Slideout covers (a.k.a. slide toppers) are important for the protection of your RV against water damage–which leads to rotted floors and sidewalls.  They also prevent leaves, branches, acorns and other debris from collecting on top of slide rooms that damage seals and other moving parts.

Slideout covers are available for any type of RV with a slide room.  Ideally, they are professionally installed when purchasing a new RV.  However, they can be added at any time and will immediately begin doing their part to extend the life of your travel trailer, fifth wheel or motorhome.

Since they extend in and out with your slide room, slideout covers require no set up and are self-clearing.  Any debris or water that has collected on the slideout cover will simply drop off the side of the room when it is retracted back into the coach.  They are easy to maintain and can be washed whenever cleaning your roof and awning.

We recommend watching the RV Slideout Covers Video on the Pete’s RV YouTube Channel. Here’s just a few of the key takeaways from the informative, 5.5 minute video with Sales Manager Todd McGinnis:

• Slide toppers primary function not so much to keep rain off as out
  
• They extend with the slide room, so no additional set-up required
  
• Slide toppers prevent falling debris like branches from tearing slide room seals
  
• Available for all RV types, makes and models
  
• An inexpensive investment compared to cost of repairs to replace rotted roof, walls or damaged slideouts
  
• Adds only a few dollars a month when built into RV payment plans
  

After viewing the video, feel free to submit additional RV Slideout Cover questions to Pete’s RV.

If you are in the greater Burlington, VT or Schererville, IN area, our dealerships offer professional service and repair on most RV brands and types. The Pete’s RV Store stocks a full-selection of parts and accessories.  To learn about current sales deals on Slideout Covers and Installation, call the Pete’s RV Parts and Service Center location nearest you.

Welcome to our Late Summer Edition e-newsletter!  As always, we look forward to sharing recent news, events, information and tips with our dedicated community of campers and RVers.

The camping season is going so well we hated to call this the “Late Summer Edition”.  Even so, there is still plenty of good weather and much fun to look forward to this summer.

As reported in last month’s e-newsletter, we’re fiercely plugging away to get the Schererville, IN location totally spiffed up and in line with our Vermont dealership.  The process has been a great opportunity for several of our employees to work side-by-side as we integrate new policies and procedures.  It’s required tons of hard work and extra hours, but the end result is a strong, unified team of employees with the same common goal:  MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY CAMPERS!

We hope you enjoy this edition of Pete’s RV eNewsletter and welcome your feedback.  Feel free to let us know what you like about it and how we can make it even better for our community of RVers!

Thanks for thinking Pete’s RV!

Recent Pete’s RV Bloglines

Walmart App Guides RVers to Overnight Parking

Pete’s RV Sizzling Summer Deals on New Sprinter Travel Trailers

Catching Up With Pete’s RV Center-Schererville, IN

In the News: RV Campers Become More Popular

SmartFuel App Saves RVers Money on Gas

Manager’s Choice: 2011 Sprinter 323BHS Travel Trailer

The Sprinter 323BHS Travel Trailer has a SPACIOUS rear bunkhouse.  So much so, that with its dual slides, dual folding bunks, air sleeper sofa, booth dinette and wardrobe, might as well call it the family room!  Hardwood cabinetry and a Corian countertop round out the kitchen’s stylish looks.  And no doubt the swivel LCD TV and Home Theater System will get every family member excited to get their camping on!

Attractive interior options are Elmwood, Kona and Basil.

View complete 2011 Sprinter 323BHS features, pictures and request for the Lowest Price at PetesRV.com!

July Ten Top Views on Pete’s RV Website*

1.  Sprinter 297RET (Rear Entertainment) Travel Trailer
2.  Cougar 318SAB (Side Aisle Bath) Fifth Wheel
3.  Cougar High Country 246RLS (Rear Living Room) Fifth Wheel
4.  Montana High Country 343RL (Rear Living Room) Fifth Wheel
5.  Sprinter 277RLS (Rear Living Room) Travel Trailer
6.  Bullet Premier 26BHPR (Bunkhouse) Travel Trailer
7.  Passport 3220BH (Bunkhouse) Limited Edition Travel Trailer
8.  Springdale 303BHSSR (Bunkhouse) Travel Trailer
9.  Summerland 1900RB (Rear Bath)
10. Bullet Premier 29REPR (Rear Entertainment) Travel Trailer

Honorable Mention:  Cougar X-Lite 30FKV (Front Kitchen) Travel Trailer

*furnished by Google Analytics

Pete’s RV Best Buys:  Take a Look!

Still looking for that bargain?

We’ve got some ridiculous deals on new and used travel trailers and fifth wheels.

Take advantage of low, low prices on some 50 and going RVs while they last!

Pete’s RV Store:  20% Off and FREE Shipping on Top Selling Accessories

Don’t be the campground Plain Jane or Joe.  Dress up your home away from home with a set of racing-themed patio lights or homey, yet durable patio mat.  And one cannot be without the creature comfort of a camping chair with folding side-table, cup holder and cooler! Find these plus many more staff-picked essentials at PetesRV.com and get a 20% DISCOUNT with FREE SHIPPING!

Good until August 15th, 2011, use the following coupon code during online checkout to ensure your special eNewsletter subscriber discount:  prvmidsummer20off

July’s Pete’s RV Store Gift Card drawing winners are Jody H. from Dyer, IN and Linda H. from Peru, NY.  Congrats!

RV Service Tips:  Toy Hauler Ramp Weight Distribution

Toy hauler travel trailers and fifth wheels are designed to carry a variety of vehicles and cargo in the cargo storage area. These cargo items are typically heavy and consideration must be given to how they are loaded. Because most storage areas are at the rear of the vehicle the biggest concern is maintaining the correct hitch or pin weight percentage. Vehicles loaded incorrectly can have too little weight resting on the hitch or pin and can become unstable when towing. Therefore, a hitch weight percentage of 10 – 15% for travel trailers and 20 – 25% for fifth wheels must be maintained. For example, if the loaded vehicle weighs 8000 pounds, the hitch weight for a travel trailer should be between 800 – 1200 pounds (10 – 15% of the 8000 pound total). For a fifth wheel this same 8000 pound vehicle should have a pin weight of 1600 – 2000 pounds (20 – 25%).

For further reference, read Chapter 11 of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual.  It does a nice job explaining Toy Hauler best practices. A PDF version of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual is available on the Pete’s RV website.

RV Q and A:  Rough Riding Slideouts

Question: Is it normal that my slideouts make a lot of noise when going in and out?

Answer: Slideouts need periodic lubing. White lithium grease can be sprayed on the rack and pinion gears under the slides and then sent in and out to work in the grease. Park models (aka: destination trailers) with motor or hydraulic slides should be run in and out once a month to keep them from rusting in place. It is also sound practice to grease stabilizer jacks and slideout wiper seals at the same time.  Wiper seals can be sprayed with a special seal lubricant to maintain pliability and prevent cracking.

Customer Feedback

“The freight company delivered and installed the unit today. Please tell Alan that they are outstanding. The movable hitch they used to get our RV onsite was something I have never seen before. They put it exactly where we wanted it and cleared the unit out of shipping stuff, blocked and leveled it, hooked up the A/C, and dropped the front hook. Excellent job. I would not hesitate to use them again.”–Russ R. from South Newbury, NH

Read more feedback about Pete’s RV!

What’s New on Pete’s RV Facebook Page

Catching Up With Pete’s-IN	Pete’s-IN Tours Keystone RV Plant

Congrats to June Pete’s RV Store Gift Card Facebook Friend winner Pam E. from Fayetteville, AR.

Add Pete’s RV as a Friend on Facebook to Learn About Special Discounts and Promotions.

RV Archives:  1937 Unadilla 16 Travel Trailer

Manufactured in New Berlin, NY, the Unadilla 16 was quite avant garde for its time.  The rounded body and angled nose of the exterior was designed to reduce drag.  The interior is equipped with circulating heat, a 44-inch closet mirror, over 6-feet of headroom and plenty of extra floor space for an additional club chair.  These pictures were taken at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver, CO by Pete’s RV-VT Store Manager Devra Metevier.  Thanks for sharing!

For the most part, RVers new and old are aware that a number of Walmart’s thousands of locations in the United States and Canada offer a complimentary night’s stay for their weary bones. The challenge is determining which ones allow, or do not allow overnight parking. AllStays.com removes such guesswork with their Walmart Overnight Parking app for iPhone and Android smartphones.

Well worth the $1.99 (we’ve been using it as a logistics tool for our North American Delivery Program), the Walmart Overnight Parking app is searchable by location and provides remarks from those who actually stayed there. In reviewing this app over the past couple of weeks, we were pleased to see that there are continuous updates on the addition or withdrawal of participating Walmart stores. You can imagine how frustrating it would be to pull into a lot after a long, tiring day only to be turned away. Another nice feature is the ability to toggle an advanced search for Walmart locations with pharmacies, groceries, diesel refueling, or open 24 hours.

If you do not have a smartphone, the AllStays.com website does provide basic information and updates on overnight parking at Walmarts in the United States and Canada.

If internet access is a no go, Walmart Atlas, Second Edition (Roundabout Publications) is available in paperback for under twenty bucks.

Give the Walmart Overnight Parking app a spin!

There’s no doubt the price of gasoline is always a concern with RVers. Whether making a cross-country journey, jumping around to different campsites, or even staying put in your favorite seasonal spot, you want to get the best price on gas.

Thanks to the dawn of smartphones, we now have access to a gazillion apps that can do everything from help us tie our shoes (just kidding, but seems like it!) to saving you money on gas.

The SmartFuel app was created by Iridium Development and is currently available for iPhone and iPad users via download from the iTunes app store. According to their website, they are working on a compatible app for Android and other smart devices. There is a free 30-day trial and respectable six or 12 month usage fee option thereafter.

To calculate fuel cost savings, there is some initial tweaking required to adjust your tank size and usage rate, but for the most part the app is easy to use. Especially if you just want to find the nearest station with the cheapest gas. We gave it a shot, and lo and behold, the best price was at a station we always figured to be expensive!

The SmartFuel app pulls in real-time pricing for more than 130,000 gas stations from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) database. With a million updates daily from the database, Iridium claims that the app is highly accurate. They further state that inaccuracies occur only when a gas station’s procedure fails to update pricing to the OPIS.

Besides finding the cheapest price on gas, the app also features station cleanliness ratings, trip customizations, and bookmarking settings for your favorite RV refueling (and even potty) stops. Give the SmartFuel app a whirl!

Pete’s RV News

Welcome to our Summer Edition e-newsletter!  As always, we look forward to sharing recent news, events, information and tips with our dedicated community of campers and RVers.

Two months after acquiring it, our Schererville, IN dealership is looking and feeling more like an extension of our South Burlington, VT location.

Changing the store sign to Pete’s RV Center was only the tip of the iceberg.

We’ve brought in new inventory, are upgrading all departments, including the store and service area, and providing our wonderful Schererville staff with everything they need to knock their customers’ socks off with top-notch service!

You can now view all inventory at Pete’s RV-IN and meet our Schererville sales team on PetesRV.com.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Pete’s RV eNewsletter and welcome your feedback.  Feel free to let us know what you like about it and how we can make it even better for our community of RVers!

Have a Safe and Tremendous July Fourth Weekend and…

Thanks for thinking Pete’s RV!

Recent Pete’s RV Bloglines

Pete’s RV Service Tips:  Storing Your Camper After Wet Weather Use

Raptor from Keystone RV Is Not Your Average Toy Hauler

Cougar Max-Turn Fifth Wheel Technology

Manager’s Choice: 2011 Sprinter 297RET Travel Trailer

The Sprinter 297RET Travel Trailer has 2 slide outs in the rear living room and the entertainment center has space galore with an HDTV on a lift! There is also plenty of seating for up to 8 guests, which will help fill the HUGE living area for a family/friends get together. The Sprinter 297RET will keep you asking yourself,”does it get any better than this?” Relax and enjoy the trip!

Attractive interior options are Elmwood, Chesnut and Basil.

View complete 2011 Sprinter 297RET features, pictures and best price at PetesRV.com!

May Top 10 Views on Pete’s RV Website*

1.  Outback 250RS 10th Anniversary Travel Trailer
2.  Cougar X-Lite 26SAB Fifth Wheel
3.  Cougar 293SAB Fifth Wheel
4.  Outback 312BH 10th Anniversary Travel Trailer
5.  Sprinter 277RLS Travel Trailer
6.  Cougar 322QBS Fifth Wheel
7.  Cougar High Country 246RLS Fifth Wheel
8.  Outback 260FL 10th Anniversary Travel Trailer
9.  Montana 3150RL Fifth Wheel
10. Bullet Premier 31BHPR Travel Trailer

Honorable Mention:  Residence 403FK Park Model

*furnished by Google Analytics

Pete’s RV Best Buys: Take a Look!

Our Sales Manager just went to town on our Pete’s RV Best Buys.

Check out the outrageously low prices on more than 50 New and Used Fifth Wheels, Travel Trailers, Pop-Ups and Motorhomes!

Buy now and be ready for July 4th Weekend!

Pete’s RV Store Feature:  20% Off and FREE Shipping on Summer Essentials

It’s Summer time and Pete’s RV Parts Store has just the accessories you need to get your July Fourth Patriotism on!  Get 20% Off and Free Shipping on Red, White and Blue Patio Lights, Awning Mats and more staff-selected picnic essentials.

Good until July 11th, 2011, use the following coupon code during online checkout to ensure your special eNewsletter subscriber discount:  prvsummer20

June’s Pete’s RV Store Gift Card drawing winners is Chuck W. from Lady Lake, FL.  Congrats!

RV Service Tips:  Erroneous Readings on Monitor Panel

The monitor panel displays readings from sensors attached to the tanks. These sensors can send false readings when:

1.  Water with low mineral content. Minerals in water help conduct the electrical signal to the monitor display.
2.  Contamination-Residue remaining on the inside of the tanks after dumping (caused by normal use or putting grease, oils, etc. in the tanks). Refer to Tank Flushing.
3.  Low Battery
4.  Loose wiring connections (bad ground)

For further reference, read Chapter 9 of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual.  It does a nice job explaining RV Plumbing Systems. A PDF version of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual is available on the Pete’s RV website.

RV Q and A:  Water Pump Location

Question: Where is my water pump located?

Answer: The tried and true way to find the water pump is to turn it on from the camper’s control panel and listen (note: dry running a water pump for a few minutes will not hurt it).  If there is water in the holding tank, you may need to open a faucet for the water pump to come on. They do hide them pretty well, but in most cases water pumps are accessible.  Once located, you will likely need to  remove a few screws from an access panel to get to the water pump.

Customer Feedback

“I was excited to find exactly what we were looking for at PetesRV.com.  Within hours of e-mailing my inquiry, we were contacted by our sales consultant, Randal.  He was excellent to deal with. Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, and informative.  We are located in Eastern Ontario, Canada and had many questions/concerns about this type of purchase across the border. Randal happily assisted us.  Initially our interest in dealing with Pete’s RV was solely based on great pricing.  Now our decision to deal with Randal and Pete’s RV is based on the whole experience:  Price, inventory, knowledge, customer service, and polite and courteous staff!”–Brad and Stacy M. from North Augusta, ON

Read more feedback about Pete’s RV!

What’s New on the Pete’s RV YouTube Channel

Pete’s RV Center’s RV Lifestyle Consultant, Randy Murray provides tips on how to care for your Camper or RV after wet weather use. He covers care for Awnings, Pop-Up Campers and Fridges. Randy offers tips on saving battery life, releasing unused water from the main tank, and how to remove moisture from the camper. Following these simple steps will prevent moisture wear and tear and mildewing in your RV!

Congrats to June Pete’s RV Store Gift Card Facebook Friend winner Marcha S. from W. Lafayette, IN

Add Pete’s RV as a Friend on Facebook to Learn About Special Discounts and Promotions.

Camping Recipe:  Dough Boys

“Very simple, but a classic I remember making around the camp fire. Make a stiff dough with Bisquick. You can also use a can of ready made buttermilk biscuits. Find a green stick around the diameter of your index finger. Proceed to wrap the dough around the stick. Seal off the top of the stick with dough too. Rotate over a camp fire until cooked through and golden brown (high enough over the campfire to brown, not burn!). When ready, carefully slide dough from the stick and fill with raspberry or strawberry jam. Yum-o!”

Recipe compliments of Facebook Friend Kim O. from Burlington, VT.  Her winning submission gets her a $50 Gift Card to the Pete’s RV Parts and Accessories Store.  Thanks Kim!

Summer is upon us and we’d love to have every day full of sunshine and blue skies.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case (especially for those like us in the northeast).  Improper storage after camping in wet weather can create the unpleasant experience of dealing with a moist and mildewy camper as well as other unwanted surprises.

We recommend watching the Storing Your Camper Video on the Pete’s RV YouTube Channel. Here’s just a few of the key takeaways from the informative, 6.5 minute video with RV Lifestyle Consultant Randy Murray:

• Leave the awning open to dry in the sun before storing
  
• Let a pop-up camper top dry before folding down
  
• Release all water from the main tank
  
• Crack the fridge door open so moisture can escape
• Open air vents and windows a tad to prevent interior mildew from forming
  
• Disconnect the negative cable on the battery to maintain charge
  

After viewing the video, feel free to submit additional RV storage questions to Pete’s RV.

If you are in the greater Burlington, VT or Schererville, IN area, our dealerships offer professional service and repair on most RV brands and types. The Pete’s RV Store stocks a full-selection of parts and accessories.  For further assistance with service or parts, call the Pete’s RV Center location nearest you.

Pete’s RV News

Welcome to our Spring Edition e-newsletter!  As always, we look forward to sharing recent news, events, information and tips with our dedicated community of campers and RVers.

First and foremost, we now have a second dealership in Indiana! On May 2nd, Pete’s RV officially assumed ownership of Rollin-On RV, who was established in 1977 and ran a successful business serving thousands of customers from Indiana, Southern Illinois and surrounding states. Located on 18 acres just off U.S. 30 in Schererville, IN and less than 40 miles from Chicago, we are very excited to expand our presence in the Midwest and beyond!

Along with warm greetings to general manager Kris Craven and all of the Indiana employees joining Pete’s RV, welcome back to our seasonal team in Vermont.  We’ve got plenty of work for you this summer, so get cracking!

We hope you enjoy this edition of Pete’s RV eNewsletter and welcome your feedback.  Feel free to let us know what you like about it and how we can make it even better for our community of RVers!

Happy Camping Season and Thanks for thinking Pete’s RV!

Recent Pete’s RV Bloglines

Meet the Pete’s RV Center Vermont Team and Dealership Tour

Vermont Children’s Hospital 2011 Big Change Roundup a Dazzling Success

Keystone Montana Named No. 1 Selling Fifth Wheel for 10th Year

Pete’s RV Gets Product Training on 2011 Springdale RV

Manager’s Choice: 2011 Sprinter 277RLS Travel Trailer

The 2011 Sprinter 277RLS travel trailer has a wide open living area and full kitchen, so entertaining guests is a breeze. The front master bedroom suite has a generous wardrobe slideout and walk around queen bed. If that’s not enough dual entrances and a side-aisle with corner armoire really add a nice spacious touch to the Sprinter 277RLS.

The 2011 equipment package includes updated Sprinter graphics, motion sensor porch light, LED floor lighting, plus beautiful Corian kitchen countertop and sink covers.  Attractive interior options are Elmwood, Kona and Basil.

View complete 2011 Sprinter 277RLS features, pictures and best price at PetesRV.com!

Jan-April Top Views on Pete’s RV Website*

1.  Passport 3220BH Limited Edition Travel Trailer
2.  Cougar 293SAB Fifth Wheel
3.  Montana Big Sky 3455SA Fifth Wheel
4.  Sprinter 311BHS Travel Trailer
5.  Outback 210RS 10th Anniversary Travel Trailer
6.  Cougar 322QBS Fifth Wheel
7.  Outback 312BH 10th Anniversary Travel Trailer
8.  Springdale 303BH Travel Trailer
9.  Montana High Country 313RE Fifth Wheel
10. Outback 250RS 10th Anniversary Travel Trailer

Honorable Mention:  Mountaineer 347THT Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler

*furnished by Google Analytics*

Pete’s RV Store Feature:  20% Off and FREE Shipping on Spring RV Essentials

It’s go RVing time!  The new camping season is here and the Pete’s RV Parts Store has just the accessories you need to kick it off properly.  Get 20% Off and Free Shipping on Bike Racks, Motion Sensor Porch LIghts, Magnetic Towing Lights, yes…even RV Toilet Paper plus more staff-selected camping essentials!

Good until June 1st, 2011, use the following coupon code during online checkout to ensure your special eNewsletter subscriber discount:  prvspring20

Past month’s Pete’s RV Store Gift Card drawing winners are:  Jan L. (Colchester, VT) and Suzanne C. (Queenbury, NY).  Congrats!

RV Service Tips:  Keystone RV Company Warranty Honored in the U.S. and Canada

Dispelling any doubt whether or not Keystone RV’s One Year Limited Warranty is honored in Canada if the unit was purchased in the U.S. (and vice versa):  “The warranty makes no distinction nor does it impose any limitations or exclusions when the unit is purchased in the United States or Canada.  It does require that ‘All owners (original or subsequent) must be properly registered with Keystone RV to be considered for eligibility.’  The only exclusion is any trailer, licensed, registered or used primarily outside the United States or Canada.”

For further reference, read Chapter 1 of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual.  It does a nice job explaining RV Warranty and Dealer Service.  A PDF version of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual is available on the Pete’s RV website.

RV Q and A:  Portable Generator

Question: I own a 2010 Outback 250RS. What size portable generator do I require to operate my RV’s AC, lights, appliances, etc?  What brand do you recommend?
Answer: You require a 3000 watt generator at minimum to run all appliances.  Along with the big names like Honda and Yamaha, we sell Powerhouse generators in our store and have been happy with their performance.

Customer Feedback

“My wife and I wanted to let you know we arrived home safely in Colorado [with our 2011 Montana 3750FL]. We also wanted to convey our most sincere appreciation to you for putting people and dreams together at Pete’s RV. We thoroughly enjoyed Kyle’s smiling charm and candor, Alan and his entire technical staff in service who took the time to answer questions, and all the remaining employees of whose names we have forgotten but faces we will always remember. When we left, it was like leaving family. Truly an experience that we will pass on…Again, we cannot thank all you folks enough for making this dream come true. There is no doubt that Pete’s RV is a five star leader in the industry when it comes to customer service.”–Daniel and Darlene Gonzales, Proprietors of Elkwood Manor Luxury Bed & Breakfast in Pagosa Springs, CO

Read more feedback about Pete’s RV!

What’s New on Pete’s RV Facebook and YouTube Pages

Congrats to May Pete’s RV Store Gift Card Facebook Friend winner: Cora F. from Lisbon, NH

Add Pete’s RV as a Friend on Facebook to Learn About Special Discounts and Promotions!

RV Archives:  Flashback on Outback Travel Trailers

Here’s a couple vintage RV’s from 1987-ish.  On the left is a Shasta Class C Motorhome and to the right is a Southwind Class A Motorhome.  The pictures are from promotional postcards our salespeople used in the days of yore to follow-up with customers.

Camping Recipe:  Beer Battered Fish

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
2 eggs, whole beaten
12 oz beer
12 oz flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp baking powder
4-6 Fish filets
Cornstarch (for dredging)

Preparation: Combine eggs and beer. Add dry ingredients all at once. Mix smooth and adjust consistency as required. Moisture content of flour may vary so if the batter is heavy, adjust with a small amount of milk. If the batter is too thin, adjust with cornstarch, but never over mix.  Dredge fish lightly in cornstarch, shake off excess, dip fish in batter and immerse into deep fat. Fry at about 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Done when the batter puffs up and they are a golden brown.

Servings: 4-6

This delicious camping recipe was originally posted on CampingRecipes.com