WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.799 Get ready to hit the road this spring with a 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:05.780 de -winterized RV I'll walk you through every 00:00:05.780 --> 00:00:08.359 step to get your rig ready for adventure from 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:11.300 flushing your water system to checking for leaks 00:00:11.300 --> 00:00:15.380 and giving your engine a little TLC Plus the 00:00:15.380 --> 00:00:18.699 latest RV news and essential RV pro tip you won't 00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:22.420 want to miss stay tuned Welcome to the Restless 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:25.899 Nomads, the ultimate RV show for modern -day 00:00:25.899 --> 00:00:29.079 rubber tramps and weekend warriors alike. Whether 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:32.219 you're chasing sunsets full -time, savoring seasonal 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:34.659 escapes, or just hitting the road for a quick 00:00:34.659 --> 00:00:37.659 weekend getaway, this is your go -to show for 00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:40.600 tips, tricks, and tales from the road. Join us 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.659 as we dive into everything RV, choosing the right 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:46.640 rig, surviving life on wheels, and navigating 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:49.539 the highs and lows of life on the moon, from 00:00:49.539 --> 00:01:04.549 towables to Welcome back to the Restless Nomads 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:09.510 RV Radio Show. Well, check us out on therestlessnomads 00:01:09.510 --> 00:01:13.510 .com. I've got all kinds of tips there, tricks, 00:01:13.670 --> 00:01:17.359 photos of our recent adventures. We're gearing 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:20.980 up for our campground hosting job this summer. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.299 It's going to be all summer long and we're looking 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:27.299 forward to it. And it's only an hour and a half 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:29.480 away from home. So that'll be nice on our days 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:33.840 off. We can come home and sleep in our real bed. 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:37.180 Hey, the RV world is gearing up for spring and 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:40.590 there's a lot to talk about. National park reservations 00:01:40.590 --> 00:01:43.290 are filling up super fast if you're planning 00:01:43.290 --> 00:01:45.629 a spring or summer trip be sure to reserve your 00:01:45.629 --> 00:01:48.670 campsite today and You will likely find that 00:01:48.670 --> 00:01:51.030 many of those parks are already sold out and 00:01:51.030 --> 00:01:54.390 you'll be relying on Snagging one of those last 00:01:54.390 --> 00:01:56.950 -minute cancellations. I'm talking about places 00:01:56.950 --> 00:02:01.769 like Yellowstone Yosemite Super busy already 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:06.659 There's major RV maintenance recall from Winnebago. 00:02:06.739 --> 00:02:08.879 So if you've got a Winnebago manufactured in 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.240 the last couple of years, it's important to check 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:14.759 your VIN number and do a search online to see 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:17.520 if there's been any recalls on your particular 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:20.039 unit. You want to get those straightened out. 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:23.919 Recalls are typically safety related. Service 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:26.599 bulletins would be something that may affect 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:29.699 the use of the RV, maybe kind of inconvenient. 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:32.699 But if something gets recalled, There is usually 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:36.680 a safety reason behind it. So kind of want to 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:40.479 put that on the front burner and get that checked. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:44.800 Highway construction in Utah on the I -15 corridor 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:48.300 near Zion National Park. That's going to cause 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:51.180 major delays throughout the spring. It's a good 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:53.840 idea to plan alternative routes and give yourself 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.240 some extra time. So there you go. If you're going 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:01.960 through Utah near Zion. Avoid I -15 this spring 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:04.960 or you will be stuck in traffic. And you know 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:06.919 how much fun traffic can be when you're driving 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:10.479 a big rig. That's it for today's RV news. Now 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:14.419 let's dive into today's topic, de -winterizing 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:18.319 your RV, getting ready for spring. We've all 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:21.240 been longing to get back on the road and get 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:24.560 back into campgrounds. After a long winter, it's 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.319 time to... Wake your RV up from hibernation and 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.520 get it ready for the road again. And here's how 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:34.840 to do it right. So I want to say our particular 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:38.180 climate here in Klamath Falls, we frequently 00:03:38.180 --> 00:03:41.419 will see 65 degree days and then weather will 00:03:41.419 --> 00:03:44.680 drop to 28 degrees at night. Don't think that 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:49.280 that is going to not allow you to use your RV, 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:53.300 particularly if you're in your RV using it and 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:57.360 your tanks are under a sealed underbelly, your 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:59.780 furnace is most likely warming up those tanks. 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.599 And if you're running the furnace, then your 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:06.259 pipes inside should be OK as well. If it gets 00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:10.080 really chilly, you can open the cabinets to expose 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.620 those pipes to the warmer air and prevent them 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:16.959 from freezing. But, you know, coming into April 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:22.040 now, we're not seeing temps in the single digits. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:25.240 So. We have a little less to worry about. Now 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:29.060 I say this as a disclaimer, you know, if it drops 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:33.920 below 32 and you're not using the RV, then it 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:36.399 needs to be winterized because it's very likely 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:38.300 that that will cause some damage. But if you're 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:41.699 actively using it, then you will have a little 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:46.699 more leeway. Now, another thing, a lot of people 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:49.860 this time of year just keep some antifreeze on 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:53.670 hand and Sometimes this time of year, they'll 00:04:53.670 --> 00:04:56.290 go out, they'll go camping. Maybe you get an 00:04:56.290 --> 00:04:57.990 Indian summer or something like that and they'll 00:04:57.990 --> 00:05:01.589 enjoy their RV for that brief period and then 00:05:01.589 --> 00:05:04.149 they'll re -winterize it. And it's not uncommon 00:05:04.149 --> 00:05:07.970 for people to de -winterize and re -winterize 00:05:07.970 --> 00:05:10.970 a couple of times before the weather really warms 00:05:10.970 --> 00:05:13.170 up because they're trying to get a little bit 00:05:13.170 --> 00:05:16.370 of an extension from their season. If you don't 00:05:16.370 --> 00:05:18.449 want to de -winterize, you can still use your 00:05:18.449 --> 00:05:20.350 RV. Just know that you won't be able to use any 00:05:20.350 --> 00:05:23.199 of the water systems. So good idea to bring some 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:25.519 kitty litter and trash bags to put in your toilet. 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:28.899 And you can just toss that in the trash every 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:32.579 morning if you need to bring some five gallon 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:35.699 jugs of water for drinking and washing dishes 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:38.540 and things like that. But as we get a little 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:41.319 bit warmer here, we're going to start poking 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:43.720 around the yard and getting out to that RV pad. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:46.790 And one of the first steps. That's a good idea 00:05:46.790 --> 00:05:51.410 is to go ahead and wash and wax Your RV if your 00:05:51.410 --> 00:05:53.670 RV exterior calls for wax if it doesn't then 00:05:53.670 --> 00:05:56.389 don't do that But just give it a good wash avoid 00:05:56.389 --> 00:05:59.310 pressure washing I cringe when I see pictures 00:05:59.310 --> 00:06:03.410 and videos of people pressure washing RVs because 00:06:03.410 --> 00:06:07.889 That is a surefire way to water damage. The only 00:06:07.889 --> 00:06:11.300 thing that really separates the interior and 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:15.259 the exterior of your of your RV from water is 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:17.959 a thin bead of caulk. And if that caulk is not 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:21.740 exactly perfect, then a pressure washer will 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:24.259 definitely get in there. And it's very possible 00:06:24.259 --> 00:06:26.199 that if you hit the right spots with a pressure 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:29.060 washer that you'll damage that seal anyhow, even 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:32.000 if it is good and you'll get some water seepage 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.339 to the inside. So. If ever if you you know, maybe 00:06:36.339 --> 00:06:38.540 you just bought a used RV and it looks great 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:40.680 and the guy said, oh, yeah We just pressure washed 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:44.560 it Know that there is likely water that made 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.980 it inside Unless he did it very very carefully 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:51.360 in which case I would still be checking for water 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.439 damage on the inside and at the very least I 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:56.769 would reseal that thing as soon as I got it So 00:06:56.769 --> 00:06:59.290 get rid of all that dirt and grime and that will 00:06:59.290 --> 00:07:01.269 allow you to check for damage You want to look 00:07:01.269 --> 00:07:03.949 for cracks you want to look for leaks? Anything 00:07:03.949 --> 00:07:07.189 that may have deteriorated over the winter check 00:07:07.189 --> 00:07:10.509 all of those seals that thin bead of caulk all 00:07:10.509 --> 00:07:15.269 the Dicor that's that gooey stuff that is Like 00:07:15.269 --> 00:07:18.329 tape and it's in between the seams of your RV 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.040 You want to make sure that that is all supple 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.019 and good to go. And then a good idea just to 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:27.839 go ahead and touch up any caulking or seals that 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.639 don't look quite right. Now you may find that 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:35.000 you have a lot of areas where or maybe it's been 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:37.639 a long time since that RV has been resealed. 00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:40.079 Good idea just to go ahead and scrape it all 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:44.259 off of there. Use some isopropyl alcohol and 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:46.480 scrape that caulk off. Get it nice and clean 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:50.740 and then reseal the whole thing. And that's typically 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:54.279 advisable every five years or so. Anyway, just 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:58.319 reseal it with brand -new caulk everything windows 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:02.459 doors roof Any any place where a hole has been 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:06.279 cut into the RV it needs to be sealed Okay, let's 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:08.839 talk about your water system. That's what typically 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:12.379 people are referring to when they talk about 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:17.769 winterizing an RV They use antifreeze And sometimes 00:08:17.769 --> 00:08:19.970 they'll blow out the lines with an air compressor. 00:08:20.329 --> 00:08:24.769 And that's OK. You'll hear mixed reactions on 00:08:24.769 --> 00:08:27.990 that. Some people say, I blew out my pipes using 00:08:27.990 --> 00:08:30.569 an air compressor. Well, they applied more than 00:08:30.569 --> 00:08:34.149 35 psi to their water system when they blew out 00:08:34.149 --> 00:08:37.629 those pipes. So that's where you get the damage. 00:08:37.870 --> 00:08:41.090 But you want to make sure that you have drains 00:08:41.090 --> 00:08:45.129 open. You know turn a faucet on inside before 00:08:45.129 --> 00:08:49.309 you do this and also have a regulated System 00:08:49.309 --> 00:08:51.610 on your air compressor where it will not exceed 00:08:51.610 --> 00:08:55.409 35 PSI because that's what the pipes are meant 00:08:55.409 --> 00:08:58.210 to handle So you don't want to exceed that and 00:08:58.210 --> 00:09:00.950 you always want to make sure you have open faucets 00:09:00.950 --> 00:09:03.970 so that the air will move through and it won't 00:09:03.970 --> 00:09:07.830 just blow up and Inflate your tanks and things 00:09:07.830 --> 00:09:10.230 like that or inflate your pipes. You don't want 00:09:10.230 --> 00:09:14.720 that So open all faucets, run fresh water through 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:18.879 until all that antifreeze is gone. And some people 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.580 just blow it out and call it good. Some people 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:23.379 blow it out and then they put the antifreeze 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:27.299 in there. And the antifreeze is just extra protection. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:30.080 Now know this. When you go to Walmart and you 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.779 see antifreeze on the shelf, you want to make 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:36.000 sure that you're picking up RV or marine antifreeze, 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:41.220 not the icer. The reason is RV marine antifreeze 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:45.440 is not toxic but deicer that you put in your 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:49.679 car's windshield washer tank is Toxic and if 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:52.039 you put that in your water system, you won't 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:55.139 be able to drink your water anymore Good idea 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:57.600 to sanitize your tanks because they've been sitting 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.240 there all winter and there's no telling what 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:04.399 grew in them As you know the late fall and early 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.620 spring as it starts to warm up bacteria starts 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:09.330 to grow So you can just mix a small solution 00:10:09.330 --> 00:10:13.049 of bleach and water And then put that into your 00:10:13.049 --> 00:10:15.230 water system into your freshwater tank run your 00:10:15.230 --> 00:10:18.769 water pump for a little bit Let that sit For 00:10:18.769 --> 00:10:22.149 a little while maybe overnight and then drain 00:10:22.149 --> 00:10:25.990 that out and then run Several passes of fresh 00:10:25.990 --> 00:10:27.870 water through your tanks and through all the 00:10:27.870 --> 00:10:30.269 faucets. Make sure it goes through all the lines 00:10:30.269 --> 00:10:33.149 A couple of times so that you're not drinking 00:10:33.149 --> 00:10:36.679 that although the bleach solution Likely won't 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:39.559 hurt you because it's very diluted. You know, 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:45.340 I'm talking a quarter cup of bleach to Five gallons 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:49.039 of water or so and then make sure that you rinse 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:53.460 that out when you're done Like I said can't stress 00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:56.679 in enough pay close attention to all of those 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:00.659 places where the manufacturer Cut a hole into 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:04.379 the RV to install a window event a skylight, 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.649 whatever I often think when I look at these brand 00:11:07.649 --> 00:11:09.769 new RVs and they're putting in skylights that 00:11:09.769 --> 00:11:13.529 are kind of silly, you know, the brand new customer 00:11:13.529 --> 00:11:15.809 thinks, oh, this is great. A skylight, you know, 00:11:15.929 --> 00:11:18.450 when I see that I go, oh, there's another place 00:11:18.450 --> 00:11:21.909 that I have to make sure to check the seals on 00:11:21.909 --> 00:11:25.769 because that is going to leak eventually if neglected. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:29.519 The other thing you can do is check all your 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:32.019 systems to make sure everything's running properly 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:35.580 Go ahead and fill those propane tanks up whether 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:39.019 they're on board like a motorhome or if they're 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:41.679 the outboard ones that you can pull off and take 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:45.419 to Coastal or someplace like that fill up your 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:48.960 tanks and then hook them up and Open the valves 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:52.830 and check your stove check your furnace If you've 00:11:52.830 --> 00:11:55.889 got a gas water heater, go ahead and check that. 00:11:56.009 --> 00:11:59.990 Make sure everything is working. Also plug your 00:11:59.990 --> 00:12:03.809 RV in. If you're at home and you don't have 30 00:12:03.809 --> 00:12:06.250 amp or 50 amp service, you can get a dog bone, 00:12:06.309 --> 00:12:10.289 which converts to normal 20 amp household electric. 00:12:10.509 --> 00:12:13.929 And that will at least allow you to check that 00:12:13.929 --> 00:12:17.769 your converter is working. That is what takes 00:12:17.769 --> 00:12:21.850 the. AC power alternating current power and converts 00:12:21.850 --> 00:12:26.509 it to DC power and it runs Your battery charger 00:12:26.509 --> 00:12:29.690 and it also runs things like your lights if you 00:12:29.690 --> 00:12:33.570 have a DC 12 -volt fridge, it'll run that So 00:12:33.570 --> 00:12:36.549 you can check all those appliances But you won't 00:12:36.549 --> 00:12:38.850 be able to turn your air conditioning on with 00:12:38.850 --> 00:12:41.950 a 20 amp system If you've got a couple generators, 00:12:41.950 --> 00:12:44.509 you've got to de -winterize those too. So go 00:12:44.509 --> 00:12:47.600 ahead and you know if it's a pair of generators 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.980 that equal up in in parallel to the appropriate 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:55.980 amperage or If it's just one generator go ahead 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:58.559 and de -winterize that get it plugged in and 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:01.600 make sure that everything is working appropriately 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:05.320 on your air conditioner, it's a good time to 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:09.379 check your air filters and If you can if you've 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:12.840 got that 30 amp or 50 amp service test your air 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:16.399 conditioning Make sure that that is working properly 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.700 and remember those things have air filters They 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:21.600 have to be cleaned also remember to clean the 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.559 coils on the back of the compressor unit on The 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:29.679 roof while you're up there check your seals Okay, 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:32.700 another thing if you hopefully you didn't leave 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:35.379 your batteries out there Especially if they're 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:38.740 wet cell lead acid batteries all winter long. 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:42.340 They probably should have come inside. I know 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:45.059 Why didn't you tell us that in October? Well, 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:47.080 I wasn't doing the restless nomads radio show 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.840 in October. So forgive me. But if you have batteries, 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:53.120 it's always a good idea to bring them inside 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.519 for the winter and put them on a maintenance 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:59.279 charger or a tender. And that'll just keep them 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:02.559 topped up. Some lithium batteries nowadays actually 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:06.000 come with heaters within the battery and they 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:10.240 will kick on automatically to maintain that battery 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.570 throughout the winter. Which is pretty awesome 00:14:13.570 --> 00:14:15.990 and a lot of people are going lithium That was 00:14:15.990 --> 00:14:19.149 one of the major complaints for years that lithium 00:14:19.149 --> 00:14:22.169 batteries did not work in sub freezing temperatures 00:14:22.169 --> 00:14:25.070 But they are improving and they're getting cheaper 00:14:25.070 --> 00:14:28.149 too By the day lithium batteries have really 00:14:28.149 --> 00:14:31.269 improved and now can operate all went along because 00:14:31.269 --> 00:14:36.169 of those in onboard heaters If you're driving 00:14:36.169 --> 00:14:38.490 a motorhome or something with an engine you want 00:14:38.490 --> 00:14:40.850 to check your coolant You want to check your 00:14:40.850 --> 00:14:44.629 oil. You want to check brake fluid and also your 00:14:44.629 --> 00:14:47.409 transmission fluid, just like you would on a 00:14:47.409 --> 00:14:49.909 car that's been sitting all winter long, you 00:14:49.909 --> 00:14:54.669 know, for months. Make sure your fuel is fresh. 00:14:54.809 --> 00:14:57.129 You don't want that to be stale or stagnant, 00:14:57.129 --> 00:14:59.629 and you probably should have dropped some of 00:14:59.629 --> 00:15:03.210 that stabilizer in in the fall. If you didn't, 00:15:03.409 --> 00:15:05.789 then you need to check and make sure that your 00:15:05.789 --> 00:15:09.299 fuel is good. Otherwise, you may have to drain 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:12.679 that fuel tank, which is a pain check for dry 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:16.559 rot cracks as well And this is really important. 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:19.860 You always want to be checking your tires But 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.700 you want to check for dry rot cracks also check 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.740 the date on your tires. Make sure that they're 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:28.879 within seven years after about seven years tires 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:32.659 Degrade the rubber that they're made out of loses 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:39.320 its It's structural integrity and it can cause 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.240 blowouts And of course you should be doing this 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:46.720 multiple times every trip So why wouldn't you 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:49.240 do it when you're de -winterizing? Check to make 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:51.460 sure that you've got the proper tire pressure 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:55.740 in every tire on your RV Okay, we'll get into 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:59.299 more of this just after the break You're listening 00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:03.080 to the restless nomads RV radio show on gold 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.179 country radio Want to get your business noticed? 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.500 Sponsor a show on KKFO Gold Country Radio on 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:12.399 103 .3 FM and create awareness through on -air 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:15.159 announcements. Our online stream at goldcountryradio 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.700 .org and our podcasts that live on forever. Your 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:20.840 message reaches a broad local audience while 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:23.139 also targeting listeners who choose to tune in 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:25.679 to the shows they love. 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That's the community 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:07.240 station, the home of this radio show turned podcast. 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.920 It's your home for classic hits and community 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:12.599 updates. If you go to goldcountryradio .org, 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:15.460 you can listen live from anywhere in the world 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:20.119 on 103 .3 FM in the Klamath Falls, Oregon area. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:24.220 So we talked about maintenance items, things 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:26.500 that you want to be checking for to maintain 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:31.319 the health of your RV, the usability of your 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:34.359 RV. Now let's talk. little bit about safety and 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:36.359 we kind of touched on this with tires because 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:41.819 that's a huge safety concern. Now your RV has 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:43.859 been sitting out there for months and you haven't 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:46.420 looked at anything in that RV for a while so 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:49.200 good idea to check the fire extinguisher make 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:52.500 sure that it's up to date it's not expired and 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:56.299 the gauge is in the green because when you need 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:59.200 it you need a good one. If you have a kitchen 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:02.069 fire or something like that If you can get it 00:18:02.069 --> 00:18:04.089 out early, you might be able to salvage your 00:18:04.089 --> 00:18:08.230 RV, but RVs are like kindling. So if you don't 00:18:08.230 --> 00:18:10.390 have anything to put that fire out right away, 00:18:10.450 --> 00:18:13.589 it quickly grows. It can get out of hand very 00:18:13.589 --> 00:18:15.990 quickly and then you'll be stuck with a total 00:18:15.990 --> 00:18:22.349 loss on your hand. Most cognizant and good RVers 00:18:22.349 --> 00:18:26.730 will have some kind of emergency kit for breakdowns 00:18:26.730 --> 00:18:29.880 on the road. You may have road flares in that 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:33.119 you'll have tire repair tools. You'll have your 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:36.619 jack All those things some first aid essentials 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:39.400 and you want to make sure that everything is 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:43.079 still there You know if you borrowed the the 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:48.059 four -way Lug nut breaker from your RV for some 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:50.019 other project during the winter and forgot to 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:52.000 put it back That's not going to do you much good 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.779 out on the road. So make sure everything that 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:59.390 you need for You know shoulder side or roadside 00:18:59.390 --> 00:19:03.609 breakdowns is there make sure you have your roadside 00:19:03.609 --> 00:19:06.349 assistance number programmed into your phone 00:19:06.349 --> 00:19:08.809 too and make sure that your roadside assistance 00:19:08.809 --> 00:19:13.950 covers your RV that's cheap and many people find 00:19:13.950 --> 00:19:16.869 They find out the hard way, you know, they got 00:19:16.869 --> 00:19:20.269 roadside assistance on their tow vehicle But 00:19:20.269 --> 00:19:21.789 when it comes down to it and they're sitting 00:19:21.789 --> 00:19:23.809 on the side of the road, they said we don't cover 00:19:23.809 --> 00:19:26.650 a trailer So make sure that your trailer, if 00:19:26.650 --> 00:19:30.089 you are towing a trailer, has roadside assistance 00:19:30.089 --> 00:19:33.630 on that as well. For first aid essentials, just 00:19:33.630 --> 00:19:35.509 make sure everything within that kit, all your 00:19:35.509 --> 00:19:38.470 medication, if you have a personalized first 00:19:38.470 --> 00:19:42.369 aid kit, is unexpired and ready to go. Okay, 00:19:42.710 --> 00:19:45.190 on your tow vehicle or if you're in a motorhome, 00:19:45.269 --> 00:19:47.369 you want to test your headlights and check all 00:19:47.369 --> 00:19:51.190 your lights on any RV. So all the turning indicators, 00:19:51.809 --> 00:19:54.769 your brake lights, go ahead and plug that seven 00:19:54.769 --> 00:19:57.250 way or that four way, depending on what you have. 00:19:57.269 --> 00:20:00.250 If it's a towed vehicle and make sure that that's 00:20:00.250 --> 00:20:04.390 working and check your trailer brakes while you're 00:20:04.390 --> 00:20:07.910 at this, because that's also controlled through 00:20:07.910 --> 00:20:12.049 that seven way or that four way. And you want 00:20:12.049 --> 00:20:15.269 to make sure that those are indeed working because 00:20:15.269 --> 00:20:17.109 you don't want to find out you don't have any 00:20:17.109 --> 00:20:19.789 trailer brakes. while you're going down a steep 00:20:19.789 --> 00:20:22.750 grade especially this time of year where you 00:20:22.750 --> 00:20:25.049 might hit a patch of ice or something like that 00:20:25.049 --> 00:20:29.470 that's no bueno. Good idea to go ahead and jump 00:20:29.470 --> 00:20:32.289 in the rig get it ready as if you're going on 00:20:32.289 --> 00:20:35.269 a trip and take it on a quick spin around the 00:20:35.269 --> 00:20:39.529 neighborhood just to hear strange noises that 00:20:39.529 --> 00:20:42.950 may have developed. You want to check your trailer 00:20:42.950 --> 00:20:45.509 brakes or if you're in a motorhome you want to 00:20:45.509 --> 00:20:48.279 check your rear drum brakes of course. One of 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:50.180 the things about motorhomes, and this has happened 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:53.140 to me on a Class A motorhome, the front brakes 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:56.119 are disc brakes. The rear brakes are generally 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:59.039 drum brakes, unless you have air brakes, in which 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:02.519 case you've got a $300 ,000 motorhome probably. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:07.440 But one of my disc brakes locked up in the front, 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:12.200 and when I drove it a mile to the gas station 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:15.730 to put fuel in it, Then I got out I noticed that 00:21:15.730 --> 00:21:19.569 my front tire was smoking. That's because that 00:21:19.569 --> 00:21:23.630 disc had locked up around I'm sorry the caliper 00:21:23.630 --> 00:21:26.170 had locked up around the disc so the brake was 00:21:26.170 --> 00:21:28.569 engaged the entire way and it was just overheating 00:21:28.569 --> 00:21:32.170 and I had to take that to a brake shop to make 00:21:32.170 --> 00:21:34.569 sure that that was fixed before I could go anywhere 00:21:34.569 --> 00:21:37.109 because Eventually that'll overheat and fail 00:21:37.109 --> 00:21:40.150 and just come right off of there Make sure the 00:21:40.150 --> 00:21:44.009 steering feels solid you know whether you're 00:21:44.009 --> 00:21:48.130 in a RV motor home or a tow vehicle you want 00:21:48.130 --> 00:21:50.849 to make sure your power steering fluid is topped 00:21:50.849 --> 00:21:55.529 up and that that is operating correctly. You 00:21:55.529 --> 00:21:58.549 also want to make sure that your suspension is 00:21:58.549 --> 00:22:03.450 in good shape and oh man this is important too 00:22:03.450 --> 00:22:07.589 on trailers especially make sure that your bearings 00:22:07.589 --> 00:22:13.170 are packed with grease and good to go Those need 00:22:13.170 --> 00:22:17.849 lubricating from time to time. They will overheat 00:22:17.849 --> 00:22:20.910 and cause big trouble if you don't lubricate 00:22:20.910 --> 00:22:24.029 those. There are there's a system called easy 00:22:24.029 --> 00:22:27.109 lube in which you just hook up a grease gun and 00:22:27.109 --> 00:22:28.829 squirt some grease in there and call it good. 00:22:29.250 --> 00:22:32.609 That's the best kind to have. But if you don't 00:22:32.609 --> 00:22:34.369 have the easy lube system, then you will have 00:22:34.369 --> 00:22:38.089 to remove and repack those bearings. And that's 00:22:38.089 --> 00:22:42.140 a good time to do it before the first trip. Just 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:44.400 remember that you know hopefully you remembered 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:47.279 this in the springtime I'm sorry in the fall 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:50.819 when you put it away, but if you didn't hopefully 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:54.759 you got away with it the RV should be ventilated 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:59.180 and You can just do that by cracking a vent Especially 00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:01.880 if you've got those vent covers that don't allow 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:04.880 rain in it's a good idea To provide that ventilation 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:08.019 if you've got a musty smelling RV after the wintertime 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:11.700 Good idea to get it ventilated now on nice days 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:14.339 leave all those windows open leave the screen 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:18.579 door open put a dehumidifier in there and check 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:23.079 for any mold because your rv was Not ventilated 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:25.900 all winter long and it's likely that you may 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:29.500 have had some condensation form Inside and that's 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:33.839 not good especially if If there was anything 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:37.039 in there that generated any sort of heat that 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:42.289 will create condensation here's an rv pro tip 00:23:42.289 --> 00:23:47.349 for you uh you want to before you embark on your 00:23:47.349 --> 00:23:50.890 first trip take your rv for that shakeout run 00:23:50.890 --> 00:23:56.369 plan for a campground that is within you know 00:23:56.369 --> 00:23:59.789 an hour from home for your first trip and just 00:23:59.789 --> 00:24:02.670 go for a quick overnight make sure that you're 00:24:02.670 --> 00:24:05.829 not going way out in the boondocks for your first 00:24:05.829 --> 00:24:10.289 trip Because you will likely discover that something 00:24:10.289 --> 00:24:13.049 needs to be repaired and you may be taking some 00:24:13.049 --> 00:24:16.329 trips To the hardware store if you're gonna DIY 00:24:16.329 --> 00:24:19.670 it And you can fix it right there in your campground 00:24:19.670 --> 00:24:22.130 That's the way I prefer to do it and I have had 00:24:22.130 --> 00:24:24.630 to do that several times You know our first camping 00:24:24.630 --> 00:24:27.670 trip a couple years ago I figured out that one 00:24:27.670 --> 00:24:30.829 of the faucets was not winterized quite correctly 00:24:30.829 --> 00:24:34.269 and when we cut the water pump on it shot one 00:24:34.269 --> 00:24:37.500 of the Handles right off of the sink and it was 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:39.420 spraying water everywhere. So I had to shut the 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:42.940 water pump off Go into the hardware store and 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:45.400 the RV store to get the parts to repair that 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:48.660 sitting right there in the campground if you 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:52.319 get to the campground and figure out that Things 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:55.180 are not as they should be and you cannot DIY 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:57.759 it Well, then you'll be forced to bring that 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:01.339 RV home and get it into the shop and likely have 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:04.859 to wait for a while For the shop to repair it 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:07.700 so you save yourself a bunch of headache and 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:10.660 a bunch of money and a bunch of time If you learn 00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:13.019 how to do some of the simple repairs yourself 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:15.579 And you'll also save yourself a bunch of headache 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:19.160 if you go ahead and check all the systems Sitting 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:22.579 right there at home before your plans trip and 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:25.319 then just know that as you pull that rv to the 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:28.579 campground for the first time First time of the 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:32.059 year You'll likely work some things loose and 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:33.980 when you get to the campground, you may have 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:37.079 to spend a little bit of time just troubleshooting 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:40.400 and doing some quick repairs, especially if you're 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:43.619 kind of a weekend warrior. You don't use it that 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:47.079 often and most of the time sits in the driveway. 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:51.099 You're going to need to be kind of close by at 00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:54.059 least have some cell signal or internet service 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:56.680 because you likely have forgotten to operate 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:59.140 all those systems on the RV. and you'll need 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.920 to be able to YouTube. What am I doing wrong 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:05.380 here, right? So just remember that good idea 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:09.039 to book your first trip within an hour of home. 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:13.240 Well, thanks so much for joining me on this edition 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:15.980 of the Restless Nomads all about de -winterizing 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:19.500 and getting ready for the exciting camping season. 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:23.900 It is just around the corner. Some of us have 00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:26.460 already started. We've already been out in our 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:29.740 RV. We just got a new one, by the way, tell you 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:32.839 how that's going real quick. So first brand new 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:35.559 RV that we've ever bought. And I knew going into 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:38.180 it that there were going to be issues and that 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:41.039 it would need to go into the shop for warranty 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:44.799 work and so forth. So we bought a brand new 2024 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:47.640 Keystone hideout and we're thrilled about it. 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:50.859 We're really excited about it. But right out 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:54.160 the gate. The 12 volt fridge did not work and 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:57.619 then come to find out our converter Was not working 00:26:57.619 --> 00:27:01.440 either. So it has been in the shop for about 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:04.900 three weeks They just approved the warranty work 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:07.619 and they are just now Having those parts sent 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:10.660 and getting to work on it. This is personal experience 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:14.339 We're in the middle of this whole shop wait times 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:17.059 And if it weren't for the fact that it's a very 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:19.539 expensive part, the 12 volt fridge is about two 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:22.420 thousand dollars Would have repaired it on my 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:26.299 own. I'm capable of that and I can YouTube University 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:28.839 The heck out of learning how to repair stuff, 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:31.700 but I figure it's under manufacturers warranty 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:35.339 for a year We're not using it quite yet before 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:38.980 we take our trip to Crescent Lake in May So might 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:41.400 as well have them work on it and they're just 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:44.640 gonna store it for us as they wait for parts 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:47.920 So if you do winterize your RV yet share your 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:50.599 trips and tricks with us at TheRestlessNomads 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:53.259 .com or connect with us on social media. We're 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:57.700 on Facebook. Just Facebook search The Restless 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:00.440 Nomads and you'll see Angie and I there. And 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:02.839 I hope you enjoyed the show and I cannot wait 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.440 to see you out there in the campground this season. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.680 This is Mike with The Restless Nomads. Until 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:11.740 next time, safe travels and happy camping.