An absorption refrigerator, like those frequently found in an RV (and commonly referred to as an “RV refrigerator”), uses heat to cool your food and beverages. How can that be? Today we’re taking a closer look at the RV absorption refrigerator – what it is, how it works, how it’s powered, how efficient it is, …
Today’s topic, the RV pet monitor, is of critical importance to anyone who travels in an RV with pets. After all, one of the great benefits of traveling in an RV is the ability to bring along ALL family members, furry ones included. And although we don’t happen to travel with pets ourselves, we have …
One of the many great things about owning an RV is that you can decorate your home-on-wheels to make it really feel like… a home. In fact, our rig IS our home. And after 20 years on the road full time, we’ve got it just the way we love it. But one of the questions …
When you drive a house on wheels down the road, you might hear a whole lotta shakes, rattles, and rolls from various places around the RV. And that can get to be pretty annoying as you travel. After all, you’ve got pots & pans, silverware, dishes, glassware, and lots of other stuff stored in cabinets …
RV holding tank monitors are the bane of many an RVer’s travel experiences, but a SeeLevel tank monitor can be a game-changer! Why do we say that existing RV holding tank monitors are so bad? Well, they’re notoriously inaccurate. Their readings might indicate you’ve got plenty of room left in a holding tank, and suddenly, …
Your RV thermostat is an important part of what keeps you comfortable in your RV in all kinds of weather. Whether the ambient temperature is hot or cold, your RV thermostat is ready for climate control. But like everything else, RV thermostats have a lifespan and at some point, you may find yourself with one …
Heat and hot water are tremendous luxuries afforded to RVers by virtue of the fact that our rigs are homes-on-wheels with all the amenities of a traditional sticks & bricks house (plus wheels)! But there’s more than one way to skin the RV heat & hot water cat, and today we’re looking at the concept …
Class C RVs vary widely in size. In fact, in our post and video answering the question “What is a Super C RV?”, we showed you one of the largest types of Class C RV on the market. Today we’re looking at a much smaller RV in the same class – the Class C RV …
One of the best ways to ensure that you’ll be able to stay cool in your RV in the summer heat is to practice good RV AC maintenance. Regularly maintaining your rig’s AC unit(s) means that when the ambient temperature climbs, your air conditioner(s) will be ready to jump into action to cool down your …
Lots of RVs have sliding closet doors, but since RVs are moving vehicles, the doors have to be latched in place to keep them from sliding back and forth while you’re driving down the road. There are several variations on the RV closet door latch that manufacturers use in their RVs to keep the doors …
Because most RVs have two electrical systems – a 12V DC system as well as a 120V AC system – there can be some confusion about some matters related to the two systems and how they function, both together and separately. For example, we’ve often heard the question “Should I disconnect my RV battery when …
Most homes-on-wheels have an RV black water tank and an RV gray water tank. Keeping both of these tanks clean and in good working order is a priority. RV tank treatment and maintenance serve to prevent odors inside the RV living space and to keep RV holding tank sensors performing well so that we know …
As full-time RVers and chronic DIYers, we carry lots of tools and supplies, and we use them all regularly. But even part-time and occasional RVers need a few tools and supplies. Today we’re looking at RV electrical supplies in particular because RVing means you’ve got a home-on-wheels with not just one, but TWO electrical systems …
We’ve talked a lot about solar power on this blog over the years, and we’re big fans. We’ve got what for us is the ultimate RV solar panel system, and it has served us very well overall. But there’s no getting around the fact that the sun goes down every night, and that clouds, rain, …
Back in late 2020, Winnebago introduced a new motorhome that was about the size of a camper van but had the space and features of a larger rig. The RV, called the Ekko, was an instant success. About a year later, the Winnebago Ekko Pop-Top was revealed. With the current soaring interest in smaller RVs, …
You may be thinking to yourself, “Why would people need portable water heaters?” Most RVs come with a water heater, either with a tank (generally Suburban or Dometic/Atwood) or tankless (like Truma or Girard). But there are many tent campers and car campers out there, and there are lots of rigs like self-converted vans, schoolies, …
There’s a lot of talk about lithium RV batteries, and with good reason. RV lithium batteries are rechargeable 12-volt batteries that have become a popular alternative to lead-acid batteries, particularly for RVers who spend a lot of time off the grid and/or who use solar power. RV lithium batteries are based on a newer, more …
One of the biggest concerns among RVers seems to be the care & maintenance of holding tanks. From keeping them “clean” to preventing backup issues, to easy dumping, to keeping any odors from invading the RV’s living space. One question we’ve heard frequently is, “Is Rid-X safe for RV tanks?”, suggesting that Rid-X is a …
Many RVers turn to a portable RV generator to give themselves access to sufficient power to charge their devices, replenish their RV’s battery power, and run appliances while they’re camping. But how safe are these portable generators? Should we be concerned about the potential for suffocation? In today’s post, we’ll dig deep to consider the …
Many an RVer has cursed the black streaks that accumulate on the sides of their rigs. But there are ways to deal with RV black streaks, and the best way is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. In this post, we’ll look at the oh-so-handy product (the RV black streak remover), and …
If you’ve ever found yourself asking the question, “Why does my RV battery keep dying?”, then this post is for you. And actually – this post is for every RVer with a battery! Proper care and maintenance is important for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is to preserve the integrity of …
You may have seen our post on our RV internet solutions for 2021 which we created to update our readers on the most recent upgrades we made to our tech cabinet. But it’s 2022 now, and while our internet solutions are working very well for us, like many RVers we’re keeping an eye on the …
Being frequent boondockers, (for the uninitiated, that’s camping off the grid without hook-ups, usually in beautiful, remote locations), we’re always looking for ways to conserve resources. Even though our RV came equipped with some fairly energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, 12V LED lights for RVs are the reigning champs of miserly power consumption. They use about a …
As the single largest power draw on most RVs, air conditioners pull a lot of juice, especially when they first start up. While running an AC unit might not exceed the capabilities of a small generator or shore power connection, the initial power spike when the compressor comes on is where we need the best soft start for …
That’s right – a two-story RV with a sunroom and an elevator. It’s real, it’s expensive, but it’s worth seeing because it’s pretty cool. Overseas RV manufacturers are jumping in with all sorts of cool new innovations. So, today we’re taking a look at the SAIC Maxus Life Home V90 Villa Edition! Is This Two …
With gas prices affecting RVers’ travel plans, everyone’s thinking about the benefits of smaller RVs. We here in North America tend to think of a small rig as a Class B or even a Class B Plus RV. But, friends we’ve gotta tell you – a Class B RV is nowhere near the smallest camper …
It’s time to get that RV leveling system installed and running to keep you on the level throughout the camping season. RV leveling systems aren’t all the same, though, so today we’re sharing our favorite RV leveling system and we’ll tell you – and show you – why we love it! You know we always …
As we write this post, we’re stepping into spring which means summer is right around the corner. We’re excited, and we know you are, too. But, one of the top questions RVers seek to answer when the hot weather rolls around is how to keep their RV cool and comfortable. So today, with time to …
Low water pressure in your RV can be annoying. Low-pressure showers or a lack of pressure when you’re trying to wash dishes, flush the toilet or do anything else that involves a decent flow of water generally indicates that you’ve got a problem somewhere in your RV’s water system. We recently published a post suggesting …
Using a cargo van as the platform to build out a camper van is super popular these days, and we can understand why! Commercial vans make great bones for little RVs and can be customized to include pretty much anything a traveler/camper wants to accommodate. With the introduction of the 2022 Ford Transit electric van …