Watch out for flashers, and covering an RV with a tarp

Repeat Offender Flashers

Dear Editor,

You have probably run something on this in the past, but I felt I had to say it again.

While sitting behind a trailer, leaving a station in Deming, New Mexico, I observed a family, in a blue caravan with Washington plates, approach with their signal light indicating a right turn. Since the street we were sitting in was the only right turn for about a two hundred yards either side of the truck stop, I expected the van to turn.

In my usual style, I made my comment, "He has been signaling for a block, pull out." Just then the trailer pulled out and started its left turn. The van seemed to slow and then suddenly swerved to the right nearly taking off the front of my rig. Looking horrified at the trailer, the driver of the van and his wife looked back as if to say, "You idiot, we were right there." The children in the caravan were thrown around, but luckily an accident was avoided.

Shortly after, driving on I-10 toward Tucson, an 18 wheeler, with his right signal flashing approached a pull off. A driver waiting to pull onto the roadway proceeded to pull out and the 18 wheeler nearly sideswiped the other rig.

We often see drivers, impervious to everything around them on the road and the added, "forgotten," flashing turn signal light only adds to the danger. Be sure to check your turn signals. After changing lanes is one of the easiest times to "forget" to turn it off and who knows, you might just save a life.

Richard Hughes
Tucson, AZ

Reader seeks advice about covering his RV

Dear Editor,

I have a 35'  2004 Winnebago Sightseer that when not being used, sits under
trees. I really can't afford a custom cover and I have been trying to rig
some tarps over it, but I need some tips as how to tie the tarps down along
the sides. I'm using 20x10 foot tarps that will be laced together with about
4 foot or so hanging over the sides. It's there that I can't figure out how
to secure the tarps from wind.

Thanks,
Norm Daudelin

Editor's response: 
Most RV technicians do not advise covering an RV with a blue (or other color) tarp. They can cause damage. Here's a short video on the topic.
 

Stories on smoke, RV inspection generate a little fire of their own

Where There's Smoke . . . (RV Travel Newsletter, July 11, 2015)

Yes, we all love campfires. I just wish you would have included some campfire etiquette in your article. How many times has a camping neighbor enjoyed an evening fire, but every one else around him has been smoked out. Why is it, on a hot summer day even before the sun sets, some people have to start a campfire? All around him, people have to close their windows to keep the smoke out. So instead of enjoying a cooling breeze, they have to put up with his smoke. Everyone should have a little consideration for the neighbors.

—Jerry Gilbert

Read more comments from readers about smoke from campfires.


. . . Count on Fire (RV Daily Tips Newsletter, Issue 657)

I have to say, this article - and especially its heading ["If you're not willing to do these two things, you probably shouldn't own an RV] - is insulting and patronizing to thousands of RV owners who have neither the inclination, the aptitude or the physical ability to climb under and atop an RV while shopping for one.  Does this smart aleck tech think everyone who does not do so to be a fool, and incapable of selecting and owning an RV?

That's the sense that I get from his little article that should otherwise be written as a pair of 'suggestions' rather than a scolding that if you're not holding the view of this certified mechanic, that you are unworthy of being able to spend your money however you want, then hire a tech to fix things that  may go bad.  If I were an RV manufacturer, I would react even more harshly to Mr. Savage's sweeping and boorish generalities.

--A. W. Walker, Long time owner of RVs


You are spot on. When my wife and I were looking to replace our coachman trailer, I learned alot about the true construction inside an RV. So when I found a 30 ft Jayco the we liked, I climbed all over the trailer inside and out. I crawled underneath and walked on top. I opened all the cabinets to see the unseen construction. I had seen many many example of how some manufacturers simply cut some strips of plywood to support the drawer slides. if you have ever cut plywood you know how it can splinter. While I was doing all this intense looking, the sales person was outside watching along with my wife. He asked her what I was doing. She just told him I was checking the construction of the unit. Which turned out to be very good.

BTW: We did buy that trailer.

--Mike Haider


Generating a Conversation (RV Daily Tips Newsletter, Issue 561 -- Quick Tip)

Your tip on tightening generator bolts (issue 561) brought back some memories of owning Volvos years ago.

Their alternator bolts were threaded into the cast metal that was the housing, and of course being soft metal, the screw threads would distort.
That meant that the bolt could not be tensioned properly, the belt would loosen off, and prematurely wear out.

For the first 20,000 miles, I replaced two fan belts.

Working for Premier Fasteners at that time, I knew what the problem was, and how to fix it. The adjusting bolt was a 5/16", so I drilled out the threaded hole with a letter "P" (clearance) drill, and used a 5/16 'Supertanium' bolt, nut and washers to hold it together. (A grade 8 fastener assembly would work fine.) Once I torqued the bolt down, I never needed to adjust it again; and still had that fan belt when I traded the car at 200,000 miles.

--Mel Goddard

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We appreciate all of our readers' comments. Direct them to Russ@rvtravel.com)