For many of us who own an RV, a camper, or a travel trailer, it’s probably quite easy to understand why this period of seasonal transition is such a popular time of year. 

In many states around the U.S., November is a prime time to witness virtually countless sights of beauty — so many, in fact, it seems that there’s never enough time to enjoy all the memorable views, delightful scents, and late-autumn experiences of the month before the last leaf has fallen. As an added bonus, when you have a recreational vehicle in tow, it makes pretty much every element of a sweater-weather excursion feel a great deal more comfy-cozy. 

Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado 

As you consider where to go on your RV camping trip, what better place to get your fill of the final signs of fall than by adventuring in a state named in honor of its colorful landscape and natural features? Pack up, load up, and haul your camper to Colorado! More specifically, you’ll want to head towards those tall hills to the west, where you’ll find Rocky Mountain National Park. 

If you’re from out of town or visiting Rocky Mountain National Park for the first time, in addition to the park itself, you should also check out one of Colorado’s most famous areas: Estes Park! In this once-upon-a-time mountain town — now a small city, at the very least — you’ll find plenty of hiking, ice fishing, skiing, and other outdoor activities that both you and your RV are probably already more than equipped to handle. Now, on to the next destination!

Acadia National Park, Maine

Whether you make the trek to your campsite in a Crossroads RV Zinger, a Gulf Stream travel trailer, or an oh-so-retro vintage camper, there’s no doubt that you’ll want to get out and stretch your legs a bit when you arrive at your next stop — especially if that stop happens to be in Acadia National Park. Located right next to Maine’s coastline with the Atlantic, there are few better places to spend part of November than on the East Coast — and as you might expect, our RV dealership in Frankford agrees wholeheartedly with that sentiment!

At Acadia National Park, there are more than a few highlights to enjoy, even well after Daylight Savings goes into effect. Bundle up in your waterproof parka for an invigorating kayaking trip in Bar Harbor, or pile on the lycra layers and go biking through the lush coastal and evergreen forests. You’re going to be hungry in any case, so why not end the perfect day with a delectable dinner of freshly caught seafood? 

Willamette Valley, Oregon

For a remarkable range of winter-friendly activities and outdoor festivities that allow you to enjoy nearly every aspect of the snowy season, set your RV camper’s navigation system towards the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This fall-friendly area of Oregon is known for hosting a number of traditional and seasonal festivals all winter long. 

In addition to season-specific events, the Willamette Valley has other offerings in November to suit a spectrum of interests and tastes. If you weren’t satisfied with last month’s German steins of beer at Oktoberfest, then perhaps you’ll have better luck with a Turkey Day wine tasting at the Carlton Winemakers Studio. Known for experimental varietals of grapes and truly one-of-a-kind wines, the lingering signs of the bygone autumn offer an additional aesthetic appeal. No matter what time of year it is, vineyards are lovely to look at year-round, whether they’re surrounded by warm autumnal earth tones or cool, crisp infusions of invigorating winter.

Found A November RV Destination? Great! But Is Your RV Ready For Winter?

You may already be on some sort of November voyage, sipping extra-spicy chai in your RV camper as you read this blog. On the other hand, you may simply be planning ahead for a Thanksgiving trip that’s just around the corner. Either way, there’s a lot to enjoy about this month, whether you consider it to be part of autumn or the definitive start of winter. In any case, the last thing any RV owner, driver, or passenger wants to encounter en route is a mechanical issue or a breakdown, so before you hit the road, be sure to have your travel-designated vehicle checked to ensure that it’s safe for the demands of a seasonal excursion. 

If your recreational vehicle needs a tune-up, general maintenance, or any other winterization service for its parts, be sure to stop by our RV camper dealership in Frankford. East Coast Campers and More has one of the top-rated service teams in all of Delaware, and with the better part of the fall already behind us and the inevitable cold of winter frost soon to follow, we hope you’ll trust our experienced team with all of your RV winterization needs. Contact us today to learn more, and we hope you enjoyed this RV camping guide! 

The post November RV Camping Destinations For Winter Wanderers appeared first on East Coast Campers and More.

Preventative RV maintenance should be a regular part of your RV adventures.

Costly repairs can ruin your trip and keep you from truly enjoying your RV.

Doing a few checks and inspections may seem tedious, but over time, you will save money and time catching problems before they happen.

Each RV will have different requirements.

It is best to check the manufacturer’s warranty and recommendations to make sure you take the proper steps and use the recommended products such as lubricants.

Of course, East Coast Campers and More is always here to help.  Our maintenance department is ready to step in and help out so you don’t have to stress about what to do.

RV Roof Leaks

A roof inspection should be on your RV maintenance checklist.

Roof leaks can cause considerable damage to your RV that you may not notice right away.

The damage can be quite severe and expensive to repair.

Experts like East Coast Campers and More recommend that you perform a roof inspection once or twice per year.

Climb up onto the roof of your RV and inspect all the spots where holes have been drilled through the roof.

Taking a proactive approach to inspecting for cracks can stop future leaks in their tracks.

Look for items such as:

• TV and radio antenna
• Roof vents
• Solar panel mounting brackets
• Skylights

Inspect the adhesive surrounding the item for small cracks.

You will need a paper towel, mineral spirits, and Dicor (or the waterproof adhesive that is recommended by the manufacturer – check with East Coast Campers and More to make sure you are using the correct waterproof adhesive).

Once you’ve identified cracks that need repair, dampen your paper towel with mineral spirits and rub the crack in the adhesive until there is no dirt remaining.

Apply the Dicor or chosen waterproof adhesive to the area.

Here is a video tutorial by RV Geeks on how to do minor preventative repairs.

Slideout Maintenance

Maintaining the slideout seals will prevent leaks from causing water damage so this task should be added to your RV maintenance checklist.

Make it a regular practice to periodically do some maintenance on the seals to prevent them from cracking and sticking.

While keeping the slideouts in, add a bit of baby powder to a sock and run it along the seal as far as you can safely reach.  The powder will prevent the slideouts from sticking and causing cracks and rips.

Once you finish with the inside, open up the slideouts and do the same thing on the outside seals, reaching around the slideout as far as you can.

This video by RV geeks will provide a step by step tutorial on how to do slideout maintenance.

Window Maintenance

RV travel means you are exposed to the elements, and often dirt and debris can collect inside the track of your windows.

Doing regular maintenance can prevent repairs from interrupting your trip.

First, vacuum or clean out the track of your windows.

Take an appropriate lubricant (refer to East Coast Campers and More for recommendations) and spray inside the track.

Make sure you get all the nooks and crannies.

Slide your window back and forth to make sure the lubricant spreads throughout the entire track.

This video tutorial by RV education 101 shows you exactly how to perform window track maintenance.

RV Maintenance Summary

Keep a regular RV maintenance schedule and you should be able to avoid unnecessary repairs.

An RV is your home away from home so treat it with the same level of care.

For more tips, check out this article on the RV Maintenance.

Call East Coast Campers and More, your Delaware RV Dealer, to find out how you can prevent costly repairs by implementing a regular RV maintenance routine.

This article was written by Kristi Durham

The post Prevent Water Damage With These RV Maintenance Tips appeared first on East Coast Campers and More.

Doing regular RV maintenance is crucial to the longevity of your trailer.  A well-kept RV can be the difference between years of fun, happy, and healthy family trips, and frustrating, stressful vacations riddled with problems.

Here are some basic tips on how to do regular RV maintenance.

1. Cleaning

The exterior finish of your RV can be damaged if you don’t do regular cleaning after every trip. It’s best to make cleaning part of your RV maintenance routine as soon as you buy your first RV or trailer.

If you camp near water, the salt can cause corrosion over time and leaving dust and dirt on your RV can cause damage to any exterior, just as it can with any other type of vehicle.

Try to avoid using a power washer.  Lightly scrubbing the RV with a soft brush and some mild detergent is sufficient for the exterior finish.

To prevent damage to the undercarriage of your rig, make sure you hose it down once in a while to remove any dirt or grime buildup.

2. Lights and Brakes

Every good RV maintenance routine includes testing the lights and brakes after each trip.

Checking the brakes and lights is even more important when you are towing a trailer or 5^th wheel, as the connections can be damaged over time and cause faulty wiring.

Check the connections and wiring for proper insulation and if any wires are visible or loose.  Electrical tape can be used to secure any loose wires.

3. Battery

The battery is the heart of your trailer.  Proper maintenance of a battery can extend it’s life significantly and prevent unnecessary trip interruptions.

Your RV battery should be maintained fairly regularly.

The Charge

Most batteries come with a system to prevent them from overcharging, but you will want to be sure your level of charge does not drop too low.

Sulfation begins if you let your battery charge drop below 80%.  Never let your battery drop below 50% charge.

Read more about batteries and how to make them part of your RV maintenance routine in this article.

4. Tires

Take a look down the treads of your tires and check for imperfections in the tread, nails, screws, or any other object that can puncture a tire.

RVs tires are more prone to cracks than regular car tires because they sit idle for a longer.

Cracks in your tires are a major safety concern as they can cause dangerous blowouts when traveling from site to site.

Every trip should include at least one visual tire inspection, making sure to check for issues such as dry rot.

Tire pressure can also be a safety concert, so be sure to check that your pressure is at the recommended PSI before every trip.

Visually inspect shackles and springs for cracks and wear.

When storing your RV for the winter, treat your tires with vinyl treatment that has UV protection. The sun can be very damaging to your tires.

No tire RV maintenance plan is complete without tightening the lugs.  Lug tightening should always be in a star pattern and before every trip.

To find out more about how often each aspect of RV maintenance should be conducted, bookmark this chart.

5. Holding Tanks

It’s important to do maintenance on your three holding tanks after each trip and to inspect them before each trip.

For all three tanks, remember to inspect all hoses and fittings and replace if damaged before every trip.

Inspect the tanks themselves for damage before each trip.

Fresh Water Tank

Fresh water tank should be kept cleaned, flushed and sanitized regularly, preferably after each excursion and more often if you are camping for a long time.

Algae can grow and make you and your family sick if the water tank is not drained and sanitized regularly.

Gray Water Tank

The gray water tank should be emptied around once a week while camping and after every trip.

Black Water Tank

It’s very important to clean out your black water tank after each trip.  It can become incredibly unpleasant very quickly if you don’t keep it clean.

RV Maintenance Help

If you need help understanding more about RV maintenance, or want someone to do it for you, call East Coast Campers and More today!

We are experts in RV maintenance, and we’re happy to help.

East Coast Campers and More is a family owned Delaware RV Dealer that specializes in RV parts, sales, and service to enhance your RV camping experience.

Call us for all of your maintenance needs today at 302-927-0541.

This article was written by Kristi Durham.

Sources:

Action Gator Tire
Camper Grid

The post 5 Best RV Maintenance Tips You Need to Know appeared first on East Coast Campers and More.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your battery and take good care of it, so it doesn’t become a safety hazard.

Making RV battery maintenance part of your regular routine will prevent irritating disruptions in your vacation plans and keep your family safe.

There are several different types of batteries, so we will focus on the most common battery type, a lead-acid battery.  Please refer to the maintenance department of East Coast Campers and more to get customized recommendations for your specific RV type.

RV Battery Voltage and Why it Matters

With a lead acid battery, you want to make sure you keep the charge high. 

Monitor the charge in your battery and never let it get below the voltage label of the battery.  For instance, you don’t want a 12-volt battery to go below a 12-volt charge. 

What Happens When Your Battery Charge Gets Low?

When your RV battery starts to lose its charge, it starts forming crystals called sulfation.  Sulfation starts to form when your battery falls below 80% charge and will kill your battery.

The good news is, you can take a few simple steps to prevent battery sulfation and keep your RV battery humming along for as long as possible.

Keep your Battery Charged

The lower you let the charge drop, the quicker your battery will die.  A battery that drops to 40% charge every day will die much quicker than one that drops to 60% every day.

The average 12-volt lead acid battery will last approximately six years.

Make a routine out of checking the charge of your battery with a handheld digital voltage meter.  This will go a long way in keeping your battery alive for as long as possible.

If you have a battery disconnect switch, flip it to disconnect while you aren’t using your RV or when it’s stored during the off season.  This will prevent the slow drain caused by things like clocks and radios.

The Heat of Summer and Your RV Battery

Monitor your battery in times of high usage or extreme heat. 

Top up water levels using distilled, mineral free water.  If you use tap water, you run the risk of getting calcium sulfation on your battery.

Be Safe When Checking Your RV Battery

Make sure you always wear gloves when you are handling your battery.  You will want to get a pair of safety goggles to keep around and never smoke or have an open flame near your battery. 

An RV battery stores a lot of energy, and in some circumstances can cause fires.  Battery maintenance should not be taken lightly. 

Check out this video by RV Education 101.

Regular Maintenance Is Key

Whether you learn how to do this yourself, or you come in to see our maintenance department at East Coast Campers and more, it is essential to your safety that you come up with a regular battery maintenance routine for your RV. 

Call us today to see how we can help.

This article was written by Kristi Durham at Quality Biz Assist.

The post Protect Your Family This Summer with a Battery Maintenance Routine appeared first on East Coast Campers and More.