Sunday, March 26, 2023

MENU

HomeMaintenance & Repair

Maintenance & Repair

Fact or Fiction? Doing THIS is the number one cause of RV fires on highways

RV blogs, social media groups and YouTube videos have exploded over the past couple of years. Some provide great information, others questionable information and...

Fact or Fiction? Doing THIS is the number one cause of RV fires on highways (ANSWER)

Answer: Fiction The question of whether you should run your RV refrigerator on propane while driving will be debated until the end of time, or...

‘Defective’ tires: Just what is the ‘defect’?

I have heard people claim they had a "defective" tire when they post about a tire failure. I have even addressed claims from lawyers...

Reader’s RV security cameras tell the real story behind service and repairs

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories here)....

Is it possible to overcharge my RV’s batteries?

Hi Dave,  My Pinnacle is solar and generator prepped. I have three roof panels connected to a 60-amp Renogy solar controller, and I just installed...

My RV’s sofa needs replacing. Where besides RV dealer can I find one?

Dear Dave,  What places other than RV dealers might I find replacement RV-sized furniture? The couch and recliners that came with our 5-year-old RV are...

Deep-clean the black tank to prevent nasty outhouse smell

When the winds of time blow in the wrong direction and the bathroom vent just doesn’t seem to siphon all the scent away, it...

My trailer has a soft floor. How much will it cost to fix?

Dear Dave,  The floor in front of the RV's bedroom is soft. Also, on the opposite side of the RV, the floor is soft in...

Can two 6-volt house batteries run a 2,000W inverter?

Dear Dave, Will two 6-volt batteries connected in series run a 2000-watt invertor? —Pat, '02 Lance 835 Lite Dear Pat, When you connect the 6-volt batteries in...

My inverter only powers one outlet. How can I rewire it to add more?

Dear Dave,  I have an inverter in my new camper and despite repeated requests I cannot get a wiring diagram for the camper. The inverter...

Why a safety margin on tire inflation is important

If you have read any of my posts here at RVtravel.com or on my blog RVTireSafety.net or on any individual post on the various...

RVers should insist on watching the work done on their RV

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories...

What are the types of RV house batteries and what do the acronyms stand for?

Dear Dave, Readers appreciate very much your RV tech wisdom. Could you provide an article on the various battery types available for RVs, those useful...

RVs and WD-40: Unusual combinations that work!

By Russ and Tiña De Maris Seems like every RV has at least a can or two of WD-40 for lubricating various parts. But there's...

What size BatteryMINDer do I need for my Class A?

Dear Dave, You suggested buying a BatteryMINDer in a recent newsletter. Prices for a BatteryMINDer on Amazon range from $59 to $189. Which one should...

How do I reduce condensation on RV’s windows in cold weather?

Hey, Dave, When camping in cold weather and heating with the unit's propane heater, a lot of condensation collects on all the windows. Is there...

Are SumoSprings worth it?

If you have questions, we have answers! Join us LIVE every Wednesday (that's TODAY!) at 4 p.m. PST  (7 p.m. EST) for Talkin’ RV...

Have an electric fireplace? Here’s a simple trick to get more heat

When we bought our motorhome it came with an electric fireplace. I thought, "What a ridiculous thing to put in an RV!" It was...

Take action or get stuck with big repair bills and a lemon RV

We have seen a spate of recent lemon RV inquiries where the owners kept believing the factory and their dealer could get their RV’s...

How can my RV’s roof air conditioner run more efficiently?

Dear Dave, I’d like to improve the efficiency of our roof air conditioner. The factory shrouds are black. I’d like to paint them white. Second,...

Chalking running down RV’s sidewall plus decals fading. What can I do?

Dear Dave, My 2002 Montana is an old guy, but very solid with a Go Power Elite package and an onboard generator. I am a...

How much air pressure is too much in RV tires?

With the introduction of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), many RV owners are presented with what to them is new information on the status...

Former repair and manufacturing worker shares dirt: ‘Here’s what’s really wrong with the RV industry’

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories here)....

How can I add an inverter to power my refrigerator on 120-volt while on the road?

Dear Dave, We have had our unit for several years, mainly using it for coast-to-coast travel. Our Dometic (N7XR) fridge uses LP gas or generator/shore...

Why do four new 100 Ah lithium batteries only charge to 13.6V?

Dear Dave, We just installed four Battle Born lithium batteries, as the flooded batteries would not last more than about 16 hours running the residential...

Awning tear? Don’t despair—fix it yourself!

After almost a week of overcast skies, the sun finally appeared. I was excited to finally unfurl our RV awning! Out, out, out it...

RV plugged into garage outlet. What can, and can’t, I run?

Dear Dave, I'm going to park my RV and hook it up to a garage outlet. I want to run my two rooftop A/C units,...

Beware of flood damage when buying a used vehicle

When buying a used vehicle, take the recent weather into consideration. Heavy storms are all the more reason to pay close attention to a vehicle’s...

Can I flat-tow my Honda CR-V?

Dear Dave, I have a Honda CR-V. Is there any way it can be flat-towed behind my motorhome? —Millicent, 2003 Fleetwood Bounder Dear Millicent, There are several issues...

Yikes! There’s a freeze warning. Tips to keep the water flowing

By Nanci Dixon Yikes! It is cold in our neck of the woods, and there is a freeze warning. It's time to put the heated...

Can solar panels charge batteries in storage with disconnect applied?

Dear Dave, My Riverstone has four six-volt batteries with one 100-watt solar panel on the roof. For the past three years, I had access to...

How do we educate the RV consumer about towing capacity?

Dear Dave,  I would hope, with camping season coming up, that current and future RV owners would and should understand better what they are already...

How are tire load ratings calculated?

I had a question asked recently on an RV Forum about tire load ratings. Mike posted: Tireman9 — I've seen your posts with this "minimum inflation"...

Having a towing maintenance kit could save your trip

Every Wednesday we meet for a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answer technical questions, but we also share what we like...

Which portable air compressor is best for winterizing an RV?

Dear Dave, I want to winterize my RV water lines by pumping air through them. I have a 110v electric air compressor but don't have...

Air horn blows when wipers, lights and more are engaged. What the heck?

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories here)....

RV’s underbelly filling up with water. How do I find the source?

Dear Dave, We may have a leak in the kitchen's gray tank as the underbelly fills with water and it stinks up the whole place....

Wire from converter to batteries—How long can it be?

Dear Dave, My RV's inverter is under the bed in the back and the batteries are about 20 feet upfront. I'm told this is too...

How long can my RV’s residential fridge run before generator takes over to recharge?

Dear Dave, I installed a residential fridge in my RV. I have a four 6-volt golf battery setup and 300-watt solar panels with a 3000-watt...

Can I swap my RV’s manual driver seat base for an electric one?

Dear Dave, How difficult would it be to change the RV's driver's seat base from a manual to a power base, and where could I...

Be careful what you wash your rubber RV roof with!

A few months ago we had a customer schedule an appointment for their 2015 Grand Design Solitude 305RE to have a roof coating completed....

Everything you need to know about RV insurance – You may not be in good hands

RV insurance – Make sure you get the right coverage! It’s something we don’t like talking about and hope we never need it – insurance...

How much air pressure do my motorhome tires need?

This is another version of the basic and recurring question about how much air pressure RV tires need, so let's look at the facts....

Dave answers three more short Q&As

Did you know that Dave answers almost every single email he receives? Now that’s what you call impressive! He’s also what you’d call a...

When do I set the Air Lift PSI when connecting to my fifth wheel hitch?

If you have questions, we have answers! Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 4 p.m. PST for Talkin’ RV Tech. Here is a clip...

Service center takes RV on joy ride; owners not joyful

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories...

Five short Q&As with Dave

Did you know that Dave answers almost every single email he receives? Now that's what you call impressive! He's also what you'd call a...

Ways to make your RV sewer hose last longer

“Newbie” RVers recently complained about having to replace their sewer hose. Again! It seems they’ve had three different hoses in the last year alone!...

Black tank still smells after trying EVERYTHING

Dear Dave,  Not sure of the year of the RV. I am having very strong odors after flushing and I have cleaned the black tank...

Using an anemometer to measure airflow in an RV

Every Wednesday we meet for a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answer technical questions, but we also share what we like...

Sign up for the

RVtravel Newsletter

Sign up and receive 3 FREE RV Checklists: Set-Up, Take-Down and Packing List.

FREE