During our 3 years of RV travel, we have discovered many tips along the way to make RVing easier. Today, we are going to share a few of those tips with you in the hopes of making your RV journey a bit easier as well. So let’s get to it.
see a couple of bonus tips in the video!
Disclosure: We only recommend products we use. The links below may be big scary affiliate links that are no additional cost to you. When you use our links, we may earn some extra beer money, but it won’t be enough for Phil’s ice cream habit or a batch of Stacy’s famous margaritas (recipe here).
RV Tips & Tricks
Use quick connects on your rv water hose
Using quick connects on the freshwater hose will make set up and break down faster and easier! It is just one of those little things you will be so glad you added on! We have them in brass and plastic to see which we prefer better. So far, plastic is the winner because the brass quick connects have started to accumulate calcium.
Know where you are
How many times have you not been able to remember the name of the campground in which you are staying? It happens to me all the time. If you had an emergency and had to call 911, would you be able to recall the name and address of your campground while in a panic? It is so important to have this information handy every time you change locations.
What if your pet was bit by a snake at your campground. Would you know where the closest vet is located? Is that vet a 24 hour emergency facility? These are just a few of the emergency locations you should always know about while traveling to new locations.
I have created an Emergency RV Magnet so you can keep all this important information in one location, so everyone will know exactly where the info is during an emergency. Just fill it out and hang it on the fridge. If you don’t have a residential fridge add a couple of 3M tabs on the back and hang it inside a cabinet door.
Don’t waste time during an emergency looking for an address for the 911 operator. Always keep the campground's name, address, and site number available for everyone to find. Even if you don’t purchase the one I created, keep that important info handy!
Don’t step on the rv stairs while in motion
This is the number one reason for stair motor burnout. The stair motor is not designed to handle the extra weight. The stair motor has a nylon bushing that will burn out over time if forced to move the stairs with extra weight. This nylon bushing is used to give the motor an exact amount of torque to move the stairs. One good aspect of the nylon component is the ability to burn out before the motor overheats, which could lead to a fire. To help prevent people from accidentally or impatiently stepping on the stairs while they are in motion, lock the stairs in the open position once you are set up at your campground.
If you need a new stair motor, check out AM Equipment. This small family-owned business is the original manufactures of the RV stair motor, and they are now bringing the product directly to you instead of through a distributor. This will bring you huge savings! Use our affiliate code to save another 10% on your purchase with AM Equipment. CODE: YMRV10
Use Pool noodles on your rv
You may already know the importance of pool noodles on the edges of your slides to protect the heads of everyone. But did you also know they do a great job in protecting your windshield wiper blades? They keep harmful UV rays of the sun off the rubber, which may cause them to break down and crack. We have been using them since we started our RV journey.
The one time we didn’t use the pool noodles, we saw black rubber streaks and pieces smeared across the windshield when we turned on the wipers. It was more than proof of how effective that 2 dollar pool noodle could be!
Save empty jars
Putting grease down your sink can cause problems with your RV plumbing in the future. It can lead to clogging pipes and odors. But it can be difficult to know what to do with the grease after cooking a meal. It is not recommended to pour it outside because it will attract all types of critters, from raccoons to bears, and is not good for the environment.
Well, I have a great idea! Save those pickle jars and jelly jars, wash them, and put them back in your cabinet. When you need to dispose of grease, let it cool, pour it into the jar, put the lid on it, and toss it in the trash!. Now, you don’t have to worry about clogged pipes or grease spilling out of a trash bag.
Check the power first
When you get to a new campground, check the pedestal before dropping the jacks and opening the slides. The last thing you want to do is get all set up and then realize something is wrong with the pedestal's power. How do we know? Well, we may have made this mistake and had to put everything away, close the slides, and move the rig. You can see exactly what happened in our Gettysburg Video.
We use the Progressive Industries EMS to make sure our pedestal is working correctly before we plug Ruby in.
Oh, and while I have you here, just a reminder to turn off the pedestal breaker before you plug in or unplug your RV’s power. Not turning off the breaker can lead to pitting and arcing, which over time can break down your plug, putting you at risk for a fire. So please use those breakers!
Cleaning the shower
Are you looking for an easy, quick way to clean your shower without using caustic, harsh chemicals that may harm your RV plumbing? Search no farther! I have been using vinegar and dawn dish soap, and it keeps the shower and shower doors sparkling clean! Put the vinegar and dawn in a small spray bottle in a 50/50 mix. After your shower, spray down the doors and walls, give them a quick wipe with a sponge, and rinse them off. Soap scum will be off your doors and out of your life!
To prevent water spots, be sure to squeegee the doors! Usually, I shower first and give it a scrub. Phil will hop into the shower after me and squeegee the doors when he is finished. It makes for great teamwork!
Test your RV hose connection
Before you empty your black tank, make sure your hoses are securely connected. The last thing you want to do is pull that handle and have the contents of your black tank squirt out everywhere. Yes, we are talking from experience! To test your hose connection, pull your grey handle first and allow a little to flow out of the grey tank. If nothing seeps out of your hose connections, you know they are all secure. Close your grey, open the black and let ‘er rip! Once the black is empty, use the rest of the grey to rinse the hose.
Give it a spin
Do you have a stackable washer and dryer in your RV? We do, and initially, I hated them! It took 2 hours to dry 2 regular towels and a couple of hand towels. It drove me crazy! I didn’t even use them when we had full hookups. I used the laundromat instead (and there is nothing worse than the laundromat!). But I finally figured out a way to solve the drying problem. After the laundry finishes washing, add a spin cycle at the highest RPS. It will pull all the extra water out of the clothes. It has dropped our dry time of towels from 2 hours to about 45 minutes. So it is well worth the extra 16 minutes in the dryer.
Date your RV Water filters
Every time we replace our Clear2O water filters, we grab a sharpie and write the date on it. This you will never forget when it is due to be replaced. For the best water, stay on top of those RV water filters! We use several for Ruby. Check out our blog on how we finally were able to get water good enough to drink from the tap for more info on RV water filters.
links mentioned in the video
Harvest Host: Join before April 1st, 2021, to lock in the $79 membership fee for life. Use our code to bring the fee down to $67. CODE: YouMeRV
The DYRT: Get a 90 day free trial with our code: youmerv90
Veteran T-Shirts for our military charity
Skidoh: Your resource for all your printing needs including stickers, t-shirts and so much more.
RV tips
We hope these tips were helpful as you travel about the country in your RV. If you have a tip to share, please drop it in the comments below.
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