Holiday Gifts for the RV Traveler in Your Life

Still haven't found that special something for your husband, kids or best friend? Look no further! 

Our "RV Trailer Store" offers amazing options for the RV Owner or Expert Camper in your life! Here are a few options to make the holidays brighter for your friends and family:

1. A Back-Up Heater

The last thing you want when it's cold out is a broken furnace. 

2. A CB Radio

Create a fun handle for your RV and get updates on traffic and road hazards! "Breaker One Nine."

3. An RV GPS

Although "Not all those who wander are lost," getting lost is one danger of the road. An RV GPS is the perfect gift for the wanderlust-driven.Or you can just go the old-fashioned route with a map!

4. A State Sticker Map

Remember all of the places you've traveled to with a fun, interactive map!

5. Other Festive Decorations to Remind Them of Home

When you're on the road, nothing beats those little reminders of home.

Your Vehicle Starts To Skid & Slide Causing A Vehicle To Become Out of Control: You've Hit Black Ice

Typically black ice is most commonly found on roads winding around bodies of water such as lakes, rivers or on overpasses.  Moisture in the air freezes when it comes in contact with the much colder roadway.  Additionally, a sudden drop in temperature can cause an already wet roadway to quickly freeze.

Here are a five tips on how to drive on black ice and protect your car this winter:

1. Drive slowly – The best way to avoid skidding out of control is to operate your vehicle at a slower speed.  A slower speed will even give you more time to react to the effects of black ice
2. Don't slam the brakes - While it may be a natural instinct to slam on your brakes, this will only cause your car to lose control and slide even more. Tap the brake pedal lightly instead of pushing down hard on it.
3. Maintain a safe following distance – In situations like this, you need to extend you following distance to ensure you will have ample time to react to the motorist ahead especially if they begin to lose control.
4. Look for trouble spots ahead - If you have an idea that there may be black ice ahead (if you see cars ahead of you sliding, for example), downshift to a lower gear before you come onto the black ice. The lower gear will force you to drive more slowly and it will give you better control of your car.
5. As soon as your car begins to slide on black ice, take your foot off the gas pedal - In fact, the last thing you want to do is give your vehicle more gas. It is very important to slow down when you are driving on black ice or in any other winter road conditions.

Halloween Driving Tips

Help protect trick-or-treaters by following these driving safety tips on Halloween, or on the night your community hosts Halloween activities. Be especially careful between 4 and 8 p.m., when most severe vehicle/young pedestrian collisions happen.

• Drive slowly, and don't pass stopped vehicles. The driver might be dropping off children.
   
• Park your mobile phone. Avoid distractions by waiting until you've stopped to call, text, or surf. Get more mobile phone safety tips.
   
• Watch for children darting into the street. Kids can cross the street anywhere, and most young pedestrian deaths happen at spots other than intersections.
   
• Yield to young pedestrians. Children might not stop, either because they don't see your vehicle approaching or don't know how to safely cross the street.

Communicate with other drivers. Always use your turn signals. And if you have to pull over to drop off or pick up your kids, turn on your hazard lights.

And, to keep your own trick-or-treaters safe:

• Teach them how to safely cross streets. They should look both ways and cross only at corners and crosswalks.
   
• Consider indoor community Halloween programs for younger kids. Some communities also offer to help you inspect your kids' treats to make sure they're safe to eat.
   
• Brighten them up. Give them flashlights and glow sticks, and/or use reflective tape on their costumes, so drivers can see them.

Is This Common Car Myth Costing You Money?

The Myth:

Whenever you start your engine, particularly on cold days, you have to let it warm up to its normal temperature before driving or else it is bad for your car's engine.

The Reality:

As long as you're not flooring it everywhere you go, you can get going as soon as you turn the key. This myth comes from an understandable place: Various engine parts and oil do take some time to warm up before they can operate at full capacity. However, an idling engine takes much longer to warm up, so it ends up experiencing far more cold-start wear and tear than if you just hopped in and drove it.

Think about it: When your engine is idling, it's still producing power, so what difference does it make if that power is being used to move the car or just sitting there. Additionally, there are other parts of your car that also need warming up, like your transmission and wheel bearings, and those don't get any help until you actually get the thing moving.

Of course, this only applies to newer, fuel-injected cars. If you've got an old classic sitting out there, you can hang out in the parking lot or driveway for a while.

Why You Shouldn’t Get Gas When You See The Tanker!

If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back later that day or if you can manage, come back the next day.  As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up the sediment in the gasoline. This sediment in the gas can clog fuel and fuel injectors, which in turn causes poor performance for your RV and possibly necessitating nagging repairs.

Need RV Service? Look no further!

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOURS TODAY!

Have you been holding off on getting your RV serviced?  We make it easy by being able to set up an appointment using our online scheduling tool! Just click the link above and take a moment to complete the form so that we may better serve you. Once you have submitted your information, you will be contacted by a customer service specialist. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

How to save on fuel on your next RV trip

As families across the country have been dealing with the recession many are doing their best to keep an eye on what they spend. RV trips are typically the most affordable way to travel. However, rising fuel costs have offset some of the savings generally associated with RV travel. Fortunately, we've developed a list of practical fuel saving tips that will stretch your travel budget a little bit farther this year. Below is our list of creative ways to conserve fuel.

1. Camp closer to home. You may be surprised to find that there are some beautiful campgrounds and parks within a hundred miles of your home. With over 16,000 campgrounds on CampingRoadTrip.com you are sure to find just what you want nearer to home.
2. Stay longer in one place. Less travel equals less fuel consumption. Many RV parks are vacation destinations in their own right with all the fun amenities your family need for an enjoyable vacation. Also, many campgrounds offer discounts for staying with them for multiple nights, which saves you even more money.
3. Pack lighter. The lighter your RV the more fuel efficient it becomes. You can reduce the weight of your RV by:
   
   • Waiting until you reach your site to top up your freshwater tanks.
   • Buying firewood and other materials on site.
   • Making sure holding tanks are dumped before heading out.
   • Remove anything left in the RV from the last trip that you do not need.
4. Set cruise control at 55 mph. Traveling at low, consistent speeds saves fuel. In an experiment Edmunds.com found that using cruise control resulted in an average savings of 7 percent. Start the engine and drive off slowly until things come up to temperature. Idling the RV promotes unnecessary waste of fuel. Don't rush up hills. Instead, apply a light throttle during long climbs to conserve fuel and protect the engine from overheating. Down shift on steep hills where possible.
5. Travel later in the day. Air conditioning is the bane of gas mileage. In summer months travel later in the day when the weather is cooler and the vehicle air conditioning is needed less. Plan your route with care to avoid long hold ups if possible.
6. Tune up the engine. Your RV engine runs most efficiently when it's been maintained frequently and properly. If you haven't taken a look at your engine in years it is advisable to get a tune up.
7. Inflate Tires. Underinflated tires sap gas mileage. So fill them up! According to Fueleconomy.gov you can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Also consider switching to eco-friendly RV tires to reduce waste and fuel consumption.
8. Use the recommended oil. Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil will help boost your gas mileage by 1-2 percent.
9. Check the alignment of your RV. Tire-wheel imbalances contribute to reduced gas mileage. When tires are out of alignment they experience increased drag and resistance, which result in accelerated tire wear and decreased gas mileage. Therefore, balanced alignment allows for enhanced fuel efficiency.
10. Check the roof of your RV for air drag items. Driving with the antenna up and missing A/C cover will add to air drag and increased fuel consumption.

By following just a few of these measures you can ensure that you keep more fuel in your tank and more cash in your wallet.

Courtesy of campingroadtrip.com