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RV Doctor ColumnRV Doctor #261 Dear RV Doctor, We recently bought a twenty-something-year old Field & Stream motorhome. On our maiden voyage we plugged into shore power at the RV park and had 120-volt AC electric from all the outlets in the coach just like it should. When we started the generator it appeared to run properly but we had no power from the outlets like we did before. Do you have any ideas what could cause this problem? Is it possible for the generator to run but not to produce electricity? Bill Cockins, (Palm Desert, CA) Bill, Yes it is possible for the generator to seemingly be running well with no output present at any of the receptacles. There are a few reasons for this, including a tripped main output breaker on the generator set itself, or a tripped breaker at the main distribution panel box inside the coach. But my guess is you simply need to plug the shoreline cord into a 30-amp generator output receptacle located in or near the shoreline cord compartment. Your coach was probably produced before the proliferation of the automatic transfer switch, the device that switches from shoreline power automatically when the generator is started. Back then, in order to have 120-volts AC in the coach, the RVer had to plug the shoreline cord somewhere; either into the campground receptacle or the generator receptacle. Look inside the shoreline cord box with a flashlight and see if you can find a typical 30-amp receptacle. Look closely, it could be secured anywhere inside the box. There may even be a metal cover over it. If indeed the shoreline cord is already plugged in and a breaker is tripping, you then have another search to perform - locating the short that is causing the breaker to trip. If this is the case, let me know exactly which breaker is tripping and we'll take it from there. Dear Gary, We have a 1996 Hitchhiker, 33-foot fifth-wheel with two slide-outs and an enclosed basement. We have an unwanted guest trying to make a home in one of the storage compartments. He is a red squirrel. Has anyone had the same problem? How do you get rid of him? John Arthur, (Pinckney, MI) John, indeed pesky critters can be frustrating! In your case, the good news is that the red squirrel is a solitary critter and probably travels alone. Many RVers use naphthalene flakes to "dust" around the exterior of the RV while it is stationary; much like sprinkling Comet around the tires to keep ants from intruding. Moth balls strategically placed in and around that compartment will also deter the rascal from becoming too comfy. Other home brews have been concocted using crushed red peppers or even dried blood to prevent squirrels from nesting. These methods, however, may cause some consternation with your campground neighbors. Besides, where can one purchase dried blood? There are commercial products available such as "Squirrel Away" though I have not tried any of those personally. I have heard that they are not suited for long term success; seems the squirrels can simply get used to some products regardless of how obnoxious they may be. Check with a local pet store or vet in your area for other recommendations. In a worst case scenario, trapping and relocating the critter is another option. Some city, county or state restrictions may apply in the case of trapping, so be sure to call first. Some locales even require permits for trapping. Traps can be purchased starting at about $25, but it may be possible to rent them. Again, check with your local pet store or vet. Dear RV Doc, Please advise us as to where we can find information on the proper methods of storing food inside the RV refrigerator. According to one of your earlier articles, this is important, but how do you do it? Jerry Domino, (e-mail) Jerry, Jerry, most all owners' manuals for RV refrigerators will have a section detailing proper food storage habits. If yours does not, or you have a used vehicle and no manuals, here are a few tips that are worth employing;
Dear RV Doc, Having towed boats up to 28-feet long for years, I find backing trailers into fairly tight spaces non-threatening. However, I recently had my first experience with a car on a tow-dolly. Is it possible to back them other than in a straight line? If so, what's the secret? Don Glucksman, (Ontario, CA) Don, in my opinion, backing a car while it's positioned on a tow dolly is like trying to PUSH a chain on a gravel road, uphill. In other words, good luck! I have not been able to do it successfully and frankly I believe it is, or is close to impossible! I even find it difficult to back just the dolly behind a motorhome since the dolly is so much shorter and the turning radius drastically different. To avoid damage to any of the three vehicles and to avoid sheer embarrassment in case someone were watching, I feel it is simply best to remove the car from the dolly first, then position the dolly. But I'm sure there are some readers out there who believe they can successfully back a car on a tow dolly behind a motorhome. If one of you is reading this, do let Don and I know the secret please!
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