Most people have to learn how to RV, and especially in cold weather.

[Dannyparker]

however simple a question from someone seems, please try to answer them (even if you answered the same question to someone last week).

[Old-Biscuit]

Folks here at pretty good about providing suggestions, ideas, how to, known fixes, etc.


But sometimes it is difficult to properly respond when the post makes very little sense, provides next to nothing in information or is so convoluted it is unreadable.

[Dannyparker]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Folks here at pretty good about providing suggestions, ideas, how to, known fixes, etc.


But sometimes it is difficult to properly respond when the post makes very little sense, provides next to nothing in information or is so convoluted it is unreadable.

Thank you . Stay warm [emoji5]

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by Dannyparker

Thank you . Stay warm [emoji5]

Some of us will, I'm sure.


Yes, it's easy to get cranky when reading the A.M. version of a question asked the P.M. prior. This is what happens when a website like iRV2 becomes a "live wiki". Folks with questions don't bother to search (and iRV2 pays Google for the custom search box at the top of each page). Their problems are not terminally unique but they have no clue that scrolling down an index page by 30 posts will show them 4 nearly identical questions.



How many winterizing questions of the "do I need to do this?" type have been asked in the last 4 days? A bunch.


I agree with Old Biscuit - some folks ask questions without enough info to help them with answers; others seem to use speech-to-text on their phones, with a resulting word salad of no punctuation to allow discernment of the actual question. We ask for more info and others think we're being jerks when we're trying to give a useful answer to the actual problem, not necessarily the question as posed.

[Bob_C]

And many ask questions and never respond to their thread......

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Dannyparker

Thank you . Stay warm [emoji5]

That is not a problem......
I have propane and use it frequently

[EdInArk]

Originally Posted by Dannyparker

however simple a question from someone seems, please try to answer them (even if you answered the same question to someone last week).

Yep. We've been RVing for about four years and still learning.

We also shouldn't forget that even though the Internet has been around for a few decades now, there are still people somewhat new to it.

[Isaac-1]

I agree many questions don't get answered because no one understands what is being asked, and the question has a complete lack of information that people need in order to answer. When it is a partial lack of information we can query back by asking things like, which exact model of furnace do you have?


However when the question is "What kind of RV should we buy?" without including any details on number of people, life style, anticipated use, budget, etc. it is impossible to give a reasonable answer.

[twogypsies]

It's also helpful if folks create a 'Signature Line'.... easy to do, instructions on this site. In it put your type, manufacturer and year of the RV. Many answers are dependent on this information.

The Signature Line will show up automatically on every post you create or answer. You only have to create it once.

[astrnmrtom]

As a person who frequents a number of forums and has for years I often read people being somewhat short with new people who come to a forum to ask a common question. Specifically with regards to using the search function first. As a regular user, I find it can be surprisingly difficult if you don't put the proper terms into the search box. I just went through this on a car forum where my searches kept coming up dry. Then on a fluke, I discovered I wasn't inputting the proper term and when I did, I got the results I was looking for. Other times I haven't, and posted the question only to be told in a terse manner to use the search function first.

I guess I'm saying, we should all try to understand not everyone is good at this whole forum thing even after all these years, and novices come with good intentions to seek help from people with similar interests, even if they do so awkwardly. I've seen new posters get pretty beat up by regulars in all forums which is a shame, and I hate to see it happen. I for one, am happy to answer a question even if I've answered it 100 times before because I like to give back for all the help other have offered me.

On a different note. Learning to Rv especially in cold weather can be a challenge if you are used to a well insulated house with inground water and an endless supply of natural gas, electricity or wood. It can however be a Godsend to be self contained when the power goes out, the northeaster is blowing and the snow flying. When we bought our property and were waiting for our house to be built we lived in an old 28' travel trailer. That winter was one of the worst in a long time with days long power outages leading to frozen pipes and spoiled food in a lot of homes. Power would get restored, then go back out because a silver thaw was bringing down power lines, poles and trees. We on the other hand were snug with our propane furnace, refer and 12v lights. Our trailer was old enough it even had a propane mantle type lamp in the living room. It was like living in a small cabin but we were fine while many people we know were in bad shape in their sticks and bricks.

Happy RVing!

[weredoingit]

Originally Posted by astrnmrtom

As a person who frequents a number of forums and has for years I often read people being somewhat short with new people who come to a forum to ask a common question. Specifically with regards to using the search function first. As a regular user, I find it can be surprisingly difficult if you don't put the proper terms into the search box. I just went through this on a car forum where my searches kept coming up dry. Then on a fluke, I discovered I wasn't inputting the proper term and when I did, I got the results I was looking for. Other times I haven't, and posted the question only to be told in a terse manner to use the search function first.

I guess I'm saying, we should all try to understand not everyone is good at this whole forum thing even after all these years, and novices come with good intentions to seek help from people with similar interests, even if they do so awkwardly. I've seen new posters get pretty beat up by regulars in all forums which is a shame, and I hate to see it happen. I for one, am happy to answer a question even if I've answered it 100 times before because I like to give back for all the help other have offered me.



Happy RVing!

[60sumtin]

A simple question starts by making it clear to others what the problem is.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by 60sumtin

A simple question starts by making it clear to others what the problem is.

[Cloud Dancer]

I buy the earlier form of 2-piece thermal underwear (white) nothing fancy, And, I wear it when I'm cold. I can't sleep if it's cold, even when others do not think it's cold. And, I sleep in thermal underwear, even when sleeping in my good-quality, down-filled, ample size, Coleman sleeping bag. At night, I don't mind running the ONAN Quiet Diesel generator so I can power a few quiet box heaters. Being cold is old fashion.