At large sporting events, you have probably seen huge tarps and not thought very much about them. The are used on industrial and construction sites, and even for weddings and family reunions. Farmers use them in the fields to keep hay bales and equipment dry. You have probably been under one many times on many different occasions, and never noticed, that is because they are doing a good job.

We are not really supposed to notice them, other than to see shade and shelter. There are many different types of tarps, and they are made from many different types of materials, and a large variety of styles and sizes. They are also available for home use.

When and if you decide to purchase an recreational vehicle (RV), you will most likely want to protect it while it is not in use. You have probably noticed individuals covering boats. RV tarps are made slightly differently than tarps for other type vehicles and boats, however, they are made to allow air to circulate between the tarp and the vehicle. It is suggested that the RV be lined with wood before applying the tarp to allow extra air to circulate. The suggestion is to use two by four boards.

They are usually heavy duty and come in silver or white. These type of Tarps are generally waterproof, rot resistant, UV resistant, mildew resistant, and tear resistant. You can purchase fitted covers, or RV shelters that are like a type of tarpaulin garage. The heavy duty tarps done as instructed are usually sufficient.

You can find tarp products and information for your recreational vehicle online. There are a variety of options with respect to vendors and the tarps available. Happy trails.

The following 5 steps will go through how to read your tires so that you can choose the best ones for your RV:

1. ST Tire Code
RV tow-able trailers have special tires designated for them. They are called Special Trailer (ST) tires and will have an ST on the tirecode which is located on the sidewall, near a series of other numbers. ST tires are constructed with RV trailers in mind. The sidewalls are much more rigid than regular tires and they are great for your trailer when cornering and backing up. Always look for the ST code for your RV.

2. Load Range
Fully load your RV trailer and weigh it. If you cannot fully load your RV unit and weigh it, use the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your trailer, found on the weight specifications sticker. It is important to fully load your vehicle, the maximum weight that it will be travelling at when you take it out. This will help us determine the weight capacity that each tire must handle, which will help us pick the right one.

3. Determining Load Range
With simple maths we can figure out the load range for each tire. Take the total weight of your trailer and divide by the number of tires that will support your trailer (dual tire configurations will count as 1 tire). Another way to think about this is to count the axles rather than the tires. 1 axle will divide the total weight by 2 and 2 axles will divide the total weight by 4. For example, you have a 4 tire 2 axle configuration for your trailer. Your total weight of the RV is 8000lbs. 8000/4 = 2000. 2000lbs is the load range you require for each tire.

4. Consulting Tire Load Charts
Look up a tire load chart to see which size tire and inflation pressure you will require. You can find one at the Goodyear RV website.

5. Tire Dates
Now that you know which tire to choose, head to the tire store and select the right tires for your RV trailer. When looking at the tires, you are choosing tires that have been manufactured a few months ago, so that you are choosing the best and newest tires available. To do this, look at the 4 digit number that follows the DOT code letters i.e. “DOT PDHH MLOR 3403″. The first 2 numbers of the date code represent the week that it was made. The last two numbers represent the year. So in our example, the tire was made on the 34th week of 2003. Always pick the newest tires available.

These are the steps for choosing and reading RV trailer tires. You can find more information about RV trailer tires below.

Due to the limited power supply on board the RV, you cannot run all of the appliances simultaneously because doing so will deplete the battery very fast. To overcome this issue, many recreational vehicle owners are installing RV solar panels.

There are many benefits of using a solar power kit on a motor home. Firstly, it is clean, quiet and easy to use. The solar system does not consume any gasoline or diesel and does not produce any unwanted waste also. All it does is harness the free energy from the sun and converts in into usable electricity.

In fact, an RV solar system design is quite simple. There are only 4 key components in the entire setup which are the solar panels, charge controller, battery bank and power inverter. The solar panels, usually installed on the roof of the vehicle are used to collect the energy from the sun. It is made from a semi-conductive material known as Photovoltaic (PV) cells. Solar cells have a natural tendency to generate electric current when exposed to sun light.

To use the current from the solar array, it is to be connected to a charge controller via electric cables. The charge controller will take the current from the panels and use it to charge the RV on board battery bank. Doing so will actually extend the life span of the vehicle batteries.

If you need a lot of power on your motor home because you have multiple electrical appliances, you may consider setting up separate battery bank just to fulfill the energy needs of the living compartment.

The type of battery most suitable for a solar system is the marine or deep cycle type. Deep cycle battery is very durable and can be discharged to a very low level without damaging its internal plates.

Since the batteries can only store Direct Current (DC), the power inverter will be used to convert the DC to Alternate Current (AC). Most modern electronic gadgets are designed to run primarily on AC. The final step is to run an extension cable from the inverter throughout the RV internal spaces.

The second option which is more desirable is to use solar panels to generate electricity. It is clean, efficient, does not generate any pollution whatsoever and require minimum maintenance. The only drawback in the installation cost. A custom built RV solar power system which can generate up to 440 watt can cost as much as $3000! Many RV owners would rather spend the money on other improvements. Because of the high cost, many motor homes owners are turning to Do It Yourself (DIY) solar kit for RVs. The system is not perfect, nonetheless, it is capable of generating usable electricity for the living area at a lower cost.

A homemade solar system is actually quite simple. The key components are the solar panels, charge controller, battery storage unit and power inverter. The other miscellaneous parts supporting the system are amp meter, voltage meter, disconnect switches and safety cut off fuses. The heart of the entire system which is the solar panels is to be installed on the roof of the vehicle. If your RV has a flat roof, this will be a simple process. However, if the roof of the vehicle is curved, then a special mounting would have to be made to cater for it.

The mounting plays a major role to ensure the Photovoltaic (PV) panels are working at its optimum capacity. When it is laid flat on the roof, the panels will not have the best angle to capture the sun light. Movable mounting which can be adjusted or tilted would be the best solution.

All the PV panels are to be connected to the charge controller which will use the current generated to charge the battery bank. When building the battery bank, it is best to choose true deep cycle battery. This is the type of battery used on electric golf carts. They are more durable and can be discharged to a lower level without damaging its internal plates. The final step is to hook up a power inverter to the battery and then run an extension cable around the RV living compartment. You can now enjoy free electricity on the open road courtesy of the sun.

A fridge intended for home use usually only operates from one power source, 120v AC – or whatever your local mains voltage is. A 3 way refrigerator intended for RV use – or use as a camping fridge – can operate from any of three different. Not only can they utilize mains power, but they can also run on LPG and 12v DC. This makes them ideal for not only RV use, but also for camping and off-grid living.

For a 3 way fridge running from LPG, the source of heat – a propane, or sometimes butane, burner – is used to power a cyclical chemical reaction. The refrigerant – usually ammonia – goes through a cycle of evaporation and condensation, which cools the appliance.

3 way refrigerators are generally optimized to run very efficiently on LPG, so use very little propane during operation. It is also important that when using a RV refrigerator, that the RV be leveled. Operating one of these units on a significant slope can damage the appliance.

When a three way fridge is plugged into grid power, the user may opt to switch to electric rather than propane power. When running off electricity, the cooling cycle is powered by an electric heating element rather than the gas burner.

One important thing to remember when running off 12v DC is that these units draw considerable amperage. While a 3 way fridge may run off a car battery that does not have the engine running, it will not run long without flattening the battery. 12v DC is chiefly intended as a power alternative for short periods of time, or for when the vehicle engine is running so as to keep the batter charged. Another factor to consider is that if you are going to power your fridge off 12v with the car engine running, be sure that your alternator is powerful enough to both power the refrigerator and keep the automobiles battery charged.

No matter what you are planning on doing, there is probably a solar system available to help you generate power. On increasingly popular choice is RV solar panels, which can help you run these large vehicles off the power of the sun. If you are interested in helping to save money as well as help the environment, you should research your options for what kind of RV solar panels are available.

RV solar panels are a component of an electrical system which converts light from the sun to electricity. This electricity is used to charge the RV batteries and are capable of running all the basics in your RV, including the lighting and appliances. On great advantage of using RV solar panels is that you can travel to a wider variety of locations. No longer will you have to worry about finding a source of power for your vehicles when you travel. As long as the sun is shining, you will be taking your power with you.

Thousands of companies in countries around the world now offer different RV solar panels for your convenience. When you decide to make the purchase, spend time researching which options are available to you so you can buy the best system and the lowest possible price.

Alpine Survival

Alpine Survival is one of the top choices for people looking to purchase RV solar panels. The RV solar panels that they sell are durable, lightweight, and easy to transport. One of the benefits of these and other top of the line solar panels is that they continue to generate electricity even if they are in partial shade.

Even the clumsy need not worry about the durability of Alpine Survival RV solar panels. You can pack them up and transport them without worrying about breaking them. They are so durable that it has been reported that dropping them and stepping on them still does not cause them to be ruined (although I would not recommend trying)! These RV solar panels have a unique design with lightweight construction and a nylon fabric covering which allows the entire unit to be folded into the size of a book. This makes them perfect to store and transport.

Mr. Solar

Another brand to consider when purchasing RV solar panels is Mr. Solar. They sell many of the most high efficiency brand names and kits, including such reliable names as Sharp, Sanyo, Photowatt, Mitsubishi, BP, GE, and more. This selection of RV solar panels and kits will ensure that you can find the exact one you want for your RV.

If you love to travel, RV solar panels are the perfect option. Your trips will be more convenient because you will no longer have to base your destination on where you can find a power source. Not only that, but you will save money by reducing your use of a traditional gas generator. With rising fuel prices, RV solar panels make practical sense for any traveler.

Dometic Corporation designed the A&E Power Awning with travel trailer and fifth wheel owners in mind. The affordable awning offers the convenience of power with the reliability of a manual awning.

However, the Complete RV Wind Energy Kit from Silicon Solar can help keep your batteries charged and ready to go, even when you are miles away from the nearest electric outlet. This unique kit allows you to install a Wind Generator on your that is powerful enough to keep your batteries fresh and charged at all times, can be quickly hoisted up in the air when you are parked and lowered when you are heading out on to the road.

The Complete RV Wind Energy Kit includes all of the following; the major components you need to get your system installed and up and running in no time.

· Kit includes Air X Land Wind Generator in either 12, 24 or 48V Configuration

· Also includes 15 ft Telescoping RV Tower Kit that attaches to your RV and quickly raises and lowers your wind generator

The Complete Wind Energy RV Kit is comes in one size, and provides enough power to charge the batteries of even the most heavily used RVs, and can easily be installed in a few hours – getting you back on the road and ready to go in no time.

The Complete RV Wind Energy Kit is only available through Silicon Solar, and costs only $1500. Similar kits are sold by competitors for over $2000. You can more information on the Complete RV Wind Energy Kit, or buy your own today through Silicon Solar at www.siliconsolar.com and www.windenergydirect.org

By Darren Lambert

RV refrigerators, for the most part, are efficient. In many cases it is something the owner does that makes the refrigerator less efficient.

There are several things we can do to help the refrigerator do its job more efficiently. First and foremost the RV must be fairly level for the refrigerator to operate properly. Older RV refrigerators required more precise leveling, but even the newer models need to be close to level for optimum performance. Over time a cooling unit operated out of level will be permanently damaged. Traveling with the refrigerator on will not cause problems because the liquids and gases in the cooling unit are constantly moving around. They don’t collect and stay in areas of the cooling unit like they can in a stationary, out of level refrigerator.

The initial cool down process can take four to six hours. You should turn the refrigerator on the day before you plan to leave, and before you put any food in it. When you do load the refrigerator the food you put in should already be cold, and the food put in the freezer should already be frozen. Putting cold food in the refrigerator, rather than adding warm food, lets the refrigerator work less to cool down. One common mistake made is to over pack the refrigerator. There has to be space between the foods to allow for air to circulate throughout the compartment. In most situations you will have access to a store where you can buy food. A two to three day supply should be enough.

To assist with air circulation you can purchase an inexpensive, battery operated refrigerator fan. Put the batteries in and place the fan in the front of the refrigerator compartment blowing up. Cold air drops and warm air rises. The fan will improve the efficiency by circulating the air and it will reduce the initial cool down time by 50%.

The heat created by the cooling process is vented behind the refrigerator. Air enters through the outside lower refrigerator vent and helps to draft the hot air out through the roof vent. Periodically inspect the back of the refrigerator and the roof vent for any obstructions like bird nests, leaves or other debris that might prevent the heat from escaping.

To keep the refrigerator operating efficiently in the LP gas mode there is some routine maintenance you can perform. Remove the outside lower vent cover to access the back of the refrigerator. With the refrigerator turned off ensure all connections are clean and tight. Turn the refrigerator on in the LP gas mode and a look at the flame. If the flame is burning poorly, a yellow colored flame, or if the refrigerator isn’t operating properly in the gas mode it’s possible that the baffle inside the flue is covered with soot. Soot, rust and other debris can fall down and obstruct the burner assembly. When this happens it will be necessary to clean the flue and the burner assembly. Turn the refrigerator off again and locate the burner. Directly above the burner is the flue. The baffle is inside the flue. Wear a pair of safety glasses and use an air compressor to blow air up into the flue. After the flue is clean use the compressed air to remove any debris from the outside refrigerator compartment. Now, turn the refrigerator on in the LP gas mode to make sure it is working properly. Look for the bright blue flame. For a thorough cleaning of the flue and baffle it will be necessary to have your RV dealer do it for you. While it’s there have them to do an LP gas pressure test too.

Another good idea is to install a 12 volt, thermostatically controlled refrigerator vent fan at the back of the refrigerator, or at the top of the roof vent, to assist with drafting the hot air away from the refrigerator. If you are mechanically inclined these fans are fairly easy to install, or you can have your RV dealer install one for you. Either way it’s worth it. The fan removes the heat built up behind the refrigerator improving the refrigerators performance by up to 40%.

The outside temperature also affects the operation and efficiency of your RV refrigerator. When it’s cold out you can lower the temperature setting and when it’s hot out you can raise the setting. Some refrigerators are preset by the manufacturer. Extremely hot weather will directly affect the refrigerators efficiency. When it’s really hot outside try parking your RV with the side the refrigerator is on in the shade. Periodically inspect and clean the refrigerator door gaskets. Check them for a good seal. Place a dollar bill behind the seal and close the door. It should stay there and not drop. When you try to pull it out there should be some resistance felt. Do this in several different places and have any damaged seals replaced.

Try to limit the amount of times you open the refrigerator or freezer doors and the length of time you leave the doors open. Every time the door is opened it loses a few degrees of heat. On a hot summer day it won’t take long to lose all of its cooling capacity. Last but not least you should always have a thermostat in the food compartment. Food will begin to spoil at temperatures above 40 degrees.

RV absorption refrigerators do a great job for RVers. They will do an even better job, and last longer, if we apply these simple tips to make their job easier and less demanding.

Happy Camping