Escapees July-August 2024

mark, my words

Full-time RVing in a Travel Trailer

Tire Cleaner Q. The tires on my RV are 10 years old with no cracks on them. Someone suggested using silicone on the tires. What kind do you suggest I use? I thought I’d use Maguires vinyl and rubber cleaner. Gérard A. Even if the tires look fi ne, at 10 years of age, they need to be replaced. The tire industry standard for maximum safe tire life is 7-10 years. Tires older than that can fail without warning and cause damage or personal injury. There’s a lot riding on your tires, so please consider replacing them right away. Also, the major tire manufacturers are unani mous in recommending against using tire sprays, silicone or other similar substances on the outside of your tires. Some of these products can damage the tires. It’s best to just clean the tires with soapy water and keep them covered when the RV is parked to help prevent UV (ultra-violet light) damage from the sun.

Q. In about 18 months or more, I plan to retire and hit the road. I am presently a 63-year-old, single woman, who roamed the world in my 20s and I’m ready for that again. I am also an avid reader of Henry David Thoreau and Emerson and have been assiduously practicing “simplify, simplify” for the past year or so. My plan is to drive to the West Coast in my car, then sell it and buy a 16- to 20-foot travel trailer and a vehicle that will safely and adequately pull it. I will then travel around and hopefully get work in the national parks for months at a time. I hope to keep this up for about three to fi ve years with my cat as my co-pilot. Can you recommend some 16- to 20-foot travel trailers that would fi tmybill? Would it be wise to consider a second-hand trailer? Can you recommend some vehicles that will safely pull this rig through the west? What are the speci fi cations I should look for when buying a travel trailer? Edie A. I understand the desire to simplify, but if your goal is to RV full time, consider that you are going to be living in this thing. That means you will need more storage space than if you are simply “out for the weekend.” Remember, there will be days (maybe even weeks) when bad weather forces you to stay inside. Simple creature comforts like a comfortable chair to sit in or a couch to stretch out on become more important. Think about what you want to bring with you when you hit the road, and try to estimate what kind of storage space you’ll need. I have met some folks out there full-time RVing in very small rigs, such as 20-foot class C motorhomes and 16-foot travel trailers, so it is possible, but, perhaps, not optimal. If you’re consid ering full-time RVing in a small travel trailer, my advice to you is to take a three-week trip in one and see if you can live in something that small. Second-hand RVs, especially trailers, can be a real bargain! Obviously, you’ll want something that is struc turally sound, and in good overall condition. In general, travel trailers are likely to be lightly used, and buying a pre-owned unit helps you avoid the hit you would take from depreciation on a brand-new one. Don’t buy your tow vehicle until you have picked out a rig. Then, make sure that the tow vehicle has adequate tow ratings to handle the trailer you’ll be towing. Bumper-pull trailers allow you the widest range of tow vehicles, so you can choose a van, SUV, car or truck, as long as it is adequate for the job. Check manufacturer’s weight and tow ratings on any prospective vehicle, and match them to your trailer’s gross weight rating. Leave some headroom, too: chances are, if you are full-time RVing, your trailer will probably be pretty close to its rated capacity when loaded. Good luck in your search!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MARK? Submissions must not contain commercial advertising or consumer advocacy issues. Due to the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, we may be unable to reply or acknowledge receipt of your material. Material will be edited. Questions and answers with the highest general interest may be repeated in subsequent issues. Questions can be sent by mail to “Mark, My Words” Column, 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX 77351-9300 or to techquestions@escapees.com.

7

July/August 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine