The RV Handbook: Essential How-to Guide for the RV Owner, 3rd Edition [Paperback]

Bill Estes (Author), Miyaki Illustration (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2001

This new edition of The RV Handbook is for all types of RV enthusiasts - from a first-time buyer or renter to the most seasoned RV traveler. Packed with valuable information, checklists, photos, and charts, the guide tells you how to: buy an RV; avoid the single most common mistake novice RVers make; select a towing vehicle; avoid RV repair scams; benefit from technical trends in RV manufacturing; correct the bad towing habit that plagues even experienced RVers; and prevent explosive propane situations. With hundreds of proven RV tips, tricks, and techniques, this expanded handbook tells how to buy, maintain, and optimize RVs, saving both money and time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Trailer Life Books; 3rd edition (March 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934798664
• ISBN-13: 978-0934798662
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave home without this book! Start here first!, July 27, 1999

By 

Owned and Loved by Schnauzers "Owned by Schna... (Someplace, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The RV Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This book is an excellent reference. The author covers many topics in this book: The basics of rving, with information on waste systems, outfitting the rig, towing, setting up camp, leaving camp; improving fuel economy and performance; troubleshooting rv engines; rv electronic systems; weight, handling, and safety; tire care; selecting a tow vehicle; towing safety, and much, much more. The level of detail in this book was not covered in any of the other books we read. In addition, the author puts helpful checklists into the book as well: 'Used-Vehicle Evaluation Checklist'; 'Dinghy Towing Inspection Checklist'; 'A Propane System Checklist'; basic rv equipment lists; 'Return-Trip Checklist' and many more checklists. The information in this book is VERY helpful and VERY necessary for a first timer. This author not only wants to make you knowledgeable; he wants to make you SAFE, too.

Thanks to the author for an easy to read book on all the important points.

84 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential guide for any RV'er.. Expert or Dummy., June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The RV Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This revised edition contains a wealtlh (with a capital W) of extremely useful information on the care and feeding of most (if not all) major systems and appliances founds in today's RV.

If you've ever wondered just how the heck does that RV refrigerator work with either Propane or electrical power, or why it needs to be kept level, this book will explain it.

It covers maintaining a Satellite dish or amplified TV antenna, Solar panels for charging batteries, motorhome leveling jack systems, rubber roofs, generators, awnings, etc, etc.

If it's bolted on or in your RV, or being towed, this book will likely cover it.

As a new RV owner, the detailed and comprehensive information contained in this book will do much towards keeping me out of serious trouble.

The book is written at just the right level to be easily understood by most who will use it, not filled with "techno-babble" that only a fully trained mechanic can understand. Many photo's and schematic diagrams are included as well.

Whether I'm out on the road, or just in the driveway getting ready for that next great "road warrior" trip, this excellent book with not stray too far from me. The information it contains is far too valuable and useful to be without it.

124 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for Beginner Travel Trailer RVers, November 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The RV Handbook: Essential How-to Guide for the RV Owner, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

I received my copy of The Rv Handbook recently from a used book dealer. It arrived quickly and was in very good condition.

It is too bad that the book itself was such a disappointment. Mr. Estes spends more than half of the book talking about engines, Motor Homes only stuff and vehicles that pull the RV's. He barely touched on the things I was interested in, namely things like the RV systems, troubleshooting, RV setup in a dry camp. Mr. Estes also went into great detail about the battery and how it works. I am not interested in the details of how it works, only how to hook it up without a manual. From the reviews I read on your site, I was led to believe that the book would provide more basic info for all RVers. I guess that what I am looking for is a book such as "I BOUGHT A USED RV- NOW WHAT?"