Everyone with an RV that has a crank up roof antenna knows that you never drive with that antenna still cranked up into its upright position. Aside from potential damage to the antenna as the wind pushes against it and around it as you drive, it adds height to the RV and if you come to an overpass or a low hanging tree branch it is going to hit and rip it right off the roof. This is an RV "No-No!" ðŸ˜
But it happens!
So, what can you do to make sure this NEVER happens? Getting underway when leaving a campground, or wherever you have been set up for the night before, gets hectic! You may be on a schedule and have to get going. You may think you have gone through everything that needs to be done before you leave - and believe - "Oh yeah, of course I put the antenna down - I think! It must be down. Let's go!" You might even wonder why all those other campers sitting outside their RVs as yo pass are yelling and waving at you! They are not trying to tell you to have a nice trip. They see that antenna up - and they know what is going to happen.
So - easy, easy, easy -
1, Get a sock. A white sock is most obvious but the color is up to you. (Socks with holes in the toe or heel are OK! 😉 )
2. When the antenna is down on the roof, put that sock over the crank handle that is on the ceiling of your RV.
3. Leave that sock there.
IF THE SOCK IS ON THE CRANK HANDLE THE ANTENNA IS DOWN!
4. When you are about to crank the antenna up, remove the sock.
5. Take the sock IMMEDIATELY over to the steering wheel and put the sock on the gear shift lever.
6. Leave the sock there.
IF THE SOCK IS ON THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER THE ANTENNA IS UP!
7. ONLY WHEN YOU CRANK THE ANTENNA UP DO YOU PUT THE SOCK ON THE CRANK HANDLE.
SO SIMPLE - You are ready to start driving. You put the key in and turn it. The engine starts. You are about to start driving. You go to put the gear shift in Drive or Reverse and you FEEL SOCK. Even without looking, you now know that your roof antenna is UP! And if you just take that sock off the gear shift and start driving - Well! You won't. You are going to go and crank up the antenna and put the sock back on the crank handle and then come back to the driver's seat and get on your way.
Hi..it me again..tried everything today but when i hook up to city it starts ok then turns to trickle..tanks work fine on pump..lts in summer mode..any ideas..Linda ..rusty
ReplyDeleteThe water pump is off - YES? The city water valve is fully turned to the position it needs to flow into the plumbing and the sink - and not set to fill tanks - YES? Beyond this there is a possibility that minerals have collected in the pipes and are blocking the flow - but that would also effect the water running from the tanks through the pump to the plumbing. There could be a blockage in the city water connection. We once had a problem with water flowing only as a trickle from the toilet valve into the bowl and that was because minerals had blocked the toilet valve - but again it was the same with tank water or city water. The line from the city water connection and passed the water pump is short - and not really accessible. Basics - make sure the hose is not kinked outside and stopping the water flow. Try to feel into the city water connection pipe opening and feel if there is a screen in there - make sure the screen is clear. If this was the pump I would tell you to check the water filter that goes into the pump BUT that filter has nothing to do with city water.
DeleteGood one,sure missed your posts in 2017,hope all is well,and look forward to your 2018 posts
ReplyDeleteThank you! Things have been quiet and we did not do much traveling in 2017 - and things went well - so there was not much to write about. Better for things to go well than have disasters to write about. :)
DeleteThe previous owner of our 170 used a hair clip which was usually kept on the antenna crank handle, but when the antenna was raised it was automatically clipped to the steering wheel as a reminder to lower it before driving off. Simple is frequently best.
ReplyDelete