Full-timers since 2003, we’re a couple of “Do-It-Ourself” RVers sharing tips on RV operation, maintenance, repair, and travel. We’ve handled most of our own RV maintenance over the course of two decades spent exploring North America (and international RVing, too)!
While we’re not RV technicians, we’re very mechanically inclined and have learned a lot about RV systems over the years. We handle most of our own minor service, repair and upgrade work on our 2005 43′ Newmar Mountain Aire diesel pusher. We also maintained our 2002 39′ Fleetwood Bounder Diesel during our first 2 years on the road.
We hope our experiences can help other RVers go DIY, all while saving time & money… and experiencing the satisfaction of a job well done.
We don’t pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But lots of things are the same on RVs in general, and diesel pushers in particular. Consult with a professional technician if you’re unsure about working on your RV.
Safe Travels!
– Peter & John
Since 2011, Peter Knize & John Sullivan have co-hosted The RVgeeks, one of YouTube’s most popular channels about RVing. In 2019, they made the big leap to broadcast television as co-hosts and Co-Executive Producers of the new TV series The RVers. Look for John & Peter on The Discovery Channel, PBS, iTunes/AppleTV, Amazon Video, Fun Roads TV, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, and YouTubeTV. The RVers is also available internationally on the Wild Pursuit Network in Canada, and iTunes in English-speaking countries such as Canada, the U.K. and Australia.
Henry Wyse
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
Is there a best approach to determine artcle titles to look at past articles on specific subjects?
TheRVgeeks
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
You can use the search option on the site (available in several locations on the page, but placement varies for laptop, tablet, or smartphone views) and enter a word or phrase for what you're looking for. If we have an article on it, it will show up.
Henry Wyse
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
How do you determine corner weight so I can determine correct tire pressure. Your article said not to go to scales at truck stop.
TheRVgeeks
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
Corner weights are harder to get... cover it in more detail in our eBook (if you didn't get access to that when you subscribed, you can re-enter the same email address in our subscription form on our site, and it will send you the link... or just let us know and we can re-trigger it to send to you). The scales at truck stops usually are designed to PREVENT you from only putting one side or the other on the scale, since if trucks did that, they could make it look like they weighed less than they did!
Pat Daly
Tuesday 30th of April 2024
I am replacing my rubber roof with a PVC rubber roof. Do I glue the smooth side down so the top is not slippery or the rough side for a better bond. Thanks
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 30th of April 2024
Hi Pat. Great question! From what we've seen online, the smooth side is supposed to go down toward the roof, leaving the textured side facing out (to avoid it being slippery). But to be 100% sure, we'd recommend contacting the manufacturer of the PVC membrane.
Mark Stafford
Sunday 28th of April 2024
Hello Peter and John, your plumbing issue that you addressed in video with pump running every 65 seconds and when hooked to city water, the fresh water tank is over flowing is the exact issue I’m having. I tried your diagnostic routine and when I isolated the bypass valve, the tank did not overflow while city water is pressurized. I changed bypass valve back to normal operation and waited for tank to overflow and it never did. When turning city water off and turning pump back on, it still runs about every 60 seconds. Any ideas?
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 30th of April 2024
Hi Mark. Sorry that you're having trouble. It's very strange that you're having the tank overflow problem WITHOUT it being an issue of the tank fill/city water valve leaking. It's certainly possible that you're at the early stage of failure for that valve... and sometimes it seats properly, and other times it doesn't. And maybe the pump cycling is a secondary, unrelated issue?
It's possible that the culprit in your case is the water pump's internal check valve/back-flow preventer failing. That would also allow pressure to bleed back to the tank (causing the pump to cycle) and could possibly also allow city water to continue filling the tank. You could test that by installing an inline back-flow preventer on the tank/inlet side of the water pump (just be sure to get one that matches the size/style of connection already on the inline filter).
If it's not that, then it's possible there's a water leak somewhere else in the system. But that would only explain the pump cycling, not the fresh tank overflowing on city water... so it's less likely.
Hope this helps!
Franklin Barker
Saturday 27th of April 2024
I have a 2014 Tiffin Phaeton 42LH. The large passenger side slide topper does not roll up when the slide comes in. The front cap looks to not be seated properly and I believe the roller is bound up and not turning. I am stuck in a RV park cannot find mobile repair that handles slide toppers. Any way to manually roll up the fabric since the roller bar seems to be stuck? Thank you in advance.