Issue 865 • March 14, 2018
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UPDATE: WED., MARCH 14
Our RV electricity editor Mike Sokol will appear live today on the syndicated radio program, The RV Show USAÂ between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Pacific Time. That’s 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The show is taped live on Facebook to be broadcast later on radio stations across the USA. You can watch the live taping by clicking here. During the show, please call in with your questions for Mike toll free at 1-855-296-7469.Â
RVing Tip of the Day
By Mike Sokol
Be aware that your RV’s 12-volt electrical system can be dangerous to work on. While 12-volts DC is too low to shock you, there are many hundreds of amperes of current available for a short circuit. If you accidentally get anything metallic between the terminals it can weld itself in place and turn red hot in seconds. That includes anything metallic that gets between the red/positive battery terminal and the frame of the RV.
Remove all watches and jewelry when working on or around your battery. If you’re going to be removing the battery cables make sure you remove the black/negative one first. After, it will be safe to put a wrench on the red/positive battery terminal to remove it.
When reattaching the battery cables, put on the red/positive terminal first, followed by the black/negative terminal. If you don’t do it in this order then you can easily have the wrench that’s on the positive terminal contact the RV frame which will create an instant weld followed by overheating.
If you short a battery it’s possible to cause the battery to vent acid out the top from internal overheating. Â How do I know all this? Seen it. I watched my dad short out a car battery and take a hit in the eye from the acid squirting out the vent holes. At a car shop where I once worked, a mechanic got his wedding ring trapped between his wrench on the positive battery terminal and the vehicle frame. It welded the wedding ring in place and glowed red while it was still on his finger. He nearly lost the finger from 3rd degree burns along with tendon damage.
Watch for a video from me on this topic soon.
Read yesterday’s tip:Â Watch out for those sneaky RV weight limits.
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State, Regional,
City and U.S. maps
A GPS is great, but there’s nothing like a folded map to plan a trip or guide you where you’re going once you’re underway. Just about every folded map you would ever need is here. Most sell from about $2 to $6. Check ’em out or order.
QUICK TIPS
Organizing “stuff” in the bedroom
Limited space in your RV’s bedroom? Where to keep all that “pocket junk” men have to carry (because “real men” don’t carry a purse)? Try a small plastic tray where you can dump your keys, wallet, sunglasses, etc. Have bigger stuff, like iPad, water bottle, book? Just use a bigger plastic tray.
Does smoke bother you? Noisy bathroom fan?
Bathroom fan so noisy it drives you nuts? Look for a replacement fan with a 12-volt high-capacity computer cooling fan. You may need to modify the mounting a bit to make it stay in the same place, but a little creativity can bring a “silent night.”
HOT TOPIC AT RV TRAVEL.COM
Trailer folk: Jack the frame – not the axle.
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WEBSITES OF THE DAY
Overnight RV Parking
You may know this website from our newsletter (we love these guys), but if you’re not familiar with it, make yourself! Find almost every free overnight parking spot across the U.S.Â
10-Minute Mail
Ever want to sign up for a website but not get put on a million mailing lists? (This always seems to happen, right?) 10-Minute Mail gives you an email address to use for 10 minutes – then it disappears. Keep this on file. Trust us, it’ll come in handy.Â
Crime Reports
Unsure about the safety of your next campground location? Crime Reports uses a Google Map-style system that allows you to see every bit of crime in any specified neighborhood. Look at the neighborhood you’re currently in, or where you’re headed next!
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
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The importance of loading your trailer properly
A fascinating short video on why weight distribution on your trailer matters so much. In this demonstration, you’ll see how the trailer responds according to how its weight is distributed. If not loaded properly a trailer can sway out of control and lead to an accident.
See all of our videos on our YouTube Channel.
Power tools galore!
If it’s not at Amazon.com it’s probably not easily available anywhere! Check out this huge selection of power tools — drills, saws, air compressors, impact wrenches, car vacuums, sanders, polishers, tool boxes — the list goes on! See what’s available and maybe pick up a great deal!
MORE QUICK TIPS
Quick fire starters
Want easy fire starters for your campfire? Get a single one of those manufactured fire logs, cut it up in pieces, and use the pieces for fire starters.
Putting away a recently used sewer hose can make a wet mess. After rinsing the hose, leave the “output” end of the hose connected to the drain, and starting at the RV-end of the hose, push a couple of feet of hose toward the output end. This forces the water out of the pleats of the hose. Wait a moment, and then repeat the process until you’ve pushed the hose together and the water out. Now store your hose without the watery mess.
Do you have a tip? Send it to diane (at) rvtravel.com .
Remove ugly black streaks from your RV!
Camco’s Pro-Strength Black Streak Remover is a specially formulated cleaner & degreaser that removes stubborn black streaks caused by window & door sealants & roof coatings. Also powers through bugs & built-up tar, grease, oil & dirt, helping to restore a like-new appearance. 32-ounces. Learn more or order.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Deanna Tolliver, Mike Sokol, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring.
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I was an auto mechanic many years ago…. Taking the oil filter loose on a BMW 2002, I hit the starter hot terminal with the filter wrench.The class ring I was wearing was in contact with the wrench, turned red hot, I assume…. As soon as I felt it, I threw my hand down and the ring flew off… Probly 3sizes bigger from the heat. I had a blister around my finger. Found the ring and it had a section where it had fused with the wrench…
I went on to become an Electronic Calibration and repair tech, never worn a ring since…
Like several others, ours was a VW pop-up van. Put 125,000 miles on it. Traveled with two kids and a dog. Wish we still had it.
First RV was 1965 VW Kombi bus with Nothing in it. Added plywood bed on left side and shelves behind bench front seat. 250,000 miles, including Fairbanks to San Salvador and coast to coast.
My first RV was a VW pop-up camper model! Drove 18,000 miles in 3 months! Oh, what an adventure! I was 23 years old!
Ten Minute mail? Why not just sign up for an additional Gmail account and use that to sign up for sites that may send junk. The gmail junk mail filter is pretty good too so you really will not see all that much when you open it to click on a confirmation link. I also use mine to get junk I may want like reward coupons from restaurants and retailers. I save my personal account and the one primarily tied to my Android phone for close friends and family only.
Those really inexpensive (cheep) bathroom exhaust fans really do make a lot of noise! Your article on fixing that seems to lack a place to find such a fan! If your referring to actual computer fans, as I remember them, they screamed so loud you needed ear muffs to muffle the sound. I did a search & really didn’t see anything. Any chance of a actual install or a web site that sold said fan.
Thanks
Dave
Mike Sokol,
Back when I was a pup, I carefully used my hand to isolate a wrench from a battery terminal. Problem was, there was a ring on that hand.
It started to short the battery, and heated up so fast that it “welded” the wrench-to-ring-to-battery connections instantly (like an arc-welder). Fortunately for me, it was a cheap ring, and broke in pieces. Second-degree burns and I still have that finger with no lasting damage, but a LONG lasting memory.
My first MH was a Blue bird school bus that I converted in the late 60s it was 25ft long and I added a porch on the rear. Our first trip was from Maryland to Colorado springs with many stops along the way mostly boondocks.
Re: Disconnecting battery negative pole first, good reminder! I notice a lot of RVs with weld-scars on the stone-guard diamond plate, and you “know” how they got there. With up to 660Ah in my battery bank, I only had to hard-short an exposed socket wrench once before I learned that lesson hopefully for good…
Re: organizing your bedtable: Think in three dimensions! I put cuphooks under the overhanging cabinet, where my keys (several different rings), pocket knife, etc securely hang. Going up the side of that cabinet, I have “plate display shelves” — tiny shelves perfect for other pocket-crud like your phone and skinny things like kindles and tablets. My alarm clock is screwed to the transom cabinets, upside down over my head. All together, there’s very little on the actual table besides my CPAP, leaving plenty of room for anything I didn’t already accommodate with an “assigned” place.