=========================================
CHANGIN' GEARS RV NEWSLETTER
=========================================
Issue 2, 9/15/2005

Changin' Gears - Trading City Lights for the RV Lifestyle
http://ChanginGears.com

----------------------------------------------------------------- 
You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to it 
directly, or by requesting one of our resources.  See end of 
emailed newsletter for unsubscribe information.  

Do you know someone who may be interested in reading this 
newsletter?  Feel free to forward this issue to them.  
----------------------------------------------------------------- 


-------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-------------
1) Zero Tongue Weight Trailer
2) RV Checklists Available for Download, New One Added
3) Silent Night, Noisy Night
4) Travel Trailer and Fifth Wheel Weight Calculators
5) Glossary of RV Terms


1) Zero Tongue Weight Trailer 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
What travel trailer needs no tongue jack, stabilizers, has zero 
tongue weight, and promises "no fishtailing"?  The Integrity 20 
from Guasti Trailer.  Always on the lookout for the unusual, this 
trailer caught my eyes because of its unusual steering axle.  
Unlike most travel trailers, the Integrity 20 has a front axle, 
taking up all of the weight that would otherwise be tongue 
weight.  I can't wait to see one in person to ask the driver how 
it handles.  

See it for yourself at http://www.guastitrailer.com


2) RV Checklists Available for Download, New One Added 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
Our checklists are now available for download, so you may 
customize them to your needs.  If you would like any of our 
checklists in Microsoft Word format (or Microsoft Excel for the 
Budget), go to the desired checklist on our web site and look for 
the yellow box in the left margin, starting with "This resource 
is available as..."  If you have already subscribed to this 
newsletter, requesting the checklist will NOT cause you to get 
multiple copies.  

Our latest addition is the RV Camping Checklist.

All RV checklists can be found here:
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-checklist.shtml


3) Silent Night, Noisy Night 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
Hindrances to sleeping well in an RV, and solutions to
overcome them 

Our new life as fulltimers brought me an unexpected 
challenge--getting a good night's sleep.  Being a very light 
sleeper, RV life has cost me many restless nights and prompted me 
to seek out a solution.  

In our previous fixed foundation home, disturbances had been 
fewer and my sleep more restful.  On the other hand, recreational 
vehicle living exposes the occupants to more disturbances due to 
the lighter construction and the surroundings.  Having lived in 
our fifth wheel for over a year, I have found solutions for 
reducing some of the disturbances which have kept me up at night.  

Read the entire article here:
http://changingears.com/rv-art-sleep.shtml


4) Travel Trailer and Fifth Wheel Weight Calculators 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
A frequent question by those who already have a truck is "What's 
the heaviest trailer I can tow?" To answer this question, we have 
created two calculators to help RVers estimate the maximum 
trailer weight that may be safely towed by a vehicle.  

These calculators are also great learning tools for understanding 
the various RV weights and how they relate to each other.  

Calculator web pages:
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-fw.shtml


5) Glossary of RV Terms
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A selection of RV terms from the Changin' Gears glossary:

Camper: Another term for an RV, especially smaller RV's that are 
towed behind or carried on top of light trucks.  Truckers 
generally refer to all RV's as "campers" in their CB 
conversations.  

Curb Weight: Curb Weight is the actual weight of a vehicle or 
trailer, including all standard equipment, full fuel tanks, full 
fresh water tanks, full propane bottles, and all other equipment 
fluids, but before taking on any persons or personal cargo.  

Exhaust Break: A device installed on the engine which causes 
deceleration by restricting the exhaust gases.  Exhaust breaks 
are used to supplement the service breaks of a vehicle and to 
increase stopping power.  Especially useful to slow heavy loads 
down steep grades.  

Tongue Weight: Tongue Weight (also called Tongue Load) is the 
actual weight pressing down on the hitch ball by the trailer.  
The recommended amount of Tongue Weight is 10%-15% of the GTW.  

Complete Glossary of RV Terms:
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-learn-glossary_a.shtml

                              * * *