The Smart RVer: DIY RV Maintenance and Repair

Introducing High Quality Window Awning Fabrics at Low, Affordable Prices. These are available from Sunpro Mfg and come in 7 Solid Colors with a 3 Year Warranty. The high quality 13oz material is will last for many years to come. Sunpro Mfg makes them to fit all Carefree of Colorado and A&E Window Awnings. Low Prices & Free Shipping!

Learn More about Sunpro RV Window Awning Fabrics

Sunpro Mfg RV Window Awning Replacement Fabrics are made of our Time Tested Sun Tuff 13oz vinyl fabric. This is the same vinyl that we use for our 13oz Slide Out Fabrics that have been in service for many years. The Sunpro Awning Fabrics are available in 7 solid colors and are made to fit your existing Window Awning Hardware.

Why Do You Only Offer the 13oz.?

Out of all of the awnings on an RV, the Window Awnings have the least amount of exposure to the sun. They are almost always several feet below the roof line getting less exposure from the sun. Quite often RV’s are parked with only one side exposed to the sun for a portion of the day. There is less fabric than a patio awning and does not suffer the stresses when it is windy and they usually do not keep moisture like other awnings when rolled up. The point is, why spend extra money when you will probably not even own your RV when these need replacing. Save your money for something else.

One Price: We offer one price for Standard and Tall Heights unlike the other guys who charge you more for the Tall Fabric. We can accommodate any height or Bead to Bead measurement up to 54″.

How to Measure:

Measure the length of the “Fabric”, not the roller tube.

With the Window Awning fully extended measure from Bead to Bead. This is the bead that is sewn into the fabric with one bead in the roller tube and the other Bead on the side of the RV.

• 13oz Sun Tuff Fabric

• 7 Solid Colors to Choose From

• 1 Price for Any Height Up To 54″

• Fit Almost All Brands of Window Awnings

• 3 Year Warranty

• Beige, Black, Dark Brown, Forest Green, Gray, Pacific Blue, White

Free Fabric Samples Are Available Upon Request!

Click Here to Purchase from Sunpro Mfg!

The post ↓Episode 19 – New Window Awning Replacement Fabrics at Low, Affordable Prices appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

This episode is the last of a 3 part series about Repairing, Cleaning and Treating an RV Rubber Roof. Treating the Rubber Roof is the final step of the 3 main steps to Maintaining and Extending the life of the RV Rubber Roof. Treating the Rubber Roof comes in at the end of the cleaning and repair stages. Before you treat the Rubber Roof you will want to recheck the roof for any minor repairs that you might have missed after cleaning. It is important to do these repairs before you treat the roof because the Dicor Lap Sealant or any similar brand of rubber roof sealant will not adhere if the treatment is applied first. We highly recommend Dior Lap Sealant because Dicor manufactures rubber roofs and they know what works.

After all of your repairs are done you can take the Dicor Roof Gard or a similar product and go up on the roof and either use a spray bottle or sponge mop and start applying in small areas and work in a pattern and treat the roof in a manner similar to applying Armor All (We do not recommend Armor All for anything!) and you are done. Dicor recommends to treat the roof every 3-5 weeks which could be necessary in certain areas of the country of if you have certain environmental issues that could require more maintenance. If not, you can probably treat the Rubber Roof 2-3 times per year. You should always treat the roof when you wash it. Check Out Dicors website for more information.

Click Here to Purchase Dicor Roof Gard!

The post ↓Episode 18 – Treating a Rubber Roof – Part 3 of the Rubber Roof Series appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

 If you are going to clean your Rubber Roof you might as well wash your RV at the same time, it is more work but, it is easier to do it all at once in most instances. I recommend using a cleaner that is made for rubber roofs such as Dicors Rubber Roof Cleaner, it is designed to clean the rubber better than a product not made for cleaning rubber roofs. If you don’t want to buy a product made for rubber roofs than I would suggest using Dawn Dish Washing Soap, it is safe cleaner for most applications. It is still best to use a cleaner made and has been tested on rubber roofs.

When cleaning your rubber roof with a product that is made for it you will need to exercise caution and not let the cleaner run down the sides, it can cause damage. When I clean my roof I will keep the sides of the RV wet and that will reduce any potential for damage. The cleaner can remove wax, stain the Gel Coat, Stain Awnings and Covers. Don’t let that scare you, it is still better to use a roof cleaner. You can also mask off the sides with plastic and that will create a protective barrier although, it will create more work. I just wash the roof and RV at the same time, it is easier.

Stains are just that, stains! You can use Tilex or bleach or bleach to try to clean a stain, you probably will not be able to remove the stain and keep in mind it is on the roof and no one can see it. At the end of the day who cares, a stain can’t ruin the roof. Scrub the stain with Tilex but don’t scrub so hard and for so long you ruin the roof, it is just a stain. Even if you selling your RV, you can show them the stain and explain that according to Dicor it will not harm the roof and is no cause for alarm. You will want clean any stains before you do the entire roof.

Tree sap can be a problem and hard to remove. It is best to avoid parking under trees. Dicor recommends using an ice cube to remove the sap. Place the ice cube on the sap and the sap may peel up after it freezes. If that doesn’t work you can use Mineral Spirits (Use with Great Caution) and try clean the sap,don’t get carried away with sap, it can’t ruin the roof.

Check out the Podcast for more tips on cleaning methods and how to prevent and remove black streaks. Check out all of Episode 17 Now! Part 2 of the 3 Part Rubber Roof Series.

 Purchase Dicor Rubber Roof Cleaners

The post ↓Episode 17 – How to Clean a Rubber Roof – Part 2 of the Rubber Roof Series appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

This is Part 1 of a Multi-Part series about Rubber Roof Maintenance and Care.This episode is about Rubber Roof inspections and finding problems before they become disasters. Rubber roofs are a great roof for any kind of RV and there are many reasons why. They do not create Black Streaks, they do not create Mold, the Rubber itself does not leak unless it is torn or a leak develops from a roof accessory that is mounted to it such as, a roof rack stanchion, sky light or something else that requires drilling. Leaks are an Enemy to an RV.

It is very important to check for leaks and fix the leak as soon as possible. Leaks create mold growth and water damage, even a small leak that is not fixed in a timely manner can create hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars of damage. The ongoing water leak destroys paneling, flooring, cabinets, ceiling panels, insulation and just about anything else it comes in contact with. Check inside cabinets and inspect the roof for leaks, look for stains or damaged ceiling panels. Keep in mind the roof is on the top of the RV and it protects everything under it.

Check the roof for damaged vents or cracked and missing sealants. Visually inspect the entire roof for any damaged roof accessories or tears in the roof itself. Check that the ladder and roof rack are still tight and the screws aren’t coming out to make the way for water to leak in. It is usually best to do any big repairs before cleaning the roof. After a big repair you will want to clean the roof thoroughly to look for smaller less obvious problems and then repair as needed.

Listen Now to the Entire Episode!

Check Out Rudy’s Maintenance Guide from Dicor.

The post ↓Episode 16 – How to Maintain a Rubber Roof – Part 1 of the Rubber Roof Series appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

This Podcast explains why at the beginning of 2015 UPS and Fedex not only raised their rates but, at the same time introduced Dimensional Shipping Rates (DSR). DSR has been created to offset additional shipping costs created by companies like Amazon. Amazon will ship an iPhone in a box that can hold 100 iPhones thus, UPS and Fedex are shipping big boxes that way nothing and take up a lot of space. Instead of dealing with the problem they are passing on the new expenses to the consumers by raising there rates by at least 5% in the best case and 25% or more the rest of the time.

The shipping game has changed! The DSR’s have made shipping with UPS and Fedex more difficult and expensive. The items that really get hit the hardest are large boxes that do not way very much. For example, an Air Conditioner Shroud may only way 18 lbs including the box but, because of the size of it could ship at the dimensional rate of 129 lbs. That is not affordable and not every item falls into this category. We have started to ship more with USPS which creates more work for us but, it reduces the shipping costs for our customers.

We pay for shipping on items we buy online or from our suppliers and we get hit with the same high costs of shipping and are very aware that high shipping costs can make us lose business. When we process any of our online orders we always look at the shipping charges and see if there is a way to ship it for less to save our customers money and if we find a less expensive method we refund the difference. We have made some deals with our suppliers to get better rates when we have items drop shipped and all of the savings get passed on, shipping is not a profit center of us, it is a tool to deliver goods to our customers.

Listen Now to the Entire Episode!

The post ↓Episode 15 – How the New UPS and Fedex Rates Will Adversely Affect Shipping Costs appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

Safety First! Have you ever wondered why your LP or CO Detector just starts beeping for no apparent reason? It has died! They have a expiration date and as a safety precaution it lets you know when it is dying and that it is time to replace it. To many people hear a beeping CO or LP detector and consider it as an annoyance and they just take the batteries out or disconnect it all together! That is not a good move, they are installed for your safety. Since 1996 New RV’s were required by law to have an LP leak detector installed and in 2005 all New RV’s were required by law to have a CO and LP leak detector installed.

If you purchase a new RV it will have both detectors already installed. If you purchase a used RV depending on the year it may have one or the other installed. If it is older than 2005 but not older than 1996 you will want to

install a CO leak detector or replace the LP leak detector with a combination LP/CO leak detector. In any scenario you will want to have both leak detectors.

It is important to have both the LP and CO leak detectors, they do save lives. A leak can come out of no where or a faulty furnace can create CO and it could cost a family or friend their life. There are many potential sources for CO poisoning and lives are lost each year due to Faulty CO detectors or negligence on the part of the owner. The same is true about fires that start from a leaking stove, furnace, oven, BBQ; LP fires spread quickly in an RV and an RV burns fairly rapidly making an escape sometimes difficult. Check the date code on your detector and see if it close the 5 year life that it has. Don’t mess around with this Important Safety Feature!

Listen Now to the Entire Episode on CO and LP Safety!

Shop Now for an LP and CO Leak Detector!

The post ↓Episode 14 – When to Change & Why to Maintain LP & Carbon Monoxide Detectors appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

Check Episodes 11 & 12 First – It will make better sense.

The decision is yours! A RV Water Filter, Reverse Osmosis system, Water Softener? Do you need any of the aforementioned? Maybe just a Water Filter is all you need? In this episode I will explore the options of the 3 water systems that are widely used in RV’s to produce better water quality. Reverse Osmosis, Water Softeners and Water Filters are pretty simple systems within themselves and I will explore which might be best for you. At the bare minimum you will probably want a Dual Filter water filter system. A basic water filter system will at least make your water safe from the various bacteria’s and other microscopic living creatures found in most water supplies.

When choosing the water system that will work for you there are several factors to consider. Do you the have the space for it, is it in your budget and what is your ultimate goal. The Reverse Osmosis System needs to be installed under the kitchen sink or in a compartment with a dedicated faucet installed at the kitchen sink. The RO System will produce clean water for drinking and cooking, it might be the best solution.

A Water Softener has its advantages because it services the entire RV and not just one faucet. It will keep the entire plumbing system free from minerals that cause damage and eliminate hard water and the problems it creates. Your showers will feel better and if you have a washing machine your clothes will be cleaner. You will actually have pretty descent drinking water and most Water Softeners are compact and easy to store.

A Dual Cartridge Water Filter is the basic system and for a lot of RV’ers this is the easiest to use, store and maintain. And it will serve the basic function of keeping your water clean.

Read More of Episode 13 to Find Out More!

Check Out Arizona RV Parts Center for Fresh Water Systems

The post ↓Episode 13 – Water Softener, Reverse Osmosis or Water Filters, which is best for you? appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

Today there are many Portable Water Softeners for the RV’er to choose from. At the end of the day they all virtually do the same thing just some with salt others with potassium. They are pretty simple to hook up and use and store when not in use. A Water Softener does just as its name implies, it softens the water by removing the minerals that make it hard. Hard water leaves water spots and has minerals that ruin appliances such as coffee makers and washing machines. The minerals also build up in pipes, faucets and ice makers. Even your shower is affected by hard water, the soap does not lather up. Hard water also leaves scale build up on shower, tubs, shower/tub doors and sinks making it much harder to keep clean.

Portable RV Water Softeners are a great addition to improving your water quality.

They are very easy to use and maintain making them very practical for most RV’ers. They will need to be recharged from time to time depending on your water usage. Most RV Water Softeners use either table salt or potassium and both are readily available and convenient. I personally would prefer Table Salt, you can always swipe the salt shakers from Denny’s or IHop. Just kidding.

Listen to the Full Episode Now!

Check Out Arizona RV Parts Center for Fresh Water Systems

The post ↓Episode 12 – Water Softener Basics appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

Reverse Osmosis Systems for RV’s can be a great addition if you have the space for it. For an RV the RO System is the same as a house for the most part, just a little smaller. An RO System is the proven way to remove salt from the water source and gives you fresh salt free water. It is a simple system to use and maintain although quite often it is hyped up to as a complex system. I am not sure the hype is true because it is very simple to install, understand and maintain. After the initial install it is a matter of replacing the filters when needed.

This is a pretty simple system to understand. This is single faucet system, it does supply your entire RV. There are two pre-filters, one sediment and one carbon. After the filters the system will have a flow restrictor and the membrane. The membrane is many layers of materials that filters out all of the bad stuff that made it through the first two filters. And then there is a post filter to finish up the job. Finally the water ends up in a pressure tank that stops the flow of water when it is full, this keeps water from being wasted. RO systems have waste water that is not used and is ejected through the gray water plumbing, the amount is minimal but, you do need to know that.

Listen to The Full Episode to Hear All of the Details 

Check Out Arizona RV Parts Center for Fresh Water Systems

The post ↓Episode 11- Reverse Osmosis Systems for RV’s appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.

Seriously, You Need To Listen to This! Buying an appliance part should not be painful although quite often it is. Taking the right approach and going to the Parts Counter with the right information will simplify this sometimes painful process. Bring your Appliance Model Number to the RV Store and the parts guy should be able help you with ease.

It happens everyday, someone needs a part and they do not have the Model Number. It is very difficult to figure out what the part number is unless us or any parts guy has the model number. For example: Dometic has hundreds off refrigerator models and a very small amount of parts are interchangeable. In other words one door handle might only fit 2 or 3 models out of hundreds. Or a furnace blower motor for example: Suburban has hundreds of different models of furnaces and almost as many different blower motors.

Even bringing you motor to the store can be a challenge for the parts guy. He will try to physically match it up to the ones he has in stock and that can be tedious and quite often non-productive. He might not have all of the motors in stock and if he has to order it he will need the model number. get the picture?

Listen to the Entire Episode Now, Help a Parts Guy Keep His Sanity!

The post ↓Episode 10 – How to Properly Inquire into RV Appliance Parts appeared first on Radio Arizona RV.