PPL Motor Homes

How many times in the last year have you shown up at the campground only to find that there is a burn ban in affect and they don’t even want you to start a charcoal fire in the BBQ pit?  I found the greatest little product that is one we won’t leave home without.  Flame Disk , item #14-0099, is charcoal alternative for your grill that works in any grill and look s like a Jiffy Pop popcorn tray.  This little eco-friendly disk is great for tailgating, camping, picnics and even as a back up for propane.  We all know it happens even at home sometimes…we run out of propane.  No fear, simply open one of these disks, light it and it will provide a steady flame for about 45 minutes with the same great flavor as charcoal.   The campgrounds approve this and it is so clean and neat.  Even I can start the fire with FlameDisk.

Another camping experience in Texas that is not as well known as the Texas State Parks system is the LCRA Park system.  The Lower Colorado River Authority owns and maintains a group of parks in Texas with great amenities.  From day camping to full hookups, they seem to have it all.  This link may help you find out more about one of the best kept secrets in Texas.  We will be visiting Matagorda in May and I will give a first hand report of all the amenities and our weekend camping experience.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) can be a potential hazzard if the concentration builds up in your RV.

1. CO is an invisible, ordorless and poisonous gas. CO can be produced from your LP appliances such as furnaces, gas stoves, propone heaters and even laterns.  Poor maintenance, venting problems or inadequate air flow can all cause dangerours levels of CO to build up in your RV.

2. It goes without saying that you should always maintain all LP or fuel burning appliances.

3. Since CO is invisible and odorless, it is important to have certified CO alarms installed in your RV. Also, it is essential that CO alarms be replaced every 5 years because the sensor will become ineffective over time.

4. You should also know the symptoms of CO poisoning. These symptoms are similar to the flu which are nausea, headache, burning eyes, confusion and frowsiness. One big difference is that there is no fever. If someone in the RV has these symptoms, it is imperative to get everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air immediately and call 911 or the local fire department.

The above infomation was adapted from information from the Techincal Standards and Safety Authority.

PPL Motor Homes provides a whole range of  CO detectors and alarms. The most popular models are the Safe-T-Alert Carbon Moxide Detectors.   If you have any questions about CO Detectors and Alarms you can call PPL’s RV Parts Superstore.

The Oxygenics Body Spa Shower Head boasts a more powerful spray with your existing water pressure. We have tested this product in our RV and found that the claims for a more powerful spray were right on! We tested our existing shower head with pump pressure and the spray would barely make it to the opposite shower wall. After installing the Oxygenic Body Spa, the spray reached the opposite wall with almost no drop! Showering with this unit was definitely more like showering with full house pressure at home. If you are tired of weak showers that uses a lot of water just to get the soap off, you will really enjoy this shower head. We did find that when mounted in our RV the head was too high to use in ‘hands free’ mode, so we used a ‘Staytion’ suction cup bracket which allowed us to place the shower head anywhere we wanted without drilling holes or using adhesive.

Did you know you have to do maintenance on your RV air conditioner? I knew about changing filters on our home unit and having annual check ups, but had no idea there were a few simple maintenance tips that could help extend the life of our RV air conditioner.  In a recent seminar presented by Terry Cooper, the RV Professor, and hosted by PPL, I learned some important information that I want to pass on to all RV owners. When you take off the cover on your roof AC unit, you need to look at the small vents on the side. These are referred to as ‘fins” and when they are crimped, bent or dirty it reduces the air intake of the unit and, of course, will then reduce the efficiency of your AC. Simply straightening these fins with a fin comb can make a world of difference on how well your AC unit performs. Then, if you take the time to spray these intake coils with Envirochem Air Conditioner Coil Cleaner, the dirt and lint will wash away without the use of special pressure sprayers. You’ll be surprised how much dirt and dust will build up on your roof. Use this cleaner regularly and you will prolong the life of your AC unit.

We have used the Autonet Mobile WiFi system for some months now in an RV travelling under varying conditions. The most interesting usage happened while driving on an Interstate highway in a ‘driving’ rainstorm (no pun intended). We were able to fire up the laptop and connect to a weather radar site to see how extensive this storm was along our intended path. And it’s been very helpful to consult the internet for maps, points of interest, campgrounds, restaurants, and gas stops along the way. We found that campgrounds that offer WiFi sometimes do not have the coverage to include all of their campsites and it was necessary to go to the office or rec hall to get a signal. Since usage is based on the wireless phone network, coverage can sometimes be spotty to non-existent. We have configured our unit with a cigarette lighter plug, rather than hard wire it in, so as to have portability. It typically rides on the dashboard of the RV, but when we are parked in an area with little or no coverage, we can take the Autonet with us in our towed vehicle and go to an area with adequate coverage. When not on the road and operating from home, the Autonet can be used in any vehicle. Overall we find this unit a very handy item to have along to enjoy internet access from the convenience of your own vehicle.

Texas State Parks are some of the best parks in the country and I just found out that many of the State Parks offer super savings during the winter months. Some offer a discount of as much as 50% so, before you plan your next trip, call and ask the park if there is a Winter discount available. Discounts vary by park so take time to call and save today!

I installed a set of Firestone Ride-Rite air springs on the front of an F53 32’ chassis, hoping to tame the jolts which occur when driving on a highway with uneven expansion joints. The leaf spring on the passenger side was sagging more than the other side, so the front end had a slight tilt to it, and therefore the pressure in the air spring on that side had to be greater to level the front end. (we purchased the coach that way, so the weight of my copilot cannot be blamed for the sagging spring).

On the road the ride was much improved with a softer, more comfortable ride and the copilot liked it a lot. The expansion joint jolts were still there, but reduced. There appeared, however, to be a more noticeable side sway from road irregularities and cross-winds. Researching the problem led to the Davis Tru-Trac Stabilizing Bar offered by Roadmaster. It turns out that the air springs interfered completely with the installation of the Tru-Trac. Consultation with the manufacturer provided a solution. I had to remove the air springs, install the Tru-Trac, then re-install the air springs in a position forward of where they were.

As a result, we now have the best of both worlds with the softer ride of the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Springs along with the stabilized, steady handling provided by the Tru-Trac Stabilizing Bar. The coach is now a pleasure and less stressful to drive without having to constantly fight the steering wheel.

If you haven’t attended one of Terry Cooper’s seminars at PPL Motor Homes, then you’ve missed out on so much valuable information. Terry Cooper, The RV Professor, is a high profile Master Certified RVDA/RVIA Recreational Vehicle Service Technician experienced in program development and training of RV technicians. He has taught for several years at Texas State Technical College and brings his RV knowledge here to PPL customers once a month. From LP Systems, winterizing your RV and electrical systems to everything you want to know about RV Air conditioning, I promise everyone leaves here with more knowledge than when they came in. These free monthly seminars are fun and informative for the new RV enthusiast and even the seasoned RV owner. His next seminar is scheduled for Saturday, March 20th at 11am in the PPL Training Center where he will provide valuable information on LP systems in the RV. Make plans to learn more about your RV.

Over the years, PPL has sold several step stools to the RV’er. During that time our customers have always asked questions pertaining to differences in step stools or folding step stools. While I was at a convention in San Antonio I spoke with Paul Huffman with Safety Step. Paul provided me an article on what to look for when buying a R.V. step stool. The article seemed to address the common questions our customers had about stools and I thought I would share the article. The following is the article and a link to the Safety Step stools on our web site:

Folding Step by Safety Step

Safety Features To Look For When Buying a R.V. Step Stool:

One of the biggest potential mishaps that exist which can bring a vacation in your R.V. to an untimely and unpleasant end is either falling or slipping when making that step into or out of your R.V. or having a homemade or plastic step stool slip out from under you or even break when you step on it. How many times have you experienced, witnessed or heard of this occurring to another camper? Perhaps your own camping experience has been less pleasurable because the lot you parked on requires you to make a running leap to reach the first step. Not exactly the safest way to get your daily exercise.

All of these situations can be avoided by making sure you have a safe, durable and well engineered step stool as standard equipment in your R.V. There are many step stools available on the market today, the challenge is to select one that meets your need and is designed with 4 key safety features.

Feature 1: Anti-Tip Design

A quick visual check can help you determine if the step stool has an anti-tip design. The legs should angle out at a sufficient angle to prevent tipping if you step on any edge. Be sure the Step cannot tip in any of the 4 directions. Physically step on the step stools corners and edges to be sure it will not tip over and stays firmly in place.

Feature 2: Deck Area Size

Be sure the deck is roomy enough to step and move on but not so large that it becomes a storage issue. Too small a deck size can be a safety hazard when exiting your RV. Sizes of platforms do vary, but a 14” x 19” platform gives most enough room without being too bulky.

Feature 3: Non-Skid / Non-Slip

A properly designed deck will have non-skid strips to prevent slipping when the step stool gets wet. Your Step is exposed to the elements and will also collect dirt and debris. Without some type of slip resistant material the chances of slipping are greatly increased. Another plus of this feature is abrasive strips will remove mud and dirt from your shoes keeping it outside and not in your R.V.

In order to prevent your step stool from slipping from underneath you it needs to have rubber feet or tips for traction. Step stools without some type of non-slip material on the feet are likely to slip on any surface, but especially on asphalt. Also, make sure the non-skid feet have a snug fit so there is no danger of them falling off or getting stuck in mud. The material should be compounded for wear resistance. Be cautious of purchasing Steps with metal or plastic feet.

Steps with folding legs should have a locking leg feature. Without this safety feature the legs of the step could potentially collapse when in use.

Feature 4: Durability

A good indication of durability is the weight rating of the product. Steps constructed from plastic can fracture especially in colder weather conditions. Steel is strong but can rust rapidly in wet conditions. Full aluminum construction will give you the best combination of strength, corrosion resistance and product weight. For metal Steps, welds should be fully structural and not spot welds. Ask your dealer if the Step manufacturer performs testing on the product.