Automotive

We’re looking at a new year, which usually means the rain is coming.  With our RVs in storage, or just parked for the winter, we need to be sure our RV roofs are 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.
The first step in any RV roof inspection is to get out the ladder and take a good look at the roof. 

Winter is upon us, and for some, it means a temporary halt to living the RV life.  We will park the RV and close it up for a couple of months.  There are a few things we can do to help our RVs survive the down time.
Put a handful of moth balls in a couple of zip-lock bags, poke a dozen or so holes in the bags and place them in several areas: the battery compartment, near the propane tank, in the water heater and refrigerator access panels.  This will deter spiders and other little critters from nesting.  It will also help prevent musty odors.

It was a wonderful summer.  I think we can safely say that, from an RV perspective, “It’s been a great year.”
It’s time to start thinking about slowing down and getting the RV ready for winter. Some of us will be putting our RVs into storage; others will be doing business as usual.

RV’s are your home away from home fun.  And after too much fun, more than likely they will need servicing.  Whether it’s body work or a custom project, Final Touch Coach Works is your premier Motorhome, RV, Travel Trailer and Horse/Stock/Cargo trailer body and paint facility, and has been providing you with the best service possible for over a decade.

Whether you’re a seasoned RV traveler or a newcomer to the sport, it never hurts to hear what others have to say about the joys and the, well, problems of RV life.
Put moth balls near the propane lines of the water heater and refrigerator.  This will repel spiders.
Use comet cleanser with bleach to stop ants from entering your RV or campsite. Also, a small amount of Vaseline around any entry points into your RV will stop them from actually entering.

Animals come out of hibernation every spring, and by the summer, natural foods are getting scarce.  Campgrounds are often in close proximity to wildlife (bears, foxes, squirrels, etc.) and the animals often become too comfortable with human visitors.  This results in garbage raids, snatched food, and cars that are broken into in the quest for food.  To avoid difficulties while traveling by RV, there are steps that should be taken.  Final Touch Coach Works suggests the following tips that can keep RVers safe, while allowing them to enjoy the wildlife:

Summer is upon us and we are heading out.  If you happen to be one of the many RVers who also tow a car, boat or trailer, there are some things you should know.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has some rules and regulations:

Last month we ran an article by Dan Gregg which featured the photos for a 2005 Roush Mustang and the information for an A/C cobra.

It’s been said that, “All roads lead to Rome.”  In a motorhome, all drains lead to holding tanks.  Holding tanks are the built-in tanks that hold any waste coming from your RV.
Tanks that hold wastewater coming from sinks and showers are called “gray” tanks. Tanks that hold sewage are “black” tanks.  Typically, there is one “black” tank and one or more “gray” tanks.  The easiest way to know if the tank is “gray” or “black” is to look at the waste valves. 

Working in an RV Collision Center means you see a lot of RVs.  They always show up with at least one adult driver, one adult passenger, maybe a couple of kids, and, nine times out of 10, a dog.
Traveling with a four-legged friend should—and will be—a pleasant experience if you follow certain rules:
• Put your pooch on a leash before you open the door.  Dogs get excited as soon as their home-on-the-road stops moving and they want out.  

Owner(s): Norm Teague
Color: Rosa Red
Interior: Black leather interior

New or used, it doesn’t make much difference.  There will be a time for RV service beyond the usual maintenance.  When it comes to service or repair, the hang up, the bottleneck, the big hit on the bank balance, is usually the service provider.  But take heart.  There are things that you can do to smooth out that bumpy road.

Last month, we talked about the types of batteries used in RVs.  Now, we focus on getting the most out of them.  Some terms should first be explained: The three most basic units in electricity are voltage, current, and resistance.  Voltage is measured in volts, current is measured in amps, and resistance is measured in ohms. 

As we go through our lives we use and consume many things.  Some things like food we need to buy almost every day while other things we buy them less frequently such as clothes.  There are still other items, which we buy very infrequently.  Some of these, such as a car, we choose with care while others, such as new tires for the car, we don’t spend much time choosing and simply buy the brand we trust for the model of our car.
But times are changing and when we buy replacement products it makes sense to study your options in detail.

Batteries are generally misunderstood and almost universally ignored until they fail.  The purpose of all batteries is to store chemical energy and to convert this chemical energy into electrical energy when the need arises.
There are three types of batteries commonly used in RVs: flooded lead acid, gel, and absorbed glass mat (AGM). 

Vehicle: 1970 1/2 Chevrolet RS Z-28
Owners: Steve & Marla Harkavy, Canyon Country
Color: Camaro Gold w/Black Rally stripes

RVers spend a lot of their time on tires; some moving down the highway and some parked in a campsite.  So the more we know about our tires, the better off we are.
Every tire manufactured for sale in the U.S. has a required Department of Transportation (DOT) number imprinted on at least one of its sidewalls.  That number begins with the letters “DOT” and may contain up to 12 additional numbers and letters.  Tires produced after January 1, 2000, have a four-digit code at the end of the DOT number. 

Vehicle: 1950 Chevy Sedan Delivery
Owner: Dave Christensen, Canyon Country, CA
Color: Dodge Viper Copper and Chrysler 300 Cream with green and red pearl
Interior: Two-tone leather