Newbie Help Option?

Topic: Newbie Help Option? (Read 892 times) previous topic - next topic

Newbie Help Option?

January 25, 2012, 11:33:46 pm

As a Newbie, I often did not know what I did not know, what I needed to learn. A "course outline" of topics to study or learn early on would have helped greatly.

As Don Hay told me, "you have a steep learning curve" to climb. Is there then means for the Forum to help newbies identify those things that we need to learn and perhaps did not even know to ask?

This is a proposal to develop such a resource; is this a good idea? If so, I hope that experienced members would develop this. Could we perhaps incorporate it into some existing program on our forum? Input from newbies might also help define content.

A draft, incomplete, example list of study topics is below. It needs to be fleshed out if someone is willing. (There may be a better way to present a program!)

In this example list, re: the first item, the newbie (student) would type "driving licenses" into the Forum Search engine and thereby find useful threads. We could list web resources for study as well. The program would not allow directly asking questions or seeking assistance (do that in a thread).

a.   Driving courses, license requirements. Vary by state.
Search Forum for "driver license" and driving courses.
BetterRVing - Experience better Rving
RV NOW: Tips on Driving a Motorhome or Large RV

b.   Safety topics, such as working around the FT, driving cautions
Search Forum for safety
Motor Home Safety | Neff Bros RV

c.   Tires – size and tread options, how to care for them
Search threads in Forum, such as tire pressure, tire care and web sites
Welcome to Michelin North America RV Website
www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/tire-care-guide.pdf

d. Tools and gear for repairs you may want to carry with you

e. Trip preparation

f. Information on dinghies(toads) and towing

g. Motorhome weight discussions, cautions – search Forum "weight distribution"

h. Valuable technical resource site for Foretravels
Foretravel Motorhome technical help and information links

Other Reference Web Sites

Foretravel Motorhomes, technical help
Foretravel Motorhome technical help and information links

General RV Technical
RV Tech Library - Home Page

RV Electric information
www.myrv.us/electric/

I have abbreviated my initial list of topics to allow this posting to be about a concept, not to take your time beyond that now. The list of topics and web sites would be expanded. Thank you for your consideration. Mike

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #1 – January 26, 2012, 07:03:18 am

Quote from: Michael Jackie – January 25, 2012, 11:33:46 pm

As a Newbie, I often did not know what I did not know, what I needed to learn. A "course outline" of topics to study or learn early on would have helped greatly.

d. Tools and gear for repairs you may want to carry with you
What tools do you carry on your coach?

e. Trip preparation
Master Trip Check List

f. Information on dinghies(toads) and towing
Dinghy Towing | Family Motor Coach Association

Other Reference Web Sites

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #2 – January 26, 2012, 10:00:41 am

Barry, I put a rather abbreviated list in the proposal. I have more, such as those, including your site in a topic, where to go for technical help. I just wanted to keep this small to ask people if this worth doing. I can go back and generate an amended list, adding in more topics and sites. But I wonder if this could best be a document you own, on your site, that links folks as you do with technical? I will be fleshing out the table since some think it worth while. I appreciate your and others help, always. Mike

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #3 – January 26, 2012, 10:27:11 am

Quote from: Michael Jackie – January 26, 2012, 10:00:41 am

Barry, I put a rather abbreviated list in the proposal. I have more, such as those, including your site in a topic, where to go for technical help. I just wanted to keep this small to ask people if this worth doing. I can go back and generate an amended list, adding in more topics and sites. But I wonder if this could best be a document you own, on your site, that links folks as you do with technical? I will be fleshing out the table since some think it worth while. I appreciate your and others help, always. Mike

I thought you were asking for the missing links in your topics.
The list could get incredibly long, as there is a wealth of info in so many topics.
But I made a topic for it Newbies list of resources to learn
It is locked and we can add additional links to it here and the moderators will move additional info that is added here over to the comprehensive document.
I am not sure how good of an idea this will be but we will give it a try.

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #4 – January 26, 2012, 10:42:59 am

Thanks, I will give some links below. You are correct....how to keep size down and be very helpful. I have experience with myself and unbelievable been helping two new owners with less experience than me. Then episodes on a trip Jackie and I took. My original list is below, please use as you need. But little things are important and cannot be included I think. Example...I did not know to ask that there are valves where I need to vent moisture from the air system (too small to cover I guess). I heard though that there is a way to restart a generator if it shuts down, but I did not think to ask about such. I heard too there is some things to do with the auxiliary air compressor for the slides and such but I did not know to ask about it. I do not want to make a lot of work for you folks, just trying to help. I so appreciate you taking this into your very valuable site. Blessings and Travel Mercies to all, Mike

a.   Driving courses, license requirements. Vary by state.
Search Forum for "driver license" and driving courses.
BetterRVing - Experience better Rving
RV NOW: Tips on Driving a Motorhome or Large RV

b.   Safety topics, such as working around the FT, driving cautions
Search Forum for safety
Motor Home Safety | Neff Bros RV

c.   Tires – size and tread options, how to care for them
Search threads in Forum, such as tire pressure, tire care and web sites
Welcome to Michelin North America RV Website
http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/tire-care-guide.pdf

d. Tools and gear for repairs you may want to carry with you
http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/
http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=6848.msg29438#msg29438T

e. Trip preparation
Carry documents, phone numbers, insurance and technical help you can call
Search for pre-departure checklist on web or Forum

f. Information on dinghies(toads) and towing
http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/404/?aspxerrorpath=/dinghytowingguide/
http://www.fmca.com/motorhome/towing

g. Motorhome weight discussions, cautions – search Forum "weight distribution"

h. Valuable technical resource site for Foretravels
http://www.beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/foretravel-technical-help.html

Other Reference Web Sites

Foretravel Motorhomes, technical help
http://www.beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/foretravel-technical-help.html

General RV Technical
http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/

To join Motorcade Club (Free with your first Foretravel, one year membership)
http://foretravel.com/inc/motorcade-join.php

RV Electric information
http://www.myrv.us/electric/

Family Motor Coach Association
http://www.fmca.com/

Good Sam Club
http://www.goodsamclub.com/

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #5 – January 26, 2012, 12:44:32 pm

As I have had the coach for 7 months I am still learning the mysterious ways of the Foretravel Gods. I think it would be a good idea to have a resource like this for new owners. Reading all those manuals only goes so far and it would help before asking on the forum. To quote that genius (?) of logic Donald Rumsfeld:

There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know.

And then there are Foretravels.

Keith

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #6 – January 26, 2012, 05:08:43 pm

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – January 26, 2012, 12:44:32 pm

There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know.

And then there are Foretravels.

Keith

Reminds me of my 1st Sales seminar
The Four Stages

Unconscious Incompetence

The individual does not understand or know how to do something and does not necessarily recognize the deficit. They may deny the usefulness of the skill. The individual must recognise their own incompetence, and the value of the new skill, before moving on to the next stage.The length of time an individual spends in this stage depends on the strength of the stimulus to learn.

Conscious Incompetence

Though the individual does not understand or know how to do something, he or she does recognize the deficit, as well as the value of a new skill in addressing the deficit. The making of mistakes can be integral to the learning process at this stage.

Conscious Competence

The individual understands or knows how to do something. However, demonstrating the skill or knowledge requires concentration. It may be broken down into steps, and there is heavy conscious involvement in executing the new skill.

Unconscious Competence

The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become "second nature" and can be performed easily. As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #7 – January 28, 2012, 11:58:29 am

Let me add something to this. The forum is a great tool but your local chapter of the Motorcade Club is a wonderful source too. I have met many people at some of the rallies and the tech discussions we have and the friendships are great. I have met guys who have forgotten more than I will ever know about. At one rally we discuss carrying a air governor with you. It is about 25 bucks but you need one that comes on at 90 psi. Funny thing is one of the rigs at the rally had their governor go bad as they were leaving and lo and behold we knew where it was, how to fix it and yes we had the part too.

The knowledge and information here is wonderful but I have put a face with the name and met some wonderful people from the forums at various rallies too.

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #8 – January 28, 2012, 12:46:01 pm

Thanks, good idea. Trying to get this thing up and going, all systems generally understood and working. I am presently trying to help a friend with SOB he has had for a year and not driven (needs help for a first time out). Hope to make a local trip for two nights, a test run for him and us.

Ms. Kountze signed us up as a free member to Motorcade and that gets us into a regional or such club. Will give it a try to supplement the Forum that may be perhaps a bit more timely on some issues. At this point I am just trying to understand the basics of AH!

Thanks again, Mike

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Newbie Help Option?

January 25, 2012, 11:33:46 pm

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #1 – January 26, 2012, 07:03:18 am

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #2 – January 26, 2012, 10:00:41 am

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #3 – January 26, 2012, 10:27:11 am

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #4 – January 26, 2012, 10:42:59 am

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #5 – January 26, 2012, 12:44:32 pm

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #6 – January 26, 2012, 05:08:43 pm

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #7 – January 28, 2012, 11:58:29 am

Re: Newbie Help Option?

Reply #8 – January 28, 2012, 12:46:01 pm

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