Love Your RV! – Tips and Tricks
Having RV’ed a fair amount of time now I’ve picked up many neat little “Tips and Tricks” along the way.
In this area of LoveYourRV.com, you’ll find all sorts of quick little tips to make the RV lifestyle a little easier. Don’t forget to Pin or Share your favorites. Thanks!
Alternator Charging Mod +12 VDC Truck Bed (High Amp) Power Port
In my latest RV mod, I install a high amperage 30A 12VDC port into the bed of my 2018 Ram 3500 pickup truck. I also test out using an old Bogart SC2030 solar charge controller I have laying around for alternator charging. Disclaimer: Working with…
Building Custom RV Battery/Inverter Cables – Tips and Advice
In this video, my good friend Eddie from Mobile Homestead Solar Services was kind enough to give us a few tips on how to make up your own custom heavy gauge RV battery or Inverter cables. I caught him while he was installing a battery bank consisting…
10 RV Upgrades We Use All the Time
We bought our Keystone Cougar fifth-wheel trailer almost 9 years ago and have been full time living in it pretty well ever since. Over those years I’ve done a ton of mods and upgrades to the rig to improve it, making it more suited to our needs…
Kill A Watt Meter – RV Power Test Gadget
I finally bought myself a Kill-A-Watt meter. For me, it will be an additional tool for my RV product reviews testing arsenal. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s an inexpensive but handy gadget for checking how many watts or amps a…
Trailer Breakaway Switch – Install and Test
In this video, I replace my old worn looking trailer breakaway safety switch with a new one. I explain the wiring and test it. The breakaway switch is there in case the fifth-wheel trailer, and the truck becomes separated during towing. If that…
RV Rust Protection & Lubrication with Fluid Film
In this video, I discuss a product I’m trying out this fall to help protect various exposed parts of our rig from rust and corrosion. The product is called Fluid Film. I’m going to try it on my hitch, pinbox, landing jacks, rear…
How to Use a Multimeter for RVers
Several people have requested that I publish a video explaining the basics of how to use a multimeter. So, here is a video demoing some of its many uses when it comes to troubleshooting and analyzing RV’s electrical circuits and batteries. A…
Cracked RV Holding Tank Repair using G/Flex 655 Epoxy
The other day I purchased some West Systems G/Flex 655 Epoxy at a local boatyard marine supply shop to try and fix small cracks in my waste tanks. I’m hoping it’s going to be just the ticket. Last year’s repair attempt using a…
RV Bathroom Fan Upgrade – Heng’s Vortex
In this video, I replace a defective OEM bathroom roof vent fan with a Heng’s Vortex fan. The Vortex fan is quite a bit larger with a more powerful motor and should move a lot more air. The main purpose of the fan is to evacuate bathroom odors…
Update on the Many Little Mods I’ve Made to Our RV
In the video, I update you on the many mods I’ve done over the last few years to our RV a Keystone Cougar fifth wheel. Letting you know how they have performed over time. RV Mods and Upgrades Video Links to original mod posts and videos: Remote…
Rotted RV Slide Out Floor Repair + Fixed Manufacturer Flaw
In this video, I get busy repairing a rotten section of my main slide-out room floor in my 2011 276RLS Keystone Cougar fifth wheel. A roughly 17″ x 45″ section of plywood needed to be cut out and replaced with a fresh piece. Over the…
RV Digital Thermostat Upgrade Mod *Explained*
I swap out my OEM Coleman Mach manual slider type thermostat for a battery-operated Honeywell RTH5100B digital with auto heat and cooling changeover. I’ve done this particular upgrade a few times in the past. First I upgraded to a Hunter 42999B…
Why Even Handy RVers Should Think About Warranty Coverage
“Article written by Wholesale Warranties, the leading provider of RV Extended Warranties direct to consumer. With a focus on education, customer service and reliable coverage, Wholesale Warranties has established themselves as the premier option…
Tips for Keeping the RV Cool Without AC
Introduction We do a bunch of boondocking on BLM and Forestry lands and dry camping in National, State and County parks. Because of this we often find ourselves without electrical hookups and no way to run our rooftop air conditioner to cool the RV…
Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer Towing Tips
I am pleased that after roughly 70,000 miles and over eight years of fifth wheel trailer towing I have thankfully haven’t had a traffic accident, a tire blowout, or ran out of fuel. I started as a complete newbie, never having towed a thing in…
Neglected RV Water Heater Flush + Clearsource Filter Update
I flush out my severely neglected Suburban SW6DE water heater after 2 1/2 years of full-time use. The anode rod is in a sad state with just a tiny bit of material left on it. My electric heater element is coated in calcium deposits. And, the floor of…
Leak Testing my RV Propane System with a Digital Manometer
In this video, I demo a new RVing repair and maintenance gadget a friend gave me to try out. It’s a digital manometer for testing the RVs LP gas system. It measures gas pressure by the Inches of Water Column (inH2O) allowing me to quickly check…
Quick and Easy Tip for Connecting Wires – Wago Lever Nuts
In this video, I show you a neat little product called Wago Lever Nuts to help make connecting wires a snap. No soldering or crimping needed. The only tool required is a wire stripper. They are also simple to disconnect and can be reused. Handy for…
Basement RV Storage Door Upgrade – Metal Catches
In this video, I upgrade the three basement storage door catches on my 2011 Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer. I upgrade from the OEM plastic type catches to ones made of metal. They have a stainless steel mounting plate with an aluminum catch. To…
Routine RV Roof Maintenance (Inspection and Leak Protection)
With the end of our latest southern desert snowbird season coming to an end we will soon be making our way north and west along the Oregon and Washington coasts and into BC for the spring and summer. As we leave sunny California behind, the prospect…
Quick and Clean RV Waste Tank Dumping Setup
In this video, I show myself dumping our Keystone Cougar’s 3 RV holding tanks at a rest stop dump station. I show how quick, clean and efficient the task is with my custom sewer system setup. The OEM sewer arrangement has been modded to allow…
10 Little Love Your RV Tips and Tricks
In this video, I share a collection of 10 little RVing tips and tricks I’ve gathered over the last couple of years. Each wasn’t enough for a video, but all together they may be helpful. 1) Hitch Hookup Height – measure and cut…
Cold Weather RVing in our Keystone Cougar Trailer
In this video, I go over some of the preparations and methods we use to deal with camping in below freezing weather. Being snowbirds, we aren’t hardcore cold weather RVers by any means, but once in a while, we encounter short term, chilly…
Cell Phone/Internet Plans We Use as Canadian RV Snowbirds
I get a lot of emails from fellow Canucks asking how we stay connected on the road while traveling in the USA. Things like cell phone plans, internet access, and long distance calling/texting back to Canada. Also, how do Anne and I stay in touch when…
Allstays Pro for RV Trip Planning
In this video, I give you an overview of my favorite go-to piece of software for locating camping and finding RVing related services on the road. It’s a web-based browser application designed for use on larger laptop/desktop computers called…
Pack Rats (aka Wood Rats) RVing Tip
When I first started boondocking in the US southwest desert regions, I would sometimes see other campers with their vehicle hood left open. I didn’t pay much attention to it figuring they were using the truck or motorhome battery for camping.…
RV TV Antenna Maintenance (Winegard Sensar Batwing)
In this video, I demo how I maintain our Keystone Cougar trailers Winegard batwing style TV antenna. Our rig has the standard Winegard bat-wing style, hand crank TV antenna. The manual states to lubricate it twice a year with silicone spray. It is…
Repairing Broken String on RV Day/Night Shade
In this video, I remove a valance and a set of RV day/night shades from one of my slide out rooms windows. Recently the blind stopped functioning correctly after one of the strings broke. I show you the contents of the United Shade repair kit I…
Aquatank II Water Storage Bladder – Unpack and Demo
In this video, I unpack and test out my new Aquatank 2 water storage bladder. It has been on my boondocking wishlist for a while now. This Christmas Anne surprised me with one under the tree. My new Aquatank will be put to use fetching extra fresh…
Why I Replaced My Old 30 LB Propane Cylinders
In this video, I explain why I just went out and bought two brand new 30 lb LP gas cylinders to replace the 10-year-old OEM ones in my 2011 Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer. Most 30 lb DOT propane cylinders these days need to be recertified every…
Rick’s RV Tips – Better Cell Service, Pin Box Connection and Insulation Tricks
Recently a reader and fellow RVer named Rick emailed me three smart little RV tips. He has kindly allowed me to reprint and share these handy tips on Love Your RV! Thanks, Rick. 🙂 Crappy Cell Service? Got this little unit for our trailer and…
Replacing Expired RV LP Gas Detector (Atwood ProTECHtor)
In this video, I replace my expiring Atwood 2001 ProTECHTor LP Gas Detector alarm with a new one. The old model wasn’t available so I install a newer version. I explain my installation and hookup and the perform a demo test. According to the…
RV City Water Check Valve Disassembly and Repair
In this video, I remove and disassemble the RV’s city water input connection. Inside is a plastic check valve plunger, a spring, retaining clip and small rubber O-ring. Our city water connection has been weeping water when using the onboard…
New Ram 3500 Truck – Our First Hookup and Test Tow
In this first video, I take a closer look at the factory Ram M20 fifth wheel hitch. Then Anne and I hook up our new 2018 Ram 3500 truck to our fifth wheel. Everything goes well, yay! Afterward, I check the bed rail and tailgate clearances and discuss…
Preparing our RV for an Extended Road Trip
Each year we spend summers mostly stationary on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia. However, once the temps begin to drop in the fall, we become snowbirds and fly south for the winter. The winter half of the year is spent on the road…
Added Reflective Tape to the RV Entrance Steps
Quick little safety mod. I add some white reflective strips to the RVs entrance steps for better visibility at night. With darkness coming earlier and earlier now I thought I’d do a small mod to the RV entrance steps. Our steps are black with…
Installing New Trailer Bearings and Brakes on Our Cougar Fifth Wheel
Our safety on the road is a big concern, so I’ve always made sure to have my trailers wheel bearings and brakes inspected and maintained. Over the years I’ve relied on the Keystone dealer where we bought our Cougar fifth wheel to perform…
RV Heating Upgrades – DIY Furnace Filter and Wireless Thermostat
In this video, I show you a neat little wireless thermostat for our RV electric space heater and my DIY mod to install a filter in the RV gas furnace’s cold air return grill. For the furnace filter, I used a sponge type I picked up a Home Depot…
Temp Repair Patch to Our Disintegrating RV Awning
Our Dometic 9100 power awning is now over seven years old. Being that we are full-time RV snowbirds its seen a ton of sun. Much of that in the dry US desert southwest. The awnings fabric is starting to slowly disintegrate at its top section closest…
Clean Up Old RV Plastic Sinks with ToothPaste
After seven year of full time living our RVs kitchen sinks have taken a beating. Made of a white plastic material they’ve slowly become stained and scratched up especially on the bottoms. I tried various cleaners designed for kitchens and…
Repairing Cracked RV Waste Tanks with Plasti-Mend
A few weeks ago while I was testing my RV holding tank capacities, I discovered two small cracks. One of the cracks is in the black waste tank and the other in my shower grey tank. Both are located right at the top of the tank at the rounded corners…
Upgrading the RV Drain System with a HepvO Valve *Updated*
A little while ago I released a blog post explaining the operation of a plumbing part called an Anti-Siphon Trap Vent Device (ASTVD) and how a failure of it could lead to waste tank odors making their way into the RV. At that time, I indicated plans…
Soldering Tips, Tricks and Tools – How to Make a Reliable Connection
Often in my many RV mods and upgrades, I use solder instead of butt or crimp connections for my wiring jobs. I guess it’s a personal preference from having spent so much time as an electronics repair tech. Right or wrong, I trust a solder…
Six More Handy Items for the RV – Love Your RV! Mini Reviews
Over the last few months, I’ve collected a fair number of new items for use in our RV. Some are not worth a full-scale review, so I thought I group them into a single post and video. Let’s call them Love Your RV! mini-reviews. I have six…
RV Snowbird Trip 2017/18 – How Much Did It Cost?
Well, our 7th snowbirding adventure in a row is in the books. This year we once again visited the southwestern United States spending the bulk of our time in sunny California and Arizona. We spent much of the time off-grid free camping in desert BLM…
RV Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips
A few months back I went to turn on the trailers AC unit, and it made a funny sound. It was muted compared to normal, and no air was blowing out the vents. I headed up on the roof for a look see. After removing the plastic cover, I had Anne turn on…
DC to DC Buck Converter Mod to Reduce the RV 12 VDC Supply to 4.5 VDC
In this video, I install a device called a “buck converter” in my RV to power my Lacrosse Weather Station display. By doing this, I will no longer need to replace it’s 3 AAA batteries. This will save me money over time and maintain…
Repairing a Stuck Motorhome Entrance Step
While visiting a fellow RVer friend of mine recently I helped him out by diagnosing and fixing his motorhome entrance steps. They were stuck in the out position unable to retract. In the video, I show you what was causing the entrance steps to…
Testing and Equalizing My RVs 4 Golf Cart Battery Bank
Back in the summer of 2015, I published a post and video detailing how I test and maintain my RV batteries. I have the cheaper “wet cell type” golf cart batteries. They are a tried and true power source for boondocking but do take a bit…
10 Tips for Fifth Wheel Camping in Extreme Winds
Over the course of seven years of full time RVing we’ve endured our share of powerful storms and winds. During that time I’ve learned ways to help combat the high winds and stay safe in our RV In the video, I go through 10 tips and tricks…
RV Dump Station Tip to Maximize Tank Capacity
Looking to get maximum tank capacity for that next boondocking adventure? Make sure the RV is level or even tilted towards the dump station. It’s amazing how much waste can remain in the tanks if the rig is leaning slightly away. I really…
Slice of RV Boondocking Life – Plus Cute Goats and a Majestic Turkey
Continuing my 2017/2018 snowbird trip videos, a little slice of our RV boondocker life. In this video, I take you along as we head from our recent boondocking location to dump and fill our tanks at the Saddle Vista Ranch in Tonopah, Arizona. The…
Love Your RV! Big List of Helpful Web Links for RVing *Updated*
In my LYRV monthly newsletter, I usually have a section called “Ray’s Pick – Helpful RVing Website of the Month”. These are websites that I find really aid us when out there traveling in our RV. Things like finding a…
Couple of Tips for the RV Oven
Many of you likely know the tip of using a pizza, baking stone or unglazed ceramic tile in the RV oven to help even out the heating and prevent burning the bottom of things. I prefer the pizza stone as I can also use it for its…
Passport America Discount Camping Club – Is it worth it?
New RVers often ask me, Is it worth it to buy the Passport America discount camping card? My general answer is yes. In our experience, it’s always much more than paid for itself in RV park savings. At the 44 dollars a year price it only takes…
State Stickers Decal Map Kit For Our RV
As a fun stocking stuffer, this Christmas Santa delivered a set of US State and Canada Provincial decal maps for the RV. The idea is to add the blank map somewhere on the outside of your RV, and then each time you visit a state or province, it gets…
Electrical Test Gear I Have Aboard the RV and Their Uses
Having a background in electronics repair, I’m quite familiar with watts, amps, volts, ohms, etc. and how to use test equipment to measure them. This knowledge has helped save my hard-earned bucks by doing most electrical repairs and…
RV Shower Stall Repairs New Door Sweeps and Reseal
With over six years of full time use our RV shower stall seals were starting to look a little shabby. Some of the silicone caulking around the bottom was moldy, and the doors vinyl sweeps were partially torn. Since Anne was away…
4 Inventive Little RV Tips from a Love Your RV! Reader
Hi Ray Below are a couple of adaptations I made. I would be honoured if you’d like to use them on your webpage to help other RVers. Submitted by George & Joan B. Tips for RV Screen Door and Small Children My RV has four steps then you step…
RVing with a Fifth Wheel a Free eBook from Love Your RV!
This eBook is a digest of fifth wheel related blog posts I’ve published over the course of the last 5 years. Inside you’ll find 29 chapters containing content I feel may be helpful to RVers who like myself travel with a fifth wheel…
RV Gas Stove Upgrade Mod Push Button Igniter
One thing I’ve hated about our Atwood Wedgewood Vision RV gas stove top is the manual turn sparker. It functions OK but is quite loud. I get up much earlier than my wife and like to make myself a cup of tea. Sometimes it wakes her up, not good.…
Why Our RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Was Suddenly Beeping Twice
A little while ago I got a call from my wife telling me the carbon monoxide detector was going off. She, of course, was a bit worried. The CO alarm was there when we bought the RV new, a brand called Costar. She told me CO detectors front writing…
Building a Simple RV Propane Leak Tester U Tube Manometer
When working on the RV, I sometimes have to disconnect an LP gas line. When I reconnect the line, I will do the usual bubble test using gas leak detector solution. This method works well to ensure I don’t have a propane leak at…
Easy Access RV Furnace Panel Modification Plus Gas Valve
In my most recent blog post and video, I covered pulling out our Suburban RV furnace for a clean and inspection. At that time I mentioned wanting to mod the screwed on access panel, maybe adding hinges and a latch for easy access. My need for quick…
Suburban RV Furnace Removal Inspection and Cleaning
Our Suburban RV gas furnace has worked well for over six years now. We have a hairy little beagle, so every six months or so I pull the access panel and vacuum around the furnace case and grills. With the fall season approaching that time has come…
RV Water Heater Temperature Monitor Tip for Dry Camping
I’ve seen this tip or variations of it on several RV forums and blogs over the years. You use a remote oven or BBQ thermometer to keep track of the water heater temperature. The temperature probe is placed against the water heaters…
RV Tank Flushing Tip Use A Water Flow Meter
A little while ago I got an email from a Love Your RV reader named Jim. He offered up this really smart little tip for RV tank flushing and kindly allowed me to share it on the blog. The camper next to us was back flushing his black tank. They…
9 Common Mistakes Fulltime RV Newbies Make Starting Out
I know from the emails and comments I receive that a good portion of Love Your RV! readers are people inspired to give the full-time RVing lifestyle a go. I can’t blame you; I find full-time nomadic RV life an incredibly satisfying way to…
Dry Out the RV Awning After Rain Tip
I used to neglect the RVs awning when not using it for long periods of time I just left it rolled up. However, this led to a moldy mess on occasion. During heavy rains, water is able to seep in between the layers and sit there. Over time mold spots…
Fixing Our Trucks Sticky Ignition Lock
Over the last year or so the ignition lock on our 1994 Ford F350 Truck has slowly begun to act up. Rather than turning smoothly it often sticks and requires a bit of jiggling so we can start the vehicle. Also annoying, many times even though the…
In this video, I upgrade the RV bathroom cabinet door hardware and install an extra shelf into the medicine cabinet area. I swap out the free swinging OEM hinges for a stiffer auto close type and change the existing friction roller latches to…
RV Screen Door Cleaning and Repairs
On the old summer “RV repair to-do list” a shabby looking screen door and weather stripping around it. There are holes here and there on the screens, and the foam weatherstripping is turning to dust. Between beagle claws on the…
Top 20 Must Have Tools for RVing Fulltime
Last winter I published a post showing all the tools I carry in the RV as a full-time RVer. It was a surprising amount and actually kind of shocked me when I saw them all together. This summer I have on my todo list a weaning of the tools I…
Fifth Wheel Power Landing Jack Leg Lubrication
A few years ago one of our Keystone Cougar fifth wheel landing legs completely failed. The leg no longer went up or down and couldn’t support any weight. It ended up being a stripped collar nut in which the worm gear threads. We were…
RV Power Center Removal and Maintenance WFCO 8955
Continuing with my summer repairs and maintenance on the old Cougar fifth wheel trailer I decided to pull out the WFCO power center. It’s worked fine for six years but figured it was a good time for inspection and some preventative…
RV Flag Mounting Idea for Your Fifth Wheel Trailer
For several years now I’ve had a 20-foot flag pole that attaches to my RV’s rear ladder. Flying different flags while camping has been a fun thing to do and helped me and friends locate our RV in a crowd. My yellow happy face flag…
Cracked Fifth Wheel Trailer Plastic Fender Repair
Over time I’ve been noticing small cracks appearing on my Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailers plastic fenders. The cracking is taking place around the screws holding the fenders to the trailer sidewall. It started off with one or two but is…
Flexible RV Waste Tank Cleaning Wand Demo
Our Keystone Cougar fifth wheel came with an internal black tank flushing system. It’s done a decent job for many years now but recently has become plugged. I’m not sure why but have suspicions the blockage is inside the black waste tank.…
RV Storage Bay Shelf Repair and Modifications
Last year I noticed the shelf area on our Cougar fifth wheel’s passenger side storage bay was sagging a bit. On closer inspection, I discovered the particle bottom sunken on one end. The long staples that held it in place had come loose. I…
Leaky RV Slide Out Room Repair and Reseal
After our extended snowbird trip down south I like to go over our Cougar fifth wheel trailer with a fine tooth comb looking for defects. This spring I discovered a small leak in one corner of the slide out room. Luckily it hadn’t had…
Favorite RV Waste Holding Tank Treatments – Love Your RV!
Over the course of several decades RVing, I’ve tried pretty well every waste tank treatment out there and several homebrewed concoctions to boot. Most do a decent enough job if you use plenty of water and empty/flush the tanks on a regular…
RV Safety Tip – Added Reflective Tape to the Rig
Just like the commercial trucks I’ve added strips of red and white DOT reflective tape to my fifth wheel trailers back bumper. I’m hoping it might help us avoid a rear-end collision by lighting it up a night and giving the flat…
Fulltime RVing With a Dog – Helpful Products and Gadgets
We love our little furry travel companion, Angie the beagle (Angelina Beaglina). Angie and our other beagle Oscar, may he rest in peace, are a big reason we chose to travel by RV. We just couldn’t be away from our dogs for extended periods. So…
Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer Tire Tips and Advice
Some of the most often ask questions I get from readers of Love Your RV! are regarding trailer tires. Things like “What brand do you use?” “How old is too old?” “How much PSI do you inflate to?“, etc.…
Repairing Our Dead RV Power Awning
We have a Dometic 9100 RV power awning that has given us faithful service for nearly six years of full-time RVing. The power feature has proved handy to have as we often camp where winds come up suddenly. It’s been convenient to hit…
RV Propane Cylinder Transport Tip
When transporting our fifth wheel trailers 30-pound LP-Gas cylinder to get refilled I like to use a classic 12″ x 12″ inside diameter milk crate to help keep it upright. The cylinder fits snugly inside. Then I utilize a ratchet tie…
Full Time RVing Advice What Tools Do I Carry?
I’m often asked by folks contemplating a full-time RV lifestyle “What tools do you carry?” The answer has certainly changed over the years as I’ve learned what I need and don’t need. As we have added more items to the…
Fifth Wheel Towing What We Carry in the Truck Bed
A little while ago I had a commenter on the Love Your RV YouTube channel request I shoot a video detailing what we carry in the bed of the truck and how I have it arranged. I set up the cargo exactly as I have it when we are towing the fifth…
Extra RV Shelving Mod for Our Towels and Linens
I’m always looking for ways to increase storage in the RV, but at the same time keep weight under control. One pain point for us has been storage of towels and linen. The take up a lot of space. Most of it is crammed into a hard to reach…
RV Thermostat Upgrade Honeywell FocusPRO 5000
Our 2011 Keystone Cougar trailer came with a manual slide style thermostat controlling the RV furnace and the air conditioner and fan. It was a total pain to find an exact temperature with, and the range between turning on and off was too broad.…
Favorite RV Dry Camping Mods and Gadgets
If you have followed the blog for a while you’ve come to know we love to boondock during our winter snowbird travels in the southwest. Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly outfitting the RV for off grid camping. We absolutely…
Boondocking Mod Installing a DC to DC Converter
A few weeks ago I installed a new Winegard ConnecT Wifi Extender in our Cougar fifth wheel. Unfortunately, it didn’t come with a 12-volt power supply for off-grid camping only a plug-in wall adapter for a 120AC outlet. I was a little…
Kemberly Atwood RV Ladder Safety Tip
Just a little RV safety tip. If you have an Atwood RV ladder like mine, it uses plastic end caps to hold the metal ladder steps in place. Over time I’ve found they get brittle and begin to crack. Sometimes they split right in half. A big…
3 Cranial Cramps Causing Damage to Our Rig
I’ve been documenting our full-time RVing life on this blog for four years now. I try, to be honest in my portrayal of RV life both good and bad. With that in mind, every once in a while publish my goof ups. First, there were 5 Stupid…
Since we bought our RV 5 1/2 years ago I’ve tried out all sorts of RV gadgets or add-ons of one type or another. Some have proven to be extremely useful while others end up in a drawer or buried in a storage bin. To save new RVers some trial…
RV Kitchen Idea – How To Keep Stacked Cups From Falling Over
As all experienced RVer know our kitchen cupboards can quickly become a jumbled mess. Every rig is a little different, and some experimentation is required to find the best spot for each piece. Over the years I’ve figured out the best storage…
Getting the Rig Ready For Our Snowbird Trip
In my last blog post, I told you how we prepare for our annual snowbird adventures down south. I thought I would go into a little more detail on prepping our rig for the upcoming extended journey. While summering on Vancouver Island, BC we are for…
Our Canadian Snowbirds Trip Preparation And Checklists
For the last five winters, my wife Anne and I have journeyed as Canadian Snowbirds from our home province of British Columbia to the southern USA. We spend anywhere from four to six months each year camped out in multiple locations chasing the sun.…
Why I was Receiving Electrical Shocks From My RV
The other day while I was puttering around the RV I noticed a tingling feeling when I touched some of the exposed metal parts. It felt just like a mild electrical shock, but my RV wasn’t plugged into shore power. In fact, it was in a storage…
Stop Ants On The RV Power Cable Tip
Here’s a nifty ant battling tip from a Love Your RV reader named David. Check out the photo. Wow! I feel fortunate I haven’t had to deal with that. – Ray I enjoy your website and all the mods you have made. Even though we are not…
Use Chillers in the RV Fridge Tip
Ray, here is a reader-submitted RVing tip for your blog. Your RV Fire Safety Tips and Advice post’s section on running the refrigerator on LP while traveling sent chills through my safety first self. Here is what we do and how an initial cool…
Advice on Things to Check When Buying a Used RV
Over the years I’ve been contacted by numerous people asking “What things should I check when buying a used RV?“. To help folks out, I decide to write up this checklist style blog post. Hopefully, it will give you a…
Attaching Decor to the RV Walls without Screws
Last year my wife picked up a stylish piece of decorative art for our fifth wheel. A hand carved cedarwood eagle from a local Vancouver Island native artist. We thought it would look awesome mounted above our entrance doorway. Rather than uses screws…
Worn Rubber Roof Repaired Using Henry Tropi-Cool Coating
The following is a guest post by a good friend of mine. Eddie is the owner of Mobile Homestead Solar Services and a full-time RVer. Recently he posted photos on the Love Your RV Forum showing he and his wife sprucing up their older fifth wheels…
Cleaning the RV Water Heater Tank With Vinegar Tip
Every year I drain our Suburban 6 gallon RV water heater for cleaning and maintenance. During this maintenance, I check the anode rod for deterioration, replacing if necessary and thoroughly flush out the inside of the tank with a rinsing wand. See…
RV Fire Safety Tips and Advice
We’ve all seen those horrific photos and video footage of RV fires. The way RVs are constructed, and the materials used lends them to burn and go up in smoke extremely quickly. If inside you literally have seconds to escape. To hopefully keep…
How To Rent Your Camper And Make Between $10,000 and $30,000 A Year
It may have been a dream for years. Getting out onto the open road in your own RV and traversing the American landscape. It’s a big dream and a big purchase to buy an RV. And, unless, your lifestyle or retirement keeps you on the move all day every…
RVing Tip Anti Spill Waterhole Travel Dog Bowl
This is a little tip for anyone traveling with a pet inside the RV. Get yourself one of these anti-spill pet bowls. They have a snap-on lid to keep water or food on the inside and floppy ears on the outside. I would never have thought to buy one but…
How To Get The Best Deal On RV Rentals Near Me
Renting an RV is one of the most affordable ways to take an unforgettable vacation. You have complete freedom of the road without the cost and hassle of actually owning an RV. It’s an affordable way to vacation, but if you want to save even more…
My Ultimate RV Sewer System Modification
You may remember last year I gave the Waste Master RV Sewer System a full Love Your RV review. I was very impressed with the design and quality of the hose and connections. In the last year, it hasn’t failed to live up to my high expectations. The…
LWV Flooring Is Thumbs Up For RV Dogs
About a year ago I did a major renovation to our Keystone Cougar trailer’s interior. A big part of the renovation was an upgrade to the RV flooring. My goal was to remove as much of the cheap OEM carpeting as possible and replace it with a…
Building a Portable Solar Panel for My RV Boondocking
Introduction Recently a solar panel manufacturer called Lensun sent me out a 100-watt flexible solar panel for a Love Your RV! product review. One of the reasons I agreed to review the panel was a plan in the back of my mind to utilize it as a…
Cheap Plumbing and Wire Clamps for the RV Tip
I learned this frugal little RVing tip from a good RVer friend of mine Eddie of Mobile Homestead Solar Services. First, you pick yourself up a roll of plumbers pipe hanger strapping found in any hardware store. 10 feet of it goes for around 5 bucks…
Tips to Keep Pesky Mice Out of Your RV
Next to a water leak a rodent infestation can be one of the most damaging and unpleasant things that can happen to our beloved RV. They can get into the innards of our rigs leaving behind a mess as they chew and relieve themselves all over the place.…
Plug Saver for the 7-Way Trailer Connector *Updated*
7-Way Plug Cover I just received a product sample from a company called GR Innovations LLC and after looking at it I can’t believe it isn’t standard equipment. It’s a plastic cap that fits over the fifth wheel trailers electrical plug for…
Casino Camping as an RV Overnight Option
With the recent additions of extra batteries and solar panels, we are now able to dry camp very effectively. This makes utilizing casino RV parking areas for overnight stops quite convenient. Rather than hand over an RV Park 30-40 bucks for a…
How to Check Your RV Tires Age
With spring in the air, many of you will be bringing the RV out of its winter mothballs and prepping to hit the road. Most of us give our tires a quick once over. Checking the tread wear, inflating them to proper PSI and inspecting them for defects.…
RV Space Saver Tip – Good Old Zip Lock Bags
At first, my main use for the zip lock style bags was for our on the road sandwiches and putting things in the freezer. But lately, I’ve been using them to store all sorts of things in the rig. Rather than storing items in a rigid container,…
Bad Smell Coming From Under the RV Sink?
A few days ago I received an email from a follower of Love Your RV! named Larry. He wrote to pass along some information on RV sink plumbing that may be of interest, especially to those of you battling foul odors emanating from under the kitchen…
10 Reasons Why We Chose a Fifth Wheel Trailer
One of the most asked questions I get as a full-time RVer is “Why did you choose a fifth wheel trailer instead of a motorhome?” Rather than constantly rewriting the same answer over and over again, I thought I would consolidate my reasons into a…
Use the Fresh Water Hose to Save Your RV Slide Out
Worried about the slideout hitting an object like the power pedestal or a tree when setting up at the campsite? Some of us aren’t that good at estimating distances. Add some tape on your fresh water hose marking the width of the slide out when…
7 Water Saving Tips for RV Dry Camping
Our 2011 Keystone Cougar fifth wheel came with a large 60-gallon fresh water tank. One of the reasons I picked the Cougar was the large tank capacities, I knew we would be doing a load of dry camping. Even with the large fresh water tank we still…
My 10 Favorite RV Maintenance Products
Having full-time RVed for nearly five years now, I’ve tried out dozens of various maintenance products. Doing my own maintenance tasks to keep the rig in tip top condition can save us boatloads of money today and down the road. We plan to keep…
RV Cleaning Tip California Duster
For several years now we have been coming down to Palm Springs in December to spend a few weeks in one of the many RV resorts. During these visits, I’d often see folks out wiping their trucks and motorhomes with what looked like a large dust…
Tip for Hard to Reach RV Waste Valve
Our 2011 Keystone Cougar trailer has three waste dump valves on her. One for the black tank and two grey tanks. The black tank and the grey tank valves that empty the shower/bathroom and toilet tank are conveniently located inside the driver side…
5 Signs Its Time to Replace Your RV Awning
RV awnings can be one of the most useful accessories out there when it comes to recreational vehicles; they can provide shelter from the rain or wind, and they often work as a lifesaver when you’re in need of a break from the overbearing sun.…
Things We Pack For Extended RV Trips
Over the course of almost 5 years of full-time RV living, we have had a chance to find out what we really need to pack and what we can do without. The first year we seemed to take everything under the sun. Much of it just sat unused. Every year…
RV Solar Power System Detailed Install Advice and Tips
Last spring we had the great pleasure to meet with some fine folks from Wyoming, Eddie, his wife Aileen and daughter Laura. We spent about a week or so boondocked with them including the spectacular Valley of the Gods BLM area of Southern Utah. They…
Upgrading My RV Battery Bank and 12 Volt System
A Little of My Rigs Battery History When we bought our 30 foot Keystone Cougar fifth wheel new it came with one preinstalled deep cycle battery rated at 85 ampere hours. Having camped for many years in a campervan with a similar sized coach battery,…
8 Simple Effective Tips for an RV Boondocking Solar Power System
Guest post by Eddie from Mobile Homestead Solar Services One of the biggest and most liberating changes in the 7 years that my wife, daughter, and I have been full-timing is to go solar in our RV. This was not without hesitation, followed by…
Beefing Up My RV Roof Seals with Eternabond Tape
Recently we went through some typical socked in rainy west coast weather. Day after day of drizzle, rain and sometimes pounding rain. It’s the tradeoff for living in the emerald beauty that is the Pacific Northwest. While huddled in the rig waiting…
My Not So Easy RV Winterizing Kit Installation
Why Install the Kit Our Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer didn’t come with any sort of easy winterizing tools with the exception of the water heater bypass valve. It didn’t concern me much as we are snowbird RV full-timers and usually blast off…
Finally Picked Myself Up a Proper Ladder for Fulltime RVing
Well, after over 4 years of full timing on the road in our RV I finally got myself a proper full timer’s ladder. Not sure what took me so long and probably lucky I haven’t taken a spill off the little cheap 3 step ladder I’ve been using. I…
The Sewiepig RV Gadget is Sure to get a Smile
Many of you RVers out there may have seen one, but it was new to me. A few days ago a fifth wheel moved into the campsite next to us and setup. After they deployed their sewer hose I noticed a large red blob on the end where the sewer hole is.…
Replacing My Noisy Dometic DM2652 RV Fridge Fan
That #[email protected]*ing Fan is Driving Me Nuts! Our Keystone Cougar 276RLS trailer came equipped with a Dometic model DM2652LBX refrigerator. It does a pretty good job of keeping our food cold or frozen but has one annoying little quirk that drives me crazy at…
Great Camping and RV Experiences in Canada For Good Prices
Currently my husband John and I own a 2002 Thor Wanderer 21.5RL fifth wheel trailer and tow it with our 2002 GMC three-quarter-ton truck. We’ve been RVing for over three decades. With the continued drop in the value of the Canadian dollar…
RV Power Awning Super Easy Maintenance How-to
Cleaning the Awning the Easy Way Our large 21 foot Dometic 9100 RV power awning is made out of vinyl and has held up very well after 4 years of full-time RVing. I generally clean it every few months by following the procedure outlined in the…
RV Cleaning Tip – The Many Uses for a Simple Green Cleaner
Over the years through the RVers grapevine I had heard a product called Simple Green mentioned over and over. Almost any time a question was posed asking for cleaning advice several people would chime in recommending Simple Green. Finally, I picked…
Okanagan College’s “RV Owners Lifestyle” Seminar Series
This year I had the privilege of attending the RV Owners Lifestyle seminar series held by Okanagan College in Kelowna, BC. It was a jam-packed weekend, during which I attended no less than eleven seminars in three days. This was my first time…
Waste Master RV Sewer Hose Storage Solution
I recently replaced my old worn out RV sewer hose with the new Waste Master RV sewer system. (See my full review and demo video). I’ve used it for a few weeks now and really like it. It’s quite a step up in quality over the traditional RV sewer…
RVing with a Dog Advice from a Full-Time RVer
Introduction One of the many benefits to RV travel is the ability to bring along our dogs. For many people, their dog is more than a pet but a member of the family. This is the case with my wife and I and our little beagle Angie. She is like a furry…
7 Random RVing Tips from Love Your RV!
Tips, Tips, Tips everyone loves RVing tips and tricks, especially folks that are just starting out. Several of my most popular all time articles and videos on “Love Your RV!” are just random collections of handy little tips. After 4 years of…
Maintaining and Testing my RV Batteries
Our RV Batteries All the batteries in our rig are of the lead-acid (wet cell) variety. There are other types commonly used in RV nowadays such as Gel Cell, AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) and even Lithium Ion. This article will only deal with my lead acid…
Installing the 360 Siphon RV Fume Extractor
Nasty Smells in the RV Sometimes after towing our trailer I will notice during setup at the campsite the smell of waste tank odors. I think what happens is with all the rocking and rolling the trailer endures while on the road, the water in the…
My Friends Awesome 580 Watt RV Solar Power System
Introduction I recently had the great pleasure to meet up and do some boondocking with some RVing friends from Wyoming. Eddie, his wife Aileen and daughter Laura are full-time RVers living in their 40-foot fifth wheel. This winter they decided to…
Catastrophe and Panic on the Way to the RV Sewer Dump
Here is a humorous story one of my RVing friends emailed me detailing a very eventful trip to the sewer dump station. We all have stories of RVing woes and missteps and I’m happy he has given me the go ahead to share his for us to learn from.…
What Repairs Has Our Keystone Cougar Trailer Needed in 4 Years?
Introduction We are coming up on four years since we purchased our brand new Keystone Cougar Fifth Wheel and set out to live a full-time RV lifestyle. I’m pretty impressed with how the trailer has held up considering it really isn’t designed…
Mr. Heater Big Buddy Hooked to My RV LP Gas
Introduction Our Mr. Heater Big Buddy propane heater has been an awesome addition to the rig. We use it a ton, especially when camping off the grid without electrical. The Big Buddy heater uses no electricity and is much more efficient at…
Repairing My Broken Fifth Wheel Landing Leg
Clunk, Oh Oh! The passenger side landing jack on our Keystone Cougar fifth wheel suffered a major failure last week. I was in the process of jacking the trailer off the truck when I heard and felt a loud clunk. In fact, my wife who was inside setting…
20 Upgrades We Have Made to Our RV
Improvements Made to Our RV We purchased a brand spanking new Keystone Cougar Fifth Wheel Trailer Model 276RLSWE just about 4 years ago and headed out on a one year RVing journey of exploration. We absolutely loved our time on the road. So much so it…
8 Things That Suck About My Full Time RV Lifestyle
Introduction If you’ve read my blog or followed along on various social media channels you probably think we live a very charmed life, and we do. Many of you are likely sick of hearing how great it all is traveling around and living full time…
Digitize Those RV Manuals Norma posted this over in the Love Your RV Forum forums and I thought it was a terrific tip for all RVers. I know that I often times find myself digging through our box of manuals, warranty info, receipts, etc. looking for…
Boondocking Tips and Tricks for Newbie RVers
Introduction Over the last 4 years of full time RVing we have really embraced dry camping AKA “boondocking”. We love to get out into the more remote dispersed camping areas where we can enjoy amazing scenery, nature, photography, and hiking.…
Carry a Temperature Gun Aboard the RV
I think it is a great idea to carry a non-contact infrared temperature gun aboard the RV. These are super handy devices and they aren’t that expensive anymore. I’ve seen some as low as 20 bucks. You just point it at the item you want the…
Replacing My Fifth Wheel Landing Jacks Gear Box
Introduction This is an update to my broken fifth wheel landing jacks gear box post last spring. When the gear box broke I didn’t have access to a quick parts source so I did a temp repair of the gear box. Turns out is was a pretty good temp…
Seven Boneheaded RVing Mistakes Made
1. Don’t Forget your Water Regulator One time while I was packing up to leave I got to talking with another friendly RVer and it took my mind off the task of disconnecting the water hookups. In the process I totally forgot to disconnect my $75…
Twist On Waste Valve for the RV
Valterra Twist-On Waste Valve I’ve seen these twist on waste gates attached to some other RV’s sewer outputs and always thought they would be a good idea for my Keystone Cougar fifth wheel. My rig has three waste tanks (Black, Galley, and…
Installing the Fantastic Vent Fan into our RV
Introduction Well, I was able to strike another one off the old RV wish list the other day with the arrival of a new Fan-Tastic Vent Fan. I’ve wanted one of these babies for a while now after hearing how good they are for keeping the rig cool…
The Case of the Singing RV Water Heater
What the Heck is that Noise? A couple days ago I noticed a faint whistling noise every once in a while in the rig. It would come and go apparently at random. Then yesterday it got very loud and it was easy to track it down. Our Suburban SW6DE water…
Tips and Tricks for Cold Weather RVing
Introduction RVers generally are an inventive and self-reliant bunch. One thing that really gets their creative juices flowing is trying to live in an RV below freezing for a sustained period of time. The typical RV is not at all designed for use in…
Housekeeping Tips for Snowbirds on the Move
When the winter months roll around, it’s easy for RVers to get caught up in the excitement of heading south and certain elements of everyday life can often be forgotten. Being a snowbird comes with much responsibility, not only with the upkeep of…
11 Helpful Tips for RV Storage
Introduction Even though we now live in our RV as our only home there have been times in the last few years that we have had to place our Cougar fifth wheel trailer in storage for a little while. Luckily we have found a nice secure storage yard to…
Simple Tips to Improve Your Caravan
For those who are traveling with an RV for the first time, it may seem like there’s really not much that you could add to make the trip any better – discovering the unparalleled freedom and comfort of RV travel is often enough to keep travelers…
Are Your RV Storage Bay Locks Secure?
Did you know that if you have a key for your RV storage compartments marked CH751 that almost any other RVer can open them? What!? Yes it is true; many manufacturers use the exact same key for all the RV storage bay locks. I guess it saves them a lot…
Howto Install an RV Attic Roof Vent Tip
RV Attic Vent Tip We get lots of terrific tips, mods and upgrades shared over in the Love Your RV Forum community. I particularly liked this quick and fairly easy upgrade to the RV ventilation recently posted by RVHH member Eddie. Eddie and his…
Adding LED Lighting To My RV Kitchen Pantry
I love the large RV kitchen pantry in our Keystone Cougar fifth wheel. It is quite tall and has nice deep shelves. It’s a great spot to store all our dry grocery goods and heavier items like books, beverage bottles, cans, etc. Being that it is…
Fun RV Tip Get Yourself a Flag!
Last winter we explored the American South West and spent a good deal of time boondocking (dry camping without hookups) out in the desert. One cool thing I noticed was how many folks had a flag pole on the rig and were flying all kinds of various…
Inventive and Inexpensive RV Tips by Beth
One of my readers “Beth” was kind enough to share with me a few inexpensive RV tips she uses in her travel trailer. I found them to be very inventive and asked her permission to share them on Love Your RV! in the Reader-Submitted Tips…
4 Ingenious Ways to Increase Storage Space in Your RV
If you’ve ever planned an RV trip, you know just how precious each square foot can be – when going on a longer trip it seems that you need to bring so much that in the end there’s not much room to even turn around. So if you want to take…
Is RV Tow Insurance Part of Your Risk Mitigation?
Adventures with Willamena Whale – Grim and Grimmer – Guest article by Charles Lloyd Sara and I own “Willamena Whale”, a 2006 37-foot Heartland Big Horn 5th wheel towed by “Baby Huey” a 2005 Cummins powered Quad Cab Dodge Ram…
Ten Helpful RVing Tips and Tricks
Use Cordless Drill for Rear Stabilizer Jacks My Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer has manual crank rear stabilizer jacks. By using my cordless drill with a special socket sized for the jack, deploying and retracting the jacks is a breeze. No more…
My Yearly RV Hot Water Heater Maintenance
Introduction RV water heater maintenance is pretty straight forward. With a few tools, a warm sunny afternoon and a little know how it’s easy to do it yourself. The main thing we want to do is flush out the sediments and deposits that build up over…
Advice for a Safe and Fun RV Road Trip
Planning for a Safe and Fun RV Road Trip When you get ready to take to the open road for an RV adventure, the last thing you want to think about is what if something bad happens while you are traveling. What if a tire goes flat, you run out of gas,…
How I Lubricate My Fifth Wheel Trailer Usually twice a year I will go through the fifth wheel mechanisms and give them a good lubrication. I find that lubing my fifth wheel trailer and hitch regularly really helps it perform better for me. Everything…
What About an Extended Warranty for the RV?
RV Extended Warranties – Introduction When my wife and I purchased our brand new Keystone Cougar Fifth Wheel three years ago we had to make the decision on whether to buy extended warranty coverage or not. Normally I don’t buy extended warranties…
Use Vent Cushions to Help Regulate Temperature in the RV
RV Vent Insulator Cushions Tip Cushions designed to fit in the square vent openings on the RV roof can be made or purchased on Amazon. When it is too hot or cold outside the vents are a major source of temperature exchange, by blocking them you can…
Stick-on Hummingbird Feeder for the RV The last few seasons RVing we have noticed quite a number of rigs put out a hummingbird feeder. After seeing this, over and over again we decided to see what the attraction was and finally, we purchased…
RV Awning and Slide Topper Cleaning Tip Steve over at Love Your RV Forum forums shared a terrific tip recently for making the chore of RV Awning and Slide Topper cleaning a little easier. Use a one gallon garden sprayer. It helps keep you dry and…
8 More Simple Little RVing Tips from a Fulltime RVer
Eight RVing Quick Tips My last RVing Tips video “11 Quick Little RVing Tips from a Full Time RVer” was very well receive and I got a ton on positive feed back from folks thanking me. Well I had left a few of my tips out of that video…
Using Old Tires can be Unsafe! Check the age of your tires and change them if they are getting too old. Most RV and Trailer tires should be changed at around 5 years and vehicle tires 7 years. These are just general rules of thumb that I use. To be…
11 Quick Little RVing Tips from a Full Time RVer
RVing Quick Tips As we enjoy our full-time RV lifestyle and spend more and more time living and traveling in the RV we pick up little helpful tips along the way. Here is a video outlining 11 Quick Little RVing Tips from a Full-Time RVer. These…
Carry a Torque Wrench for RV Maintenance
Torque Wrench for RV Maintenance Tip As a full timer, snowbird and even a regular vacation type RV user it’s a good idea to carry and know how to use a torque wrench to maintain proper tightness on critical nuts and bolts. As our motorhomes,…
Conserving Fresh Water During Dry Camping Tip
Use the Dish water for toilet flushing When we are out dry camping the thing that limits us the most is fresh water. Our fresh tank holds 60 gallons and our waste tanks add up to 120 gallons. A way to make the fresh water tank last a bit longer is to…
Quick Fifth Wheel Winterizing with RV Antifreeze
My Quick Method to Winterize Because I regularly travel down south during the winter months, I’ve never had to winterize my Keystone Cougar Fifth Wheel. Unfortunately this year we have been delayed in departing, and suddenly I was faced with…
Carry Portable CB Radio in the RV
Portable CB Radio in the RV When traveling it’s a good idea to have several methods of communications on board. One old school method is to carry a CB Radio in the RV. Now the CB radio is almost an obsolete technology but is still used by…
Using Lux DMH110A to Update RV Thermostat I previously wrote a blog post describing my upgrade mod to my RV heating/cooling thermostat and posted a video on YouTube detailing the install. I used the Hunter brand model 42999 and it works great…
Use Rice Cooker to Heat Up Leftovers
Rice Cooker to Heat Up Leftovers Carole and Eric over atLove Your RV Forum submitted a great tip as a comment on my blog posting “RV Quick Tips” We discovered that reheating leftovers (which we always seem to have) works amazingly well in…
How I Back Up a Fifth Wheel Trailer
Introduction One of the biggest fears I had when we first got our brand new Keystone Cougar fifth-wheel trailer was how the heck would I back this huge thing into the driveway and tight RV parks. I scoured the internet, reading as much as I could…
RV Overloading It’s one of the easiest things to overlook as far as RV safety goes. RVs can be substantially overloaded but not outwardly show it like a car or truck when it is obvious the back end is riding low. So unless you weigh your RV you may…
Water Bandit RV Tip In some cases when RVing and wanting to acquire fresh water, you may run into a source where your standard filling hose connection won’t work. Maybe the threads are worn, the wrong size or there are none. I ran into this…
Use Bleach Spray Bottle for Campground Tap
Bleach the Campground Water Tap Tip One tip I found useful was to carry a spray bottle full of bleach. Before connecting to the campground tap I give it a quick spray to sterilize it. If the tap is low enough it may of been used by a dog to relieve…
Use Portable Propane Heater while Dry Camping
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy By using an indoor-safe portable propane heater when dry camping in cool temperatures you can save a lot of power in your RV batteries. When running the big RV furnace substantial power is used to drive the…
Preparing the RV for Snowbird Season
Introduction After spending the summer stationary in one RV site this year I had many things to do while preparing the RV for snowbird season down south. Our journey down to the US southwest will see us cover several thousand miles in a short time so…
10 Simple Tips to Help Maintain the RV
Ten tips to keep your RV working smoothly Taking the time to do a few preventative measures to our RVs will pay big dividends down the road. Just like you take your car in on a regular basis for a tuneup and oil change, don’t forget about our…
Practice, practice, practice! This has to be the all-time best tip you can get. You can read all the information you want, but the only way to truly learn is by doing it over and over. It’s how you learned to drive your car, right? So take some…
RV Waste Tank Valve Tip I’ve just finished replacing the black waste tank valve on my Keystone Cougar 276RLS fifth wheel and have a little tip for you. The main reason my black tank valve needed to be replaced was due to a crack forming near…
If You’re Housebound, Take Your House with You!
Introduction I’d like to welcome a special guest writer to Love Your RV. George and his wife have gotten back into RVing, even with some physical challenges. I think it’s awesome that they are back out there enjoying themselves and asked…
How to get your white RV sink covers clean If your like me and have those white dual purpose cutting board and sink covers then you know over time they will get dingy looking. Food will stain them and they generally get a gray look to them. A tip to…
Introduction While reading many RV forums over the last few years I’ve watch as a few topics always seem to blow up into extensive threads with many replies and comments. Unfortunately, many times these forum threads degrade into outright…
Tips for Saving Money When RVing
Introduction Being that we aren’t yet famously wealthy and unable to work the six months we spend down south visiting the United States during the winter, we really have to watch our budget. In the last four years traveling full time in our RV,…
Stop RV Toilet Bowl from Leaking
RV toilet bowls usually use a rubber seal to keep the water in the bowl. This water is essential to seal off the waste tank odors preventing them from getting into the rig. If your seal dries out it can start to develop a slow leak draining out the…
Keep a Well Stocked First Aid Kit in the RV
When embarking on a your RV journey always carry a well stocked first aid kit. During your travels you may encounter road accidents and need to apply first aid until help arrives. Many times our camp sites are out far from the nearest medical center…
Soak Shower Head in a Bag of Vinegar
If your RV shower head is difficult to remove a neat trick is to fill a sandwich bag with white vinegar and use an elastic band to secure it to the shower head. Let soak over night and the vinegar will dissolve the hard water mineral and calcium…
Clean Iron Stained Porcelain Toilet with ToothPaste
One time when camping in a park with heavily iron concentrated water our porcelain toilet bowl got badly stained by the iron. I tried many things to get rid of the reddish-brown stains. Finally I gave a whitening toothpaste a try and voila the stains…
Make the RV Mattress more Comfortable
OEM RV Mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable, especially after some use. The springs soon poke through and stick into your body. A new deluxe mattress would be ideal but expensive. A cheaper solution is a memory foam topper. Since we added ours…
Keep a Battery Operated Weather Alert Radio in the RV
It’s a great idea for safety to keep some kind of battery powered weather alert radio handy when RVing. Storms can come up quick and are much more dangerous to us in our RV’s. High winds, hail, tornadoes, flash floods can cause damage and…
For a better view of the road behind and a decreased blind spot area add a convex “fish-eye” mirror to your regular RV mirrors. The more you can see the safer your RV adventure will be. Also aids in backing up the rig or trailer into your…
FRVTS has just launched it’s fifth video on money saving DIY tips, for the RV owner. You can see all of our DIY and RV information at our YouTube Channel start here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYKpZdAex8w Or Google FRVTS Our videos are geared to…
Help Vent Smelly Sewer Odors from the RV
If you’re having problems with smelly sewer odors in the RV a tip is to install a special inexpensive fan on the roof top sewer/waste tank vent. The fan will draw odors and sewer gases out of the rigs waste tanks. Super easy to install. Camco…
Place Small Fan in RV Fridge to aid cooling
By placing a small battery operated fan in the RV Fridge it will cool more efficiently and odors are reduced. There are several types available, some come with a small charcoal filter. …
Pick up the eBook “Tips for the RV Life” for free
Head over to the information page at https://loveyourrv.com/love-your-rv-tips-for-the-rv-life-ebook/ and get a free copy of this great tips eBook by signing up to the Love Your RV! monthly newsletter. Or for a no sign up, instant download free eBook…
Egg Carton Charcoal Briquette Fire Starter Trick
I love this fire starting trip. I found it on the website – http://sewmanyways.blogspot.ca/2012/06/eggs-tra-special-campfire-starter.html Fill the egg carton with briquettes and light, so simple!…
Arrive at the RV Site with a tasty meal cooking – 12 Volt Slow Cookers with cigarette adapter allow the night’s food to cook while traveling to the campsite. Arrive with a nice yummy cooked meal waiting to eat.…
PVC Pipe Holders for Hair Appliances
Cut 2-3” PVC tubes into 4” lengths and adhere the pipes to the inside of cabinet doors. These work great to store coiled cords and hair appliances Photo Credit: Homemakingtoday.com…
Found this great tip at Lifehacker.com. Looks like a useful tip for RV and Camping as well. To keep your drinks cold and your party festive this summer, fill balloons with water and freeze. It’s cheaper than ice from the store and you…
Cork board on RV cupboard door
Use a Cork board on the inside of your cupboards or pantry door for recipes or little notes. Found this little gem of a tip making the rounds on Pinterest…
Replace your OEM shower head with one from Oxygenics and enjoy a more powerful spray and save water. Ideal for boondocking. Even with low campground water pressure you’ll enjoy a better shower. I have recently installed this unit and very…
Duct Tape and Bailing Wire are your Friends
It’s a good idea to carry duct tape and bailing wire in the RV for temporary repairs on the road. They can be very handy to hold on a damaged part or a piece of the RV that has come loose. Other tapes to carry include electrical, double sided…
Our RV came with a basic manual slider type thermostat. By installing a digital model I get much more precise temperature control. Also the furnace maintains a more even temperature. Check…
While RVing through Florida we picked up some uninvited guests. Sugar Ants were everywhere. We were able to get rid of them by using Raid Ant drops. Just a few drops wherever we saw them swarming and in a week they were all gone. Love the stuff. Now…
Utilize RV space with wire storage baskets
In our RV there is a lot of high cupboard space. So we can use it, I have installed various sizes of wire storage baskets. This lets us use the otherwise wasted space and they hold items secure during transit.…
Cut a piece of rope to match the distance your RVs slide-out reaches out from the trailer. Now before you deploy the slide in the camp site you can quickly measure to see if it may hit an obstacle such as the power pedestal,tree,water outlet,etc. We…
Led Replacement Lights save Power
Replacing your regular incandescent lights in the RV with LED type can reduce power consumption dramatically. Some LED lights use 1/10th the power. This means when camping without hookups you will get longer battery life and need to recharge less…
Dish detergent works well in salt water for bathing, washing your hair or doing dishes if you are camped by the ocean.…
Since we travel with a dog full time the carpet areas in the rig get quite dirty. I found a great solution was a portable stream cleaner. They are designed for stairs and spot cleaning but since the RV area is so small it’s perfect and does a…
In order to save our batteries, we use solar lights which you find in lawn and garden centers. We have a couple of pots of petunias outside with a solar light and we bring them in at night and put one in each room. The flowers make our camper smell…
How I Wash, Wax and Detail the RV
Introduction Every six months or so I wash, wax and detail the RV. Occasionally between, it may get a quick wash if it gets very dirty or dusty, usually after a couple of rainy drives or a desert windstorm. Below you will learn the methods, tools,…
Need a cup holder in the RV. My wife likes to have water at night or hot tea at bedtime and needed a secure place to keep it. I picked up this great cup holder which works great, is right next to the bed and folds out of the way. …
Speed-up RV Freezer Defrosting
When doing the chore of RV Fridge defrosting use a hair dryer to speed up the process. Keep the hot air moving and not too close to the plastic. Also works great when the metal fins inside the lower fridge get iced up.…
Quick way to clean out the black tank, before leaving the campsite dump a couple bags of crushed ice down the toilet. During the drive it will clean up the tanks walls.…
Help prevent Black Streaks on the RV
Wash your roof often, most black streaking is caused by dirt and grim from on the roof. Clean roof equals less black steaks. Also buy gutter spout extenders or attach a cloths peg to the gutter spout to cause the water to drip further from the RV…
Introduction Since using and maintaining an RV involves a great deal of tasks and procedures it’s best to have some sort of RV Checklists. You may have an excellent memory but even the best of us can forget something, usually when you’re tired…
Use a sham wow type cloth and dry out the shower stall after each use. This keeps the shower stall from growing mold and removes the hard water.…
Tips for RVing Fulltime with your Spouse
Introduction Anne and I have been together over 11 years and lived full-time in an RV for 4 years now. Thankfully we are very compatible and have grown even closer while RVing. We manage to cohabit in 180 square feet living space. How do…
Use a water regulator at the campground hookup to prevent too high of pressure from damaging your rigs pumping. I use one that keeps pressure at 50-55 PSI …
Use a water splitter on the campground water supply, this way you can have an extra feed for washing things. Also you can vent off the pressure when you go to disconnect. saves getting water sprayed on yourself.…
Outdoor Wireless Thermometer monitor plumbing pipe temps
I use the wireless thermometer to monitor how cold my rig gets around my critical plumbing areas. This way I know if I need to take action to prevent a freeze up in my pipes.…
Get more even heating from your RV oven
Pizza Stone in RV Oven Tip Find a cheap pizza cooking stone and place it at the bottom (not right on the burner) of your RV gas oven. It will stop things from getting burnt on the bottom and even out the oven temperature. Make sure to measure your RV…
Turn your water off when away from the campsite
A good habit is to turn off the campground water supply when you’re away from the rig for a while. If your RV plumbing was to fail this tip would save you a major clean up and possible expensive repair.…
Is the Black Tank almost full tip
Just before the black tank gets to the right full stage the toilet will start to sound a little different and a small burp or bubble of air will happen. This means the waste level is above the vent pipe and it’s time to dump!…
In case of fire have a ladder near the bedroom window
Leave a step ladder near your bedroom escape window in case the rig is on fire and you have to leave out the window. Extra handy if you own a fifth wheel. Also handy for doing any work up high on the RV or rescuing cats from trees.…
Finding out how much Propane is left
To check the Propane level left in your cylinder check early in the morning and look for a line where the dew stops. Another way is to pour a cup of nearly boiling water down the side of the tank and see where condensation forms. Another option is to…
Use Bounce Dryer Sheets and a little water to scrub off stuck on bugs. Works best if rigs front is waxed regularly.…
When dumping the tanks, do the black tanks first, then the gray tanks. This way the soapy gray tanks water will help clean out the sewer hose.…
Remove Pesky Flies with Windex
Too get rid of flies instead of swatting them just spray them lightly with Windex and they will fall to the ground temporarily incapacitated. Then just remove with Kleenex. Better than fly guts everywhere, you actually are cleaning the rig at the…
Rather than buy nasty and expensive chemicals for the waste tanks try using a 1/2 cup of good old Borax laundry detergent and 1/4 cup of water softener. The Borax detergent helps control odor and cleans the tank. The water softener makes the…
Use bubble foil, like in the car front windows in your rig windows to reduce heat in summer and keep heat inside in the cold. You can buy it by the roll and cut to fit each window. Also work’s well in the bedroom to block out early daylight, or…
When you buy a dozen eggs take a sharp knife and cut the carton in half. Now they will stack nicely in the small RV fridges.…
Introduction Anne and I have traveled many times with our two beagles along with us, Oscar a 45 lb. male and Angie a much smaller 20 lb. female. It is one of the reasons we decided to see North America in an RV. We desired to embark on a one year…
