We enjoy summers exploring the gorgeous BC coast aboard our 34′ CHB trawler-style liveaboard boat, often in remote areas without many services. To stay out for weeks, I rely on my boat’s 1200W solar power array, 940 amp-hour battery capacity, and the boat’s ample food storage. But water management is key. The trawler has two … Read more
Today, I continued maintenance on my nearly 14-year-old Cougar RV, tackling some cracked decals that have been slowly deteriorating. Over time, I’ve removed several of these swooshes using elbow grease, mineral spirits, Goo Gone, isopropyl alcohol, plastic razors, and a heat gun set to a gentle setting to soften the vinyl without damaging the fiberglass. … Read more
In this RV mod/upgrade, I installed a USB outlet plate in this video into my RV. The Wattcycle USB power panel features a USB-C and USB-A outlet with blue backlighting, a hinged cover, and a power switch. The installation was pretty straightforward, only requiring a hookup to 12VDC. An additional fuse may be required depending … Read more
An in-depth look at the Kiaweets Rechargeable Smart Digital Multimeter Model KM601s. I go through all the features and demonstrate the various functions. At the end of the video, I give my review. Overall, it’s not a bad deal for the features and would serve the average DIY RVer well. The big drawback for me … Read more
In this video, I review six mistakes made during this snowbird trip that required repairs or almost did. We are pretty careful and experienced RVers, but things occasionally go wrong even after 12 years of traveling and living in our fifth-wheel trailer. 1) Damaged the Shower Skylight I had my Starlink Internet Satellite Dish sitting … Read more
RV Overloading It’s one of the easiest things to overlook regarding RV safety. 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 never know it may be dangerously overloaded and a … Read more
In this video, I disassemble a Shurflo 4008 water pump to show where the check valve is located and how to replace it if damaged. The primary function of the check valve is to stop the back feeding of water when hooked to city water from filling up and overflowing the fresh water tank. The … Read more
An RV maintenance tip reminding you to check your RVs nuts and bolts for proper torque. I often check critical areas to ensure none of the nuts and bolts have come loose. It is also a good time to visually inspect things looking for corrosion or damage. A little preventative maintenance can ward off a … Read more
Everyone knows the RV black waste tank can be a stinker, but as veteran RVers know, the kitchen, often called the galley grey tank, can sometimes be worse. Rotting food particles, cooking grease, and restricted flushing action when draining can contribute to a putrid-smelling tank. I find, like my RV, many of the galley tanks … Read more
We’ve all seen those horrific photos and video footage of RV fires. The way they construct RVs and the materials used helps them burn quickly. If inside, you may only have seconds to escape. To hopefully keep that from happening to you, I decided to publish some common sense RV fire safety tips, essential advice for … Read more
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 starting point on your road to a “new to you” RV. This list is based on my … Read more
In this quick RV tip video, I show you 3 inexpensive but terrific cleaners for around the RV. An all-purpose liquid spray cleaner, powdered detergent, and concentrated cleaning vinegar all from a company called LA’s Totally Awesome. Note: I have no relationship with the company and bought the products myself from a dollar store. Thanks … Read more
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 during hot days. We could fire up our two 2000 watt Champion … Read more
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 testing and troubleshooting circuits They wouldn’t be suitable for … Read more
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 1×2 lumber to use for indicating the correct height to hookup up … Read more