There’s no doubt about it, most trailers come pretty well equipped. However here are some simple travel trailer accessories you can add in about ten minutes that will really improve it.

#1) Most vents in the travel trailers are simple crank open vents. Usually they are located in the bathroom, and if you’re lucky you might get one in the main living area or bedroom. It’s surprising just how much air flow these vents can provide. The downside to these vents is that they can’t stay open when you leave the trailer because they present a risk for rain coming into the living area.

Fortunately there are several manufacturers that make hoods that can go over these vents. The hoods allow them to remain open regardless of weather. We decided to go with the “Fan-tastic Vent” by Ultra Breeze.

I’m not promoting one type of vent cover over another; this is something every owner should research. As a matter of fact I really struggled with what brand to purchase because each has pros and cons as far as mounting and functionality. My decision to purchase the Fan-Tastic Vent was based on the fact that I wanted my vent to still be able to open completely. I also wanted to have a bug screen to keep mud daubers/wasps from building inside of it.

It probably takes about ten minutes to install on top of your roof but I think all vent covers fit into that time frame. There is no drilling so that a plus, just use existing screws and add lap sealant. There are plenty of you-tube videos out there on how to add this and other hoods. So do some research and see if this might be a good addition for you.

#2) Standard thermostats in the trailers are typically of analog design. Instead of actually having a digital readout, the owner needs to push a lever up and down a scale to start or stop the heater/air conditioner. My personal feeling is this never allows you to get the set point where you really want it. In particular this makes setting night time temperatures a pain. Who wants to get out of bed in the middle of the night because its too hot or too cold? No one!

My system came with a Coleman Mach analog thermostat (pictured above). Looking online I found the Coleman Mach digital replacement, which is a perfect match. In my case it was a wire for wire match with the existing thermostat wiring. In addition the base plate matched up with the existing holes in the wall from the original thermostat. As with any electrical modification always follow the manufacturers directions and ALWAYS disconnect from land and battery power before beginning. In my case this was a ten minute install, and I couldn’t be happier.

#3) My Atwood three burner cooktop is great but the one thing it really lacked was having a cover. We want a cover so we could use it as a counter top, and then secondly to provide protection for the wall when cooking.

Luckily these problems are easily remedied with a Bi-Fold Cover. The cover provides that extra space when not in use. When folded back it can be used as a back splash so the trailers wall-paper isn’t damaged.

The hardest part to this install is removing the top of the cooktop to add the cover. Again there are many videos on how to do this on line. Once you have removed your burner cooktop it really is just a matter of adding a couple brackets and reinstalling the cooktop and grate. Then it is just a matter of placing the cover support arms over the brackets and you are finished.

Keep in mind that sizes vary so make sure you are buying the correct one. Prices vary as well so make sure to do a google search to get the best price available. My particular model was manufactured for the Atwood Vision, and was their model number 541106.

Beyond the usefulness of this accessory, as you can see it really does improve the esthetics of the kitchen. It also is manufactured in stainless steel but that model is a little more pricey.

#4 If your trailer came with the small plastic bathroom faucet, you may find yourself not having enough room to even get your toothbrush under the water with out bumping into the back of the sink. It’s easy to find and install a new larger bathroom faucet since they are available at almost any RV store or online. It’s just a matter of disconnecting the water lines and then removing the nuts on the faucet stems. Make sure you measure the distance between the existing faucet holes before you order to make sure you get the correct faucet. Reverse the steps to install the new faucet and you are all done.

Always double check your fittings after your done installing the faucet by turning on the water supply. If you’re not comfortable doing plumbing leave this job to your local RV repair ship. I cant imagine they would charge more than thirty minutes of labor to install it and then you will have peace of mind.

#5 The stock shower head that came with our trailer could not be turned off. This meant the water was running the whole time we were in the shower. The only option to conserve water was to turn both hot and cold faucets off; and then back on when we were ready to rinse. Hot water is at a premium in a travel trailer. So we looked for a model that would allow us to simply stop the spray at the shower head without turning off the water. We found the Oxygenics shower head. You simply push the button in to stop the flow of water; no more messing with faucets while showering. This was a major improvement!

These are just a couple of ten minute jobs that can really add to the enjoyment of your travel trailer. As with every modification you make, please do your own research and always follow the manufacturers instructions.