Monday, January 18, 2010

A Simple Measure

THANK YOU, NANCY who joined my group of "Followers" today.  I really appreciate the time you would give to read my blog and I hope it will entertain you, if not inform you about our RV lifestyle.

Here on the Central Coast of California it has rained hard most of the day.  We finally got some sunshine and a clear sky around 2 pm, but it is raining again.  This will pass in a day or two.  In the meantime, I thought I'd write this quick little post since we aren't doing much of anything right now.

We keep a simple little device inside the motorhome that comes in handy from time to time.  I have to admit, we did not come up with the idea, we read about it somewhere along the line over the past few years.  I read so many online articles, newsletters, or magazines dealing with RV life I can't keep them all straight.  I thought I'd share this little idea with you because that is what is so great about the RV community....the sharing of ideas and experiences.

Nothing can be worse (well, some things 'can' be) than getting your RV all settled in it's assigned campsite, getting it leveled out and then you realize you've parked just a tad too close to something that blocks the slide.  If we aren't completely sure that our slide will extend fully, I reach just inside our motorhome door and pull out a yardstick.  On the yardstick I've made a mark in 2 places.  One mark is on the 30 inch line with a "D" for driver side slide out.  The other mark is on the 26 inch line with a "P" for passenger side slide out.  That is the depth of our 2 slide outs.



As I'm showing here at our Pismo Coast Village campsite, when we back the RV into it's space, I just take the marked yardstick outside and hold it out from the retracted slide to see if it will clear any utility pole, tree trunk, or anything else that could be in the way.  


This little device has saved us some headaches...and a lot of bad words!....in the past few years.  Maybe it can work for you, too.

Until next time.....so long for now!

8 comments:

Happytrails said...

Margie that is a good idea and if that becomes a habit before the slides are put out, then there are no "ooops I didn't look" before the slides go out.
Hope the rain goes away for awhile and you can have good sunny weather.

Rick said...

That is a good idea, Margie, and we've been using it for a few years now. I carry a couple of sticks in the back of my truck that are cut to the length of our one slideout. Like you, I read about it somewhere too, but I can't remember where either!

Al Bossence said...

Always figured putting a slide out was a good way to move things like trees, steel poles, cement barriers, & other bothersome articles out of the way to make more room......:))

Phyllis said...

We, too, always measure.

Very seldom in RVing do we ever meet a "grouch". A few years ago while camping in Virginia we were talking to two lovely ladies at their campsite. In pulled an elderly couple next to them in a Small Class C.

We realized he was too close to the electrical panel. One of the ladies went to the drivers side window and told him. He proceeded to cuss her and tell her to mind her own business.

Well, we sat there as we watched him put his slides out, knocking over the panel. Within minutes and owner of the campground was there taking pictures. Hey, he was warned!

Jerry and Suzy said...

The clever tips and tricks are good to learn about, to use and to share. Good for you for reminding us of one little trick! Thanks!

The Gypsy G-Mas said...

Great tip Margie, and will be very useful for those of us just starting out. Thanks for sharing.

Sue and Doug said...

another great tip!!..thanks for that..we will be sure to be using it!!..we have only had one yelling match about the slide..lol..now we are very careful..

Bill and Debi said...

What a great idea. We are still getting used to having slides and I live in fear of hitting something. Shall fix up a yardstick tomorrow!