Water Pipe Noise
September 27, 2012
Q: My water pipes rattle when I turn on the water pump. I went ahead and replaced the water pump, but the problem still remains. I run the faucets to get all the air out of the lines, but the pipes still rattle. Please help!Mr. Karcic, Via email A: That noise is known as pipe hammering, and it happens... Read more »
Long-Term Charging
September 26, 2012
Q: Regarding last October’s RV Clinic “Take (Float) Charge”, if keeping your RV plugged in can lead to excessive battery water use, how do those who go south for the winter and stay plugged in at an RV park for months at a time manage to not overcharge their batteries? I’ve found no way... Read more »
Roof Fan Replacement
September 25, 2012
Q: My 2007 Springdale 26-foot travel trailer has a Comfort Air Platinum exhaust fan mounted in the bedroom ceiling. This unit has been flaky during the five years I have owned the trailer; the remote would stop working in hot, muggy weather, which could be fixed by placing the remote in the refrigerator.... Read more »
Keep Bees And Insects Out Of Your Bumpers
September 21, 2012
To keep bees and other nest-building insects out of my bumpers, I designed a bumper cover that’s an effective barrier against bees, wasps and hornets. I took a piece of rain gutter cover and cut it into four 3-by-3-inch pieces. Placing a small screen inside, I used Loctite Construction Adhesive and... Read more »
Dump Valve Failure
September 20, 2012
Q: My RV is a 2003 Trail Lite fifth-wheel 5260. Due to the cold weather we have here in Ontario, all water systems were winterized prior to winter storage. When overhauling the unit this spring I found that both waste valves seem to be stuck in a permanent open position. When flushing the tanks I opened... Read more »
Water Pump Upgrade
September 20, 2012
Q: The water pump in my old Layton 28-foot travel trailer is a manual unit that comes on only when the water pump switch is turned on. I would like to make it an on-demand system, and realize I can wire in a demand pump and leave the switch on. However, how do I choose between pump models and brands?... Read more »
Weight Limits
September 19, 2012
Q: I bought a new 2012 Evolution 20-foot travel trailer with a dry weight rated at 4,300 pounds. Loaded, it weighs 6,100 pounds. I’m towing it with a 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4WD four-door long bed TRD pickup with a tow package. It has the 4.0-liter V-6 engine rated at 236 horsepower, a 3.90:1 rear end and... Read more »
Fiberglass Surface Cracking
September 18, 2012
Q: While washing my six-year-old Victory Lane fifth-wheel toy-hauler I noticed that the fiberglass front cap has some spider lines beginning to appear in it, but the spider lines don’t appear to be separated all the way through the material yet. I’m concerned that they may start extending out. Is... Read more »
Draining Hot Water Tank
September 14, 2012
We like to drain our hot water tank often, but we don’t like the water splashing all over the ground and onto the unit’s components. I used to make a funnel out of a plastic milk carton or bleach container to direct the water. One day, while my wife was vacuuming, I got the idea to use the corner... Read more »
RV Toilet Replacement
September 13, 2012
Q: I completely restored a 1969 Aristocrat Land Commander and now want to replace the portable toilet with a permanent toilet such as a Thetford Aqua Magic. I’m not concerned about the water line connection, that part is easy. What I need to know is what parts do I need to mount the unit and what parts... Read more »
