************************************************************
THE RVERSCORNER Newsletter
************************************************************
Jan 2001
Inside this issue:
- From the RVer's Open Forum:
- From the RVer's Corner Inbox:
- A New E-Book coming soon ... from Peggi McDonald
- Crucial v Not Crucial ... by Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
Joke of the Day:
Classified Ad Section:
About the RVer's Corner Newsletter:
************************************************************
From the RVers Open Forum:
Question:
Delamination - Exactly what causes this, water leaks?
If it's solely caused by leaks, will a minor, quickly fixed
leak cause this or does it take a chronic leak for this
condition to develop? Plus, once it has developed, is the
only way to repair it to pull the entire side off? Are
Fleetwood products the only ones that experienced this
condition or other makes as well?
Sorry for so many questions but as newcomers we'd like to
learn as much as possible about class A's.
Thanks again.
Answer:
This great answer provided by Les Adams ...
There are 2 factors usually responsible for delamination...
They are: improper assembly techniques AND
: a water leak that migrates between the fiberglass and the
base material destroying the glue bond that once existed...
Improper assembly techniques could include, but are not limited to,
insufficient glue, insufficient bonding pressure, dirty gluing
surfaces, excessive humidity, and a whole host of other problems...
Delamination from water damage is pretty straight forward... Water
migrates between the fiberglass outer skin and the base wall, roof,
etc material... The water destroys the bond of the glue used to
assemble these components and the FG pulls away from the base
material... This type of failure can be do to improper maintenance
or poor construction techniques or a combination of both...
It is my understanding that most manufacturers using the FG bonding
technique some years ago all had some problems in this area with
Fleetwood seemingly having the most in their various models...
I don't believe these problems were exclusively Fleetwood's and that
other manufacturers had problems as well... And it could be because
Fleetwood was selling the majority of units back then...
Although I am no expert in this area, I would assume that the size
of the delamination would be directly proportional to the extent of
the water leak (quantity of water would be dictated by size and
overall elapsed time of the leak) and the glue bond that were
destroyed by the leak...
While there are many schools of thought on which type of construction
is better and easier to take care of, I prefer aluminum siding for
this and other reasons...
In my opinion, aluminum is lighter, easier to repair and less costly
on the initial purchase... If I damage some of my aluminum siding,
it is a relatively easy repair to remove and replace it... If the FG
is damaged, it too is relatively easy to repair assuming the hole is
not very large... In the case of major damage or delamination, the
repair could be very expensive and perhaps not easily accomplished
by the RV owner...
FG, especially the smooth type is much easier to keep clean and
polished than the corrugated type of aluminum, but I still prefer
the aluminum over FG...
It is largely a matter of personal opinion as to which is better
and I don't think there is a definitive answer one way or the other...
From my point of view, I prefer Aluminum... Even if I neglect my
maintenance schedule and I do get some water damage, it is infinitely
easier for me to repair than a wall delamination...
My comments would apply to all RV's that employ FG laminated walls,
not just Class A MH's...
Thanks, Les, I was going to say that but ... you beat me to it :>)
Good answer!
************************************************************
From the RVer's Corner Inbox:
QUESTION:
Can someone tell me if the slide-out supports require some sort of
lubrication? I spray the piston with silicone, but am wondering
about the supports that the slide-out sits on...
ANSWER:
The slide manufacturers information that I have seen does not include
lubrication points or any sort of lubricating information at all.
Service manuals and/or bulletins are almost non-existent. However,
I use a heavy duty silicone spray on all rollers and sliding surfaces
when lubrication is needed. The silicone spray doesn't attract dust
and dirt as readily as a grease product does.
I find that WD40 is excellent at removing the grime build up on just
about everything and I use it for a large variety of chores. Then a
spray of HD silicone for lasting lubrication. Try it on your door
hinges, for example. The WD40 cleans out all the guck, the silicone
provides the lube. Lasts for many months!
************************************************************
A New E-Book coming soon ... from Peggi McDonald
Stay tuned for Peggi's First E-Book!
Many hours and much blood, sweat and tears have been invested
in Peggi's first attempt at creating an electronic book.
Regular readers have enjoyed the monthly articles contributed
by Peggi ... and she has devoted a great deal of time and energy
in the creation of this first volume. Some development problems
have delayed the release of this book, but it is in the final draft.
This e-book will be the first of a great series of RVing How-To's,
Full-Timer's Advice, and related RV E-Book Subjects. The RVers
Corner Website will be proud to add these E-Books to the RVers E-Book
Library, as they become available. (The RVers Corner E-Book Library
is developing day by day, and is THE only RV E-Book Library on
the Internet.)
Look for an up date when the free volume one is finished ... I hope
you don't mind if I send out a special e-mail notification ...
************************************************************
Crucial v Not Crucial
By Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
We all have "too much to do". True? Sure 'nuf. And that says
a lot of good things about you. That you have "too much to
do" suggests that a lot of people have entrusted much
confidence in you. I mean, people who are drifting about
early each afternoon begging co-workers for something to do,
may not have earned that confidence from others. And this
applies not only in our work lives but in our personal lives
as well.
But this creates a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's
great to enjoy the confidence of others. Yet, having "too
much to do" often creates the stresses and distresses that
may reduce your overall productivity.
I divide our responsibilities into two categories: "Crucial"
and "Not Crucial". Crucial items give us the "biggest bang
for the buck" for the time spent and is the most productive
use of our time. It is the logical use of our time. "Not
Crucial" gives us emotional relief. It's doing the little
things, the junk mail, desk dusting and the like, that,
while necessary, do not really advance our daily success
very much.
When we accomplish the "Crucial" things in our life we are
doing "business" v "busyness". We are making progress versus
wheel spinning. Have you ever had a day when you were busy
the whole daylong but when you got home that night you knew
you had not accomplished a darn thing? (We can fool the
world sometimes but we cannot fool ourselves.)
Doing the Crucial things builds up our self-esteem and our
motivation level. Ever notice when you've had a really
productive "Crucial" day how that positive momentum carried
forward into your evening hours? You are more inclined to do
the woodworking, spend time with the kids, or work on
hobbies, when you've had a great day. But when you've had
one of those "Not Crucial" days, the motivation and momentum
levels are reduced and when we come home that night, many of
us just want to block out the day with that all important
exercise, "click, click, click", the sound of the TV remote
device, surfing us through a multitude of channels that fail
to grab our interest.
I really believe that most people, intuitively and
instinctively, want to be good time managers. It makes
sense. The better we manage our time, the more results we
will enjoy. It's the logical choice.
So let's say it's the start of your workweek and you have a
lot of "things to do", some of which are "Crucial", some
"Not Crucial". Intuitively and instinctively you and I want
to be good time managers. Therefore, where does our
attention gravitate towards? Do we focus on the "Crucial" or
"Not Crucial" tasks? The "Crucial"? Sure! Logic tells us
that. The more "Crucial" things we do, the more productivity
and success we enjoy.
But, you know what? When given a choice between "Crucial"
and "Not Crucial" items, we will almost always do the "Not
Crucial" items and ignore the "Crucial" items in spite of
the fact that we all want to be productive in our day.
Why?
Because we are driven more by emotion rather than logic.
You see the "Crucial" items are typically longer and harder
to accomplish. The "Not Crucial" items are typically more
quick and fun and emotionally satisfying.
We need to get over to the "Crucial" side more often to
increase our personal productivity.
What about the other blocks to our personal productivity?
You're your free copy now of the short article, "The Blocks
to Employees' Productivity". Email your request now for
"blocks" to: ctsem@msn.com
Would you like to receive free Timely Time Management Tips
on a regular basis to increase your personal productivity
and get more out of every day? Sign up now for our free
"TIMELY TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS". Just go to:
Oops, no longer available - and select
"subscribe". We welcome you to our list!
Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
Professional Speaker
Productivity Institute
Time Management Seminars
60 Huntington St., P.O. Box 2126
Shelton, CT 06484
(800) 969-3773
(203) 929-9902
Fax: (203) 929-8151
Email: ctsem@msn.com
Visit Our Time Management Supersite:
http://www.balancetime.com
Professional Member-National Speakers Association
Copyright 2000 You may re-print the above information in its
entirety in your publication, newsletter, or on your
webpage. For permission, please email your request for
"reprint" to: ctsem@msn.com
************************************************************
Joke of the Day:
An inter-office softball game was held every year between the
marketing and support staff of one company.
The support staff whipped the marketing department soundly.
To show just how the marketing department earns their keep, they
posted this memo on the bulletin board after the game:
"The Marketing Department is pleased to announce that for the 2000
Softball Season, we came in 2nd place, having lost but one game all
year. The Support Department, however, had a rather dismal season,
winning only one game."
************************************************************
Little Noah came into the house with a new harmonica. "Grandpa, do
you, mind if I play this in here?"
"Of course not, Noah. I love music. In fact, when your grandma and I
were young, music saved my life."
"What happened?"
"Well, it was during the famous Johnstown flood. The dam broke and
when the water hit our house it knocked it right off the foundation.
Grandma got on the dining room table and floated out safely."
"How about you?"
"Me? I accompanied her on the piano!"
************************************************************
Some men in a pickup truck drove into a lumberyard. One of the men
walked in the office and said, "We need some four-by-twos."
The clerk said, "You mean two-by-fours, don't you?"
The man said, "I'll go check," and went back to the truck. He
returned in a minute and said, "Yeah, I meant two-by-fours."
"Alright. How long do you need them?"
The customer paused for a minute and said, "I'd better go check."
After awhile, the customer returned to the office and said, "A long
time. We're gonna build a house."
************************************************************
!!! HAPPY CAMPIN' !!!
Les Doll - RV Technician
My advice is free and worth only what you gain from it!
The RVers Corner - http://www.rverscorner.com/
Les Doll
E-mail to webmasterl (at) rverscorner.com
Meet the webmaster at: http://www.rverscorner.com/bio.html
************************************************************
We hope that this newsletter will prove valuable to you
and we strive to bring fresh, new content with every issue.
If you wish to contribute an article or relate a tip that
you have learned, please e-mail me.
webmaster (AT) rverscorner.com
************************************************************
Many thanks to all contributors!
************************************************************