On June 1st, it was time for one of the most expensive scheduled maintenance items any RVer faces: the replacement of our tires. Of course we’ve known for a while that this day was coming, but it’s still a pretty big credit card invoice to sign. Aside from the cost, we’re really happy to be …
Maintenance & Repairs
When you’re full-time RVing in many different locations, the seasons often get confused, especially when you’re a snowbird. But somehow it just seems wrong to do Spring Cleaning at any other time of the year than Spring. Taking good care of our RV, both mechanically and cosmetically, involves a long “honey do” list. Even though …
Our RV just turned 10! We took delivery on May 17, 2005, so its birthday present was a new generator fuel filter. Three years ago, our first two Onan generator maintenance videos showed how to change the oil & oil filter, clean the spark arrestor, replace the air filter, flush the cooling system and replace …
We have a confession to make. We’ve been drinking heavily for over a decade. There. We finally said it out loud. It feels good to come clean about our habit of drinking from our RV’s fresh water tank. Please don’t judge. Bottled water is expensive, tough on the environment (plastic bad), uses up valuable storage …
Someone just won an HID headlight conversion kit worth up to $250 in our latest RVgeeks Giveaway. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to find out who it was. Just over a week ago, we marked 12 years on the road. We were total RV newbs at first, but now we know how …
While the “chassis” batteries start your RV’s engine, it’s the “house” batteries that power the interior lights, vent fans, water pump and other 12-volt equipment. Through the use of an inverter, which converts 12-volts DC into 110-volts AC, they also power the coffee maker, TVs, microwave oven and other household appliances. Like the rest of …
Among the undesirable sounds an RVer never wants to hear while rolling down the highway, a “crack” as another vehicle passes by is surely among them. You know… the sound a flying stone makes when it hits glass? Depending on how loud it is, the next thing you hear might be your heart pounding in …
Accurate tire pressure readings can only be taken before you drive on them, when they’re still cold. But are you SURE the readings are accurate, even if you haven’t driven on them yet today? Maybe you shouldn’t be so sure. Most RVers, especially us DIY types, are meticulous about maintaining correct tire pressure. But even …
We’ve changed the way we add air to our RV’s tires. Before, we used our diesel pusher’s onboard air compressor, but this new way applies to any type of RV, so this tip isn’t just for owners of large motorhomes. If you’ve seen our previous videos about adding air to high-pressure tires on diesel RVs, …
Do RV tires really have to be replaced every 5, 6 or 7 years? How can you tell how old your tires are? How can you make them last as long as possible? Here’s how to get the most life and use out of your RV tires. Unlike car tires, which are usually replaced because …
Leaving your RV’s gray valve open when fully hooked up allows you to take long showers without worrying about dumping or filling up the gray tank. But what about sewer smells that can come up from the campground sewer system? Here’s how to get the best of both worlds! One of the luxuries of staying …
NEW & EASIER TECHNIQUE! We’ve learned a new and improved (EASIER!) way to do this job. Watch the new video here! UPDATE: Tough Top Awnings now offers a special discount for RVgeeks viewers. Use Discount Code “RVGEEKSROCK” at checkout (or on the phone) to get 5% off your entire order! www.toughtopawnings.com Our favorite type of …
Most RVs have lots of windows and plenty of mirrors too, so it can take a lot of time to keep them clean. Here’s our trick for cleaning all of the glass in our RV super fast… without any window cleaners of any kind and without wasting a single paper towel. All you’ll need are …
Our favorite type of DIY RV project is one that’s both surprisingly manageable and also saves a lot of money. Slide topper replacement fits that description to a T by being much easier to accomplish than one might expect, while costing as little as 1/2 to 1/3 the price of having it done at an …
You don’t have to be an RVer for very long to come to the same conclusion we did: breaking camp in the rain kinda sucks, especially if you have slide-outs. Pouring rain is just about the last thing you want to see out your windshield on the morning you’re planning to leave a campground. If …
If you’ve seen our previous 2 videos about flushing RV water heaters, you’ll know we’ve talked quite a bit about anode rods. Generally, Suburban brand water heaters require an anode rod to protect the steel tank from corrosion. The rod is made of a metal that sacrifices itself, so that corrosion will attack the rod …
If you saw our original video about super cleaning your windshield, here’s a way to do it super fast, even with a really big windshield like the one on our RV. Regardless of what type of vehicle you drive…. motorhome, pick-up truck or car, this tip will quickly make your windshield cleaner and clearer. We’re …
Like most RVers, we love the outdoors. But when the mosquitoes fly, we hate having to cover ourselves with slimy, smelly, or even toxic (for products containing DEET) insect repellent. Citronella candles and other repellents don’t seem to work much better and those expensive mosquito magnets seem to draw them in from all over the …
Here is the full-length version of this video, showing how to measure, order and install a new A&E slide topper. Our favorite type of DIY RV project is one that’s both surprisingly manageable and also saves a lot of money. Slide topper replacement fits that description to a T by being much easier to accomplish …
Here is the “express” version of this video, showing how to install a new A&E slide topper. Our favorite type of DIY RV project is one that’s both surprisingly manageable and saves a lot of money. Slide topper replacement fits that description to a T by being much easier to accomplish than one might expect, …
Besides water, an RV gray tank (or “grey” if you trend more British) 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 …
Most RVs are equipped with lockable outside storage compartments, including our first motorhome, a 2002 Fleetwood Bounder Diesel. Since our basement doors had no central locking mechanism, we got used to carrying the keys whenever we were working outside around the RV. We got so tired of locking and unlocking compartments, that we put “Power …
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 is an update to our video How To Inflate High Pressure RV Tires. If you haven’t already seen it, this one won’t make sense. You can watch it here: How To Inflate High Pressure RV Tires UPDATE! If you want to avoid the time and effort of assembling a system like this, check out …
UPDATE: Tough Top Awnings now offers a special discount for RVgeeks viewers. Enter the discount code “RVGEEKSROCK” at checkout and get 5% off your entire order! www.toughtopawnings.com This is the “alternate” installation method, which is well-suited for deep slide-outs. To see the “standard” installation technique, check out our two videos on the topic. One is …
Just about everything attached to the roof of an RV is a potential entry point for water. The TV antenna, vent fans, satellite dish, plumbing vents, solar panel mounts or anything else screwed into, or transitioning through the roof to the interior are places that invite leaks. The main line of defense against water damage …
As a follow-up to our recent video on generator maintenance (Servicing an Onan RV Generator), when we cleaned the spark arrestor and changed the oil, oil filter & air filter, today we’re servicing the cooling system. We flush the cooling system and replace the anti-freeze and radiator pressure cap on our Onan 7.5 kilowatt QuietDiesel …
Of course this video isn’t just for RVers. While there are lots of inexpensive quick-oil-change places around, performing this task ourselves is right in line with our general preference for maintaining all of our own equipment whenever possible. Changing the oil in your toad (that’s “towed” car for you non-RVers) is a quick and …
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 …
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 RV 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 …