RV Dealers Special
If you're an RV dealer, or provide a listing service, our Classifieds Dealer program was made for you. Sign up now and begin enjoying the benefits today. Your first month is FREE.

Benefits of a Dealer account:

• Show your inventory to 50,000+ RVers each month.
• Manage your inventory over the web.
• Post up to 50 ads under your account.
• Display as many as 10 photos with each ad.
• Convert your online inventory to printed flyers in seconds.
• Gain exposure on web sites throughout the RV-Coach Network.
• Enjoy priority rankings within category and search result listings.
• Point customers to your own dealership web page.

Private Owners --
Sell Your RV Online
Basic text listings are free. Or you can add up to ten photos for only $25. You can revise your ad whenever you wish. Register now.

Featured State...
Nevada The Sagebrush State

Prospector's Paradise
After the California gold rush ran its course, many '49ers turned east to strike it rich. They put Nevada on the map in 1859 with the discovery of the Comstock Lode. Until the rise of the gambling industry, the mining of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, barite, and tungsten remained Nevada's leading industry.

Population Explosion
Nevada was the fastest growing U.S. state in the 1990s. Nevada's population increased by a whopping 66.3 percent during the decade. Las Vegas led the boom with a growth rate of 83.3 percent, making it the fasting growing metropolitan area in the country.

Thirsty?
Nevada is the driest state in the United States, with an average annual rainfall of only about seven inches.

Web Sites
www.nv.gov
www.travelnevada.com
www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

Nevada National Parks
Great Basin
Lake Mead

Site Updates
The RV-Coach Network is continually upgrading our web sites in response to your feedback. Below is a summary of the most significant recent changes.

Find RVs for Sale
We've added powerful new search features in our Classified Ads to help you quickly find the RVs you're looking for. In addition to searching by category (Class A, Bus Conversions, Fifth Wheel, etc.), you now have the ability to target a single state/province, manufacturer, or dealer. If you need to narrow your focus still further, check out our advanced search tools.

RV Dealers Directory
Our up-to-date database features nearly 2,000 RV dealers. All 50 U.S. states are represented. Many listings include email and web site addresses.

Parts Search Directory
Our Parts Search directory includes more than 2,000 companies that sell parts or services to the RVer. From air conditioning to windshields, our directory features more than 120 categories to help you find what you need. If you've come across a company in your cyber travels that's not listed, please add it here.

Chat Box
We appreciate all our visitors, especially those who are willing to help out fellow RVers. This newsletter, special thanks goes to JR for his efforts to solve a problem concerning a MC9 parking brake.

Bus Conversions -- Intercity
Q: from Keith -- Wondering if anyone might have had this problem before and could help. I have a 1983 MCI 9 bus that I am doing the conversion on. We are traveling in it as well. Sometimes we can stop somewhere and the parking brake doesn't hold. The air pressure is up where it needs to be and everything seems normal. The brakes were just checked out and they seem to work great. It is just the parking brake and it is only sometimes. Other times it will lock in and hold. Another clue may be that when the parking brake is acting up the bay door air switch seems to vent differently when you hit the switch. Instead of just the hit of air that you normally hear, you hear a constant air release and the button doesn't stay in. Any hints would be appreciated.

A: from JR -- You need to post this question in the "Mechanic's Corner" forum. A guy named "Joe" will know just what ails your brakes. However, as I understand the parking brakes, you must first apply the service brakes and then pull the parking brake knob. My MCI 9 owners manual states such. I can also advise you that my MCI 9 parking brakes will apply even when you don't apply the service brakes (I didn't know about this when I bought the bus). Your parking brakes should apply whenever the brake boosters don't have air available to them. A big spring in each booster is what applies the parking brake. That's why they will hold after all the air has leaked down. Your brakes do apply when your air is down? Joe will straighten this out! Good luck.

Fast FAQs
Below is one of 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: Are there a few rules of RV etiquette that I should know before I pull into an RV campground?

A: For the most part, RV etiquette involves common sense and basic courtesty. An RV campground is not too different from a regular neighborhood.

Just like at home, being a good neighbor at a campground means keeping your hookup neat and quiet. Loud music and barking dogs are definitely not welcome at campgrounds. By the same token, litter and foul-smelling garbage is not appreciated either.

Many RVers are early-risers, so allow your neighbors to get their rest once the sun goes down. If you arrive at a campground at night, dim your headlights and hold down the noise as you set up. RVers often stake out their hookups with a chair or a folding table. That means they'll be back and you should look elsewhere for a spot to camp.

Above all, extend a hand of friendship to your fellow RVers. You'll be surprised just how helpful and considerate they can be.

RVCN News Desk
Below are recent articles from the RV-Coach Network. For more news from the RV world, please visit our news articles section, where you are invited to contribute your own article.

If you're drawn to the desert, early spring is a great time to consider RVing through the American Southwest. Although southwestern states such as Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are among the fastest growing in the country, there are still plenty of open spaces to explore.

Nature defines deserts, and natural attractions are what bring people into the wilderness. But there's much more to enjoy than treeless desert landscapes. In early spring, wildflowers bring an explosion of color to many desert areas. Each region has its own distinct varieties, so be sure to do a little research before your trip.

While the beauty of wildflowers is fleeting, cactus forests are a permanent feature of the desert. Again, each region boasts its own varieties. If you're in Quartzsite, Arizona, ask the locals about the 300-year-old saguaro cactus with 47 arms. It's worth the detour. (Quartzsite, of course, has special meaning for RVers. It's home to the world's biggest RV show, usually held in late January. Visit www.quartzsitervshow.com to get the details.)

The southwest desert's lack of vegetation, high mountains, fierce winds, and occasional cloudbursts have also created some of the world's most spectacular scenery. The Grand Canyon is the most extraordinary example of nature's sculpting talents, but there are many other sites that are exceptionally striking -- and much less crowded.

Once you've drunk your fill of the desert's natural beauty, you can begin enjoying the many unique activities a desert vacation offers.

Rock hounding, treasure hunting, and prospecting for precious minerals are among the most popular desert activities. The dry climate of the desert has helped preserve both natural and man-made artifacts. Moreover, the barren terrain of the desert means that they're relatively easy to find. If you're especially eager to dig up the past, you can buy or rent a metal detector.

Desert hiking also holds special appeal for visitors. Many are eager to explore canyons and gullies that cut through the desert landscape. Desert caves are particularly fascinating. Many still show signs of past human habitation.

Of course, the desert also presents its own set of dangers. Dehydration and heat stroke are the main concerns. If you find yourself overcome by desert heat, find shade quickly, drink plenty of water, limit your movements, and cover up to minimize perspiration. By all means, take safety measures sooner rather than later.

Flash floods are often overlooked as a threat in a dry climate. If you're hiking in a canyon or gully, always leave yourself an escape route. A sudden cloudburst, even if rain is falling miles away, can send a wall of water in your direction in minutes. Finally, beware of the desert's poisonous reptiles, such as rattlesnakes and gila monsters. Once the sun goes down, reptiles seek warm surfaces, such as pavement and rocks, that have soaked up the heat of the day. Make sure you don't cross their path.

Had enough of the great outdoors? Fortunately, the American southwest is also home to a vibrant mix of peoples and cultures. You can easily build your vacation around exploring the history of the Old West, the art and accomplishments of Native Americans, and the pervasive Hispanic influence.

With so much to see and do, start planning your desert sojourn now. Below are a few web sites geared toward visitors.

www.desertusa.com
www.americansouthwest.net
www.arizonaguide.com

Also, check out our state-by-state guide to RV campgrounds.

• Check hoses and gaskets for cracks and leaks, especially for anything related to propane.
• Recharge the battery.
• Test the electrical system and appliances.
• Check wheel bearings and brakes.
• Lubricate the suspension system.
• Inspect propane tanks for cracks and rust.
• Blow out the burner assembly of propane appliances.
• Open the hot water heater bypass. Then fill and drain the fresh water tank.
• Fill the fresh water tank again, start the water pump, and open all faucets until the water runs clear.

Dewinterizing your RV requires only a few hours, but it's often neglected in the excitement of spring. Keep in mind, however, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Careful dewinterizing will help you enjoy a trouble-free and fun-filled season of RVing.

For more about dewinterizing and other RV maintenance issues, please visit our Mechanic's Corner discussion forum.

If you have RV news to share, we have a place on our web site just for you. Please visit here to add your article.