Page 7 - Travelore Spring 2015

2004 2015
DRVC Travelore - Page 7
continued from previous page.
doesn’t light, be sure to have the propane regulator checked.
Fresh Water System
Now we move to the third system
that needs looking into – the fresh
water system. As we all know, preparing this system can take some time and a lot of water whether you added RV antifreeze (the pink stuff) to the system or not. The dif- ference is that if no RV antifreeze was added to the whole system (depending on your locale for lowest winter tem- peratures) the time and water required will be somewhat less, especially if you had a bypass valves in place on the water heater.
1) Always begin by draining the system. Most owner apply air pressure to the system with the use of a con- nector made for this function. Applying no more than 30 pounds of pressure until all water is removed is sufficient.
2) Next, chlorinate the entire fresh water system, includ- ing the water tank, using 1/4-cup of liquid household bleach mixed in a gallon of water. Use one gallon of this mixture per 15 gallons of tank capacity. Pour the chlorine solution into the fresh water tank and run the water pump until water is flowing from all the faucets, hot and cold. By the way, be sure to open the valves on the water heater bypass. Keep in mind that it will take a while to fill the water heater. Commonly, this heater holds about 10 gallons of water. Let the solution sit in the tanks and the lines for four hours.
3) Drain the system from the low point valves until all water has cleared the lines. Add water to the fresh tank and flush the system until you are satisfied with the odor and taste of the water.
Tire Inspection
Finally, we come to the final item
to check in this list. Truck tires,
though much tougher than auto
and light truck tires, are subject to more abuse that most people expect. For that reason, and the fact that your life and investment are riding on them, it is an excellent idea to clean and inspect them for signs of damage as well as correct inflation pressure.
1) Thoroughly wash the tire with a mild, household detergent. Definitely do not use anything with an abrasive quality. You want the tires to be clean to facilitate inspecting them. Once the tires have dried in the air, do not use any cream or polish with petro- leum distillates. Though such products can make the tires look shiny and new they will aid in breaking down the rubber compound so that the tires become subject to premature failure.
2) Visually inspect the tires for any nicks, scrapes, or cuts on the sidewalls. Look on the both sides of the tire. This may involve crawling around to get a good view as well as moving the coach a few feet to get
a good look at what may be hidden in the tire well. However, before moving the coach, check on the exposed tread for tread depth and any sign of uneven wear. Also check for any foreign object that may be embedded in the tread. Of course, when moving the motorhome, be sure you do so safely and slowly.
3) Check for correct tire pressure. This step will require checking an RV tire and weight guide or referring to the owner manual. Getting the tires to the correct pressure requires knowledge of the coach’s weight
for the front and rear axles. Since most motorhomes have dual tires on a rear axle, the pressure for them will be different than the recommend pressure for the front tires. Again, refer to the manual that came with your motorhome or check online with Michelin or other reputable manufacturer (http://www.michelin- rvtires.com/reference-materials/load-and-inflation- tables/#/).
4) If you are unaware of your motorhome’s weight when loaded for travel (the weight you’ll want to use when determining tire pressure) then, by all means, have
it weighed at a CAT scale or other facility. If you’re not familiar with the procedure, talk to the attendant about what to do. When done, you’ll get a printed report telling the total weight of the vehicle as well as the weight on each axle.
By now you’ve noticed that nothing has been said of the engine or the generator set. That’s a whole other topic and one to be covered at another time.
9
X
C
T
O
D
N
Y
E
M
0
6
1
2