Month: July 2022

Working and Living in an RV Camper: Where to Start

Posted on July 22, 2022 by - ACI, Blog

Profile view of an RV camper: working and living in an rv

It’s easy to understand the appeal of working and living in an RV. With the freedom of exploring the countryside always close at hand and the reduced expenses associated with this living arrangement, your life can be instantly transformed. With that said, making the switch to this type of lifestyle can be intimidating, and you’ll want to have a detailed plan in place before getting started. Read on to learn how to start working toward this kind of lifestyle!

And once you’ve found your home base for your RV, keep your RV covered with American Carports. Our free Build & Price tool is a fun way to create a design that is perfect for your RV!

Secure the Right Work

Before you think about working and living in an RV, first and foremost, you need to make sure you have the right kind of career. Specifically, you’ll need to have a position that can be performed remotely most – if not all – of the time. If you have to go into a physical office in a specific location day after day, you won’t be able to extract value from living in an RV.

Also, the space you have to work will be limited in an RV, so take that into account. Most people who live and work in a camper need nothing more than a laptop to perform their duties. If you need more equipment, it might not be possible to handle your job successfully while living on the road.

Acquire a Suitable RV

If you don’t already own an RV, the next step will be buying something that is going to serve your needs on the road. Factors to consider include the following –

  • How many people? Will you be living the RV life on your own, or do you have a significant other to consider? What about kids, or pets? This is the biggest factor in the type and size of RV that you purchase.
  • Account for extra room. An RV that you are going to live and work in will almost certainly need to be larger than an RV that you just travel in for occasional vacations. You’ll have more things to keep on board, and you’ll want a little extra space to spread out.
  • Determine a reasonable budget at the start of the process and then do what you can to find an RV that stays within that limit while also meeting your needs.

You don’t necessarily need to purchase a brand-new RV to make this transition, as plenty of quality used RVs are available on the market. The budget you have available will go a long way toward determining whether a new or used model is a better fit.

Plan Smart Destinations

To be able to travel and work, you are going to require certain things like internet access and the ability to plug into a power source. That means, most of the time, that destinations deep in the woods won’t be as suitable as RV parks and campgrounds that are developed with some modern amenities. Pay specific attention to the quality of internet service at various places – even if a given campground has Wi-Fi, it might not be good enough for your work to be completed.

Start with a Trial

If you currently own a home, don’t dive too deep into this process before testing out the waters. Consider taking a month or so away from home to live and work in an RV to see how it goes. Is the lifestyle everything you thought it would be? Can you see yourself and your family doing this permanently? Everything comes with pros and cons, so it’s best to test it out and see how it goes before making too many decisions that you can’t easily reverse.

Stay Covered with American Carports

Is transitioning to working and living in an RV going to be right for you? Only time will tell! If you are interested in this possibility, learning as much as you can about the subject is a great place to start. We hope this article has been helpful.

Remember to explore our free Build & Price tool when you’re ready to create a home for your new RV!

 

How to Fix Sun-Damaged Car Paint

Posted on July 20, 2022 by - ACI, Blog

A red car parked in the sun: how to fix sun-damaged car paint

Cars are meant to be used outdoors. As the years go by, the conditions that vehicles encounter outdoors are sure to take a toll – and perhaps nothing will do more damage than the sun itself. As the sun’s rays beat down on a vehicle, the paint bears the brunt of the damage and it may start to look worse for the wear.

Read on to learn how to fix sun-damaged car paint. Also, to protect your vehicle from incurring so much sun damage, consider parking it under a carport from American Carports, Inc. You can easily customize a structure to fit your needs using our free Build & Price tool.

 

Identifying Sun Damage

Before you can work on fixing sun damage, you need to be sure that it is sun damage you are dealing with in the first place. The classic sign of sun damage is fading of the paint color over time. For example, what was once a bright red tone on your vehicle might start looking like a lighter, aged shade of red. Most likely, the fading paint is something you will notice gradually over time, as the tint of the paint slowly changes under the force of the sun.

You may also wind up dealing with peeling paint issues as another sign of sun damage. This is a more advanced stage of damage, so you’ll hopefully be able to act on this issue before reaching this stage. Either way, whether your paint is just fading or has also started to peel, it will be time to get to work on some effective fixes.

Getting to Work

When you are ready to work on fixing this issue, so your car can sparkle once again, consider following the process below. You may need to modify this process somewhat depending on the condition of your vehicle’s paint and what supplies you have available, but this should be a good starting point.

  • Give it a great wash. This process always starts by getting your vehicle as clean as possible. There are a couple of options available to you on this point – you could wash the car at home in your driveway, or you could take it to a commercial car wash facility. Either way can work, but the most important thing is that the car is very clean before you move on to performing any more work.
  • Clay bar rub. With a clean – and dry – car to work with, the next step is to use a clay bar to rub the vehicle and clean off anything that didn’t come free during the washing stage. When you buy a clay bar, it will come with some lubricant to use with it. You simply spray the lubricant on any spots that need attention and then use the clay bar to rub on the faded areas.
  • Rubbing compound. If you would still like to make more progress on the faded paint after using the clay bar, you’ll move on to bring a rubbing compound into the mix. This is a product you can find at an auto parts store. You can think of rubbing compound kind of like liquid sandpaper – it is going to agitate the surface of the vehicle when it is applied. Use a circle pattern to work the compound onto the vehicle and aim to develop a hazy look across the surface of the paint.
  • Buff it out. Finally, take out a clean microfiber towel and buff off the compound that is remaining on the vehicle. It will take a bit of elbow grease to work all of the compounds off to finish up this job.

You might be surprised to see just how much better your vehicle looks after going through the steps above. There will be some effort involved, but in the big picture, the improvement you can get in appearance for just a modest amount of time invested will be more than worth it.

Protect Your Car with American Carports

We hope this guide to how to fix sun-damaged car paint has helped! If your vehicle has already accumulated some damage, the tips above can help you improve the way it looks quickly and easily. Looking forward, think about adding a carport to your property to protect the paint and the rest of the vehicle from the havoc that Mother Nature can wreak. A metal carport is a durable, affordable way to improve your vehicle’s future. Start building your customized port with our free Build & Price tool today!

 

3 of the Best Ideas for Fall RV Road Trips

Posted on July 11, 2022 by - Blog, Informative

Aerial view of an RV driving down a scenic road with colorful fall foliage: three of the best ideas for fall rv road trips

With changing colors, cooler temperatures, pumpkin patches, and more, fall is easily one of the best times to travel in the United States. There is still plenty of great weather to enjoy, but you won’t be as likely to deal with the searing heat as you would be in the summer months! If you’re ready to plan your next getaway, read on to discover three of the best ideas for fall RV road trips!

Of course, when you aren’t off on a great adventure, it’s helpful to have a good place to park your RV where it’s protected from the elements. Achieve just that by adding an RV carport from American Carports, Inc. to your property. Design your personalized structure by using our free Build & Price tool!

 

1. Explore the American West

Whether you live near the West Coast or would consider driving across the country for this kind of trip, there is nothing quite like exploring this side of the U.S. Here, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

For the nature lover, the West is an endless playground with beautiful attractions like the Pacific Coast Highway, the rugged Pacific Northwest, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and more. There is no way you could see everything the west has to offer in a single fall trip, but you could make a master list and start to check off destinations one at a time over the coming years.

Given the tremendous size of the western states, good planning is essential for this kind of trip. For instance, you might decide that this fall, you are going to check out the Pacific Northwest, including highlights such as Mt. Rainier in Washington and Crater Lake in Oregon. You can then plan your route accordingly, and work on securing places to park your RV at night. Then, on a future trip, you could organize a California adventure and hit some of the highlights in that great state.

2. See the Leaves

We couldn’t put together an article about fall RV trips without discussing the foliage in the Northeast. If you have long wanted to see the leaves change – as so many people do each year – taking your RV along for the journey is a great option. The Northeast is not as wide open and spacious as the west, so careful planning and choosing your destination wisely is essential. As a general rule of thumb, do your best to stay away from the big city centers of places like New York City and Boston.

Instead, stick to smaller towns and quiet country roads where you can enjoy the fall leaves without feeling like your RV is too badly out of place. Timing can be tricky to see the leaves at their peak, so keep track of the weather and be ready to head out quickly when the conditions start to change from warm summer days to cool fall nights. The countryside of Vermont or a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, are both excellent options!

3. A National Park Tour

The National Parks of the United States are one of the top attractions this country offers, and fall is a great time to visit some of the best. Specifically, consider planning a fall trip to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as these two stunning destinations are often crowded in the summer but quiet down when fall arrives.

Yellowstone is located in the Northwest corner of Wyoming, while Glacier is found in Northern Montana running up to the Canadian border. At Yellowstone, discover world-famous geysers, amazing waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and more. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind place that you have to see for yourself to appreciate.

In Glacier, the dramatic landscape will take your breath away, along with incredible wildlife to watch for as you travel. For both parks, check on size limitations for certain roads, and find RV spots ahead of time so you aren’t stuck without anywhere to park at night.

Find Your Homebase with American Carports

We hope these ideas for fall RV roadtrips have helped inspire your next getaway! When you’re ready to find a home for your RV, remember to turn to American Carports. Start your journey by using our free Build & Price tool, and create a homebase that is perfect for you.

Essential Tools You Need for Your RV Camper

Posted on July 5, 2022 by - Blog

Tools on a table: essential tools for your RV camper

Traveling in an RV comes along with a lot more responsibility than a simple trip where you stay in a hotel or rental home. RV owners need to be able to deal with a range of issues that might come up along the way, and that’s why we compiled this list of essential tools for your RV camper.

Stocking up with the right tools for your adventures is always a good idea. And if you’re looking to further protect your investment, American Carports, Inc. is here to help. Explore our free Build & Price tool to create a durable, affordable, and customizable RV carport with all the features you need.

A Basic Set of Essential Tools for Your RV Camper

For starters, you should have a standard set of hand tools that you can use for various tasks in and around the RV. You might already own a set of these kinds of tools for your home, so you could choose to take that set with you – or you might decide to buy a small set that will live only in your RV.

There are plenty of pre-made kits available for this purpose, or you could opt to buy individual tools on your own to create a custom set. Either way, make sure your kit hits on all of the basics including:

  • Screwdrivers
  • Some standard wrenches in various sizes
  • A set of socket wrenches
  • A pair of pliers or two.

In addition to these common tools, also add in anything that you know you might need based on the specifics of your RV and what you might need to use along the way.

Work Accessories

In addition to the tools above, it’s a good idea to have accessories that will make work easier and more comfortable. Two great examples of items in this category are:

  • A pair of gloves: With gloves, you can protect your hands from minor cuts and bruises while working, and you’ll avoid getting them too dirty (which can be frustrating when camping if you don’t have access to hot water).
  • A headlamp: By having a headlamp available, you’ll be able to easily light up dark parts of your RV that might be hard to see when performing a fix.

Other Options

The two categories available aren’t negotiable – all RV owners should have a good set of tools and some accessories to make life easier. Additionally, you might want to consider the items listed below as options to take with you on your travels if they relate to the issues you sometimes face.

  • Hitch lock. Plenty of RV owners travel without using a hitch lock, but this accessory is worth considering if you often park your RV in busy places and are away from it for longer periods. Adding a quality hitch lock will make it very difficult for anyone to connect their vehicle to your trailer and drive away.
  • Walkie-talkies. This is one of those affordable upgrades to your RV setup that will start to pay off on your very first trip. If nothing else, you’ll want to use your walkie-talkies when trying to park your RV, as you can have one person doing the driving and another person outside giving directions. Most likely, you’ll find more uses for these than just parking, and you will wind up reaching for them over and over again as you travel.
  • Battery jumping pack. It’s easy to take your RV batteries for granted – until they are dead and can’t get the job done while you are out in a remote area. Investing in a good battery jumper will give you a backup plan in case of a surprise dead battery, and you might also choose to put it in your regular vehicle when not traveling in your RV.

American Carports Has You Covered

You don’t have to travel with a massive tool chest in your vehicle when you go on RV trips, but these essential RV tools are smart to have on hand. By investing a bit of money now to collect the right tools, you can be sure that you are prepared for many different issues that could pop up on your travels.

Of course, if you have been thinking of adding an RV carport to your property as another way to protect your most valuable asset, turn to American Carports, Inc. Explore our free Build & Price tool today to get started!