Living their dream, Rex and Dania are Canadian Snowbirds with a passion for RVing, hiking, birding, and photography. They can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
You can view Rex’s photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/vogelontheroad

In June we presented “Let’s Talk RVing” at the 12th annual RV Owners Seminar held at Okanagan College in Kelowna. This session provided information, ideas, and tips to enhance the RVing lifestyle.

Travel Preparation and Before You Hit the Road
Whether you’re heading out with your RV for a weekend jaunt or preparing for an extended road trip, there’s always a concern that you forgot something important. Have you packed all the essentials? How do you ensure that take everything you need?
Are you prepared for unexpected emergencies and vehicle breakdowns? Have you taken all safety precautions? Is your RV loaded safely and within legal weight limits?
The following are eleven tips for planning your next road trip and to help ensure your safety while on the road:

1) Lists: lots and lots of lists and checklists
Use Checklists. It’s easy to forget to do something! Roof vents, steps TV antennas, and storage compartments left unlocked are just some of the things most often forgotten.
We recommend several weeks of putting your thoughts on paper before leaving on an extended RV journey. Make lists of “to do” tasks to cover all the things to pack and prepare before hitting the road.
Make a list and check it twice. When making a list, separate it into areas and leave blanks for add-ins. Useful checklists include Vehicle Inspection and Safety Pre-travel, Interior Pre-travel, Exterior Pre-travel, Towing Safety, Interior Setting Up Camp, Exterior Setting Up Camp, One-Hour Break.

2) Equipping Your RV Checklist
Using a checklist is an excellent way to make sure you have everything you need. Make several copies of this checklist and modify it with additions and deletions. Useful items include:
Bungee cords, Velcro, tape (duct, electrical, masking, Teflon)
Fire extinguishers
Coaxial cable (for cable TV hookup)
Electrical adapters, extension cord (30 amp, 10-gauge), polarity tester
Digital voltmeter
RV water hoses (DO NOT use a garden hose) and fittings
Water pressure regulator
Sewer hoses
Toilet chemical
Work gloves/sewer gloves
Extra bulbs, fuses, and batteries (a variety of sizes for your onboard gadgets)
Flashlights
Flares/warning reflectors
Silicone spray
WD-40
303
Distilled water
Jumper cables
Tape measure
Heavy-duty tire pressure gauge
Fold-down shovel
Tool box with basic tools (store on curb side)
Stepladder
Weather radio
First Aid Kit, including pain remedies, cold and flu medicine, bandages
Stationery supplies such as envelopes, stamps, paper, pens, pencils, tape, stapler, post-its
Metric/imperial conversion calculator (for travel to U.S.)
Prescription medications
Bottled water (individual and/or larger containers)
Necessary records and travel papers including passports
Small fireproof safe
Navigation devices (atlases, maps, GPS, or laptop with navigation program)
Cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, can opener, coffee maker, potholders, ziploc bags, aluminum foil, wax paper, saran wrap
Clean-up materials (soaps, scrubbers, rags, trash bags, dish drainer)
Paper products (towels, plates, toilet and facial tissue)
Digital camera, camcorder, and computer; plus related battery chargers
Cell phone with charger
Satellite dish
Binoculars

3) Pre-travel checklist
ALWAYS use a vehicle inspection and safety pre-travel checklist before you head out on the road. You should make these checks every day before traveling.
Our exterior checklist includes (the letters in the bracket indicate responsibility; with ‘R’ being Rex, and ‘D’ being my co-pilot, Dania):
Check fluid level—oil, coolant, transmission (R)
Check air-flow restriction gauge (R)
Check/set tire pressure according to actual axle load (R)
Check under coach for signs of oil or coolant leaks (R)
Stow TV antenna and satellite dish (R)
Close windows, vents, and secure items (D)
Turn off water pump switch (D)
Check the refrigerator door is fastened (D)
Retract slides (D+R)
Empty gray and black tanks (R)
Disconnect and store water and sewer hoses, and electric cord (R)
Retract door step (D)
Turn off propane at tank (R)
Lock all storage bay doors (R)
Start motorhome and retract leveling jacks (R)
Hook-up toad (D+R)
Set toad and lock door (R)
Check lights (head, signal, brake, clearance) on motorhome and toad (D+R)
Pull motorhome ahead far enough to ensure that the toad has been set correctly (D+R)
Do final walk-a-bout inspection; do NOT forget to check tow bar or hitch, safety cables, pins, wiring harness, and auxiliary brakes on toad (D)
Add to this list as necessary.

4) Rating of tow bar and hitch
Make sure that both your motorhome hitch and tow bar are rated to pull the weight of your toad. For fifth-wheelers, make sure the hitch in your truck box is rated to tow your trailer.

5) Safety Alarms
Check Smoke, LPG, and Carbon Monoxide alarms for proper operation and replace batteries as needed.

6) Know/post your height, width, and length
Post your exterior height, width, and total length in the motorhome or tow vehicle where it can easily be seen while driving. A major insurance claim is RVs hitting gas station overhangs, underpasses, and bridges. If you travel on roads less traveled be sure to check clearances on all overhead bridges before attempting to go under them.
Height: Measure to the highest point such as air conditioner or satellite dish.      
Width: Measure to the outermost points such as mirrors, awnings, or handles.
Length: Measure from the front of the vehicle to the end of the towed vehicle.

7) Loading tips
Do NOT load heavy items in upper cabinets.
Secure and brace items so they won’t move during travel, thereby shifting the load.
Do not load heavy items near either end of the RV or on the rear bumper.
Adjust cargo storage to keep the side to side wheel loads as equal a possible.
Carry only as much water as needed for travel use.
Whenever possible, empty the holding tanks before traveling.

8) Know your weight
As we travel and talk to other RVers, we are amazed at how little attention people pay to cargo capacity. Too many people think that cabinet, closet, and basement space equals cargo carrying capacity. Many coaches out there have considerable storage space, but the chassis will only support several hundred pounds of cargo. Proper loading of, and weight distribution in, your RV can prevent premature tire failure, suspension problems, broken axles, burned-up transmissions or differentials, and other breakdowns. Weighing your motorhome is critical to ensuring that no ratings limitations are exceeded. DO NOT risk traveling in an over¬loaded vehicle. Not only does extra weight accelerate wear and tear on your RV, but in case of an accident an overweight vehicle may void any insurance claims. Use a scale that permits you to place individual wheel positions on the scale independently, while keeping the vehicle level and all wheels in the same plane.
The RV Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF), provides this service for a small fee at major RV rallies in the U.S. For further information and/or their schedule, check out their Web site at www.rvsafety.org (321-453-7673)

9) Proper Weight Distribution
Proper weight distribution is important when loading the RV. Each manufacturer has taken into consideration the location of appliances, cabinets, and additional components for proper weight distribution from side to side as well as front to back. When loading your RV, be sure to distribute heavy items evenly throughout the coach. They should be placed in such a way that they do not shift during travel. Improper weight distribution and heavy items shifting during travel can have an unfavorable effect on the handling, ride quality, and braking of your RV.

10) Toilet paper test
It is NOT necessary to buy special RV toilet paper. Most biodegradable toilet tissue will break up in RV solutions. To test your favourite paper, add a few sheets of paper to a small container. If it breaks up in the container, it will also do so in your tank. If not, try another brand.

11) Safe use of propane
There is an ongoing debate about whether or not to travel with the refrigerator operating on propane. Many RVers see no danger in running the refrigerator on propane while on the road. They say they have traveled for years without problems. They point to the safety of propane powered vehicles and argue that we travel with tanks full of gasoline which is more dangerous. Generally it is legal to travel while using propane, but keep in mind that it is illegal to have any open flames while near a service station fuel pump. And some tunnels and bridges may have restrictions too.
Other RVers claim that traveling with the propane on is a disaster waiting to happen. In an accident a broken propane line could trigger an explosion, a fire, or both.
We feel that the only safe way to travel is with the propane turned OFF at the tank. Who's right? I am, of course.

It’s not to early to make plans to attend the 13th annual RV Owners Seminar Series at Okanagan College in Kelowna from June 25-28, 2010. Hope to see you there!
Addition information is available from Al Cohoe at 250-862-5457 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BY REX (& Dania) VOGEL