The second part of RV Buddies exclusive two-part interview with Gary Bunzer, "The RV Doctor" is LIVE for viewing now.

In this final 12-minute segment, Gary talks about a variety of RV maintenance and safety topics.  "With over 33 years of experience, Gary knows RVs inside and out," says Mark Summers, Host of RV Buddies.  “For anyone who wants to take care of their RV, this is a must-see interview.”

Bunzer shares the practical side of short and long-term maintenance so your RV can safely take you on your adventures for a long time.  "He’s a fountain of helpful tips,” says Summers. "My favorite is a great trick with a butane lighter to make sure your LP detector is working – simple, but effective."

Bunzer also elaborates on the reality of solar becoming mainstream and the future of fuel cells. From a safety perspective – he is adamant that a coach should have three to four fire extinguishers at a minimum, far above the legally mandated single unit.

Finally, Bunzer makes the point to look for the RV Certified or RV Master Certified patch on your technicians' shirt. It's proof that they are trained, updated and recertified every five years. With technology changing so fast – this is more important now than ever.

Lippert Components has acquired the patent-pending design for "Level Up", an innovative six-point leveling system for towable recreational vehicles.

"To eliminate unwanted rocking and swaying with other leveling systems for towable RVs, you may have to adjust up to four different manual or power jacks.  Based on the terrain, you may even need to position those jacks on blocks to get the RV to the desired position.  Not only does the patent-pending Level Up six-point hydraulic design level the RV in seconds but it eases undue stress on the chassis, windows, and sidewall when the RV's slide-outs are extended or retracted," said Brian Donat, Director of Marketing for Lippert Components.

Level Up is the first hydraulic six-point leveling system designed specifically for towable RVs.  The six-point design helps prevent twisting issues while leveling.  The system works from a centrally located key pad that levels from side to side, then front to back.  "The Level Up product is also available in after market kits from the Trailair Service Center located in Goshen, IN for the customer that currently owns an RV," said Donat.

"The Level Up design is a natural fit with our stabilization products for towable RVs,  and is consistent with our overall strategy of adding more value to the RV," said Jason Lippert, President and CEO of Lippert Components.  "We continuously strive for added value for all our products.  Leveling systems once only used for high-end towable RVs are now reaching more mid-line products.  As this trend continues, we expect that Level Up will be used on more and more towable RVs."

Additional information about Lippert Components and its products can be found at LCI1.com.

This is the first part of RV Buddies exclusive two-part interview with Gary Bunzer, "The RV Doctor".

Bunzer, who has been writing columns for the industry for more than 33 years, is best known as the "The RV Doctor."

“It was great to sit down with such an industry icon who knows the insides and outsides of RVs like no one else,” says Mark Summers.  “He is a veritable walking library of RV knowledge.”

In the interview, Bunzer details how his career, from when he first helped his dad with his dad’s column "George Says," though his love and working on RVs, to the time when “The RV Doctor" was born.  He covers the three questions he’s most frequently asked, stresses the importance of preventive maintenance and addresses solar and inverter issues and covers a host of other topics.

Click on the image below to watch the video. Part two will be online next week.

Aqua-Hot has introduced the 375-LP, a propane-powered hydronic system designed for diesel or gas RVs, towable and park models. Typically, hydronics have been limited to diesel rigs.

Another company that has been in business for a while is Precision Temp. They have been making propane-based hydronic and fast-recovery hot water heaters for some time. Having Aqua-Hot jump into the mix is a good thing lending credibility to the concept. (Precision Temps RV-500 is a great retro-fit for exisisting hot water heaters!)

What does this mean to the RV consumer? Typically within a product cycle, a new product like this will appear as standard on the higher end coaches, and optional on some others. So for 2011, expect to see hydronic products more and more available - especially on gasoline powered coaches.

Some of the things RVers like about hydronics include quieter heat, and endless hot water.

Retrofitting is a bit of a chore for all but the most ardent RVer. While a hydronic system replaces the hot water heater and furnace, there is a lot to consider with the installation including changes in exterior access doors, plumbing and heat registers etc.

For the future - priced should come down with wider adoption of this technology.

For more information, CLICK HERE for Aqua-Hot, or CLICK HERE for Precision Temp.

Aqua-Hot 375-LP Key Specifications

• Separate Thermostatic Heating Zones: 3
• Zone Heating Circulation Loops: 2
• Max Number of Aqua-Hot Cozy Heat Exchangers: 7
• Hot Water
• Domestic Hot Water Supply: Continuous
• Domestic Water Temp/Flow Rate: 120 Degrees 1.5 Gal/Minute
• Domestic Water Availability: 90 Gal/Hour
• Recovery Time: Zero Recovery Time
• No Engine Preheating
• Fuel: Propane
• Fuel Usage (Running Continuously): .7 Gal/Hour
• Fuel Usage (Average per day Dry Camping*): 2-4 Gal/Day
• Fuel Usage (When Electricity is Available**): 1-3 Gal/Day
• Fuel Usage (When Driving): 1-3 Gal/Day
• Shore Power: (One Setting Only)
• Electric Heating Element Low: 1-120V, 1650W
• Shore Power Operating Requirements Low: 120V AC/30 Amps
• Height x Width x Length (in inches): 16.75x18x29.5
• Weight in Pounds (empty/full): 140/185
• Max DC Amp Draw (Starting): 7.4
• Operating DC Amp Draw/Hour: 7.4

* Varies depending on ambient temperature
* *Extreme cold temperatures will increase fuel use

RV Buddies has always been a fan of Gale Banks. He has a shop that's so meticulous you can eat off the floor - seriously! What's more, every product he produces just raises the bar on performance with quality that most companies boast about but never deliver.

We've been watching this new product, the Banks iQ. This is NOT a toy. It's not an over-done gadget. This is a true performance enhancement for your rig. More importantly, it's upgradable because it's software driven. So you don't get stuck with something that becomes obsolete in a few years.

One of the greatest features of the Banks iQ is that you can integrate the SpeedBrake with it. The SpeedBrake is probably the most amazing downhill cruise control ever made. This feature alone makes the Banks iQ a must-own.

Okay - there's more. You can use the iQ to play music, view photos and movies, play games, run desktop applications and a whole lot more. Oh, and they won yet another award at SEMA - what a surprise!

You need to check out their website for full information and see if they make a model for your application. Here is some info from their site...

The Banks iQ is a True In-Car PC Packed Full of Functions and Applications for Use Inside and Outside of Your Vehicle.

No other device on the market can match what we've put into the Banks iQ. This powerful micro-computer lets you know the inner workings of your vehicle's ECU letting you see what's beyond your dashboard gauges. You select what you want to see and how you want to see it. Set alarms, adjust gauge colors, read and clear codes, log data, and find out how quick your vehicle really is. You'll find yourself using the host of useful built-in tools in your daily life. You'll listen to your favorite tunes, watch videos, play games, review your Microsoft Office documents and more. It's PC power that fits in the palm of your hand, and with a rechargeable battery you can take it with you wherever you go. Compared to Banks iQ, other vehicle interfaces on the market are one-dimensional toys with an umbilical cord to your dashboard.

"We know that we have a real game changer here with this device," said Gale Banks. "We've spent the past two years loading this unit up with additional value for our customers. We're very proud of this revolutionary product and we're serious about direct comparisons with anything else on the market today. This is what our customers told us they wanted in a personal VUIs (vehicle user interface), and what they needed them to do."

Now you can plug in a Banks Diesel Tuner and/or Banks SpeedBrake and use the 5" color touch screen Banks iQ for adjusting power levels, controlling your downhill cruising speed, adjusting the braking intensity, custom tuning numerous performance parameters, measuring vehicle performance, reading your altitude and GPS corrected speed, and more all on the fly!

The best news is that the Banks iQ is fully expandable and upgradable. Things like our growing stable of optional micro-computer controlled add-on performance and safety peripherals like: nitrous control, a true on-board dyno system, water/methanol injection, boost control, air density meter, air/fuel ratio meter, propane injection, TransCommand® and more will pave the way for options beyond your dreams. You'll always be able to run the latest software and download a host of new programs as they become available, too!

"Over the years we've introduced many new products which have completely changed the way the people looked at a specific class of devices, this is one more, and I think, our best so far. It's certainly our most multi-faceted and the most adaptable product we've ever offered, " Banks concluded. CLICK HERE for full info.

The CES show provides more than cocktails and gambling - it brings the occasional great new high tech idea. Here's a great one that will work whether you're camped out in an RV park or your favorite Lazyboy recliner at home.

L5 Technology is introducing an accessory and free app that turn any iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote control. Launching this week at CES, the L5 Remote provides consumers with a powerful alternative for replacing multiple and often-confusing remote control devices. The L5 Remote transforms the iPhone and iPod touch into a personal universal remote that controls televisions, DVDs, DVRs, cable boxes, audio equipment, and most other products that come with an infrared remote.

Developed by L5 Technology, the L5 Remote is comprised of a small hardware device that plugs into an iPhone or iPod touch dock connector and a free app to be available from the iTunes App Store. The L5 Remote offers a quick an easy set-up, using a drag and drop features so consumers can create their ideal, and personally customized remote control interface. The L5 Remote is priced at MSRP $49.95 and will be available for purchase in February from the L5 Technology web site L5remote.com and retailers nationwide.

How Does L5 Remote Work?

Consumers purchase the L5 Remote hardware – an adaptor measuring 1.25 x .85 inches – and plug it into the iPhone or iPod touch docking port. They will then be prompted to download a free app from the iTunes App Store, which allows them to simply drag-and-drop to create their own customized remote control interface. The app will guide them through a short process of programming the app to control the infrared devices.

Using infrared technology, the L5 Remote can control any number of devices in any number of rooms. Consumers can easily set it up to control products in the living room, bedroom, office, or any other location. The L5 Remote will work to a distance of approximately 30 feet.

The L5 Remote is portable and does not require batteries, Wi-Fi or external power to work. The product can control thousands of devices, including TVs, cable boxes, stereos, DVD players, ceiling fans, air conditioners, and many other products.

CLICK HERE to go to their website. The FAQ is helpful and you can get on their mailing list to be advised when this new toy is available.

Thetford Sani-Con developer Lanny Stegal spent some time with RV Buddies Host and Producer Mark Summers and shared his in-depth knowledge of the development of macerator technology and the easy-to-use Sani-Con system.

Every RVer has seen the infamous scene where Robin Williams attempts to empty his holding tanks in the movie "RV". While no RVer has had an audience or accident to that level, accidents can happen – from mild to very unpleasant. Stegal is the expert and Summers poses questions you just might be too embarrassed to ask.

"Understanding the workings of these devices makes maintenance a lot easier" says Mark Summers. “And if there’s one piece of RV maintenance RVers want to handle quickly and easily, it’s emptying your black water holding tank.”

Stegal developed macerator technology for Thetford along with the Sani-Con product. During the interview, Stegal covers the macerator in detail and provides an in-depth look at the benefits of the Sani-Con system. Available in fixed and portable models, the Sani-Con system gives RVers with drop-through toilet models the benefits of macerator technology, plus the ability to pump black water contents great distances. Dumping tanks at home is made much simpler with the Sani-Con system – especially when the homeowner has a "P" trap for draining their pool.

RV Buddies got a chance to interview Mary Burrows, Manager of Chemical Development for Thetford Chemicals, about the full line of Thetford RV chemical and cleaner products including their EcoSmart™ line. The video is available on RV Buddies Online for viewing now.

“With the importance of going green, we thought it was a good idea to learn as much as we could about the latest products that are available to the RVer,” said RV Buddies Host Mark Summers.  Tops on our list of people to talk to was Mary Burrows, Manager of Chemical Development for Thetford Chemicals.

The extensive interview covered a wide variety of topics, including how to use Thetford products correctly, a range of health and safety tips, instructions on how to protect the environment (ECO and green are not just buzz words – they really mean something), and a few things we had not even considered!

“It’s a wide-ranging interview that contains a lot of important information that every RVers should know,” Summers said.  “For example, we learned that most household cleaners contain bleach and are too harsh for RV surfaces and toilet seals.  ECO-friendly and green products are not only good for your health and the environment but they’re good for your RV as well.  And they’re better for use in your home for the very same reasons."

As a rule, the RV industry and RVers in general are more environmentally conscious than most people. RVers have long understood that conservation is a requirement and that we must protect our environment leaving it cleaner than when we discovered it – so generations to come can enjoy nature's beauty.  “Thetford helps RVers accomplish those goals,” said Summers.

The wide-ranging interview is about 17 minutes long and is the first of two parts. In part two, RV toilets and macerators will be covered in-depth.

Blue Ox’s new Patriot system offers easy, convenient way to smooth tow braking.

The Patriot from Blue Ox is an all-new electric-powered braking system designed to provide more sensitive braking performance for vehicles in tow. This lightweight and compact unit is also easy to store and use.

Instead of the sudden all-on or all-off braking of typical air compression systems, the Patriot system electronically coordinates with the motor home brakes to apply appropriate, proportional braking for all tow vehicle wheels, allowing for smoother deceleration and less wear on the brake pads.

At 15 pounds, the Patriot is half the weight of similar units. With an electric actuator instead of an air cylinder, it eliminates pumps, tanks and air hoses that can malfunction or leak. It has its own battery that allows it to supplement any uneven power flow from the towed vehicle to provide consistent and reliable braking at all times. The battery also allows the braking system to operate independently from the motor home’s power source should a tow connection be lost. It is recharged through the twelve volt supply of the tow vehicle.

The Patriot is controlled by an in-coach wireless RF remote with an easy-to-read LED display that provides a manual brake lever and a gain adjustment that can alter the amount of braking. The display also provides feedback about when the tow brakes are engaged and any communication issues that exist between coach and tow vehicle braking.

Placement and set-up of the Patriot is easy with its top-mounted carrying handle and unique, easy-to-use brake pedal clamp. Large surface push-pads on the unit provide a snug fit between brake and seat.

Push-button self-calibration is easy. The unit itself has an LED display panel complete with set-up button, break-away plug-in, manual adjustment for sensitivity, on/off switch and an auxiliary 12-volt outlet.

“We think this is a big step forward in terms of providing a quality tow braking system through a very lightweight, easy-to-use unit,” said Blue Ox President Jay Hesse. “Towing needn’t be complicated or hard on the tow vehicle with the right products. Our evolving technology keeps answering the call of what RVers want.”

For more information go to the BLUE OX Website.

The first step in emergency preparedness it to purchase a reliable emergency kit for oneself and ones family. In the event of a catastrophic disaster, we cannot rely solely on emergency personnel, since they will be unable to assist the many people who will need help. Following a major disaster, stores and financial institutions will be closed, utilities will be shut off and buildings and roads may become too dangerous.

It is crucial to be self-sufficient by storing emergency kits in your RV, since no one can predict where we will be when a disaster strikes.

Quakecare.com is a great site that has all sorts of emergency kits covering every type of possible disaster. Their kits vary from simple personal kits to extensive packs suitable for an entire family. The site also remembers your furry friends with pet kits.

Do check out Quakecare.com, or surf the web and equip yourself with the emergency supplies you need. Make sure you are prepared for every adventure you encounter - planned and unplanned.

RV Buddies has another article on emergency radios which are an important accessory for your rig. (CLICK HERE to see that article.)