Today we’re looking at the 7-pin trailer plug. We’ll talk about what it is, how it works, and what it does. We’ll also cover whether all 7-pin trailer plugs are the same and whether or not they’re intended to control your trailer’s brakes. As a bonus, we’ll even toss in a video on how to …
What’s a trailer hitch lock? Are they all the same? More importantly, do you need one? In previous posts, we’ve covered towing-related topics on everything from how to hook up your car to your RV tow bar to the ever-important methods of trailer sway control. But one thing we haven’t covered is the topic of …
The 50 amp RV plug is a powerful thing! In fact, it has the capacity to power everything in your RV no matter what size rig you’ve got. People often wonder how much a single 50-amp plug can really handle. Well, we can power our entire motorhome on a 50-amp plug when we’re connected to …
It’s common knowledge among RVers that an RV needs to be level for comfort and for certain appliances to function properly. But there are a number of different ways to level an RV. Today we’re taking a look at the HWH leveling system. What is it and how does it work? And does it mean …
We hear a lot about macerating toilet systems for RVs, but how do macerating toilets work and why would an RVer want one? Today we’re looking at the macerator toilet and why some RVers prefer a macerating unit over a standard toilet system. What Is a Macerating Toilet? In most RVs, a regular toilet uses …
Hot air and high humidity are a terrible combination. It’s the job of your air conditioner to cool the air and control humidity to some degree. But if your AC unit can’t get the job done, it may be because your RV AC is freezing up. What horrible timing! An RV AC freeze-up is never …
A quality, highly protective RV surge protector can appear at first glance to be a bit pricey. But when you consider the cost of replacing your RV’s electronics, the cost of surge protection becomes inconsequential. Plugging your RV into unknown power sources like those at RV parks, campgrounds, state parks, etc. is always risky. Any …
More and more RV owners are deciding to hit the road to try full-time RV living. But traveling full-time brings about big changes. Living on the road, while it may sound intriguing (and it is!), is different from taking a long road trip with the prospect of returning home eventually. Full-time RVers have a lot …
Traveling in an RV is fantastic. Obviously, we think so or we wouldn’t have continued doing it for two decades! But, RV ownership isn’t all glamour and fun. There are some stressors involved. So, in the interest of full disclosure, today’s post takes a serious look at a few important things to know about owning …
Clearly, the best mosquito repellent for camping is one that WORKS! There’s nothing worse than setting out to enjoy the great outdoors with pesky mosquitoes showing up to ruin the fun. For campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, a product that truly offers protection against mosquitoes is a coveted item. There are hundreds, even thousands of …
Why a whole post on tips for new RV owners? Well, purchasing an RV is a big deal! Think about it – a vehicle and a home are two of the biggest purchases a person makes in life. An RV is both, and there’s a double learning curve to go along with it. This can …
The hunt for the best RV vacuum cleaner can be a frustrating one. The ability to try a variety of machines could require purchasing several models, or at least locating a vacuum cleaner store that has a wide variety on display for testing purposes. Between sand from the beach, desert dust, pine needles from the …
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, …
Almost anyone who has ever had the displeasure of driving an RV in high winds will tell you that it can be a very stressful white-knuckle experience. No one likes driving an RV in high winds, but the situation is likely to present itself sooner or later. For this reason, we’re here to share some …
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, …
Driving an RV, whether it’s a motorhome or a travel trailer, isn’t the same as driving a car. No matter what RV you operate, there’s a learning curve to RV driving. RVs are usually longer and heavier, they take longer to stop, and there are more (and different types of) mirrors — along with a …
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 …
If you’ve got a Big Rig RV, planning your travel routes requires some extra thought and preparation. Since we’ve been living and traveling full time in a Big Rig RV for nearly 20 years, we feel fairly well qualified to offer some insight gained through our considerable experience. So today we’re sending out 7 of …
Keeping our teeth clean and our gums healthy is among the more commonly understood uses for toothpaste, but we’ve actually heard about a bunch of clever ways to use toothpaste for various tasks around the RV! We decided to toss them over to you in today’s post because toothpaste is a thing every RVer has …
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 we head toward the dog days of summer, we’ve gotta talk about staying cool in hot weather. We recently published a post with 11 tips on how to keep an RV cool in summer. We’ve also got a post on 6 tips to try if your RV AC is not cooling. But today’s post …
Like any home, your home-on-wheels has lots of windows. The difference is that not only do your RV windows travel down dusty, dirty roads… but they also may not be composed of the same materials as the windows of a sticks & bricks house. Today we’re talking about the specific tips you should know about …
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, …
We’ve never claimed to be experts in RVing, but what we can say is that we’ve got a fair amount of experience behind us. We’ve been living, working, and traveling full time in our RV for right around 20 years now. By now, we’re pretty clear on what it takes to live and work full …
While we’ve made plenty of RV newbie mistakes ourselves over the years, we’re happy to be sharing someone else’s mistakes! Today we’re thrilled to feature a special guest post by best-selling author, and our dear friend, Alyssa Padgett. Besides her fame from her first book — A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV — Alyssa …
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 …
After a couple of decades of full-time living, working, and traveling in an RV, we’ve developed lots of RV living tips that we live by every day. Today we’re sharing 21 of them with you, along with links and videos to general information, how-to’s, and step-by-step guides you can follow to make your life living …