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Tools for RVers: Knives

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

I’m a knife guy. Before you get all scared that I’m some sort of sociopathic deviant, let me explain by saying I am a firm believer that knives are among the most important tools we have. I’ve had Swiss Army knives since I was 8 years old, and have had many different types of knives since then. I’m always carrying at least one, especially when I’m RVing. Here are a few recommendations:

Utility or sheetrock knife — With replaceable and reversible razor-sharp blades that are cheap, this kind of knife, first sold by Stanley way-back-when (I had one of the first … and still do), has amazing versatility. Some are foldable, almost all are retractable, and many hold spare blades in the handle. There are many models available and you can find them at your local hardware store, home center, Harbor Freight Tools, Sears or at Amazon.

Swiss Army knife — OK, I am a purist, and to me the only Swiss Army knife is the original by Victorinox. I have three of them, and all of them I’ve had since I was young. One was a birthday present when I was 10 and has my name and birthday engraved on the blades! (Thank you, Charlie.) There are many models with many features, including screwdrivers, scissors, toothpicks and tweezers! They’re available at Amazon.

The Leatherman multitool — The ultimate of multitools is the Leatherman, and I carried one on my belt as a firefighter for years. With many of the same tools as the Swiss Army knife, these also have pliers, wire cutters, saws and more. Again, they can be found at Amazon.

There are many other types of knives and multitools out there, but I have always been amazed at the number of times I have pulled one out to fix something … or even save a life!

Thoroughly clean black water tanks with flusher system

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Many RVs now come with black tank flushing systems built in at the factory, but some don’t — and some folks actually want to add them to their grey tanks, as well.

What are tank flushers? They are special nozzles that are attached to a holding tank and piped to a convenient connection point on the coach where a garden hose can be connected. When the tank is drained, supplying water to this connection allows the nozzle to spray all over the inside of the tank, rinsing the tank and getting the “stickies” to go down the drain instead of collecting inside your tank. This allows the process to be done from outside the coach instead of going inside with a hose and sticking a nozzle down the toilet, bringing dirt and odor inside the coach.

The kits are relatively easy for a good do-it-yourselfer to install. The Camco Tornado is a good choice because of the way the nozzle rotates. It is available from Amazon. Other brands and styles are available from your favorite RV parts retailer! — Chris Dougherty

See part 1 of this subject: See what’s coming out your sewer hose to be sure you’re done.

Three-year old boy killed when he touched RV: Why?

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

As of 2011, approximately 8.9 million households owned an RV, and with numbers like that RV accidents are very few. That said, we were recently reminded that even a safe RV can kill if plugged into a bad electrical source. I was reminded twice.

RVTravel Channel viewers saw our special video where we reported that 3-year-old Landyn Gerald Keener of Amboy, Ill., was killed when he touched the side of the family’s RV. The investigation revealed that the coach had suffered a “hot skin condition” as a result of being plugged into a bad household receptacle. The video can be seen here.

On a similar note, the RV can be damaged severely by plugging into the wrong receptacle at home, or one that was installed improperly, as friends of mine learned recently. They hired an electrician to install an RV receptacle in their home, only to find that the electrician had never seen an RV before. Since the receptacle looked like a dryer outlet, that’s how he wired it. Dryer outlets are wired to 240 VAC, not 120 VAC. They plugged their class C in and fried the coach’s electrical system. It tripped out quickly, but not before taking out the TVs, GFI receptacle and microwave oven.

Most public camping facilities are wired correctly. All new RVs built by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association members are built and tested to National Electrical Code (NEC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations. The problem usually lies with improper shore power connections, and most of those are at home.

If you are going to plug in your RV at home, please consider having a licensed electrician install a proper RV outlet on the side of your home, and ask them if they know about wiring an RV receptacle. One source for RV power outlets is RVpowerOutlet.com. They are great people and will help you choose the box you need. It’s a small investment that you’ll have as long as you own your home, and can add to its resale value!

Lastly, after you do plug in, we recommend using a non-contact voltage tester to determine if you have a hot skin condition. This is a small thing you can do which will make sure that at least you don’t have a dangerous situation going on with your RV’s skin.

For more information on RV hot skin conditions, please check out the RVTravel Channel on YouTube for videos from our contributor Mike Sokol, and check his website out at noshockzone.org.

Until next time, safe and happy camping!

Insect repellent is tough on mosquitoes, other biting bugs

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Insect repellent is tough on mosquitoes, other biting bugs

When mosquitoes and other biting insects target you in your campsite or on the trail, you need to get tough. And so should your insect repellent. Repel 100 Insect Repellent will keep you covered with maximum DEET protection from biting insects for up to 10 hours. It’s formulated to repel mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus even in the most severe insect conditions.

repel-737Certified Safe
DEET has been used as an insect repellent in the U.S. for more than 50 years. DEET-based products are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for effective, long-lasting mosquito protection. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DEET-based products pose no health concerns as long as they are used according to label directions.

Application Recommendations
Use just enough repellent to cover all exposed skin, but apply sparingly on your face, avoiding your eyes and mouth. To use Repel 100 on the outer surfaces of your clothing, spray your shirt, pants, and hat. Apply to the tops of your socks and around the openings of your outer clothing. Wash your hands after application, as DEET-based products may damage some synthetic fabrics and materials.

Repel 100 will repel mosquitoes and other biting insects for up to 10 hours, but coverage length can vary if you get wet or if you’re sweating excessively. Reapply if you are noticing mosquito activity around you again. You can use Repel 100 and sunscreen at the same time. Apply the sunscreen first, and then apply the insect repellent.

Product Description
Repel 100 uses a 98.1-percent Deet formula to provide complete protection from mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, chiggers, no-see-ums, and biting flies. Use in areas of high infestation or prolonged periods of outdoor activity for up to 10-hour of protection. The new 4-ounce pump is large enough for high use consumers, yet small enough for easy portability.

You can find Repel 100 Insect Repellent on Amazon for about $9 for a 4-ounce pump spray bottle.

Tools for RVers: Flue brush

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

A tool I have used many times over the years is the flue brush. They come in different sizes and lengths; but as there are a number of different sizes of flues and vents in RV appliances, having a set that will fit them all has been good.

The odorant used in natural gas and propane is ethyl mercaptan — spiders like the smell of it and gravitate towards it to nest and make webs. The little, fine webs they make cause LP appliances to malfunction. Mud daubers also have been known to make their muddy little homes in tubes and flues in RV appliances. The most thorough way to clean out some of these nests is with a flue brush. Small flue brushes can be found wherever appliance and plumbing tools are sold, or from Amazon.

Caring for you RV cabinets, furniture and carpet

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

Here are some ideas about caring for your RV’s cabinets, furniture and carpets

Cabinet and furniture care
Hardwood: RV cabinet doors and drawer fronts are often hardwood, while the remaining cabinet parts are particle board covered with a thin lamination. Cabinet parts and dinette chairs that are made of wood (oak, cherry, etc,) and are stained are just like fine furniture and should be cared for the same way, using Liquid Gold, Pledge or other furniture polish. Do the doors and drawer fronts last, after you have cleaned the rest of the cabinet fronts with another cleaner like a general purpose glass and counter cleaner, or whatever the owner’s manual for your coach recommends.

Fabrics: There are many fabrics used in the RV industry for seating, window trim and so on. Most RV manufacturers will include care instructions in the owner’s packet. If a product is identified, such as Ultraleather, care instructions can be found on the company’s website. Most of the fabric manufacturers will indicate care for general cleaning as well as spills and stains.

Countertops: Whatever kind of countertop you have, general cleaning is the same. Most household cleaners will work adequately. Always avoid scouring products in RVs as most materials will show scratches from their use. If you have solid-surface counters like Corian, soapy water, ammonia-based cleaners and solid-surface cleaners work well. Scratches and gouges can be removed by a professional trained to work on these counters. Avoid putting hot objects on the counters or getting paint removers and other caustics on them. Spills on solid-surface counters should be cleaned up and dried. Do not let water stay on the product as a residue will remain.

Carpet care
Dirt that gets tracked into your coach gets into the carpet pretty quickly. Some RVs are coming with higher-grade carpet with Stainmaster — but most aren’t. So, taking care of what you have will make it last the longest.

Carpets should be shampooed at least annually and more frequently if needed. I have found most carpet-cleaning companies are open to doing RVs, and they do a nice job. Rental carpet-cleaning units and even some of the home units will work, but the wand-type units work best because of the tight spaces and weird angles.

I keep spot remover in the coach in case of spillage. Easy carpet cleaners like Woolite are fine for touch-up cleaning, but are ineffective at deep cleaning and getting small particulates out of the carpet.

If you have room in your coach, a good lightweight vacuum cleaner is a must. I bought an Oreck at a state fair many years ago and have been very happy with it. Another great option would be a Shop-Vac portable vacuum. They have small units which are wet-and-dry pickup — very useful in an RV environment. Get the most powerful one you can get and have room for in your RV. RV central vacuum systems are a great addition if you have room and a power source for the main unit.

Add a trailer hitch to your. . . trailer!

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

There are many hitch-mounted bike racks and cargo trays and boxes for the back of your car and truck, but they mount using a trailer hitch — which you don’t have for the back of your trailer. Adding these racks to the square bumper on the back is dangerous because it’s not designed to hold the weight, and I’ve seen the bumper fall off from the weight while going down the highway.

There is a fix, though. There are special “hitches” made just for the backs of trailers and are designed to bolt or be welded to the frame of the trailer so they can hold a certain amount of weight, depending on the installation and the manufacturer.

Installation of these requires drilling and/or welding the coach frame, and may require some other modifications depending on the coach. However, it will allow you to carry those bikes and other items on the back, freeing up room inside the coach! One hitch manufacturer is Curt, with its adjustable hitch for trailers.

Dealing with mold and mildew in RVs

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

Many RVers have a silent, black, smelly enemy — mildew. Mildew is a form of mold that eats organic materials. It is a sign of moisture and water intrusion in the RV and can do a lot of damage.

Mildew spores are everywhere and require specific conditions to grow. Unfortunately, if your RV has a leak or if your RV is stored in a tropical environment, your RV is set for mildew infestation. Mildew grows ideally in temperatures between 77 and 88 degrees, with a relative humidity of 70-93 percent. Oxygen is also required for growth. While you may have some difficulty controlling the temperature of your RV while it is in storage, humidity and moisture can be controlled a couple of ways.

First, this time of year (this was written in August) many snowbirds store their RVs in the south, where they keep them for their wintertime escapes. “We’ve had more than 60 days of above-90-degree temperatures and the humidity is pretty high,” says Stu Wahl, a year-round resident of Bonita Springs, Fla., where there are a number of RV parks with seasonal sites. If power is still on in these rigs, an electric dehumidifier that is drained to the outside of the coach would be ideal for humidity control.

Alternatively, there are a number of desiccant-type dehumidifiers which will help keep the moisture level down. If you plan on using these, make sure you have enough to last the amount of time you’ll be gone. If you’re in a freezing environment, I don’t recommend using these as they can freeze. Certainly don’t leave them where, if the tub can freeze and crack, it will drain into a sink or tub drain — put it in a bigger pot that won’t be affected.

Keeping air circulating with outside (drier) air is a plus, as well, but it doesn’t work as well in the south where the outside air may be more humid. When storing an RV in the north, leave the roof vents cracked open if possible (another good reason to have vent covers.) Even if you cover your RV, have some air flow in the coach.

RV water leaks are a sure way to get mildew problems. I’ve been in RVs that you can’t even walk in because they’re so rotted and water logged — since I’m allergic to mold and mildew, I end up sick shortly thereafter! Making certain the RV has no leaks is the best way to prevent this, and that’s all about regular maintenance!

Download this PDF from the University of Florida for expert advice on how to deal with mildew.

Electric jacket keeps you warm, charges your electronics!

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Electric jacket keeps you warm, charges your electronics!

By Chuck Woodbury
RVtravel.com

For a semi-geeky guy like me, this electric jacket from Milwaukee Tools is about as good as a jacket gets. At the push of a button the Milwaukee M12 Cordless Heated Jacket warms up to keep you toasty. The rechargeable M12 red lithium battery will power the jacket for up to six hours.

Separate buttons control the warmth of the jacket (low, medium or high settings) and the pockets. It sells for around $200, which is in line with many quality jackets. That includes the battery and a charger (the same one found in all Milwaukee power tools), which will recharge the jacket in a mere half hour. Columbia makes a similar jacket, but it sells for about $850.

My jacket is red like the one pictured here, but comes in black and “RealTree” in case you want to blend into the countryside.

The battery is easy to remove. It rides in a hidden pocket on the left side of the coat, pretty much out of the way. The geeky part of this jacket that you would never expect is a USB port on the battery pack which you can use to charge your iPhone, iPod or any other device that can be charged with a USB plug. It’s designed to be used while you are wearing your coat.

I discovered the jacket a month ago at my aunt’s small ranch near Fresno, California. She was headed out for her morning chores and casually mentioned her heated jacket, which she loved. Later, I wrote the company to request more information for an article. A few weeks later a “review jacket” showed up in my mail.

The jacket is very attractive and will keep you warm even when not powered. It can be hand-washed; just remove the battery. If you already own a Milwaukee power tool, then you already have a battery and charger. If so, the jacket alone is about $50 less than with the charger.

For anyone who dislikes cold (like me), wearing this jacket is like wearing an electric blanket wherever you go. You can learn more about the jacket at the Milwaukee Tools website which lists local retailers around the country in case you want to run out right now and get one.

See what’s coming out your sewer hose to be sure you’re done

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV Technician

Dumping your holding tanks is as much about art as science. If you want to know if your tanks are absolutely clean, the only way to know is to be able to visualize what’s coming out.

Okay, I know this sounds gross — and it is! But please believe me, if you have a blockage or some other issue because your tank isn’t cleaned out, it becomes a lot grosser!

So, here’s Part One of my system, the clear sewer hose adapters. Available in various lengths and angles, the clear adapter by Camco lets you see what is coming out of your tanks. When you flush them — and you should especially flush the black tank — clear water coming out means the tank is clean. Problem averted.

These are really easy to use as they just connect in-line with any sewer hose. If your sewer connection is recessed and hard to reach, there are various lengths available to eliminate the need to crawl or reach way under the coach. Valterra offers adapters with 45- and 90-degree bends which are useful in certain conditions where the direction of the hose dictates it.

In part two, I’ll cover tank flushing systems. Many of you already have them, as manufacturers have been building them into RVs for years. But in case you don’t have one, we’ll show you what you need to install one or use one of the portable options out there.

EZ Oil Drain Valve simplifies oil changes

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Have you ever changed your RV’s or tow’s engine oil? You know what a mess that can be, unscrewing the drain plug from the oil pan and having hot and messy engine oil drain out all over your hands.

Not pleasant, even with surgical gloves on. And if you’ve never considered changing the oil because of the mess, who could blame you.

Well, good news! There’s a non-messy, easy way to change your oil. The EX Oil Drain Valve replaces your regular drain plug, and once installed the simple turning of a lever opens the valve and the oil drains easily into a bucket without one drop getting on your hands.

In the closed position, the valve is locked so it will never open accidentally.

Features:

  • Easy operation
  • Easy installation
  • Saves time and expense of an oil change
  • No more stripped threads
  • No more burned hands from hot oil
  • No more messy oil changes
  • Optional hose ends to match your configuration

The EZ Oil Drain Valve is guaranteed for life. It’s available at Amazon for about $23.

RV technician names favorite glues, sealants and tapes

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By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician

There are many different types of materials in an RV, from flooring to wood products, plastics to metals. Having the appropriate ways to join these materials can go a long way to a professional-quality and lasting repair.

RV Goop — This universal adhesive is great to have as it will bond and seal most plastics, fabrics, wood and fiberglass. While I like the sealing properties of this product, I would not use it as just a sealant, as it would be difficult to remove and replace. We’ll talk about sealants in a future edition. It can be found at Amazon.com, or many other retailers.

Permatex 80050 Clear RTV Silicone Adhesive Sealant — Similar to the RV Goop, this silicone-based adhesive seals, bonds, repairs and secures glass, metal, plastic, fabric, vinyl, weather stripping and electrical wiring, according to the manufacturer. It is available at Amazon.com and at many automotive and big box stores.

Krazy/super glues — Remember the guy hanging by his hardhat? There are lots of little pieces which can be glued using this stuff. Available everywhere glue is sold.

3M Scotch Heavy Duty Mounting Tape — I use this quite a bit for mounting interior moldings and fixtures where screwing and drilling isn’t indicated. It’s great for mounting pictures and similar items, too. Be warned, though, that this stuff doesn’t let go! The company also has a red-backed exterior automotive mounting tape for moldings and other exterior applications. You can find the mounting tape at Amazon.com, or find it at your local home center, big box store or automotive parts store.

Duct tape — This is the old standby, for sure. Great for those temporary repairs, it comes in many sizes and colors. I even saw it printed with macaroni and cheese at Wal-Mart yesterday! Now, if they only had one with a barbecue.

Wood/carpenters glue — This is a “must” for repairing RV cabinetry and furniture, and brands like Titebond III, Elmers and Gorilla are all good. These can be found on Amazon, too, or your favorite hardware or home center.

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