Automotive

There’s a dirty little secret in the RV industry.  It’s called “checking” or “crazing.”  We call it a dirty little secret because many RV manufacturers won’t acknowledge it as a flaw.  A few years after purchase, RV owners find themselves with a coach that is not perfect, and there’s no quick-and-easy fix for it.  But at Final Touch Coach Works, we’ve addressed this problem many times, and there IS a way to permanently transform your RV’s exterior to better-than-new condition.

For many of us, our car is a very important part of our lives. Having a vehicle means freedom, convenience, and are a way to get around at will. You have worked hard to save every spare dollar so you had enough for a down payment. Each month you have to keep making your car loan payment and afford insurance coverage. But when your car needs auto care, the expense can hurt your budget. That’s why these tips for getting inexpensive car engine parts and car repair tools can make a big difference in your month-end finances.

As an RV Collision Center, we have seen all kinds of major damage to fiberglass and filon.  For an expert staff of technicians like ours, most of it is easy to fix.  But there is a dirty little secret in the RV industry.  It’s called “checking” or “crazing,” and much to the dismay of RV owners, there’s no quick-and-easy fix for it.

RVs typically have three tanks: a black-water holding tank, a gray-water holding tank and a freshwater holding tank.  Holding tanks that are not adequately maintained can actually cause health problems, because solid materials, spores, and mold accumulate.  Routine maintenance can prevent health problems and costly repairs. This month, we’re focusing on your freshwater tank. 

RVs are homes-on-wheels... designed to provide us with the same comfortable environment we enjoy in our homes, to a limited degree.  Power, heating and cooking are three of the things we consider necessary in an RV.  Propane provides us with the ability to heat and cook.

Purchasing a used car has a number of gains over acquiring a brand-new automobile: it’s more affordable, saves you from the depreciation cost, and there’s the possibility that you can come across one that is good as new.  Yet just as essential as making a choice on whether to buy new or used is the choice on how you should pay for your vehicle: do you pay cash, get a loan, or lease?
Paying in cash is the most basic way of purchasing an automobile.  You do not need to be troubled about the down payment, monthly costs, and interest rates once you have paid the full amount.  Yet many buyers do not have available cash to get a car, so they choose car financing alternatives that can offer them more financial freedom.

One of the most-requested modifications we receive at our RV shop is the upgrade to a bigger, more modern television.  Most of the RVs built before 2008 with factory-installed televisions came with a 20-inch glass tube television set as the main unit.  The glass tube units required a deep cabinet to house them.  They were also very heavy and required a lot of power.  To use them, you had to have your RV plugged into an outside power source, or have a generator running.  With the current choice of available flat screen LCD and LED TVs, the desire to upgrade has become the number one item on many RV owners’ lists.

There are different ways of taking care of your car. Car care can be done either by yourself or by hiring services of professional auto repair mechanics. There are many companies that provide auto repair services. But before selecting the auto repair shop, you need to do some research. Get information about various auto repair shops in your locality, ask the existing customers, browse through the net and try to get the required information. There is enough websites that provide vital information about car care shops. Enquire about various facilities they offer and then go for the one you found best in terms of providing quality service.

With time, a freshly cut apple turns brown, a copper penny turns green, a bicycle fender becomes rusty, and the paint on your RV becomes dull.  What do all of these events have in common?  They are victims of oxidation.
Over time, oxidation will have its way with everything.  Oxidation is the interaction between oxygen molecules and all the different substances with which they come in contact.  Oxidation, for the most part, is a destructive process.  It does its work on the molecular level, leaching one or more electrons when oxygen comes into contact with a substance.

The first meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley Transportation Coalition was held at City Hall yesterday, kicking off a new transportation group representative of businesses, schools, City, County, State and Federal representatives for the purpose of working on furthering local transportation-related plans and issues.

We need gravity.  It keeps our wheels on the road, and from an RV perspective, it’s what makes our waste plumbing work.  In an RV, all drains lead to Holding Tanks.  Holding tanks are the built-in tanks that hold any liquid waste coming from your RV.  Tanks that hold wastewater coming from sinks and showers are called “gray” tanks.  Tanks that hold toilet sewage are “black” tanks. 

Winter is almost gone and spring is on the horizon.  You early birds are dying to get loaded up and start enjoying the RV lifestyle.  This month I’m targeting those that tow… trailers and fifth wheels, to be exact.
At the start of a new season of travel, you should give your towable the once-over.  All ball hitches should be inspected, tightened and greased. 

For 25 years, Rick and Debra Green, owners of R.G. Brake & Alignment have been assisting their clients’ automotive needs, with quality customer service and professional care. Rick, who attended Hart High School, moved to Arizona shortly after graduating and went to Automotive School to learn and specialize his craft. 

It is no doubt one of the most important factors in keeping your RV safe: your tires.
Every RV is supported by tires.  From truck-mounted campers to diesel pushers, all tires are made the same, and age the same.  The tires used on RVs are exposed to a greater variety of conditions than automobile tires.  More often than not, the tires are not driven on for extended periods of time, and when they are, they are used at or near maximum loads in weather that is extremely hot, cold and everything in-between.

When you plan ahead for safe senior driving, you can protect the people you love.
No one wants to admit that aging affects their ability to drive safely. But experts agree that, although not all drivers are the same, driving ability generally begins to deteriorate around age 55.
Kathleen Marvaso, AAA’s vice president of Public Affairs, said that as the population ages, senior-driver safety is becoming an increasingly relevant and challenging issue for many families. “Many adult children of senior drivers are looking for help navigating this new and sometimes challenging road,” she said. “Our research shows that one of the biggest questions is how to begin the conversation.”

We’re looking at a new year, which usually means the rain is coming.  With your RVs in storage, or just parked for the winter, we can’t stress enough the need to be sure your RV roof is watertight.  The best choice for this inspection is to have an RV service or repair center do it for you at least once a year.  If you want to do it yourself, there are a few things to remember.

It’s that time of the year when the wet weather starts to roll in.  Most RVs go into storage but some die-hards and live-ins still brave the elements.  It really makes no difference; the RV is going to be exposed to wind and rain.  So a water-tight roof is a must.
Most roof lap sealants have a life expectancy of two to three years before they start to crack or separate from the roof material.  Lap sealants are self-leveling sealers that cover all things—like air vents-- where they attach to the roof of an RV.

From minor to major collision damage, paint jobs, interior remodels and more, let the professionals at Final Touch Coach Works provide you and your RV with the best service possible.  With a reputation for excellence, you won’t get anything less than their best.  “Our goal is to provide our customers with the best customer service in the industry,” state the owners of Final Touch Coach Works.  “From start to finish, the initial contact with our customers, to our presentation of the final product, every detail matters.”