RV slide-out rooms have both inner and outer seals (I also refer to them as gaskets, but seals is probably the more accurate word). They keep the slides sealed against the elements whether they are extended or retracted. Keeping them working smoothly is a quick and easy once-a-year maintenance item... probably the simplest task on our annual spring cleaning list!
Although there are commercial products available for lubricating slideout seals, when we picked up our new motorhome from Newmar, they recommended that we simply rub them with baby powder / talcum powder once a year, and nothing else would be required. This has worked well for us over the 8+ years we've owned our RV, and avoids the cost of commercial products. Another benefit of baby powder is that it doesn't attract dust and dirt the way many liquid products can.
Our slide-out room seals look pretty much brand new, even after all these years of full-timing. If your manufacturer recommends some other method, by all means follow their recommendation, but we're pleased with this method and highly recommend giving it a try.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
How To Plug in an RV (Dog Bones 101)
A new RVer asked us how to plug their RV into a regular household electric outlet, so we thought we'd cover the basics of connecting different types of RVs into 20-, 30- and 50-amp electric service.
A standard 3-prong household electric outlet provides 20-amp service (sometimes also referred to as 15-amp service). Most medium-sized RVs (usually with only one air-conditioning unit) have 30-amp service, which uses a larger three-prong plug with two of the prongs at an angle. Larger RVs (usually with two or three air conditioners) utilize higher-power 50-amp service, with larger, 4-prong plugs.
Most RV parks offer both 20- and 30-amp service, with many parks also offering 50-amp service as well. But what do you do if you're staying at a park that doesn't offer an outlet to match your plug? The answer: Dogbones!
RV dogbone power adapters are available on Amazon. Click here to find them.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
A standard 3-prong household electric outlet provides 20-amp service (sometimes also referred to as 15-amp service). Most medium-sized RVs (usually with only one air-conditioning unit) have 30-amp service, which uses a larger three-prong plug with two of the prongs at an angle. Larger RVs (usually with two or three air conditioners) utilize higher-power 50-amp service, with larger, 4-prong plugs.
Most RV parks offer both 20- and 30-amp service, with many parks also offering 50-amp service as well. But what do you do if you're staying at a park that doesn't offer an outlet to match your plug? The answer: Dogbones!
RV dogbone power adapters are available on Amazon. Click here to find them.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
How To Replace RV Water Filters
One downside to moving your house to so many different locations can be the varied and unknown quality of the water available. Many RVs have a rust, scale and sediment filter for all incoming water, plus a charcoal (carbon) filter at the sink and/or ice maker. These all require periodic replacement.
Filtering the main incoming water line for rust and sediment is a good idea, but only a charcoal filter will provide any improvement in the taste. If you have a water dispenser at your sink, or an ice maker, it's quite likely there's a charcoal filter in the supply line.
As charcoal filters also remove chlorine, we avoid using one on the main water inlet, since we want some base level of chlorine in our fresh water tank to help protect the water in the tank (see our video about periodically sanitizing the fresh water tank here).
You can find these filters on Amazon:
5-micron whole-house filter.
Flow-Pur filter #3 (threaded, like ours)
Flow-Pur filter #2 (clip-on type)
(Be SURE to buy the correct one for your RV... threaded, clip-on, etc).
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Filtering the main incoming water line for rust and sediment is a good idea, but only a charcoal filter will provide any improvement in the taste. If you have a water dispenser at your sink, or an ice maker, it's quite likely there's a charcoal filter in the supply line.
As charcoal filters also remove chlorine, we avoid using one on the main water inlet, since we want some base level of chlorine in our fresh water tank to help protect the water in the tank (see our video about periodically sanitizing the fresh water tank here).
You can find these filters on Amazon:
5-micron whole-house filter.
Flow-Pur filter #3 (threaded, like ours)
Flow-Pur filter #2 (clip-on type)
(Be SURE to buy the correct one for your RV... threaded, clip-on, etc).
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How To Service an Onan RV Generator
One of the greatest freedoms we get from RVing is the ability go anywhere, any time, completely self-contained. Our Onan 7.5 kW QuietDiesel generator is a key part of that freedom. Proper care and maintenance of the "genny" will lead to a long life of trouble-free operation.
Each spring, we service our genset as part of routine spring cleaning. The oil and oil filter get changed every year, along with cleaning the spark arrestor. Some years also call for air & fuel filter replacement and coolant system service too. Generator service intervals are based on time or hours they've run, but we generally don't use our generator enough to need service more than once a year.
We take care of all of these items ourselves. In over a decade of RVing, we've never had anyone else work on our Onan. We have never had a day of trouble with it, and the routine service is so easy that we've never needed any outside help. We'll cover the three most basic service items here.
We just changed the fuel filter last year, so we won't be demonstrating that today. And the coolant system service is involved enough to require its own video, which you can view here. In this video, we'll show how to change the oil & filter, replace the air filter and clean the spark arrestor.
Our Onan (an extremely popular brand) is a diesel model, and runs off the same fuel tank as our engine. Your genset may be different than ours, especially if it runs on gasoline. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for operating and maintaining your generator.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Each spring, we service our genset as part of routine spring cleaning. The oil and oil filter get changed every year, along with cleaning the spark arrestor. Some years also call for air & fuel filter replacement and coolant system service too. Generator service intervals are based on time or hours they've run, but we generally don't use our generator enough to need service more than once a year.
We take care of all of these items ourselves. In over a decade of RVing, we've never had anyone else work on our Onan. We have never had a day of trouble with it, and the routine service is so easy that we've never needed any outside help. We'll cover the three most basic service items here.
We just changed the fuel filter last year, so we won't be demonstrating that today. And the coolant system service is involved enough to require its own video, which you can view here. In this video, we'll show how to change the oil & filter, replace the air filter and clean the spark arrestor.
Our Onan (an extremely popular brand) is a diesel model, and runs off the same fuel tank as our engine. Your genset may be different than ours, especially if it runs on gasoline. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for operating and maintaining your generator.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
RV Solar Panel Installation Overview
As we spend a fair amount of time boondocking (camping without hook-ups), solar panels have given us the freedom to enjoy the peace & quiet of remote locations without running our generator too much.
Since we already installed our panels on the RV (back in 2005), this is an overview of our set-up, as opposed to a detailed tutorial.
We show the general layout and components of the system, including the panels themselves, the wiring and the solar controller. We also talk about the benefits of including a simple and inexpensive tilt kit, which allows tilting the solar panels up in the winter, when the sun is lower on the horizon.
Our first RV had two panels, which were permanently fastened flat to the roof, so they couldn't be tilted. We've learned a lot since then, and the new panels are tilt-able, and also use thicker 6-gauge wire to reduce loss along its length.
Here's an overview of our entire system.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Since we already installed our panels on the RV (back in 2005), this is an overview of our set-up, as opposed to a detailed tutorial.
We show the general layout and components of the system, including the panels themselves, the wiring and the solar controller. We also talk about the benefits of including a simple and inexpensive tilt kit, which allows tilting the solar panels up in the winter, when the sun is lower on the horizon.
Our first RV had two panels, which were permanently fastened flat to the roof, so they couldn't be tilted. We've learned a lot since then, and the new panels are tilt-able, and also use thicker 6-gauge wire to reduce loss along its length.
Here's an overview of our entire system.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How To Organize an RV Basement
If you think you can't accumulate (and misplace) a lot of "stuff" in a space as contained as an RV, think again. 2013 marked our 10th year of full-timing, and we still can't always remember where we've stashed things, especially in the basement.
If you have the same problem we sometimes do, locating the wide variety of things you keep squirreled away in your RV, a selection plastic bins in various shapes and sizes can help a lot. They're typically made by companies like Rubbermaid or Sterilite and available at just about any Wal-Mart.
Bins not only keep things organized, but they keep liquids contained in the event of a leak. We also label each bin with the contents, making it easy to find just about anything, especially those rarely-used items that we haven't seen in years.
Here are a few quick & easy ideas for making your RV's storage area a little more user-friendly.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
If you have the same problem we sometimes do, locating the wide variety of things you keep squirreled away in your RV, a selection plastic bins in various shapes and sizes can help a lot. They're typically made by companies like Rubbermaid or Sterilite and available at just about any Wal-Mart.
Bins not only keep things organized, but they keep liquids contained in the event of a leak. We also label each bin with the contents, making it easy to find just about anything, especially those rarely-used items that we haven't seen in years.
Here are a few quick & easy ideas for making your RV's storage area a little more user-friendly.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How to Dump RV Holding Tanks
Dumping your RV's black and gray tanks might seem like a no-brainer, but we can't tell you how many times we've seen people who could use a little help with the basics. Properly dumping your RV's holding tanks requires a few simple procedures to help keep things odor-free and running smoothly.
For everyday tank dumping, this video is the "express version" of our original "How To Dump & Clean an RV Black Tank." If your black tank really needs a super cleaning, you can watch the original, more detailed video here.
If you're not having tank odor problems and just want a quick overview of basic tank dumping procedures, this new video gets right to the point.
Many RVers seem to think their black tank is clean when they just empty it and flush out the sewer hose with water from the gray tank. Even those RVers who use a black tank flush system often don't utilize the most important piece of equipment necessary for monitoring the cleanliness of the tank: a clear sewer elbow.
But using a clear sewer elbow isn't enough. As we demonstrate, even a black tank flush connection still won't do the job unless used correctly. We show you how to be sure your black tank is really empty, keeping it clean & odor-free and making your RV a nicer place to be.
To find clear sewer elbows on Amazon, click here.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
For everyday tank dumping, this video is the "express version" of our original "How To Dump & Clean an RV Black Tank." If your black tank really needs a super cleaning, you can watch the original, more detailed video here.
If you're not having tank odor problems and just want a quick overview of basic tank dumping procedures, this new video gets right to the point.
Many RVers seem to think their black tank is clean when they just empty it and flush out the sewer hose with water from the gray tank. Even those RVers who use a black tank flush system often don't utilize the most important piece of equipment necessary for monitoring the cleanliness of the tank: a clear sewer elbow.
But using a clear sewer elbow isn't enough. As we demonstrate, even a black tank flush connection still won't do the job unless used correctly. We show you how to be sure your black tank is really empty, keeping it clean & odor-free and making your RV a nicer place to be.
To find clear sewer elbows on Amazon, click here.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How To Convert Fluorescent RV Lights to LEDs
Being frequent boondockers (for the uninitiated, that's camping without hook-ups), we're always looking for ways to conserve resources. Even though our RV came equipped with some fairly energy efficient fluorescent lighting, LED lights are the reigning champs of miserly power consumption, using about a third the power of a fluorescent. We'll show you how to convert a 12-volt fluorescent fixture into low-power LED lighting.
There are LOTS of ways to convert RV lights from incandescent or fluorescent to LED. The simplest is for incandescent lights, where you can purchase a direct plug-in replacement for an existing bulb. You can also replace entire fixtures with LED equivalents. But since these solutions can be a lot more expensive, we prefer to look for other alternatives. LED strip lights are an inexpensive replacement for fluorescent tubes, and really versatile too, since they're designed to be cut to length. They just take a little extra effort.
LEDs are available in a range of colors from cool to warm, which are listed as "K" ratings, which refers to the color temperature in degrees Kelvin. We suggest skewing toward "warm" as very cool LED light is similar to very cool fluorescent light, in that the blue cast can make your RV seem like a cold science lab. lol
The general range of color runs from about 6,000 to 7,000 K (very cold blue cast) to about 2,500 to 3,500 K, which is much warmer (and our preference), with a color cast similar to an incandescent light. If you want something in between, 3,500 to 4,500 K more closely mimics daylight white.
It might take some trial and error to find exactly what you like best. We actually demonstrated this installation with lights that were too cool, so we ordered warmer lights to replace them. It was so inexpensive to try them out, we weren't too worried about it!
For any RVer who spends much time boondocking, small reductions in power usage can be a big help. Even for those who don't dry camp much, bringing your RV up to date with some 21st century technology can be a fun and rewarding project.
Please remember that electrical projects aren't for everyone. Even 12-volt power requires extra caution in this case, since the capacitor in a fluorescent light ballast stores energy even after the power has been disconnected. If you're not comfortable working with electricity, hire a professional!
We purchased our LED strip lights on Amazon. Click here to find them.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
There are LOTS of ways to convert RV lights from incandescent or fluorescent to LED. The simplest is for incandescent lights, where you can purchase a direct plug-in replacement for an existing bulb. You can also replace entire fixtures with LED equivalents. But since these solutions can be a lot more expensive, we prefer to look for other alternatives. LED strip lights are an inexpensive replacement for fluorescent tubes, and really versatile too, since they're designed to be cut to length. They just take a little extra effort.
LEDs are available in a range of colors from cool to warm, which are listed as "K" ratings, which refers to the color temperature in degrees Kelvin. We suggest skewing toward "warm" as very cool LED light is similar to very cool fluorescent light, in that the blue cast can make your RV seem like a cold science lab. lol
The general range of color runs from about 6,000 to 7,000 K (very cold blue cast) to about 2,500 to 3,500 K, which is much warmer (and our preference), with a color cast similar to an incandescent light. If you want something in between, 3,500 to 4,500 K more closely mimics daylight white.
It might take some trial and error to find exactly what you like best. We actually demonstrated this installation with lights that were too cool, so we ordered warmer lights to replace them. It was so inexpensive to try them out, we weren't too worried about it!
For any RVer who spends much time boondocking, small reductions in power usage can be a big help. Even for those who don't dry camp much, bringing your RV up to date with some 21st century technology can be a fun and rewarding project.
Please remember that electrical projects aren't for everyone. Even 12-volt power requires extra caution in this case, since the capacitor in a fluorescent light ballast stores energy even after the power has been disconnected. If you're not comfortable working with electricity, hire a professional!
We purchased our LED strip lights on Amazon. Click here to find them.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How to Clean an RV Gray Tank & Sensors
Besides water, an RV gray tank (or "grey" if you trend more British, like us Canucks) takes in lots of greasy, sticky substances. These include food particles & residue from preparing meals and washing dishes, soap, shampoo, toothpaste & even body oils. After a while, it can gum up your holding tank sensors, causing a false reading on your tank monitors.
Cleaning the gray tank and sensors is a really simple task, since there's a readily available liquid designed to break up all of the crud that can build up in the tank. This short video will show you how.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Cleaning the gray tank and sensors is a really simple task, since there's a readily available liquid designed to break up all of the crud that can build up in the tank. This short video will show you how.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How To Replace an RV Skylight
Whether your RV's skylight is cracked or broken, or just old and cloudy, we'll show you how easy it is to replace it with a brand new one. Access to your roof and a few tools are all it takes to get the job done. Since most motorhomes, 5th wheels and travel trailers have skylights, this video is one that might help just about any RVer.
You'll need a putty knife or two, a can of mineral spirits, a caulk gun loaded with SureBond SB140 butyl sealant, a screw gun, an old rag and a pair of nitrile gloves (mostly to protect your hands from the mineral spirits). Of course you'll need a brand-new replacement skylight too. Also be sure to have some extra self-drilling screws on hand just in case, since there may be more screw holes in the new skylight than in the old one.
Surebond SB-140 Skylight sealant can be a bit hard to locate. We found it on Amazon.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
You'll need a putty knife or two, a can of mineral spirits, a caulk gun loaded with SureBond SB140 butyl sealant, a screw gun, an old rag and a pair of nitrile gloves (mostly to protect your hands from the mineral spirits). Of course you'll need a brand-new replacement skylight too. Also be sure to have some extra self-drilling screws on hand just in case, since there may be more screw holes in the new skylight than in the old one.
Surebond SB-140 Skylight sealant can be a bit hard to locate. We found it on Amazon.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How To Connect an RV to External Propane
As a follow-up to our recent video on wintering in an RV, we found that connecting our rig to a large external propane tank was a little more involved than we expected.
If you're planning to spend the winter in a cold climate, or simply want to avoid running out of propane while parked in one place for an extended period, here's some useful information based on our recent experience.
We're using our Extend-a-Stay (also known as a Stay-a-While or an Extend-a-Flow) to connect to a large external propane tank. There's a fair amount to know about propane, and we are certainly not experts. But we do know more about it today than we did yesterday!
"Extend-a-Stay" (or "Stay-a-While") is available on Amazon.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
If you're planning to spend the winter in a cold climate, or simply want to avoid running out of propane while parked in one place for an extended period, here's some useful information based on our recent experience.
We're using our Extend-a-Stay (also known as a Stay-a-While or an Extend-a-Flow) to connect to a large external propane tank. There's a fair amount to know about propane, and we are certainly not experts. But we do know more about it today than we did yesterday!
"Extend-a-Stay" (or "Stay-a-While") is available on Amazon.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
How to RV in the Winter
After RV snowbirding for eight winters in a row, mostly in the Desert Southwest, we spent the winter in the RV in a northern location for the very first time.
Granted, the Lower Mainland of British Columbia isn't exactly Manitoba when it comes to winter, but we were far enough up in the mountains to get some sub-freezing temperatures and quite a bit of snow.
We share all of the steps we took to winter in our motorhome, demonstrating how to keep the water hose from freezing and how to keep ourselves warm too. We cover water hose insulation, heat tape, the differences between all five sources of heat we have available, moisture & humidity control, and even pest control.
We also used our Extend-a-Stay (also known as a Stay-a-While or an Extend-a-Flow) to connect to a large external propane tank.
Click to find the products we show in this video on Amazon:
Heat Tape, Slunky sewer hose support, Valterra water pressure regulator, Kozy World heater, 0000 steel wool, Extend-a-Stay.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
SLIDE TOPPERS NEED REPLACING? Tough Top Awnings are thicker & stronger than OEM fabric and cost far less too! Get higher-quality material and save at least half the cost by replacing your slide toppers yourself. Watch RVgeeks' slide topper installation videos to see how easy it is:
For Dometic/A&E: Click Here. For Carefree of Colorado: Click Here
Visit ToughTopAwnings.com for complete details.
Granted, the Lower Mainland of British Columbia isn't exactly Manitoba when it comes to winter, but we were far enough up in the mountains to get some sub-freezing temperatures and quite a bit of snow.
We share all of the steps we took to winter in our motorhome, demonstrating how to keep the water hose from freezing and how to keep ourselves warm too. We cover water hose insulation, heat tape, the differences between all five sources of heat we have available, moisture & humidity control, and even pest control.
We also used our Extend-a-Stay (also known as a Stay-a-While or an Extend-a-Flow) to connect to a large external propane tank.
Click to find the products we show in this video on Amazon:
Heat Tape, Slunky sewer hose support, Valterra water pressure regulator, Kozy World heater, 0000 steel wool, Extend-a-Stay.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
SLIDE TOPPERS NEED REPLACING? Tough Top Awnings are thicker & stronger than OEM fabric and cost far less too! Get higher-quality material and save at least half the cost by replacing your slide toppers yourself. Watch RVgeeks' slide topper installation videos to see how easy it is:
For Dometic/A&E: Click Here. For Carefree of Colorado: Click Here
Visit ToughTopAwnings.com for complete details.
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