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Readers' Mailbox RV Times #87
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Send 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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| Workcampers:
RVers may be interested to know that there is now a Workamper Canada. Many Canadians have discovered Workamper News and the workamper.com website in the last 12 years, and have been disappointed that essentially all the jobs listed were in the US and unavailable to Canadians. Now we've started a Canadian version. We can be seen online at at www.workamper.com/canada. We also have a special Canadian section in Workamper News, our print edition. I would welcome e-mails at WorkamperCanada@workamper.com, snail mail or phone calls from anyone wanting more information, whether employers or potential workampers. Jo Baer, Editor RV Exchange: We have picked up your excellent magazine whenever we are home in Vancouver, though not as regularly as we would wish since we have been travelling a lot. Presently, we are with our little Dolphin RV in Mexico for the fourth time, and have also seen a lot of the US and Canada. In order to stay in touch with friends and otherwise, we are using a very handy device called Pocket Mail, which I am presently using to ask your readers the following question: Are there any websites or publications dealing with RV exchange, similar to what is done for house exchange? We are interested in going to Australia, then Europe, and are sure people from there would be interested in coming over here. (When you reply, please remember that the Pocket Mail cannot receive attachments and is not connected to Internet.) I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to provide. Tony Opsetmoen Too old? We enjoy reading The RV Times. We are thinking we would like a diesel pusher motorhome, but wonder if at 70 years old have we left it too long? Or are there others out there RVing at this age? Al & Phyllis Letts Al & Phyllis, Wow! 70 years young and thinking of buying a new RV. My hat's off to you guys. I had the privilege of selling a class A motorhome to a gentleman who was 84 years young, and the only complaint he had was that he didn't buy it when he was younger. I you haven't RV'd before, you might want to rent one first and see if you like the lifestyle. By renting first you might save yourself a lot of time and money by having to resell your motorhome. Hope I have helped in your decision. Marcel Desjardins Car seats: First off, let me say that you have a wonderful magazine; we read them from cover to cover several times over and can hardly wait for the next issue. We have two children who are in car seats. Late last year we started looking at tent trailers, then this year thought maybe an RV would be better (quieter for those around us, etc.). Our concern is car seat safety – where do you put the anchor for the tether strap on the car seats? Our eldest should just about be able to use his seat with a shoulder harness in a regular vehicle soon. But, I haven't seen any shoulder harnesses besides the front seats. So, we are wondering if we are out of luck for the time being? I'm hoping someone has come across a similar problem with car seats for their children/grand children? Dianne Fish Satellite alignment: Recent issues of your magazine have had inquiries regarding the alignment of satellite dishes in the US. We currently use ExpressVu, and I found a neat program called Satellite Finder at: www.arachnoid.com/satfinder/ on the internet. It is quite small, and easily downloaded. It does not contain Nimiq @ 91W, which is the satellite that ExpressVu uses. However, it does list a "Galaxy 7" at the same location, i.e. 91W. I have loaded in a few of my own latitudes and longitudes for satellite alignment in Arizona locations, and this program calculates within a degree of my readings. That certainly is close enough for use with a hand compass. I hope this will help winter travellers get set up to enjoy news from Canada. Glyn Rogers Satellite bearings: Try www.nmia.com/~roberts/canusang . Please note: all bearings are true, not magnetic. Les Stevens Rock deflectors: I have seen rock deflectors on the back of motorhomes that fit all the way across the back (the brush type). Do you know if anyone sells them to fit on a pickup truck? Randy Vant Hof Randy, I'm not aware of an RV "broom" made specifically for pick-up trucks, but there is a product by Rock Solid that mounts to the ball mount of the truck. It is a heavy plastic rock protector with vertical slices in it every four inches. The model number is #00011, and it retails for approximately $96 Cdn. I would suggest you locate one and carefully assess how it will look and function on your truck before you buy it. It should be available through any local RV parts supplier. Brian Yeates Family RV parks: I'm at the end of my rope; could you please help me? I'm 30 years old and my husband is 39. We are expecting our first baby in June. We are running into problems finding RV parks that will take a family with a baby. We are full-timers (my husband builds golf courses) and we travel all along the West Coast. Is there a book out there for family budget RV parks? We are in Casa Grande Arizona right now, and the place we are in is very run down, but I guess it will do. It seems to be the only place in Casa Grande that will let us have our baby, and we will be working here until after the baby is born. Please help. Queen bed: Does any reader know of a Class C model on the market shorter than 27 ft with a queen-size bed? For our travel on forestry roads and campsites we find the shorter the better, and would love to find a 24 ft length with a good-size bed! Claude Claude, There is simply not enough room for a queen-size bed in a Class C. People would not buy a motorhome that is all bed. I'm six foot four inches and I wear socks to bed every time I RV because of the small bed. We also have to remember that it's still camping and not a night at the Ritz. P.S. Those white athletic socks from Costco work the best. Marcel Desjardin Award for service: Recently, we had problems with the furnace in our 5th wheel. Since we are full timers, and it was cold and snowing, we needed the furnace. I called West Coast Motor Sport Ltd in Lantzville BC and I must say I was very, very pleased. The service was excellent and the technician was very courteous. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing repairs or supplies for their recreational vehicle. They even came back and repaired a loose wire in the fan on the bathroom duct. I don't know if you have a certificate of appreciation, but if you do they truly deserve it. Ruth & Bill Wilken Awnings and tanks: Regarding the inquiry by Laurie Lamont (Awning replacement, RVT 84, pg 10), unfortunately, Norseman awnings are no longer being made. I talked to several RV shops here in Edmonton who said she should be able to have one made, especially as there should be plenty of sail-makers in her area. Hope this helps! For the Leaky Tank letter (RVT 84, pg 6), Drader Industries here in Edmonton make heat guns called Injectaweld. They repair all matter of things from car bumpers to RV holding tanks, and they work very well from my experience. Their website is at www.drader.com Great magazine; keep up the good work. Ian R. Macdonald Toilet paper: Re: the article RV Toilet Paper vs. the Ordinary Stuff *(RVT 84, pg 64). When we went RVing with my Dad and Mom, we put our used toilet paper in a container beside the toilet. The saved paper was then used later to start the fire. So the toilet paper did two jobs! We came to Canada in 1926 and we still do this. We never have trouble with our RV toilet or our septic tank; it is surprising just how well it works. (Just try it!) Peter Rempel Table replacement: I have been searching all over the internet to try to find a replacement table for my 1977 Wilderness travel trailer. Is there a site you know of, or can you tell me where I might find one? Darlene Frances Darlene, RV manufacturers do not normally keep components in stock for anything other than the immediate needs for the production line in the assembly plant. Your best bet would be to have a local RV repair facility or a good carpenter make a replacement table. The only real problem that may be involved is in locating suitable arborite for the top. Brian Yeates Doing laundry: We have just returned from our first visit to the Baja, and one major thing we found needed most was a method to do laundry while dry camping. Does anyone have a method, or a type of washer, that uses limited water, little or no electricity and takes up little space? Also, where a portable wringer that attaches to a table could be purchased? We remember seeing a washer large enough for three shirts, operated by hand, being advertised on TV sometime ago, but our researching has found nothing. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Phyllis Nygaard SUV tent: I am looking for a tent that I can hook up to the back of my SUV (Ford Explorer). I have seen one in the Cabelas catalogue at www.cabelas.com –Automotive/ATV/Automotive exterior/Truck bed accessories. It has a front and back door. To the back door of the tent, you attach an alcove that goes between the tent and the SUV. The alcove goes around the back of the SUV and is held in place by a web and buckle assembly. Do you know where I could find one in Canada? Georges Lemay Fridge parts: Do you know where I can get Dometic fridge parts? Norm Bourassa Norm, Dometic is a very large supplier to the RV industry and parts are available through any RV facility that has a parts store. If you are unable to locate one locally, you can contact us with the model number of your fridge and the part you need so we can supply it for you. Brian Yeates European websites: My mother recently gave me a copy of your magazine; it is a great product! I was attracted to the Websites of Interest to RVers. Our family will be going to Amsterdam to buy our first RV, and then travel around Europe for a year. Are there any sites that your readers might be aware of that could help us plan our trip? Dave Ilyn Detecting leaks: I wrote an article for The RV Times a couple of years ago on the Sealtech machine. A lot of people were interested in the test because it detects leaks in RVs. Sealtech is now listing on their website the places where people can get the test done – www.rvleaks.com Katrina Boguski Touring Europe: We are planning a trip to Europe in two years, and plan to tour for about four months. We would like to purchase a used car or van for our travels. Has anybody purchased and sold a vehicle in Europe? We would appreciate any information on this venture. Carmela Livolsi Sani closed: The sani-dump in Nanaimo at the Country Club Wal-Mart has been closed down due to expansion of the mall. The closest dump, although not free, is at Living Forest RV Park in south Nanaimo. Thanks for the great publication; we look forward to receiving it every time. Jim Cirka Pocketmail: For those folks looking for Pocketmail, a company in Miami has exclusive rights now. They are called Mobile Mania and their phone number is 1-800-447-9469. Hope this helps! (A friend ordered one while in AZ and received it in three days; they shipped it via UPS.) Anne Roth Reverse tip: Here is a hint for backing-up trailers from Vern Baker, a professional truck driver for Mr. Naturals Trucking: When backing a trailer, the trailer always goes in the same direction as the bottom of the steering wheel. P.S. Great magazine; read it all the time. Chris Fairwell to Ian: The upcoming issue of Mini Schnauzer Magazine has been dedicated to my husband Ian, who recently passed away. I have also written an article for this issue. For those who have miniature schnauzers or other canine pets, you may enjoy reading the Health and Nutrition Section as well. The website is at: www.simplyschnauzer.net/cover.html Marilynn Jack, RVT Pet Forum columnist ***Up in the air:
I pointed out to him that the brakes and park were on the rear wheels, hanging up in the air, and he agreed with me, but did nothing about it for the three days he stayed there. I was glad to see him leave. Somebody could have been badly hurt, or his motorhome could have been damaged if a hydraulic line had exploded. Never lift the wheels off the ground completely! Kjeld Frederiksen, BC Parks changes: When checking the BC Parks website to see about future bookings, I saw that this year there will be a fee for firewood, and BC Parks Disability Passes were cancelled. On March 1 new ones will be available under BC Benefits if you qualify under their guidelines, which could take eight weeks. So far, no one from BC Parks has verified this, or confirmed what happens to those that qualified under CPP disability. Harvey Johnson Harvey, The details of the changes are outlined on the Parks website. You are correct – firewood will be for sale at Provincial campgrounds and the Disabled Passes have been discontinued. The new program criteria are on the web – http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks– with links that will take you to the sites that provide qualification information. (If you are unable to access the internet, see the information below.) Additional clarification on the disabled subsidy can be obtained from Debby Funk in Victoria; her phone number is 250-387-4356. Ian Pepper BC Parks 2002 Changes to BC Parks Firewood Starting this year, park facility operators will sell firewood at prices based on local market conditions. Parks staff will ensure that quality firewood is available to campers at a reasonable price. If they prefer, campers may also bring their own wood. Disabled Access Pass Program Subsidies for disabled campers have been maintained, but qualifying criteria have changed. In the past, the Ministry issued its own pass to people with disabilities that allowed these individuals to camp for free in provincial park campgrounds. The previous provincial park disabled camping pass is now invalid. Under our new system, the eligibility criteria for the disabled camping subsidy will match that of the BC Benefits Program, Disability Benefits Level Two, administered by the Ministry of Human Resources, and the At Home Program, administered by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. To qualify, you must show written confirmation to a park facility operator that you meet the criteria of the Disability Benefits Level Two program or the At Home Program and provide one additional piece of identification at the time of your visit to a provincial park. Campsite Fees for Persons with Disabilities The BC Parks Disabled Access Pass is now invalid. In the past pass holders have been able to camp for free in Provincial Parks. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection will continue to provide persons with disabilities the opportunity to camp for free in road accessible provincial park campgrounds; however, the eligibility criteria has been changed. As of March 1, 2002, to qualify for free camping you must be receiving Disability Benefits Level Two available through the BC Benefits Program (administered by the Ministry of Human Resources) or have a child who is eligible for or on the At Home Program (administered by the Ministry of Children and Family Development). Upon your arrival at the campground, please show one of the following to the campground operator at the park:
Campsite Fees for Seniors If you reside in British Columbia and are 65 years of age or older, the fee for a senior during the shoulder season (the period from the day after Labour Day to June 14 of the following year) for the use of a campsite in frontcountry camping, is calculated at one half of the summer season fee or the full winter camping fee, whichever is less. This discount applies to the senior and his/her spouse. SUMMER SEASON??? $8 per party per vehicle per night?$4 per party per vehicle per night $9 per party per vehicle per night?$4.50 per party per vehicle per night $12 per party per vehicle per night?$6 per party per vehicle per night $15 per party per vehicle per night?$7.50 per party per vehicle per night $17.50 per party per vehicle per night?$8.75 per party per vehicle per night $18.50 per party per vehicle per night?$9.25 per party per vehicle per night |
Interpretive Programs/Visitor Centres
Provincial funding for parks' interpretation programs has been discontinued. Visitor Centres at Wells Gray and Mount Robson Provincial Parks will remain open. The Visitor Centre at Goldstream Provincial Park remains open until March 31, 2002. Interpretive signage is still available at many parks. Information about parks and wildlife is also available through the Ministry's website and through a variety of other internet sources and publications. Withdrawal of services There are currently more than 300 locations in the provincial park system in which camping and/or day use services are provided. In 45 low-use locations, services will be withdrawn as of April 1, 2002. Camping will no longer be available at these sites. These locations account for only three per cent of the total annual camping and day use in the park system. The public will continue to have access to these parks during the day as long as there is no risk to public health and safety and there is no vandalism. Organizations are welcome to bring forward proposals to manage the provision of recreation services at these locations at no cost to the provincial government. Park closures: The closure of three percent of the parks in BC seems fairly trivial, unless you break it down a little. This equates to 40 percent in the Peace region, and 100 percent of the parks in Tumbler Ridge. The majority of the people in southern BC don't know where half of the places are. Losing these parks is of no consequence to them, but up here it is of great significance. Rick Parsons Baja blunders: Hello from beautiful Christina Lake BC! (We always like to get a plug in for our little community whenever we can.) I am writing in response to the story in the The RV Times by Serge and Caroline about their current Baja Mexico trip. (Serge and Caroline’s Journey, RVT 85, pg 37). We have made five trips down into Mexico, two on almost the same route they are taking. We arrived back just yesterday from our latest trip, and must have been at Santispac at the same time as they were there. I would like to make the following suggestions to Serge and Caroline: 1) Next time cross at Tecate. It’s only about 45 minutes from San Diego, and no waiting! 2) True, the road is narrow, but it has been resurfaced most of the way, with most of the infamous "toupes" now removed. Much better than it was even three years ago. 3) Driving in the middle of the road to force traffic over is asinine! I hope I never meet you on any narrow road, be it in Mexico, the US or anywhere else. 4) Driving 326 miles from Cativina to Santispac in one day on a narrow road like that is equally as asinine. Next time, stop at Guerrero Negro or Scammonds Lagoon. You are on holidays, for crying out loud; take time to smell the cactus (or see the whales)! 5) Hiding fruit from the inspection stations is foolish and illegal. The purpose of these stations (as in California), is to stop the spread of bugs. You are in a foreign country. For the sake of those visitors following you, please follow the rules. 6) If you had done your homework, you would have known better than to take a big rig into Mulege. Every Baja guide I have ever read warns against it. Why didn't you just stop at one of the two large campgrounds (The Orchard or Villa Maria Isabel) south of town, where you turned around, and ask? You must have passed them both twice. They speak good English, and could have told you to just go another mile down the road. 7) Words like "prehistoric" and "like dying slowly" with respect to internet connections are unfair. No wonder tourists get a bad name. Yes, things are a lot slower in Mexico. That's why many of us like it! Further, for the benefit of readers, who may be planning a trip to Mexico, you don't need an International Drivers License, Canada stickers, Vehicle Import Permits, CBs, special ATM cards, multi-meter testers, etc, etc, to travel in the Baja. Sure, some of these might be nice, but you definitely don't NEED any of them. Tourist Cards ARE needed, and can be purchased in just a couple of minutes ($18.50 US) right at the Tecate border, or in Ensenada. No offense to your article intended, Serge and Caroline, we enjoyed your thoughts. Hope you enjoy ours. Too bad we didn't get to meet you at Santispac, we probably were within handshake distance several times while you were there. We just want to make sure that others don't get the wrong idea of a country we enjoy so much. Have a great trip! Ian & Faye Brooker Happy RV folks: Hello to Serge and Caroline! We are from Greenfield Park Quebec, but we moved to BC in 1972 and have enjoyed the change ever since. We read your very interesting story in The RV Times (Serge and Caroline’s Journey, RVT 85 and 86), you are both brave and interesting people – wow, what trip! Are you both enjoying the hot and warm weather in Mexico? We generally go to Yuma AZ for three months in January, but your trip sounds very interesting (so far!) and we are very envious of you. Dan McGrail Dan, Thank you very much for your nice comments, and for reading The RV Times! You're right, it is quite the trip that we are experiencing, and is our first time in Mexico. It is a great country to visit, and you meet a LOT of Canadians all around the country. We are from Laval-sur-le-Lac, a north Montreal suburb, but not any more! We've sold our home, cars and furniture so we can travel for a few years. We've been through Yuma on our way down, and Mexico is close from Yuma, no? When you read the next episodes of our Mexican Journey, you’ll want to come, too! Serge& Caroline ***Humdinger RV Show:
It was great to see Sheila and Al at the new RV Show in Chilliwack; wasn't it a wonderful show? I was so impressed with it. There were so many RV dealers present, and displayed so well. The aisles were wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers. For the first RV Show at Heritage Park in Chilliwack, the organizers can be proud. With free parking and donations at the door, it was affordable for the family to enjoy. The selection of seminars was great as well. We hope to see you in Chilliwack next year. M & G Russell What a show: Wow! What a great show. I would like to congratulate the Chilliwack RV dealers for putting together a fabulous RV exposition. It’s tough to praise one’s competitors, but here goes – fantastic promotion, great facility, wonderful layout and fairness to all. It was a pleasure to participate, and – needless to say – rewarding. What a difference between an RV show and a home show! Two weeks previous we had a Class A motorhome in the HomeShow at BC Place in Vancouver. There were a lot of people at the Vancouver Home Show that had never been close to an RV, let alone seen the interior of one, and some comments were pretty darn silly. Five hundred and seventy-two people at the Vancouver show told me that they would return and buy the motorhome if they won the lottery. Only three people told me that at the Chilliwack RV Show. So far, no winners have come forward to buy the motorhome. Guess I’ll just have to wait for a few more draws. About 600 people at the Vancouver show wanted to know if you needed a special license to drive such a huge behemoth. After attending the Chilliwack show seminars provided by the RCMP and ICBC, about the same number of RVers told me that a special license would soon be required to drive or tow RVs in BC. At the Vancouver show people could not believe the room and comfort afforded by huge Class A’s and how expensive they were. At the Chilliwack show, people told me what a great buy this particular Class A was. The Vancouver show had all kinds of people and characters looking at the motorhome. Comments were sometimes as bizarre as the get-ups people had on. I have never seen so many body piercings in my life. I had one couple (she with very electric blue hair and he with spiked hair so high that he had to duck down to get in the RV) tell me that they would never stoop to owning – or even sleeping in – a capitalistic machine such as this. I asked them what they did for a living, but they refused to tell me. The Chilliwack show had wholesomeness to it that you only get from RVers. I really enjoy working with, or selling products to, people who have worked their entire lives to be able to afford the pleasures in life they cherish. I hope you all have a safe and great summer of RVing. Marcel Desjardin Parking and propane: We've had a subscription to The RV Times for almost seven years, but have not found answers to the following questions. Maybe some of your readers can help. 1. We visit relatives on Vancouver Island from time to time and take our 5th wheel with us. We would find it more economical to park our trailer close to the ferries on the Lower Mainland and take only our tow vehicle onto the Island. The length of the trailer makes it close to impossible to maneuver it into the B.C. Ferries parking lot. Can you help us find a storage lot close to the Trans-Canada Highway somewhere around, say, Abbotsford, where we could leave the trailer for 10-14 days while we visit our friends on the Island? 2. We go south to Arizona and Nevada each winter in our 5th wheel where we use a fair amount of propane for heating and cooking. We hear that new regulations go into effect in the US in April 2002 requiring all vertical propane tanks to be fitted with a new kind of overflow prevention device. This change makes our present tanks unfillable once we cross the border. I have checked with several propane suppliers near home in Alberta who tell me that new propane tanks in Canada do not comply with the new U.S. regulations. Short of buying new 30-lb propane tanks in the US, are there any means of upgrading our propane tanks in Canada before we head south next winter? We would really appreciate some reader comments on the above two matters. We think that The RV Times is the best RV magazine bar none. Your correspondents and writers really tell it the way it is. If they don't like something, they say so. Keep up the good work. Don Watkins Don, All LPG upright tanks in both Canada and the US must meet the same requirements when they come into effect in April this year. That is to say, they must be equipped with a quick-disconnect hose fitting and have the Overfill Protection Device. These can be retrofitted to your existing tank, but may not prove to be cost effective in the case of the 20-lb cylinders, as they often are available for approximately $30 at outlets like Canadian Tire or Home Depot, etc. I hope this helps to clear up some of the concerns and questions. Brian Yeates OPD Valves: I am writing in regards to the letter about re-certifying propane tanks (New US propane regs, RVT 84, pg 8). Magic RV in Yuma informed me that as of March 2002 all propane tanks would have to have an over-protection valve installed (OPD valve), as they would refuse to fill them. This is a new regulation in the US. I just had a new OPD valve installed, and the cost was $43.59 plus $10 labour for a 30-lb tank. The new valve for Canada is $23.45 plus $8 for labour. They re-stamped the tank and it is good for 10 more years. Lester Beharrell Best brand: I started RVing in 1998 with a 10.5 ft truck camper, which I have been enjoying a lot. It took me up to Alaska and down to Arizona. On these longer trips I began thinking about more room and comfort. Now I am looking into the vast market of motorhomes and 5th wheels. Since I think an extra dollar spent on quality is a dollar saved in the long run, I’m checking out the various design and building issues. What a task! Salespeople from dealership "A" will say their brand is the ultimate product, as do dealers "B" to "Z." So my question is: what are the criteria for long-lasting, quality built RVs? For example, what’s the best material for roof/wall/floor framing, insulation and so on? Are there commonly known problems with poor workmanship of any manufacturers? These are the kind of open questions I am asking. I understand you cannot name brands; perhaps you can give me some more hints, maybe a reliable guide, book or magazine with some answers. Kurt Bergbauer Kurt, There are not too many salespeople who will admit that the RV they are selling is not the best thing since sliced bread. Quality and beauty are in the eye and the mind of the beholder. If you perform an autopsy on a few RVs you will be surprised to find that much of their components are the same: refrigerators have only two or three manufacturers, same for air conditioners, furnaces, hot water tanks, levelling jacks, awnings etc. etc. Some have aluminum framing, some have wood framing, some have hard sides of fiberglass, and some are aluminum-sided. I could go on forever in comparisons. Most are very good for the application for which they were manufactured. I find it laughable when salespeople go out of their way to knock a competitor when most of the components in a competitor’s model are the same as the one that is being shown. When a salesperson starts doing that – keep a close eye on their nose to see if it is growing. Kurt, since you haven't given guidelines to how much you want to spend, your question is almost unanswerable, but I'm reminded of an old advertising campaign that I still remember from the ’50s (wow, that's telling my age). The Buick motorcar slogan was very simple, "Ask the man who owns one." This slogan today would not be politically correct, but it worked for Buick and that's my advice to you. Ask the people who own one; a manufacturer’s best salesperson is the owner of their product. Marcel Desjardin Alaska helpful hints: The wife and I are talking of a trip up the Alaska Hwy and would like some feedback as to when the best time of the year to go and any other helpful hints your readers might have. Joe Arden Joe, We have experience in travelling to Alaska, having been there five times. The last four times we took RV caravans with our company, Rec-Vee Holiday Adventures. These trips have been in June, July and August, so we have experienced the weather in all three months. The months of June/July are usually the warmest and driest, with these months also having the most amount of sunlight. The weather is usually starting to get cool around mid-August, with the possibility of snow and frost by the end of the month. The best hints I can give you are: 1. When travelling to Alaska you should carry clothing to cover rain (on the coast), summer clothing for those warm days (it is not unheard of to experience temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s) and warm clothing for the cool evenings. 2. Make sure you have a copy of the Milepost with you for reference, and look it over before you start your journey so that you are familiar with how it is laid out. This can be purchased at any good book store or from AMA if you live in Alberta. 3. Don't rush your trip, plan for six to eight weeks to do the trip justice. Remember, this should be a trip of a lifetime, so treat it accordingly. 4. Start planning your trip at least three to four months before your departure date. 5. If you have access to the web, go on-line and order brochures, pamphlets and travel guides from the various communities you will be visiting. All the major communities offer this service. 6. Last, but not least, take information from other travellers about the Alaska Highway condition with a grain of salt. The highway is mostly an all-weather surface with some construction on it. Remember to take your time – as the construction stretches can be in very poor condition – and you shouldn't have a problem. Visit my web site at www.recveeholidayadventures.com for a quick overview of our itinerary, as well view some pictures on the photo gallery page of one of our last year’s Alaska caravans. Duane Pilson Propane vs. carbon monoxide: In regards to the question from Einar and Vi Carlsen (Propane Detectors, RVT 86, pg 19), what they are looking for is an L.E.L. (lower explosive limits) meter/detector. These are available for about $650 from any safety supply store. They have their own batteries for power supply. But why would a person want such a device? There are few propane connections inside the average RV. I check the propane fittings, when they are under pressure, maybe twice per year with a little soapy water, and if there are no bubbles the fitting is OK. Propane is odourized (has a very distinctive smell), so even if there is a leak a person can smell it long before it reaches a dangerous level. Propane’s explosive range is two percent to 9.5 percent in air. This means your RV would have to have at least two percent of its space filled with propane before there is a danger. Even a person with a poor sense of smell would smell the propane. RVers should be more concerned about CO (carbon monoxide); this gas is very dangerous. It has no odour and kills very quickly. (Propane is not poisonous.) The important thing about CO is to make sure all appliances that burn fuel are in excellent condition. This means, among other things, that the air intakes and vents are free and clear at all times. If an RV owner is not comfortable doing a visual inspection, take it to an RV shop where a technician would be happy to check out the appliances. I am a power engineer, (retiring soon) and have a diploma from SAIT in Gas Processing. I have spent most of my life working with propane, gas and other hydrocarbons. Viv and I have been RVing for more than 30 years. Don Pulver Don, Please note: some soaps do have corrosive properties and can cause premature deterioration of the brass fittings in the LPG gas system, and I strongly recommend to use only a leak detector solution available from any RV supplier. Also, people should be very careful to not get any of the leak detector liquid, whether soap or other, on any electrical components, particularly circuit control boards. >Brian Yeates Satisfied customers: I would like to share with your readers our experience in purchasing a first RV. Sue and I had done research on types of recreational vehicles, and after using the internet, and visiting a few dealers we decided that for our purposes, a 5th wheel would best suit our needs. In the main, we were pleasantly surprised at the professional approach each new salesperson exhibited. I say pleasantly surprised, because it is all too often that the sales profession gets the reputation, deserved or underserved, for being high-pressure and less than informative. In general, with a few exceptions, we found this not to be the case. We learned a great deal from our visits to a number of well-known dealers here in the Lower Mainland of BC, in the Interior, and on Vancouver Island. In fact, I would say that the salespeople we spoke to provided fair, honest, and clear information in a prompt and professional manner without high-pressure tactics of any kind. We finally purchased a 5th wheel from Otto Mobiles in Cloverdale. From our first visit to final delivery, from our salesperson Jurgen Biertumpel, to the service staff, we were treated in a first-class manner. >How many companies would, after purchase, allow us to keep our RV in their secure storage and try the unit out for two weekends, then promptly and professionally deal with the minor repairs we listed at no extra cost? This was not the biggest sale by far that this dealership completed during this period, but we felt that they recognized that it was big for us and treated us accordingly. We got good advice, a fair price and excellent service. We are experienced ocean sailors, but completely new to "land sailing." I must say that it has been a great start, thanks mainly to the people at Otto Mobiles. John Harper |
Previous Issues' Letters: Water purification: I have an inquiry regarding water purification systems for use in Mexico. Our main drinking water would be the large purified water jugs, but showering and doing dishes still exposes you somewhat to the "bugs." Someone said that no system really eliminates all the bugs, and that the best thing to do is to purify the tank water with bleach, and then use an ordinary charcoal system to eliminate the bleach taste. Are you aware of any RV systems that would work in Mexico, and if not, what is your opinion, based on your experience, of the bleach and charcoal method? Doug Hayden Doug, All along our Mexico trip we have super-chlorinated our fresh water tank with one tablespoon per 10 gallons of "bugged" water. We have not had a problem in all the four months we have travelled. For the chlorine taste, you shouldn't have any if the quantity is right, but any water filter, like Aquapure, will make certain you don’t. Serge & Caroline Doug, My friend Ed uses three filters, and has a place to add bleach to his tank. He has never had a problem drinking the water in Mexico. He runs the water through a sediment filter first, then another filter (a really fine filter, but not charcoal) coming out of his fresh water tank, then through a charcoal filter (to improve the taste) attached to a special drinking water faucet. We have been drinking his water too, with no problem, so I am going to add this system to my coach for next year. We have been buying bottled water, but have come to discover that most of this water is just filtered and chlorinated. We may as well do the same thing and save money, and it is much more convenient. Graham & Myrtle Gore Hitching up: We recently traded our Ford Ranger for a Chevy 1/2-ton V8 to pull our 6.1 metre 5th wheel. Now we're off to tackle mountains! We got the runaround as we visited various hitch shops, looking to get the equipment bolted to the Ford switched over to the new truck. We finally returned to the dealer, Kustom Koach in Aldergrove. The service advisor, Rick, patiently walked us through the process and had the job finished and ready for us the following day – a proper installation at a fair price. At the storage lot the trailer pin engaged the 5th wheel with a solid bang. All the wiring worked and the rig appears nicely balanced. As I worked to hook up there was another owner, with a slightly larger trailer, also hooking up, but having trouble getting the jaws to engage. I watched with interest as he repeatedly attempted to get it to lock, then I wandered over to look directly into his truck's box. I noted that each time he hit the 5th wheel the entire hitch moved. Looking more carefully, I observed that the hitch rails were mounted through a fiberglass box liner, and, if I'm not dreaming, that's a big no-no. Kustom Koach mounted my hitch rails directly onto the frame of my truck, using heavy steel "L" brackets. I am convinced my neighbor's hitch was bolted through the box floor. While I didn't say anything to the man, I hope I'm nowhere nearby when he has to pull a real wrencher of an emergency swerve, or attempt to come back out of a freeway median at speed, because (to paraphrase the popular C & W song) he could be visiting his Ex's in Texas while his truck box and trailer are flattening someone in Tennessee. Tom Peet Tiny towable: I would like information that would assist in the selection of a "dinghy" car to tow. I have a 1989 Vanguard Class C on a one-ton Chev chassis. The GVW is 4070 kilograms, so I could tow a car up to 1628 kg (40 percent of weight). Actually, I would like to have the smallest car available, such as a Nissan Micro, Geo Sprint, etc. that would be well under the weight limit to tow without a braking system. Maybe an old Austin Mini or the old Austin Sprite sportscar would be a good choice. My second question is: what type of micro-sized cars can be towed all wheels down, without making modifications to the car such as drive axle disconnects, transmission pumps, etc.? In other words, I would like something that can be just unhitched and driven. Ron Peigl Ron, I have done some investigation in regards to "micro" cars and their towability. From what I can gather, there are none on the market that are recommended for "dinghy" towing without modification to the automatic transmission. If you are concerned about weight, the Saturn is a viable option. Many of the vehicles weigh less than 1136 kg (2500 lbs), which is in your parameters. The design of the transmission allows the vehicle to be towed without any modifications whatsoever. Also, the design of the vehicle being a "spaceframe" is more durable than the smaller "unibody" vehicles. If you need further clarification of the vehicle, take a look at www.saturnbc.com. David Sheng Lifestyle seminar: With the summer RV season fast approaching I would like to bring up a subject of value to your readers: the upcoming RV Owners Lifestyle Seminar’s three-day education weekend put on by the Okanagan University College Campus in Kelowna. I have attended the last three years (Al Cohoe says I just don't get it, so he flunks me) and I feel it is the best education a new RVer, wannabe RVer, or experienced RVer can receive. I was a wannabe for five years and first took the course three years ago. I bought my own motorhome two years ago, and still have been going back to the annual seminars in Kelowna for more knowledge. My motorhome is a 31 ft Class C and I tow a Tracker. I have just returned from three months south, including the west coast of Mexico, south of Mazatalan. I travel with the company of my German shepherd, Lady. (Yes, I am one of the female pioneers on the road.) If it were not for the Lifestyle Seminars/ O.U.C. (Al Cohoe) and the R.V.D.A (Cathy James) I would not have had the confidence to go on the road alone! Check it out at www.ouc.bcca/rvtec or for a first-hand testimonial e-mail me at fernenorthcott@hotmail.com. P.S. This is not a paid commercial :). I hope to see you there in June. Ferne Northcott Great service: I had an experience I feel The RV Times readers should know about. The water heater in our Argosy quit, and so we phoned Chuck at Langley Camper and Trailer Clinic RV Repair. Chuck asked me a few questions, then said it sounded like the gas valve was no good. I asked him how much it would cost to replace the valve, and he quoted me a price. He sent out a very efficient service man who completed the job, and I paid him. The next day, Chuck called to ask if the heater was working fine. He then told me he had made a mistake on the bill, and had charged me too much. He would return the $30 next time we were in the store. He also said he was sorry . . . well, you could have knocked me over with a feather; I would have never known any different. We have enjoyed your magazine for many years; keep up the good work. R. Harker Service suggestion: We would like to recommend Tri-Crown RV Repairs to RV travellers going through Salmon Arm. Bert and John have given us great service in the past five years; they have practically rebuilt our motorhome. They do outstanding work, and are very knowledgeable. Paul & Jean Owen Roof products: Until last July I owned a Home Hardware store, sold Snow Roof products (RV roof leak repair, RVT 85, pg 12) and had also applied the product to our store roof, which was a torchdown flat roof membrane. This is a very good product, and is a water-based acrylic polymer, meaning easy water cleanup. The company also has a Mobile Home coat. However, if someone was going to use any of these products on an RV roof, I would suggest they check with Snow Roof first, because RV membranes are quite smooth and there is a fair amount of flexing as we drive. Roughness, such as with shingles, actually helps this product adhere. The company may suggest using Elasto Seal as a base with seam tape before applying Snow Roof. Even so, on a smooth surface the area to be coated has to be squeaky-clean (meaning no dust or dirty spots as there always are on an RV roof), otherwise it will not adhere. Also, Snow Roof does not like to sit under water, such as you might find in low spots on flat roofs, and it appears to degrade the product under these circumstances within a period of a few months, as I personally experienced. Rob Williams Camper plans: Do you know where one might purchase a set of do-it-yourself building plans for a truck camper? I have had experience in aircraft building and would like to apply my aircraft building skills to build a full-size, all-aluminum truck camper. My goal would be to build one light enough that could be carried on a standard 1/2-ton pickup. I would also like to incorporate a little ingenuity to make use of all those nooks and crannies that are often wasted space in most commercial units. I have drawn up my own set of plans, but would like to compare them with an engineered set to make sure I have adequate strength for the bed area above the cab. I don't want any sagging! I have done a limited search of the internet, but have had no success so far. If I can build a prototype that is light enough to meet the load limitations of a 1/2-ton pickup, then I might consider building them commercially for sale. Most of the fiberglass campers available today are very heavy and cannot legally be hauled by a 1/2-ton, and require a 3/4-ton truck for hauling. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Ken Hoshowski Smooth crossing: In response to Mr. Bill Elkington's request about crossing the border (Crossing the 49th, RVT 85, pg 16), my husband and I returned on February 19 from our first RV trip into the US. (We've only travelled in the summer in BC.) We crossed at the Truck Crossing in Cloverdale without incident. We were searched by the Department of Agriculture; they came into our trailer, looked in the fridge and in the compartments under our bed and under the dinette, checking to see what kinds of fruits and vegetables we were carrying. On our return, we crossed at the Peace Arch Crossing. We showed our passports, and were asked how much we were returning with, did the trailer belong to us, and how long were we gone. That was it – have a nice day! I wouldn't suggest going through at Peace Arch if you have a large RV, the stalls are a little tight. But the Truck Crossing at 176th St has typically longer waits – the day we crossed would have been a 20-minute wait – and at Peace Arch there was none. Hope this helps. Mike & Marina Fraser Checking brakes: I was reading with interest the answer (Brake regulations, RVT 86, pg 8) regarding brake regulations when towing vehicles behind motorhomes. I went to the website as suggested, and I think I understand fully, but will check anyway. We have a ’99 motorhome with disc brakes all round. The GVWR is 9298 kilograms. The vehicle we intend to tow is 2534 kilograms GVWR or 1689 kilograms net weight. Therefore, I believe we meet the requirements.(?) To be honest, when I got the tow vehicle ready for towing (with a Remco drive shaft disconnect) last year, I went up and down the Malahat to try it out, and found the brakes worked fine and there was not much push from towed vehicle. We enjoy Constable Schewe’s responses to reader’s questions. Alex Badiuk Alex, Yes, you are correct. If the actual weight of the towed vehicle is less than 40 percent of the GVWR of the motorhome, you are allowed to operate without brakes on the towed vehicle. Thanks for your comments. It's nice to be able to help (instead of ticketing) now and again. ;-) Constable Tim Schewe Where is Blythe? We would like to compliment you on your RV Times magazine; it is a wealth of information on things to do and places to go. We were reading Chatting with Sheila and Al (RVT 86, pg 4) and were interested in finding the Blythe Intaglios, to see for ourselves this art of ancient man. As we live in California, we have been to the city of Blythe on many occasions, passing through, stopping at or needing to use their facilities. As far as we know, Blythe is in California, on the Colorado River, just west of Arizona. To make sure I wasn't missing something, I dug out my maps and checked Arizona to see if I maybe had misplaced Blythe, or if there was another one that we didn't know about. As far as I know there is just the one in California. Just a small mistake, but one of import in case your readers are trying to find the drawings of the ancient man. Keep up the good work spreading the word of wonderful and fun places to go. Tom & Janice Mitchell Water heater: Do any of your Australian readers have any knowledge of the unique heat exchanger used in their RVs? It is made by SIGMAR, and provides cooling for the fridge and almost boiling water for the sink unit and shower. There is nothing like it in North America, so far as I am aware. Stan Ward Stan, Yes, Sigmar does make a stainless steel water heater. You can go to our website and have a look if you wish: www.bcaaust.com.au. We have installed these water heaters in over 500 motorhomes in Australia, plus a large amount of boats. They work very well. I do not know about them cooling a fridge, though! We run refrigeration and water heaters completely separate. I hope this is of some assistance to you. P.S. We have the water heaters in stock. Bengt Johannesson Manufacturer praise: After a trip in our 26.5 ft Centurion 5th wheel this past September, I was cleaning the roof when I noticed a distinctly soft spot where it was pre-wired for a TV antennae, which we had not installed. There was no evidence of damage on the walls or ceiling inside. We bought the trailer new in 1996 from O’Connor in Chilliwack, and I went to the dealer’s Langley location. Mark Hardy, the service manager, quickly confirmed that moisture had somehow gotten under the roof membrane. He gave me a repair estimate, and subsequently completed the repair. During the process he found that the leak would not have occurred had some bedding compound been applied at the factory, and he discussed the omission with the manufacturer. I am delighted to say that despite the long-expired warrantee, General Coach went the extra mile to provide excellent service to us. This is a great example of standing behind a product and adherence to high standards of quality. Thanks, Sheila. I enjoy The RV Times very much, and wish you continued success. Earl Hansford Selling in the US: I am trying to find the American regulations regarding Canadian RVers selling products at RV shows and flea markets while travelling in the US. Are there any RVers who do this, and if so, could they contact me? I am at a loss as to where to start this search. Any information would be appreciated. We enjoy you magazine and read every issue. We love all the travel articles, especially about Mexico, which will be our next trip. We did a great eight-month trip last year across Canada and through the US. By the way, if anyone wants to know a good place to stay when they visit New York, we found one; finding somewhere to park outside New York was my greatest challenge on the trip. We parked outside New York on the river and took the train in to the Grand Central Station. We travelled during off-hours because it is cheaper. We had a wonderful time in New York and always felt safe. Linda Wiebe Pilot light: I need a little help on this one – the furnace lights, but it goes out shortly after with the striker still igniting. And yes, there is sufficient propane. Randy Rowe Randy, With the furnace igniting, but not staying lit, most likely there is a problem with the circuit board not sensing heat properly. However, the gas control valve might also be faulty, or the igniter itself could have a cracked ceramic or other failure. Also, while there may be lots of LPG in the tanks, the LPG regulator might have deteriorated internally to the point it won't keep the pressure properly controlled for the high Btu requirements of the furnace. There could even be a restriction in the gas line between the regulator and the furnace that is restricting LPG flow and causing the flame outage. The only way to be sure that everything is set up and functioning safely is to have a reputable and licensed technician check it out. Brian Yeates |
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
Previous Issue Mailboxes: RVT#86 RVT#85 RVT#84 RVT#83 RVT#82 RVT#81 RVT#80 RVT#79 RVT#78 RVT#77 RVT #76 RVT#75
RVT#74 RVT#73 RVT#72 RVT#71 RVT#70 RVT#69 RVT#68 RVT#67 RVT#66 RVT#65 RVT#64 RVT#63 RVT#62
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