Pennsylvania RVers flooring choice.

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Lerch RV

It is time to replace the flooring in your RV? If it is, you’ve got an important decision to make: laminate or carpet floors? There are ups and downs to both, and in the end, you’ve got to choose whichever option works best for you.

Carpet makes for a good insulator no matter the season and will help reduce energy use by keeping the hot and cold air from radiating up-ward. Carpet also helps reduce noise by cutting down echo and absorbing sounds. Not to mention, it also feels great on your bare feet. On the downside, carpet attracts dirt, dust and more. It’s definitely harder to clean and keep clean especially if you are traveling with pets and children.

Laminate on the other hand is fairly simple to maintain. It’s also cheaper to purchase and install. There are plenty of different styles to choose from all of which will last you a long time. RVs consist of mainly high traffic areas making laminate an excellent choice. But you’ll have to trade the insulation from the carpet. Laminate doesn’t absorb heat, cold or sound. Another disadvantage is the potential of warping and loosening.

As I said before, there is no one right choice. It’s really all up to you, Pennsylvania RV owners. If you need some help with the decision, you know where to find us.
Safe Travels and Happy RVing!

VW Transporter campervan gets electric

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Lerch RV

I just read this article and wanted to share it with my readers. What a new take on the old VW camper van. The Welsh have come up with a quaint, innovative, camper van that is truly inspirational. What are your thoughts?

Welsh company Overlander Motor-homes brings forth a revolutionary design, the DoubleBack, a sliding pod that extends the interior space of the Volkswagen T5 Transporter van, and practically doubles its size. The add-on seems as a logical compliment to ‘pop tops’ offered by Volkswagen on its camper vans, some 30 years ago. Since then, installing interior height-extenders have been a common practice among camper van enthusiasts, including VW Westfalia camper van and Mercedes Viano Marco Polo.

Inspired by a desire to deliver a truly spacious and comfortable camper, the T5 DoubleBack delivers the drivability of a camper van along with the extra exclusive space of a motor-home. This electrically extendable rear pod constructed from aircraft industry standards stays tucked up inside the back of the vehicle while you are on the move. Once you stop to settle, the pod electrically extends out to add 2 meters of useable interior space in the rear.

Featured with two folded legs on the bottom of the pod that extends and gets self-leveled on uneven terrain is able to support over 600 kilograms of weight. T5 DoubleBack comes equipped with a fold-out double bed in the pod, an elevating roof and a kitchenette along with other home amenities required on the road. The whole sliding process is visually impressive, and it just takes 45 seconds.

The company does customization to make your vehicle just the way you want it. However, it’s still unclear if the pod affects the interiors of the van, but the company claims that a driver and one passenger can be accommodated in captain’s seat, or a driver and two passengers can sit if the buyer selects the bench seat option.

Though, the DoubleBack T5 Transporter van is loaded with features and space, the interested buyer’s pocket also have to be loaded, as this van costs $86,988.

2011 Keystone Sprinter 297 RET-Save money PA

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Lerch RV

Are you looking for a new RV in Pennsylvania? Are you looking for a great balance of storage, living space and sleeping capacity? And are you looking for a great price on your new RV?

Stop looking, the 2011 Keystone Sprinter 297 RET is what you have been searching for. The Sprinter 297 RET was designed with the intention of providing the average camper with plenty of storage space, sleeping capacity and living space. The Sprinter 297 RET can sleep up to eight people comfortably. As well as store plenty of food and supplies for a good week-long camping trip. And if you happen to be plagued by bad weather, you will have no worried about spending a rainy day inside this wide open RV. Introduced as Keystone RV’s first product line in 1996, Sprinter’s goals were simple – Take the suggestions of our customers and make them the origin and foundation of the Sprinter design. As a result of these efforts, Sprinter offers you its proudest distinction between other brands – a product designed specifically to “MAKE CAMPING EASY.”

The Sprinter 297 RET reflects Keystone RV’s efforts to make your camping weekend as easy and enjoyable as ever. The Sprinter 297 features a fully enclosed and heated under-belly, an adjustable power A&E awning, motion detector porch light, day/night privacy shades, a home theater system with LCD TV, and dual air mattress sleeper sofas, among other great features. A full one year manufacturer warranty. However the best feature of this exciting travel trailer just might be the price; $22,200. That is a savings of over $3,000. Come see how Pennsylvania’s largest Keystone Sprinter dealership “Makes Buying Easy”!

The HerrMAN, a 16-ton RV.

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Lerch RV

While most people opt for a small light weight RV, a couple from Germany set out to ‘tour the world’. Read below to see how they have accomplished this trip. Have HerMAN will travel….

While recreational vehicles are good enough for many going on long distance road trips, this German couple opted for something more extreme and heavy-duty for their around-the-world journey.

Their choice vehicle is an 18-tonne army six-wheeler truck converted into cozy mobile home. The mighty mobile is affectionately called HerrMAN.

Seasoned traveler: HerrMAN has so far been to 18 countries and clocked 40,000km.

Stefan Sigl and Petra Mester have been on the road for two years, travelling 40,000km and have visited 18 countries since leaving Germany in November 2009.

They drove into Malaysia from Thailand early last month and had visited Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, China and Laos to name a few.

“Although I have used a recreational vehicle before, I felt that I needed something more robust as the countries we will be visiting might have very bad roads,” he told reporters during a stopover at Continental Sime Tyre’s Petaling Jaya head office here yesterday.

HerrMAN was fitted with Continental’s heavy machinery all-terrain tyres when it left Germany.

During their stay in Malaysia, the truck will get a new set of tyres to continue its journey.

Sigl, 50, used to work in the media industry before venturing on the road trip. Mester, 51, meanwhile, was a teacher and social worker.

Auxiliary wheels: Sigl showing the scooter and bicycle in the mini-garage.

The couple has two children a son, 30, and daughter, 27.

The idea to go on the “big journey” came up around Christmas in 2003. Sigl bought a MAN KAT1 6X6 truck in 2005 and spent the next few years converting it into an apartment on wheels complete with beds, toilet, air conditioning, deep freezer, microwave oven and washing machine.

The vehicle even has a mini-garage where Sigl keeps a scooter and a bicycle.

He said HerrMAN was a combination of the German word “herr” which meant mister and MAN which was the truck brand.

Rest and recreation: Mester showing the ‘living room’ of HerrMAN.

“In English, our vehicle is Mr MAN,” Sigl said, adding that it was also a tribute to his father whose name was Herman.

Sigl said they enjoyed their stay in Malaysia as the locals were friendly and that everyone could speak English.

The couple intends to stay for a month or longer and plan to visit the key attractions on the west and east coasts.

After that, they plan to ship HerrMAN from Malacca to Indonesia. They also aim to visit Timor Leste, Australia and New Zealand before continuing to South America.

For more information on the HerrMAN check out this link…

Blue Ox introduces the Tail-Gator

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Lerch RV

Occasionally I come across a product that is not necessarily camping or RV related that I like to share. Today I came across an article advertising the new Tail-Gator carrier by Blue Ox. Blue-Ox is known for their high quality hitches and for some unique RV towing accessories. The Tail-Gator is just another unique addition to their line up of quality accessories.

Heading out on the road no longer has to be limited by what people can fit in their back seat. Instead, they have the opportunity to bring along their ATV, golf cart, or other over-sized objects without worrying about damaging their tailgate.

Blue Ox realizes that RVers want to maximize their fun while in the outdoors, and without breaking anything in the process. That’s why they’re introducing the Tail-Gator.

The Tail-Gator provides the needed protection to safely load and unload ATV’s, golf carts, and over-sized objects into a truck bed. It was built to prevent damage and add support for the tailgate cables from undue stress. The Blue Ox Tail-Gater is the ideal product when you want to haul over-sized objects in the bed of your truck and need to leave the tailgate down. With a 1,000lb capacity, the lightweight, steel constructed Tail-Gator™ pins directly into your standard 2″ receiver and allows you to load a golf cart, ATV or quad quickly and easily while supporting the tailgate and eliminating undue stress on your tailgate cables. Ideal for both short bed trucks and long beds with large toolboxes in the front of the bed, the Tail-Gator™ is a simple, yet durable, solution to taking your toys along for the ride without the hassle of hooking up a trailer.

For more information on the Tail-Gator and their complete line of towing and hitch systems, call 402.385.3051, e-mail info@blueox.com or visit www.blueox.com.

Pennsylvania RVers get the big AdVANTAGEs.

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Lerch RV

Vantage. The new perspective in camping.

A brand new perspective in camping. Vantage from Keystone combines timeless beauty with modern technology to create a new travel trailer unlike anything on the market today. By utilizing curved,laminated fiberglass side walls and an arched roof, Vantage delivers wide-body livability and comfort in a look that clearly stands apart. And the Vantage interior is also extraordinary, tastefully incorporating contemporary-glazed maple cabinets, two-tone fascia, and an open spaciousness that is uncommon and pleasing. Available in three distinct floor-plans including a quad bunk model.

The Big AdVANTAGEs

Classic, timeless shape that will look good many years from now.
Clean, uncluttered exterior.
Cool tone high gloss gray exterior with black accents(bumper, wheel-well, windows).
Low slung chassis with a shorter overall height (to top of A/C).
Curved side walls, exterior and interior, creating a 101” wide body
Uniform window line (all windows same height and distance off floor), clean appearance.
Large (7″) radius transition from side wall to roof.
Slide-outs that conform to wall curvature – inside and out!
Full front and rear caps. No boxy edges.
Window awning on front cap conceals window, provides exterior storage location.
Recessed LED exterior lighting throughout. Even in bunk area.
Classic round tail lights recessed into cap.
Center stop lamp.
Separate high impact ABS rear bumper with hair-cell finish.
Exterior convenience center on ODS.
Vaulted ceiling with 7’interior height.
Low center of gravity allows for smoother towing.

Contact Pennsylvania’s first Keystone Vantage Dealer today for more information on this remarkable camper. You can reach us at 800-722-1236.

Wiring 6 & 12 Volt RV Batteries Properly

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Lerch RV

In my last post I wanted to offer my readers some insight on RV Batteries. Specifically 6 volt batteries vs a 12 volt battery. Here is the follow-up article to that post. If you decided that 6 volt batteries are the way you are going to go on your camper. Here is the way to do it properly;

If you are going to buy new 12 Volt or 6 Volt batteries for your RV, it is important to know how to wire them properly so that you do not damage your RVs electrical system. Although this is an easy concept to understand, many people tend to get this wrong. Basically, there are two ways to wire your batteries: in series or in parallel. In RVs where 6 Volt batteries are used, you may need to use a combination of both these methods to get 12 Volt output and increase the amount of total Amp Hours simultaneously. Let’s discuss this further and provide some examples:

Batteries wired in series:

With batteries wired in series, the Voltage increases but the Amperage remains the same.

Example: If you take two 6 Volt batteries that have a capacity rating of 220 Amp Hours each and you wire them in series, you will get a total of 12 Volts of power; however, the total Amp Hours will remain the same at a total of 220 Amp Hours.

With batteries wired in series, the positive (+) from one battery is connected to the negative (-) terminal of the other. The remaining free positive (+) terminal and negative (-) terminal are used to connect to your RV.

This is how you create 12 Volts from two 6 Volt batteries.

Following is a graphic that represents two 6 Volt batteries wired in series.

Take a look at the diagram above. Here we have two 6 Volt batteries wired in series. With the positive from one battery connected to the negative of the other battery you have in essence created one 12 Volt battery out of two 6 Volt batteries. As I stated before, when you wire batteries in series, the Voltage increases and the Amperage stays the same. That is why in this scenario we have 12 Volts output; however, even though each battery is rated at 220 Amp Hours, we are still only receiving a total of 220 Amp Hours. The only thing that has increased here is the Voltage. If in this scenario each battery was a 12 Volt battery, you would have a total of 24 Volts output (which would not be good for your RV).

Batteries wired in parallel:

With batteries wired in parallel, the Voltage remains the same but the amperage increases.

Example: If you take two 12 Volt batteries that have a capacity of 210 Amp Hours each and you wire them in parallel, the Voltage will remain the same at 12 Volts; however, the total Amp Hours will increase to 420 Amp Hours.

With batteries wired in parallel, the positive terminal connects to the positive terminal of the next battery and the negative terminal connects to the negative terminal of the next battery.

This is how you increase the total amount of Amp Hours you can get out of your battery bank.

Following is a graphic that represents two 12 Volt batteries wired in parallel.

In this scenario we have wired two 12 Volt batteries in parallel. As a result, the Voltage has remained the same (at 12 Volts) however the total Amp Hours increases to 420 Amp Hours, which is the total of the two batteries added together.

In my 5th wheel, I used a combination of series and parallel wiring. By taking six – 6 Volt batteries and wiring pairs of batteries in series, I can basically create three 12 Volt batteries that I can then wire in parallel to increase the amount of total Amp Hours that are available. Let’s take a look at how this works:

Take a look at the diagram above. Since this scenario gets confusing for some people I am going to try to make it as simple as possible. This diagram consists of two 6 Volt batteries wired in series. If you were to take a digital Voltmeter and measure the Voltage from the combination of these two batteries (holding one probe at the free positive (+) terminal and one at the free negative (-) terminal) you would get a reading of 12 Volts. For all intents and purposes, you can now think of this as one 12 Volt battery. In this scenario the Voltage has increased but the amperage has remained the same.

Now if I want to ensure that I have more total Amp Hours for all my toys, all I have to do is take several of these 6 Volt battery combinations (that are wired in series to give me 12 Volts) and wire them in parallel. Take a look at the diagram below.

In this scenario we have taken six – 6 Volt batteries and wired them in series and parallel to give us 12 Volts and 660 Amp Hours of battery capacity. How did we end up with 660 Amp hours? Remember that each 6 Volt pair of batteries wired in series gives us 220 Amp hours. We have now wired the three pairs of batteries in parallel and when batteries are wired in parallel, the amperage increases. So since each pair produces 220 Amp Hours x 3 pairs = 660 Amp Hours total.

*Don’t mix batteries. If you are going to install new or improved batteries, make sure they are all of the same type (AGM, gel or flooded) and make sure that they are all purchased at the same time and are of the same age. Mixing older batteries with newer ones will most likely limit the longevity of the newer batteries and cause them to degrade or fail sooner.

*Use true deep cycle batteries. Don’t get sold on marine batteries as they are not a true deep cycle battery and are constructed to be somewhere in between a starting battery and a deep cycle battery.

*Before you connect your batteries to your RV or inverter, use a digital voltmeter to ensure that you have wired your batteries properly to output 12 Volts. The last thing you want to do is pump 24 Volts or more through your RVs 12 Volt electrical system accidentally and ruin all of your electronics.

*When installing or working on your batteries make sure you use insulated tools. There is a lot of power stored in a battery. If you accidentally touch both battery posts with your wrench or touch the RV chassis, you could get shocked, burned or even short the battery out and cause it to explode.

*When working on your batteries use protective clothing, safety glasses, and rubber gloves to protect yourself from shocks.

If you have any questions on how to properly wire your 6 volt battery configuration or would rather allow an RV professional do it for you, give your Central PA RV Service Center a call at 800-722-1236.

The RV Battery Dilemma..

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Lerch RV

RV battery, RV batteries, PA RV Service Center, Lerch RV, PA RV Dealer

In this corner, the well-known 12 volt battery. In the opposite corner, the challenger, the 6 volt battery….

I decided to start the new year off with a post about batteries. The things that allow us to switch on that light in the middle of the night to find the bathroom. I recently came across this excellent article comparing 6 volt batteries to 12 volt batteries. I have several customers that swear by the 6 volt set up. And after reading this article, I might be moved to agree with them. Let me know your thoughts after you read it…

When I was deciding what batteries to use for my 5th wheel, the first decision that I had to make was 6 Volt vs. 12 Volt batteries. Based on my research, I found that many avid RVers swore by 6 Volt batteries as being superior to 12 Volt batteries. I know that some people may be a little confused by this as they ask, “Don’t most RVs rely on 12 Volts?” The answer is yes, however, you can use 6 Volt batteries if you wire them properly to output 12 Volts. So the next question that many people ask is, “Why would you use 6 Volt batteries instead of 12 Volt batteries? Why not just use 12 Volt batteries?” If you do some research on the web, you will find endless debates surrounding this topic. In reality, the most important thing to consider is the total Amp Hours you will receive from the batteries in relation to what you can fit into your RV in terms of weight and space. However, there may be some truth to the idea that 6 Volt batteries are superior.

If for instance you use two Group 27 12-Volt batteries that are rated at 105 amp hours each and you wire them in parallel (we will discuss parallel vs. series wiring below), then you will receive a total of 210 amp hours out of your batteries. However, if you use two 6-Volt batteries that are roughly the same size and weight that are rated at 210 amp hours each and you wire them in series for 12 Volts, you will also receive 210 amp hours out of them. So in both situations you are using two batteries and in both situations you are getting roughly the same amount of Amp Hours. So the question remains why choose the 6 Volt batteries over the 12 Volt? The reason is simple when you consider the batteries construction.

Remember from our discussion earlier that a 12 Volt battery is actually made up of six individual battery cells that each output approximately 2.12-2.15 Volts each. Each one of these cells is made up of a lead plate that is surrounded by an acid solution. Generally speaking, the heavier these plates are, the longer they will last and the better suited they are for deep cycle discharges and recharges. Since 6 Volt batteries only contain three cells per battery as opposed to six cells for a 12 Volt battery and since comparable batteries (in terms of amp hours) are roughly the same size (dimensions and weight will vary), the 6 Volt battery is usually constructed with larger plates and therefore tends to last longer in deep discharge situations. Similarly, you may even find that 6 Volt batteries are slightly cheaper than 12 Volt batteries. As a result of the 6 Volt batteries being constructed better and being slightly cheaper, most avid RVers will choose the 6 Volt batteries if they have the space to mount them. If you do some additional research on the web, you can even find people who have tested 12 Volt and 6 Volt batteries side by side. In all of these tests, the results seem to confirm that 6 Volt batteries are superior.

So what are your thoughts? Your choice in batteries is a person choice, both accomplish the job. Regardless if it is a 6 volt or a 12 volt battery, the lights will be own at the flip of the switch. If not give PA’s RV service department a call…800-722-1236

Safe travels and Happy RVing in the New Year.

Save $$$ in 2012…Go RVing!

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Lerch RV

Travelers save when they go RVing!

A study prepared for RVIA by PKF Consulting USA found a family of four that owns an RV can take an RV trip for 23 percent to 59 percent less than other types of vacations. For a couple traveling by RV, savings were 11 percent to 46 percent. Even after accounting for factors such as RV ownership costs and fuel prices, the study confirms that RV vacations offer greater savings than vacations taken by car or airline and requiring hotel/rental stays and restaurant meals.

PKF analyzed vacation costs to nine popular destinations for a family of four and a party of two adults and included different types of RVs and varying vacation durations. It also analyzed how theoretical increases in fuel prices could affect vacation travel costs.

RV vacations proved more economical than the other vacations, regardless of trip duration, distance, or vacation region, said PKF vice president Kannan Sankaran. “While fuel costs are a component of the overall vacation cost, they are not significant enough to materially affect the outcome of our analysis.” So fuel costs are not really a factor to most family vacations.

Safe Travels and Happy RVing!

The perfect gifts for the RVer/Camper in your family.

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Lerch RV

RV Christmas Tree Lot @ Lerch RV, Keystone RV, Open Range RV

Tis' the Season...

Christmas seems to come faster every year. If you are like me, then you probably wait until the last minute to find gifts for your friends and loved ones. It can be hard trying to pick out that special present for those who mean so much to you. If you are looking for the perfect gift for the RV enthusiast that you know, you may not know what to get. There are many great gift ideas to make RVing easier and more fun for RV owners and passengers alike.

One of the things that you have to take into consideration when buying gifts for an RVer is space. RVs may have more room than other vehicles, but in terms of living space, being economical is key. One great gift for the avid reader would be an e-book such as a Kindle, Nook or maybe a new Kindle Fire. These devices will free up a lot of storage space currently being used up by books, many of which are read once and then never touched again. Less flashy things, like portable meal trays, are a great way to open up more room for someone who is living in an RV. One of the best gifts that you could give an RVer is the gift of more living space, so you may want to look for items that will take up little space or allow more space to be used.

Another great part of RVing is being outdoors. Making life better while at a campsite is a great way to make an RVer happy on Christmas morning. Outdoor furniture such as chairs, tables, and even outdoor recliners will make living outdoors a lot easier. Outdoor carpets/area rugs for under the awning are always a hot seller too. If you are looking to get a gift for the chef in the family, kitchen utensils and appliances are always a hit. Just look for items that will take up minimal space and open up possibilities in the kitchen.

There are many great products and possibilities out there for RV owners, so be sure to start your shopping now, because Christmas is just around the corner. Be sure to visit your Pennsylvania RV dealer for all your RV Christmas needs.

Safe Travels and Happy RVing!

RVing is Easy at Lerch RV

Making memories, one campsite at a time.

Tag Archives: Recreational vehicle

Pennsylvania RVers flooring choice.

VW Transporter campervan gets electric

2011 Keystone Sprinter 297 RET-Save money PA

Are you looking for a new RV in Pennsylvania? Are you looking for a great balance of storage, living space and sleeping capacity? And are you looking for a great price on your new RV?

The HerrMAN, a 16-ton RV.

Blue Ox introduces the Tail-Gator

Pennsylvania RVers get the big AdVANTAGEs.

Vantage. The new perspective in camping.

Wiring 6 & 12 Volt RV Batteries Properly

The RV Battery Dilemma..

Save $$$ in 2012…Go RVing!

The perfect gifts for the RVer/Camper in your family.

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