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Maintenance & Repair

The RV’s slide-out is stuck extended. What do the controller blinks mean?

Dear Dave, My RV's slide-out room is stuck in the out position. I get 1 green light and 8 red blinks. I already changed the...

The importance of inspecting your seven-way cord and junction box

Last summer, a class action lawsuit was filed in a Montana federal court against Forest River, Inc. This lawsuit alleges that all Forest River...

How to ask tire questions to get the answer the first time

Here are some general comments and requests to those posing questions about tires and specifically about how to set the inflation. As reported in more...

How can I get scratches out of my RV’s solid surface countertop?

Dear Dave, How can we get rid of minor scratches on our RV's solid surface kitchen countertops? —Rick, 2022 Newmar Dutch Star Dear Rick, There are several...

Lots of RV disasters this week: One RVer’s black tank fell off of the trailer!

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)....

Can I safely retract the RV’s slide with a full fridge in it?

Dear Dave,  I couldn't find an answer to this question on any forum. I hate to bother you further, but I'm wondering if it's okay...

My Dometic fridge won’t get below 50 degrees. Should I get a lithium battery?

Dear Dave,  I have the new Dometic 4101 refrigerator that I really am extremely disappointed with. Unfortunately, I am stuck with it as it seems...

When RV heat is on, cabinets and counters get hot. Why?

Dear Dave, The drawers and countertops in/on the cabinet that houses the heater for the camper get very warm when the RV heater runs. Is...

Can I repair the cracks in the RV’s countertop?

Dear Dave,  My counter is getting little cracks in it. Can it be repaired? Or how and what would you recommend to replace it with?...

Has your awning/slide-out topper rail pulled loose?

Has your awning or slide-out topper rail pulled loose from the wall? This piece of aluminum is mounted to an RV wall before the awning...

Why does my RV’s air conditioner hum but it won’t start?

Dear Dave, My RV's front roof air conditioner only hums when I turn it on. The fan will not come on to blow the air....

RVer requires pry bar to open stuck door on new 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 here)....

What is the best battery setup for boondocking?

Dear Dave, Can you help draw up a new house battery system for me. I want to do a lot of boondocking, and don’t want...

Nightmare Dometic refrigerator journey!

Got this question back in January and it has taken some time to track down the information on what has been done and then...

Prevent buyer’s remorse: The importance of getting an RV buyer inspection

A Facebook group member recently shared their buyer's remorse. They shared their experience purchasing a brand-new trailer in November 2022. Approximately 6-7 weeks later,...

How can I access the RV’s shower faucet to change it?

Dear Dave, Our tub/shower faucet needs replacing. There is no access to the faucet. We have even taken the mirror out in the bedroom, but...

How to conquer the fear of breaking down in remote areas

Do you have a fear of breaking down in remote areas with your RV? This question recently came up during a Zoom meeting among RVtravel.com...

Improper trailer brake setting can cause ‘flat-spotting’ on tires

I received a question about irregular wear on trailer tires. The owner said that all four tires showed indications of abnormal wear in some...

Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) batteries: Who is telling the truth?

I received the following question from Bob regarding Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) batteries. I was not very familiar with them so did some...

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...

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