Off Roading in an RV? Really? What If You Get Stuck?

NOT My RV!

    I'm a boondocker. There, I've said it. I REALLY prefer unimproved campsites to organized campgrounds. Maybe it's because I lived in NYC among the masses for so long. Maybe I like the serenity of being in the middle of nowhere. In any case, some of the greatest places to park/camp aren't always along the beaten (or semi-beaten) path. Can you really go there in an RV or while hauling a trailer? You can go to more places than you'd expect!

One Type of Off Road 4x4 RV

With very few exceptions, motorized RVs aren't 4 wheel drive nor capable of true off roading. It's pretty easy to get stuck when driving a 30+ foot 15,000lb+ behemoth.That being said, most RVs do perfectly well on unimproved, unpaved roads. Many state parks, BLM lands and the like have dirt or packed sand access to some of the most beautiful places you can imagine. Sometimes you have to traverse a grassy field to get to the perfect lakeside campsite. As long as you take some basic precautions against getting mired in "who-knows-what" you should be fine. I am NOT recommending getting in above your skill level or in a place you couldn't easily extricate yourself! Leave that to the hardy folks that like 4 wheel drive and harsh trails for fun.

Typical Rubber Mat - Comes On A Roll

I always have good tires, some pieces of wood, long rubber carpet runners and a couple of jacks, just in case. The enemy here is soft or muddy ground. Anything that your tires will sink into or dig a deep rut in. Spinning tires is NOT the way to get unstuck if something goes wrong. Stop. Look the situation over. Is it one or more tires that aren't getting traction, front or back? If you haven't dug in too deep, a rubber mat or a section of 2x4 (or x6) inserted under the stuck tire will get you the traction you need to get  back out. MAKE SURE YOU INSERT IT THE RIGHT WAY! If you are backing out it goes behind the wheel, going forward it goes in front of the tire(s.) Set it all up then get back in and SLOWLY drive (in the correct direction) until you are on firm ground.

Be Careful! If In Doubt, DON'T TRY IT!

Before you venture onto unknown terrain, if it looks soft or doubtful, you can always get out and look/feel the surface. When in doubt DO NOT PROCEED. Better safe than stuck. The only time this is bad? When you are moving over a sandy or soft surface and you stop. Stopping in the soft stuff is a great way to get stuck. Keep moving at a walking pace until you are on solid/hard packed ground or pavement.

Bad Mojo!

You should also look out for stuff sticking out of the road or deep ruts and potholes. The ground clearance on a typical RV, with all the pipes, wires, bits and pieces hanging down isn't usually very much. Be careful you don't catch something or bottom out the RV! If you follow these simple rules, you should be fine. Even a little bit of off-pavement excursion will get you to A LOT more places!




If you're observant, plan ahead and are comfortable with the extrication process (and have the right tools!!) by all means try this out. At first go places that are relatively solid. Get comfortable with the handling, ground clearance and performance of YOUR rig. If you have any doubts Stick to the paved roads! I won't be able to come and get you out! Doing this stuff is at your own risk! I like doing it, have gotten stuck a few times and managed to get out easily. This is not always the case! Remember, not only do you have to get IN, but OUT too!

Caution is rewarded with a smooth trip to that once in a lifetime campsite. I've got a favorite by a lake in the Adirondacks. Absolutely beautiful. Quiet, amazing sunrises over the lake and a postcard view framed by every window.

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

An RV Oasis in the Oppressive Heat.

Small, But Comfortable and Cozy

    A while back I wrote an article about super storm Sandy. My house had no power, no heat and no way to cook meals. RV to the rescue! It really showed the RV as a safe, comfortable and yes, cozy place to be in a major storm. Here in the Northeast (and in many areas around the country) we have been experiencing an extended heat wave. Could be global warming?!? Anyway, as usual for me, Murphy decided to kill my central air conditioner just a day before the heat began. For the last few weeks I have been uncomfortably hot and relatively sleepless. It was only a couple of days ago that it finally dawned on me, I have an oasis of cool air and comfort sitting in the driveway!

I've read some folks likening an RV to a road going lifeboat for your house. In fact you could take that a step further and compare full-timers to "round-the-world" sailors in small craft. Either way, it just reinforces how nice it is to be able to have all the comforts, conveniences and safety of a traditional home almost any time and anyplace you'd like them.

What could be better? In a serious emergency (conditions permitting) you could leave the area and wait it out in a safer spot. All in familiar surroundings. RV's are great!

For the rest of this obnoxious heat wave, I will be spending the nights (and some hours during the day) in the cool, air conditioned space of my RV. I have the fridge filled with cool drinks and snacks, the TV/Entertainment system full of digital shows and movies and a cool place to sleep. I'm all set to wait this one out. Since I am so close to the house, I even get a decent WiFi signal here, so I am also online. In fact, I'm writing this with a nice breeze of A/C cooled air wafting around me and a glass of iced tea sparkling in front of me on the table. I almost hate to admit this, but I may have to turn the A/C down as it's getting a bit chilly in here.

Of course, I enjoy travelling to other places in my RV, but sometimes it's just as nice to have one at home! Yet another use for the RV. Of course, making sure your Air conditioner (and generator if you're not hooked up to shore power) is up to the task is another thing entirely. Look here for basic maintenance tips! Gets me thinking about having it ready to go during the long cold winter when my house furnace invariably fails.... OK, first things first!

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

It's HOT! Keep your A/C and generator humming

Back of My Aero Cruiser

It has been REALLY hot and muggy for the last few weeks. Thankfully, I believe all my motorhome's small leaks I had are fixed

Most RVs, including mine, have a rooftop mounted air conditioner. These can be a life-saver on days like these. It's a good idea to make sure everything is in working order before you need it. If you're not parked where there are electrical hookups, checking your generator as well could be critical. No power, no cooling!

Typical A/C Mounted Controls

First, while connected to shore power (Your house, a campground pedestal, etc.) turn on your A/C. Remember, most RV air conditioning units will take a few minutes (or more) to start cooling the air. The fan will turn on, then after a while, you'll here the compressor (the mechanical device that actually is mainly responsible for creating the cool air) kick in. You should feel a difference in the output airflow. Wait a few minutes to make sure it's cooling sufficiently. If you want to get technical, most manufacturers will have a manual that shows what the decrease in temperature should be from the surrounding air. I'm happy with a minimum of 15-20 degrees cooler.

Typical Generator Mounted Control Panel

After you've run the A/C  for a while. (I try not to let it run less than 15 minutes) shut it off. Wait a few seconds and fire up your generator. If you're on shore power, it's a good idea to disconnect. You wouldn't know there is a transfer switch problem and you aren't actually running on generator power. It would be an very unpleasant surprise to get to your campsite and find out you have no power, even though your generator was running! Let the generator warm up for a few minutes and stabilize. Turn on your A/C. Remember, you have to wait a few minutes for the compressor to kick in.

Inside Generator Panel

 While running on the generator, you'll likely hear the generator slow down a bit when the A/C kicks on. Never fear, that's normal. It should stabilize and you should begin to feel cool air shortly. Let it run for a half hour or so to make sure everything stays stable and nothing odd happens. You may hear a difference when the compressor turns on and off, but that is also quite normal. Make sure the A/C unit itself sounds OK. If it's making clicking sounds or vibrating badly, shut it off! Also, use your nose. If you smell something burning or a horrible odor, you may have electrical problems or a critter inside the A/C unit itself.

Removable Filters On Either Side

When I do this, I am not only looking for strange sounds from the A/C but from the generator as well. You could hear the generator begin to "hunt" going up and down in speed and never settling down. I had this happen and it was a simple cleaning to fix it.

Next, look at all your A/C vents. Both on the unit(s) itself and any remote ones you may have. I like to clean these out with a damp towel to make sure I'm not breathing in anything nasty. Also, if your A/C is equipped with removable filters, remove them! Check, clean and replace.

Treat your air conditioner and generator right and you'll be one happy camper! The A/C is one of the few things that aren't easy or practical to run on Solar Power, so having a working generator is a must. Who knows, someday we'll be able to store enough power in a small space to run our air conditioners all night. Until then....keep yours working fine!

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com