By Cheri Sicard
Is your RV ready for an upgrade but you don’t want to spend a lot of time or money? YouTuber and RVer Jim Thomas has compiled 12 easy RV mods that won’t break the bank. (Yes, the video graphic says 10, but there are actually 12.)
Jim says none of these RV modifications should set you back more than around $50 (with the exception of one).
Jim and his wife, Lynn, have been RVing for 41 years, ever since their honeymoon. You learn a few things over the years, like these 12 RV mods. Six for the exterior, six for the interior.
Some of these are pretty darn clever. I am going to have to order a few myself.
Jim stresses these items are not made by sponsors. He does not even use affiliate links (he should). But these are just the items that he and Lynn use and like.
Let’s take a look at the easy and inexpensive RV mods covered (be sure to watch the video for details).
Exterior RV mods
- Insect guards: These screen insect guards protect the water heater and furnace. These keep insects, some of which can cause substantial damage, from getting inside vents. Held on by springs, installation takes less than a minute. Brilliant!
- Screen Defender: Make your RV screen door impervious to pets! This metal mesh guard goes over the lower half of your screen door to protect from scratching dogs or cats who can easily tear through a standard RV screen door. (This is the only product that costs more than $50 here.)
- Extended door handle: This will be important to those of you who have tall RVs and who need the assistance of the foldout door handle, as you will be able to easily reach it from the ground.
- LP quick disconnect fitting for propane grill: This lets you quickly disconnect one of your propane bottles so you can connect it to your grill. Jim also has some good propane tips.
- D hooks and eyelets: These are mounted in storage areas and allow you to strap in standing items.
- 12-volt outlet: Jim installed this to run his grill off the 12-volt system when boondocking.
Interior RV modifications
- Battery-operated motion sensor lights: These inexpensive lights turn lights on at night where and when you need them, for instance, to illuminate a trip to the bathroom, or to the kitchen for a glass of water.
- Backsplash: This is one of the easiest yet most dramatic RV mods you can do. Who knew that simple peel-and-stick tiles could so dramatically change an area?
- Pantry light: This lets you see everything tucked away in your RV’s pantry. This is activated when you open the door, much like a refrigerator light.
- Dining light: Jim wanted to upgrade the functional light in his kitchen and dining area for something more stylish.
- Push button lights: This personalized the rig’s bedroom lighting to make it more practical and functional.
- Fire extinguishers: No doubt, this piece of RV equipment needs to be in EVERY RV! But there are good reasons to have several, as Jim explains.
##RVT1185
An experienced tech told me only to have those insect guards on in areas where you need them. Otherwise, they block air flow.
Those screens will block maybe 1% of the air flow, unless they need cleaned. Much better than trying to remove a wasp nest from deep inside the furnace combustion chamber, or have a fire in the water heater because of insects in the flame tube.
Even with the screens on my water heater door, I had a stink bug, (must have crawled through the slight gap around the door), in the tube that caused a poor flame that produced soot and a lot of heat on the side of the trailer.
I now blow compressed air through the flame tube and combustion chamber on a regular basis.
As a retired truck driver I always carry two extra 10 lbs fire extinguishers in the basement, one on each side because that little extinguisher they supply which was the same size we had in our semi was alright for putting out a cigarette but that’s about all it was good for, I leave that inside the camper for a small fire or if the fire is by the door so I can beat the fire down to get out to my bigger extinguishers, I feel the more extinguishers the better, you can never be too careful.
Instead of battery-operated motion sensor lights, get the rechargeable ones. I have them in every little dark cabinet in our RV. Love them. Here’s a link for the ones I got: https://a.co/d/9YqZ9zj
Thank you, Cheri! Lots of great suggestions. We use a baby gate to keep dog #3 away from the door, as well as the cockpit area. Never want him releasing the parking brake! 🙂 Happy new year and safe travels!