Every year, all across America families plan reunions in hopes of staying in touch with those who can sometimes be on the other side of the US. Summer is prime season for reunions too. The weather is generally nice, kids are out of school and people have been saving up their vacation time. I know all of us here at PPL Motorhomes look forward to reuniting with our family members ever summer.
What better place to hold a family reunion that at an RV Park? Generally the amenities that are provided will more than suffice for even larger reunions. Many parks across the United States have pools, activities, eating halls, picnic areas, covered pavilions and more. Not only do you have all of this at your disposal, but many RV Parks also offer packages to help you organize your family reunion. Even if you have family members who don’t own an RV, some RV Parks also have permanent lodging facilities for rent.
However, PPL Motorhomes recommends looking into renting an RV and experiencing how comfortable the lifestyle can be first hand. Who knows, maybe one of your family member will love it so much they will want to get an RV for themselves! Not to do any shameless self-promotion here, but I know a great little consignment RV center in Houston that you can recommend.
Happy Father’s Day from your RV consignment center, PPL Motorhomes!
It was Dad who picked us up when we fell. It was Dad who taught us how to ride a bike and bait a hook. It was Dad who taught us how swim in the deep end, paddle a canoe and shoot a bow and arrow. He’s the same guy that would take you either to a ball game or a dance recital, it didn’t matter to him, as long as he could see you succeed at the stuff you liked to do. When you didn’t, it didn’t matter, he was always quick with a “Good Job”, or “You’ll get ‘em next time, sport”.
I found a great little video that I wanted to share. I think it captures the essence of Father’s Day pretty well.
Remember how much Dad used to like to go camping? Well not much has changed, he may be a little older, but I’m sure his love for the outdoors hasn’t changed. If you are here, reading this now, was it Dad who got you into your first tent? Was it Dad who took you on your first RV trip? Probably. Return the favor, plan a RV trip with dear old Dad, I’m sure he’d love it. Be sure to bring him by PPL Motorhomes first and take a look at some great RVs…just like you did when you were a kid.
It’s that time of year again, folks: Hurricane Season. Your RV consignment center, PPL Motorhomes wants to remind you that the hurricane season began on June 1st and runs through November 30th. Living on the Gulf Coast this time of year can wreak havoc on the area in regards to storm damage and evacuation processes. If you haven’t already, you and your family should not only develop an emergency hurricane plan, but also put together an emergency preparedness kit.
Your plan should include:
Understanding your home’s vulnerability to flooding and wind damage.
Agreeing on the safest room in the house for your family to seek shelter if there is no mandatory evacuation.
Develop an escape route and designate a place for your family to meet in case you are separated. (not everyone may be in the same structure at the time the full force of the storm hits).
Have an out of state contact. It might be another family member, or friend you can stay with ahead of the storm making landfall.
Post emergency telephone numbers in your house and teach your children how to use the 911 emergency phone system.
Better check your insurance to understand your coverage. Flood insurance is usually an add on to most insurance policies. It might be a good time to look into getting it. Oh, and keep your insurance policy in a waterproof container, or bag. You may need it.
Stock up on non-perishable food items and water. If there is a severe storm, you may not be able to just jump in your car and go to the grocery store. Prepare as if you are going to be holed up for a few days without electricity, or running water.
Your Emergency Kit should include:
Flashlights, extra batteries, candles, lanterns, matches and kerosene. Light is going to be the one thing you wish you had more of in case of a loss of power.
Portable radios and extra batteries that fit them.
A well stocked first aid kit. You can buy a complete kit almost anywhere these days.
If you have a baby, they are going to need a ton of supplies: a surplus of diapers and formula, especially.
If you have any family members with special needs, you’ll need to prepare for them as well. This includes medications, or supplies them may need to keep them comfortable.
Non-perishable food items and water in non-glass containers. Next to an abundance of light, you are going to need food and water. Prepare for disaster conditions.
Fresh changes of clothes.
Important documents in water tight containers: birth and wedding certificates, insurance documents, home ownership documentation etc.
Any prescription medication
A fully charged cell phone
Don’t forget about Fido and Fifi…your pets are going to need extra food and water as well.
Living where we do, we can’t be too prepared for a devastating hurricane. We’ve seen them in the past and we’ll certainly see them again. Make sure you are ready when the time comes and know what to do in the event of a evacuation. PPL Motorhomes takes this stuff seriously, so should you.
Your Consignment RV center, PPL Motorhomes know that when it comes to RVing and camping, that firing up the grill is going to be one of the first things you do after getting settled. Now while most grills are designed with your safety in mind, accidents can still happen due to human error. Those accidents, more often than not, are fully preventable. So while you are preparing the food you are going to do a quick assessment of your grill, checking for any leaking fuel lines if you are using a propane grill. In fact a leaking gas line is the leading cause of a majority of grilling related injuries.
Check for:
Leaking or cracked gas lines if using propane, or natural gas
Misaligned or poorly connected gas lines
Follow ALL of the manufacturers instructions…no shortcuts here
Be sure to maintain your grill through out the year.
If you Have an out of control fire on the grill top, simply close the lid and turn all burners off. If it is under the grill and you can reach the propane tank valve, shut that down. If it isn’t accessible, call your local Fire Department as even a small fire can escalate into an inferno. Also always know where your fire extinguisher is. Every RV should be equipped with 2 if you can afford the space.
If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure you set the grill up in a well ventilated area, as charcoal can emit Carbon Monoxide which is generally undetectable and can cause serious injury and death if continuously inhaled. In fact, both grills should be set up in well ventilated areas away from structures that can ignite. I don’t know if any of you have see how fast fire can travel through your RV, but it is a incredible speed, you will not have time to save anything from inside as your rig will be consumed in minutes by flame.
Of course, with an out of control grill, the chances to sustain a sever burn is a serious one. In fact, never pour lighter fluid on to hot coals, as the heat will cause the fluid to vaporize and linger which can cause an explosion. Further, after grilling with charcoal, let the coals cool down and extinguish the fuel over night before you discard them. Remember, grilling season and fire season go hand in had. Let’s not have another Bastrop, TX incident this year.
If you’d like more information on fire prevention, visit www.nfpa.com.
Grilling is mandatory when RVing, but don’t let your haste to cook up that BBQ cause a lapse in judgement. A burn injury will undoubtedly ruin your trip.
Does anyone else have any tips or hints you can share with PPL Motorhomes about grill safety this Summer RV season? be sure to check out all of the built-in and portable grills PPL Motorhomes has to offer.
Oh, if I could avoid writing about this subject I would, however, being an RVer, maintaining your sewer hoses and septic system is of paramount importance. One of the things that we offer here at your consignment RV center, PPL Motorhomes are some of the best hoses in the business, including lines from RhinoFLEX.
RhinoFLEX Sewer Hoses are made of HTS (a high tensile strength formula) that is tough, flexible, and stays in place when you set it up. When compressed, the 10′ hose is only a 32″ long rigid pipe – easy to handle and store. When pulling it apart, it may be shaped to fit your situation, and it stays that way.
Three wraps of vinyl over steel-wire core minimizes pinholes and other leaks caused by rough scrapes and abrasions. Comes in 10′ and 15′ lengths, plus a 5′ extension with coupler. These hoses fit all standard 3″ fittings.
Here comes the dirty talk. Maintaining your septic system and hoses is a dirty, disgusting and dangerous job…so let Dad do it! Kidding!!! Really if you take the proper precautions, you should be fine. Still, I am amazed at the health risks that people will take when handling their sewer hose and black water connections. Remember to use disposable latex gloves for this job. These are the kind of gloves that are used by paramedics, doctors and nurses. You see them used on TV all the time by crime scene investigators. These gloves are inexpensive and disposable. I keep a box of them in our RV at all times.
If you have any questions or comments about septic systems, or the parts contained there-in, don’t hesitate to call PPL Motorhomes.We’re not shy, or embarrassed to have this conversation with you and answer any question you may have. Remember, having a properly functioning system is not only good for the environment, it’s good for your health!
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I have been with PPL Motor Homes since 1980 and have been fortunate to grow up with the company. A native Houstonian, I am married to a wonderful Cajun from Lafayette, Louisiana and we've been able to mix the two worlds and build a fun life together. We have 3 children and 7 grandchildren, so it is obvious that I was a Nana long before I became RV Nana. I also happen to be the 2011-2013 President of the Texas RV Association, so you know the RV lifestyle...is my style.
