Is a tent trailer really an RV? It depends on your personal definition of the term ‘recreational vehicle’. In the end, though, it really doesn’t matter. Whether you think of a tent trailer as an RV or you would rather lump it in some other category, they are a viable option for countless people who wish to explore the outdoors. Smaller and less expensive than Motorhomes or full-size camping trailers, tent trailers represent a great choice for a very specific segment of the market.

If you are thinking of getting into RV ownership for the first time, but you aren’t sure that you are ready to make the leap, take a look at the tent trailer options on the market today. Following is a shortlist of reasons why a tent trailer could make for a great first step toward eventually owning a full-size RV.

Affordable

The number one reason to consider buying a tent trailer is the cost savings over a traditional RV. If you are willing to buy a slightly used tent trailer, you could easily own one for less than $10,000 – which is far less than you are going to have to invest to own a quality Motorhome, for example. By lowering the initial investment that is required, you will give yourself the opportunity to experience RV-style travel without taking on a huge loan. Of course, should you decide that you enjoy RV travel and you feel like you need something bigger, you could always sell the tent trailer in order to upsize.

Easy to Pull

Most tent trailers are light, meaning you won’t necessarily need a huge vehicle in order to pull your tent trailer from spot to spot. In fact, there is a good chance that you already own a vehicle with the capability to pull an average-sized tent trailer. This is another point that will reduce the upfront investment required to get into the RV lifestyle. By not having to buy a full-size truck to go along with your trailer, you can save yourself money while still enjoying many great camping experiences.

Simple to Use

It can be intimidating to purchase a large motorhome as your first entry into the RV world considering just how complicated those large vehicles can be. There are a number of different systems on those large RV that you will need to learn how to operate. While they provide great comfort for your trips, there is something of a learning curve to deal with. On the other hand, most tent trailers are simple and easy to use. By the end of the first day on your first trip, you will likely have a great understanding of how your new toy works, and you will be able to then just relax and enjoy your vacation.

Tent trailers have some limitations, as they don’t offer all of the bells and whistles that come with full-size RV’s. However, when the budget is a concern, a tent trailer is a great way to get started. There are plenty of quality models on the market, so you should be able to find something that suits your needs nicely.

This Blog was posted by Coastal Breeze RV Resort in Rockport Texas

How to Replace a Dishwasher

Replacing your old dishwasher can be done with some common household tools. Still, please note if you are not comfortable with the process call a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician instead to do the job.

There are a few tools you will need that are listed below, also please note that these are instructions how to install the plumbing side of the dishwasher and the electric side of the job you will need an electrician or read on how to properly wire your dishwasher from a how-to guide on another site or in a book.

Please also note that this is how to replace the dishwasher after the electricity has been shut off and the dishwasher has been removed from the cabinet ( Usually 2 screws under the countertop)

Tools you will need:

Crescent wrench or open-end wrench
Pipe tubing cutter
Channel Locks or water pump pliers
Pipe Dope or thread sealant
Teflon tape on a roll, 1/2 inch most effective
Flat Head or common screwdriver
Utility knife

Here are the steps for the Plumbing side of the job ( Please note: electricity should be shut off and disconnected at this point.

Step One
Turn the water off to the dishwasher, This can either be done using the dishwasher feed valve under the kitchen sink or by shutting the water main down for the house. Not all homes will have a dishwasher valve under the sink and this may require you to shut the whole house off when replacing this unit. Most older houses have no valves, but new homes now require dishwasher stops or valves under the sink.

Step Two
Now that the water is off remove the copper water supply line from under the dishwasher that is connected to the “dishwasher elbow”. The elbow is made of brass and will have a nut that you will simply turn to loosen and remove the line.

Step Three
Now that the water feed line is disconnected, you will be removing the dishwasher drain line that will be connected under the sink to the tailpiece that comes down from the basin drain. This is usually a black rubber hose that you will see attached to the tailpiece and attached by a simple hose clamp.

At this point your electric (done by the electrical contractor), and the water feed lines and the drain lines are all disconnected, now you will simply slide the old dishwasher to the side and your dishwasher is now ready to be tossed aside and the new one is ready to be installed.

Step Four
To install the new dishwasher reverse these steps and then have the electrical contractor come back and reconnect the electric and you will be on your way to enjoying your new dishwasher.

Once again if any of this makes you nervous or you feel uncomfortable with any step, please call a licensed professional instead.

This blog was posted by Plumbing in San Antonio

Residential Pest Control – Termite Treatments

Termites work 24 hours a day and never take a nap or vacation! A typical home with termites may have three to four termite colonies around it, with as many as one million termites in each colony. That’s more than the number of people in most cities! Most of us run to the home store and grab a bunch of expensive topical termite controls, but you’re not getting to the real problem.More info here @ https://jenkinspest.com/

Your over the counter products are designed to be applied on the surface. Our termites that we have in this area are subterranean. So almost all their activity is going to be done through the soil and then up into a structure so coming in contact with the surface and those materials is basically non existent.

Instead try innovative devices from Dow AgroSciences with an advanced treatment called the Sentricon System. These stations are placed around the perimeter of the home and use the termites natural feeding instincts against them. Termites feed on these stations and take the food back to the colony and the queen. Sentricon gets to the heart of the termite problem by attacking and destroying the entire colony for good. It provides protection from termites 24 hours a day. That’s peace of mind every day of the year.

Finally, if you’re like every other homeowner out there and throwing down a bunch of new mulch right now, you may be creating a breeding ground for termites. You want to make sure you create at least a two foot barrier between your mulch bed and your foundation.

“The best thing is if you’re going to have mulch around the house is to have a small barrier between the mulch product and the foundation. Gravel rock, any kind of landscape product that’s not going to be a wood product. Any kind of product that’s not going to be a cellulose material. That will help create a barrier where you can eliminate some excess moisture, you can eliminate that bridge between the product being there and you can also create a treatment zone.”

One colony of termites can eat up to 3 pounds of wood per day. Termites do more damage to our homes than fires and storms combined. This new system is inexpensive, effective and you’ll be able to rest easy! Click on this site @ https://jenkinspest.com/pest-control/