RV Road Trips

A Review Of Keystone Outback Travel Trailers' 2-Story RV With A Loft!

Keystone has come out with an RV first: a 2-story travel trailer! 

Who wouldn't want to have a second floor bedroom? It's great, if for no other reason than to have somewhere to send the kids when they misbehave. 

Actually, when it comes to bed space, there is only so much room to stack people in your average 30-foot travel trailer. Whereas, the Keystone Outback Loft will handle lots of people.

With room for mom and dad, plus a tribe of 5-6 kids, the Keystone Outback Loft might be the perfect RV for your family.  The king-sized dinette means there is plenty of room at the table.  Include the folding sofa and the queen-sized bed that lowers in the garage, and you can sleep quite a crowd.

That’s right, with the Keystone Outback Loft you’ve got your own garage!  That means you can bring along a whole stack of bicycles -- one for each person in the family.  Don’t forget the 4-wheeler, there's room for that too.
 

Continue reading: Keystone’s Outback Loft Travel Trailer

Renting Out Your RV Doesn't Mean You're Not Still Liable

Renting an RV has become a popular way to travel for many who may not be ready to commit to a long-term investment.  Sticker shock on that new luxury coach can be avoided by a short-term rental.   Also, all those maintenance and storage issues remain someone else's problem when you're renting!

On the other side of the coin, if you've got an RV sitting idle in your driveway, then you may be considering renting it out as a way to cover those previously mentioned expenses. 

Beware, as you could be opening a real can of worms. Even though you're not the one driving the RV,  you're still liable in many ways when someone is renting the RV from you.

How To Avoid RV Sewer Problems

RV waste management -- otherwise known as black water (toilet) and gray water (sinks & shower) -- requires knowledge of how the RV water system works. 

For example, what valves do you leave open when hooked to utilities at the campground? Why is water backing up in the shower?  These are all questions with simple answers.

Asking questions at the RV dealership, and taking the time to understand what happens when you pull which handle, will keep you from getting an unexpected surprise when you remove the twist cover off the discharge end of your plumbing sewer system.

I guarantee that will be one mistake you'll only make once!

RV Refrigerator Repair Tips

You might be surprised how much food an RV refrigerator really holds.  It will become quickly apparent about the time you find the beer is warm and the ice cream is melted. 

Determining whether to repair or replace your RV refrigerator can be tricky.  Remember, labor is a costly item when it comes to replacing a refrigerator's cooling unit.  You will want to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Of course, the picture may not be so bleak.  Maybe all you need are some good ideas on how to make your RV refrigerator work better.  Don't forget, your RV needs to be pretty level for the refrigerator to work properly.

Your RV Water Pump Must Be Drained For Winter Storage

RV water pumps are usually pretty trouble free.  As long as you make sure your RV water pump is properly drained before winter storage, then you will likely prevent problems next spring.  If your RV water heater does fail, diagnosing water pump problems is fairly straightforward. 

Just don't be confused when using city water. For example, you don't need to run your pump when hooked to another water source.

If water starts running out onto the floor as soon as you turn on the pump, then you might have a burst water line instead. That's just one of many possible problems if you don't get all the water out of your system before winter.

Decorating To Celebrate Christmas In Your RV

Christmas is just around the corner.  Will you be celebrating the holidays on the road?  Just like home decorating, the RV can put some Christmas cheer in your heart and a smile on your face.

Sure it's a smaller space, but decorating your RV can be just as much fun.  A tabletop Christmas tree will fit just fine, and you can still put out many of your usual items on a smaller scale.

To make the Christmas tree more appropriate consider some RV themed ornaments.  Then make your Christmas list and leave it where Santa can find it.  It's a good time to put some things for the RV on your gift wish list!

Longtime RV Companies Like Fleetwood & Beaudry Have Declared Bankruptcy

My how things have changed in such a short time.  Fleetwood, long considered one of the largest manufacturers of RV travel trailers is gone.  It's fallen victim to hard times and bankruptcy.  

Emerging a much leaner corporation, Fleetwood's motorhome production will continue on. The whole RV industry has taken a pretty substantial hit this year.  Many large RV dealers have folded as well.

Beaudry RV in Tucson went through Chapter 11 reorganization too -- closing down much of the umbrella of businesses that operated under the Beaudry name. 

The industry is changing throughout.  More lightweight and smaller RVs are being produced.  Even homemade RVs are once again becoming a popular choice when the budget is tight.

RV Lemon Laws Protect You When The Factory Can't Make Your RV Right

Shopping for a new RV is a big project.  Determining what type or size best suits your family and your budget will have you going back and forth for quite awhile.  The selection is vast and prices go from thousands up into the millions of dollars.

Of course, new RVs come from the factory with a warranty against defects that is supposed to protect you from being stuck for repairs, in most instances, for the first year or so.  Occasionally, for whatever reason, an RV slips through the building process and continues to plague the new owner with problem after problem with little hope of resolving the situation.

Fortunately, just like in the automotive industry, the RV industry is bound by Lemon Laws that protect you the consumer when that one bad apple shows up in your driveway.