Category Archives: Tent Trailer

When & How to Replace RV Propane/CO Detector

Tent Trailer, Travel Trailer, ,

RV manufacturers have been required to install Propane/CO detectors for many years. 

Our 1992 Starcraft Meteorite tent trailer did not have one. I installed one that also included a solenoid that shut off the propane near the tanks. Both our 2006 Fleetwood Niagara tent trailer and our Eclipse Milan travel trailer came with propane and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Nowadays it is rare to see a detector that includes a shut-off solenoid.

These need to be replaced periodically. Most RV manufacturers include the owner manuals for every single appliance and other equipment installed. These are separate from the RV’s owner manual. Our Milan came with over a dozen manuals. Most people don’t read them. And if they do, there’s a good chance they have become misplaced or lost over time.

So let’s go over some information about these devices and a quick documentation of a replacement unit.

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The Changing Landscape of Campgrounds

Camping, General Talk, Tent Trailer, Travel Trailer,

We just got back from a two-week camping trip a few days ago and the changes are plainly visible for Joyce and me – we are frequent campers. No, this isn’t a post about climate change. Over the past four years I have seen dramatic changes in the use of the campgrounds we frequent. Keep in mind that this is an unscientific perspective from my little corner of the world where people can and do camp all 12 months of the year. 

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A History of Repairs to Our Milan Travel Trailer

Tent Trailer, Travel Trailer,

The biggest problem with travel trailers and RV’s is things rattle and move while traveling on the roads and things get worse if you are a person who is happy to drive on dirt roads to get to the best campsites. This vibration causes things to come loose and sometimes causes things to break. It is inevitable – not a question of probability, but when. Continue reading A History of Repairs to Our Milan Travel Trailer →

Tire Pressure Secrets for Camping Trailers & Tow Vehicles

Tent Trailer, Travel Trailer, , ,

“What should the tire pressure be when towing?”

expedition-p-metic-tireThis is a common question. If there is one subject among trailer owners that is wrought with misinformation and voodoo, it is tire pressure and load capacity. A discussion about tire pressure is, well, a numbers discussion. Ah, numbers are our friends. Just in case you dislike technical stuff and a bunch of numbers, let me pique your interest with a couple commonly asked but rarely correctly answered questions.

Q. Tire pressures are always shown as cold. Can I set my tires after driving on them and what should I set them at?

A. You should add 5 – 6 psi above the specifications. For example, if the specification is 35 psi, then set your warm tires to 40 or 41 psi.

Q. My SUV/Light Truck came equipped with passenger tires. Is there anything special I should know?

A. Yes. The load carrying capacity of P-Metric tires when used on SUVs, light trucks, and vans is 91% of the stated capacity.

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Joshua Tree National Park Article

Backpacking, Camping, General Talk, Hiking, Tent Trailer, ,

A friend of mine asked me to write an article for a magazine about Joshua Tree National Park that would be of interest to owners of tent trailers and small campers. I reluctantly accepted, as I really don’t have time for these kinds of projects — they interfere with my camping and backpacking time. He said I could take a few months to complete it. So I proceeded. In the end, the magazine decided to make it a four part series.

2014-11-20 PU Times Mag Cover

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Fit System 3891 Clip-On Towing Mirrors

Camper Upgrades, Tent Trailer, ,

2389586360049309119The law of the Great Welfare State of California states that a vehicle towing a trailer requires that

“when the trailer or its load affects the driver’s view to the rear, the law requires two rear view mirrors, one on each side of the towing vehicle, to give the driver an unobstructed view of the highway at least 200 feet behind.”

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