Escapees May-June 2023

mark, my words

Decal Cracks Q. Mark, we store our RV in a lot in our complex, and the decals on the side that gets the most sun have cracked. Is there any quick fi x to make these look better barring taking them o ff ? Thanks. I love reading your column. Kathy A. Most RV decals are vinyl, and the only way to keep them looking good is to keep a good quality automotive paste wax on them to help protect them from the sun and from drying out. Unfortunately, once the decals have begun to crack and fade, there is little you can do to restore them. About the only way to get a long-lasting fi x is to remove the old decals and replace them. There are a number of companies that specialize in replacement graphics and decals for RVs. Take a look at: www.rvgraphicsstore.com www.rvdecalsdirect.com www.graphicsrv.com You can also have the entire RV wrapped! As an alternative to paint, this is a less-expensive way to give your rig a brand new fi nish. wrapguys.com/motorhome-rv-wraps www.wakegraphics.com/rv-wraps If you go with the replacement decals, you have to remove the old, faded ones fi rst. Removing the old graphics is a dif fi cult task and may be best left to professionals. However, if you have near-in fi nite patience and a heat gun, they can be removed using a plastic or steel scraper, some heat and a gentle touch. If you choose to wrap the entire rig, you may not have to remove the old decals. Of course, the third alternative is to develop a blind spot and just not see the faded decals. That approach has worked well for me in the past (smile)!

Your RV Questions By MARK NEMETH #45776, Escapees Technical Advisor Send your questions via e-mail to techquestions@escapees.com

PHOTO BY DUSTIN SIMPSON COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA RV SPECIALISTS.

Un-Winterizing to Travel Q. My wife and I are brand new to RVing. We bought a brand-new, 25-foot travel trailer late last summer. Because we didn’t know how to get it ready for winter storage, we paid to have it winterized, but now I am not sure how to safely get it ready to use this season. Any tips or information you can give us would be a big help. We live in New Hampshire, so I know they used antifreeze in the system, and I don’t know how much fl ushing or what else I have to do so I don’t get sick or break something. Bill A. The main thing is to thoroughly fl ush the antifreeze out of the RV’s plumbing. First, put some water in your fresh-water tank, then run the pump and let the water fl ow from every fi xture until there is no more antifreeze color or odor. Then, hook up the hose to your city water inlet and repeat. It may take a while to get it all fl ushed out, so watch that you don’t over fi ll your holding tanks. RV antifreeze is nontoxic, so even if there’s some taste or odor left, it won’t kill you. Any residual taste or odor usually fades after a few days of use. Once you’re fl ushed out, put the water heater back into operation by installing the drain plug and setting the water heater bypass back to the normal operation mode (check your RV manual!). Now, let the water heater fi ll completely before you try to light it. Once everything is full and all faucets are shut off, unhook the hose from the city water inlet and turn the pump back on. The pump should run long enough to bring the pressure up and then shut off. Wait a few minutes to be sure that the pump doesn’t “bump” on and off when no faucets are open. If it does, you may have a leak somewhere. Hopefully, you are now all set to go! Be sure to check tire pressure before you tow, and check your owner’s manual for any other recommendations for putting your rig back into operation after winter storage.

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ESCAPEES Magazine May/June 2023