Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Known for its fishing charters and out in the middle of nowhere feel, Port Renfrew sits on the western tip of Highway 14, or West Coast Road. It’s a challenge to maneuver an RV on this roadway once you get west of Sooke. The road is narrow, hugs the craggy coast, and has a couple of white-knuckle hairpin turns. Once you get to Port Renfrew you’ll find a combination RV campground and marina. Other options are on that twisty-curvy but scenic road you had so much fun on.
"Not a one-horse town" is the motto of tiny Buffalo, Wyoming. Despite its population of slightly over 4,500 residents, the charming little town attracts more than its share of tourists eager to shop, dine and explore. Nestled at the base of the Big Horn Mountains and a short drive from fishing, hunting and boating areas, Buffalo is an ideal RV base camp. History buffs will want to check out nearby historical sites, including Fort Phil Kearney and the Hole in the Wall hideout of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Beautiful to gaze upon, Utah's Great Salt Lake doesn't lend itself to much recreational activity, though some certainly exists. The lake's water is saltier than the ocean, so it can't support marine life large enough to make fishing a viable sport. And since water levels constantly fluctuate, where the shoreline was a few years ago could be a long way from where it's situated today. RV parks are rare in such a setting, but they do exist and make good bases of operation for exploring this ecological treasure.
Parksville, British Columbia, is roughly a half-hour drive north of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island’s east coast, fronting the Strait of Georgia. RV campers come to enjoy the beaches, to cool off in the Englishman River and to explore Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Each summer, Parksville attracts sand artists from around the world to compete in the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition (parksvillebeachfest.ca). Between mid-July and mid-August, walking along the beach becomes a stroll through an open-air art gallery. Lucky RV campers can find spots nearby at several campgrounds.
On the high plains of southwestern Kansas, the city of Liberal is an important regional commercial and transportation center, serving not just Kansas but also nearby portions of Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. Of particular interest to “Wizard of Oz” fans, the city is also the official hometown -- mandated by state proclamation -- of Dorothy Gale and Toto, characters immortalized in L. Frank Baum’s book and its motion picture adaptation. RV campers can choose from four campgrounds in and around Liberal.
With rushing waters that tumble over limestone shelves into placid pools, and paths that wind past ancient cypress groves and native wildflowers, McKinney Falls State Park provides an oasis of Texas tranquility in the Lone Star State's capital city. Set on 726 acres along the banks of Onion Creek in south Austin, the park is home to historic ruins, hiking and biking trails, and an abundance of wildlife, all within 10 miles of the capitol, Austin Children's Museum, and Texas State History Museum. For RV campers, the park has more than 80 campsites with water and electric hookups.
You won't find much but fields of wildflowers, pristine forests and clean mountain air at Hannagan Meadow in Arizona. Hannagan Meadow sprawls along the Coronado Scenic Byway virtually in the middle of nowhere, at an elevation of 9,100 feet in the White Mountains of Arizona. One campground, a country store, lodge and restaurant are all the signs of civilization you'll see for miles around, yielding a truly serene getaway where you not only can camp, but explore trails leading into wilderness and primitive areas.
New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop along the eastern fringe of the sprawling Albuquerque metropolitan area. The mountains lie within Cibola National Forest, a vast recreational playground for both city dwellers and visitors. Sandia Peak, one of the highest mountains in the range, is a popular ski resort as well as the final destination for a 2.7-mile tramway ride. RVers visiting the area can choose from five year-round campgrounds within 10 miles of Sandia Peak.
Use discretion when obliterating germs from your newborn's surroundings. While it's true that new babies are more susceptible to illness, recent research from the University of Michigan Health System on a theory called the hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to normal childhood germs might actually be beneficial. If you opt to pre-wash infant toys, make sure to use baby-safe products.
Photographing motorcycles in action is something you can do in a couple of different ways depending on the situation. Find out about how you photograph motorcycles in action with help from a talented photographer who has masterfully honed his craft over the years in this free video clip.
Wheel lacing isn't quite a lost art the way that, say, polar bear boxing might be -- but it's pretty close. Spoke wheels reigned supreme once at the dawn of the automobile motorcycle and automobile, when human labor was cheaper than machine tools and aluminum hadn't gotten as strong and reliable as it is today. More than 100 years after the first motorcycles, the traditional spoke wheel remains a contender for its strength, light weight and low material costs. But spoke wheels don't lace themselves -- and that's where good old human labor comes back into play.
Fifth wheel trailer hitches use a kingpin and pin receiver mounted in the bed of a heavy-duty pickup truck. These hitches are similar to diesel tractor-trailer rig combinations. A gooseneck hitch is similar to the fifth wheel, but features a conventional ball and coupler mounted under, behind or on the floor of the cargo box. Goosenecks hitches are not to be confused with the HitchHiker Gooseneck trailer brand, which usually employ a fifth wheel hitch.
So, you just bought a home for its perfect location or layout, but it looks as if it's straight out of the 1950s. And, hey, maybe it is. Or, maybe -- regardless of your "new" home's actual age -- you are ready for an update, or you are ready to put your property on the market. Whatever the case, it could be time for a major home renovation.
Whether or not you need to obtain permission to renovate your home depends on exactly what renovations you plan on making. Find out if you need to obtain permission to renovate your home with help from an attorney in this free video clip.
Air conditioners require regular maintenance to keep them working optimally, and specialized tools help examine and repair the air conditioner system's individual components. A set of HVAC tools usually consists of various screwdrivers and pliers along with testing gauges. It's important to keep an HVAC kit in proper condition to ensure that the tools work properly when needed. Troubleshooting your HVAC tool kit periodically ensures that the tools are in proper condition when you need them and that you'll be able to repair an AC system on the spot.
A RainKing traveling sprinkler is a rotating sprinkler connected to a hose that moves around on a lawn when operating. This allows the lawn to receive water in all areas without the installation of an underground sprinkler system or manual placement of a non-traveling manual sprinkler system by the homeowner. While the traveling sprinkler should work well once installed correctly, problems may arise such as slow-moving sprinkler or low water pressure. These issues and others can often be repaired with basic troubleshooting.
Truck and van campers offer specific advantages for camping enthusiasts in comfort and amenities, yet there are distinct differences between the two types of vehicles. Selecting a truck camper or van camper depends on the wants and needs of the owner. The type of camping the owner enjoys is perhaps the most important consideration in camper selection.
Trailers are often susceptible to wood rot because they're outdoors. The wood rots when it's exposed to too much moisture -- because the moisture fosters the growth of mold and bacteria. As a result, the wood gets broken down and eaten away over time. Rotting wood needs removal as soon as it's discovered to prevent it from spreading. Restoring a trailer with wood rot is a feasible do-it-yourself project if you're careful and have woodworking experience.
Nothing raises appreciation of a motorcycle windshield like a beetle impacting your forehead at highway speeds. Sport bikers and trail riders wear full-face helmets to avoid such calamities. Most cruiser fans prefer less-confining headgear, and in some states, they legally ride with no helmet at all. Differing styles of windshields offer features such as handgrip protection or venting options that affect overall dimensions, but the height of any windshield is determined by a measurement taken from the top of the headlight cut-out to the highest point of the plastic shield. Protection is optimized when the fitment suits the individual bike…
For street riding on bikes or motorcycles, nothing beats blinking lights to indicate your intentions. Adding aftermarket blinkers to your bike can save your life and make it easier to navigate in traffic. Modern LED blinkers run on batteries. They are bright, and there are types to fit on any bike. The batteries have long life, can be replaced, and the complete package is affordable. For safety, you can't beat bright red blinkers on both handlebars. Install them in minutes with only a screwdriver.
Motorcycle brake calipers rely on rubber seals that will harden and crack over time, allowing contaminants into the caliper where it can create a fluid leak or prevent the caliper from operating at all. When this happens, the caliper will need to be rebuilt by replacing the seals and the caliper pistons, depending on the severity of the contamination. Most of the necessary items can be found in an aftermarket caliper rebuild kit.
CDI stands for capacitive discharge ignition, a type of electronic ignition system used by most motorcycles built after 1980. A CDI ignition is typically more reliable and requires less maintenance than the older mechanical contact point-type ignitions used previously.
A stream of oil, flowing from the engine's breather tube and into your motorcycle's air box, is the result of a condition called blow-by. Caused by an increase of pressure within a motorcycle's engine, this phenomenon forces oil up into the breather tube attached to the crankcase.
Travel trailers and motor homes are available in many different models. If you are planning a long road trip, purchasing a travel trailer or motor home can offer many conveniences. There are many different points to take into consideration before purchasing your new motor home. If cost is a factor, consider buying a used vehicle. If you plan on traveling long distances or for long periods of time, it may be more efficient to select a motor home that runs on diesel. You will also want to consider the number of people who will be traveling with you; sleeping space…
Gas fumes can build up in several parts of your home whenever there is a leak or spill and inadequate ventilation. Whether they come from natural gas lines, gasoline or diesel fuel, gas fumes can cause asphyxiation and pose a danger of explosion. Knowing when to check for evidence of gas fumes is essential to avoiding these problems when they are most likely to occur.
A motorcycle's overall height plays a big part in the machine's steering habits, but it also lends to the rider's confidence, especially at a complete standstill. For many smaller riders, having the bike lower to the ground allows them to plant both feet firmly on the asphalt. However, other riders may prefer to raise their motorcycle for a number of reasons.
Scrambler off-road motorcycles originated in England in the 1950s. Manufacturers exported the bikes to the United States in the 1960s as the burgeoning motocross competition gained a foothold in the California deserts. Bike owners modified their street bikes as off-road scramblers. Street-legal “street” scramblers appeared in the mid-1960s. Engine displacements ranged from 125 to 750 cc. Some motorcycle makers marketed their bikes as scramblers while others simply stripped down their bikes for off-road use.
A microwave oven uses microwave energy to cook food or to apply heat to the water content in food. The microwave oven uses both a step-up transformer and a magnetron to convert electrical energy into microwave energy. A microwave oven often contains an electric motor that turns a carousel tray inside the microwave chamber. The magnetron, transformer and electric motor all contain electrical devices called inductors. If you plan to use a power inverter to operate a microwave, it is necessary to understand how inductive loads can affect the electric circuit; this will help you choose a power inverter that…
Fiberglass is a durable material often used in boats and trailers. It typically has a shiny appearance due to a gelcoat exterior and, while it is scratch-resistant, it is not scratch-proof. The color also fades over time due to sun exposure and wear from wind and rain. Severely damaged fiberglass requires replacement, but worn surfaces can be refinished so their previous luster is restored. Refinishing a travel trailer fiberglass exterior requires some work, but the result makes the trailer look like new again.
Travel trailer fridges are expensive to repair or replace, and many RVers believe that a regular refrigerator cools more quickly and stays colder longer. The freezers are larger and food can stay cool for up to a day when the unit isn't plugged in. Replacing the old refrigerator with another of the right size and configuration eliminates the need to use propane for cooling food. The basic steps for changing the fridge are the same, regardless of the model of travel trailer.
Within the last few years, women have been casting aside the outdated thought that motorcycles are strictly a man's mode of transportation. More and more women are taking to the streets with their own motorcycles. Choosing a good motorcycle is an important step in the learning process, as the right bike will help a woman build confidence in her motorcycle-riding skills.
Travel trailers and recreational vehicles have siding on their exteriors to protect them from environmental elements and to provide insulation to keep the interiors at livable temperatures. The two most common siding materials are aluminum and fiberglass, both of which have benefits and shortcomings.
A kill switch, or run/stop switch, is a control switch that is commonly found on nearly every motorcycle made. The kill switch's main duty is to disrupt the electrical circuit that powers the motorcycle's ignition system, effectively stopping the engine from running. The kill switch is mounted on the right handlebar, near the throttle, for easy access to the rider. The switch's placement allows the rider to quickly stop the engine in the event of an accident. Kills switches normally operate by physically breaking the ignition circuit when the kill switch is moved out of the Run position and into…
The aftermarket motorcycle equipment industry offers several different handlebar-mounted universal tachometers that can be installed in virtually every motorcycle. These tachometers use one of two methods to transfer rotation of the engine to the tachometer's indicator needle: a cable driven off of the engine's crank or camshafts, or an inductive pick-up that detects electrical pulses from the spark plug cables. Cable-driven tachometers are intended as direct replacements for factory-equipped tachometers. However, an inductive-type tachometer can be equipped on a motorcycle that was not fitted with a tachometer from the factory.
A sticking throttle can pose a serious threat while riding your motorcycle, potentially leading to an unwanted throttle input that could make you lose control. In most cases, stiction within the throttle grip while making a turn is caused by an over-tightened throttle cable. The throttle cable is pulled tight as a right-hand turn is initiated, preventing the throttle from closing. To make matters worse, an excessively tightened cable will open the throttle mid-turn, disrupting the motorcycle's chassis and causing instability. While the remedy is fairly straightforward, it does require a familiarity with your motorcycle's throttle cables.
It’s not unusual to see a travel trailer awning opened to provide shade at a campsite. Some parts of the country have so many insects, however, that campers need more than a sunshade to enjoy the outdoors. That’s why they use a screen room installation kit that allows them to fasten screening to a travel trailer awning to create a screened patio.
Renovating a kitchen in an older home is an essential part of keeping the place looking good and functioning properly. A floor-to-ceiling remodel is significantly more costly and time-consuming, but it modernizes the overall look and layout, making food preparation more efficient. For spaces that are structurally sound, one or two major changes and a few cosmetic alterations will recoup the investment throughout much of the country.
Risers are the tower-like brackets that attach a handlebar to the front fork and are found on most motorcycles that use a single piece, tubular handlebar. While their purpose is functional, aftermarket options offer a wide variety of risers that can alter both the comfort and appearance of a motorcycle.
Many builders design roofs to hold 20 pounds of snow per horizontal square foot, according to Tim Carter of Ask The Builder. This equals about 12 inches of snow. If it rains after a snowstorm, the snow on your roof will become heavier. If it is also windy, the snow can drift across your roof and accumulate unevenly. This uneven weight distribution is a common cause of roof collapse. Use a 16- to 20-inch-wide roof rake to remove the snow and protect your roof.
In the 1930s, predating the invention of modern-day plumbing, most Americans bathed about every two weeks in a manually-filled washbasin. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that 90 percent of Americans bath daily, as of 2007. Today, even RVs have some sort of shower and toilet with corresponding plumbing, according to Jim Twamley, full-time RVer and RV teacher, and owner of the website RV Now. You can easily convert your current system to a shower-and-toilet combo, whether your RV has a preexisting toilet or shower only, or a separate toilet and shower.
Most motorcycles rely on a chain final drive system to transfer power from the engine to the rear wheel. The chain is turned by a pair of sprockets; one attached to the engine's transmission output shaft and the other mounted on the rear wheel. While drive chains and sprockets require more maintenance than shaft-driven systems, the interchangeability of the sprockets allow a greater range of flexibility for customizing the motorcycle's performance.
Moen is a well-known name in plumbing fixtures, manufacturing high-end bathroom products. Moen also makes plumbing fixtures for recreational vehicles. However, this is a specialty market, and replacement units can be expensive. When an RV shower starts to breakdown, an RV repair shop can be hired to rebuild the shower, but the cost is often high. Use a few simple professional techniques to rebuild a Moen RV shower, saving a costly trip to an RV plumbing specialist.
Grid tie solar systems are supplemental solar power devices, activating when sufficient solar energy is not present. This happens during extreme overcast conditions or during the evening hours. These devices switch between line power and solar power, potentially reducing overall energy bills. These power inverters are designed to convert solar energy to usable power in your home.
Replacing a staircase is a costly business. If you feel that your stairs are looking a little drab though, there's no need to spend a small fortune on having them rebuilt from scratch. As long as your staircase is structurally sound, you can get great results by stripping it back and renovating it yourself. Renovating your staircase can add to the value of your home as well as improve your living environment.
The septic tank on a travel trailer is the holding area for all the waste that comes from your toilet. Understandably, the septic tank and it's drain line are likely to be the dirtiest, most bacteria ridden areas on your trailer. At times, the septic line that leads from the septic tank to the drain valve can get clotted and jammed up. At the end of each travel season, you may wish to flush the septic line in order to ensure that the system is clean.
Travel trailers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. They all travel on wheels, and when parked for one or more nights at a campsite, leveling the wheels can be necessary -- and pose a real challenge. Ready-made leveling ramps are available, but the cost is often prohibitive. Homemade wooden ramps crack and splinter over time. Plastic ramps that clamp together also break apart within a few uses. One homemade solution for leveling ramps that can last for years and be relatively low-cost is a rubberized, horse barn stall mat cut into pieces.
If you've ever been in a motorcycle accident, it probably took a toll on your motorcycle's metal frame. Most motorcycle frames are built from large metal tubes made from tube steel or metal alloy. The bad news is that your motorcycle frame will bend after a serious accident. While your motorcycle frame may seem bent beyond repair, you can straighten the frame yourself without much motorcycle repair experience.
A houseboat by definition is a home in a motorized boat. It provides mobility, although many people prefer to dock their boat in one location. For other individuals, a houseboat rental is a vacation on the water. There are many locations where you can dock a houseboat either on a long-term basis or for one night. Securing that docking, either short or long-term, is a necessity.
Upgrading a travel trailer suspension requires finding the right type of modification for your particular trailer. Many different companies make enhancement kits. You should quickly analyze your needs in order to decide what works best with your trailer. The suspension can be added directly to the trailer itself in order to provide a smooth ride.
While the name indicates otherwise, dry rot actually results from water-carrying fungi eating away at wood. This results in the wood taking on a dry and brittle appearance that sometimes mimics the symptoms of termite infestation. Tackle dry rot problems in your fifth-wheel RV trailer immediately to prevent the symptoms from advancing. Allowing this problem to continue eventually ruins the structural integrity of the fifth-wheel's roof and may require a total replacement.
