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Readers' Mailbox RV Times #86Send your letters by EMail to Sheila@rvtimes.com, or by surface mail to 488 - F Bay Street Victoria, BC, V8T 5H2
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We have taken some of the most popular topics, and grouped those letters together on the "Tips and Letter Archive" page. There you'll find letters on Gross Vehicle Weight, Insurance, Sani-stations in BC, Maintenance for RVs and Safety for RVs. |
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| Cancun, anyone?
We are planning to go to Cancun Mexico in December 2002 for three months, and we would like to know if any of your readers would be interested in travelling with us. Valerie and George Gray Free advice: Does anyone know where we can dump our tank while travelling to Nevada and California? (Preferably for free.) Or where we can charge up our mobility scooters while visiting the States? (Preferably for free.) Thank you for any information you can give us. Mark and Chris Umerski RVing with dogs: I am looking for info on travelling in the southern US with large dogs. I checked the chat section on your website and found nothing. I’ve found some places that say OK to dogs less than 15 lbs, but I am wondering how difficult it is to find places to camp with a large dog (dogs). M. Gish. African rentals: I am trying to find out about renting a motorhome that sleeps six people to travel around South America and Southern Africa. It is proving to be difficult to find such a thing outside the United States, where we have already travelled in such a vehicle! Do any of your readers have any suggestions on where I could look? Andrea Tucker Baja expert: I have noticed a lot of people write in to your magazine asking for information on RVing in Baja. I have pulled a travel trailer to the southern end of Baja several times and I have camped in almost every city along the way. I would be glad to offer advice or answer any questions your readers might have. My e-mail is walterinbaja@hotmail. Walter Dubecki Good towed: I have a Toyota Tercel two-door with a lube-pump that I bought new in 1992. I have towed it south for nine years, last time to Florida. I have had some work done on the transmission and replaced the front tires. I didn’t note any difference on gas mileage for my 33 ft motorhome, and you would never know you had it on. And, by the way, I finally found a self-aligning dish at Big Boys Toys on Vancouver Island. Ted Bartrim Love those Embers: I just wanted to let you know that I love the cartoons in The RV Times. I find myself checking your website to look for the Embers cartoons. Please let Johnny Chinook know he has a great sense of humour. I am looking forward to seeing more of his work. Liz Engbaek Great article: I just finished reading the article Los Angeles of Mexico by Donald Mowrer in the Nov/Dec 2001 issue of The RV Times (RVT 84, pg 48) and I had to write to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The article is very well written, but the best part is the story itself. The fantastic experience that Pat and Catherine had while broken-down along the highway in Mexico will be always be remembered as a highlight of their lives. We have found that while everyone worries about mechanical problems in Mexico, the trials and tribulations of how they get solved make great memories, and also great stories to swap around the campfire or cocktail table. Mike Church A good guy: As newcomers to the RV world, so many people willing to share their knowledge and expertise in so many areas impresses us. Special kudos to Brian Yeates at Langley RV — his patience and his help are above and beyond all expectations, not to mention he does a good job for a good price. Arnie Cripwell Plastic cleaner: Greetings from Belleville Ontario. You have a great website with lots of fun and info! I have just purchased an Apache hard side. I am looking for a product that cleans ABS plastic. (Something that will take out the yellow discolouration.) Also, any tried and true homemade solutions would be greatly appreciated. Chris Taylor Brake regulations: What are the laws governing braking systems for tow vehicles? We have been told that in BC the tow vehicles require brakes that are in sync with the motorhome braking systems (towed car braking system). John Dizon John, What you have heard is true in certain cases. It depends what is being towed and what is doing the towing. Perhaps a good start would be to visit the RV section of our web site: http://www.island.net/~cihp and review the page on brakes. If you have any questions after you have looked through that material, please use the webmaster link and I would be happy to answer them for you. Constable Tim Schewe Satellite bearings: We just switched over to ExpressVu from cable as we wish to have local news etc. while travelling. Would it be possible to provide bearings from various southern sites for both Canadian satellite systems? We understand that it is illegal for the companies to provide any bearings outside of Canada. Perhaps this info could be provided by your readers for access by others in the magazine or on your website. Warren and Karen Pratt. Warren and Karen, Glad to hear you are joining the growing group of RVers using satellite systems to keep up with things while on the road! I have a Bearing List that I have compiled for ExpressVu with many of the popular areas in the US on it. This list is one that I continue adding to in hopes of including all appropriate locations visited. I am also assembling a list for StarChoice, but don’t have that available yet. The list is too large to have The RV Times publish, so I am e-mailing it to you, as well as the Magnetic Deviation Chart and the Footprint of the satellite. As for using the system in the US, the satellite providers do not care where you use their system (as a matter of fact, they have no way of knowing where the system is located — in your home or in your RV on the road), as long as you have it registered at your Canadian residence. The one problem with using the system in the US is that the provider will NOT give you any customer support while you are down there, including giving you bearings for US locations. They know that a great deal of their customers wish to take their systems on the road, that is why they switched to satellite from cablevision in the first place, just as you have. I hope the chart will help, and if you have any other questions please feel free to call me at 604-328-7282 or e-mail digitalelectric@shaw.ca Dan Wiens Satellites in the south: I find your magazine one of the most informative that I have come across. There have been a few letters regarding satellite TV, and I thought I’d add my bit. If you have a computer with you, there is a wonderful little program that can be downloaded free which will give you the direction and elevation required to aim your dish. You just have to plug in a latitude and longitude, either from a map or GPS. The program only has American satellites, but it gives you the directions for inputting new ones. See www.arachnoid.com/satfinder/. Ross Brand Ottawa-bound: I would like to know if anyone has made the trip to Ottawa; we are thinking of going about the middle of May. We would like to know the best route, and get help on finding RV Parks. We drive a small motorhome and would like to travel a southern route through BC. Hope someone can help us; we don’t have a computer! We love your magazine. We get every publication from our RV service place Kerrect RV Service Ltd. — they are great people. Phyllis Gould Remote communication with home base: The RV Times is a great magazine. Every issue that I read gets me fired up to join the happy campers out there, and we will be doing just that in the very near future. I would like to have some feedback from other RV owners and travellers about how they use their laptop computers, or whatever method they use to communicate back home when they are away in excess of a month. For example: for bill paying, Visa, MasterCard, utilities, staying in touch, etc. What is working for you, and how fancy is the equipment you are using? What is the minimum size of e-mail power? Is anyone using GPS on their systems, and are these systems working as intended or what else is working for you? Please fax replies to Stan Cencek, at 780-476-0997. Insurance evaluation: In response to David T. Jones’ letter (RV Price Guide, RVT 85, pg 19), I recently spent (wasted would be more accurate) some time trying to get a valuation on my 1984 Class C. ICBC wouldn’t tell me what the Blue Book value was, saying only that I should go to a dealer. No dealer I phoned would admit to having such a book, and they all told me they couldn’t provide a value on the vehicle unless I was interested in trading it in. I got recommended to a "professional evaluator" and told that a) the valuation would cost me $50 to $100, and b) ICBC wouldn’t necessarily accept that valuation if I had a claim. In fact, ICBC has told me that they have their own set of figures and that they don’t pay much attention to anyone else’s valuations. In addition, if you insure the vehicle for a particular value and ICBC believes it is too high, they simply refuse to pay more than what THEY think it is worth. In the end, I made up a value and arranged insurance accordingly. I’m not particularly happy about high-handed attitude displayed by ICBC, nor about the lack of cooperation from the industry dealers. Dallas Hinton Dallas, I guess you must have spoken to the wrong dealers! I know a lot of dealers who regularly offer advice as to the value of products; they call it good public relations. To give a true evaluation, though, a dealer must look at, drive and even have a good smell of an RV to give you a fair price. Marcel Desjardin Furnace fix: I just wanted to drop a note to say how our family really enjoys The RV Times. My mother-in-law picks it up for us, and it gets passed around the gang. I notice there are often good tips that come from readers in the Dear RV Times section, and I thought I’d just pass one along that we experienced a couple of years ago. Experienced RVers may know this, but at the time we had owned older truck campers and hadn’t had forced-air furnaces before. We got our first forced-air furnace in a 1992 Four Winds camper. It was quite novel — it worked much better/easier than our previous gravity units. One trip we thought our new toy had broken on us. In the middle of the night, we awoke to the fan running on and on and no heat. So we shut off the switch and bundled up for the rest of the night. We had gone camping with a large group, so the next morning we asked around about what the problem might be. There were speculations galore — anything from a low battery to gas delivery issues. We were heading home that day so I decided not to worry about it until I got home. When we got home, after a four-hour highway run with no power appliances running, I went into the camper and thought I’d just flip the switch and see what happened. Well, the unit started up, then the igniter clicked and bingo — heat was blowing. I felt relieved, but still didn’t really know what was wrong. The next day I called the service folks at Trailblazer RV in south Edmonton. I described the situation to a technician and he knew immediately it was simply a low battery issue. This is why the unit worked when it had just come off a four-hour highway run, which charged the battery. (By the way, this was not the first time the folks at Trailblazer RV had willingly given me free advice, even over the phone.) I had an older RV battery and wasn’t familiar with how the furnace worked, so I thought the worst and was expecting a big bill for furnace work. I had the RV battery tested and found it was shot. I went and got a new RV battery and haven’t had trouble since. The point is, if you are a bit of a rookie at this, your first thought might be that you need expensive furnace work. I wish someone had mentioned it to me so I would have known — just run the truck and charge the battery a bit. Happy trails! Iain Strathern Slide-out is great: We read with interest the letter about adding a slide-out from Claude, Val and Tucker (Add a slide, RVT 85, pg 12). We think they should hear the other side of the story. We had a slide-out installed in our 1989 Rockwood Class A motorhome three years ago by a company in Kelowna at a cost of $15,000. And, quite the reverse from what your expert states, we have been absolutely delighted with the final result; it gave us a new lease on RVing. We have lots of extra space, and looking inside and out you would be hard-pressed to think it was not original from the manufacturer. We did not do this from a re-selling point of view, but for our own enjoyment. This was a much cheaper way to go than buying a new unit, and when the day comes to sell, the slide will make it much easier. Ken and Dorothy Rootes Motorhome design: Does anyone know of a manufacturer, other than XTC (who are no longer in business), that puts the design of a truck camper on a pickup truck chassis in the form of a Class C motorhome? To the manufacturers: why can’t I buy the long overhang suitable for a queen-size bed (like a truck camper) in a Class C on a truck body, with the resulting benefit for a great layout without the narrow corner bed (typical for the shorter Class C’s) for a total length of no more than 24 feet? Additional benefits would be the higher clearance of a pickup, outside access to the engine, the great legroom and comfort of a truck cab, compared to the vans used for all Class C’s. I have asked this question a few times of various dealers, but no one has an answer, so far. Perhaps one of them will suggest this idea to a major manufacturer for some action. I would even be willing to place an order for the first product and assist in the planning and layout! Claude Claude, Unfortunately, I don’t know of anyone who manufactures a Class C motorhome on a pickup chassis. If you’ve shopped for a loaded pickup lately, it might answer your question, because boy, are they ever expensive. I think it’s a matter of pure economics, and the volume of sales would definitely not be there for a manufacturer to go into production. The design of motorhomes has to meet strict government standards, has to have UL and CSA approvals, and that costs the manufacturers a lot of money in their engineering departments. There’s a saying in business "If it’s not broke don’t fix it" and the present design of Class C’s sell very well. I’m sorry, but I think you’re out of luck, unless you want to build one yourself. Marcel Desjardin |
Speedy surfing:
Gotta tell you, I wanted to show a friend an article from The RV Times, but I told him I did not want to do it right then or there — it would take too long. It always takes 15 minutes to find anything on the net, so I told him I’d try it tonight. It took me 30 seconds — SECONDS — for your site — www.rvtimes.com — to open to the current issue. I spotted the article — and sent the pointer on its way. I’m impressed; no long multiple front-end pages, with gigabyte pictures that take hours to download, cookies, messages, links to ad sites — just exactly what I was looking for, quickly, so much so I took the time I expected to take searching to send you this note. Whoever decided on the approach to your web site — perfect. By the way, I’m going to look at some of your other pages now, because I want to, not because your site forced me to. Peter Vander Sar The book on sani: Regarding the question in The RV Times Nov/Dec 2001 issue (Southeast Sani, RVT 84, pg 14) about dump stations — we have found the book called The RVe’rs Friend, published by TR Information Publishers, to be very useful in locating dump stations in commercial truck stops as well as rest areas and state and national parks. The book is organized by state or province, and alphabetically by town. It gives the services each truck stop has, such as a restaurant, RV parking, service centres, dump stations, propane, and whether they are RV-friendly, which means you can stay overnight in their lots. (And we have stayed in these many times.) This publication can be picked up at most large RV dealerships or at the truck stops. You should also be able to get it through Trailer Life magazine. Having this book makes planning your trip much easier, rather than taking the chance that you will come across a dump station! Happy travelling! Wayne & Eleanor Kiefer Animal welfare: Over the next couple years, 21st Century Cares, an animal welfare organization with a 17-year history of saving thousands of homeless and abused pets, as well as the education of students throughout southern California, is planning a coast-to-coast tour covering 12,000 miles, visiting 50 cities in 40 states. We will be speaking to one million youth on topics of humane education. In other words, we are going nationwide. Our tax-exempt organization has been given two motorhomes for this large and timely undertaking, but neither one of them was worthy of such a daunting road trip. So, our search continues for the use of a road-worthy, reliable motorhome/camper. As our invitations continue to roll in for speaking engagements, it is looking more and more like this will extend into a two- to three-year project. That would make us full-time RVers for 36 months. If anyone knows of a vehicle we might have use of, please contact me at the number below, or visit our website at www.21stcenturycares.org. This gives our total budget, complete tour schedule and our goals and objectives. Randy N. Warner, President Mexico advice: I have just returned from a second trip to Mexico, this time to the mainland. I would like to make a few comments on my observations: 1. I see a lot of people buying insurance for their trip to Mexico with one goal in mind, "What is the cheapest policy I can get?" when they should be checking into the company itself. I did just that through the Insurance Association of Mexico in Flagstaff Arizona, and guess what — most of the companies people deal with are way down the list in volume or payout. We believe the main reason you buy insurance is to get re-imbursed for your expenses if you are in an accident. We bought insurance from the number-three company in Mexico, and felt good about this decision when we saw many of their offices around the country. They were visible and actually there if we needed them! What is a few dollars saved if you can’t collect? Check the company out; don’t rely on friends. 2. Travelling in Mexico is very safe if you don’t do stupid things. It is safer than your hometown, and the people of Mexico smile and wave to you. Their children are perfectly safe playing in the street. When was the last time our kids could play in the street without us watching them? The people of Mexico will go to all lengths to help in an emergency. Everyone at home drives past you. The Mexicans don’t suffer from the pressures of daily life and heart attacks like the North Americans do. What are we doing wrong? Yes, it may seem a bit dirty to us, but look in the eyes of the kids; they’re beautiful. The country of Mexico may seem a bit behind the times, but I suggest we look in the mirror! Our latest trip to the mainland (just got back Thursday) was one of the best holidays we have ever had. I suggest to anyone contemplating it — go! Don’t listen to the naysayers that you always meet – but have never been themselves! If I can help you with your first trip, just e-mail me and I will tell you what I know. John Haygarth Plumbing advice: A note you might pass on: having to fix three plumbing leaks at the water connections in a month, I have found out there are no Qest fittings for poly-b pipe. The manufacturers stopped making the pipe in 1996 after settling a class-action suit in the US, which excluded RVs. Since mine is a 1997 Triple-E, I hope Canadian manufacturers have found new pipe. In the meantime, I have found copper fittings, push and turn, and Flair-it compression will work. Harvey Johnson Mr. Johnson, It is true that the polybutylene tubing is no longer made, nor apparently are the polybutylene fittings (sold under the trade name Qest), however, we are still purchasing and stocking the polybutylene fittings and will continue to do so as long as they are still in the parts warehouses. An alternate to these fittings are the other three types you mention, and we have found the Flair-it brand to work the best, particularly for the do-it-yourselfer who usually doesn’t have the correct tools to crimp on the copper elbows and tees, etc. Flair-it says their fittings only work with the pex tubing, but they do work very well with polybutylene tubing also when properly installed. Brian Yeates Postal advice: I always enjoy each issue of The RV Times, but the improvements to RVT 85, with improved paper and colour, was the final touch. I usually seem to be taking my magazines to bed for a read before nodding off. I think that’s why I enjoy all the personal travelogues so much; they cause me to dream about travelling in our RV, and not about stressful things. It’s even better now, because I no longer get black ink all over my fingers and thus on the bed sheets, much to the delight of my wife. She also thanks you! I enjoyed the Klashinsky’s 10-part series. Their woes with Canada Post reminded me of why we chose a very satisfactory alternative, which other readers may wish to consider. Our mail would normally be delivered (eventually) to a site box, which is just about a kilometre away. In the time we have lived here, the site box has been vandalized many, many times, so we have never used it. Before moving here, we contracted with Mail Boxes Etc. which has an outlet right by the major supermarket we always use, which makes it very handy. Their rates for mailbox rental are very reasonable, and it is very cheap insurance for vandal-proof mail delivery. They provide 24/7 keyed access, but when we do travel we know our mail is perfectly safe until we return, and if desired, we arrange for them to parcel it up and send it to us if we are away for some time. What is more, Canada Post will only hold any parcels for 10 days before returning as undelivered, but MBEtc. collects and holds them for us indefinitely. Thankfully, no more hassles for us! Ray Seymour Inverter for oxygen: I have to travel with oxygen to use at night; would an inverter handle running the unit overnight? What would be the cost of purchasing one, and what price range are they in? R. Pearce Mr. Pearce, Yes, an inverter would be able to run your oxygen unit overnight. I contacted the manufacturer of your oxygen concentrator for a little more information. Their technical department advised me that your particular unit must be run with an inverter that delivers a "true sine wave" waveform. The inverter draws power from a battery and delivers a true sine wave AC output that is the same as the waveform supplied by your local electric utility. A modified square wave, or modified sine wave will not give you the assurance you need to operate such an important device. My advice for anybody planning to run an oxygen concentrator or any other important medical device with an inverter is to be sure the inverter is big enough to handle the load. You can check that out with your RV dealer. The inverter should also deliver the right AC waveform. Xantrex, the world’s largest manufacturers of inverters, create some of the highest quality inverters on the market. I would recommend one of their Prosine series inverters for this application because of its reliability and high quality. A 1000-watt Prosine inverter has a manufacturers suggested retail price of $1385 plus installation. The battery bank should also be capable of delivering enough power between charging times. As well, it is also worth noting that some laser printers, personal computers, laptops, timers in coffee makers, and some rechargeable battery packs also require "true sine wave" inverters to operate properly. For further information regarding pricing and installation, I would be pleased to forward the name of an authorized Powersource dealer in your area. Mike Stephens Improving performance: I recently retired and hope to do a lot of travelling in our truck and camper. I have a 1990, 3/4-ton Ford SC 4 X 4, with a 460 cu. in. engine. I purchased the truck new and it now has 81,000 km and the original exhaust system on it. The exhaust is still good, but we don’t know for how much longer. I would like to know if it is possible to improve the power and fuel economy when it comes time to change the exhaust system, and where or what company one should contact about getting the parts, or having the job done. Maybe some of the readers know and have the information at hand? T. Simmons Mr. Simmons, You need to contact a good, knowledgeable shop that understands the difference between power needs for towing or hauling, and then discuss with them the improvements to your pickup that will meet your requirements. As an example, I have two 350 V-8 powered vehicles. One produces 355 hp and 405 ft/lbs torque, and the other produces 300 hp and 375 ft/lbs torque, but the lower powered engine is in my truck because its power curve is in the lower rpm range where it is needed for towing. The other is in a car that zips around like a rocket, but is not used for towing, only pleasure driving. An automotive engine is basically just a large air pump and the easier the pump can move air in and out the more efficient it will be, and by that logic, it will produce more power while using less fuel. In practice, when we have more power available, we generally use it to a fuller extent and often end up with no improvement in fuel economy. If you cannot find anyone in the Victoria area, I suggest you contact Kershaw Performance or Jim’s Automotive, both are here in Langley and they should be able to help you further. Brian Yeates Good news for toweds: I am forwarding a letter I received from John Furney. Looks like good news for those of us who tow our vehicles. Phyllis Mulder From: John.Furney@gems9.gov.bc.ca Dear Phyllis, I promised I would keep you updated. As a result of the recent 2001 camping season review, BC Parks’ fee structure will regard a motorhome towing a commuter vehicle as equivalent to a truck and 5th wheel; the towed commuter vehicle will not attract an additional half-fee. All other aspects of BC Parks’ party definition remain unchanged. John Furney Thank you, John: Earlier this year I e-mailed John Furney, Recreational Services Officer, about the extra charge for the towed vehicle behind motorhomes. He was very polite and replied immediately to me. Just recently, Mr. Furney e-mailed me, wishing me a happy holiday and letting me know there would not be a charge for the towed vehicles in 2002. I think the way he has handled this situation deserves a thanks from all of us who have towed vehicles. I am very impressed he would get back to me personally about this. Thank you John Furney for your help. It is much appreciated. Val Davenport More reductions needed: Thanks to John Furney for the first positive note in this New Year. Perhaps we can work on giving seniors a reduced rate during the summer season as the next task. It used to be a half-rate some years ago. Even a $2 reduction, like in California, would show some recognition to us oldies. Gerhard Winkler Rent a dolly: I am looking for a place to rent a car-hauling trailer behind my motorhome. I am from Prince George BC. Does anybody out there have any suggestions on this subject? Propane adapter: I want to purchase an adapter I saw last year at the Quartzsite show to fill small propane bottles. Does anyone know where I can get one? Robert Kearney GPS praise: I have been away for quite some time, and just got home. I picked up the Nov/Dec issue of The RV Times and was reading the letter (GPS advice needed, RVT 84, pg 8) about GPS. We spent three months RVing across Canada with our portable GPS purchased at Radio Shack (Megallen) and the program Streets & Trips. While travelling 20,843 km we never missed a beat. We found campgrounds wherever we were — including the phone numbers from the software — and found every turn of the way, including rest areas when we wanted. It is a fabulous piece of software and the combination worked absolutely incredible for us from home to Newfoundland and back. It took a lot of stress out of our trip and made it even more wonderful. If anyone needs questions answered about GPS and the software, don’t hesitate to contact us. We love your magazine! Joan & Stewart Sullivan Easy to tow: I am looking for a vehicle that is simple to tow. I’ve heard that the Saturn is a good tow vehicle; I’ve seen many of them being towed by RV’s during my travels. I was told that you don’t need to fiddle with the transmission or a special dolly, is this true? Don Tompson Don, The way that the Saturn transmission is designed, no modifications, procedures or pumps are required to tow one. In fact, the mileage will not accumulate while towing. Also, you will still maintain full warranty from Saturn. All you need is a tow hitch and you’re in business! David Sheng |
Previous Issues' Letters: Good cellular plan: We’re going to be full-time RVing starting in April. We have been frantically looking for an alternative way of communicating with family and friends, as we will no longer have the landline. We plan on spending about five months a year in the US and Mexico, so we really wanted a plan that would work in both countries at a price we can afford. Well, I’m happy to say we found one! Have you heard of Verizon Wireless? They are in the US and currently offer a national plan of 300 minutes, plus 300 minutes for nights and weekends, for $35 US. You can add on Canada for another $10 US plus taxes. There are no long distance or roaming charges. We have been with Verizon for two months now and are thoroughly happy with them. They have been extremely helpful and courteous with us. Our monthly bill is $53.92 US which works out to around $87 Cdn. They also have a Motorola phone with e-mail that we’ll be looking at a little further down the road. Two things, though: you need an American address and they will do a credit check on you. You can set it up so your bill is paid by credit card and supposedly you don’t get a bill, or you can pay online. I go online around the 10th of every month and print off my bill just for record keeping purposes. Their website is verizonwireless.com and they have locations in Utah, Idaho and Montana. You can also phone John at Verizon Wireless at 1-801-891-4620; he says that setup can be done over the phone. They will then mail you the phone and necessary information. Also, for an incentive they will give you 100 bonus minutes for signing up, and the person who referred you will get $25 on their account. All you have to do is provide the name and phone number of the person who referred you. So-o-o-o just in case, the name on our plan is Lowell Walker and our number is 801-598-0683. Send us an e-mail or give us a call (weekends only) if you think we can be of help to you with a bit more information. Lowell and Betty Walker Campervan or Class C? My wife and I are considering purchasing an RV for a six-month to a year-long trip. We plan to take our time travelling across Canada, and then through the US to Mexico. Our two options are a 21 to 23 ft. campervan with a 350 engine, and a 23 ft. Class C with a 454 to 460 motor. Our plan is to spend much of our time outdoors, and we were considering the campervan for economy. We have also been advised to consider a Class C because it is more comfortable. Do any of your readers have any help or suggestions? Please send us an e-mail. Another area where we could use some suggestions is camping in southern US as opposed to Mexico. Bob Sulz Border Hot List: The Code 1 Alert implemented at US borders after last year’s terrorist attacks on the United States continues to have a devastating effect on travellers heading south. Before September 11, local border crossings were home to the PACE lanes. PACE served 140,000 frequent border crossers, many of whom traversed the border several times a day. PACE enrollees accounted for as much as 30 percent of local border traffic. However, federal authorities suspended the PACE program on September 11, stating that the program will not reopen because of security flaws. Instead, it appears PACE will be replaced with a high-tech DCL program known as NEXUS. For more information about this proposed program and updates on border-related issues, we have a free monthly newsletter that would be helpful for RV Times readers. They can subscribe to Border Hot List! by sending a BLANK e-mail to borders-subscribe@topica.com or by contacting us directly at gboos@americanlaw.com. Greg Boos Propane detectors: Does anyone know of a propane detector that operates on its own batteries? We have one in our trailer that uses the 12-volt trailer supply, but I would like one that has its own built-in supply, such as pen cells or nine-volt batteries. The reason I want one is that the existing one draws quite a bit of current; I measured .2 amps. When you are dry camping for a while, this adds up, as it is drawing current 24 hours a day. This comes to over 4 amp-hours per day. Going a bit further, this comes to about 120 amp-hours in about a month, enough to put a dent in your battery if it is left on when the rig is not in use. If I leave it connected when at home, and the sun is not shining, this small draw will pull the battery down in a relatively short time. I know someone who had a 12-volt propane detector on his boat and went on vacation. When he came back the batteries were dead! Good thing his boat didn’t leak because the bilge pumps would have had a bad time! The smoke detectors run on nine-volt batteries, and they last for quite a long time. Why can’t a propane detector be built to operate the same way? Even if we had to replace the batteries sooner, I wouldn’t mind. Let’s face it, most of us use the rig less than three months a year. We have a solar panel that meets most of our requirements, but if the propane detector is independent, it would be better. Einar and Vi Carlsen Einar and Vi, None of our suppliers offer a propane detector that uses its own power source. For that reason, when we sell or install one, we encourage the installation of an on-off switch for the detector if it doesn’t have one built in. After all, if you’re not in the rig, you’re not there to hear the detector if it does go off, and in most cases, the propane is shut off anyway. When you are camping, the detector does draw on the battery, but I feel that the protection it offers is well worth the additional battery draw. Brian Yeates, Burning oil? We have an older Class A with a 454 GM motor. It runs great, has good oil pressure and does not smoke. We have to add a quart of oil every 300 miles or so. I have checked with a number of different people and get as many answers, but still have to add the oil. Can anyone out there help? Really enjoy your magazine, Sheila! Keep up the good work. R. Andersen, Nanaimo BC Reg and Girlin, You didn’t mention the mileage, but there are a couple of things you can try: change the pcv valve, make sure that the carburetor is not over-fueling the motor, and verify that the intake manifold is tight. If none of this helps, you could try heavier grade oil. If that helps, then you have a ring problem. Terry Kershaw Canadian boondocking: Congratulations for publishing the best RV magazine. We are planning a first-time, three-month (or more) trip across Canada, leaving by May 8. Our RV is a 19.5 ft, 1991 Dodge Islander wide-body Class B. We have done some boondocking on previous trips south, but don’t know if much of this is available in Canada (or New England). Does anyone know of a guidebook that lists free or low-cost RV campsites for these areas? Mitzi and Larry Braine Fort Langley BC Dump station website: I’ve noticed from the letters in your magazine that many people are looking for dump station information. Here is an URL that gives a lot of information for Canada as well as the US www.fulltiming-america.com/rvdump/. Hope this helps. Hermann Weber Difficult choice: I have been reading some articles in your back issues: What is a Membership Park (RVT 82, pg 28) and What is a Camping Club (RVT 83, pg 34). I am interested in one called Choice Camping. Would any readers be able to give me some feedback on this type of camping club? You have an excellent magazine, keep up the good work. John Cull John, Last winter we stayed at the home park of Choice Camping at the Caverns RV Park in Huachuca City (near Sierra Vista) in Arizona. They offer a lot of membership associations for a very low price, with low dues, and I think their offer is sound. But their home park facilities are extremely minimal. When we were there, the above-ground pool was closed for some elusive reason, and we thought it hasn’t been open for the past several years. The clubhouse was OK, but it was very small, and the overall image of the park was less than elaborate. Apparently, the park was spending their money on putting in many new sites instead of updating their facilities. If even a few of their numerous members wanted to stay at the same time there would never be room. Our neighbours were members and seemed to be very happy with their purchase. Other members and work campers we met also appeared content. However, the membership cost is low and as a member of Choice Camping you will have the opportunity to look around at many systems to see if you want to spend higher dollars on a more elaborate home park. Just remember, no matter where you buy it continues to be necessary to shop around before signing any deal. Hope this info helps. Peggi and John McDonald Diesel website: I would suggest you add www.ford-diesel.com to your links on your website. It is a great site for ford diesel truck owners. It has lots of info and a great forum. This is a must-see site for Ford do-it-yourself owners/operators. Thanks for your fantastic links site. D. Jones Cautious buyer I need to know about upgrading from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel, but I am cautious about getting the best deal and not being burned by the industry. They want to sell you what they have, and not what is coming down the road in five years. I think I should wait for new technology and all the latest things to have. Since you tend to change your mind after you buy the unit, any tips would be helpful. I read in other magazines how people get burned and destroy their unit, because they were not informed or didn’t want to listen. Fellow RVers Paul and Linda Paul and Linda, There are new products and designs coming down the road all the time. If you wait five years you’ll be able to buy the new ideas that have happened, but what about the new ideas that will happen five years after that? Will you then wait another five years? Dealers want to sell you what they have in stock, because that’s what people are buying today. The buying public dictates what sells and what doesn’t sell – not the dealers or the industry. I read all the RV magazines available and I have never ever read a story about people destroying their units because they got "burned," were not informed, or didn’t want to listen. My best advice to you is to go out and buy something that you both like. Enjoy your new 5th wheel, trailer, motorhome, tent-trailer, camper tent or whatever today. You may not be here in five years; you’ll probably have worried yourself to death! Marcel Desjardin RV appraisal: I have a 1995 Award Classic, purchased new in 1996 from Ruston RV. I’m planning to sell it this spring. How would I determine its current market value? The unit is like new. Glen McKay Glen, The obvious way to check prices is to go through RV periodicals and try to match the RV you are selling to some currently for sale, and expect to get a similar price. The RV you are selling, although a very good model, is rather rare, so it might prove very difficult for you to find a fair market value so as to price your unit. You might want to try your local library to see if they carry the Kelly Blue Book, a wholesale guide used by many RV dealers. Another option would be to check with local dealers to see if they might be interested in buying your RV or taking it on consignment. Marcel Desjardin Private rentals: Could you tell me if there is a group of private travel trailer owners that rent their units? I would be interested in renting a 27 ft. travel trailer in May or June for three to four weeks. I have a 2000 Yukon XL with the 5.3 litre vortec. Keith Tamburri Keith, We have a "Concept RV Rental" company. Many people buy an RV and use it only one to three months per year. We take them on consignment and rent them out. Many RVers have made a business out of it. (Tax advantages, write-offs etc.) They have an opportunity to get a return on their investment, and are able to purchase a new unit more often — not to mention, justifying it to the wife! Please check my website www.snowbirdrvrentals.com. I’m sure we have what you are looking for. Peter Betz Manual missing: My wife and I recently purchased a 1989 24 ft Okanagan RV. We are looking forward to many trips and adventures. One of the things missing was the original manual. Do any readers have a similar RV? Ron and Bonnie Brown The Composer: To the person looking for Pocketmail (Sharp Pocketmail, RVT 85, pg 18), I bought mine at a swap meet in Yuma. Also, Quarzsite has them too. I checked Staples in Yuma and they didn’t have the devices. Maybe other states have them. And Al, thanks for the copy of The RV Times that you gave us at the Avi Resort and Casino in January! RoseMarie Larsen |
BC Campsite Rates:
Average 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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