Sources of Information

Trekking is a learning experience. For those of us who are new to this, the task can seem overwhelming, but with experience we will settle in and become more comfortable. Alternatively, we may drive down the road and be unprepared for the operation and care of our new "home on wheels." For some of us, our mobile abode may be our first experience as a homeowner. For many of us, who are "sticks and bricks" homeowners, many of the things encountered while trekking will be familiar. But not all. Winterizing, for example is a new thing for the homeowner,

One can "dive in,"or one can ease into trekking. Probably it is better for most of us to ease in and begin camping at modern sites, as we learn the capabilities of the vehicle and ourselves. Then with knowledge and proficiency we can try "boondocking" in a trial location and then in the wild.

It is desirable that these treks be pleasant ones and live up to our expectations. Preparation is essential. But it will require more than simply packing our clothes and filling up the gas tank; that has been my experience. Some of these vehicles are complex. They include mechanical systems, electrical, plumbing and so on. These things can be cantankerous or won't always perform as expected. They will break from time to time, or we will break them. It's useful to be prepared for this, to the extent that we are able. In this post I'll include several sources of information and help sources that I have found useful during my initial 18 months as the owner of a Class-B. Some of these I used in my research long before considering a purchase.

So where does one begin? Hopefully the new trekker did some research about the vehicle before making a purchase decision. A lot of manufacturer's post their vehicle manuals on line. I know for a fact that Roadtrek does. It's a good idea, in my opinion, to read these prior to purchase. This will provide some insights. It will also prepare us for the questions to ask during the dealer orientation period, after we have made our purchase. Of course on purchase we will be given not only the RV manufacturer's manuals, but also a stack of manuals for everything from the TV to the generator. On purchase we'll also be given an orientation by the dealer. Then we'll receive the keys, start it up and drive it home.  However, on driving the vehicle home, the real adventure begins. Believe me, purchasing a Class-B motor home can be a transformative moment. But that purchase is simply the beginning. Once in the vehicle we face the challenge and the opportunity of using and living in "our tiny home on wheels."  We each have expectations for our trekking experiences. Will the reality live up to the expectations? In large measure that will be determined by us.

Being prepared is one very important part of any trek. We'll each pack canned and dry goods, put some essentials in the refrigerator, stuff clothing in the cabinets, take a small medical kit, the necessary maps, and put together a bag with light tools, etc. . Then, we'll check our lists to be certain we didn't drop anything out, and off we will go. It is inevitable that there will be questions along the way.

Here is a partial list of information resources that I have found useful. I'll elaborate on these in the post:

1. Coach Manufacturer - email links, website, etc. 
2. Coach Manufacturer's Manual(s) (Roadtrek, etc.)
3. Vehicle Manufacturer's Manual (Chevrolet, etc.)
4. Various User Manuals - Generator, Furnace, Heat Pump/AC, Refrigerator, Hot Water Heater, Microwave/Convection oven, TV, Entertainment Center, Amplified Antenna, Propane Detector, etc.
5. Vehicle specific User's Group: FMCA Roadtrek Chapter - Cyberrally Email correspondence "Help!". 
6. RVing: Facebook.
7. Google Plus and Yahoo Groups
8. Social Videos: YouTube.
9. Personal Blogs and Websites.
10. Vehicle and Coach Roadside Assistance. 
11. Dealers.
12. General Comment about the WWW (World Wide Web or Wild, Wild West?)

1. Coach Manufacturer:
The coach manufacturer probably has a help line and a website link for support and contact. It may include "social" links to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. At that link the owner may find chat line, email, telephone, manuals, etc. For example, here is a link to Roardtrek's support at its website:

Roadtrek Support Link

2. Coach Manufacturer's Manuals:
With the vehicle the purchaser should have been provided with a manual which the coach manufacturer prepared to explain some of the "Do's", "Don'ts" and also the various systems is the vehicle. For example, plumbing, electrical, propane, electronic and so on. It is really important to take the time to read this manual, study the diagrams, find the various valves, etc. and take notes if necessary. We take this with us when we travel and we also include the original data sheet with Roadtrek's model, Serial number, etc.

3. Vehicle Manufacturer:
The vehicle manufacturer (Chevrolet, Ford, Mercedes) etc. included a manual with the vehicle. It's essential to peruse this and become familiar with knobs, fobs, service intervals, "Don't's", etc. The vehicle dealer maintenance department should also be able to answer specific questions. I've made it a point to establish a relationship with a Chevrolet dealer. That dealer services two vehicles I own (engine, transmission, differential, tire rotation, etc.), including a Roadtrek 210P. I always use the dealer for oil changes and the routine interval maintenance recommended by Chevrolet. In that way, I have single source responsibility. Of course, if we were on the road when an oil change interval occurred, I'd find a local Chevy dealer. I am of the opinion that having a consistent relationship is mutually beneficial.

4.  Various User's Manuals:
With the vehicle one should have been given a packet or packets of manuals for the various devices in the coach. These include stove (range), furnace, generator, propane detector, refrigerator, microwave/convection oven, overhead fan, heat pump/AC, awning, water and waste pumps, etc. It is again useful to read these, note models and serial numbers and so on. We take these with us when we travel. We've also entered all of the manuals in a simple spreadsheet which contains a description, the model number and the serial number, if we are aware of it.

Various Equipment Manuals

5. Vehicle specific User's Group:

There are a number of resources available comprised of users. It's beneficial to belong to one or more of these groups. One of my favorites as a Roadtrek owner is the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) Roadtrek Chapter, of which I am a member. They hold group events called "rallies" and so on. I've established some friendships there and been given a lot of information by other users. Via the "cyberrally" email system other members are available if one finds themselves with a problem, or has questions. These are "committed listeners" who own a vehicle and are available to assist other owners. This is really beneficial to those with older Roadtreks, in my opinion. However, there are FMCA chapters for many popular coaches. For general information on FMCA chapters, this is the website:

http://www.fmca.com/chapters/about-chapters.html

For Roadtrek owners, this is the FMCA Chapter website:

http://www.roadtrekchapter.org/

With membership in a FMCA chapter one gains access to the cyberrally email correspondence which I call "Help!" and there you can get tips, tricks and assistance from other knowledgeable users. 

Social media is another resource, and that is covered next in this post. 

6. User Groups: Facebook.
Facebook is a social membership site. It's free. It has several user groups which I have found helpful and interesting as a Roadtrek owner. These include:

        Roadtreking: the group

        Roadtrek

        Class Bs, Cs and Small RVs

        Cast Iron Cooking

There are many Facebook groups  available. For example, for general RV information there is:

        Go RVing 
        RVing Fun - Camping Recipes
        Etc.

There are all kinds of people on Facebook at the RV and camping groups. Some own RVs, some don't own, some are considering a purchase. and some are simply onlookers. Some groups are open to all and some aren't. As is the case with all web based information, some information is useful, some is misleading, some is incomplete and some is downright incorrect. I'm a member of Facebook.

7. Google Plus and Yahoo Groups
Google has it's own social media approach, and this is called Google Plus, or Google +. If you have a gmail account you can expand it to a Google + account. As is the case with Facebook, there are all kinds of people at Google +. I'm a member.

There is also a Roadtrek group over at Yahoo:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/roadtrek/info

8. Social Videos: YouTube
Youtube is part of the Google universe. At Youtube you can find a video about nearly anything. It is a very helpful site for those who want to see ads by manufacturers and dealers. Want to see the interior of a new Roadtrek Zion? or a Winnebago Trevato, or a $2 million Prevost? Or would you like to see what it is like to live in a Sprinter Van, or "stealth RV living"? Or know more about boondocking? Or RV Toilets? It's all there, and more.  However, it's impossible to say if everything you will see is accurate. But this is a good way to get ideas, see people's experiences in their own words on camera, see sights, get some generalities about what works and what might work for you.

9. Personal Blogs and Websites
Personal Blogs can provide a personal perspective, insight, experience and complaints to others. It can record life's journeys, trials and travails. These websites and blogs can provide tips. They can be an agent for change, or improvement. Personal sites blogs come in all types. They frequently include the bias of the writer. Some promote products or services, but many do not.  Some writers make their living via their websites, many do not.

This blog is an example of a personal blog about camper vans and specifically experiences in a Sprinter Van and a Roadtrek 210P. For those with a Roadtrek 190P, here are two sites that could be of interest. The  "Roadtrek 190 Popular" site is about the experiences of the owners of a 2011 Chevy 190 Popular. The "Red Rover is about a 1995 Dodge 190P:

http://roadtrek190popular.blogspot.com/

http://www.redroverroadtrek.com/

Here is a site which includes posts on "a year in a Roadtrek," a comparison of a smaller Class B and a Class C, observations on solar and the Mercedes Bluetec engine 

http://jdawgjourneys.blogspot.com/

my-roadtrek-rv-year-in-review.html

going-from-class-b-to-class-c-small.html

10. Vehicle and Coach Roadside Assistance

There are a number of Vehicle and Roadside Assistance services available. I can't recommend any single one, but they are worth investigating. I am a member of one, and I also have some assistance built into my RV insurance. If you wonder about the usefulness, consider how would you change the tire on your RV or Camper Van? Or deal with a catastrophic failure on the road and disables your vehicle. If you think that might be difficult, then joining a roadside assistance program probably makes sense. 

11. Dealers.

Dealers are the ones who sell most new RVs and they are the ones who provide service. Getting to know your local dealer is probably a wise decision. Of course, you can also stroll over and view the inventory. However, some dealers have hundreds of vehicles, campers, 5th wheels, towables and so on. So it is probably wise to do some research before hand.  RV shows are another opportunity.  We didn't purchase at our local dealer (only 72 miles distant). But when warranty work was required they are the ones who performed it. They will also be my choice for routine maintenance of the Onan gasoline powered generator. I've come to know their service department and they know me. We have an amiable relationship.

12. General Comment about the World Wide Web
The World Wide Web, or WWW is sometimes like the Wild Wild West. That includes websites, blogs, YouTube, Facebook and so on. There is very little fact checking going on. A lot of what is out there has the primary purpose to sell a product or provide entertainment. If the goal is entertainment then the primary purpose is to get you, the viewer, to watch and perhaps to click on those ads. Some sites are designed to be money makers, and others are simply gifts to the reader. It's important to be aware of this distinction.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with entertainment as such, it's useful to be aware that if you want information you may not be entertained. Content providers are aware of this. Similarly, information sites may not be all that entertaining. My blogs are short on entertainment value. I'm using my blogs as a combination journal of my experiences and to share the information I've gained with others. I do that in a responsible way. I think I'm similar to many bloggers who want to get a message out there and have little interest in how happy or entertained the reader is. We know there are one billion YouTube users out here and Every day, people watch hundreds of millions of hours on YouTube and generate billions of views" according to YouTube. For those attempting to make money on the web via viewers, there is a lot of competition.

 If in reading my blog you are entertained, that's fine. But that isn't my primary purpose. We all want to make a contribution to others in life, and this is one way.

Comment:
It's no accident that I published this on July 4, Independence Day.
Edited July 5, 2015