Without watching the entire video, the 10 things I believe you need are: Toolbox-Yes it's several things but a basic tool set is essentialRubber Mallet-Great for securing stakes for outside rug, canopy, awning anchor, etc Tire gauge-obvious reasonsLeveling Blocks-I haven't had to use these often but am thankful I have them Slonkey-To keep your waste hose off the ground Water Regulator-Had a friend tell me how at a campground he stayed, they shut off their water slide increasing the water pressure enough that it burst a seal in his camper causing a flood in his camper Y Splitter For Water Hookup-This way you can hook up a hose as well as fresh water hookupSurge Protector-Obvious reasons Dog Bone-In case you stay at a park that only has 50 amp(if you are have 30 amp service) and vice versa Emergency Roadside Assistance-Believe me, it's essential
Hi Ray, on my Laredo 5'er I replaced all of my outside CH751 key locks with Combi Cam locks with dust covers. The entrance door lock was replaced with a RV Lock keypad with remote. I got so tired of fumbling around for keys and now my wife and I have full access to the RV without going on the hunt for keys. We absolutely love this upgrade by using a simple pass code for all of the locks. 🙂🇺🇸
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. My wife and I are newbies and heading out for the first time in 2 weeks. With your videos, I have been able to make gadget upgrades before heading into the field. I am now looking deeper into understanding the electricity capacity of my rig and visiting with the dealer before pick up. I had no idea
Maxxfan plus model 4500k fits under the vent covers it's powerful and quiet works great to bring a nice breeze through the Windows. Makes me sleep like a baby.
Ray you have helped me more than you know. Ive been building out my travel trailer for full time off grid living. Ive done 1850 watts of solar so far and doing a composting toilet this coming weekend. My biggest challenge so far is finding a place to keep my trailer while im gone on the road driving a semi 3 weeks at a time. Id love to find a safe property where i could live there a few days a month but at the se time my stuff not get stolen while im gone
I pleasantly enjoyed your video because all your gadgets are very handy and useful. The first to third ones were practical to keep clean and safe while the others help with convenience and make your things last long. Definitely must haves for RVers
Best RV gadget, a can opener. Went camping without it once. Had to borrow one from another camper. Never do that again. But I like to bring a 6ft ladder. It is good for reaching all kinds of things like the tops of the slide outs without having to climb the ladder on the RV.
Ray your videos just aren't the same without your little companion hanging out and keeping you company. A week from now will mark a full 2 years since I had to put my own dog down due to old age. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and sometimes fight to hold back the tears. Just know that this is one subscriber who can really empathize with what you might be going through.
Good info. For me I like the yellow wheel blocks. I pull up on one side of the blocks then set the second one. After they are both set I put it in neutral and let the rig settle to center. This locks them in so they dont move and less likely to be stolen
Always do a thorough inspection of your camp sight and belongings before you pull out. I work in a State Park and you would be amazed at all the stuff people leave behind.
An absolute must have for me is hose quick connects. No more twisting of hoses at the pipe stand, pressure regulator or where it's hard to get at going into the rv. I use them for fresh water and my internal black tank sprayer hoses. So I don't mixed up those for fresh water (vs those for black/grey water) I spray paint them white like my fresh water hose.
Another thing you want to add is a Mister for your air conditioner on the roof in hot areas like here in Redding 115 out when we were living in it to build a house that Mister kept that thing at 75 just put a little bit of spray water on that coil you also want to have a filter so you don’t build up on your coil .
Love Your RV No it does not act like a swamp cooler it keeps the condensing coil cool in real hot weather and makes the air conditioner work better and not overwork but you have to put a calcium filter on it so it will not corrode that coil with hard water
I installed a "Dust Devil" central vac system in our Cougar and my wife loves it. I mounted the hose connect in the bottom step going into the upper bed area and store the hose under the table seat. The control unit with the dust bag is mounted in the storage bay adjacent to the steps to the upper bed area.
We have had motorhomes for 30 yrs. We started with our first one when our children were young. We now take grandchildren with us. We are on our 3rd. Motorhome. On each of them we put a screen saver on the bottom section of the screen door. The first two we bought at Home Depot or Lowes, the newest one, 6 months ago we bought at Camping World. They are about 25 to 30 dollars but they prevent the screen from being pushed out and helps to stabilize the door. With the grab bar and screen saver, our screen door is very stable.
Morryde step above pull down aluminum stairs set up with grab bar, RVlock with combo pad and remotes, Auto leveling system, Reese Goose box with air bag and shocks, hand held wireless rechargeable air pump, adjustable water pressure valve, battery kill switch are some of my go to products.
With all of the junk gadgets that are marketed to RVers its nice to find recommendations from a trusted source! Thank you. Please keep up the great work. You are appreciated!
Great stuff! I need those gutter extenders and awning protection ball! Our high Colorado mountain winds often blow my cheap plastic chocks across the lot in our RV parking so those heavier rubber ones look much better! I recently mounted two Valterra A04-5094BK EZ hose carriers and love them! One holds my two stinky slinky hoses which is great because everything fits except the end piece that goes onto the ground drain. The other holds my water hose lines which have always been a pain sitting in my storage compartment. And both are lockable.
TY...you're generous with your information and you're clear and to the point. TY, TY!. Sometimes when trying to learn something about rving..I feel like I want to pull my hair out because people can take so long to get to the point going off on so many tangents and annoyingly being fake cutsey My time is valuable and when I watch a video to get information..that's what I want ..info. TY again#
When I added a grab bar to my screen door, I also found a “Clear” replacement for the 2 white panels below the grab bar. Now I can see thru the entire screen door and can see outside perfectly from my chair. Really enjoy your videos. Almost came by to tell you that personally last month while in C.R. Camped at S.Point. Cheers.
Not an RVer myself, but I have a buddy who is a beginner. So, my curiosity brought me here. I've pretty much understood all of it. Yours is a very clear and interesting presentation. And the pooch is cute! Well done!
Great stuff. I'm always looking improvements. My favorites I did was adding USB plugs in several areas for iPad and iPhone charging and adding 120 v with USB plug just above the dining room table. Perfect for the laptops
The Maxxair 2 newer version also has the hinge so you can fold it over. It also as more airflow than the original for use with fantastic fans. Personally I went with the MaxxFan deluxe that is thermostatically controlled, has the cover integrated into the fan and has a remote control as well. It was spendy but on my Truck camper i was trying to avoid shading my solar panels so this fan with the lower profile cover seemed to be the best solution.
Excellent list for the new/restarting RVers...thank you for the video! My 1st RV had gotten stolen & pretty much stripped of everything...the RV was recovered so 'yay' for that. They even sold off the roof pods & our clothes! I have crooks! Though insured...like you said...it was a pain to wait to replace everything.
Our fur babies ( 6 and 12 year old female Shelties ) are our most important must haves!! Of course, all of their toys, food, special medications, first aid equipment and bottled water are essentials when traveling with pets. First aid kit and bottled water are our people must haves as well! For housekeeping, our Swiffer Wet Jet and Swiffer battery powered dry floor cleaners are great must haves to keep the floors clean and tidy. For cooking, cannot travel without an electric frying pan ( can cook just about everything ) and a Cuisinart Griddler will make everything from hot sandwiches to burgers. A real must have! What are some of the must haves Ann thinks are important for keeping "house" in your RV? Safe travels!!!😊
haha, Yes fur babies! Our trailer is fairly small so don't have too many appliances.She likes her Shark Cordless dustbuster - amzn.to/2jsdqmq Swiffer sweeper and Streak free microfiber cleaning cloth. I do all the cooking and use mostly the gas oven and stove top plus the BBQ. I use a big wok shaped pan for most stuff. Cheers! Ray
We use the NuWave cooktop. I think when we bought it, it was a buy one and get one free. They only conduct heat when the skillet is on them. They also have an oven we are getting this year because we enjoy the cooktop so much. No, I'm not a salesman but when I buy something worth the money I don't mind telling everyone. As for the fur babies, we have two rescues and they are the reason we bought an RV(hotels don't like them). Here are the links for those interested in the cooktop or oven. Safe Travels to all. www.nuwavecooktop.com/?ref_version=GOOGLECOOKTOP-SHOP6&gclid=CM3c0vmEj9MCFYUfhgodSpINNw www.mynuwaveoven.com/?ref_version=GOOGLEOVEN-SHOP1&gclid=CNnFuO2Fj9MCFUREhgod4CAMSA
If you don't have an RV grill, gotta hack one to feed off RV propane! I hacked a brand new Q1200. Took regulator off and replaced with quick change male propane connector, made a hose. Now I simply hose into RV, no more pound cylinders. I attached a female plug to the removed regulator so I can still use the grill on the beach with the one pound cylinder if needed. At home, I quick change it into a 20 pound grill tank. All three ways work flawless. Q1200 rocks!
Nice compilation. My #1 "must have" item is a battery monitor. We boondock camp a lot and the information provided is priceless. Victron and Trimetric are the two faves on the RV forum I participate in. If your style of "camping" finds you staying in RV parks with hookups, the battery monitor has much less significance.
Those are all great gadgets for an RV. Something else I have added to my RV is a Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System. I'm not one to stay in one place for long periods of time and in my travels I experienced a blow out on my fifth wheel and had it not been for a concerned traveler pulling up next to me and alerting me of a blown tire, the results could have been catastrophic. There are many Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems on the market today. I purchased the EezRV Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System. It is easy to set up and adjust when necessary. Peace of mind if you are doing a lot of towing.
Another gadget I think is essential is a battery charger/air compressor combo. You get one relatively inexpensively. I have one made by Peak and it's good for jump starting your RV/truck. It's also good for pumping up tires and such if needed. Some come with USB so you can charge your phone if need be.
I have a post-surge protector and the rubber blocks... otherwise I have some shopping to do. Note: The rubber chocks are great, especially if you store your trailer where it freezes in the winter, you can hammer them out if they get frozen. But the rubber chocks do smell pretty strong (rubber smell) at the start, so store them in your truck bed!
Great list Ray. I will give a Shout Out to Progressive Industries. I have one of their plug in surge protectors and one day at the campground I was staying, there was an overload on the power line feeding mine and another row - caused a fire actually. My Progressive Industries surge protector did it's job and died in the line of duty. I found out that Progressive Industries is actually in NC where I was, so I took it to them and told them what happened. They are super nice people. 30 minutes later they had parts replaced and handed it back to me. No charge. Highly recommend Progressive Industries.
I too have the portable EMS surge protector protector and it has saved my rig twice already. I actually have a dedicated 30 Amp circuit at our home driveway we plug into when home. The EMS kept telling us something was wrong and it shutting down. Turned out we had a loose ground connection at the breaker. so bad circuits can happen anywhere. When we upgraded to a 50 Amp rig, I immediately purchased the 50 amp EMS protector and kept the 30 amp one to use when we only have a 30 amp circuit available.
A buddy had every electrical and electronic device in his motorhome fry. The campground was in the process of remodeling the sites and updated the electrical. The electrician wired the 30 amp side of the power pole the same as the 50 amp. So, instead of a hot and neutral, there were two hot... 240 volts instead of 120 volts. Of course, the form my buddy filled out to stay there, had a statement that held the campground harmless for any and all damages while staying there. Three flat panels, the microwave/convection oven, both roof AC units, all went up in smoke. Oh and, the inverter/charger lasted just long enough to put 24 volts DC out and fry anything that was even 12 volts... the inverter/charger itself, power step, power awning, power leveling, the 12 volt side of the frig, and smoked both house batteries. Last I talked to him, he had spent over $8,000 on repairs... and still wasn't done and things still were not working right. NEVER plug in until you have checked things out!!!!
Hi Ray! Thank you for sharing this with all of us. My husband and I just purchased our first camper and can use all the tips in the world. Your info is clear and so much easier to understand. I don't understand much about tools but the grab bar was quite simple and a brilliant idea! Very informative! Passing on to my husband! Thanks again!
Good info for sure. You asked for more ideas. I replaced my 120V outlet with one that has two USB plugs on it as well. I also added a couple of 12V sockets that have USB plugs.
This is great, I really appreciate your info Ray! I have no experience but i'm very interested in living in a mobile home. I'm giving it 3 years to save the money and learn what I can before I go, and people like you are helping me focus on the important things. Thanks!
A back up cameras are nice got one on each back corner cause I'm by myself and sometimes you have the truck turned on way and the camper another and you can't see also nice to turn on while driving to see if anyone is behind you tailgating.
Yes, good one, love them. I just added a 4 camera system last summer - www.loveyourrv.com/installing-the-haloview-ultimate-rd7r-wireless-rv-4-camera-system/ Included in my recent list of electronics :) www.loveyourrv.com/electronic-gear-and-gadgets-for-rving-my-12-must-haves/ Cheers, Ray
I seen a video of a woman who some how got one of those plastic wheel stops stuck to her tire. It then tore up her trailer and became seriously stuck in her wheel well. Actually pushed the thing into her trailer. Great video. Thanks
Great list Angie and Ray! I usually recommend to my friends BAL X-chocks, andersen levelers, and oxygenics shower head, but those are on everyone's lists on youtube. Yours was good because it's not the same old stuff.
Happy to report I have almost all of these already installed…. Missing the screen door bar and the vent covers. Oh, and the beagle…. Don’t have one of those yet. 😋
Thanks so much for the first gadget. I have an remote black tank gate that does not shut off completely. Didn't know they made one. Thought about getting an rv technician install a gate like that. Thanks again
why are the most brilliant ideas all ways the the simple ones and the ones you never think of. Thanks for the video i am now off to buy a grab rail for my screen door. The thought of never having to put that dam slider back in is just pure heaven.
Use the clutch on your battery drill to stop over winding and no sore wrist. I’m amazed at how low it can be set. Also prevents over tightening when raising them.
It's nice seeing a "beagle-proof" RV. People have dogs & we have one as well ... however unless you have a Beagle you don't know what the difference is. There are 3 rules, simple rules, when owning a Beagle. 1) Everything the Beagle can see, smell or see belongs to the Beagle. 2) You must have plenty of patience & paper towels in every room with carpet in it. Also NATURAL sprays that discourage el Beagle from dropping the deuces at the 2p-3p shift & the 6p-8p shift. Every night you you to bed, both dogs come with & be responsible, get easy to manage bags. Remember, there is no inside out. Just grab whatcha got & make a nice knot. You'll find dog 💩 disposal areas all around the site, or if you're new, bring a large plastic bag. 3) Beagles don't tell time. Beagles love routine. If you don't come at a certain time, they'll shoot turd rockets anywhere they can. J
Hey, instead of using a drill which could hurt your wrist just like you said; i use my Dewalt 20V impact. Not the tiny compact impact, the one you would use to remove lug nuts with. Thanks for the tips.
That works well, notice quite a few people using them now, I have one for changing tires, but do make a heck of a racket. :) My drill has a variable clutch so I set it not to hurt my wrist, but most of the time I just brace the drill with my free hand. Cheers, Ray
Probably quite an uninteresting accessory in the US, but here in the UK I find my macerator pump useful, some UK dump stations are higher than your holding tank if you have a small B class, even in my A class they can be fifty feet away from where you park and 1inch hose is much easier to store. I like the water pressure regulator, it took me years to try risking a 'city water' connection, to be fair not many sites have fully serviced pitches, I've only seen one that included sewage. I think I'd install it in a basement locker though, probably get stolen on the tap.
Great video. I'm an RV Tech and an avid camper. I really enjoyed your list and it was well presented. I just wanted to point out that the surge protector is either installed backwards or maybe you just have the lid on backwards but the cord line in should be the input and the output should continue on to the vehicles main breaker panel. Thanks for posting.
Best gadget I found is a LUCI LIGHT, which is a solar powered light that you can just throw in your dash when traveling down the road, or in any sunny place while stationary. The light has a blow up lantern that is clear and it will run all night on low power. It has 3 power settings plus an emergency pulse, and some feature a red light as well. They can be found at Big 5 or other sporting/camping goods store or on line.
Oh, yes they are cool, I have something like that, it's part of my boondocking gadgets - www.loveyourrv.com/favorite-rv-dry-camping-mods-gadgets/ We use it all the time when off the grid. Cheers! Ray
Find many more RV gadgets and upgrades on the Love Your RV! product reviews archives - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-product-reviews/ See full blog post - www.loveyourrv.com/10-must-have-rv-gadgets/ and *update 2020 I've added another 10 must-have gadgets* - www.loveyourrv.com/10-more-must-have-rv-gadgets/Cheers! Ray
Thanks for sharing. Some things I noticed that may help. You have a socket drive on your cordless drill, it can make fast work of the stud and nut attachments on your vent covers. Be sure to set your torque low enough you don't strip or break anything. When you are up on top dealing with the vent cover or other work make sure to have some sort of magnetic parts dish to keep your parts together. Parts falling off the roof and having to climb down and back up to get/find them is an annoying waste of time. Rethink those cylinder style locks, they are easily picked with common house hold items.
Nice tip on the cordless drill, but I still prefer the clips, simpler, no tools required.Not all tubular locks are created equal. Some of the common lock picking item tips are old news. Like for instance, the Bic pen thing was pre-2005 bike locks mostly. Anyway, a thief that determine isn't going to be stopped. A simple crowbar will easily open most RV storage bays, the door material is pretty flimsy. But the unique key tubular lock is better than having most of the other campers having the same Ch751 key as yours. Keep honest people honest. ;) Also, they are much better quality so nicer to use and longer lasting versus the OEM junk. Cheers, Ray
In a contest of no tools versus a battery operated quick use tool, not tools still wins. No tools weigh nothing, take no space, never run out of charge, impossible to lose, and are wicked cost effective. That said there's no reason to change your old vent cover when you have that handy drill. As to the locks, your point is well taken. There is no stopping a truly determined thief. Making the crime impractical is the best you can do. Cheers!
What's really neat is the links you put in the comments. Made it really easy to click on each item and put it in the cart at Amazon. Thank you so much for these suggestions! and the video as a whole.. Good stuff..
Try it You'll like it....Tip for cleaning the underside of your awning is to use a foam ( aerosol can) type of window cleaner and a soft brush like the ones you would use on a hose to wash your RV ... Do about a 3 foot square at a time.....the foam keeps the cleaner from dripping while you're working....wipe dry with paper towels as you go then hose the whole fabric down at the end to clean off any residue
Neat idea. I'll have to giver a try. I usually go with the Dometic manufacturers instructions, works really well and with pump sprayer hardly any labor. :) Here is how I do it - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-power-awning-super-easy-maintenance-how-to/
Hah! The beagle looking for you lol. I was on my roof once when my neighbor's dogs where I was boondocking came running to the RV to find me (they would often visit) and the LOOK on their face when they realized where I was!
I watched this on jan 4th and went out and ordered that handle for the screen door. it came in and mounted it today. thanks for the great Idea. hope to bump into you some day out in AZ. Keep up the great video's.
thank you for the info and i would add ... small solar system ... power bars when using shore power plug ins ... fantastic fan .... Buddy heater ... furniture with storage built in This year i am making a few mods to a Ford van that will make parttime camping more fun and these are a few things being considered :) Happy Trails and God bless !!!!
as far as wheel chucks we use these expanders that go inbetween the two tires and you screw them out so they press inbetwwen both tires. they work good don't have to worry about them slipping or moving.
I've seen them. thought they were for stabilizing the trailer so less movement inside. Didn't know they were strong enough to be used in place of chocks. I guess you have to be really sure to remember them before departure. :)
Love Your RV if you type in expanding tire chuck for camper on google they will come up they're different from the stblizers these form to the tire. great video btw
Cylinder locks are perfectly fine for this use, but they are just about the easiest lock for an inexperienced person to pick. The tools required are easy to use and cost well under $20.
Without watching the entire video, the 10 things I believe you need are:
Toolbox-Yes it's several things but a basic tool set is essentialRubber Mallet-Great for securing stakes for outside rug, canopy, awning anchor, etc
Tire gauge-obvious reasonsLeveling Blocks-I haven't had to use these often but am thankful I have them
Slonkey-To keep your waste hose off the ground
Water Regulator-Had a friend tell me how at a campground he stayed, they shut off their water slide increasing the water pressure enough that it burst a seal in his camper causing a flood in his camper
Y Splitter For Water Hookup-This way you can hook up a hose as well as fresh water hookupSurge Protector-Obvious reasons
Dog Bone-In case you stay at a park that only has 50 amp(if you are have 30 amp service) and vice versa
Emergency Roadside Assistance-Believe me, it's essential
Hi Ray, on my Laredo 5'er I replaced all of my outside CH751 key locks with Combi Cam locks with dust covers. The entrance door lock was replaced with a RV Lock keypad with remote. I got so tired of fumbling around for keys and now my wife and I have full access to the RV without going on the hunt for keys. We absolutely love this upgrade by using a simple pass code for all of the locks. 🙂🇺🇸
Cool! That entrance door keypad upgrade is on my wish list.
My Lance came with the keypad but it didn't take long for the sun to destroy the face so it's impossible to read the numbers.
Bright side
P J )
This is by far the most useful RV basics advice video for first timers. Great video.
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. My wife and I are newbies and heading out for the first time in 2 weeks. With your videos, I have been able to make gadget upgrades before heading into the field. I am now looking deeper into understanding the electricity capacity of my rig and visiting with the dealer before pick up. I had no idea
Maxxfan plus model 4500k fits under the vent covers it's powerful and quiet works great to bring a nice breeze through the Windows. Makes me sleep like a baby.
I was encouraged because I have all but one of the must haves....I need to get the roller ball for my door. Thanks.
Ray you have helped me more than you know. Ive been building out my travel trailer for full time off grid living. Ive done 1850 watts of solar so far and doing a composting toilet this coming weekend. My biggest challenge so far is finding a place to keep my trailer while im gone on the road driving a semi 3 weeks at a time. Id love to find a safe property where i could live there a few days a month but at the se time my stuff not get stolen while im gone
I pleasantly enjoyed your video because all your gadgets are very handy and useful. The first to third ones were practical to keep clean and safe while the others help with convenience and make your things last long. Definitely must haves for RVers
Best RV gadget, a can opener. Went camping without it once. Had to borrow one from another camper. Never do that again. But I like to bring a 6ft ladder. It is good for reaching all kinds of things like the tops of the slide outs without having to climb the ladder on the RV.
Ray your videos just aren't the same without your little companion hanging out and keeping you company. A week from now will mark a full 2 years since I had to put my own dog down due to old age. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and sometimes fight to hold back the tears. Just know that this is one subscriber who can really empathize with what you might be going through.
Yup, it's tough, but lots of good memories. :)
Good info. For me I like the yellow wheel blocks. I pull up on one side of the blocks then set the second one. After they are both set I put it in neutral and let the rig settle to center. This locks them in so they dont move and less likely to be stolen
Always do a thorough inspection of your camp sight and belongings before you pull out. I work in a State Park and you would be amazed at all the stuff people leave behind.
Good advice. We have a depart checklist and both do a once around.
When camping in the wilderness, we would do the same. Good practical idea.
I didn't want this video to end. I was enjoying it too much.
An absolute must have for me is hose quick connects. No more twisting of hoses at the pipe stand, pressure regulator or where it's hard to get at going into the rv. I use them for fresh water and my internal black tank sprayer hoses. So I don't mixed up those for fresh water (vs those for black/grey water) I spray paint them white like my fresh water hose.
Cool. What brand have you found works best? I've tried a few in the past but they never really held up very long before leaking.
The brand name is Gardena. I bought them in Canada. The main part is grey and the sliding collar is orange.
George Bliss Thanks! Will give them a try. Cheers!
I installed the grab bar on the screen door. So much nicer. Can’t understand why manufacturers don’t do it.
Another thing you want to add is a Mister for your air conditioner on the roof in hot areas like here in Redding 115 out when we were living in it to build a house that Mister kept that thing at 75 just put a little bit of spray water on that coil you also want to have a filter so you don’t build up on your coil .
So I guess it acts like a swamp cooler, guess that works well in low humidity environments. Cheers, Ray
Love Your RV No it does not act like a swamp cooler it keeps the condensing coil cool in real hot weather and makes the air conditioner work better and not overwork but you have to put a calcium filter on it so it will not corrode that coil with hard water
I installed a "Dust Devil" central vac system in our Cougar and my wife loves it. I mounted the hose connect in the bottom step going into the upper bed area and store the hose under the table seat. The control unit with the dust bag is mounted in the storage bay adjacent to the steps to the upper bed area.
Nice!
We have had motorhomes for 30 yrs. We started with our first one when our children were young. We now take grandchildren with us. We are on our 3rd. Motorhome. On each of them we put a screen saver on the bottom section of the screen door. The first two we bought at Home Depot or Lowes, the newest one, 6 months ago we bought at Camping World. They are about 25 to 30 dollars but they prevent the screen from being pushed out and helps to stabilize the door. With the grab bar and screen saver, our screen door is very stable.
Good tip, thanks! Cheers, Ray
Outland Firebowl propane fire pit has been my favorite RV toy.
Looks like a good unit, thanks!
Morryde step above pull down aluminum stairs set up with grab bar, RVlock with combo pad and remotes, Auto leveling system, Reese Goose box with air bag and shocks, hand held wireless rechargeable air pump, adjustable water pressure valve, battery kill switch are some of my go to products.
For the added stability, you can't miss. I have two, one for the rear and one for under the door. Combined they only add at most 8 pounds.
With all of the junk gadgets that are marketed to RVers its nice to find recommendations from a trusted source! Thank you. Please keep up the great work. You are appreciated!
Thx, will do and nice to hear. Cheers! Ray
Home With Wheels Blog iii
Home With Wheels Blog ii
Wish list ty
YES! I'm new to RVs and have been amazed at the absolute plethora of crap on the market. And everything is incredibly overpriced.
Great stuff! I need those gutter extenders and awning protection ball! Our high Colorado mountain winds often blow my cheap plastic chocks across the lot in our RV parking so those heavier rubber ones look much better! I recently mounted two Valterra A04-5094BK EZ hose carriers and love them! One holds my two stinky slinky hoses which is great because everything fits except the end piece that goes onto the ground drain. The other holds my water hose lines which have always been a pain sitting in my storage compartment. And both are lockable.
I like the tire block you drive one tire up on to change the other one if you have a flat tire,saves a lot of jacking.And it is much faster.
Ahh, yes I have one of those. Trailr-Aid
TY...you're generous with your information and you're clear and to the point. TY, TY!. Sometimes when trying to learn something about rving..I feel like I want to pull my hair out because people can take so long to get to the point going off on so many tangents and annoyingly being fake cutsey
My time is valuable and when I watch a video to get information..that's what I want ..info. TY again#
You're welcome, thanks for the compliment. Cheers! Ray
Well said! I couldn't of said it better...
When I added a grab bar to my screen door, I also found a “Clear” replacement for the 2 white panels below the grab bar. Now I can see thru the entire screen door and can see outside perfectly from my chair. Really enjoy your videos. Almost came by to tell you that personally last month while in C.R. Camped at S.Point. Cheers.
Not an RVer myself, but I have a buddy who is a beginner. So, my curiosity brought me here. I've pretty much understood all of it. Yours is a very clear and interesting presentation. And the pooch is cute! Well done!
Great stuff. I'm always looking improvements. My favorites I did was adding USB plugs in several areas for iPad and iPhone charging and adding 120 v with USB plug just above the dining room table. Perfect for the laptops
Good idea!
The Maxxair 2 newer version also has the hinge so you can fold it over. It also as more airflow than the original for use with fantastic fans.
Personally I went with the MaxxFan deluxe that is thermostatically controlled, has the cover integrated into the fan and has a remote control as well. It was spendy but on my Truck camper i was trying to avoid shading my solar panels so this fan with the lower profile cover seemed to be the best solution.
Sounds like a good solution. Thanks.
I just checked this out and it definitely looks like a better solution. Thank you, Mike.
Excellent list for the new/restarting RVers...thank you for the video!
My 1st RV had gotten stolen & pretty much stripped of everything...the RV was recovered so 'yay' for that.
They even sold off the roof pods & our clothes! I have crooks!
Though insured...like you said...it was a pain to wait to replace everything.
Our fur babies ( 6 and 12 year old female Shelties ) are our most important must haves!! Of course, all of their toys, food, special medications, first aid equipment and bottled water are essentials when traveling with pets. First aid kit and bottled water are our people must haves as well! For housekeeping, our Swiffer Wet Jet and Swiffer battery powered dry floor cleaners are great must haves to keep the floors clean and tidy. For cooking, cannot travel without an electric frying pan ( can cook just about everything ) and a Cuisinart Griddler will make everything from hot sandwiches to burgers. A real must have! What are some of the must haves Ann thinks are important for keeping "house" in your RV? Safe travels!!!😊
haha, Yes fur babies! Our trailer is fairly small so don't have too many appliances.She likes her Shark Cordless dustbuster - amzn.to/2jsdqmq Swiffer sweeper and Streak free microfiber cleaning cloth.
I do all the cooking and use mostly the gas oven and stove top plus the BBQ. I use a big wok shaped pan for most stuff.
Cheers! Ray
We use the NuWave cooktop. I think when we bought it, it was a buy one and get one free. They only conduct heat when the skillet is on them. They also have an oven we are getting this year because we enjoy the cooktop so much. No, I'm not a salesman but when I buy something worth the money I don't mind telling everyone. As for the fur babies, we have two rescues and they are the reason we bought an RV(hotels don't like them). Here are the links for those interested in the cooktop or oven. Safe Travels to all.
www.nuwavecooktop.com/?ref_version=GOOGLECOOKTOP-SHOP6&gclid=CM3c0vmEj9MCFYUfhgodSpINNw www.mynuwaveoven.com/?ref_version=GOOGLEOVEN-SHOP1&gclid=CNnFuO2Fj9MCFUREhgod4CAMSA
Angie calling for dad! how cute. I love a beagle bark.
hehe, now that she is nearly deaf she doesn't even hear me telling her I'm on the roof. Never thinks to look up.
Thanks Ray and Angie! Love the way Angie talks to you, she's into it.
Rubber tire things are a must I think.
My husband snitched a couple from the Army before he left. They are so handy!
If you don't have an RV grill, gotta hack one to feed off RV propane! I hacked a brand new Q1200. Took regulator off and replaced with quick change male propane connector, made a hose. Now I simply hose into RV, no more pound cylinders. I attached a female plug to the removed regulator so I can still use the grill on the beach with the one pound cylinder if needed. At home, I quick change it into a 20 pound grill tank. All three ways work flawless. Q1200 rocks!
Yup, great idea. I've done the same with my grill. :)
As always, things I would never think of. Really like the roller ball.
Slim Lundeen
Nice compilation. My #1 "must have" item is a battery monitor. We boondock camp a lot and the information provided is priceless. Victron and Trimetric are the two faves on the RV forum I participate in.
If your style of "camping" finds you staying in RV parks with hookups, the battery monitor has much less significance.
Good one! We boondock a bunch too. We have the Trimetric. I should put a list together of my favorite boondocking related items. :) Cheers!
I have a nice Blue Sky smart controller that seems to be doing the job.
Those are all great gadgets for an RV. Something else I have added to my RV is a Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System. I'm not one to stay in one place for long periods of time and in my travels I experienced a blow out on my fifth wheel and had it not been for a concerned traveler pulling up next to me and alerting me of a blown tire, the results could have been catastrophic. There are many Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems on the market today. I purchased the EezRV Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System. It is easy to set up and adjust when necessary. Peace of mind if you are doing a lot of towing.
I purchased the same one back in October for this year's snowbird trip, working great so far! - ruclips.net/video/sdMCQMdd8dw/видео.html
Another gadget I think is essential is a battery charger/air compressor combo. You get one relatively inexpensively. I have one made by Peak and it's good for jump starting your RV/truck. It's also good for pumping up tires and such if needed. Some come with USB so you can charge your phone if need be.
Good idea. I have a NOCO GB150 battery booster and a Viair 450p-RV compressor, they were expensive but we are full timers so worth it for me.
Yikes. Just look them up. $300+, ouch
X chock wheel stabilizers work really great as well
Unless you forget to undo them. Seen that happen a few times to people. ;)
I have a post-surge protector and the rubber blocks... otherwise I have some shopping to do. Note: The rubber chocks are great, especially if you store your trailer where it freezes in the winter, you can hammer them out if they get frozen. But the rubber chocks do smell pretty strong (rubber smell) at the start, so store them in your truck bed!
Interesting, I never thought about the freezing thing as we migrate each year down south. Thanks! Ray
we upgraded or bathroom "fart fan" to a vortex,made a wonderful difference clearing out the humidity after a shower
Got to add that one to my upgrade list.
Supervisor even has her own chair! Awesome!
Grab bars for doors Yes. Electrical convertion kit for gas hot watet tank!! Add 2 steps to enter camper instead of 1 step
Great list Ray. I will give a Shout Out to Progressive Industries. I have one of their plug in surge protectors and one day at the campground I was staying, there was an overload on the power line feeding mine and another row - caused a fire actually. My Progressive Industries surge protector did it's job and died in the line of duty. I found out that Progressive Industries is actually in NC where I was, so I took it to them and told them what happened. They are super nice people. 30 minutes later they had parts replaced and handed it back to me. No charge. Highly recommend Progressive Industries.
Awesome!
I too have the portable EMS surge protector protector and it has saved my rig twice already. I actually have a dedicated 30 Amp circuit at our home driveway we plug into when home. The EMS kept telling us something was wrong and it shutting down. Turned out we had a loose ground connection at the breaker. so bad circuits can happen anywhere. When we upgraded to a 50 Amp rig, I immediately purchased the 50 amp EMS protector and kept the 30 amp one to use when we only have a 30 amp circuit available.
A buddy had every electrical and electronic device in his motorhome fry. The campground was in the process of remodeling the sites and updated the electrical. The electrician wired the 30 amp side of the power pole the same as the 50 amp. So, instead of a hot and neutral, there were two hot... 240 volts instead of 120 volts. Of course, the form my buddy filled out to stay there, had a statement that held the campground harmless for any and all damages while staying there. Three flat panels, the microwave/convection oven, both roof AC units, all went up in smoke. Oh and, the inverter/charger lasted just long enough to put 24 volts DC out and fry anything that was even 12 volts... the inverter/charger itself, power step, power awning, power leveling, the 12 volt side of the frig, and smoked both house batteries. Last I talked to him, he had spent over $8,000 on repairs... and still wasn't done and things still were not working right. NEVER plug in until you have checked things out!!!!
Holy cow!
Hi Ray! Thank you for sharing this with all of us. My husband and I just purchased our first camper and can use all the tips in the world. Your info is clear and so much easier to understand. I don't understand much about tools but the grab bar was quite simple and a brilliant idea! Very informative! Passing on to my husband! Thanks again!
You're most welcome. Thanks for watching. :) Cheers! Ray
Good info for sure. You asked for more ideas. I replaced my 120V outlet with one that has two USB plugs on it as well. I also added a couple of 12V sockets that have USB plugs.
Thanks, good ideas for sure. Cheers! Ray
🙂tire blocks. Yes! There's nothing like watching your whole world Roll Away
This is great, I really appreciate your info Ray! I have no experience but i'm very interested in living in a mobile home. I'm giving it 3 years to save the money and learn what I can before I go, and people like you are helping me focus on the important things. Thanks!
love the rv cocktail it really works and it works fast...very inexpensive my rv smell great again thanks BR
I love that grab bar! It would be a great place to hand the leashes
Good idea!
Got the Grab bar for the screen door. Yup Must have nice to be able to just grab the bar instead of the door itself. Thanks for showing it !!
A back up cameras are nice got one on each back corner cause I'm by myself and sometimes you have the truck turned on way and the camper another and you can't see also nice to turn on while driving to see if anyone is behind you tailgating.
Yes, good one, love them. I just added a 4 camera system last summer - www.loveyourrv.com/installing-the-haloview-ultimate-rd7r-wireless-rv-4-camera-system/ Included in my recent list of electronics :) www.loveyourrv.com/electronic-gear-and-gadgets-for-rving-my-12-must-haves/ Cheers, Ray
As a beagle owner I love your videos even more!!!! I loved them before but I will always support beagle life! Cheers man!
I seen a video of a woman who some how got one of those plastic wheel stops stuck to her tire. It then tore up her trailer and became seriously stuck in her wheel well. Actually pushed the thing into her trailer. Great video. Thanks
Whoa!
Great list Angie and Ray! I usually recommend to my friends BAL X-chocks, andersen levelers, and oxygenics shower head, but those are on everyone's lists on youtube. Yours was good because it's not the same old stuff.
Happy to report I have almost all of these already installed…. Missing the screen door bar and the vent covers. Oh, and the beagle…. Don’t have one of those yet. 😋
Thanks so much for the first gadget. I have an remote black tank gate that does not shut off completely. Didn't know they made one. Thought about getting an rv technician install a gate like that. Thanks again
why are the most brilliant ideas all ways the the simple ones and the ones you never think of. Thanks for the video i am now off to buy a grab rail for my screen door. The thought of never having to put that dam slider back in is just pure heaven.
roller ball on top of door great tip awning saver never seen that1 in 600/650+ videos.
Your right man..... it NEVER stops ! Thanks for the video. I enjoyed
Use the clutch on your battery drill to stop over winding and no sore wrist. I’m amazed at how low it can be set. Also prevents over tightening when raising them.
Good tip, thanks, its also nice to nice variable speed trigger on the drill. Cheers, Ray
Loves the Beagles. Loves. We got a 2nd one, fer some reason they called him a Chesapeak Bay Retriever. Luvs my Beagles.
It's nice seeing a "beagle-proof" RV. People have dogs & we have one as well ... however unless you have a Beagle you don't know what the difference is. There are 3 rules, simple rules, when owning a Beagle. 1) Everything the Beagle can see, smell or see belongs to the Beagle. 2) You must have plenty of patience & paper towels in every room with carpet in it. Also NATURAL sprays that discourage el Beagle from dropping the deuces at the 2p-3p shift & the 6p-8p shift. Every night you you to bed, both dogs come with & be responsible, get easy to manage bags. Remember, there is no inside out. Just grab whatcha got & make a nice knot. You'll find dog 💩 disposal areas all around the site, or if you're new, bring a large plastic bag.
3) Beagles don't tell time. Beagles love routine. If you don't come at a certain time, they'll shoot turd rockets anywhere they can. J
We used to have two beagles also. Great dogs!
I appreciate your attention to detail and the fact that you share so generously. Shelley from San Diego
You're most welcome. Cheers! Ray
Hey, instead of using a drill which could hurt your wrist just like you said; i use my Dewalt 20V impact. Not the tiny compact impact, the one you would use to remove lug nuts with. Thanks for the tips.
That works well, notice quite a few people using them now, I have one for changing tires, but do make a heck of a racket. :) My drill has a variable clutch so I set it not to hurt my wrist, but most of the time I just brace the drill with my free hand. Cheers, Ray
That water sound was driving me crazy! Finally saw it was that fountain thingamajig.
Taka must be part beaver 😜
Probably quite an uninteresting accessory in the US, but here in the UK I find my macerator pump useful, some UK dump stations are higher than your holding tank if you have a small B class, even in my A class they can be fifty feet away from where you park and 1inch hose is much easier to store.
I like the water pressure regulator, it took me years to try risking a 'city water' connection, to be fair not many sites have fully serviced pitches, I've only seen one that included sewage. I think I'd install it in a basement locker though, probably get stolen on the tap.
I have a beagle too! He loves camping 😊
Water regulator on my list. Also the door handle, great idea. Thanks! (already got the dog)
Great video. I'm an RV Tech and an avid camper. I really enjoyed your list and it was well presented. I just wanted to point out that the surge protector is either installed backwards or maybe you just have the lid on backwards but the cord line in should be the input and the output should continue on to the vehicles main breaker panel. Thanks for posting.
Good eye! I reversed the lid so I could easily read the error codes off it of need be. Cheers, Ray
Best gadget I found is a LUCI LIGHT, which is a solar powered light that you can just throw in your dash when traveling down the road, or in any sunny place while stationary. The light has a blow up lantern that is clear and it will run all night on low power. It has 3 power settings plus an emergency pulse, and some feature a red light as well. They can be found at Big 5 or other sporting/camping goods store or on line.
Oh, yes they are cool, I have something like that, it's part of my boondocking gadgets - www.loveyourrv.com/favorite-rv-dry-camping-mods-gadgets/ We use it all the time when off the grid. Cheers! Ray
Find many more RV gadgets and upgrades on the Love Your RV! product reviews archives - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-product-reviews/
See full blog post - www.loveyourrv.com/10-must-have-rv-gadgets/ and *update 2020 I've added another 10 must-have gadgets* - www.loveyourrv.com/10-more-must-have-rv-gadgets/Cheers! Ray
I am in need for a main shut off valve on a Manchester horizontal pro painting for a 1990 limited made by Fleetwood
Nice list, thanks. I have most of these, but I haven't seen the door grab bar and the gutter extenders. I also think TPMS is a great buy.
Yes, looking into one of those for this falls trip south. Cheers! Ray
Picked up the rubber chocks at Harbor Freight. $7.99 ea regularly, got mine on Sale for $4.99 ea.
I think your Line / Load are wired backwards on your surge protector. Looks like you got incoming going to Load and the outgoing on the Line side.
You're confused because I have the top cover reversed so I can easily read the codes. :) Cheers! Ray
Thanks for sharing. Some things I noticed that may help. You have a socket drive on your cordless drill, it can make fast work of the stud and nut attachments on your vent covers. Be sure to set your torque low enough you don't strip or break anything. When you are up on top dealing with the vent cover or other work make sure to have some sort of magnetic parts dish to keep your parts together. Parts falling off the roof and having to climb down and back up to get/find them is an annoying waste of time. Rethink those cylinder style locks, they are easily picked with common house hold items.
Nice tip on the cordless drill, but I still prefer the clips, simpler, no tools required.Not all tubular locks are created equal. Some of the common lock picking item tips are old news. Like for instance, the Bic pen thing was pre-2005 bike locks mostly. Anyway, a thief that determine isn't going to be stopped. A simple crowbar will easily open most RV storage bays, the door material is pretty flimsy. But the unique key tubular lock is better than having most of the other campers having the same Ch751 key as yours. Keep honest people honest. ;) Also, they are much better quality so nicer to use and longer lasting versus the OEM junk. Cheers, Ray
In a contest of no tools versus a battery operated quick use tool, not tools still wins. No tools weigh nothing, take no space, never run out of charge, impossible to lose, and are wicked cost effective. That said there's no reason to change your old vent cover when you have that handy drill.
As to the locks, your point is well taken. There is no stopping a truly determined thief. Making the crime impractical is the best you can do. Cheers!
What's really neat is the links you put in the comments. Made it really easy to click on each item and put it in the cart at Amazon. Thank you so much for these suggestions! and the video as a whole.. Good stuff..
Thanks, glad you found it helpful. Cheers! Ray
Try it You'll like it....Tip for cleaning the underside of your awning is to use a foam ( aerosol can)
type of window cleaner and a soft brush like the ones you would use on a hose to wash your RV ... Do about a 3 foot square at a time.....the foam keeps the cleaner from dripping while you're working....wipe dry with paper towels as you go then hose the whole fabric down at the end to clean off any residue
Neat idea. I'll have to giver a try.
I usually go with the Dometic manufacturers instructions, works really well and with pump sprayer hardly any labor. :)
Here is how I do it - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-power-awning-super-easy-maintenance-how-to/
It's always best to follow the manufacturer's instructions :-)
Nice to see someone else who obsesses over cool gadgets!
Change out your frosted glass entry door window with tempered glass. Easy install for about $35
Thank you for giving us your knowledge. I needed to by some tire chocks for an old camper l bought, which needs everything it seems. 😂
Loved the tips, especially the water pressure regulator.
urgetodrive First filter then regulate. Filters will drop pressure also
I like your list of the top 10 gadgets. I enjoyed your Vlog. Thanks for letting us come along.
My Labrador loves his fifth wheel.
Set the clutch on the drill close to the highest setting so you get them all about the same tightness and it doesn't break your wrist
Have to say this video not only show what's you have but also post the links, So nice if you. Will go for these after I get my RV
Thank you! We are first time RVers and that was really helpful. Cheers!
Hah! The beagle looking for you lol. I was on my roof once when my neighbor's dogs where I was boondocking came running to the RV to find me (they would often visit) and the LOOK on their face when they realized where I was!
His dog was telling him, "If you want to walk around talking to yourself, go right ahead. I'm staying and laying right here"!!!
I watched this on jan 4th and went out and ordered that handle for the screen door. it came in and mounted it today. thanks for the great Idea. hope to bump into you some day out in AZ. Keep up the great video's.
Awesome!
I installed the same one on my trailer. Love not having to hang out the trailer to grab the door.
I wish you would do a daily upload like the “Physical Therapy Video” guys. You’re just a plethora of good information. 🚍🛠🇬🇧
thank you for the info and i would add
... small solar system
... power bars when using shore power plug ins
... fantastic fan
.... Buddy heater
... furniture with storage built in
This year i am making a few mods to a Ford van that will
make parttime camping more fun
and these are a few things being considered :)
Happy Trails and God bless !!!!
Always look forward to your videos Ray. Thanks for taking the time to share!!!
You're welcome Don. Cheers!
I agree about the 751 keys.
They suck.
I will look for the locks you described!
Great ideas!
Those wheel chocks $6 USD at Harbor Freight. Great ideas on the video. Thanks.
Good deal!
as far as wheel chucks we use these expanders that go inbetween the two tires and you screw them out so they press inbetwwen both tires. they work good don't have to worry about them slipping or moving.
I've seen them. thought they were for stabilizing the trailer so less movement inside. Didn't know they were strong enough to be used in place of chocks. I guess you have to be really sure to remember them before departure. :)
Love Your RV if you type in expanding tire chuck for camper on google they will come up they're different from the stblizers these form to the tire. great video btw
Thanks, I'll check it out. Cheers Ray
I like your reflective tape on the bumper
We travel with our beagle as well. I'm learning all about your travel trailer tricks as well. My next project is to enterabond the roof.
In the process of buying our first RV. Great info! Thank you!
Cool! You're welcome. Cheers! Ray
cylinder locks... excellent.. just like on my 'cycle... really hard to hack...and the rollerball... plus the standard traveling companion, a dog...; )
Cylinder locks are perfectly fine for this use, but they are just about the easiest lock for an inexperienced person to pick. The tools required are easy to use and cost well under $20.