RV Carports Direct

RV Cover Buying and Installation Made Easy

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:37:32 +0000

RV Carports Direct is making the purchase of the perfect RV cover as easy as 1, 2, 3. Providing covered protection for a recreational vehicle can keep it looking new for years by shielding it from the sun’s harmful rays, heat, severe weather such as hail, and inconveniences like tree sap and bird droppings. In addition to being able to travel in a vehicle that always looks great, steel RV carports and metal motor home covers can preserve the resale or trade in value on what is often the second largest investment a person will make in a lifetime. Getting that protection is now easier than ever with RV Carports Direct’s buyer friendly process. This process assists with the selection, financing, and installation of a new steel RV carport and/or metal motor home cover, customized to meet the exact needs of each RV owner. Here are the three easy steps:
1) Selection using RV Carports Direct’s “Buy Now” Service – Rv Carports Direct’s friendly staff is dedicated toward helping people find the best values in RV motorhome covers as well as enclosed steel garages, boat/vehicle carports, barns, and storage buildings. The best values at RV Carports Direct are often found through the “Buy Now” Service where already affordable covers of all kinds are reduced in price to the point where they can fit in to any budget. These popular packages include many of RV Carports Direct’s most popular RV covers as well as a wide variety of carports, carport garages, and multi-bay carports. “Buy Now” packages can also be upgraded and/or customized with end closures, side panels, additional storage, insulation and many other options.
2) Installation – The professional installers from RV Carports Direct can install an RV cover or motorhome carport on black top, concrete slab, or level ground either attached to another structure or as a “stand alone”. RV covers and motorhome carports can and should be installed as certified structures, especially in areas with high winds or heavy snow accumulations. Additionally, where local or state regulations require code compliant certification, RV Carports Direct supplies engineer backed certification documents to ensure that the structure meets all ordinances. RV Carports Direct also offers non load rated, non-certified structures for uses such as agricultural equipment covers and livestock shelters.
3) Financing – RV Carports Direct, because of its relationships with a wide variety of lenders, has available financing options designed to fit into almost any budget. Flexible financing and other opportunities such as no money down terms can be arranged by the financing specialists at RV Carports Direct even with credit scores that are less than perfect. All major credit cards are accepted as well.
Shielding an RV or a motorhome from the elements by installing a cover, carport, or garage is the best way to preserve the value of what is normally a large investment. Additionally, these structures can cut down on maintenance tasks such as cleaning bird droppings, removing tree sap, and washing the vehicle. RV Carports Direct has now simplified the process to make protecting an RV or motorhome as easy as possible. For more information, visit www.RVCarportDirect.com or call (800) 985 7678.

The Six Advantages of Metal RV Carports

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:35:01 +0000

RV Carports can come in many different shapes, types, sizes, and styles to fit just about any imagination. Variations can include attached, stand alone, metal, wood, basic, and highly customized structures. For all the variations, the purposes of these shelters remains the same; mainly to provide protection from the elements such as severe weather and the damaging rays of the sun and secondarily to add some security for the vehicles and other items which are being protected. For many buyers, the first decision to be made is whether to go with a shelter made from metal, wood, or canvas. While wood and canvas shelters have their applications, metal RV carports have several advantages over them and are listed here:

* Versatility – Metal RV carports come in a variety of sizes and can be used for a multitude of purposes beyond providing shelter for RV’s. Options abound, including providing protection for personal watercraft, motorcycles, ATV’s, and snowmobiles. Other choices include the installation and use of carports as boat slip covers and agricultural uses such as shelter for farm equipment and livestock. Enclosed carports can be used for extra work space, play areas, or to expand a business’ square footage in a cost effective manner.

* Durability – RV carports made with metal are far more durable and stronger than structures made with either wood or canvas due to the fact that metal does not deteriorate like wood does. Metal buildings can also bear higher loads because the structural components which are fastened by high strength nuts and bolts do not expand or contract with temperature variations which weaken the integrity of wooden components over time. Additional damage from warping, termites, and dry rot, which are an everyday occurrence in wood structures, are unheard of in metal buildings. Another issue that is of virtually no concern to owners of metal carports is the risk of fire, which also decreases insurance expenses.

* Ease of Assembly – At their most basic, metal carports are relatively easy for a do it yourselfer to assemble. As customization options such as enclosures or attachment to another structure are added, the assembly can become more time consuming. Many carport dealers, like RV Carports Direct, offer professional installation as part of their carport packages.

* Portability – The ease of dis-assembling metal RV covers allows for structures to be used for temporary and multiple uses such as sheltering a party, providing winter protection for livestock, or to be moved from location to location.

* Customization Options – Metal RV carports can be customized to almost any specifications imaginable. These packages can also be upgraded and/or customized with end closures, side panels, additional storage, insulation and many other options. Exterior upgrades can include multiple color choices, customized roof options, doors, windows, and trims.

* Affordability – Metal carports are usually much less expensive than their wooden counter-parts and can be used to expand square footage for a home or business for a fraction of normal costs. Financing terms can be arranged provide additional flexibility

Metal RV carports are available in huge variety of sizes to provide shelter to an RV or motorhome while offering options for additional storage, work space, play areas, and more. For more information on carports, customization, and financing options visit www.RVCarportsDirect.com or call (800) 985 7678.

RV Covers

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:33:28 +0000

Considering that most recreational vehicles are eventually sold or used as a trade, buying a protective RV cover can play a vital role in preserving the monetary value of what for many people is the second largest investment of their life. As the market for recreational vehicles has slowed, the competition for sellers and those looking to trade their RV’s has increased dramatically. Buyers have become extremely selective in all price ranges, selecting from a wide range of pre-owned recreational vehicles which are now coming on to the market, many times in pristine condition. These well kept recreational vehicles are the most likely to sell at premium prices versus models that are presented with obvious wear and tear. The key to preserving the maximum value is the protection afforded by an RV cover, whether open-sided or fully enclosed. An RV cover provides protection against the following elements:

* As opposed to prevailing perceptions, much of the long term damage to recreational vehicles comes not from severe weather conditions but from direct sunlight. While high season for RV’s is during the hot days of summer, the vehicle is likely to be sitting for extended periods of time baking in the sun’s damaging ultra-violet rays and heat. This sun-up to sundown heat and UV exposure can result in yellowing, fading, and cracking of interior surfaces whether they are exposed to light or not, simply due to the oven like temperatures that can bake the inside of an unprotected recreational vehicle. This daily dose of high temperatures can cause severe damage and play a significant role in the deterioration of the RV’s due to the fact that a day with 98 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures can heat the interior to temperatures as high as 180 degrees. Consistently high temperatures such as these can dry and warp laminates, seals, and plastics which can age the interior dramatically. The exterior obviously suffers as well in these conditions, with gradual degradation of seals, paint, and finish.
* Another spring and summertime occurrence which can cause extensive damage to recreation vehicles is hail. Mainly a Midwestern event due to atmospheric updrafts which can grow hail to enormous size, these storms inflict extensive damage on a yearly basis. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), hail storms inflict an average of $1 billion per year in crop and property damage. In fact, a single storm in Kansas City in 2001caused over $2 billion in damage in a single day. In areas with severe hail storms, protecting a vehicle with an RV cover can provide a big return on the investment.
* Snow, freezing temperatures, and other severe weather conditions can incur damage over both the short and long term to a recreational vehicle. In areas with heavy winds and snow, it is extremely important that an RV cover be certified for its ability to bear the weight of collected snow and/or to withstand strong winds.

Protecting the value of a large investment always makes sense, particularly when that investment is sitting outside in the elements. RV Carports Direct has a full line of RV covers to meet any level of protection for all types of recreational vehicles. For more information please visit www.RVCarportsDirect.com or call (800) 985 7678.

Beating Winter Temperatures in an Enclosed RV Carport

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:07:35 +0000

The versatility and affordability of enclosed RV carports has expanded their uses beyond just sheltering vehicles to functioning as home offices, work spaces, and/or play areas. As these uses become more integral in work and family life, having the area in which these activities take place get shut down due to cold temperatures becomes less and less of an option. As carport designs continue to evolve, making them more like room additions than bare bones shelters, a variety of heating options has also developed.
The two primary options for heating these living spaces are electrical or gas generated heat. Getting the right sized heating unit for the space being used is critical to make sure that enough heat gets generated without spending too much on a unit that is bigger than it needs to be. The following are approximations for the heater output required to warm the square footage of a living/working space:
* 250 square feet – 24,000 BTU’s (British Thermal Units)
* 350 square feet – 36,000 BTU’s
* 550 square feet – 48,000 BTU’s
After getting the right sized heating unit, the next decision will be how best to heat the designated area. Depending on whether heating must be spread throughout the area or targeted to a specific area will determine the proper type of heater. For heating wide areas, going with a convection heater is usually the best choice. An example where a convection style heater would be best is an area where people might be dispersed or moving around such as a play area or for a business with work areas which are spread out over the square footage of the structure. A less expensive option, such as a radiant or infra-red heater, would work if the area to be heated can be targeted to a specific area, such as a work desk. Money can also be saved by insulating the structure and adding weather stripping to doors and windows.
As more RV carports are being wired for electrical output, hooking up regulation heaters has become a common practice. For areas that don’t experience freezing temperatures, space heaters can also provide enough heat from a 120 volt outlet but care must always be taken to keep the heaters upright and away from all kinds of flammable materials. A “tip-over” feature automatically turns the heater off or emits a beeping sound should the unit be upended.
Gas heaters can generate heat from both fixed and portable sources. Natural gas and liquid petroleum supply heaters from fixed piping systems while propane and kerosene are carried in storage tanks. With any gas based heating system it is extremely important to ventilate the heated area as well as placing carbon monoxide sensors around the interior of the structure to alert occupants of any kind of buildup of the noxious gas. Of the four gas sources, kerosene carries a consistently strong odor making it probably the least desirable source of heat, especially in an enclosed or poorly ventilated structure.
RV carports have come a long way from their beginnings as open sided shelters and now provide extra, and often much needed, space for both work and play on a year-round basis. For more information on customization and heating options, visit www.RVCarportsDirect.com or call (800) 985 7678.

Caring for a Recreational Vehicle or Motorhome

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:05:32 +0000

Maintaining and caring for an RV or motor home, when done on a regular basis, can add years of enjoyment as well as preserve the value of what is most often a large investment. Irregular use of an RV of motor home and being parked in one spot for extended periods of time raise the importance of maintenance and care so that the vehicle is ready to operate at its best when called into action. Beginning with caring for an RV or motor home:

* Providing care for an RV or motor home starts with the purchase of a cover or carport to protect both the interior and exterior from the elements. While severe weather can definitely be a factor in wear, tear, and damage to a vehicle, these events tend to be relatively isolated. The one element that every vehicle must be protected from is the sun. Heat and harmful UV rays can age both the interior and exterior of an RV or motor home in a short period of time. While the direct sunlight fades the exterior, the interior can reach an oven-like temperature, which damages surfaces that receive direct sunlight through windows and leads to cracking of laminates and plastics, in particular. In fact, on days when outside temperatures outside reach into the nineties, interior temperatures on an RV or motor home can approach two hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Considering that water boils at 212 degrees, it’s easy to see how all aspects of the coach can suffer under regular exposure to warm temperatures.
* Optimal protection can be provided with the purchase of a fully enclosed metal RV carport. Carport designs have come a long way since their beginnings, and options abound now for getting an RV out of the elements, as well as providing other benefits such as added work, play, and family space. Protecting a vehicle inside an enclosed carport also minimizes other care tasks such as washing, cleaning off of bird droppings, and the removal of tree sap.

Maintenance:

* Be sure to change the fuel filter on a regular basis. A clean filter will maximize fuel flow to the engine, lighten the load for the fuel pump, and prevent the expense of repairing clogged fuel injectors.
* Check the oxygen sensors. On older coaches especially, oxygen sensors can gradually wear down without setting off the “check engine” light. Power and fuel mileage can suffer and make the vehicle work harder than it needs to.
* Replace air filters when necessary.
* Change the brake fluid regularly. This is regularly overlooked but brake fluid, especially over extended periods of inactivity, can absorb water which reduces its boiling point and can render the brakes useless. High boiling point brake fluid recommended by the manufacturer should be added at the beginning of each driving season to ensure optimal safety.
* Change the oil. Oil starts losing its effectiveness when it’s left pooled in an un-driven coach. Changing the oil at the same time as the brake fluid is a great habit to develop.

Keeping an RV or motor home looking and running like new may require a little time and money but considering the size of the initial investment, the described actions are well worth it. For more information on enclosed metal carports and other tips on caring for an RV, visit www.RVCarportsDirect.com or call (800) 985 7678.