. To address those requests, the new party definition allows each party one vehicle, either an RV or a non-RV. Examples of an RV are a truck and fifth wheeler, a self-contained RV unit, an accommodation unit sitting in the bed of a truck, or a vehicle towing a trailer. The new party definition doesn’t examine how these vehicles are used outside the park. An additional non-RV vehicle requires an additional half fee whether driven or towed to the campsite. 8. Why is only one RV allowed per party? The majority of camping groups with two RVs have always been seen as two parties. This hasn’t changed under the new definition. It encourages less campground congestion, and less wear and tear on individual sites. 9. Are there a maximum number of tents allowed on a site? BC Parks doesn’t place a maximum on the number of tents allowed on a site. Its principle requirement is that the tent(s) (including supports, stakes, etc.) are confined to the camp pad. 10. If I reserve, why can I only book one party per site? Discover Camping is unable to book more than one party per site. More than one party per site would require detailed information about the unique characteristics of each site on the reservation system, information the agent does not have. Once a camping party is at the park, the PFO can answer questions regarding specific requirements. 11. My child is 15 years old and wants to camp with his friends. Is he allowed? To register your child and his friends at the campground, BC Parks continues to require one person at least 16 years of age to be in the party. The above changes were approved by government based upon complaints from campers and park facility operators. To express your concerns, contact John Furney, Recreation Services Officer (John Furney maintains his department reviews the comments and concerns from throughout the camping season, and will use these as the basis for consideration of any amendments to the Camping Party Definition for 2002.) BC Rivers Day: I wanted to let you know about a whole range of events happening across BC, on and around September 30th. September 30th is BC Rivers Day. Towns, cities, and communities across the province are celebrating through a variety of festivals, open houses, presentations, tours and more! Each event is locally organized and our website at www.orcbc.ca lists all activities by location. Each event listing includes details of the event and a local contact. I would love to see our Rivers Day events listed in The RV Times and on your website so that everyone has a chance to attend! If you have any questions please contact me. Thanks! Alex Brumec RV repair website: I consider your magazine and website very interesting and informative and would like to add something for your readers. This website must be known to some of your readers, however, for the of the rest of us, it would be beneficial for RVers to consult his articles before entertaining some replacement or modification of their unit. If you consider it proper to publish it, the website may be found at: www.phrannie.org/ In my analysis, I noted that the detailed description is not geared for advertising purposes, but as a guide to help in identifying correct items for a specific need. Click on "poop sheet" and it will link you to articles on repairing and purchasing an RV. Galeazzo (Galli) Branzoni Sani-station update: For $5 you can dump at the Richmond RV Park at 6200 River Rd, and for $4 at the Shell station on River Rd at Hwy 99 in Delta. We used to live in Richmond and now are full-timers (since March 2000) staying for a month or two each summer at the Richmond RV Park. Gini and Russ Tyrrell More sani: I am writing on behalf of Fuller Lake Motel, 9300 Trans Canada Highway, Chemainus, Vancouver Island, BC. In the May/June 2001 issue of The RV Times (RVT 81 pg 56) we are listed as having a year-round sani station. We are a motel and do not have a sani station. Please change your records accordingly. Jana and Norm Tendall Responsible RVers: In our travels we meet all types of campers, the good, the bad and the ugly. I want to tell you about one of the best we have encountered to date. August 1st we stopped to have lunch in the Crafts Canada lot in Sardis BC. Next to us was a couple in a red bronco, towing a small Bigfoot, doing the same. The thing that impressed us was that when finished, the couple and their young teen came out of the unit with plastic bags and proceeded to collect the garbage others had left along the edge of the parking lot. When done, they got into their vehicle and carried on with their trip. We would like to see more responsible campers and RVers of this caliber. MaryAnn & Doug Kelleway |
Excellent RV service:
John and I have just returned east from our excellent western adventure. During the winter we had some bad maintenance and service experiences in Arizona and California. On our arrival in BC we booked an appointment to correct several problems at South Thompson RV in Kamloops. What a treat! John, the service manager, was ready for us at our 9:30 a.m. appointment and Les, the technician, efficiently addressed each problem. He even found a solution to a hot water situation that has plagued us for two years. The best part of this service call was the low invoice charges. If any RVers require service in the Kamloops area, do not hesitate to take your rig to South Thompson RV, they are in business to satisfy customers during repairs as well as sales. In Arizona in April our HWH jacks quit functioning. We were on the move, and after several unsatisfactory service attempts, we decided to "float" until we arrived in BC. The recommended dealer by HWH was Voyager RV Centre in Winfield. We also want to compliment this dealership. Again, we were not left hanging for hours waiting for our service to begin. John, the technician, went over our jack system with a fine-tooth comb. A second additional unrelated problem that was not scheduled was also corrected in record time. It really felt good to be treated with such respect. (This had not been the case during our two service calls in Arizona.) At Voyager RV Centre, after the service was completed, Jason, the parts manager, explained what took place and one more time our low invoice was more than fair. Voyager RV is another great dealer for obtaining excellent service. Both these dealerships take pride in assuring customers are treated as friends. Be sure to drop in for service, to pick up parts, or maybe just for a visit while you are in the Kamloops or Kelowna area. Peggi and John McDonald Safe towing: Having just read a question in the current issue of The RV Times, (Towing Question, RVT 82 pg 20) I would like to share the recommendations we would make based on our broad towbar experience: You can tow your pickup, however, you will need to install a driveline disconnect from REMCO that will allow the rear axle to free-wheel without turning the transmission while towing. This will cost approximately $1200 in addition to the tow bar package which will cost in the area of $1400, depending on the brand and model of towbar selected. In addition you may decide to add a towed vehicle braking system such as US Gear's Unified Tow Brake. This will meet or exceed all braking requirements in North America for an outlay of approx. $1800. So, as you can see, you can tow your Mazda, but it is going to be expensive to do it properly and safely. I hope this helps you with your problem. Brian Yeates Towing a CR-V: Can you tell me how I go about towing a 2001 Honda CR-V? It is not a 4-wheel drive. Sandra Chrane Sandra, All Hondas with automatic transmissions can be towed "as is." After hitching up to the motorhome you must follow these four steps in sequence: 1. Start engine. 2. Shift from Park to Drive. 3. Shift from Drive to Neutral. 4. Shut engine off. Remco may still offer a limited warranty for these transmissions if less than 50,000 miles are registered on the vehicle. Call Remco direct at 1-800-228-2481 for more information on this. Honda may require starting the engine every 200 miles to keep the lubrication well circulated in the transmission, but remember to follow the four-step sequence before towing, after running the motor. Further information should be contained in your owner's manual or from your local Honda dealer. Tow-bar packages are available from all three major tow-bar manufacturers- Roadmaster, Demco and Blue Ox. Happy Camping! Mould removal: ?Does anyone out there have a solution to a mould problem? We have a 1999 fifth wheel with a rubber roof, and black spots started to appear on the surface within the first year. The rear portion of the roof is now almost covered with these ugly stains and mild cleaners have had no effect. The spots have impregnated the rubber and can’t be scraped off. Help! Norm Miller Norm, All the information I have seen seems to indicate that once a stain becomes absorbed by the rubber, it may be impossible to get completely out. The roof should NEVER be scraped as that can damage or tear the surface, however, some of the stronger cleaners designed for rubber roofs such as "Protect All" may work, or some of the marine industry cleaners (do not use anything that is petroleum based) found in boating supply stores. If that doesn't help, the following can be tried. Start by washing the area with a medium firm bristle brush and a degreasing solution, such as Spic & Span. Once the surface is clean, use household bleach applied full strength to kill the remaining mildew. DO NOT dump it on, the bleach can run down the sides and damage striping, etc. Apply the bleach by putting it on a rag and rubbing it on the stained areas, followed by a thorough fresh water rinse. Jim Lister Norm, We have many different rubber roof cleaners and treatments in stock, however, only one mentions the problem of mould and mildew stains. It is Protect-all Rubber Roof Cleaner, and states "EPDM rubber roof material is susceptible to mould and mildew stains in the form of black, brown or gray spots. Although it does not harm the roof membrane the spots usually cannot be removed. Maintaining a clean roof may help to minimize this condition." I suggest your best option at this point would be to thoroughly clean the roof with one of the special cleaners available and then treat it with a rubber roof treatment to slow or possibly stop the staining from continued growth. Brian Yeates Insurance caution: I do believe a lot of people are not aware of a gray area in their insurance policies (or it may have to do only with the one we purchased). It is truly worth inquiring about upon purchase of travel insurance. My husband Dave and I spent three months in the El Centro/Yuma area this past winter. The last week of our holiday Dave went into a clinic for tightness in his chest and was advised to enter the Yuma hospital for tests for heart problems as a precaution. Well! This is the catch - three years ago Dave saw his Canadian doctor with similar symptom s. He was looked at and told nothing was wrong, so we didn’t give it another thought. When we purchased our travel insurance we thought we were healthy, as neither of us was on medication for a health problem or had been diagnosed with any medical problems. We said, "Yes we are healthy" and never dreamed a visit three years prior would come back as a reoccurring medical problem, causing us to have payment of our medical bills refused by our travel insurance. And by the way, Dave has still not been diagnosed with any specific ailment. My advice to travellers: be sure your past doctor’s visits are not classed as a reoccurring ailment; it can be costly! Dave & Dot Muir Dave & Dot: There are some companies that will try to deny claims, but basically it boils down to the policy wording and your doctor’s files. People looking for coverage at the lowest price can be subject to inferior plans, like the no pre-existing coverage. You may think you are healthy and then get a surprise. This gives the insurance company a lot of loop holes, as they can go back through your whole medical history, even into your childhood. With the help of publications like The RV Times, and people like yourselves communicating the strengths and weaknesses of the travel insurance they have purchased, travellers will become better educated to the ups and downs of purchasing adequate insurance coverage. No one needs the added stress at a time of unfortunate illness! If we at Courte Insurance can be of assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to call! Kim Courte Extended US stay: I've been trying to find info re allowable length of stay in the US. I have not been successful, especially around the magic formula regarding visits. In short, I'm hoping you can refer me to a source. Many thanks for your time and your magazine. Doe Petty Doe, According to Alex Scott, BC Director of the Canadian Snowbird Association, the United States will allow Canadians to visit for not more than six months in a calendar year. It is possible to apply to the US Immigration and Naturalization Services for a longer visit, but you must first prove you have your BC Medical extended. The INS will request a letter from MSP verifying your coverage will remain in effect longer than the standard six months out of the province. Alex advises his members to get a passport as well, it is the best I.D. available. Also, take along evidence that you intend to remain a resident of Canada, such as a property tax notice, copy of title, or lease for your home, or a utility bill. The US officials want to be assured you plan on returning to Canada at the end of your stay. They may also ask you for proof that you can support yourself while in their country, as you may not accept work in the US (unless you have a work visa). These residence and financial issues also apply to visitors of less than six months. And don’t forget, customs and immigration officers have the right to ask you anything they deem necessary to make a decision whether to let you into their country. Access can be denied, and Canadians can be barred from entering the US for five years if, in their judgment, "The individuals presented false documentation or misrepresented themselves." Keep in mind as well the tax implications once you have passed 182 days in the US. More information on this is available at www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/ Here are some more websites you may find helpful: www.gonorthwest.com/ www.customs.ustreas.gov/ www.voyage.gc.ca/Consular-e/ http://travel.state.gov/ You can contact Alex Scott at 604-533-1920 or csaalex@aol.com. Lori Masse Crooning along: My wife Helen and I avidly await the arrival of The RV Times every publication. Helen reads all the letters and articles, gleaning all the advice and info in preparation for the day that we can become full-time RVers in our 24 ft. Security motorhome. As Perry Como used to croon (and I still do), "Dream along with me, I'm on my way to …." As I approached my sixtieth birthday (in April, 1996), and while pursuing my present day occupation (gardening and landscaping), I began to dream of performing again. I believed I was the right age, with the right songs, at the right time. "Everything old is new again!" I decided to investigate how I could realize my dream. I discovered Karaoke - and CD graphics! I could sing the songs of Sinatra to the accompaniment of the same orchestral arrangements that backed him. Wow! I then began a full-throated campaign to regain what I lost/let slip in the early sixties in Chester, England. Yes! Way back in the misty past of the early sixties, I was a singer with a small dance band, in Chester, near Liverpool where I was born. I am now 65, about to embark on the next stage on my journey through life, and writing this letter to begin the process. This will be my transition year to full-time touring and entertaining at events and festivals, initially in BC, then Alberta, and eventually - we hope - down through Washington, Oregon, California, across to the Gulf of Mexico, then up the Atlantic coast. I can dream can't I? Why not? But you do have to do something about your dream to enable it to become a reality. Helen and I have shared and learned so much with the readers and writers of The RV Times. We wondered if there are RVers out there who are, or have been, full-time travelling entertainers in the way of the old time wandering troubadours "travelling along singing a song." If there are, what advice, information, potential problems, places to perform, names, numbers, addresses, e-mail, websites, etc., would you give that could help us to contact people and places, to get started "on the road again"? I can be contacted at my e-mail address: casualcrooner@hotmail.com. I hope to have my website — www.casualcrooner.com — created sometime in September. This will enable visitors to sample my sound and learn more about my past life. The future is in the stars! Roy and Helen Robinson Car rental nightmare: For the benefit of RVers who may be caught in similar circumstances, we wanted to inform you of a problem we had. While wintering in Yuma, we received word of the sudden deterioration of my sister’s health, and were urged to come immediately. Within minutes of contacting United Airlines, we had booked seats and return flights under their compassionate program (at an extremely low rate) from Yuma to Spokane. We couldn't book to Calgary, as United didn't fly there. Upon arrival in Spokane we attempted to book a flight into Calgary, but couldn't until late that night, so we went to the car rentals. At Budget Rent A Car we were informed that as Canadians we couldn't rent an American registered car to drive into Canada. The reason was that Canada Customs were impounding these cars at the border! After about an hour of pleading and arguing our case, we finally found a Canada Customs’ officer who would allow us to put his name and badge number on the Budget contract. Then we were informed that because there were so few cars available, we would be charged an extra $100 US. Because of all these unforeseen problems, we arrived in Calgary too late to say goodbye to my sister. I have since checked with my MP and found there is no law stopping Canadians from bringing rental cars into Canada. I informed Budget of my concerns, but the company didn't reply. Ron Cave Ron, Our sympathy is with you on the passing of your sister. We forwarded your letter to Budget. Here is the reply we got: "We do apologize, however, this is not a Budget policy, The Canadian government is the responsible party for this policy and is the entity that is enforcing such a policy. Regardless of what you state you were told by the MP, this is their policy and they do practice it. We do regret the situation that this caused, however, we as a company are not responsible for any policy that the government of another country implements. Thank you for contacting Budget." A call to Canadian Customs confirmed this; an American rental car is "considered a good," and all import taxes and fees will be required to bring it into Canada. The only way around this is to rent a Canadian licensed car, which is available from major rental centres, such as Sea-Tac Airport. The same regulations apply to Americans bringing Canadian licensed cars into the US. Lori Masse Mainland Mexico: My wife and I will be going in our RV down the west coast of mainland Mexico this winter, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions on RV sites in Mexico, and places that we should avoid, if any? We have driven down the Baja, but that is like being in BC due to all the Canadians there. John Haygarth John, You will find lots of Canadians along the west coast; it seems we are an adventurous bunch! If you don't have it, one of best books for RVing in Mexico is Traveler’s Guide to Mexican Camping by Mike and Terri Church. They have a new version coming out in September, and is available at www.rollinghomes.com. We went as far as Puerto Vallarta last year and this book was invaluable. It also points out spots to avoid and local hazards, such as bugs and mosquitoes in San Blas. It was very true! However, they said a few miles down the road was Playa Amor RV Park, where there were very few bugs. It is an easy 15 minute drive into San Blas, which is sure worth a look. We should be at Trailer Park Villanueva in Rincon de Guaybitos (40 miles north of Puerto Vallarta) around November 15th. Drop in and see us. Graham and Myrtle Gore Propane problems: I am having a problem when I fill my propane bottles. Last May I bought a used RV that came with two 30-lb tanks. They both recently needed re-valving and filling. When they were delivered back to me, the bill stated I had been charged for 27 lbs in each. The delivery driver told me that the tanks have three pounds of air in each, so there could only be a maximum of 27 lbs put into a 30-lb tank. I have always been charged for 30 lbs when I have filled these up. The attendant where I usually get them filled said that I have a 30-lb tank, therefore he must charge me for 30 lbs. Who is right? I am getting hotter and hotter over this issue, thinking of all the people out there that may be getting charged more than they should. Wayne Hale Wayne, A 30-lb LP (liquid propane) tank is just that – it is designed to hold 30 lbs of propane and still have a pocket of vapour at the top of the tank to supply the LP requirements of the RV. When you were charged for 27 lbs you were given a bargain, and should expect to pay for the amount of LP gas dispensed, which would be a maximum of 30 lbs. Brian Yeates Oktoberfest in Port Alberni: Sheila, I would like to invite you and Al and all your readers who enjoy dancing, singing, great food and drink to join us this October 19 – 20/01 at the Port Alberni Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest features two live bands — the Alpiners and the Silver Stars — who are versatile in playing polkas, waltzes, and some modern rock music thrown in for good measure. The Edelweiss dancers provide a great floorshow with traditional Schuhplattler dances, and the Swiss Horn Players play tunes from the Alps on their 12-foot Alpine horns. There will be a tasty variety of food available such as bratwurst, chicken, German potato salad, sauerkraut and pickled herring to enjoy. A free daytime concert featuring the bands, dancers and Swiss Horn players will be held Saturday, October 20 at 1 p.m. at the Alberni District Secondary School auditorium. Tickets for the evening Oktoberfest are selling for $11 for Friday, and $12.50 for Saturday night. Ticket outlets include Twin Travel, The Smoke Shack, Somass Drugstore, and Europa Club members. Reservations for seating can be made for 20 or more people. Contact Joe Scheffers at 250-723-6935, E-mail europa@island.net, Website www.island.net/~europa. RVers, there is FREE dry camping available on site at the Athletic Hall. Full hookup parking is available at numerous locations in town, including the Somass Motel & RV Park on River Road, which is within walking distance from the Athletic Hall. Special hotel rates are also available. Winterize: We are new RVers and plan to drive to Mexico this December. We live in Prince George, so I think we'll have to winterize in late September and flush out the winterizing solutions somewhere in southern Washington on our way south when the threat of frost is past. Does that make sense? I don't imagine it would be safe to flush out in Prince George in December as we hit the road. Am I right? I'm sure others must have had to do this and I would like any advice that's available. We would like to be safe rather than sorry. It's a Class C motorhome (Fleetwood) and does not have heated tanks. Susan Deevy Susan, I live near Harrison Mills, BC just north of Chilliwack. To be on the safe side, I normally winterize in early October. When departing at the end of November, I flush out the water system and fill the water tank one-third for travelling. As my 5th wheel has heated tanks, I usually leave the heat on for a couple of days before departing en route south; we are fine after that. As we return about March 20, there's really no need for us to winterize again. It should be safe for you to flush out southbound near Seattle. Depending on when you return, you should re-winterize at your own discretion, depending on the weather temperature. Murray J. Jackson Using 12-volt: I have a two-way propane and 12-volt fridge in my camper, and have never used the 12-volt part of it. Should I be using the propane to get the fridge cold first and than switch it over to 12-volt? Bob Halper Bob, The low voltage side of the fridge is extremely inefficient and I suggest it not be used at all. Chill the fridge well before the day of intended use, and if you leave the doors closed while travelling, it should remain cold for at least 5-6 hours. When you stop for lunch or coffee, etc, park and level the rig, then fire the gas side of the fridge up to help it re-chill while parked. This will enable you to travel even in the hottest weather without overtaxing your alternator and causing premature failure in the charging system. Brian Yeates RV rentals for Mexican trip: Do any of your readers know of any RV rental companies who are willing for their vehicles to be used on caravan trips to Mexico and elsewhere? Most companies are unwilling for their RVs to be used in Alaska, but some allow it with an additional premium. However, I haven’t been able to locate any that allow Mexican travel, despite the fact that we would be interested in joining a caravan (with all the added security that method of travel endows). Are there particular problems with insurance coverage for this area? Paul Etchells Paul, We have insured a lot of vehicles rented through Clearway Rentals, 31808 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford BC, 604-850-6522. They rent vans etc. that are taken to Mexico. They do this on a regular basis. Carol Cartmell |
Previous Issues' Letters: Holding tank sensors: Does anyone know of a good product for cleaning the level sensors on the black and gray water holding tanks? Mine are so unreliable that they read different every time I check them. They sometimes read half full when they have just been emptied. Ron Morris Ron, This is a very common problem and will only continue as your RV ages. There are probe cleaners on the market manufactured by both Thetford and Refresh chemical companies available through your local RV parts store. If application of these products doesn't work, you may need to access the inside of the holding tank with a "Tank Wand" through the toilet to give good solid stream of water to wash out the tank, or even add a tank flush kit that is permanently installed into the tank to allow you to give your tanks a proper rinsing out every time you dump them. I would also assume that you are using a good quality waste digester according to the manufacturer's specifications. The worst case I've seen involved actually replacing the probes in the side of the tank with new ones. Brian Yeates Ron, Run-of-the-mill holding tank sensors are so inaccurate that I sometimes wonder what value they really have. They rely on a small current of electricity flowing from one contact to the other. Of course, this flow will take place any time the sensor(s) are wet or damp. (Such as when you just empty or flush a tank.) Even the humidity in a tank can cause a reading at times. Obviously, the black water tank can have more problems because of toilet paper and/or solids sticking to the sensors. A good flushing can help to eliminate this. I have also tried dumping all my ice cubes down the toilet when I am about an hour away from a dump station. The ice cubes rattling around while driving appear to help chew things up and scour the inside of the tank. I have found that baking soda in the fresh water tank can help to give a more accurate reading. It tends to keep the contact surface a little cleaner. The wastewater tank can get a lot of oil and grease from washing and this will contaminate the contacts. A good commercial cleaning agent from an RV dealer can help, OR, an overdose of sudsy ammonia about an hour before dumping the tank. Bob’s Concerned Ron, I have given up on the issue and simply use the "flashlight check" for the black water (toilet) tank, and then (from experienced boondocking) I estimate as to how many days we can go without draining the gray water tank. I realize that not all black water tanks have a straight pipe which permits the flashlight check, so again go by estimate. Now, if you ever do happen upon a magic formula, I do expect you to write a full-page article on the matter for The RV Times. Murray J. Jackson More holding tank advice: I have been following the ongoing saga of fellow RVers whose monitors show 1/2, 3/4 or F when they know the tanks are empty. My solution was to fill the black water, or whichever is showing incorrect levels (by rights it should be the black) to almost the top of the holding tank. For two days, each time I passed by the trailer I gave it a big push. Then I proceeded to empty the tank and voila the monitors showed empty. This could be done while connected to the sewer at the campground. Hope this helps your readers. Keep up the good work. John Rudland, Bus conversion advice: My husband and I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a used bus to convert into a very comfortable RV for our retirement. We have been renovating our 5th wheel for the past few years and have found that we truly like to do this type of work. We realize that it will not be easy, and will take us a few years to get it done. We will keep our 5th wheel until the bus is ready to go. One of our dilemmas is that we cannot seem to find much information on this type of work, where to find parts, etc. We have a few leads on the bus itself, but were wondering if you or your readers have any web sites that could be of a help to us. My husband has been playing with floor plans, which can be a very time consuming, but it is a start. Gloria McBride Gloria, Two excellent websites are www.busmag.com and www.busnut.com. Take your time to become educated on buses before making a purchase. Some model years were prone to rust. If you are buying from the US, be sure that the bus can be imported. For older buses it may be difficult to find body parts, but driveline parts are usually available. Prevost and MCI parts are purchased from the manufacturer. Les McDaniel More advice: A neighbour gave me a few copies of The RV Times, and I am impressed with its family feeling. I have been wondering if I could get feedback from those who have converted diesel transit buses or Greyhound buses to RVs. I have questions as to fuel economy, licensing, insurance and would like suggestions for interior design. Are there border crossing problems with such big units? I would like to take one to Costa Rica from Vancouver, any problems driving that far with an RV bus? Dave Redekop Dave, The first thing I suggest is you buy a book entitled Beginner's Guide to Converted Coaches, by Larry Plancho. It can be obtained from Trails Books in Polo, Illinois, phone 815-946-2341. It is $19.50 US and will answer most of the questions you have. I would suggest you use a highway bus, instead of a transit bus. A bus that has been a charter bus usually has fewer miles on it than a scheduled bus like a Greyhound. I average 10 mpg on my bus, insurance is the same as a motorhome, as is licensing. You will have to obtain an air endorsement on your class 5 driver’s license in order to drive it. Crossing over the border is no different than in a motorhome. The only problem I have had is when I took the wrong crossing into Nogales, Mexico and ended up downtown instead of going over the truck crossing, but the Mexicans were very gracious and got us through. I have driven to Costa Rica but in a car. You would want to get a copy of John Plaxton’s book, as he took a motorhome all the way to Panama. John took a motorcycle for extra transportation, which worked out well for him. His book is available through http://ogopogo.com/rving. Taking a few lessons of basic Spanish would be helpful, too. I had thought of taking my bus, but I think if I were to drive there, or to extensively travel in Mexico, I would want a smaller motorhome such as a Class C, so I would not have to tow a car. We go as far as Puerto Vallarta in our bus and it is no problem, but then we stay there for at least two months. Graham Gore Application for refund: Bulletin 111, issued April 1997 from the Consumer Taxation Branch of the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations Revenue Division re Application for a Refund of the 7% tax on propane for all uses (but not for driving your vehicle) states: Part B - Refund Information: In support of your application, you must provide the following: • A list (if the claim contains more than one invoice or receipt) of all items purchased/leased, the names of the seller/lessor, the date of the purchase and the amount of tax paid. • Copies of bills of sale, invoices or receipts showing the names and addresses of the seller/lessor, the date of purchase and the tax paid. • Any other documents to support the basis of your application (such as copies of credit invoices, sales invoices showing the resale of the items, bills of lading, front and back of status Indian card). Part C - Claimant Declaration • The application form FIN 413 must be signed by the person who paid the tax. A refund can only be claimed within six years paid on tax-exempt items. A claim will not be processed if the required documents/information are not supplied. Mail a FIN 413 form and all required documents to: Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations Consumer Taxation Branch For additional information, contact the Consumer Taxation Branch at 604-660-4524 or check: www.fin.gov.bc.ca/ctb. Lonely Heart: I have travelled to the Baja and Arizona each winter for the past five years with my partner. Unfortunately, he passed away last March. I find I am quite lonely, and have tried putting ads in the paper to meet someone. There must be someone nice out there that has also lost their spouse, but is still eager to travel! I am looking for a gentleman that is interested in making the trek south with me this fall. I am in my early 70s, but am young at heart. I love RVing, dancing, country music and dining out. One stipulation I have in my search for a new companion is that he must like my dog! She is a black cocker spaniel, and has always come first with me. If any of you folks know of a nice man who likes meeting new people, is a non-smoker, casual drinker and animal lover, please send him my way! Gladys Gladys, Try calling the Blue Jay RV Singles, their number is on pg 70 of every issue of The RV Times . They are a club that is affiliated with the RVOABC, and allow only single RVers as members. I have heard that the membership is constantly changing; once someone in the club meets their new special someone, they are no longer singles and have to leave the club! You could also try section (16) Personal of our classified ads. Good Luck! Lori Masse Up to Alaska: Are you planning on going to Alaska with your motorhome, and are you planning on towing your car? If you are going, have a nice trip, BUT if you are not sure you will be needing the car, my strong suggestion is to leave it at home. We just came back from there after eight weeks of travelling. If you insist that you need the car, make sure to have a cover for the front end and windshield, or you will have the front banged up by small rocks, and the windshield full of small chip holes. There is a lot of roadwork and some sections with gravel, and the big trucks do not slow down for an RV. We saw people trying to make a rock shield out of plastic pipe and netting, even using big pieces of cardboard, after the damage was done. If you have brought them, you must be prepared for having your car, your bikes and especially the rear of your RV covered with mud to a point that you do not even recognise the colour! We washed our motorhome six times. If it does not rain, water will be poured on the roads to keep the dust down. One more thing, make sure to have a screen in front of your grill or your radiator will be covered with bugs, and effect your cooling, unless you are driving a pusher. Believe it or not, we did have a wonderful time, and are already planning our next trip up there. Oh yes, you will not find a single mosquito up there; they are all married and are raising large families. Kjeld Frederiksen Towing capacity: I own a 1994 Chevrolet K1500 6.5 litre turbo diesel. I would like to purchase a 5th wheel, and I would like to know the maximum length and weight I can tow. Can I legally tow something as large as a (lightweight) 28-footer? I do not want to have to get an upgrade to my driver’s license either, as I have heard that this may be needed to tow some of the longer fifths. Is this true? If so, what length can I tow with my Class 5? Sue Ward Sue, The 1994 K1500 with the 6.5 turbo diesel is rated at 6500 pounds maximum towing capacity with a minimum of 3.42 axle ratio and a heavy duty trailer tow package and automatic transmission. You do not require any additional licensing until your trailer exceeds 10,000 pounds. Keeping this weight restriction in mind, you should then weigh the truck and compare its actual on-road weight to the manufacturer’s GVWR as recorded on the driver's door post to determine what the payload capacity of your truck really is. You now know how much weight you can legally and safely put on the truck in the form of hitch, hitch weight of the trailer and any other articles you want to take with you, as well as the maximum weight of the trailer or fifth you can pull. With the current trend toward strict enforcement of weight restrictions, I suggest you do not exceed the ratings for your truck. Take the figures you have worked out and go shopping for your ideal RV, remembering that a 28-foot Brand A may weigh more or less than a 26-foot Brand B. Personally, I would look to a smaller fifth, maybe a 23 to 24-foot with a slide-out to give you the additional room without the extra length. Brian Yeates 28 feet too long? I have heard that when considering the purchase of a travel trailer, you should not exceed 28 feet. I am interested in getting into 5th wheel RVing and I thought of checking this with your readers. Percy Percy, I would generally agree that a trailer of this approximate size would be the most suitable for long distance towing convenience, and you will not likely be refused access to any RV sites because of size. However, one very obvious comment is that the larger the rig, the more comfort and storage capacity you will have, and this may influence the length of time you use your RV. Also, the larger the rig, the beefier your choice of tow vehicle will need to be. I would suggest you visit the RV sales lot of choice and make arrangements to tow different RVs both in size and model to give you a better idea of what will fit the bill. An even better idea, if time permits, would be to rent different combinations to more fully experience the advantages of towing a smaller unit versus the disadvantages of towing a larger unit. I hope this helps you in your search. Brian Yeates Percy, There are really two issues to your question. The first is that from experience and from talking to RVers, a 28 ft trailer, or a 28 ft fiver with a slide-out, is more than ample for 99% of normal RVing for two people, unless of course, you want to go full-timing. Secondly, most 3/4 ton pickups will comfortably pull, and stop, a gross combined weight of truck and trailer (GCW) of up to about 16,000 lbs; beyond that, it is hard on the truck and the fuel mileage also suffers. A trailer, or fiver, that stays within these limits is about a 28 ft maximum when loaded to go. Murray J. Jackson RV Parking at the Fair: A new publication containing a compilation of state and county fairs throughout the US that have facilities for RVs is now available. This 174-page book contains the name of the fair, address, phone number, number of spaces and hook-ups available along with the fee per night, directions to the camping area and any restrictions. Pat and I, publishers of the book, are full-time RVers and have camp-hosted at a large regional fair recreational vehicle facility for the past two years. We have experienced the increased use as other RVers become aware of it. This formed the idea that other fairs may have facilities that are unused during off-fair times and those facilities might be available to RV travellers. RV Parking at the Fair can be purchased for $16.95 US plus $2.05 for shipping and handling. It is also available on a 3 1/2 inch floppy for those with Microsoft Works for $7 US including shipping. Please enclose a cheque or money order to: Sylvia Kelly Sylvia & Pat Kelly Setting the record straight: Regarding some of the letters in Dear Sheila July/Aug 2001: Bryan Christensen mentions crossing "from BC to Alaska" (RVT 82 pg 7) as going from Haines Junction YUKON to Haines Alaska, and Carcross YUKON to Skagway Alaska, and says they cross the border between BC and Alaska. I think he should take another look at a map — I was not aware the Yukon Territory had joined with BC. Dave and Sandi Burns asked if anyone else used a vent cover with the Fantastic Fan (RVT 82 pg 8). We do, and did on our last rig, with no problems. They work great! Janet Marwick offered a snail mail address for NW Territories Tourism (RVT 82 pg 10). The also have an e-mail address of www.nwttravel.nt.ca and also can be reached at 1-800-661-0788. Regarding OPD valves (RVT 82 pg 24), the regulations are available at: www.npga.org/public/ It is clear that tanks will not be filled in the US after April 1,2002 unless they have the new OPD valves installed. It seems that some propane dealers are having a problem with obtaining the new valves as most are being shipped to the US to fill the demand there. The regulations do not affect any tanks being used in Canada at the moment. Maurice Drew Lost my RVT: Have to tell you, your magazine is great! I find so much useful information in it. I have recommended to my daughter and son-in-law in Edmonton (who have just become the newest members of the RV fraternity) that they should pick up your magazine. I have to admit to pulling a major goof. I am having a problem with my fridge kicking-out to "check mode" on propane. I read in one of your back issues the solution to the problem, including part numbers and everything. I was so enthused that I put it away safely until I could get the repair done. You know what comes next, now I can't find it! Is it possible to get a copy of the information e-mailed to me? I believe it was in the letters section, but I am not sure. Doug Ferguson Doug, You’re right, it was in the Dear Sheila column in RVT 79. Doug, did you know the back issues are online? Check out the answer to your question at www.rvtimes.com/RVT79HTML/79mailbox.html Lori Masse Central America vehicle insurance: We are planning on driving into Central America, hopefully to the Panama Canal, this fall. I have heard from various RVers that there is vehicle insurance available for purchase that covers most, if not all, the countries. Can anyone tell me where we can purchase this? Two years ago we couldn't buy insurance at the Guatemala border so we didn't feel comfortable staying there. If there is anyone that has made this trip and has any pointers, we would appreciate hearing from you. We have read Plaxton's book about RVing in Central America Great magazine, Sheila. I read it from cover to cover. Sue Broadbent Sue, Vehicle insurance for Central America is purchased at the border of each country and it can be a long process. They do not use out of country agents, yet! Carol Cartmell Roadside parking regulations: I read the query about parking an RV at the roadside in the July/August issue of The RV Times. (RV Overnight Parking, RVT 82 pg 10) I am able to answer this question with regard to highways in British Columbia. The laws that you are interested in may be found with these two links: www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/ www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/ If the spot you are interested in is not posted with a sign, or otherwise prohibited in these two sections, you should not have any problem parking there to sleep overnight. It is a common practice, and you will likely see both RVers and commercial truck drivers doing this as you travel around our province. If you choose to visit our web site, you will find pages of interest specifically for the RVing public. Constable Tim Schewe Satellite use in Mexico: I am planning to go to Mexico and would like to know whether ExpressVu or any other small-dish satellite TV system will work? Any help or advice is much appreciated, as the suppliers all say they can offer no help on systems to be used outside of BC. Bob Bob, In regard to your inquiry, the following information may help. When the new satellite came on-stream for Star Choice TV in February 2001, friends of ours got full-signal strength and clear reception at Alamos (near Navajoa, about 500 miles south of the US border in Mexico) with a 20-inch dish. I understand that coverage by the satellite will provide reception of Star Choice right down into Central America. Murray J. Jackson |
Looking for info:
We are looking forward to touring Vancouver Island in our RV this Fall and are looking for tons of information about the place. I would appreciate any information re neat places to visit.
Gordon Lipp
Gordonlipp@aol.com
BC Campsite Rates:
2001 Campsite Rates for Private Campgrounds: (Note: Rates do not include 7% GST.)
REGION/AREA
No of Campgrnds
Max Rates Unserviced
Avg Rate Unserviced
Max Rates Full Service
Avg Rate Full Service
Vancouver Island
59
$12 - $36.00
$18.08
$17.00 - $45.00
$24.74
Vancouver, Coast & Mtn
38
$12 - $30.00
$18.77
$19.50 - $45.00
$25.65
Thompson Okanagan
66
$10 - $35.00
$18.88
$16.50 - $45.00
$25.71
Cariboo
16
$10 - $22.00
$15.67
$16.00 - $25.00
$20.20
BC Rockies
21
$12 - $20.00
$16.55
$15.00 - $40.00
$23.02
Northern BC
18
$ 7 - $20.00
$13.62
$16.00 - $22.00
$19.29
Total Province of BC
218
$ 7 - $36.00
$17.82
$15.00 - $45.00
$24.26
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