How to check your RV for water damage

Posted on May 8, 2012 by LakeshoreRV

April showers bring you more than May flowers? Now’s the time we begin finding small holes and brown rings from winter and spring water damage. And unfortunately, water damage can be one of the most costly RV repairs. But, the good news is that preventative measures can drastically reduce if not eliminate the potential for moisture damage.

  1. Keep a look out for any signs of water damage… small holes, flaws, brown rings
  2. Regularly inspect roof components and their seals by spraying a garden hose.
  3. Order an extra roof air conditioner gasket to have on-hand.
  4. Most RV roofs are now made with a synthetic roofing material such as EPDM (rubber roofing) or thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). It’s recommended that older RV roofs be replaced with EPDM or TPO as one-piece synthetic roofs drastically reduce opportunities for water damage. It may also improve your trade-in value.

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RV maintenance checklist

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Bill Weston

Here’s a great periodic RV maintenance checklist I recommend printing out and keeping in your RV or garage, or wherever you’ll see it often so you don’t forget what’s due for a checkup.

Daily

  • Check oil
  • Check battery electrolytes
  • Compartment clean
  • Cooling fins clean

About 50 hours

  • Change oil & filter
  • Clean air filter
  • Clean fuel pump filter

About 100 hours

  • Replace spark plugs
  • Replace breaker points
  • Check electric connections
  • Tighten mounting hardware
  • Check exhaust/clean spark arrestor

200 hours

  • Replace fuel filters
  • Clean crankcase breather

500 hours

  • Check tappet clearance
  • De-carbon cyclinder heads

Annually

  • Clean awnings- 2x/year
  • Wipe down slideout gaskets- 2x/year
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What’s in your RV’s tool box?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by LakeshoreRV

Toolbox for campingHaving spent nearly 10 years living in and out of an RV, there’s one thing I know for certain: crap happens. You never know what project or repair is going to come up when you’re on the road. Whether you’re in the RV for just a weekend here and there, or full-timing it cross-country, you’ll need a stash of supplies and tools for quick fixes and even a few DIY repairs. Here’s a suggested list of tools to have on-hand, and don’t worry– these should all fit into a small toolbox without trouble.

  • RTV silicone sealant
  • Extra fuses
  • Wood & self tapping screws
  • Screw Drivers – Pack a multi-purpose driver that comes with an assortment of bits which include torx, hex, phillips, & regular
  • Wrenches – A metric set that runs from 8 to 20 should see you through. You also consider standard sizes from ¼ to 1”
  • Sockets – A small set that contains ¼ & 3/8 drive sizes will do
  • Utility knife and extra blades
  • Straight cutting tin snips – For cutting wire, heavy duty tarps, canvas, etc.
  • Pliers – Needle nose and a set of locking pliers
  • A saw – A few types of reciprocating saw blades & a folding holder/handle will allow you to cut wood, metal, and plastic
  • A hammer
  • Drill & Bits – A hand drill with a small set of bits is great for fastening items back together with screws or bolts. Don’t forget an extra battery, and the charger!
  • Flashlight – Bring along an extra hands-free “head” light
  • Extra washers, nuts, bolts
  • A digital multi-meter –You’re bound to incur a loose connection or a split from mice sooner or later. This will help diagnose your issue quickly.
  • Polarity Tester – This gadget works great for checking the “shore” power to see if it is wired correctly before you plug into it and fry something.
  • Electrical tape
  • Soldering iron – Great for reattaching wires
  • A Fire Extinguisher – while not a tool, this is one item I can’t stress enough about having on hand
  • Duct Tape (Prefer the 100 mph tape)

PS: If you’re the guy from site #32 on Stony Lake, I’d like my tin snips back. Please.

 

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Mini Pineapple Campfire Cakes

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Julie Stevens

Pineapple upside down cake is one of my all-time favorite desserts. So last summer I scoured the internet for easy pineapple upside down cake recipes I could modify for camping. I stumbled upon a recipe for cute mini pineapple cakes, and with a few quick changes, had a perfect recipe for camping! I hope you love it like I do!

  • 6 sheets heavy duty aluminum foil Pineapple upside down cakes
  • 1 package prepared sponge cake shells (usually in the bakery or produce section)
  • cooking spray
  • 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple, drained (save the juice!)
  • 2-3 tbs brown sugar, divided
  • 18 maraschino cherries
  • 1/3 cup of nuts (pecans work great!)

Directions (Makes 6 servings)

  1. Spray the aluminum sheets with cooking spray, and place a sponge cake shell in the center of each sheet. Spoon the crushed pineapple into the cakes, dividing it equally, and sprinkle each cake with about 1 tsp of brown sugar and about 2 teaspoons of nuts. Top each cake with 3 maraschino cherries, and drizzle 1 to 2 teaspoons of the pineapple juice over each cake.
  2. Wrap the cakes in the foil, leaving some room at the top for air circulation. Place the foil packs onto a hot grill over your campfire and cook about 10 minutes, or until the cakes are hot and bubbling.

PS: This are just as delicious baked in an oven at home!

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French toast and eggs for camping

Posted on April 30, 2012 by LakeshoreRV

Breakfast is my favorite meal to both prepare and enjoy, especially when we’re camping!
A hearty breakfast like this makes for more energy later in the day, and leaves you feeling fuller longer, which means a lighter lunch and dinner. Here are two of my absolute favorite breakfast recipes that pair well together.

Camping breakfast recipesSkillet French Toast

4 eggs
1 c. milk
4 tbs butter
¼ c. powdered sugar
1 tbs vanilla
5-10 slices of cinnamon swirl bread
Fresh berries

Beat eggs until blended, and stir in milk and vanilla. Pour mixture into a shallow casserole dish. Melt butter in large skillet. Dip bread into mixture and coat thoroughly. Next, fry the bread in the hot skillet until both sides are browned. Serve with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and butter, or warm syrup. Top with fresh berries for an added treat.

Jolly Camper Eggs

6 slices of bacon
1 large onion
1 large chopped green pepper
8 egges, beaten
1 10.5 oz can of cream of chicken soup
salt & pepper to taste

Fry bacon until crisp; drain and crumble. In two tablespoons of bacon fat sauté the onions and green pepper until tender. Beat the eggs and soup together. Mix in bacon and pour mixture into hot skillet with onions and peppers. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently. Serves 4.

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Dutch Oven Cobbler

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Julie Stevens

Mmmm … Cobbler. Just saying the word cobbler makes my mouth water. Here’s a recipe my mother reserved especially for camping when I was a little girl. It’s so easy and delicious, you’ll want to make it every time you camp!

Dutch oven cobbler 2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup water
4 cups sweetened canned fruit, with juice . (I prefer any kind of berry!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter in a 12-inch Dutch oven over low heat. Mix sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in milk and water gradually, mixing just until moistened. Pour into Dutch oven. Pour fruit over top. Cover with a lid, place hot coals over top for 30 to 40 minutes, or until batter is lightly browned on top. Check to make sure that batter is fully cooked through. Remove from heat, let cool slightly, and then serve warm.

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How to choose an RV hitch

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Bill Weston

RV hitchLike RVs, hitches come in several different sizes and types, so choosing the right one may seem a bit overwhelming at first. But honestly, it’s pretty simple. The type of hitch you’ll need depends on the type of RV you’re towing. It’s all in the weight my friends.

The first thing you should know is that hitches are divided into five classes:

  • Class I hitches are for the smallest trailers and can be used on most vehicles, carrying loads up to about 2,000 lbs.

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Posted in Fifth Wheel RVs, Popup Campers, Road Safety, RV Lifestyle, Toy Hauler RVs, Travel Trailer RVs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment