RV Road Trips

Campground & RV Emergency Flashlights Are Important Safety Devices

Breakdowns on the road at night, walking to the campground pit toilets after dark, there are lots of times you need to shine a little light on a situation to make things easier or safer. 

We have moved well beyond the old standard 2 D cell flashlight and the Coleman white gas 2 mantle lanterns of days gone by.  Today we have LED flashlights and hand-crank emergency lights that never need batteries.  These are super-powered rechargeable lights with a million candle power or more. 

Talk about lighting up your world!  Even the familiar green Coleman lantern comes in a fluorescent tube model that runs on batteries.  You have a wide variety to chose from when it comes to camp lighting.

My personal favorite flashlights are those that you crank or shake to renew the charge giving you 15 minutes or so of light.  Keep one in the glove compartment and you're good to go whenever an emergency arises. You should consider a hand-crank emergency radio too so you can be aware of weather warnings. 

Put some light on your Christmas shopping checklist this year, make RVing safer!

5 RV Storage Solutions - How To Make The Most Of Limited Storage Space

Insufficient storage is one of the biggest issues that RVers have -- especially fulltime RVers! 

Whether you have a small travel trailer or a large motorhome, if you can’t take all of the "stuff" that you want to take with you, then frustration will quickly set in. 

Prior to the mid 90’s, RV manufacturers didn’t give much thought to the problem of not having enough storage.  Outside storage compartments were few and usually small in size.  And with their long narrow doors, fitting anything of substantial size inside was nearly impossible.

Finally later in the decade, the idea of RV basement storage became popular, greatly increasing the capacity to store some serious cargo. 

After liquidating our house and moving into a Bounder motorhome, the amount of storage space we had suddenly became a huge issue.  We used every square inch and lusted for more.  I even built a storage platform mounted off the rear of the motorhome where we carried a motorcycle, barbeque grill, step ladder, and other assorted outside items.

Here are 5 ways to make the most of the limited storage space inside your RV...

Continue reading: 5 RV Storage Solutions

Teardrop RV Trailers & Other Super Lightweight Models Are Budget Friendly

Smaller cars and tighter budgets are creating a market for RVs that break the mold from what has been the norm for many years.  Super lightweight RVs that don't destroy the high mile per gallon rating of many small cars are coming into vogue. 

Though many are more like tents than enclosed RVs, teardrop trailers like from the 40s & 50s are making a huge comeback too. You can even build a teardrop RV trailer from a kit, or purchase it ready to go.  For a young couple with a small budget, this is a great way to begin a lifetime of RV memories.

You can see a lot more of the country for your dollar when you're still getting close to 30 mpg pulling such a small and lightweight trailer.

RV Body Damage Is Costly To Fix & Destroys Value Quickly

Nothing makes an RV owner feel stupid like hitting something and causing serious damage to their RV. 

Repairs can be costly and the potential for problems later down the road is great.  Water infiltration from damaged caulking or seals broken loose from impact can ruin your RV in places you can't even see.

Even if you don't hit anything, wall delamination and body cracks can be serious problems both structurally and monetarily.  Both are costly repairs that never look as good as new again.  Drive cautiously, because an accident can trash the value of your RV quicker than anything else. 

Don't be like this guy:

Repairing Versus Upgrading Your RV Toilet

The toilet in your $150,000 motorhome is plastic and chincy. Can the toilet be upgraded? 

Yes, it can easily be replaced with a china porcelain model. 

As simple as changing out the toilet in your home, RV toilets are held in place by 2 bolts -- often located front and back (unlike your home toilet which has bolts on the sides).  Beware, RV toilets use a rubber o-ring instead of a wax seal. 

RV toilet repair can be a do-it-yourself project, but most often you must remove the toilet to facilitate the repairs.  Do remember, if you go to a dealer to have the work done it will probably be cheaper in the end to just replace the toilet instead of repairing it.  It's an excellent opportunity to do that upgrade I mentioned at the start.

Before You Buy A Used RV...

It's true, buying a used RV can save you a ton of money.  It can also put you in the poor house if you don't do it wisely. 

Should you get an RV inspection on a used RV? Absolutely!  The small investment could save you thousands if you happen to overlook a serious defect.

There are so many things to consider.  Has the RV been sitting for extended periods?  Used RV trailers don't have expensive drive train but they do have tires, wheel bearings, and brakes to consider.

Whichever way you turn, you can run into both dealers and private sellers that are looking to scam you.  Remember, when it comes to buying used it's always a buyer beware situation.

How To Do RV Roof Repairs Without Causing More Damage

Getting on the roof of your RV is tricky business.  Yes, maintenance needs to be taken care of, but often the roof structure is barely strong enough to support your weight.  The best way to do it is to step lightly from one roof rafter to another. Or, better yet, lay down a piece of plywood to distribute the weight.

If you're up there to repair or clean the rubber roof be careful not to make matters worse by causing more damage.  Do as much of the work as you can from the side on a ladder without putting weight on the roof.

While your at it, be sure to inspect all vents and breathers, because you don't want to be up there any more often than need be.

Winterize The RV Again? Maybe Donating It To Charity Is Better

Fall is here, shortly to be followed by winter.  It's time once again to put your RV into deep storage, something that takes a bit of preparation even if it didn't turn a wheel all summer.

Failure to properly winterize your RV will result in busted pipes, split water heaters, and destroyed water pumps.  Don't forget that LCD TV, it might not be safe for it to be left in the RV through the winter.

If your RV never made it out of storage this year because of age (either you or the RV) or various life changes, maybe now is the time to consider donating your RV to charity.  If your days of travel have wound down, doing something nice for others should be a consideration.

Using Your RV As A Disaster Shelter

Unexpected events, where do you turn when your whole neighborhood -- or even your entire city -- is wiped out by a flood or worse? 

The country learned the hard way with Katrina that being prepared for disaster is your own responsibility.  What better way to be prepared than to have your RV ready to roll with everything you need to be comfortable and secure.

Having relatives arrive unexpectedly for a week or more can also be a disaster of sorts.  What better way to make them welcome while protecting your sanity than to set them up in your RV in the back yard?

You Can Own A New Monaco Motorcoach For $10

When you're looking for a top of the line RV motorcoach, the name Monaco stands out as building some of the best on the road today. 

Quality, service, and innovation are some of what makes Monaco different from the rest.  

With their top of the line models starting at over $500,000, you might find it hard to include such luxury in your budget.  Not to worry... Monaco Coach Corporation also sells die-cast miniatures of their product line for about $10.  Now almost anyone can say they own a Monaco!