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By Tony Weeldreyer
General Manager
Valley RV Supercenter
It's been beautiful here in the Northwest in recent weeks, and one place where you really see the effect is in the Skagit Valley, where this year's batch of tulips is about to burst into full bloom. If you have never witnessed this incredible display of Mother Nature's color, you are missing out.
The annual Tulip Festival runs from April 1-30, when the flowers are typically in full bloom. But this year, with all the good weather, festival promoters are expecting the flowers to appear about a week early, which would mean around March 23. So you might want to head up then to beat the crowds. You won't find such gorgeous tulips anywhere else unless you want to hop a plane to Holland.
The two-lane country roads that crisscross the tulip fields are not welcoming to RVs during the festival due to heavy traffic, so it's best to visit with a car or your tow vehicle. Three very nice nearby places to camp are at Bay View State Park along Padilla Bay and at the beautiful Thousand Trails Preserve in La Conner. Washington Park in Anacortes, with its waterfront and forest campsites, is another beautiful spot perfect for a weekend getaway or longer.
SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND THOUGHTS
HAVE TURNED TO TRAVEL TRAILERS
One tell-tale sign of spring here at Valley RV Supercenter is the interest in travel trailers. Families come out of hibernation to check out the 2015 models. The
Jayco Jay Flight has been the best-selling travel trailer in America for the last ten years and we have an excellent selection. There's a reason these trailers are best-sellers year after year. To learn why,
click here. And if you like what you see, stop by Valley RV Supercenter to check out the many units we have on display.
Visit here beforehand to see our inventory and our Internet Specials.
With that, I'll say goodbye for now. Hope to see you here again next month.
Fresh water hose tip
When done with your fresh water
hose, coil it up and screw the ends together tightly to keep out bugs
and dirt while it is stored. Flush it thoroughly before use.
Free RV club membership for active military
If
you're an active member of the U.S. military, then pay attention. The
Escapees RV Club will provide you with a free membership as long as you
are in the service. There are no strings attached.
Learn more here.
Good tire traction can depend on type of tire
The key to good tire traction is friction, but this can be elusive depending on the weather. Winter tires are designed to stay soft and pliable at low temperatures, so they will deform and re-conform to all the micro irregularities of the icy surface, resulting in grip. All-season tires are designed to help provide traction in wet and snowy conditions. Their reinforced sidewalls keep the tire shoulders on the road, while microgrooves help provide biting edges that lock together, enabling better grip when turning on wet roads.
—From Goodyear
Dump when you can!
Do not assume that a public campground where you are headed has a dump station based on what you read in a directory or other literature. Sometimes you will find it has been closed for repairs or even for good. If you show up with full holding tanks, expecting to dump on arrival, you have a problem. It's always a good idea to seek out a location to dump before you arrive ... just in case.
A little extra water
When boondocking, carry a few gallon jugs of drinking water with you.
Use them in the kitchen for cooking, filling the coffee pot, refilling
drinking bottles. This leaves more water in the fresh water tank for
washing, flushing and other chores.
Jayco to debut new Alante Class A motorhome
Jayco has introduced a new gas Alante Class A offering. Nationally advertised at $79,995 base price for the 31L and 31V models, the Alante Class A motorhome will initially be available in four floor plans. Watch for it soon at Valley RV Supercenter.
Read more.
Jayco Seismic toy hauler big hit at RV shows
Jayco’s
Seismic continues to be a sought-after product at consumer
shows across the country. “It’s exciting to see the Jayco Seismic
gaining traction and
capturing more and more buyers at every show where it is represented,”
said Mike Aplin, senior product director for Jayco’s line of toy
haulers. “The combination of the right floorplans, décor choices and
level of luxury are definitely aiding in its recent popularity.” Jayco
currently has four offerings in the toy hauler segment: the
Octane Super Lite and Octane, both travel trailers, and the Seismic Wave
and Seismic, both fifth wheels.
Your Favorite Jayco RV!
Learn the ABCs of every Jayco model by following these links:
•
Jayco Camping Trailers
•
Jayco Travel Trailers
•
Jayco Fifth Wheels
•
Jayco Toy Haulers
•
Jayco Class C Motorhomes
•
Jayco Class A Motorhomes
We're hiring at Valley RV Supercenter
Click here to learn about our job openings.
Product Spotlight
WD-40: Handy in many ways
There are very few RVers who don't consider a can of WD-40 an
essential item in their tool arsenal. This "can do" lubricant has a wide
range of uses, making it a very handy and useful product. Here are some uses for the product that may come in handy:
•Lubricates door hinges on vehicles.
•Restores roof racks on vehicles.
•Keeps rust from forming on saw blades and other tools.
•Removes all traces of duct tape.
•Removes black scuff marks from a kitchen floor.
•Removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.
•Lubricates and stops squeaks on electric fans.
•If you spray WD-40 on a distributor cap, it will displace moisture and allow the engine to start.
•Use WD-40 to help get rid of bugs on your RV or car's paint (if not removed they will eat away the finish).
•Keeps scissors working smoothly.
Rumor has it that WD-40's main ingredient is fish oil, but that's not
true: it's mostly petroleum-based. Do you know how it got its name? It
was in 1953 when scientist Norm Larsen at the San Diego Rocket Chemical
Company was attempting to develop a formula to prevent corrosion on
missile parts, achieved by displacing water. On his 40th try, he got it
right. And so we have WD- ("water displacement") 40.
Lost the owner's manual to your Jayco RV?
It
happens: we misplace the owner's manual for our RVs. Well, good news! If
you have a Jayco motorhome or towable, then your rig's owner's manual is a
couple of mouse clicks away.
The first click is here.
Towing behind your motorhome?
Here’s a valuable resource from
Motorhome Magazine: annual dinghy towing guides. Download these for free for information about towing a vehicle for model years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Earlier guides are available for $1.99 each for earlier years. If you plan to buy a vehicle to tow behind your RV, be sure you know its towing requirements. In these guides you will learn if it can be towed four wheels down, and if so, if there are any other requirements or restrictions.
Get a dinghy guide.
Towing a trailer or fifth wheel?
If you plan to buy a new trailer or fifth wheel, you’ll want to be sure the vehicle is up to the task. Here’s are free guides from
Trailer Life to trucks and other vehicles from model years 1999 to 2015 that are powerful enough to tow your RV. Be sure your tow vehicle is up to the task. If it’s not listed in these guides, be wary.
Learn more or download a guide.
"Ask the Technician"
Valley RV Supercenter tech expert Chris Nelson answers questions from readers.
Q: What should I be doing to get my trailer ready for this camping season?
After de-winterization and a good exterior cleaning you should pack your wheel bearings, clean and adjust your brakes, clean and adjust your refrigerator and water heater, inspect your furnace, check your LP system for leaks and regulator for proper pressure, flush your water system and check for leaks, visually inspect your roof and seals and re-torque A/C bolts. This will satisfy most manufacturers’ maintenance requirements, as well, and provide you with a great start to this year’s camping season.
Q: How often do I need to run my generator on my RV?
You need to run your generator a minimum of once a month with a load (A/C and appliances on) for an hour to keep your generator running properly. It's recommended to change the oil and service your generator every 150 hours or once a year.
Q: My black tank shows full after dumping
This is a common problem with RVs. You will need to make sure you are filling the tank and flushing it out several times to remove debris from the interior of the tank. If the problem still continues, fill the tank to half full and put several bags of ice down the toilet and allow to slosh around as you drive to your next stop, then fill and flush again.
Sell your RV on consignment
At Valley RV Supercenter we are always looking for quality vehicles. Let us help you sell yours!
Just click here
then fill out the requested information. One of our buyers will contact
you as soon as possible. For questions or assistance, please contact
our
consignment department at 888-260-4509.
Crater Lake National Park has hit a record for the lowest snow level since measurements began in 1931. The
official snow depth at park headquarters was 28 inches on February 26 —
breaking a low-snow record of 31 inches set back in 1977. Records show that the average snow depth for that date is 110 inches, or more than 9 feet.
You’ll need this to visit a Washington State Park
A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to state parks and recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). One pass can be transferred between two vehicles. The fees are $30 for the season or $10 a day.
Learn more or order a pass
Olympic National Park among most popular
The national park system in the United States has a new attendance record for 2014. More than 290 million people visited one of the many national parks or recreational areas in the country. The most visited park was Great Smoky Mountains National Park with 10,099,276 visitors. Olympic National Park drew 3,243,872 visitors for sixth place, just ahead of Utah’s Zion National Park.
Free admission to Washington State Parks on Thursday
Washington State Parks turns 102 years old on Thursday, March 19, and visitors are
invited to help celebrate by visiting their favorite state park for free
that day.
Puyallup RV Show coming soon
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Puyallup RV Show, coming April 30 to May 3 at the Washington State Fair Events Center (Puyallup Fairgrounds). There will be hundreds of RVs to explore, plus seminars by RVing experts. Valley RV Supercenter will be on hand. So be sure to stop by and check out our display of 2015 Jayco RVs.
Learn more at the RV show's website.
Video shows 2015 Jayco White Hawk enhancements
The 2015
Jayco White Hawk doesn't skimp on space, meaning families won't have to
skimp on amenities. Thanks to 36-inch-deep slideouts, Jayco went heavy on
fun in this lightweight travel trailer.
Check it out.
Columbia River Campground now open
Oregon’s Ainsworth State Park on the Columbia Gorge will open for the 2015 camping season on March 13. The park has approximately 40 full-hookup sites canopied in a laid-back, tree-filled setting.
Learn more or make a reservation.
Welcome, Canadian Customers!
Buy from Valley RV Supercenter and you will save $$$!
Being
a Jayco dealer in the Pacific Northwest, Valley RV Supercenter is
positioned to offer an opportunity for our friends across the border to
save money on their RV purchase. How?
Click here to find out.
Two RV clubs you might like
Jayco RV Club aka Jayco Travel Club
Membership in Jayco Travel Club is open to owners of all RV brands manufactured by Jayco Mfg. Inc. Chapters located throughout the U.S. and hoping to expand into Canada.
Escapees RV Club
The best club for full-time or extended-time RVers. Outstanding club magazine. Holds regional and national rallies. Owns club RV parks across the USA where members can stay at bargain prices. Good mail forwarding service for full-timers. Celebrating its 35th birthday!
Here's how to contact and/or find Valley RV Supercenter
SALES: Open Monday thru Saturday 9-6. Sunday 11-6
PARTS: Open Monday thru Friday 8-6. Saturday 9-5
ADDRESS: 619 Washington Ave. N., Kent, WA 98032
TELEPHONE: 1-800-460-3143
EMAIL: Editor@ValleyRVsupercenter.com
WEB:
http://ValleyRVsupercenter.com
FACEBOOK:
Facebook.com/ValleyRVsupercenter
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This newsletter created by the editors of RVtravel.com