Save Up To 10¢ A Gallon. Cast Iron Cookware. Dumping Gloves. Tow Four Wheels Down. Waze. Power Estimator. RV Cord No No! ‘Sure-In’. 5er Hitch. Tires. Human Satellite.

 

For “tRaVersing Thursday”, or RV Day:

An easy way to save up to 10 cents a gallon at the pump

“RV tire expert Roger Marble explains a very easy way to save up to 10 cents a gallon every time you stop to fill up your car or RV's fuel tank. You should be taking his advice for other reasons, too.” CLICK THE VIDEO TO SEE THE TIP

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Cast iron cookware perfect for RV kitchens

“Storage space is precious for most RVers, especially in smaller rigs. RV kitchens are extremely challenging to keep well-stocked without being cluttered. One way to ensure the most efficient use of your RV's limited kitchen storage is to only pack cookware and gadgets that have multiple uses.

One of the best examples of a multi-use RV kitchen tool is a cast iron skillet. Although this type of cookware is heavier than lightweight non-stick pots and pans, well-seasoned cast iron cookware is more practical. Well-loved cast iron will develop its own non-stick surface and can be used for stove top cooking, oven baking and broiling. You can even set it over an open campfire for cowboy cookouts. An added bonus of cast iron pans is that they don’t need a lot of water to clean, which makes them great for your boondocking adventures.

A 10-inch skillet is about all you need in your RV. These pans are affordable but vary wildly in price, from generic ones made in China, to classic collector cookware made by Griswold and Lodge. New cast iron must be “seasoned” before a first use, by coating with olive oil and baking in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. With more seasoning and cooking with animal products, a non-stick surface gradually develops. Proper cleaning will maintain the non-stick surface, by rinsing with water immediately after cooking, scrubbing with a gentle, non-metal scouring pad and drying over a low stove top flame. These pans should never be immersed in dishwater, and soap should only be used when a pan gets extremely dirty. If rust appears, scrub with steel wool and repeat the seasoning process.

Keeping cast iron cookware in your RV is a smart way to hit the road, while saving room for more important things, like your favorite foods to cook inside the pan.”   By Rene Agredano
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Good gloves for use at the dump station

”I once emptied my sewer tanks bare handed. I didn't like wearing the traditional type dish gloves because they are too bulky and I wasn't crazy about latex gloves because they would easily tear. Last year I was strolling down the isles at Harbor Freight (a tool store) when I noticed nitrile disposable gloves. Since I was building kitchen cabinets for my sister-in-law I decided to pick up a box for working with stain and varnish.

These gloves are thin enough that your sense of touch is not hindered and tough enough to stand up to mild chemical exposure. I liked them so much I decided to keep a box near my sewer clean-out compartment. Now I glove up before dumping and peel off the gloves and toss them into the trash when I'm done. They are coated with powder so they are easy to slip on and off. I like the extra large size even though I normally wear size large because putting them on is easier. You can also use these gloves for changing oil, painting, washing, waxing and many other applications. These gloves are available at big box stores and pharmacies.”   By Jim Twamley
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Adapting an automatic transmission vehicle for towing four wheels down

”Certain automatic-transmission vehicles that are are not manufacturer-approved for towing four wheels down can be towed safely with the addition of aftermarket equipment.

Contact the manufacturer of the aftermarket equipment for details about the towability of a specific vehicle.” Read more at: http://www.fmca.com/motorhome/towing/84-adapting-an-automatic-transmission-vehicle-for-towing-four-wheels-down

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Real-time Traffic Tips:

“Here's a handy app for your smartphone. Waze sends you alerts before you approach police, accidents, road hazards or traffic jams, all shared by other drivers in real time. Waze map editors work to constantly improve and update Waze's maps so updates are timely.” http://www.waze.com/

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Generator power estimator: “How much power will you need from an RV generator? This wattage calculator has your answer.”

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A tip about extension cords for RVs

“Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, has a tip for about extension cords used to hook up an RV to electricity.” CLICK THE VIDEO TO SEE THE TIP

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Forget wire nuts and crimp connectors -- try Sure-In.

“One of the last things you want when doing RV electrical work is to have a bad connection--one that works--and then doesn't. OK, maybe worse is the connection that allows for electrical arcs and heat buildup that could lead to a fire disaster. RVers need good, solid electrical connections. Working against us is the constant vibration from rattling down the road. Many RVers have tried using wire nuts to connect wires together, but the natural vibration of the rig makes this an "iffy" proposition at best.”  Read more.

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What fifth wheel hitch position for tow?

“Folks new to the fifth-wheeling game sometimes have a little catching up to do. Sometimes even 'old dogs' learn something new. For example, we know plenty of fifth wheel owners who've never had the need for a "sliding hitch" because they've always towed with a long-bed truck.” Read more.

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Impact damage or defective tire?    

“How can a fishing line explain which?    Many times you hit something with your RV or car or drop into a pot hole and don't know it because the impact is small. Other times you may feel the impact but if nothing happens right at the instant of the hit the event seems to get erased from your memory. While it's true that most of the time when you hit something no significant damage occurs, sometimes there is damage and you may not see the result for many miles, hours or even days, so you may not link the impact event with the tire failure.” Read more.

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On This Day:

First human satellite, Feb 7, 1984:

“While in orbit 170 miles above Earth, Navy Captain Bruce McCandless becomes the first human being to fly untethered in space when he exits the U.S. space shuttle Challenger and maneuvers freely, using a bulky white rocket pack of his own design. McCandless orbited Earth in tangent with the shuttle at speeds greater than 17,500 miles per hour and flew up to 320 feet away from the Challenger. After an hour and a half testing and flying the jet-powered backpack and admiring Earth, McCandless safely reentered the shuttle.

Later that day, Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stewart tried out the rocket pack, which was a device regarded as an important step toward future operations to repair and service orbiting satellites and to assemble and maintain large space stations. It was the fourth orbital mission of the space shuttle Challenger.”

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Yesterday:

My main objective went I went shopping in the next town was to buy a new breaker box.  This is an auxiliary one that was installed when the addition to the house was built.  While I was at it, I bought a new Ground Bar, as I think that is all that is wrong with my old box.  I hope that is the solution, then I can take the new box back.

Arlo, my new foster cat is getting used to the house, and has a great time hiding from Miss Priss.  They chased each other around most of the day.