Now that the weather has finally cooled down a bit, we can prepare for the upcoming holidays and other delights the season brings. What are your plans for this fall? If they include tinkering or making some upgrades to your RV, you’ve come to the right place. But before you Google a question about your home on wheels, read Steve Froese’s tips about how to find technical info online. And for more emphasis on reliable resources, the RVideo selection features Todd from the National RV Training Academy  explaining how RV batteries work; Our Picks can guide you on fuel prices, tires, and RV storage procedures; and the New Tech products can help you along the way.

Safe travels!

The FMCA Team

Don't forget to hit the great outdoors with an FMCA membership, now available for $60 for the first year and $50 thereafter! Click here to learn more.

By Steve Froese, F276276

One can find information about everything online, from baking the “perfect” cake to building your own bomb shelter, and everything in between. The internet has become a resource for much of the human population, yet most of it is unregulated. That brings me to the topic of this article, which is how to avoid misinformation regarding your RV.

Here at FMCA, it is our mission to provide RV owners with information and resources intended to make the lifestyle safer and more enjoyable. FMCA, as well as our partners, suppliers, and vendors, strives to offer you quality services and education. For my part, I am an experienced licensed professional engineer in British Columbia, as well as an Inter-Provincial Red Seal journeyman RV technician in Canada and a certified technician in the United States. As an engineer, I have spent decades across many industries working in customer service and product support engineering, which means I have spent my career supporting customers, listening to their issues and concerns, and implementing solutions. As a senior RV technician, foreman, and service manager, I have mentored dozens of technicians, performed troubleshooting, and repaired many complex problems. Each staff member, contributor, sponsor, and supplier engaged by FMCA is experienced and dedicated to your success as an RV owner as well.

While some useful information is available on the internet, there is also plenty of bad information. The latter ranges from harmless and incorrect to downright dangerous. Many people will blindly follow this advice without knowing the difference. This is especially true when it comes to RV maintenance and repair information that can be found online.

Multiple types of batteries can be used to power your RV, but how do you know when you should change them, and what should you know before doing so? The National RV Training Academy, a great resource for RVers looking to increase their technical know-how, guides RVers through the ins and outs of batteries. This video is a comprehensive guide that explores how RV batteries work and outlines the differences between lead acid, AGM, and lithium batteries. It also shows you how to make informed decisions about your RV’s power source. Check out their video here.

A discussion of new products on the market to enhance your RV lifestyle.

Garmin’s Vieo RV 851 8-inch multi-function display is a fully integrated infotainment system designed for RVs. The Vieo RV 851 helps drivers navigate roads through hands-free voice control; provides RV routing and alerts for dangerous curves or speed changes; and includes RV-specific safety measures such as fatigue warnings, active lane guidance, and advanced driver assistance system features (with the addition of a forward-facing camera). In addition, the Vieo RV 851 offers access to preloaded points of interest, including the History network database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, and KOA and Ultimate Public Campgrounds listings. The infotainment system can be paired with compatible smartphones by downloading the Garmin Drive app to receive notifications, live parking information, weather updates, and more. Price is $599.99.

www.garmin.com

Running out of propane while out and about can really put a damper on a trip. The best way to avoid this is to continuously monitor your propane levels, and the easiest way to do this is with a sensor. Mopeka’s wireless Pro Check Sensor magnetically attaches to your tank. The sensor then connects to a mobile app, allowing you to see live updates of your current propane levels. The Pro Check uses sonar to monitor tank levels, and it can read down to 0.01 of an inch. It can be installed in minutes, and the battery life is noted as approximately two to three years, so you don’t need to worry about continually changing it. This sensor can be used on all steel propane tanks, including both horizontal and vertical containers. Price is $54.99.

www.mopekaiot.com

FMCA's picks for tips you need now.

Have you ever been curious as to what your state’s average fuel price is? AAA’s Gas Prices webpage displays average prices for gas and diesel throughout the United States, comparing current data to past data, even showing you what the average was a year ago. You can compare specific states to the national average, or even see how one state’s average compares to another. AAA monitors regular, mid-grade, premium, diesel, and E85.

Your tires carry you and your vehicle every step of the way on your travels. Knowing the load capacity of your tires is incredibly important, but how does that relate to tire strength? RVtravel.com covers a variety of RV-related topics, including everything from news to maintenance. Tire expert and FMCA member Roger Marble recently wrote a blog post about the differences between tire load ranges after finding a forum discussion about “How strong of a tire do I need?” He explains tire strength by delving into tire construction, steel ply, configuration, and more.

Now that the leaves are starting to turn colors in some places, it’s that time of the year when you may be getting ready to migrate south before the weather gets too cold or preparing to store your RV for the winter. Regardless of what your plans are, this RV Safety Education Foundation article about how to prep your RV for extended storage is worth a read. Depending on where you’re located, the climate and humidity levels can damage your RV, and there are many other things to consider before putting it into storage.

If you’re having problems on the road, need to find a how-to guide, or just have a question about your RV, you might be tempted to consult the internet via your preferred search engine. However, blindly following information you find online can be a gamble, especially when it comes to RV maintenance and repair. Many information sources are available online, but how do you know which ones are reliable or reputable?

FMCA University is our collection of RVing resources that FMCA members can access anytime and anywhere. Our online hub houses decades of knowledge from RV industry experts, combining an entire library of over 700 articles across 50 categories. Search for topics, read articles, take quizzes, earn badges and rewards as you learn new skills at your own pace, and increase your RV knowledge. Those who reach RVer Extraordinaire level even earn a free year of FMCA membership. To learn more, visit www.fmca.com/about-fmca-university.

As an RV owner, protecting your RV is just one of your many priorities. With our member-only discounts, you can save on many things to enhance your RV lifestyle and travel experience. Click here to learn more about FMCA's member discounts.