Stumbled across this video. One thing that I bought when I lived in my RV was pool noodles to put on the corners and bottom edge of my slide outs. I also bought a small backpacking stove for boiling water, cooking one pot meals, etc. so I wasn't using up all my propane just to boil water for hot chocolate or something. I also bought a couple of Lasko column style fans. Helps move the A/C around in the summer, as well as the heat in the winter. And for winter I also bought a small electric heater for the bedroom. I was in a 34' Dutchman with a separate bedroom, and when it was dropping to freezing or below, instead of running my furnace, I'd pull my slide out in, and run the small electric heater, in combo with the fan pointing at the ceiling to move the heat down. Always kept me and my late pug warm on frosty nights.
I purchased a 90°, brass fitting that has a ball valve built into it. I connect it to the hose first and use the valve to purge the air. Once purged, I connect it to the city water inlet and turn it on. It really cuts down on the amount of air introduced into my rv's water system. It also makes it so easy to turn the water off when I leave for long periods. Best 7 bucks I've spent on rv gear.
Oh, another one is safety supplies, I don't hear much talk about it in RV circles but I carry a pack of 4 LED 'road flares', a window breaker/seatbelt cutter, space blankets, and a basic first aid kit in all of my vehicles plus a much more comprehensive first aid kit in the RV.
My two favorite items are a 30 amp 25 foot extension cord (I've got a small Class C) and a 50 foot expanding water hose. Together, they allow me to pull into any pad frontways and still reach the power and water pedestal. I often like to do this for two reasons. First, if we're on a lake or river it's great to have that view out the windshield. Second, it's sometimes easier to pull in headfirst and to back out than it is to back in.
Thanks for the jump starter tip! The waste valve is also good as a backup in case your primary valves leak, or if some children open it without your knowledge. My useful items would be our Super Easy Siphon (shake to prime) for taking on water, Gazelle popup tent (anti-bugs, rain, or even just keeping it 5-10 degrees warmer around the table for a night of board games), Luci solar string lights, and the 1 to 1.5 foot long stakes I made out of rebar with 3/4" nuts welded on top (so I can use my impact drill with the same socket as stabilizers, loose pumice sand and decent winds in central Oregon).
My favorite uncommon gadget is our pop-up fire pit. Sets up quickly, cools down quickly, and folds away small. So when we actually get to have a wood fire, I put a small stack in and a fire starter cube and in minutes we have a roaring fire. The metal mesh interior is strong and allows a lot of air flow, and the heat shield underneath allows you to put the pit anywhere and not worry about heat damaging what's underneath.
A 7/16 deep socket for my power awning. It started getting pretty gusty and my awning magically didnt work, but I had the socket. Used my power drill to manually bring in the awning before damage could occur.
Cordless leaf blower- cleans outdoor carpets, RV spots, awnings and the roof. We have a lot of pines and in the fall leafs. Beats a broom and you can use it on low effectively with out annoying others or creating a dust storm. We are amazed at how much we use it.
One thing we carry is self fusing silicon tape ( also know as silicon friction tape). No adhesive, it fuses to itself, giving a waterproof seal. I've used it on a leaking truck radiator hose, wire connections, as a handle grip on a shovel, on our runabout when a cooling live (drawing lake water ) developed a split ( wrapped the wet line and kept going) and on a leaking fresh water hose. You stretch the tape as you wrap and it fuses onto the previous layer. Result looks like the handle wraps on tennis rackets or golf clubs. A must in the toolbox (home, vehicle and camper). It's been a lifesaver.
Good suggestions. Regarding the rv hose demise you experienced, our Rhino Flex did the same thing on our 2022 Texas winter trip. Just all at once started spurting in multiple places. We use the shutoff valve on the end also. On the same trip our pull cable disconnected from the black valve in the open position. The shutoff valve at the end allowed us to move on until I could repair the cable.
My Viair portable air compressor. Best, strongest little air compressor I've ever had and so easy to use. I bought an extra hose so it can reach all the tires on my trailer while hooked up to my truck battery. I keep it with the truck at all times. It gives me peace of mind knowing I have it if I need it.
I have one on order and I plan to put a 7-pin trailer connector on it. That way I can plug it into my rear bumper and not have to open the hood and connect to the battery. It also gives me more length.
Hands down would buy again: 96” two way sliding cargo drawer from Moryde for the pass through storage, Reese Goose Box, Mint oil rodent repellant spray, RV snap pads, and Valterra Twist on valve.
I have the gooloo gp4000. My car had a dead battery and I used that to start it. I thought it was going to take off, the starter was turning so much faster than just stock battery. Thank you project farm for introducing me to it.
Loved if you live in FL, rv in FL, and never leave FL then you'll never need to buy this!🤣🤣❤ agree with all these items. Charles said the other thing we'd buy again when this wears out is.. Grand Design🤣😋🥰 See you on the road!!!!
I have installed a twist valve but it doesn’t fit tight. Any time I attach the sewer hose and before emptying the tanks, I have to re-tighten the valve. Any suggestions?
Are using the same brand and grade of the Camco sewer hose? I also bought this elbow in the Camco grade that is the orange connectors and it leaked with the lower grade hose that came with our camper. I went out bought the same Camco brand/grade that has the same orange connectors and darker brown hose, and it does not leak at all. Yes, it is pricey, but that grade of hose stays stiff! What a game changer. There's no more hose dropping down and chasing the low points of the hose while gravity snakes the hose off of the stands. I literally tossed the old sewer hose into the dumpster at our last camping trip.
I love having a transfer pump for refilling fresh water when we don’t have water at our site. I am also going to always install a shut off valve for the toilet line on every camper we purchase. Had a bad situation last year, and had no water in the whole camper just because the toilet was malfunctioning.
Love your videos. This no exception. And may I also compliment whomever deserves the credit for the impeccable housekeeping of your rig. Always immaculate. The standard I like but often difficult to maintain! Keep ‘‘em coming!
I agree with and own the three items you listed. If I had to add one thing, actually things, it would my my 18V Ryobi power tools. The same batteries work for my small chain saw, string trimmer, leaf blower, power drill, and saws. The 4 AH batteries will run the string trimmer for about 20 minutes. Also, I have the Ryobi LED flashlight and it is about as bright as a car headlight and lasts for hours on the 4 AH batteries. You can customize your tool selection to suit your camping style and needs and I suspect there are more than 100 different tools that can use the same battery type. There are many other handy things and I love videos like this. Thank you.
I have always carried a 12 volt battery charger in our rig. If we're at a site with shore power and the inverter dies and can't charge the house battery, I can plug in the charger to the 120 volt plug on the pedestal and have 12 volt power again for our lights. We wouldn't have to fumble around in the dark and since it's not battery powered, I don't have to worry about keeping it charged.
We also have a powerful lithium battery jump starter. It has a built-in air compressor which keeps our trailer tires filled. We use its USB port to power our strings of decorative campsite led lights.
We were unable to go south for winter in 2021, (we were stuck in Canada) so I installed a Cubic Mini wood stove into the RV. Took me about an hour to install and works amazingly. Still used it this past winter in Texas when we had a week winter and this spring when we got back from Tx - thanks for an other great vid - Keep the rubber side down!!
@@cpfpv6410 I thought of doing a video of the install etc, but the forecast was for snow the day after it arrived. So I was working against Mother Nature lol.
Great content! We'll start sending your channel to our clients who recently bought land from us near the camping areas. This will surely give them ideas on what to get before starting to live in an RV. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Thanks for the video. It’s a really small item but I always have reusable zip ties on our motorhome. I love being able to reuse them instead of cutting and replacing.
Same as Andrew (just below): When you mentioned the Valterra valve last time, I couldn't found it and then forgot it. Our best non-RV 'gadget' is our hybrid F150 tow vehicle. Wherever we are (storage lot in hot summer; rainy period in Rockies) we can always plug our truck into our trailer and have 30A of 120V AC, 24/7. Great truck in general, too.
I use the accessories that accompany my power tools' batteries. Small fan, inverter, lights, USB chargers - all kinds of things. They're also much more rugged than most things built for RVs.
I really like that twist on valve but my drain points down and that valve looks like it extends about 6 inches. That would make me nervous having my dump valve that much lower under the back of my camper. I do a lot of creative parking in parking lots (backing the overhang over curbs and landscaping). If I clip that on something I could cause a catastrophic failure. As it is, the dump connect is up in the frame where it's nearly impossible to hit it. But I'm going to seriously look at that to see if I can adapt it.
GooLoo sounds like the perfect idea especially for smaller rigs! Extra batteries. We carry an extra cassette toilet! Having Starlink gives a sense of connection I’d something happens on an area where we get zero Wi-Fi!
Jump start saved our bacon just this last week in freezing/snow in Montana when the generator battery on switch was accidentally either left on, or got bumped when covered
Thanks for the reminder on the Valterra valve, I went to buy one in December of 2020 but the only places that had them in stock wanted $60. At $20 that was an instant buy. The unusual RV supply I carry is a long right angle drill adapter and self tapping screws plus a tube of sealant. In my case it was used to put my fender liner back together after a blowout, but they can be used to reattach cabinets, reseal the roof, etc.
We have a jump device, super-similar to yours, and I carry it with our motorcycles. And I've needed it a couple of times. Plus, with that MASSIVE amount of power storage, you could recharge your phone 50 times over (probably). And like @Richard English said, the cordless leaf blower, its indispensable to me. We have a GD 399TH, so TWO patios, and being able to clean the slide tops (as we have no slide "toppers"); it's great for that, too.
I have one of those jump starter packs (different brand). I suggest setting a reminder to check/charge every 2-3 months. Mine seems to lose some charge when it's really cold/hot in the truck otherwise.
I have one of those jump packs. I’m a mechanic so I’m constantly jump starting vehicles. It has never not started a car, and I can usually get 4-5 cars started before it needs to be recharged. The one thing I don’t like about mine is the clamps… They are cheap plastic and I always feel like they are about to break. How are the clamps on your pack?
Great video I do have a question did you do anything to make your wastewater connections spin on your valves that easy It looked like you were putting very little effort and twisting on the hose and the fittings for me it can be very difficult is there something that you do or some trick to make that easier thanks
I use waterproof silicone faucet grease and place it on both ends of the stinky slinky. The grease needs to be periodically reapplied as the twisting off and on of the slinky naturally wears/removes some of the grease. Another option is the 'sewer fitting wrench' has a handle and a half-moon shape to help loosen the hose from a fitting.
HitchGrip! I love it. Use it every time. My amazon review: > I love this tool. > 1. You don't have to bend over as far. Watch the product video. No really, go watch. See how the person is nearly standing while putting it in the receiver? Yeah! Awesome. > 2. You can carry the hitch with one hand. > 3. It is very easy to carry the hitch a really long distance. > 4. It is very easy to lift the hitch up high. Your arm is more free to bend naturally. > 5. Watch the product video again. No really! Watch! See how the person's hip is parallel to the tow vehicle? It means it is way more natural to line up the shank of the hitch with the receiver. > Yes, it is a truly simple tool. So is a hammer, but you still buy it! > Hitch Grip is a simple tool. Hitch Grip is the right tool for the task.
Agreed - when we had a TT is was one of my favorite tools. Those that don't have this with a heavy weight distributing hitch don't know what they are missing. Worth every penny.
I added the twist on knife valve to the outlet of my last RV. A MUST HAVE for any RV with a cable valve for the black tank. This isn't an accessory, but I always keep at least 2 fresh one gallon jugs of drinking water in the RV in case my water pump goes out. Which actually happened to me 2000 miles away from home. 2 gallons is enough for a pot of coffee for us and a full water bowl for the dog until I can either get a new pump or get more water for the trip home.
I know what you mean about the jumper cables. I still have the last set my Grandparents has in their last car. Just don't want to give them up. I might need them.
Quick connects on all my water hookups. One pair on the pressure regulator to the trailer, one on the pressure regulator to the water filter. One fitting for a nozzle attachment
I really like quick connects, but all of the ones I've seen will significantly decrease the water volume that passes through. This won't be noticed if you water pressure is good, but when it is low it makes a difference when not using them.
I have watched many videos about stuff they can't do without and I haven't seen anyone talk about portable tanks. Do all these people only stay at camp grounds with sewer connections? My first time camping I had to go buy one. The portable tank is one I never leave behind.
Jared- a few uncommon things we carry 1) Ship’s decanters for the liquor in our bar. They don’t fall over when the camper rocks about going down the road and they are as old-school classy as you get! 2) Searzall Grill torch to finish up any searing or broiling since the smaller grills, ovens toasters just don’t get as hot. But it does require a small 1# bottle of propane so there is that. 3) Wiha 28506 TorqueVario-S Torque Screwdriver, 10-50 Inch Pound- I use it all the time (needs a 1/4” adapter but it’s excellent 4) Dewalt Right angle impact adapter 2-n-1- this is one of my most used tools in the bag due to all the tight places I’ve had to get into! Should be issued to a person when they buy a camper! 5) Crocs! They are the best camping shoe not only to slip on when going outside in the middle of the night or how they easily slip off when coming in, but also if up on the roof- their non-slip aspect makes for a great safety aspect! Cheers!
I'm really happy with the Anderson Ramp style levelling wedges. They save me from having to carry several wood blocks that eventually split and become useless. Also, the Camco Water Bandit.....this is a water hose fitting that has a soft rubber sleeve so I can fit it over a fresh water filling hose when it is damaged and still connect to my RV and fill the fresh water tanks....also good for some (Canadian) Provincial parks which don't have water at the sites but instead have regular house faucets because they don't want people connecting hoses to fill their tanks.....with this you can slip the sleeve on the faucet and run your water hose to fill the tanks.......better than multiple trips with a bucket.
We've used our water bandit many times. However when we used it the first time I had to keep holding it so that it would not disconnect from the water source and from the attached hose fitting. I quickly purchased 2 thumb twist hose claps and it totally solved that issue for me.
We have a small jump pack also but we're keeping our monster jumper cables as well. You never know. We also have an LED work light for the truck that runs off the same batteries as our drill/driver. It's small but puts out a lot of light where you want it. We keep a small tarp in the truck for ground work that comes in handy if I need to go under the trailer. Lots of things for the truck get used on the trailer.
I think I'll keep the $150 in my pocket and if somebody needs a jump, give them one. You know with jumper cables. If I need a jump ask around for someone willing to help. Worse case call AAA.
The one thing I would buy again is a, King Omni Pro, Omni Directional tv antenna. I replaced the old Wineguard crank up antenna, which on my Class A motorhome in my yard, I could get 2 channels. With the King I can get 12. And you don't have to turn the antenna. It is a permanent set up.
I have a dewalt 20v cordless air compressor. That thing is awesome. Combined with a tie repair plug kit, I can rescue friends, visiting kids, maintain our own tires, etc. It also has a "blower" side that I use to clean off the roof, awning, patio carpet, haircut remnants, grill ash, etc.
Same here. The latches do not have enough of an indent to firmly lock onto the pegs. I was wondering if mine was defective but it appears to be poor design.
Twist on Waste valve should be standard! 5 Gallon plastic bucket too. Everything leaks. I broke a plastic pin on my waste outlet pipe! Drilled it out, bought a ss pin at hardware store and epoxied it into place. still working after 2 years. Folding metal mesh table for the gas grill on Amazon. Light weight, fireproof, not expensive, so handy.
I have your same RV. You made a statement that "both grey tanks will equalize...". Is that true???? They are connected somewhere and I can either equalize some of Grey tank 1 into 2, or I presume drain both tanks from the forward outlet??? Just leave the cap on the rear tank and pull the release? I feel like I missed something in your video because that doesn't make sense. Love your videos!!!!
Lori, I had that problem in Zion to which I had to pour hot water on the Park's water valve to unfreeze. I now carry (in the winter time) a small roll of reflective insulation (aka silver bubble wrap) and wrap the Park's hydrant/hose bib if the Park doesn't have theirs insulated.
Wait... you have an off grid solar setup with Lithium ion batteries and you still have use for a jump start battery kit? You do know your entire RV is a portable battery kit right?
Yes I have thought of that but our 5th wheel isn’t always with our truck and when the battery died it was too far from the RV to use jumper cables to the truck. Drivable RVs have the advantage here for sure.
One thing I would buy again is a Camco Trailer-Aid Plus.I have been carrying this thing around for years, but I finally needed it when I had a flat tire, I had this tire change in Less than 45 minuets and it was raining :(
I have the gooloo and was very disappointed with the devices performance on the 12v output socket. Contacted support and they had absolutely no clue or information for me. As the port automatically shuts off after a bit of time no information in manual or customer service.
I bought the twist-on valve before you even stopped talking about it. Ours is notorious for having way more fluid there than I like every single time I go to dump and it's really disgusting. This will help. Whew! Thanks for this.
The main reason I have one of these is if someone needs a boost the majority of the time they have a battery shorted out and can mess up a hole bunch of stuff on your vehicle.
RYOBI 18V ONE+ Lithium-Ion Cordless High Pressure Inflator with Digital Gauge. Very compact and works well. Its a handheld unit that’s a must have for inflation.
Our top bunk gets really hot. I 3D printed a deflector that fits over top of one of AC vents in the roof. It reuses the existing vents screws and sends some air directly into the bunk. Made my boys very happy!
The jump starter is GREAT!!! I had a bad battery on my on board generator and the batteries on my Duramax kept losing a charge and my neighbor down the way needed a jump on thier generator. 4 jumps on my Duramax, 2 on my generator and one on the neighbor's on one charge. I have a jump starter in all my vehicles. My not always first thought for RV is a good pair of welding gloves for kitchen and campfire safety!!! Yes I live in Wyoming!!!
XP10 started a neighbor’s dead diesel truck a couple years ago. Sad faces became smiling faces and they were very grateful.
Here is an odd one…a bidet. We added it to out toilet and use far less paper and you don’t need to worry about too little water in the black tank.
I'd like to have one in the RV, but instead we went with wet wipes and a small stainless trash can.
Black Tank cleaning wand. Cleans black tank like nothing else!
Great information. Thanks for sharing. God bless you and your family. ♥️🙋🏻♀️🇺🇸
Collapsible bucket is my one thing.
We have an older class A and I just love my chassis battery cut off switch , no more dead coach batteries !
Quick connect for the water hose has been really awesome for us.
Stumbled across this video. One thing that I bought when I lived in my RV was pool noodles to put on the corners and bottom edge of my slide outs. I also bought a small backpacking stove for boiling water, cooking one pot meals, etc. so I wasn't using up all my propane just to boil water for hot chocolate or something. I also bought a couple of Lasko column style fans. Helps move the A/C around in the summer, as well as the heat in the winter. And for winter I also bought a small electric heater for the bedroom. I was in a 34' Dutchman with a separate bedroom, and when it was dropping to freezing or below, instead of running my furnace, I'd pull my slide out in, and run the small electric heater, in combo with the fan pointing at the ceiling to move the heat down. Always kept me and my late pug warm on frosty nights.
I purchased a 90°, brass fitting that has a ball valve built into it. I connect it to the hose first and use the valve to purge the air. Once purged, I connect it to the city water inlet and turn it on. It really cuts down on the amount of air introduced into my rv's water system. It also makes it so easy to turn the water off when I leave for long periods. Best 7 bucks I've spent on rv gear.
Oh, another one is safety supplies, I don't hear much talk about it in RV circles but I carry a pack of 4 LED 'road flares', a window breaker/seatbelt cutter, space blankets, and a basic first aid kit in all of my vehicles plus a much more comprehensive first aid kit in the RV.
My two favorite items are a 30 amp 25 foot extension cord (I've got a small Class C) and a 50 foot expanding water hose. Together, they allow me to pull into any pad frontways and still reach the power and water pedestal. I often like to do this for two reasons. First, if we're on a lake or river it's great to have that view out the windshield. Second, it's sometimes easier to pull in headfirst and to back out than it is to back in.
Love your videos. Thanks and keep them coming!!
Just ordered 3 Easter closure….. one for us and one for each of our son-in- laws for Father’s Day!!
Thanks for the jump starter tip! The waste valve is also good as a backup in case your primary valves leak, or if some children open it without your knowledge. My useful items would be our Super Easy Siphon (shake to prime) for taking on water, Gazelle popup tent (anti-bugs, rain, or even just keeping it 5-10 degrees warmer around the table for a night of board games), Luci solar string lights, and the 1 to 1.5 foot long stakes I made out of rebar with 3/4" nuts welded on top (so I can use my impact drill with the same socket as stabilizers, loose pumice sand and decent winds in central Oregon).
Which Gazelle tent do you use?
@@bob847vid The 6-sided popup one.
My favorite uncommon gadget is our pop-up fire pit. Sets up quickly, cools down quickly, and folds away small. So when we actually get to have a wood fire, I put a small stack in and a fire starter cube and in minutes we have a roaring fire. The metal mesh interior is strong and allows a lot of air flow, and the heat shield underneath allows you to put the pit anywhere and not worry about heat damaging what's underneath.
I do have a jumpstart device but so far I haven’t used it for myself and only to help others so it has been nice to have. Thanks for the video Jared.
A 7/16 deep socket for my power awning. It started getting pretty gusty and my awning magically didnt work, but I had the socket. Used my power drill to manually bring in the awning before damage could occur.
Cordless leaf blower- cleans outdoor carpets, RV spots, awnings and the roof. We have a lot of pines and in the fall leafs. Beats a broom and you can use it on low effectively with out annoying others or creating a dust storm. We are amazed at how much we use it.
We've also used a cordless leaf blower to 'goose' the campfire.
Ok now that I am gonna steal for sure! Thank you!
These are also good to blow snow off of vehicles during ski season.
No this is annoying. These are the sounds I’m trying to get away from when camping.
@@biophiliac9then you probably shouldn’t be rv camping at a campground.
Good Tips! Thanks!
Just ordered twist-on waste valve... thanks!
Glad it helped
One thing we carry is self fusing silicon tape ( also know as silicon friction tape). No adhesive, it fuses to itself, giving a waterproof seal. I've used it on a leaking truck radiator hose, wire connections, as a handle grip on a shovel, on our runabout when a cooling live (drawing lake water ) developed a split ( wrapped the wet line and kept going) and on a leaking fresh water hose. You stretch the tape as you wrap and it fuses onto the previous layer. Result looks like the handle wraps on tennis rackets or golf clubs. A must in the toolbox (home, vehicle and camper). It's been a lifesaver.
Thank you! Wow we need some of that! Where do you buy it? Is is available at Ace or Tractor Supply just go to Amazon?
Good suggestions. Regarding the rv hose demise you experienced, our Rhino Flex did the same thing on our 2022 Texas winter trip. Just all at once started spurting in multiple places. We use the shutoff valve on the end also. On the same trip our pull cable disconnected from the black valve in the open position. The shutoff valve at the end allowed us to move on until I could repair the cable.
That twist on sewer gate changed my life. Also love my Viair compressor.
My Viair portable air compressor. Best, strongest little air compressor I've ever had and so easy to use. I bought an extra hose so it can reach all the tires on my trailer while hooked up to my truck battery. I keep it with the truck at all times. It gives me peace of mind knowing I have it if I need it.
Best small compressor I’ve ever owned.
Viair have one too saved me a couple of times
Thanks for the idea!
Any particular model to recommend?
I have one on order and I plan to put a 7-pin trailer connector on it. That way I can plug it into my rear bumper and not have to open the hood and connect to the battery. It also gives me more length.
Hands down would buy again: 96” two way sliding cargo drawer from Moryde for the pass through storage, Reese Goose Box, Mint oil rodent repellant spray, RV snap pads, and Valterra Twist on valve.
I have the gooloo gp4000. My car had a dead battery and I used that to start it. I thought it was going to take off, the starter was turning so much faster than just stock battery. Thank you project farm for introducing me to it.
Loved if you live in FL, rv in FL, and never leave FL then you'll never need to buy this!🤣🤣❤ agree with all these items. Charles said the other thing we'd buy again when this wears out is.. Grand Design🤣😋🥰 See you on the road!!!!
My top 3: 13) Hose quick connects. 2.) Klein 11-in-1 tool - basically stays in my pocket. 3.) Valteera adjustable EZ hose Carrier
Good list!
I have installed a twist valve but it doesn’t fit tight. Any time I attach the sewer hose and before emptying the tanks, I have to re-tighten the valve. Any suggestions?
Are using the same brand and grade of the Camco sewer hose? I also bought this elbow in the Camco grade that is the orange connectors and it leaked with the lower grade hose that came with our camper. I went out bought the same Camco brand/grade that has the same orange connectors and darker brown hose, and it does not leak at all. Yes, it is pricey, but that grade of hose stays stiff! What a game changer. There's no more hose dropping down and chasing the low points of the hose while gravity snakes the hose off of the stands. I literally tossed the old sewer hose into the dumpster at our last camping trip.
I have a portable waste tank and portable gas generator and use a receiver type game hoist to load them in my truck. No more lifting by hand!
I love having a transfer pump for refilling fresh water when we don’t have water at our site. I am also going to always install a shut off valve for the toilet line on every camper we purchase. Had a bad situation last year, and had no water in the whole camper just because the toilet was malfunctioning.
Love your videos. This no exception. And may I also compliment whomever deserves the credit for the impeccable housekeeping of your rig. Always immaculate. The standard I like but often difficult to maintain! Keep ‘‘em coming!
I agree with and own the three items you listed. If I had to add one thing, actually things, it would my my 18V Ryobi power tools. The same batteries work for my small chain saw, string trimmer, leaf blower, power drill, and saws. The 4 AH batteries will run the string trimmer for about 20 minutes. Also, I have the Ryobi LED flashlight and it is about as bright as a car headlight and lasts for hours on the 4 AH batteries. You can customize your tool selection to suit your camping style and needs and I suspect there are more than 100 different tools that can use the same battery type. There are many other handy things and I love videos like this. Thank you.
We do the same. And in fact, just bought the “household” stick vacuum from Ryobi…so now that uses the same batteries also!
I have always carried a 12 volt battery charger in our rig. If we're at a site with shore power and the inverter dies and can't charge the house battery, I can plug in the charger to the 120 volt plug on the pedestal and have 12 volt power again for our lights. We wouldn't have to fumble around in the dark and since it's not battery powered, I don't have to worry about keeping it charged.
Portable Coleman table, rolls up small. I use 2!
We also have a powerful lithium battery jump starter. It has a built-in air compressor which keeps our trailer tires filled. We use its USB port to power our strings of decorative campsite led lights.
Can you share info about the lithium battery jump starter? Link?
I have all 3 items mentioned...Does this mean I'm a RV Pro?!?! ha ha ha ha My special item you asked for: light hiking backpack with water bladder
When you are hiking near water sources, a 1 liter bottle with a Sawyer mini-filter might save you a few pounds.
Zip ties, a big roll Gorilla Duct Tape, rechargeable flashlight, cordless drill/ with attachments and yes my Audew Jump Starter
100%
Alot of people don't think about zip ties. Endless number of uses and they are virtually weightless and take up very little space.
We were unable to go south for winter in 2021, (we were stuck in Canada) so I installed a Cubic Mini wood stove into the RV. Took me about an hour to install and works amazingly. Still used it this past winter in Texas when we had a week winter and this spring when we got back from Tx - thanks for an other great vid - Keep the rubber side down!!
I would love to see a video on that install. Love the idea of a wood stove in an RV.
@@cpfpv6410 I thought of doing a video of the install etc, but the forecast was for snow the day after it arrived. So I was working against Mother Nature lol.
Great content! We'll start sending your channel to our clients who recently bought land from us near the camping areas. This will surely give them ideas on what to get before starting to live in an RV. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Thanks for the video. It’s a really small item but I always have reusable zip ties on our motorhome. I love being able to reuse them instead of cutting and replacing.
Same as Andrew (just below): When you mentioned the Valterra valve last time, I couldn't found it and then forgot it. Our best non-RV 'gadget' is our hybrid F150 tow vehicle. Wherever we are (storage lot in hot summer; rainy period in Rockies) we can always plug our truck into our trailer and have 30A of 120V AC, 24/7. Great truck in general, too.
Hands down, our most odd but most useful "gadget" is our 12v macerator. Makes moochdocking so much easier!
Yes good one. We wore ours out and just ordered a new one.
I use the accessories that accompany my power tools' batteries. Small fan, inverter, lights, USB chargers - all kinds of things. They're also much more rugged than most things built for RVs.
Very minor, but Command Hooks have been VERY helpful. Also, yes our Power Jack. We had a flat on our tow vehichle one time and it was NOT fun lol.
I like my jump started too. Minnesota guy recommended. Thanks.
I really like that twist on valve but my drain points down and that valve looks like it extends about 6 inches. That would make me nervous having my dump valve that much lower under the back of my camper. I do a lot of creative parking in parking lots (backing the overhang over curbs and landscaping). If I clip that on something I could cause a catastrophic failure. As it is, the dump connect is up in the frame where it's nearly impossible to hit it. But I'm going to seriously look at that to see if I can adapt it.
Didn’t realize my black tank was leaking until I got to the dump site. Exterior waste valve saved the day.
GooLoo sounds like the perfect idea especially for smaller rigs! Extra batteries. We carry an extra cassette toilet! Having Starlink gives a sense of connection I’d something happens on an area where we get zero Wi-Fi!
7 foot folding ladder, Camping World, 140.00 bucks. ...four years never failed, and compact.
For a lot less, I put a 5’ folding ladder in my cargo hold. Mounted on the side, it doesn’t interfere with the opening.
I have the gooloo jump start battery. I have used it many times. I no longer carry jumper cables.
Jump start saved our bacon just this last week in freezing/snow in Montana when the generator battery on switch was accidentally either left on, or got bumped when covered
Thanks for the reminder on the Valterra valve, I went to buy one in December of 2020 but the only places that had them in stock wanted $60. At $20 that was an instant buy.
The unusual RV supply I carry is a long right angle drill adapter and self tapping screws plus a tube of sealant. In my case it was used to put my fender liner back together after a blowout, but they can be used to reattach cabinets, reseal the roof, etc.
We have a jump device, super-similar to yours, and I carry it with our motorcycles. And I've needed it a couple of times. Plus, with that MASSIVE amount of power storage, you could recharge your phone 50 times over (probably). And like @Richard English said, the cordless leaf blower, its indispensable to me. We have a GD 399TH, so TWO patios, and being able to clean the slide tops (as we have no slide "toppers"); it's great for that, too.
I dont know what part you are talking about, is it the orange fitting or is it the valve that came on your rv to begin with ????????
Thanks great video, very helpful for new and old campers.
I have one of those jump starter packs (different brand). I suggest setting a reminder to check/charge every 2-3 months. Mine seems to lose some charge when it's really cold/hot in the truck otherwise.
I have one of those jump packs. I’m a mechanic so I’m constantly jump starting vehicles. It has never not started a car, and I can usually get 4-5 cars started before it needs to be recharged. The one thing I don’t like about mine is the clamps… They are cheap plastic and I always feel like they are about to break. How are the clamps on your pack?
Great video I do have a question did you do anything to make your wastewater connections spin on your valves that easy It looked like you were putting very little effort and twisting on the hose and the fittings for me it can be very difficult is there something that you do or some trick to make that easier thanks
I use waterproof silicone faucet grease and place it on both ends of the stinky slinky. The grease needs to be periodically reapplied as the twisting off and on of the slinky naturally wears/removes some of the grease. Another option is the 'sewer fitting wrench' has a handle and a half-moon shape to help loosen the hose from a fitting.
Nice job god bless
Great information I want the jump start for my car.
HitchGrip! I love it. Use it every time. My amazon review:
> I love this tool.
> 1. You don't have to bend over as far. Watch the product video. No really, go watch. See how the person is nearly standing while putting it in the receiver? Yeah! Awesome.
> 2. You can carry the hitch with one hand.
> 3. It is very easy to carry the hitch a really long distance.
> 4. It is very easy to lift the hitch up high. Your arm is more free to bend naturally.
> 5. Watch the product video again. No really! Watch! See how the person's hip is parallel to the tow vehicle? It means it is way more natural to line up the shank of the hitch with the receiver.
> Yes, it is a truly simple tool. So is a hammer, but you still buy it!
> Hitch Grip is a simple tool. Hitch Grip is the right tool for the task.
Agreed - when we had a TT is was one of my favorite tools. Those that don't have this with a heavy weight distributing hitch don't know what they are missing. Worth every penny.
I added the twist on knife valve to the outlet of my last RV. A MUST HAVE for any RV with a cable valve for the black tank. This isn't an accessory, but I always keep at least 2 fresh one gallon jugs of drinking water in the RV in case my water pump goes out. Which actually happened to me 2000 miles away from home. 2 gallons is enough for a pot of coffee for us and a full water bowl for the dog until I can either get a new pump or get more water for the trip home.
Pumps are not very expensive. I purchased a second pump. I have it for a backup and use it to transfer water from our 50 gallon bladder to the RV.
@@soccerdad8374 Great idea to carry a spare water pump.
We have a class C with a drain tap for our tank we could fill our travel bladder if necessary.
I know what you mean about the jumper cables. I still have the last set my Grandparents has in their last car. Just don't want to give them up. I might need them.
Love our jump starter. Saved us. Make sure it is sized for your vehicle.
Really like the size of the jumper. The are often very large. This is a great size kit.
Quick connects on all my water hookups. One pair on the pressure regulator to the trailer, one on the pressure regulator to the water filter. One fitting for a nozzle attachment
I really like quick connects, but all of the ones I've seen will significantly decrease the water volume that passes through. This won't be noticed if you water pressure is good, but when it is low it makes a difference when not using them.
I have watched many videos about stuff they can't do without and I haven't seen anyone talk about portable tanks. Do all these people only stay at camp grounds with sewer connections? My first time camping I had to go buy one. The portable tank is one I never leave behind.
Great video.... Love the Jump Pack. Just put one in my Amazon list!!
Jared- a few uncommon things we carry 1) Ship’s decanters for the liquor in our bar. They don’t fall over when the camper rocks about going down the road and they are as old-school classy as you get! 2) Searzall Grill torch to finish up any searing or broiling since the smaller grills, ovens toasters just don’t get as hot. But it does require a small 1# bottle of propane so there is that. 3) Wiha 28506 TorqueVario-S Torque Screwdriver, 10-50 Inch Pound- I use it all the time (needs a 1/4” adapter but it’s excellent 4) Dewalt Right angle impact adapter 2-n-1- this is one of my most used tools in the bag due to all the tight places I’ve had to get into! Should be issued to a person when they buy a camper! 5) Crocs! They are the best camping shoe not only to slip on when going outside in the middle of the night or how they easily slip off when coming in, but also if up on the roof- their non-slip aspect makes for a great safety aspect! Cheers!
Thanks! - All good items to have - I do use the extra gate valve myself. (Thanks to KYD). - lol
I'm really happy with the Anderson Ramp style levelling wedges. They save me from having to carry several wood blocks that eventually split and become useless. Also, the Camco Water Bandit.....this is a water hose fitting that has a soft rubber sleeve so I can fit it over a fresh water filling hose when it is damaged and still connect to my RV and fill the fresh water tanks....also good for some (Canadian) Provincial parks which don't have water at the sites but instead have regular house faucets because they don't want people connecting hoses to fill their tanks.....with this you can slip the sleeve on the faucet and run your water hose to fill the tanks.......better than multiple trips with a bucket.
We've used our water bandit many times. However when we used it the first time I had to keep holding it so that it would not disconnect from the water source and from the attached hose fitting. I quickly purchased 2 thumb twist hose claps and it totally solved that issue for me.
We have a small jump pack also but we're keeping our monster jumper cables as well. You never know. We also have an LED work light for the truck that runs off the same batteries as our drill/driver. It's small but puts out a lot of light where you want it. We keep a small tarp in the truck for ground work that comes in handy if I need to go under the trailer. Lots of things for the truck get used on the trailer.
I have the GooLoo jump start. I have never needed it but have used it twice to help fellow rvers. The smiles were priceless!
I think I'll keep the $150 in my pocket and if somebody needs a jump, give them one. You know with jumper cables. If I need a jump ask around for someone willing to help. Worse case call AAA.
The one thing I would buy again is a, King Omni Pro, Omni Directional tv antenna. I replaced the old Wineguard crank up antenna, which on my Class A motorhome in my yard, I could get 2 channels. With the King I can get 12. And you don't have to turn the antenna. It is a permanent set up.
I love my surge protector that links to my phone so I know my KWH usage while I'm staying at a friend's house...then I can pay them for my usage.
Ooo which one do you have? That’s awesome!
@@kaelascuriosity Hughes Autoformer Power Watchdog
I have a dewalt 20v cordless air compressor. That thing is awesome. Combined with a tie repair plug kit, I can rescue friends, visiting kids, maintain our own tires, etc. It also has a "blower" side that I use to clean off the roof, awning, patio carpet, haircut remnants, grill ash, etc.
my ice maker
Thanks, I just bought the twist on waste valve you recommended. I had no idea such a thing existed.
I have that valve. I have had an issue with the valve coming off when I try to connect the hose. I can’t seem to get it tighter. Any ideas
Same here. The latches do not have enough of an indent to firmly lock onto the pegs. I was wondering if mine was defective but it appears to be poor design.
Another great vid. Had not heard about the twist on valve connector. Thanks for the knowledge and links!
I also have a jumpstart and would not want to be without it. Thanks so much for all your informative videos.
Twist on Waste valve should be standard! 5 Gallon plastic bucket too. Everything leaks. I broke a plastic pin on my waste outlet pipe! Drilled it out, bought a ss pin at hardware store and epoxied it into place. still working after 2 years. Folding metal mesh table for the gas grill on Amazon. Light weight, fireproof, not expensive, so handy.
I have your same RV. You made a statement that "both grey tanks will equalize...". Is that true???? They are connected somewhere and I can either equalize some of Grey tank 1 into 2, or I presume drain both tanks from the forward outlet??? Just leave the cap on the rear tank and pull the release? I feel like I missed something in your video because that doesn't make sense. Love your videos!!!!
I bought a heated hose and the one night I needed it while in Georgia, the water main to the hose froze.
Lori, I had that problem in Zion to which I had to pour hot water on the Park's water valve to unfreeze. I now carry (in the winter time) a small roll of reflective insulation (aka silver bubble wrap) and wrap the Park's hydrant/hose bib if the Park doesn't have theirs insulated.
120V/12V cooler/freezers have two and love them. Will never go back to using ice. Ever.
Wait... you have an off grid solar setup with Lithium ion batteries and you still have use for a jump start battery kit? You do know your entire RV is a portable battery kit right?
Yes I have thought of that but our 5th wheel isn’t always with our truck and when the battery died it was too far from the RV to use jumper cables to the truck. Drivable RVs have the advantage here for sure.
One thing I would buy again is a Camco Trailer-Aid Plus.I have been carrying this thing around for years, but I finally needed it when I had a flat tire, I had this tire change in Less than 45 minuets and it was raining :(
I have the gooloo and was very disappointed with the devices performance on the 12v output socket. Contacted support and they had absolutely no clue or information for me. As the port automatically shuts off after a bit of time no information in manual or customer service.
I bought the twist-on valve before you even stopped talking about it. Ours is notorious for having way more fluid there than I like every single time I go to dump and it's really disgusting. This will help. Whew! Thanks for this.
The jump start device....will it jump a diesel motor. diesel motors have 2 batteries
can’t find the products on drop down?
Solid color plastic tote that you cannot see through. I hear they work good for smuggling firewood.
Haha, good one.
The main reason I have one of these is if someone needs a boost the majority of the time they have a battery shorted out and can mess up a hole bunch of stuff on your vehicle.
RYOBI 18V ONE+ Lithium-Ion Cordless High Pressure Inflator with Digital Gauge. Very compact and works well. Its a handheld unit that’s a must have for inflation.
Our top bunk gets really hot. I 3D printed a deflector that fits over top of one of AC vents in the roof. It reuses the existing vents screws and sends some air directly into the bunk. Made my boys very happy!
Very nice - have you used your printer for other useful items on your RV?
@@soccerdad8374 not yet, but always keeping my eyes open for projects
twist on gate valve thanks i ordered it
Ant traps
Telescopic Manual Branch saw
Can you share the details on how you linked your 2 dump valves into one?
He has a video of it
The jump starter is GREAT!!!
I had a bad battery on my on board generator and the batteries on my Duramax kept losing a charge and my neighbor down the way needed a jump on thier generator. 4 jumps on my Duramax, 2 on my generator and one on the neighbor's on one charge. I have a jump starter in all my vehicles.
My not always first thought for RV is a good pair of welding gloves for kitchen and campfire safety!!!
Yes I live in Wyoming!!!
Are your grey and black tanks heated?