Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
My husband is a couch potato. When we retired and bought our fifth wheel trailer I thought we were headed off to explore the country. I love to walk and I make sure we camp near hiking or biking trails or scenic areas where we can explore on foot. My husband is in good physical shape, but has no interest in hiking in these areas we visit. He just wants to watch his stupid TV. The most exercise he gets is adjusting his satellite dish. He could do that at home. How do I get him off the couch?
--NASCAR widow in Winslow
Dear Winslow:
Let me start by saying, “There is nothing abnormal about watching TV and acting much the same way on the road as you would at home.” That said, there can be a point of boob tube addiction. If you look forward to hiking and physical activity, it makes it that much more enjoyable. It just doesn’t turn some people on. Those people need to work at it. Your husband may be in that category. I would explain to him the fact that aging will catch up to him very quickly if he doesn’t move a bit more. “Use it or lose it.” I have known many people in my life that retired and did absolutely nothing. Most died from boredom, others from sedentary lifestyle disease. A healthy relationship should include doing things with your partner you may not enjoy as much as they do. That could mean in your case that you learn some NASCAR lingo like “trading paint,” and your husband works his way up to doing a three-mile hike to a scenic overlook. Retirement and RV travel are all about doing the things and exploring the places you have always dreamed about. That can take some teamwork. If he isn’t into all the hiking activity that you are, find a group to join. In most areas you can connect with other birders, ranger walks, historic tours etc. For his own good, do get him to agree to more physical activity. In the long run it will be good for both of you. He doesn’t have to take up jogging. Photography, birding, paddling, hunting, metal detecting and dozens of other interests can get people motivated to get off the couch, out of the rig, and discover there is exercise more enjoyable and exhilarating than channel surfing.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT865
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
RV campsite vibrations
Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
I know you have addressed many complaints about campground inconsiderations, but I think I have one that tops most. We were in a campground in the Panhandle of Florida recently. Parked next to us was the longest trailer I have ever seen. It had to be 40 ft. After quiet hours my wife and I went to bed. Notice I didn’t say, “Went to sleep.” At first I thought it might be an earthquake or a tsunami. It wasn’t a sound as much as a vibration. It was much like feeling a kid go by in a low rider with the bass turned all the way up on his sub-woofers tucked in the trunk. It didn’t take long to discover it was the neighbor watching a war movie on his big screen TV. Every time there was an explosion in the movie, which was often, a vibration would ripple through our campsite. We usually do not complain but I think a new campground ruling may have to be enacted, “No vibrations after 10 o’clock.” Maybe they should have a, “No big screen TV” section. We are trying to be open minded, but is this really camping?
--All shook up in the sunny South
Dear Shook up:
It won’t do any good to go plan a shopping spree at Best Buy and arm yourself. Returning fire with 15-inch sub-woofers and a 130,000 watts would give you fire superiority, but it will just lead to sound retaliation and escalation. As for the camping question, not everyone is looking for the same experience. Camping, as once defined, has become very generic. The popularity of the new high-end RV has created an evolution in camping that will continue to morph into things we can’t even imagine yet. If you are not comfortable with discussing the problem with your neighbor and trying to resolve the issue, your only choice is to relocate. In this case, perhaps they don’t realize the effect their entertainment system is having on you. It sounds like they were not actually making much noise, so perhaps they do not realize the reverberation is traveling out to those around them. We camped next to a guy with an electric piano once. He used earphones. There was no sound but we could still feel some of his tunes if he cranked it up too high. We made a joke of it and he was shocked that we even knew he had a piano. We never felt his music again. The next morning you should have asked your neighbor who won the war. That could stop many future battles for other neighbors retiring for the evening.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT864
I know you have addressed many complaints about campground inconsiderations, but I think I have one that tops most. We were in a campground in the Panhandle of Florida recently. Parked next to us was the longest trailer I have ever seen. It had to be 40 ft. After quiet hours my wife and I went to bed. Notice I didn’t say, “Went to sleep.” At first I thought it might be an earthquake or a tsunami. It wasn’t a sound as much as a vibration. It was much like feeling a kid go by in a low rider with the bass turned all the way up on his sub-woofers tucked in the trunk. It didn’t take long to discover it was the neighbor watching a war movie on his big screen TV. Every time there was an explosion in the movie, which was often, a vibration would ripple through our campsite. We usually do not complain but I think a new campground ruling may have to be enacted, “No vibrations after 10 o’clock.” Maybe they should have a, “No big screen TV” section. We are trying to be open minded, but is this really camping?
--All shook up in the sunny South
Dear Shook up:
It won’t do any good to go plan a shopping spree at Best Buy and arm yourself. Returning fire with 15-inch sub-woofers and a 130,000 watts would give you fire superiority, but it will just lead to sound retaliation and escalation. As for the camping question, not everyone is looking for the same experience. Camping, as once defined, has become very generic. The popularity of the new high-end RV has created an evolution in camping that will continue to morph into things we can’t even imagine yet. If you are not comfortable with discussing the problem with your neighbor and trying to resolve the issue, your only choice is to relocate. In this case, perhaps they don’t realize the effect their entertainment system is having on you. It sounds like they were not actually making much noise, so perhaps they do not realize the reverberation is traveling out to those around them. We camped next to a guy with an electric piano once. He used earphones. There was no sound but we could still feel some of his tunes if he cranked it up too high. We made a joke of it and he was shocked that we even knew he had a piano. We never felt his music again. The next morning you should have asked your neighbor who won the war. That could stop many future battles for other neighbors retiring for the evening.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT864
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
RV Wheelin' and Dealin'
Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
My husband can be obsessive. Last winter we slightly dented one of our wheel covers while crossing a very narrow, high curbed toll bridge in Texas. My husband was fit to be tied when it happened. The toll collector said it happened all the time. The toll booth and the curb were well scraped. My husband asked the attendant if it was designed to destroy RVs. That incident started six months of trying to find one matching wheel cover. I told him to just buy a whole set and be done with it. He won’t turn it into the insurance company, insists on finding a single replacement, and has spent untold hours online, calling, visiting dealers and RV salvage yards. I’m not sure if he needs your advice or I need it. I would like to hear your two cents worth.
--Wheel’in and Deal’in in Dayton
Dear Wheel’in:
It can be very frustrating. I have been through the same thing. You would think with all the RVs on the road there would be a source for used wheel simulators. I know where your husband is coming from. Going down the road they all look alike. It is not until you need one that you discover the multitude of different styles, sizes, lug configurations and attachment systems. I got the exact part number I needed from a Winnebago dealer, ordered a whole set and it was still wrong. Here is my suggestion. Wheel simulators make a great stocking stuffer. Just make sure you use a big stocking. Don’t tell your husband. Check the actual wheel on your rig. You will find a number stamped into the wheel. (Example: 19.5 x 6.25). You will want a simulator that will fit that measurement. Many manufacturers use Dicor wheel simulators. You can go online and match the wheel size to a Dicor simulator and get the actual product number you need. Even if you buy a different brand they will be able to cross reference that number or sell you the correct simulator with the wheel measurement you found stamped into your wheel. My suggestion would be to replace the wheel cover you damaged and sell the other three on Ebay. The fact that they are so hard to find individually, I actually sold my remaining three for more than I paid for the entire set. Selling the remaining covers will be a great project to keep your husband busy. When he stops looking for a wheel simulator he will have way too much time on his hands. If you decide to let him continue his quest for a single replacement I just caution him to list his specs as to size, lug configuration, style and attachment. There are many RV salvage businesses online who may have what you need but as you have found out, the specs you need are not always that plentiful. You do not specify what type of caps you have. I would suggest buying bolt-on wheel covers if you are going to the cost and trouble of buying a whole set. The snap-on have a tendency to pop off for various reasons. Often the tire or brake repair people do not replace them correctly. If you have snap-on, replace the whole set with bolt-on and then sell the others as Used on Ebay. You will find plenty of buyers because they fall off all the time.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT863
My husband can be obsessive. Last winter we slightly dented one of our wheel covers while crossing a very narrow, high curbed toll bridge in Texas. My husband was fit to be tied when it happened. The toll collector said it happened all the time. The toll booth and the curb were well scraped. My husband asked the attendant if it was designed to destroy RVs. That incident started six months of trying to find one matching wheel cover. I told him to just buy a whole set and be done with it. He won’t turn it into the insurance company, insists on finding a single replacement, and has spent untold hours online, calling, visiting dealers and RV salvage yards. I’m not sure if he needs your advice or I need it. I would like to hear your two cents worth.
--Wheel’in and Deal’in in Dayton
Dear Wheel’in:
It can be very frustrating. I have been through the same thing. You would think with all the RVs on the road there would be a source for used wheel simulators. I know where your husband is coming from. Going down the road they all look alike. It is not until you need one that you discover the multitude of different styles, sizes, lug configurations and attachment systems. I got the exact part number I needed from a Winnebago dealer, ordered a whole set and it was still wrong. Here is my suggestion. Wheel simulators make a great stocking stuffer. Just make sure you use a big stocking. Don’t tell your husband. Check the actual wheel on your rig. You will find a number stamped into the wheel. (Example: 19.5 x 6.25). You will want a simulator that will fit that measurement. Many manufacturers use Dicor wheel simulators. You can go online and match the wheel size to a Dicor simulator and get the actual product number you need. Even if you buy a different brand they will be able to cross reference that number or sell you the correct simulator with the wheel measurement you found stamped into your wheel. My suggestion would be to replace the wheel cover you damaged and sell the other three on Ebay. The fact that they are so hard to find individually, I actually sold my remaining three for more than I paid for the entire set. Selling the remaining covers will be a great project to keep your husband busy. When he stops looking for a wheel simulator he will have way too much time on his hands. If you decide to let him continue his quest for a single replacement I just caution him to list his specs as to size, lug configuration, style and attachment. There are many RV salvage businesses online who may have what you need but as you have found out, the specs you need are not always that plentiful. You do not specify what type of caps you have. I would suggest buying bolt-on wheel covers if you are going to the cost and trouble of buying a whole set. The snap-on have a tendency to pop off for various reasons. Often the tire or brake repair people do not replace them correctly. If you have snap-on, replace the whole set with bolt-on and then sell the others as Used on Ebay. You will find plenty of buyers because they fall off all the time.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT863
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