Might want to keep a spray bottle of 303 Aerospace protectant on hand. Use it once a month or so on awning, plastic trim, tires, etc. Great stuff...
I hope you will enjoy reading my journal about my bicycle ride, camping all the way across America at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/dean. We also RV in our '07 Starcraft Travel Star 23QB, pulled with a good old stout Isuzu Trooper. It works
Approx. 6 miles north of Alamogordo (on Hwy 54/70) is Boot Hill RV, where we stayed this winter. Owners are James & Cindy Livers.....very nice couple, very helpfull. Park has only been opened since August '08 so everything is new.
Monthly rent is $225 + elect. for 2 people. Sites are very large.
You can check it out at: www.boothillrv.com
If you do stay there say HOWDY for us (Byron & Debbie).
Good luck in your move.
I saw thier website, looks nice enough, Im suprised at all of the RV Places in such a small area.
I live in Tampa Fl and work in Yuma AZ. I just drove my RV out on April 1st and am now fultiming in it - so I know your concerns well. Take all of the advice given as good.
Yuma just went thru it's coolest June on record so the high heat is just now hitting.
I suggest you have a good set of wheel covers to protect tires from sun. Also, Home Deport sells a solar insulation (it comes in various size roles). I would strongly suggest you measure your windows and cut and install this stuff. Make sure you cut the right size so it fits the interior of the window (inside the frame) as it will reflect the heat back outside. Don't jst cut to cover the window and windowframe. The front windshield is important. - don't use the standard shield guard you buy in stores such as wallmart - cut one to size. Their is a huge difference.
I also second the notion to wash and give a good wax job. I also hose down the coach about once a week (believe it or not but water is cheap in Yuma).
As I have 30 amp service into coach, I can only run one AC at a time. I usually keep them off while at work, as soon as I get to the coach I turn on the bedroom AC to full power and close it up. I do have several fans and putting water on you and standing in front of a fan will cool you quickly. If it get sto bad, I use generator and run bothj AC's to take the bite off.
I would also do a double check on radiator system. Desert driving will tax this system to the max.
To my experience if you park anything on direct sun it will get extremely hot and deteriorate in a very fast rate. I've seen 5-years old cars with paint burned out on them.
So besides protecting the RV itself per advices above, I would hardly work to make a shade for it. I've been using "canopy garages" for my toys for years. They sold at Costco for about $140. For my conversion I used 2 in the row and extended the legs with fence pipes. Putting one side tarp only give it good air circulation and easy access.
Just attaching sheets of plywood on the roof with big overhang will make huge difference.
An AC removes humidity to cool the air, a desert cooler adds humidity to cool the air and needs a breeze to aid in evaporation. Desert coolers will cool you as long as the outside humidity is low and you leave a window open to create a breeze. Summer is "monsoon" season and while it may not be the humidity you get in Georgia it is enough to make a desert cooler stop cooling. You may want humidity in your air but using a desert cooler to get it is not the answer, especially, if you are using the AC at the same time. AC needs a closed environment, a DC needs an open one. The window reflectors are good advice. Pack rats will build a nest in anything that is not moved regularly or occupied. Get some rat poison bricks from a feed store.
Chevy 2500 Duramax, 30ft Prowler, 18ft Bass Boat, 2 big dogs,
Boondocking at Rio Costilla, NM
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