Helpful Tips
News, Questions, Answers, and other Stuff

Diesel Filters Online
From Ken Wellock   

5-19-11
Here is a bit of useful information I found on this website www.dieselfiltersonline.com, and have ordered twice. I've ordered AC/Delco oil filters, Allison spin-on transmission filters, and AC/Delco air filters. These items cost at least 50% LESS than dealership prices. The Allison spin-on filter cost $50.35 from my GM dealer, yet only $9.95 from DieselFiltersOnline. Everything was GENUINE AC/DELCO and ALLISON parts. That's a substantial savings. Those that perform their own maintenance on their vehicles may be able to use this source. Joe Schenk, Joe Marz, and myself combined an order that totaled $277.00 and received free shipping.

Get a “New” TS at a budget price!

5-10
I have written several tips about cleaning up your coach.  All of the before mentioned tips required quite a bit of elbow grease.  Well we have found a way to upgrade your current coach without wearing out your arms, legs, and buffers.  Get it painted at Phoenix Paint in Elkhart.  Actually they are located on Hwy 205 just off of 19 about a mile into Michigan.  Michelle and David Henry own the company and do most if not all of the work.  They will strip all of the old caulk, vinyl graphics, and anything else that needs removing.  The surfaces are roughed up and the new finish is applied. 

 

The graphic design is custom; you select the colors to suit your personal preference. You will be given several draft designs for tweaking and ultimately approval.  The whole process means that you will know what the coach is going to look like before any work begins.  As far as designs are concerned Hauffe's TS New Paint Jobthe sky is the limit.  Go to phoenixpaintinc.com to see several TS coaches that have been upgraded to 2010 Phoenix.  Michelle will be glad to discuss your project and pricing is quite attractive. 

The three coats of clear really make the unit shine and improve ease of upkeep.  No more waxing and oxidation removal. Henry

Update on TS Parts

Service DJ Specialties - Hello, my name is Dave, owner of DJ Specialties. I have 27 years experience in the RV Industry, 10 of which I spent as Parts Manager at Travel Supreme. In that 10 year period, I have gained much knowledge pertaining to the Travel Supreme Coaches and the parts that go into them.

We are proud to announce that we provide original factory parts and accessories for Travel Supreme Coaches. We are looking forward to providing you with courteous and prompt service in the very near future.

Our opening day was June 2, 2008. Our hours of operation are Monday — Friday 8:30-4:30 p.m. Feel free to call at 866.252.7934 with your questions or parts needs, and we will be happy to assist you! If by chance your call is not answered, leave us a message and we will return your call as soon as we can.

Thank you and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

Emergency Situtations While Traveling....

October ’08
I recently witnessed an emergency situation handled by paramedics at a local golf course. We were eating a late lunch when one of the people at our table slumped over and became unconscious. EMS people arrived and soon had him stabilized. By chance, he had a friend there who knew his medical history (heart attacks, diabetic, and high blood pressure) and was able to help the paramedics save some valuable time in attending to him. He was rushed to a local hospital, diagnosed with heat stroke, and after spending the night, released in satisfactory condition.

I began thinking about RV travel emergencies and what prior preparation might be made to assist an EMS personnel in the event they were attending an out of town patient and/or someone who could not communicate with them at the moment. After looking on the internet and talking to the local EMS personnel, I have some partial solutions to this problem.

A: Carry a card in your wallet with your specific medical & personal info on it. This site will further explain where to keep it and help in creating one. http://www.medids.com/free-id.php

B; Use a medical alert bracelet. This is common procedure for diabetics

C; A key ring item such as a USB Flash drive. Commercial version http://www.medictag.com/index.htm, Homemade version http://www.ehow.com/how_2194339_digital-medical-alert-tag.html

D: Participate in the “File of Life” program. Life refers to (Lifesaving Information For Emergencies. At this site, https://www.vialoflife.com/vial_form.php, you can fill out on-line forms with your info, print them, get necessary decals, and get suggestions on how and where to keep them. “Vial of Life” is same program where info is kept in a large pharmacy drug vial. These “vials’ are usually available free at most pharmacies.

I subscribe to the blog, RV Net, and there is a posting there on this subject by a fellow RV’er who happens to be a paramedic. It’s worth a read. http://blog.rv.net/2008/03/03/when-everyone-doesnt-know-your-name/

Joe Moore

Tires and Tire Wear seem to always come up at RV rallies. Here is information relative to this area of RV Travel & Safety. Here are some locations that have the necessary technical and safety guidelines we need for understanding and implementing tire safety. The first four are brochures that can be printed and/or downloaded for saving.

Bridgestone/Firestone’s 18 page brochure “RX for Light Trucks, RVs, Mini-Buses & Ambulances” found on the internet at: http://www.trucktires.com/bridgestone/us_eng/press/zip/RV_Brochure.pdf
This is a pretty through article on Overloading, Weighing, Axle Capacity, Tire Ratings, Load & Inflation Tables, Speed Ratings, Care & Maintenance.

Bridgestone/Firestone 6 page brochure “RV Weight Forms & Procedures”
Found on the internet at: http://www.trucktires.com/bridgestone/us_eng/press/zip/WeighForm.pdf
Forms are almost identical to Print-outs used by RVSEF, Recreational Vehicle Safety Education Foundation. Some of us have had our rigs weighed by RVSEF at past TS International Rally’s

Goodyear’s “RV & Truck Load Inflation Tables”
http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/rv_inflation.pdf contains the load – inflation tables for tires normally on our Fifth Wheels.

Michelin’s “Truck Load And Inflation Tables” http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/tires-retreads/load-inflation-tables.jsp contains the load – inflation tables for tires usually installed on Travel Supreme Motor Homes.

Michelin’s Truck Tire site found at http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/toolbox/videos-demos.jsp#FundamentalsofTireCD
has some excellent videos about truck tires that will also encompass Motor Homes, Light & Medium Trucks, and Fifth Wheels. These videos are very detailed and through within their subject matter. There are a number of videos here, but two I think are particularly applicable to our group: “Pre Inspection” & “Fundamentals of Tire Wear”

There are other sites and locations where tire information and safety can be found. Please let us know about them and share your favorite ones.

Be Safe In Your RV Travels,
Joe Moore

Hints & Other Stuff

 

 

Mosquitos..... Here's a way to get rid of mosquitos while you are sitting out enjoy ing the outdoors. Mix 1/2 water and 1/2 Listerine in a spray bottle. Spray all around the ground. Joe Moore

Testimony..... Tip from Ida - BUGS!!!
I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared.

The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby.

Tick Removal ......From Ida
I have not personally tried this, so don't know if it works.

Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. Give it a try. Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20). The tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.

 

During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....Pass it on

Get Rid of That Itch! Everyone needs to buy a tube of FIRST BITE from the Wal-Mart pharmacy department. You may have to ask them to locate it for you but most of them carry it. It is so good for any bug bites you may get that itches. It was the only thing we tried to kill the itch from “No see ums” in Colorado. We tried every other itch medication we could find and nothing else could touch them. It is also good for chiggers, & mosquito bites. They make one that is kid's strength, but it isn’t as good.

Linda Bruce
(May '07)

Cleaning your ceilings: For those of you who have the carpet type ceilings in your rig and perhaps have a stain on it. This was given to me by Travel Supreme when we were at the service center in Wakarusa.

In a spray bottle mix:
1/4 Cup of Vinegar
1/4 Cup of Bleach
1/4 Cup Club Soda
1 Cup Warm Water

Spray this mixture on your stain and let it dry. Do not saturate your ceiling. Let it dry. If some stain remains, spray again. You can spray this as many times as it takes to remove the stain. Just be sure to not saturate the ceiling, getting it that wet can cause the carpet stuff to come unglued.

This mixture will not harm the carpet on the ceiling.

Millie Paxton

Les uses a "Cheeper Creeper" to work underneath the motorhome. Cheeper Creeper is an alternative to raised, wheeled underbody service devices. I thinks it works really well. Here is the web site for it. Ranger Design "Cheeper Creeper".

Les Cook

I bought one of these and it really works! I can change my oil now without putting the truck on a ramp (much safer). (If I lost some weight, I would not have to inhale to get under the step tubes). Actually it is easier to scoot around on one of these than it is on a conventional creeper (with rollers). They are worth the money!
Gene Fisher

For those of you that can't see your hitch platform when you are hooking up, I have a low cost solution- less than $20! If you are interested send me an E-mail and I will tell you what I did.

Gene Fisher