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Featured State...
Maine The Pine Tree State
Leaf-Peeping Paradise
Shorter days and cool nights in autumn stop the production of chlorophyll in a leaf, and the green color fades, allowing the reds, oranges and yellows to burst forth. The best autumn colors are produced when dry, sunny days are followed by cool, dry nights. Typically, you can see the most vibrant color changes in Maine from mid-September through the first part of October. Visitors who travel to see the spectacular foliage are known as, "Leaf-Peepers."
Covered Bridges
Covered bridges are few and far between these days, but you can still see ten of them in Maine. There used to be 120, but fires, floods, and ice have destroyed many of them.
Websites
http://www.state.me.us
http://www.visitmaine.com
http://www.visit-maine.com
Site Updates
These periodic updates will keep you informed as to how RV-Coach Online is continually making changes to our site in response to your feedback.
Virtual RV Park
The world's only Virtual RV Park has been online now for six years and counting! Viewers are using the Virtual Park to keep their families informed of their whereabouts and to post their latest e-mail address. Sign up for FREE today by clicking here.
Parts Search Directory
You can search over 2000 companies that sell parts or services to the RVer in our Parts Search directory. We have painstakingly handpicked each company to ensure that you find what you need. If you have found a company in your cyber travels that we don't have, please add it here.
Links Directory
If you are looking for other web sites that cater to the RV or bus conversion lifestyle, check out our online directory of web sites. It is searchable and contains hand-picked web sites. You can even submit your own link if you have one that helps our viewers. Just click here.
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Chat Box
We appreciate all our visitors, especially those who are willing to help out fellow RVers. This newsletter, special thanks goes to Sam Watson for his comprehensive reply to a "Chev 454 Cut-out problem..."
Mechanics Corner
Q: from Kim B -
Have an '89 23' Winny w/Chev 454. In hot weather, after an hr or so it starts to cut-out, first on hills, than on level roads, soon barely able to keep it at 35mph or so. Replaced plugs, plug wires, ign. switch, fuel filters, dist. cap, rotor. One mechanic said it was a regulator left on the chassis by mistake in front of the tank and removed it, installing an elec fuel pump in it's place. First happened at half tank when crossing country and prob went away at full tank. Now who knows -- only seems to happen when it's hot out and been on the road for awhile. HELP!
A: from Sam Watson -
The first thing to determine is if it's a fuel or ignition problem. Let's do the fuel first. With the engine cold, remove the lid of the air cleaner. Look down into the air cleaner to the carburetor air intake, use a mirror if you need to. You'll see that there are two sections of the air intake, or "air horn" as it is called, a large side with a large, pivoted plate closing the opening, (secondary side), and a side with smaller openings, again covered by a pivoted plate, (primary side). The plate at the primary side is the choke blade and is used to enrich the fuel mixture during cold starts. If you look to the rear of the primary section, you'll see a vertical tube sticking up out of the surface of the air horn, that's the bowl vent tube. The bowl vent tube is directly over the carburetor fuel level control float, (works just like a toilet bowl float system). Having identified the parts, we can now make a simple float position gauge. Go to a good hardware store and buy a 1/8" thick brass rod, (they come in 3 foot lengths), cut the rod as needed so you can slip it down the air cleaner and into the bowl vent tube while still holding the other end of it, CAREFULLY slide the rod down into the vent tube until you feel a slight resistance, you've reached the top of the float, STOP. ACCURATELY mark this measurement on the rod, either at the top of the bowl vent tube, or some other accurate index point, as this will be your detection instrument. The next time the problem occurs, get the rig over to the side of the road on as flat a surface as possible, remove the air cleaner lid, and measure the float level. If there is no difference in height from your index mark, then you don't have a fuel problem, but rather an ignition problem.
Fast FAQs
Below is our most popular Frequently Asked Question in recent weeks. For more RV FAQs, please visit our FAQs section, where you are invited to contribute your own FAQ.
Q: Can I put a fresh water tank under my bed?
A: Yes, you can! Although many may feel that there is too great a risk in case the water tank should ever leak. But, if you think of these things ahead of time, you can figure out whether it is worth it or not for you.
There are many benefits to placing the fresh water tank under the bed:
- Free up space in the bays
- Insulates sound from the engine and road
- Easier to reach in case of emergency
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RVCO News Desk
Below are recent articles from RV-Coach Online. For more news from the RV world, please visit our news articles section, where you are invited to contribute your own article.
September 11 Spurs Upsurge in RV Travel
As the shock waves of the terrorist attacks of September 11 continue to reshape American society, RV travel experienced a sharp increase in the summer of 2002. RV park owners reported a substantial rise in reservations over last year and surveys of RVers indicated that many logged more miles than ever.
The rising popularity of the RV lifestyle seems directly connected to the aftermath of September 11. From a practical standpoint, many Americans have turned away from air travel because of safety concerns and airport security hassles. At the same time, a deeper shift in attitudes appears to have sparked new interest in RVing.
Observers have noted that the terrorist attacks prompted many Americans to place greater importance on family and community. There's also a renewed sense of patriotism in the air. These factors have contributed to more Americans than ever taking to the road in their RVs, often as part of a family vacation.
A survey of RV owners by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (http://www.rvia.org) found that 75 percent expected to travel more in the summer of 2002 than they did last year. (The survey was conducted by Robert Hitlin Research Associates of Reston, Virginia.)
The new national mood is also reflected in the choices of destinations. Fifty-two percent of RV owners surveyed planned to visit sites rich in American history, with Washington, D.C., Mount Rushmore, Gettysburg, and the Alamo most frequently named.
Much of the increase in RVing is attributable to a new crop of RV renters -- many of them first-timers. The two largest U.S. RV rental agencies -- Cruise America and El Monte RV -- are reporting record business, with the pace of RV rentals up over one-third above last year. Younger RVers, especially those with small children, appreciate the freedom and flexibility that is part of the RV experience.
If you have RV news to share, we have a place on our web site just for you. Click here to add your article.
Behind the Increase in RV Rentals
With RV rentals running at a record pace, a consensus is emerging among industry observers that explains the trend.
Surveys sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (http://www.rvia.org) track the rise to the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Since then, the leading RV rental agencies in the United States - Cruise America and El Monte RV - report that RV rentals have increased over one-third compared to the previous year.
The customers accounting for the upsurge in RV rentals are often new to the RV lifestyle. They view renting as an opportunity to sample RVing. They also tend to be younger than typical RVers. Many are traveling with children and are eager to avoid the long lines and delays associated with air travel since September 11.
In response to the increased demand, RV rental agencies are emphasizing the value and convenience of renting an RV. Cruise America, for example, offers a wide range of vehicles and options. Special package deals bring rental rates down well below the cost of a hotel room. With more than 175 locations in the United States and Canada, a Cruise America center is generally within easy reach of prospective renters.
RV renters are also discovering the ease of driving a modern RV. With few exceptions, motorists do not need a special license to operate an RV. Indeed, first-timers are often surprised that driving an RV is not much different than being behind the wheel of a van. As automatic transmission and power steering have become standard RV features, most customers quickly adjust to their rental vehicles.
Interested in renting an RV? Begin your journey by visiting the RV-Coach Online Network's introduction to RV rentals. You'll come away with a clearer idea of the options available to get you on the road.
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RV and bus conversion info since 1996.
