Hodge Podge

Crockpot Pork Chops

So, you have been out hiking on the trails all day and you come back to your coach or camper and think, “what’s for dinner?” You probably realize you are just too tired to cook and think of the “if only’s ”. If only I had defrosted something, if only I had leftovers I could heat up, if only, two little words, yet lots of meaning.

My “if only” is crockpot meals. I love to use my crock pot when I know I’ll be out and about all day. As I previously have mentioned I am into easy meals, so here is my pork chop meal in a crock pot. (and you can change portion sizes to fit your family.)

2 or 3 pork chops 

2 potatoes

Bag of frozen vegetables

Jar or can of pork gravy

Tin foil

Open gravy and pour about a third of the container in bottom of crock pot, next place pork chops in crock pot. Pour on the rest of the gravy, making sure each pork chop is covered in gravy. Next cut potatoes in fourths and wrapped together in tin foil and place in crock pot. Then take another piece of foil and place approximately 2 serving of the frozen vegetable on foil and add about tablespoon of water and wrap in the foil and place in crockpot. Place lid on crockpot and turn temperature to low and off you go.

When you return from your RV adventure, get thervkeys and open the door to a delicious smell and start your dinner. -Marie B

Be sure to see our other Recipes.

One of the funnest and easiest things to do is to decorate your RV. I usually start with the bedroom because you can really let your personality shine. I find that most RV’s come with a pretty Bedspread that usually came from the manufacture. It is just the right color to give you coach a glamorous look. Usually, they are in a tan or grey shade with a little silver or gold so that it looks luxurious. However, I find about 95% of them are itchy.

From what I have heard and read; most people store them; in case they ever sell their RV in the future. This way they can make it look like new again. So here is your chance, spice it up, what color do you like? A new bedspread and shams do not cost much and can really change the personality of a coach. Changing just these two things, can totally change a look. Once you decide on the type of bedspread, which may be a family quilt, something you knitted or store bought, you can nail down the theme and color scheme. Pictured above is a cute example from Amazon Camping Bedroom.

Since the bed is usually the largest item in the room, it helps to use that as a central theme and the choice of color(s) you might use. Next let’s identify where you might put some coordinating pictures. These can be store bought or maybe family pictures that we can put into frames with color coordinating mats. Now you can put some small nails or tacks in the wall but be careful where you nail. I prefer to use command hooks such as these from Amazon https://amzn.to/3vrpicZ  Disclaimer They work very well and leave no holes in the wall. There are many different types of command hooks, and these can be helpful for many things.

As simple as that you have made the bedroom yours. Add a few throw pillows on the bed and you are all set to go. Just because you are RVing doesn’t mean you still cant enjoy and relax in your new home. Have fun traveling and stay safe. – Marie B
(Picture courtesy of Amazon)

 To Flat Tow or Dolly Tow?

There are several options when it comes to bringing your vehicle along for the ride when you have a class A or C motorcoach.  The two main options are flat towing (also known as 4 wheels down towing) and dolly towing.  Generally speaking, the flat tow option is more expensive.  The cost can exceed 3 thousand dollars minimally for the equipment, which includes a tow bar, vehicle base plate, vehicle wiring for safety and some type of passive breaking system!  Additionally, a specific vehicle may need to be purchase to facilitate this option, if your current vehicle is not flat towable. Dolly towing,
while cheaper, requires the purchase of a tow dolly to facilitate this option, and may also require a specific vehicle purchase, as some vehicles can not be flat towed or dolly towed. Also, setup operation takes longer than flat towing and storage of the dolly once parked can be an issue, depending on where you camp.(Some RV parks may charge for dolly parking).  
For us, flat towing was our choice, despite the cost, because the operation was simple and more convenient than using a dolly.  Your choice depends on your budget, abilites, and your lifestyle.
There is a third option to bring your vehicle along with you while Rving, and that is: trailering.  There are no vehicle limitations here,  but once again it's not for everyone.   Storage of the trailer at a campsite can be even more of a hassle than stowing a dolly.  But for those who cannot (or will not) give up a current vehicle, or buy a specific vehicle for the other two means of RV vehicle towing, this third option will work.  
Some research is required before you pursue any of these towing methods, to help you decided which is option is best for you. A little bit of homework now, can save you from agony down the road.

Read More  RV Tech  articles

Get that extended warranty?

This is a hotly debated issue. Dealers typically offer buyers an extended warranty when purchasing a new or used RV. Don’t go this route, especially if the warranty is worked into the monthly payments, because you don’t want to pay 144 or 240 monthly payments for an extended warranty that will only last 4 to 8 years, right?Financially that makes no sense! If you have the cash and really want an extended warranty, that is certainly a better way to pay for it!

While an extended warranty might make sense for a used coach, but not for brand new units. Any issues a New RVs might have is covered and can be resolved through the warranty period.  For both, yearly maintenance can usually prevent problems BEFORE they occur. That’s where our money goes, instead of costly warranties that wont cover your coach repair if it's not maintained properly anyway. These companies are in the business of making money, so they are betting your coach wont need to be repaired. That’s why it costs MORE for an extended warranty for an older coach vs a new one, and frankly for a new coach, an extended warranty is simply a waste of money, period!

More RV Living & Organization Ideas

 Changing a water pump

Tools needed: Philip's screwdriver, wire cutters/ strippers, zip ties, butt crimp connectors, and if needed, slip joint pliers

Recently I had the pleasure of having a water pump failure in our coach.  Suddenly, without warning, the water stopped flowing.  Usually when that happens,  I check to see if we have water in the tank, and we did.  I then checked the water pump and used an old trick to check it by tapping the motor housing with a hammer.  It suddenly sprang to life!  Eureka,  I thought!  We need a new water pump.  Our coach is 4 years old and we use it quite frequently and recently went full-time in it. It seemed likely to me that the water pump could have gone bad. Our coach has a shurflow 3 gpm pump, so  that's what looked for and then ordered on Amazon.  One day later,  I was the proud recipient of a new water pump!  I got right to work on replacing  it as soon as I could.  It's a very easy task, as far as RV repairs go.  The connections are(or should be) hand tight, so a wrench usually is not required.  The hardest part was loosening and removing the 4 screws holding it to the bottom of the storage bay. Then if you haven't already done so, turn off your water pump!  Then loosen and remove the water connections on either side of the pump and mark them for reassembly later.  Finally,  using a wire cutter, sever your electrical connections at the point where the pump wires meet the rv power wires.
The installation of the new water pump is basically the reverse, except for crimping the wires together, rather than cutting them.  There are plenty of YouTube videos out there if you need additional help, but it really is a job that anyone who can turn a screwdriver can easily do.  Also, read the instructions that come with your water pump.  I assumed it was plug and play.   It wasn't.   After I installed the water pump, the pressure was surging and that was because I didn't adjust the pressure switch!
Once I adjusted the switch with 3 -  1/4 turns of the Allen wrench set screw, the surging water pressure was eliminated and all is well now!  I hoped you learned something,  I know I did!
-- Ben
 

More RV Maintenance Articles