Eva’s always Happy to get a Present, even if its not camping related!

1. If the person you are buying for wonders what camping is like in a travel trailer, what to consider before purchasing, or just wants to get more out of their travel trailer, consider a book from our collection. Click here to see the list of our books at Travel Trailer Nation.
2. The MarCELL remote monitoring system. This is the best on the market in our opinion. It not only monitors the temperature in your travel trailer (or house), but also the humidity. There are also remote water sensors that can be placed in different locations to give you an alert of a water leak. But let’s face it, this is probably the most important thing you can buy to protect your pets if you ever leave them in the trailer. It sends a combination of texts, emails, or phone calls to alert you of a power outage or temperature/humidity deviation from your personal settings. Go to www.meetmarcell.com and use TTN20 to get another $20.00 off at checkout. You will need to buy a cellular plan for it as well but it is very inexpensive.
3. The Water Right 500 Series water hose. The best hose we have ever used in our 30 plus years camping. It never kinks and is light weighing it at only 2.4 pounds for a 25 foot hose. Comes in a variety of colors too. It is available from a lot of different stores, but click here to view the one available on Amazon. It’s pricier than most of the RV hoses you will see on-line but well worth it.
4. Tired of losing your bumper caps? Here’s a bumper cap manufactured by Camco, that will never come off your bumper. It is held on by very strong magnets and allows you to hook your sewer hose directly to the cap for easy removal. Click here to see more.
5. For the DIY Guy or Gal, don’t forget about wheel bearing packers, and bearing seal removers. Both of these make the job of repacking your bearings much easier. There are many different models available on Amazon. Click here to see an example of a seal removal tool. Sure you could just pry with a screwdriver and hope for the best but you will probably break your screwdriver and things will rapidly go down hill after that (don’t ask me how I know). Click here to see an example of a wheel bearing grease packer. This is a much better alternative than hand greasing bearings!
6. Klein Multi Tester. This multi tester will help you track down issues with your DC and AC current. It also measures DC microamps, resistance, continuity, frequency, capacitance, and diodes via test leads, and temperature via a thermocouple probe. It has an LCD display that optimizes view ability both in dark or bright ambient lighting. Click here to learn more.
7. A 1/4 inch drive torque wrench in INCH pounds. This is the torque wrench to have for jobs where there is a torque setting needed in INCH Pounds. For example, my AC unit gasket bolts are supposed to be inspected yearly and torqued to 40 Inch pounds. It comes with its own carrying case too and it won’t break the bank. Click here to see the one I purchased but there are many others to choose from.
8. Eternabond Roof Tape. RV roofs get damaged, sometimes even from tree branches, why not be prepared just in case. This tape is amazing, and should be a part of every RV’ers tool box. It also comes in different widths. Click here to see an example on Amazon. There is a reason it gets a five star rating, it is an amazing product that has saved many camping trips!
9. Renator Water Pressure Regulator. Don’t let high campground water pressure ruin the water lines inside your travel trailer. Always protect yourself with a water pressure regulator, your trailer will thank you. Click here to view one on Amazon. This is very inexpensive insurance against damage to your water lines.
10. Small portable air compressor. These are great for keeping tires full or blowing out your water lines if a unexpected cold snap happens to come along. There are so many options that I would hesitate to make a recommendation. I purchased a 6 gallon Bostich 150 PSI compressor and am very happy with it, but it needs household current to operate. There are many 12 volt air compressors as well that will operate off your RV battery. Having an air compressor with you when you travel is just a good idea.
11. Valterra Flush King. This makes cleaning your black tank easier, and helps break up plugged tanks. We have always used on and like the results. Click here to view on Amazon.
12. An Amazon Prime Membership – let’s face it most RV folks end up as Amazon junkies, and there isn’t a 12 step program for that …yet. They will thank you for getting them the gift that gets them what they need in a hurry and at a great price.

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When both our Dodge Van and Travel Trailer were totaled by a driver going the wrong way on the interstate; we didn’t hesitate to immediately get another conversion van (to read about that fiasco click here). I have often wondered why Dodge made a decision to get out of the Conversion Van business, it has so much to offer. If they were still being made, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one.

After about ten years with the second van, we traded it for a Jeep Cherokee for Tammy and began towing with my Ram 1500. I have had Ram trucks since 1992. The first one I bought was a single bench seat model, so that was not really a family tow vehicle. Later I would move to Crew Cab models which gave a lot more flexibility.

We knew when we purchased our most recent travel trailer that the Ram 1500 would be able to tow it. However, we also knew that the cushion was not as great as we would like it to be. While we have taken the trailer through Colorado with no issues, we knew heading west would probably be stressful; not only for the truck but for us as well.

So after 13 years of towing with the Ram 1500 series we decided we would upgrade to a Ram 2500. Now the discussion revolved around whether it would be the big V8 Hemi or the Turbo Diesel engine. I had pretty much convinced myself that I would go with the Gasser but after talking to my son Jeff and a few of the diesel guys in the neighborhood I started to waffle. After comparing the towing capabilities, I was sold. The diesel could tow over 19000 lbs. This would be the way to go. It would give us ample flexibility from a towing standpoint.

However, first we had to know that a 4×4 diesel could fit in our garage. If it didn’t fit we would need to get a two wheel drive 2500. If that was the case, it would probably be the Hemi because I don’t even know if there is a two wheel drive diesel.

So this is where my buddy Frank comes in; he has a 2018 Ram 2500 Diesel. Frank came over and slowly pulled in my garage as I stood on the running board while watching the roof of his truck. In particular, I was concerned that the Sirius antenna would get knocked off. However, there was about a half an inch of room to spare. That settled it, the Ram Diesel was the Truck for us.

Now we started in earnest to find one in the area. It didn’t take long and we were sitting in a dealership in Greenville Texas, carving out what I thought was a great deal.

Once the Ram came home we had to get running boards as getting into the vehicle was a real issue. Putting the new running boards on wasn’t a very hard task, however, it would have been easier if the instructions were better; but I finally figured it out.

Next we ordered a topper, since we like to utilize the bed for storage. One of the main reasons we like travel trailers is that the bed is available for whatever you want to haul. When you have a topper it adds height and water proofing to your storage. In addition you can lock everything up tight. So if you decide you want to carry your tools, hoses, poop wagon, power chord, etc. in the back; that is not a problem. Slide everything in and lock the door and you are all set.

The new topper will take about a month to arrive. So I’ll probably be making the return trip to Indiana without it. So I will have a completely full back seat.

The next hurdle was modifying the equalizer hitch set up. Unfortunately the current hitch shank will not work with this truck. It has only a four inch drop. Now, with the height of this truck I needed a nine inch drop. So I had to buy another shank and transfer everything over.

Since I know the height of the hitch on the trailer when level, I have set it up accordingly. I’m hoping that I have it dialed in correctly, but just in case I am wrong, I’m taking all my tools to adjust it if necessary. Everything is more complicated when your trailer is over 900 miles away!

The importance of having your weight distribution system set up correctly can not be overstated. Many times we have witnessed incorrect hitch set-ups as we drove down the highway. These are just an accident waiting to happen. In addition, many dealerships do not have a hitch expert, and can set your hitch up incorrectly. I have found this to be the case on a couple of occasions. I will only do it myself now.

So, now we wait for the call from the Service Department at Grand Design telling me to come get the Travel Trailer. I have to say that I am a little excited to see how the Ram tows. I do miss the 1500 as it was a really excellent truck. Whoever buys that truck will be getting an excellent piece of equipment. But, as I mentioned in the beginning; it was time for a change. I think it is a change we will enjoy.

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After reading this post I immediately thought of my Dad who we referred to as the “Anti-Handyman”. If something needed fixing around the house or with one of the cars, it wasn’t going to be my dad fixing it. My Dad was smart; he knew his limitations. He realized that he could actually make things worse by doing it himself. As my brother Bill and I got older we both became quite handy which worked in my Dads favor.

After reading the post, I checked a series of comments and felt surprised when some people actually encouraged this RV owner to “go for it… if it’s already broke, you can’t make it any worse.” Actually, this is really bad advice. If you don’t have the knowledge and basic skills to do a job you actually can make things much worse. Just ask amateur mechanics that have broken off engine bolts. Later they had to go through the extra work of having the broken stud removed.

I’ve restored eight vintage motorcycles.I can disassemble the bikes, paint the frames, replace faulty parts, repair brakes and bearings, and put them back together easily. I avoid working on the engines because mistakes outside my expertise would likely cost a lot to fix.

A Travel Trailer is just another vehicle, it just doesn’t have a motor. However, there is still a lot that can go wrong, and if you don’t have the basic skills to handle it, you can make things worse.

Many RV novices end up with broken water lines each year because they winterized their trailers incorrectly. Even resealing your roof the wrong way can set you up for trouble.

So what can the anti handyman do? Here’s a few suggestions:

1. There are classes on RV maintenance that are being offered at RV dealerships. Sign up for classes that you think will benefit you the most.
2. Pair up with a trusted friend that has an RV. Have him/her help you with whatever needs to be done. Don’t just watch him/her do the work; be actively involved doing the repair while they coach you.
3. YouTube – There are many great videos on how to do things. Repacking wheel bearings comes to mind because there are quite a few videos on that. Keep in mind, even though the videos go into great detail, they are not interactive; so that if you have a problem (Such as removing a bearing race), you will be on your own. So have a back-up plan.
4. Facebook – I found Facebook to be good for finding some information but many times the routines are just photos. Remember photos only tell one second of a story. Now one thing that might help is if you can leverage a person from your Facebook group (that lives nearby) to teach you in person.

These are just a few suggestions. I am sure that a simple google search on RV repair classes etc. may give you even more ideas.

My main caution is just “don’t make things worse”. Additionally, if you’re under warranty, it’s probably best to have your trailer fixed by the dealership. Screwing something up under the warranty period may just void your entire travel trailer warranty. This will make you really sad and frustrated when something big happens and you need to rely on that warranty.

Learning how to maintain your RV is a great thing; it makes you independent and can save you thousands of dollars. You just need to make sure to take your time and learn the proper way to make the repairs. Even an Anti Handyman can become quite skilled given patience and good instruction.

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Despite the horrible weather, this really is the best time to start on any travel trailer repairs or projects (unless they involve water). After all, you are probably not going to be camping for at least three months. On the bright side, your trailer has a furnace so if your working inside – no problem.

Here in the Dallas area, the temperatures are decent enough that almost any type of maintenance can be done. Temperatures can still get below freezing at times so it makes sense to blow the lines out if any plumbing repairs are on your list.

So what are some of the things that might make your list?

A complete cleaning of all areas of the trailer.

Visual inspection of all areas where water might seep into the trailer. This means the roof, windows, vents, etc. If your windows are the type that require an external seal, this might be the perfect time to replace any seals that have shrunk.

Clean out all your external appliance panels (refrigerator, Water Heater) sometimes critters will build nests in there so make sure you inspect them regularly. Use this time to do any preventative maintenance to these areas as well.

Fall, Winter, or Spring might be the perfect time to repack your wheel bearings and adjust your brakes for the upcoming camping season.

Inspect all the wiring running underneath your trailer. Don’t forget to inspect the wiring that runs to your trailer brakes.

Inspect your Hitch Assembly for rust.  Sand and repaint as necessary. Most hitch manufacturers recommend inspection for rust and repainting annually.

Double check your battery fluid levels if necessary and make sure you keep it on a trickle charger.

Check all your tires for any damage or defects.

Change all the items that need batteries, such as smoke detectors, CO2 Detectors, Tire Pressure Monitoring systems, etc.

Add additional lighting or modify any storage areas.

Additionally, take some time to go through all the things you haul throughout the year. If some of the items were not even used last season, decide if they are even necessary to carry along on your trips.

These are just a few ideas, I’m sure you can think of many, many more. This is the best time to get proactive with your travel trailer. No one wants to get 75 miles down the road to deal with an issue that could have been handled easily in the off season.

As I say all too often “It’s always something”!

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The equipment that we are referring to may include your water heater, slide control units, Water heater bypass, etc. Manufacturers almost always hide this type of equipment behind cabinet panels secured with screws. This requires you to not only unscrew the panels to access your equipment, but it also requires you to try to get those screws back without stripping the holes.

Here’s an easy solution, just add a few access panels. This way you just need to open the access panel door to get to your equipment. No screwdriver needed and no removing and reinstalling cabinet panels.

The process is very simple. Remove the cabinet panel and cut an opening to fit the access door you plan on adding. The panels are thin, so I used a razor blade knife to cut the openings. As with all projects measure everything twice and cut once.

The next step is optional. I chose to paint my access doors black to blend in with the existing cabinet panels.

Next, use construction adhesive to attach the access door to the cabinet panel.

Once the adhesive is dry it’s time to reinstall the cabinet panels. The following pictures show how I now have access to my slide controllers and water heater.

This is a really easy and inexpensive modification that can save you a lot of time and frustration when you need to get to hidden equipment.  

I started with this modification in my storage area because removing the access panel there was particularly hard.   This is the area that holds the water pump and bypass hose for winterization.  You must remove roughly 20 screws to take off this panel. This area is not easy to access.  Once I realized just how easy this modification was to complete, I decided to make sure that every removable panel in the trailer was modified.  In retrospect the panel for my water heater should have been one size larger, but it still works.

I really don’t understand why a modification that is this inexpensive (under $20.00 USD) is not done at the factory!

If you would like to see the storage access panel modification click here.

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Here is a perfect example. While looking under my trailer, I noticed that the flooring between the frame and the outside of the trailer is covered with a vinyl wrap. This wrap was peeling off of the flooring the entire length of the trailer. It apeared to me that this was the only barrier between the elements and my floor.

So the first thing I did was to contact the manufacturer of my travel trailer. My objective was mearly to find out what the construction technique was. The Travel Trailer is out of warranty at this point, but I need to know how to go about fixing the issue correctly.

The email conversation with the manufacturing Representative was less than satisfying. This was the response after viewing my pictures ” That material is separate from the floor.  It is a plastic designed to help keep the elements and things away from the bottom of the floor.  That should be something you could re-cover that area with and it should be OK I would think.“

Of course I knew that already. The questions I had asked were:

1. How is the flooring constructed?
2. Is there a barrier under this wrap?
3. Is the flooring undercoated?
4. What specifically is the wrap?

I received no answers to those questions. The fact that the Representative offered only “you can recover it with something and it should be ok I think” is a very lame response and not very helpful. I could get that advice from anyone! One thing I do not need is a rotting floor on a two year old travel trailer!

So next I called a travel trailer body shop and was told the material is called Scrim Tape. I then looked for it online and found it at www.rvupgradestore.com. This is the products description: ” Surface Shields Scrim Shield Repair Tape is an underbelly repair tape (replaces dark duct tape). It is made of the same bottom board material with a strong adhesive. The perfect all purpose mending tape used for repairs and cuts, and is very durable while creating a permanent waterproof seal”.

I ordered one roll and have begun making repairs underneath the trailer. Here is a picture of one section that I have repaired:

This tape is very sticky and does a very nice job. I have no doubts that this is the correcet repair. It is best to peel the backing as you proceed to roll it onto the flooring. Getting in the area above the tires was the worst part of the job as there is not a lot of room to work in. One thing that can make the job easier is to lay on a mechanics creeper so you can roll around under the trailer while making the repair.

So what is the moral of the story? It’s this: There’s a lot going on with your travel trailer that you may not be aware of. “Out of sight” is many times “out of mind” so make sure you spend time looking under, as well as over your trailer to make sure a serious problem is not lurking just around the corner.

Happy Roads!

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All I wanted was the dealership to run an LP gas line from the existing quick connect port by the front door to the rear of the trailer;  so I could use my bumper grill.  From their reaction, you would think I asked for a hot tub to be installed.  I was willing to pay for this modification.  Sadly I just could not find a dealership interested in doing this; and I still can’t figure out why.  After all, it was as simple as getting 20 feet of hose and quick connecting it by the door.  Next it would be then secured to the frame just as the manufacturer did for all the other gas appliances. Lastly it would be mounted to the rear bumper.  Even Tammy wondered “hasn’t anyone every asked for this before…it can’t be their first Rodeo?!!!

After several weeks of getting nowhere with Dealers and independent RV repair places; we decided to just do it ourselves.  Getting the hose and quick connect backing plate were the hardest parts of the job.  Once I found a distributor that could make a custom length of hose, I knew the rest of this modification would fall into place.

LP Line and Fasteners

I bought all the tube clamps at Fastenal, which is a national fastener chain store.  It has been my experience that they carry just about every type of fastener and self tapping screw you would need, and the quality is excellent.  Don’t bother with getting your self tapping screws at the major hardware chains…they are junk.

The hardest part to get was the mounting bracket for under the rear bumper.  I finally gave up and had an RV store find the part they had used on my last trailer at the RV manufacturer.  It is currently on order…a whopping $1.81 part, but you’ll never find it on the Internet.  Until that part comes in I have just zip tied the quick connect into place.  Once I mount the quick connect plate I will add that picture to this blog.

This entire mod cost us about $125.00 USD and it took all of twenty minutes to install.  Plug into the line by the front door then use tube clamps to hold the hose in place all the way to the back bumper.  Everything we had to do under the trailer was easily accessible, and done with a portable drill.

Quick Connect Up Front

Fastened LP Hose

Temporary Quick Connect Rear Bumper

Oddly I’m sure the dealer could have charged us at least $200.00 and I wouldn’t have batted an eye. It would have been really easy money for them, and I continue to wonder why no one could get excited about doing this job.  I think even more surprising is why this mod isn’t a factory installed option.  Many people like to avoid grilling at the front door.  Grilling at the front door resuts in smoke coming into the trailer.   Also,many owners don’t want to drill into the sidewall of their travel trailer in order to mount a grill bracket.  There is only upside to having another quick connect at the rear of the trailer.

We have already gone camping and I have to say the grill works great.  I am so glad we decided to do this mod ourselves.  Had we relied on a Dealer it would probably be the end of the season before we would be grilling.

Let’s Grill

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