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Sep 25, 2013

RV Parts and Accessories

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Traveling in an RV is an exciting experience. Having the freedom to drive across the country and explore can be exhilarating. Being able to stay at different RV parks gives one the stability of having a resting place in between exploration. However, whether one is on the road or parked at a campsite for an extended stay, one’s primary home will be the RV. For that reason, it is important to make your vehicle and home as comfortable as possible. There are many rv parts and accessories that will allow one to do that.

Capturing that Rear View

First and foremost, RVs are made for traveling. Many new RV owners may not realize that there can be a steep learning curve to towing a camper or maneuvering a bulky recreational vehicle. It is, of course, important for the driver to be able to see behind him, and there are many rv parts and accessories that will allow one to safely do so. Clip-on tow mirrors are rv parts and accessories that will clip onto one’s existing mirror and will give an extended range of vision. Portable rear-view mirrors can be quickly attached to the door or fender of the vehicle. In addition, there are now more sophisticated rv parts and accessories that will allow the driver to safely see behind them such as camera and sensor systems that provide a view with a small screen inside the car.

Towing and Parking

Whether one is towing a camper with their truck or towing their car with an RV, there are towing and rv parts and accessories widely available. There are also rv parts and accessories that will enable one to safely park at their destination. Leveling blocks, locking chocks and stabilizer kits are rv parts and accessories that will provide stability.

Indoor Comfort

One wants to be comfortable while in their RV, and there are rv parts and accessories to provide the heating and cooling needed in various climates. Replacement air conditioner shrouds and air filters are rv parts and accessories that may be needed. There are portable heaters and many rv parts and accessories such as thermostats and heater fans.

Appliances

There are many appliances and rv parts and accessories for appliances such as range hoods, exhaust fans and burner liners for stoves. A wide variety of rv parts and accessories for refrigeration also exist.

Decorating and Comfort

The fun part of living in an RV is decorating it and making it truly a home. While it is parked, useful and decorative rv parts and accessories include awnings and wheel covers. These types of rv parts and accessories will temporarily make one’s rv a permanent home. A camper can be decorated in many different ways, but there are a variety of specially made rv parts and accessories designed specifically for recreational vehicles.

When one plans to spend cold winter months parked at an RV park in a nice warm climate, having those necessary rv parts and accessories on hand makes the winter that much more enjoyable. When one plans to spend more time on the road, it becomes important to have the right rv parts and accessories to provide a safe and comfortable trip. Whatever one’s destination, plan ahead to have the right rv parts and accessories for your vehicle.

Filed Under: RV Parts and Accessories ·
Sep 20, 2013

RV Maintenance

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Taking care of your RV throughout the year is essential for making sure it is in good working order when you need to use it or take it for a road trip. Routine RV maintenance is something you should try to accomplish at the start of each season or in some cases, before or after each use. RV maintenance will assure that small issues are fixed before they become a costly problem.

Interior
Taking care of the interior of your camper or motor home is a good way to provide routine RV maintenance. As a preventative measure you should always look for condensation build up throughout the camper or motor home. Condensation can form easily in a camper because it is often closed up when not in use as the temperatures change constantly outside. Routine RV maintenance will help spot these issues before they are a problem.

Frequently opening windows and vents will help assure that air flows adequately throughout the RV. When using the RV, make sure to ventilate properly when showering or creating any type of steam or exhaust inside. Part of your RV maintenance routine should be to look for signs of mold or wet surfaces.

Check to see if cushions or mattress smell musty or moldy. Allow to air dry immediately to prevent mold and mildew growth.

As part of routine RV maintenance, replace any broken pieces to the sink, bathroom area as well as handles and pulls. This will prevent drawers and doors from getting stuck and breaking.

Exterior
Inspecting the exterior condition of your camper or motor home each fall and spring is important for long-term RV maintenance. Roof inspections should be done every three months to catch new leaks or damages in the roofs surface. Other things that may be attached to the roof such as venting systems or antennas should also be checked for loose or broken parts.

Treat the roof annually with a UV protectant. Make sure that the roof is sealed properly and there are no gaps or holes. As part of your RV maintenance, check for bubbles. A small amount of bubbling may not be a sign of trouble but simply the roof breathing. Large bubbles or breaks could signify too much moisture is building up.

Check around the windows to make sure they are sealed properly. Make sure there are no popping nails and that metal trim is secure and in place.
Examining the cover for your camper is an important part of RV maintenance. The cover should be free of holes and tears. Faded and weathered covers should be replaced as soon as possible.

Wash and wax the exterior of your camper. This type of RV maintenance will help improve the luster of your RV and also help with repelling water or snow.

Brakes
Making sure the brakes are in good shape before you head out on a trip is both safety and RV maintenance. Brakes should not squeak or grind. They can be adjusted at around 3,000 miles and should be done by a licensed mechanic or someone certified in RV brakes. The mechanic should also check for wear and any damage to the axels and wheel bearings. Make sure your break control is set up properly before each trip.

Waste and Water
Keeping your waste and water hoses working properly will prevent overflow and clogs. This is important for RV maintenance. For waste water, be sure to routinely use a drain valve lubricant to keep the flow moving. Make sure the dump valve cap is working properly; otherwise waste could slip out unexpectedly.

For your fresh water, proper RV maintenance should include installing a water filter to your water tank. This will help with hard water build up and can prevent unwanted debris and bacteria from reaching your tap and faucets.

Flush the water heater once a year to remove sentiment and improve water flow. Keeping up with this type of RV maintenance will also help lengthen the life of your water heater.

Battery
Having a battery that efficiently powers your coach or RV is very important in RV maintenance and reliability. Here are a few tips for battery RV maintenance:

• Replace deep-cycle batteries every 5 years
• Top off the plates with water in the batteries once a month when in use
• Keep batteries charged when the RV is not in use
• Remove the battery during cold winter months

Following these RV maintenance tips will help reduce the amount of damage that could occur should a small problem go unnoticed. The goal is to have a reliable RV that can bring you years of use and enjoyment.

Filed Under: RV Maintenance ·
Sep 19, 2013

RV Cabinet Hardware

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“A place for everything and everything in its place” are words to live by if you use your RV regularly. You are probably already enjoying standard built-in features that part of your RV, or you may admire a former owner’s space-saving efforts.

Whether purchased new straight from a dealer or bought from a private individual, all RVs require periodic maintenance and upgrades. RV cabinet hardware is one aspect that is too often neglected until it stops functioning at the worst possible time.
Nearly every camper has taken a corner too tightly, either by design or by accident. Most of the time, nothing really awful happens unless the RV cabinet hardware is inadequate or worn out.

If RV cabinet hardware has ever failed in your camper, you know just how disastrous this can be. Dishes, flatware, pots, pans and food have probably ended up in one gigantic mess in the middle of the floor. Avoid the stress and upgrade your RV cabinet hardware with some of the truly ingenious devices that are on the market.

Heavy-duty push latches are among the most useful RV cabinet hardware items for keeping cereal boxes, pancake mixes and flour from sliding out of their places and making a mess. These latches will keep even large pantry doors from popping open when you are in transit.

C-shaped sliding drawer sockets are must-have RV cabinet hardware. Once installed, these brackets will keep drawers of cooking and eating utensils in their proper places.
There is also a variety of spring-loaded door supports that are included in RV cabinet hardware categories. This is type of support is handy for keeping upward-opening cabinets doors in place.

Of course, not all RV cabinet hardware has to be grimly utilitarian. Many RV cabinet hardware manufacturers offer hinges, latches and knobs that are attractive as well as functional.

Many RV cabinet hardware products would work very nicely in any kitchen or bath in your home. Brushed nickel and brushed brass knobs are only two examples of RV cabinet hardware that add style to your motor home.

RV cabinet hardware that is visible to the occupants of a motor home often receive the most attention, On the other hand, installing sturdy mounts behind cabinets are never seen by your guests, but they do add some piece of mind when you are negotiating winding roads.

RV owners may focus on securing kitchen and bath doors and drawers with high-quality RV cabinet hardware. Experienced campers know that beds, bunks and tables need to be firmly in place when you are on the road.

Good RV cabinet hardware will keep bunks safely stowed away during the daytime. RV cabinet hardware that is easy to unlatch becomes very important at 11 p.m. when everyone is tired and preparing for a good night’s sleep.

RV cabinet hardware does not have to cost a lot to be very effective. Many items cost less than a dollar. There are few that cost more than $10.

Instructions are included in most product packages, and you seldom need much more than a screw driver and a drill to install your new RV cabinet hardware.

The best way to avoid RV cabinet hardware malfunctions is to check out the latches and supports before you take off on a trip along a winding road.

Filed Under: RV Cabinet Hardware ·
Sep 18, 2013

RV Supplies: From Camping to Luxury Off-Road Living

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When you’re on the road, your life is what you make of it. People who live in Recreation Vehicles (RVs) come in all types and so do RV supplies. Some people enjoy the rugged camping experience and others want the luxury electronics that make off-road living more like luxury lodging. The difference is in what RV supplies they decide to take with them. Whether you want something rugged, something luxurious, or something in between, you can find some RV supplies to help you make that dream possible.

Camping for Fun

Road trips are supposed to have a few bumps, so that you have a few stories to tell when you get back. Roughing it is part of the charm for many families who leave their homes with RV supplies that will only help them enjoy the great outdoors. These families will opt for RV supplies like sleeping bags, outdoor campfire setups, and lanterns. They may actually have a microwave inside the RV, but that’s not going to stop them from getting cast iron cookers to add to their RV supplies. They might buy awnings or tents when they go shopping for RV supplies. It helps to expand the space from indoors to outdoors living, when they finally get to their destination campground. Camping gear is tops for this group looking for RV supplies.

Casual and Comfortable

For those that really don’t want to rough it, but like to visit national parks in their RV, they will opt for more casual RV supplies. You won’t see them choosing the outdoor shower, but they might buy a nice shower bag in the RV supplies section of the store to visit campground facilities. They will definitely have bug spray on their RV supplies list. This is also the type to get the cloth chairs, hammocks, and board games. Their RV supplies will also include a cooler for beers. This group focuses on creature comforts, but they are not too willing to spend too much on them when they shop for RV supplies.

Downright Spoiled

If you want to add GPS, laptops, and televisions to your RV supplies list, than you probably want to be spoiled when you go RVing. The lure of the great outdoors is still there, but so is the need to remain tied to civilization. Luckily, there are plenty of RV supplies that can make you feel right at home, even when you are thousands of miles away. They can include electronic RV supplies, but also upgrades on RV refrigerators, black-top stoves, and air-conditioners. Food will also be more upscale and include alcoholic beverages and snacks that aren’t just trail mix. This group is not heading out to the great outdoors without their favorite olive spread or hummus.

Whatever group you fall into, there are RV supplies that you can use to bring the right environment into your home-on-wheels. Whether you want to chuck it all and go primitive or whether you want to remain high-class, it’s up to you. Stores cater to all types of RV enthusiasts. You will find that many carry RV supplies for every type of individual. The right RV supplies can make your adventure on the road exactly what you want it to be.

Filed Under: RV Supplies ·
Sep 17, 2013

Top Qualities to Look for in RV Appliances

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Living on the open road has its benefits, but you can’t take everything with you. You have to pick and choose which RV appliances will be the best to include in your rig and that prospect can sometimes be daunting. Picking a few RV appliances out of the many choices out there can be the same dilemma as trying to decide which shoes or pants no longer fit in your wardrobe and must be done without. Similarly, when you go to pick out any RV appliances, you’ll be extremely aware of size limitations. You’ll want to consider how well the RV appliances function for you and how much energy they consume. You will also want to consider your preferences for creature comforts. In the end, cost may also be a deciding factor on what RV appliances get purchased and those which get put on a wish list for a later date.

Making a Decision on RV Appliances

Like a good pair of jeans, you will want to pick out RV appliances that make your life comfortable, are affordable, and suit your lifestyle. Of primary importance is that they cover your butt, though! RV appliances that are essential might be heaters, air conditioners, and toilet systems. However, that does not mean that the blacktop stove or portable vacuum cleaner is off the list. Even a microwave can be an affordable addition to your RV appliances, even though it’s not exactly a necessity. When picking out RV appliances, make out your list, separate it into “wants” and “must-haves,” and then see if you can afford to splurge for a few extra RV appliances to make your life more luxurious on the road. Then, check these five qualities to see if they meet or exceed your expectations.

  1. Size of RV Appliances – Space is a premium luxury on the road, and any additional clutter will actually reduce your quality of life, not enhance it. Choose small RV appliances that can be hidden away,stored in berths, or mounted on the walls. Choose designs that are simple, elegant, and cleverly space-conscious to keep that roomy feeling in your RV.
  2. Functional Benefit of RV Appliances – Some appliances benefit you more than others. Microwaves are tiny and can help to reduce food costs while on the road. Heaters and air conditioners make life more bearable.
  3. Energy Consumption – This is a biggie. Your RV has limited power, unless you’re hooked up. To run them may wear down your batteries. Keep an eye out for energy consumption hogs, and avoid them, when you are trying to decide on RV appliances to purchase.
  4. Personal Preference – Buying RV appliances isn’t just about practical needs, it’s also about your chosen lifestyle. Ice-makers may not be practical, but nothing quite replaces them when you want a cold drink as you watch the sun set over the horizon.
  5. Afffordability – Lastly, the cost of different RV appliances will always play a role in whether you want them now or later. Small purchases can be had immediately, while it may take time to save up for the bigger ones. Sometimes adding just one small RV appliance can increase your enjoyment on the road significantly and it doesn’t have to cost much.
Filed Under: RV Appliances ·