Dear Readers: In the November issue of RV View I addressed a question from Mike Davis about hooking up Direct TV via a standard cable connection on the RV. Here’s his original question:   Dear Gary, why can you not hook up Direct TV through the standard cable hookup on the RV, and how can you get around this? --Mike Davis, Idabel, OK     I must admit I ...

  Dear RV Doctor, I have a 1994 Flair motorhome and my electric bill at the RV parks are about three times higher than my neighbors who seem to be using more electrical items. I’m not using the air conditioner and I have a new TV. My refrigerator and converter should be the only things drawing 120-volts AC. All my lights are 12-volt DC. My electric bill runs about $130 a month while ...

  Dear RV Doc, I am a new RV enthusiast who recently bought an older motorhome. The coach is in excellent condition but is beginning to show a little oxidation in the paint. I want to do whatever is needed to preserve both the beauty and the value of the coach as far as exterior maintenance is concerned. After receiving much well intended advice from various people, I am in a dilemma ...

Dear RV Doctor, I currently have two 12-volt deep cycle batteries but will need to replace them probably this year. I have heard that it is better to use 6-volt batteries. I noticed in your reply to another question in an earlier column that it would be better, but you mention using them to replace one deep cycle 12 volt battery. Is it still better if you use two 6-volt batteries to replace ...

Dear RV Doc, I have a Holiday Rambler with a 12-foot slideout. It uses a rack and pinion drive but the bottom of the frame is covered so it’s hard to see or get to. Many times the unit just clicks after deploying the switch when trying to extend out or retract in. Using the manual crank to move the slide a few inches will then enable the electric motor to drive the slide in or out the ...

Dear Gary, why can you not hook up Direct TV through the standard cable hookup on the RV, and how can you get around this? --Mike Davis, Idabel, OK Mike, you can’t use the standard cable hookup to go between the dish and receiver because it will block the DC voltage needed to power the dish LNB. What I recommend is that you run a satellite-rated coax cable from the receiver to ...

Dear RV Doctor, this may be a common problem other owners of older trailers are facing. We bought a second-hand fiberglass Burro trailer which we are very happy with but would like to upgrade the trailer to include a toilet and shower with a black and grey water system. The manufacturer has gone out of business so we have called the two other competitors of small fiberglass trailers, Scamp ...

Dear RV Doctor, I have heard of running the roof air conditioner off the generator while traveling. Is it safe to run the furnace off the generator while traveling? We travel to Florida every March and sometimes the first morning is quite cold, even after preheating the coach for several hours before leaving. The dash heater could not keep up with the heat loss while traveling. Riding in ...

Dear RV Doctor, I watched one of your television shows where the family with a hybrid trailer needed a stronger battery. You replaced their 12-volt battery with two 6-volt batteries. I have a 26-foot RV and it has only one 12-volt battery. Would it be better for me to use two 6-volts? Would I get more amps with two 12-volt batteries instead? I also have a converter but no inverter in my ...

Dear RV Doctor, My wife and I have been RVing for about five years but we used a tent for 25 years before that. We started with a bumper-pull trailer and loved it. We had no problems with getting it very stable. Last year we decided to upgrade to a fifth wheel, which is when our problems started. We cannot seem to get it stable. No matter what I do, we still have a shaky RV. I do have ...

If you plan on taking your family on a fun and life-changing road trip, why sacrifice comfort and style with a car when you can enjoy more space in a recreational vehicle? After all, there is arguably no better way to experience the luxuries of the open road than with the comforts an RV can provide.Mobile homes typically offer amenities that standard cars simply don’t have, such as a ...

It's safe to say that you should take in all the sights a cross-country road trip has to offer at least once in your lifetime. However, if you're going to set aside the time to engage in such a fulfilling journey, you might as well do it right. Although you could go in style with a flashy convertible, let's be realistic. You have an entire family to pack - not to mention a copious ...

Taking a weekend trip to the mountains is a luxury that many people wish to enjoy at least once or twice per year, no matter what season. However, having a vacation home in that sort of climate can be rather costly and difficult to maintain. Recreational vehicles provide a way to enjoy the countryside without all the extra work. For example, you won't have to waste time on the phone dealing ...

Don’t feel like wasting your money at a hotel that offers marginal service at best? Don’t feel like exposing yourself to wild creatures when camping under the stars? In either case, your best choice is renting or buying a mobile family vacation home.Anyone who has a knack for traveling could certainly confirm that there is something incredibly appealing about the power and freedom ...

If you feel like hitting the open road without having to worry about stopping overnight at a less-than-average hotel, why take the time to set up a flimsy tent? As a reliable and reasonable alternative, you can take the entire family across the vast countryside within the comfort of an accommodating mobile home. This approach might even be better than investing in a lake or mountain home. After ...

 If you or someone you love is an avid outdoors enthusiast, you know the simple joys of getting away from the city or suburbs, packing up the camping gear and hitting the road in search of America's great wildernesses and national parks. There's an inexpressible thrill that comes from hiking along forest trails, climbing a jagged ravine, fishing next to a clear blue river and roasting ...

 With the holiday season nearly here, you may be scrambling at the last minute to find the perfect gift for the outdoors enthusiast in your life - something that combines feelings of love and affection with rough and tumble wilderness excursions. But what can you get for the nature lover who already has everything? Improve on a past gift! If that old RV that's been from coast to coast ...

 America is full of beautiful wildernesses and natural landmarks that are breathtaking to behold. From the Adirondacks of New York to Yosemite National Park in California, travelers can enjoy a diverse range of ecosystems and landscapes not found anywhere else on Earth. One of the most spectacular and popular destinations lies within the mystifying deserts of Arizona - the Grand Canyon.Formed ...

 When shopping for a new recreational vehicle, outdoors enthusiasts and frequent campers demand that a number of specific requirements be met by the manufacturer. Customers want a product that boasts the industry's highest safety standards, innovative technology, comfortable luxury, versatility and proven durability on the road. But beyond these product requirements, people want ...

 With the official start of winter quickly approaching, and harsh arctic chills, freak snowstorms, icy-covered roads and darker nights becoming a constant annoyance, many people are seeking out warmer vacation climates. For outdoors enthusiasts, this provides the opportunity to pack up the camping gear, gather the family and head south for a sunny getaway. With so many beautiful wildernesses, ...