| During his ten years
of field work for NASA, Mark Helmlinger has rented many
RVs and driven them under every possible circumstance.
His tips, derived from hands-on experience, are a must-read
resource for anyone considering renting a recreational
vehicle. |
CHECK INSIDE THE RV
Look for loose paneling, shorn screws, and missing hardware.
Operate everything yourself. Does the slide-out return to
its stowed position gracefully and fully? Do cabinet doors
stay closed while driving? Can the drawers accommodate what
you put inside? Does stuff fall out of cabinets in turns?
Is there a really annoying rattle? Will the fire extinguisher
stay put over bumps? Does the shower door leak? Does the thermostat
work? Can you light the oven? What does the microwave or refrigerator
smell like? Does the toilet foot pedal open the bowl valve
all the way? (I had a cable stretch and then break, making
the commode unusable.)
When the water pump is on, but all the
water spigots are off, does the water pump turn on and run
every few minutes? It should pressurize the system and then
stay off until water is used. Nothing is more annoying than
a pump that occasionally runs for a second in the middle of
the night because you forgot to turn it off. Does the radio
work? Does the solar panel actually charge the battery? Are
the house batteries working right? Do they take and hold a
charge? Can the generator handle both AC units AND the microwave?
Does the dashboard AC blow dust or other allergens? The list
goes ON, but these are basics that are fairly easy to check.
IF YOU'RE RVING IN THE
SUMMER
Remember that heat can damage RVs. That's why most
RV insurance does not cover Death
Valley. Tires are particularly vulnerable, especially on hot
pavement. Drive accordingly. Don't push the unit over hills
when it's hot. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Downshift
often. Check the operation of the brakes. Excessive pedal
travel? Vibration? Shaking? Skidding tag axle? When driving
down long grades, DOWNSHIFT! DO NOT RIDE THE BRAKES! If you
don't know how to minimize brake use or downshift an automatic
transmission on a steep hill, get some advice and learn how
before you pick up a RV.
Next>Drive
Smart!
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Mark
Helmlinger
8/1/05
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