Olympia RV and Trailer Repair

Now that we are officially in the holiday season, this is the time of year we like to reflect on all the things we are thankful for. You see, this business of ours is a true passion. We have been longtime fans of Recreational Vehicles. We love the freedom that RVs and trailers provide us when we want to go exploring. In this month’s blog, we want to show five reasons why we give thanks this year for our RVs and Trailers. Affordable travel options. We have a large family, and as it continues to grow, we are super grateful for our RVs and trailers. Have you seen the cost of airline tickets lately? For the same amount of money it takes to fly two people to a destination, we can load up the whole family and go on an adventure. Trailers and motorhomes certainly offer affordable travel options, and for that, we are grateful. Quality time with family. Speaking of family, we love spending quality time with them. If we were to plan a vacation that incl ... read more

Just because summer is over doesn’t mean the RV has to be left out of all the Halloween season’s spooky fun! Whether you’re in an RV park, touring the States, or into spooky camping, there are some fun tips and tricks to getting your RV ready for the season. When it’s time to decorate your RV for Halloween, dig into the decorations that you already have at home and build from there. Make sure to include pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. Now, since you many be moving your RV around, carved pumpkins may not be the most long-lasting decoration, but there are still ways to have fun with pumpkins without carving. There are many kits out there that are meant for pumpkin painting! This extends the life of your pumpkins while allowing for easy repositioning inside or outside with the same amount of creativity put in.  Many folks like to have string lights around the outside and inside of their RVs, and a simple way to switch it up for Halloween season is to find yourse ... read more

With fall quickly approaching, the end of summer always feels a little sad. Although you can have just as much fun in the fall as you did in the summer with some fun fall RV Activities. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities to do in the fall: Geocaching is a fun way to get outdoors and look for fun treasures. Fall means that there are a lot more leaves on the ground making them more challenging to find, it also gives you a great excuse to explore new places you’ve never been. Pumpkin patches are a family favorite as you can get the whole family together to have some fun. Being able to get lost in a hay maze or have your little ones pick out their favorite pumpkin it is a time to remember, bringing your family along can also make it a bit more special. Telling spooky stories sets the mood for Halloween coming up, sitting around a campfire in the dark can bring up the excitement for the season. Getting your kids a little scared but excited for Halloween is always a f ... read more

WE OFFER SAFETY CHECKS FOR ALL TRAILERS AND VEHICLES We have trained specialist on site for your safety check and proper towing needs. PRE-DEPARTURE SAFETY CHECKLIST Before driving, make sure your vehicle maintenance and trailer maintenance are current. This is very important because towing puts additional stress on the tow vehicle. Check and correct tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer. Make sure the wheel lug nuts/bolts on the tow vehicle and trailer are tightened to the correct torque. Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other equipment that connect the trailer and the tow vehicle are properly secured and adjusted. Check that the wiring is properly connected— not touching the road, but loose enough to make turns without disconnecting or damaging the wires. Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights are working. Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating correctly ... read more

SAFETY TIPS Take time to practice before driving on main roads and never allow anyone to ride in or on the trailer. Before you leave, remember to check routes and restrictions on bridges and tunnels. Consider the following safety tips each time you drive with a trailer. General Handling Use the driving gear that the manufacturer recommends for towing. Drive at moderate speeds. This will place less strain on your tow vehicle and trailer. Trailer instability (sway) is more likely to occur as speed increases. Avoid sudden stops and starts that can cause skidding, sliding, or jackknifing. Avoid sudden steering maneuvers that might create sway or undue side force on the trailer. Slow down when traveling over bumpy roads, railroad crossings, and ditches. Make wider turns at curves and corners. Because your trailer’s wheels are closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of your tow vehicle, they are more likely to hit or ride up over curbs ... read more

1. Essential Propane Tank Know-How From refueling to inspecting the exhaust system, propane tank operation and maintenance is a big job. And although propane tanks are deemed safe for RV travel, there are some key tips to help ensure an enjoyable ride: No matter how big a home-town fan you are, never paint your tank a dark color, which more readily absorbs the sun’s rays and can cause the tank to overheat and explode. Don’t travel with the stove, oven or heater burners lit. Never refuel while any propane appliance, or the engine, is running. Make sure older propane tanks are checked to ensure they have an overfill protection device and check intake and exhaust vents for birds nests and other blockages. Avoid refrigerator fires (powered by propane). Have your propane tank regularly checked by a certified dealer to ensure lines are in good shape and that they are not leaking. Install a propane gas detector. 2. Conduct a Pre-Drive Safety Check ... read more

At Ernie’s Inc we carry all of the cool toys and gadgets. Our selection of towing accessories is off the charts. We have all of the major brands of locks, trays, ball mounts, and much more. Choosing the Correct Ball Mount For safe and comfortable towing, the trailer should always be as level as possible. A level trailer will put less strain on the connection between the trailer and hitch. It will also help the trailer stay in line behind the vehicle. Because trailer and vehicle heights often differ, a ball mount with a Rise or a Drop may be needed. To determine how much of a rise or drop you need, follow the simple steps below. Measuring for Your Ball Mount Measure the hitch height from the ground to the top of the receiver opening on the trailer hitch. With the vehicle parked on level ground, measure to the top of the 2″ hole on Class III and IV hitches and the 2-1/2″ hole on Class V hitches. Measure the coupler height from the ground to the bottom of the trai ... read more