Intro/Letter From the Editor - Ryan Main - Sales

This month's newsletter will take us a little off of the beaten path in terms of the content.  Since the sun and warm weather had a bit of a delay in reaching us this year, we imagine that there are a lot of people who are only now getting to jobs that are usually done much earlier in the year.  Therefore, we decided to shorten our newsletter to a bit of a dealership blurb from the GM Don Main, and the calendar of events for July.  I hope that you have time for a brief read prior to heading out to work on the lawn or prep the camper for the upcoming weekend.

Remember, should you wish to be a part of next month's newsletter, please email me at rmain@pikadilly.com with your contributions.  We'll talk again next month, enjoy the July long!!

Dealership News - Don Main - General Manager

Finally, some good weather! I hope you have had the opportunity to get to the campground and enjoy a little relaxation and, like me, you’re looking forward with great anticipation to more.

We are very busy at Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre and I would like to offer a few suggestions that will make your camping season a little more enjoyable. I have noticed while driving around town that there are many RV’s parked on driveways that have extreme slopes. No problem if you aren’t using the refrigerator while sitting there. However, if you are, you run the risk of damaging the burner tube and ultimately causing a failure, which is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. I’ll try not to bore you with the detail, but suffice to say that in order to operate the refrigerator, the RV should be at or very near level (level to the eye is fine), so save yourself some grief and level the unit!

Your RV should have a deep cycle battery that is specifically designed to be run-down and recharged on a regular basis. This battery requires some maintenance in order to ensure optimum performance. I recommend that you read the article below about battery maintenance. Most automotive batteries are maintenance free so most people are unaware of the issues with deep cycle batteries. Feel free to call if you have any questions.

Large numbers of families are now parking their RV on a seasonal site. This gives no reprieve from the sun and subjects the sidewalls and tires to long term UV ray deterioration. I highly recommend that you cover the tires that are always in the sun as rubber will rot with long term exposure (there are special tire covers available in our accessory store), keep the propane tanks covered – especially when they have just been re-filled (propane expands and will cause the relief valve to let off the excess if overheated) and if you have fiberglass sidewalls, I suggest you either wax them or have a more permanent “paint shield” professionally installed by our service department. This will protect the luster of the finish and maintain the highest resale value. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way!

For those considering a permanent site, you may want to look at our new line of Residence park models!

Slide toppers are another great addition to your unit if you don’t have them. They keep all the debris, (like leaves, twigs, bird droppings, etc.), off the top of your slide-out rooms and keep them clean for when they are rolled in for travel. It also keeps them from dripping water inside the unit when you have to pack up in the rain. Unfortunately, these are best installed in our service department. If you are interested, call for special pricing and an installation appointment.

Remember that we are always available to provide professional advice on towing, safety and anything else RV! Any question is important, so don’t be timid about asking.

Thank you for your past business. We look forward to continuing our relationship.

Happy Father's Day to all Dads, and enjoy the upcoming Canada Day! 

RV Battery Care and Use Information

Deep-Cycle Batteries – Care & Use

Use

Deep cycle batteries are designed specifically to endure repetitive deep discharges.  To withstand the repeated deep cycles, the battery is manufactured with thicker plates combined with a denser chemical active material.
A “deep cycle” means using 50% - 80% of a battery’s capacity before recharging.
For longest life – batteries should be discharged to only about 50% of capacity.
During idle times, to prevent battery drain, it is best to disconnect the battery.  There are items in the RV that continually consume battery power:

• LP Leak Detectors & CO (Carbon Monoxide) Detectors – run continuously & do not have ON/OFF switches.  They can discharge a battery in 7-10 days.
• Stereos / Clocks / Radios / 12v TV – even if turned OFF have a constant draw to run memories to store preset stations, time, etc.
• Converters (w/chargers) - they have dummy loads and capacitive circuits which create a continuous battery drain when the converter is not plugged in & operating.
• Refrigerators – The control circuit is powered by 12v DC thus running RV Refrigerators on LP gas with the converter not plugged in and charging will cause battery to drain.  With no battery, the fridge will shut down.

Maintenance

Fully recharge battery, as soon as possible, after each use.  Leaving battery partially discharged or discharged for long periods allows the plate to harden to the point where it is very difficult to recharge the battery completely.
Batteries must be kept full of electrolyte.  Check the level of electrolyte frequently – low electrolyte level dries out the plates, reducing the battery capacity significantly.
Make sure plates are covered – add distilled water – avoid over-filling.
During extended operation and battery charging, the battery must be closely monitored, as the water level will slowly go down.  A battery low in fluid will not accept a charge & supply power.
Keep terminal connections & cables free from corrosion – corrosion reduces or may block power flow.
Clean terminals until shiny & coat with a heavy-bodied lubricant.
Keep the top of the battery free of dirt.  Dirt can act as a conductor & cause the battery to discharge.  Plain water works best for cleaning batteries.
Do not overcharge.  Overcharging creates excessive heat, which may cause the plates within the cells to buckle and shed their active material.

Storage

Store fully charged in a cool, dry place.
Recharge every 60-90 days.
A battery low in charge will freeze & break during cold weather

***FROZEN BATTERIES CANNOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY***

Safety

Always wear rubber gloves when working with batteries, and keep a supply of water & baking soda nearby.
If someone gets acid on their skin – flush with lots of water
If someone gets acid in his or her eyes – flush with water for 15 minutes and seek immediate medical attention.
If someone ingests acid – rinse mouth & drink a glass of water to dilute acid – seek immediate medical attention. 

July Calendar of Events

July 1, Canada Day Festivities - Various Locations throughout the province
July 3-5, 'AAA' Hockey Challenge - Week 2, Female age groups - Games at Keystone and Sportsplex arenas
July 8, 15, 22 & 29, Music by the Fountain - Princess Park in Brandon - 6:30-8:30 - No cost
July 9-12, 'AAA' Hockey Challenge - Week 3, 1990-94 age groups - Games at the Keystone and Sportsplex arenas
July 17-19, Neepawa Lily Festival, Neepawa, MB