Would You Like Chips and Salsa With Your RV Paint Job?

Shelly & Steve Lechner are full-time RVers traveling North America in their 1999 Safari Trek. This couple recently took their motorhome into Mexico to be professionally painted by the Navarro Brothers and saved mucho dinero - $4,000 dollars. Here they are with Mr. Navarro and the finished coach.The paint on their aluminum sided Trek was beginning to bubble and corrode. The bubble trouble was especially apparent around the rivets. Steve says that during the sanding process they found several places where the corrosion had completely eaten through the siding.I asked Steve what gave him the idea to have the work done in Mexico and he said a fellow RVer suggested he contact them. He Googled “Navarros Paint Shop,” then called to set up a date and time to meet Mr Navarro at the border for an estimate.

Steve and Shelly drove to the border and stayed at the Happy Hollow RV Park. Here is an aerial view I took while hiking on the mountain overlooking the campground. The park is located on an Indian reservation just outside the border crossing into Los Algodones, Mexico (pictured below). The photo also shows the the parking lot on the U.S. side which belongs to the Indian reservation. You may park there at a cost of $5.00 a day and walk across the border - RV parking is also available). Steve met Mr. Navarro at the park where he provided a detailed list of what he wanted done and Mr. Navarro gave him an estimate.Steve says, “A list of everything you want done is a MUST, and I mean everything! they do good work but they don't read minds. You need to list things like the steps, the wiper blade arms the jack plates the mirrors etc. I went over my list and explained what I wanted done, he inspected the coach and we bargained a little and settled on a price.
They did a professional job of preparation and applying three coats of paint.I asked Steve what he would do differently if he were to do this project again? He said, “If we were to do it again, we would not plan on living in the coach while the work is being done." "There are several hotels and a nice bed & breakfast within walking distance.The refrigerator needs to be secured during painting (a fire hazard in the paint booth). Take several cases of water and snacks. Plan on inspecting the coach at least twice a day, this way you can ensure they are doing everything to your satisfaction. Women seem to have an eye for detail so use em gents!”Steve and Shelly purchased auto insurance form Sanborns in Yuma, Arizona which cost them around $11.00 a day. They crossed into Mexico at Los Algodones with no problems. Passports will be required next year. Firearms and ammunition are strictly prohibited in Mexico and possession will bring an automatic prison sentence.I asked Steve if he was satisfied with the quality of work and would he do it again? He replied, “All said and done we were are very satisfied with the work. Is it perfect? No, but what is? I would do it again in a New York second.”Personally I’m a huge fan of Los Algodones, Mexico and enjoy eating in the restaurants, shopping in the stores and using the dentists and pharmacies so abundant there. I agree with Steve when he says, “The people of Algodones are a proud lot and speak far better english than most of us speak Spanish. It is in their nature to bargain and deal. Treat them with respect, and remember all of this when Mr. Navarro gives you the quote.”

Brushing up on my Spanish - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Tackles Corrosion Control With Adaptive Shelter

We are camping 100 yards from the beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. It’s windy here and the salt air causes corrosion on anything made out of metal. Our campground neighbor Neal Lund is a “Winter Texan.” He’s actually from Minnesota but has been coming down here for the last three winters. You can’t help but notice the silver tent-like object in front of his motorhome. As it turns out this is a portable shelter for his 2003 Harley Davidson “Fat Boy” motorcycle. This product is made by Cycle Shelter. It’s a portable non-contact (meaning it won’t scratch your bike) stand-alone storage unit; a one-size-fits-all unit that’s easy to assemble and comes with a carry bag. Neal says this shelter has withstood sustained winds of over 50 miles per hour broadside without additional ropes or tie-downs. He should know because he has a miniature weather station on top of his motorhome. He added a plywood floor with a front wheel cradle attached. I asked him to explain the little bell on the bottom of the front fork and he told me it was for warning rhinoceros and giraffe to get off the road. “So far it’s worked,” he said. The plywood provides additional support and he doesn’t need to stake it down because the weight of the bike holds it firmly in place. The shelter is vented to prevent condensation and Neal says it really does help protect the chrome. Living at the beach still requires a lot of TLC in order to keep this beauty in mint condition. Riding a big Harley down a coastal highway is a marvelous experience and worth the trouble of a little extra work. Having the Cycle Shelter makes it much easier to prevent salt air corrosion and ultra violet damage. For the return to Minnesota this week he’ll load his car and motorcycle on the trailer he tows behind his motorhome. The Cycle Shelter is yet another example of how RVers adapt their hobbies to the RV lifestyle. Your under cover reporter - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

RV Odors Gone With the Wind

RVers have been using wind directed vent caps for a couple years. These directional vent caps are great but the Xtreme Vent by Coil n’ Wrap is the ultimate venting system. Meet Ken Wilton owner of Coil n’ Wrap. You may have visited with Ken and his wife Judy at a recent RV show as they frequently demonstrate their products at these events. Judy introduced me to this great new product. These vents replace conventional vent caps on the roof of your RV. They work all the time whether your RV is traveling or stationary. Unlike the cheaper plastic models, they’re made of powder-coated aluminum and have a 2 year warranty. They work better because they are open on the front with a funnel design creating a venturi effect. The venturi effect actively vents odors from your tank and brings oxygen into the tank promoting natural enzymatic decomposition. They come in two colors, white and charcoal. And best of all they're made in the U.S.A. I recommend putting one of these on both your black water and gray water vents. Xtreme Vent will fit most RV vent pipes, but if your vent pipe is too short order the coupler and follow the easy installation instructions. Read more about their great products at Coil n’ Wrap. Ken and Judy Wilton are great folks and veteran RVers. They sell innovative RV products that will make your RVing experience easier and more enjoyable. Watch the video as I show you how I installed the Xtreme Vent on my RV.

Helping you stay odor free and acceptable in public - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Screens Out Unwanted Pests

RVer Art Braa tows a 41 foot KZ toy-hauler behind his Freightliner FLD 20. When he’s relaxing he likes to open up his toy-hauler garage door and enjoy the of the Arizona desert. As the occasional flying insect happens by he is denied access to the living quarters because of a roll-down screen door. This screen door is made from common charcoal fiberglass insect screening for doors, windows and porches (available at any hardware store). Just cut a strip that will cover your door and sew a cloth boarder around the outside. You could also use sun shade material for this project. Staple a couple of hook and latch strips over the door and fasten the screen over the doorway with staples or screws. When you don’t need it just roll it up and secure it with the hook and latch strips. Art just lets his screen door hang in place but says you could also put some hook and latch on the screen and the door frame in the middle and the bottom to make it fit snug against the door frame. Some toy-haulers come with a roll-up screen that covers the entire garage door. Helping you stay bug free with a "no fly zone" - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

Sewmasters of Yuma Has Your RV Covered

RVers use a lot of fabric and frequently need custom made awning drapes, wiper blade protectors, mirror covers, tire covers and a multitude of other items. On most ships in the Navy you’ll find a “Sail Shop” where a boatswains-mate sews canvas bags, covers and just about anything a ship’s rigging calls for. Sewmasters of Yuma is your personal “Sail Shop” where you'll find most everything "fabric" you’ll need to outfit your RV. Walking into the store is like walking into a warehouse with stacks of fabric lining the shelves. Customers fluff out awning material checking the quality like a Far East merchant inspecting silk in a Bazar. Sewmasters makes awning drapes in various sizes and will custom make anything you specify. They also make 5th Wheel skirts, patio shades, Arizona rooms and a whole lot more. Sewmasters of Yuma is located on 32nd Street across from the big swap-meet. If you want them to ship your order call them at (928) 726-1166. They’ve been in business since 1990 and are well known with a good reputation. They’re “old school” and don’t have a fancy website but you’ll be able to find what you need at a good price when you call. All their sewn products are made in the USA on site at the Yuma store. In the meantime I’ve got you covered spinning a yarn everyday - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Tip for RVing in the High Desert

We’re RVing in the high desert of Southern California (Edwards Air Force Base to be exact). When the sun goes down out here so does the temperature. Early this morning I was reminded we’re camping in Test Pilot heaven as I was awakened by a sonic boom. Ahhh, the smell of jet fuel in the morning just makes my day! I must apologize for my tardiness in my daily blog, I ran into an electrical problem in my coach that put a crimp in my computer time. I lost the power in all my 110 electric plugs in the front of my coach which means more troubleshooting for the Professor tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s your tip for RVing in cold climates. Take along a few lengths of pipe insulation to use on your water hose. It was 26 degrees the other night and my water continued to flow. In the high desert pipe insulation is usually enough to keep your water flowing. Some folks let the water faucet run at a slight trickle during the night to keep warmer water flowing through their hoses. I don’t particularly like this idea because the water will either fill your tank (if the valve is closed) or freeze in your flexible sewer hose. So, I opt for the insulation route and avoid both problems. The insulation is split and all you have to do is open it and slip in the hose. In the high desert the sun comes out and warms everything up and thaws any ice that might have formed during the night. In colder climates where above ground water pipes stay frozen all day, I recommend using electric heat tape along with pipe insulation. In a couple days we'll be heading for warmer digs. Chillin’ in the high desert - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Replacing Aging RV Marker Light Lenses

I was driving down a pretty country lane in my RV when a low hanging branch whacked my 5th wheel. I didn't think much about it, but on later inspection discovered a cracked marker light lens. When I did an inspection of my motorhome marker lights I discovered one that was cracked on the rear cap. How that happened I have no idea (knowing me, I probably backed into a tree limb ).These lenses are cheap (usually under a dollar) and easy to replace. Most RV stores and auto parts stores carry them in stock. These lenses are important because they help keep water from entering your coach. If there is a crack the light may fill up with water and leak into your RV. Ultra violet radiation also tends to fade and weaken these lenses so you may want to inspect them and replace those that have had the most exposure to the sun. You may need to use a screw driver blade to help pop the lens cover off, but most of the time you can just pull them off with your fingers. When you inspect these lenses, be sure to look carefully at the caulking around the fixture. Make sure there are no cracks in the caulking and that it is firmly affixed to the surface of the RV. If you discover that the caulking is failing take the fixture off and scrape off the old caulking and replace it with new. Many interior RV water leaks can be traced to a leaking marker light. Since these marker lenses are so cheap you may want to replace them all with shinny new lenses. This is also a good time to check and replace your bulbs. Reflecting on RV maintenance - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Secure Those Slide Out Corners Before They Blow Away

Many RVs including Travel Trailers, 5th Wheels and Motorhomes with slide out rooms have these corner pieces installed. They are an easy way to cover the slide out trim pieces that join together at a 45 degree angle. The problem with these pieces is that they become loose over time and eventually blow off on the side of the road somewhere in Texas. One solution is to remove them and reapply adhesive using a clamp to hold them in place until the glue thoroughly cures. A better way is to remove them, drill and countersink three or four holes, then reapply adhesive and screw them into place. Once the glue cures, cut the protruding screws off on the back side where the slide out meets the wall. This application will help keep these pieces in place, even in Texas. Keeping you from loosing it on the road - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Battling Your RV’s Worst Enemies

RVs are exposed to many enemies and successfully combating them is the secret to the longevity of your rig. The common enemies of the RV are ultra violet radiation, road vibration, tree limbs, neglect and one of the most costly - water. It’s the rainy season again and once again water threatens damage to our RVs. Water is a very powerful force in nature (just think of the Grand Canyon) and it can do its penetrating work on our RVs just as well as it can on rocks. If water gets into your RV it will stain the ceiling, cause mold and mildew and worst of all dry-rot. Once that happens you have no choice but to tear it out and rebuild it. Water has to have an entry in order to cause damage, so prevention is the cure. The most common ways water enters an RV is through holes in your roof like around the air conditioner, holding tank and refrigerator vents, TV antenna and lights. Windows can easily be the cause of leaks, but I always check my lights first. My Country Coach motorhome has running lights that I recently discovered were filled with water. The water was finding its way into the lights but could not escape so it was trickling down through the light wire hole making its way inside my coach. As it turns out there was a crud buildup inside the rim of the light lens which acted as a water tight barrier. This “crud” barrier allowed water to accumulate inside the lens assembly until it filled to the point it could enter the inside of my motorhome. To remedy this situation I removed each lens with a screwdriver blade. The lens cover just pops off with a small amount of pressure. Next I wiped the lens holder rim clean with a cloth. I thoroughly cleaned the crud covered lens. After that I drilled holes in the bottoms of the lens itself so that it will be able to drain. I know some of you will think this procedure will cause even more problems, but having a combination running light/rain gauge is not my ideal. I put the holes at the bottom of the lens (duh) on the outside of holder where the lip intersects the lens. It’s been raining for a few days now and so far so good. Instead of drilling a drain hole, you could seal the unit with caulking, however, whenever you needed to change the bulb you would have to cut through the caulking and reapply it. Another more expensive alternative would be to remove the old lights and install new LED marker lights that are completely sealed units. Installing these new lights would allow you to completely seal off the wire opening preventing water entry. The bottom line is that you MUST keep water from entering your coach otherwise it will severely damage your RV. Helping you preserve and maintain your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Rig Your RV Awning Properly for Rain

I sold one of my previous 5th wheels to a good friend of mine, and he managed to destroy his awning the first few months out. He related to me that he was in Arizona at an RV park and had his awning out - straight out. During the night it rained and when he emerged the next morning he saw his awning had become a giant bowl of rain water. He attempted to let one side down when the whole thing collapsed drenching him and tearing his awning off the rig. He managed to escape with minor injuries and a good story. The best way to rig your awning for rainy weather is to keep it rolled up. Why? Because rain is frequently associated with weather fronts that bring gusty winds that can rip your awning right off your rig. Usually, before it rips it off your rig, it pulls it up, flops it over the top of your RV and beats the opposite side with the flailing poles and then tears it completely off. We are currently in Oregon, getting itchy to head south, but in the meantime it's raining here. As you can see in the photo above, I use my awning as a porch to keep rain off my windows and the entry and to keep my outside stuff dry. However, If I leave the RV for any length of time, I roll up the awning. If I'm home and the wind starts to kick up, I roll it up. I learned the hard way not to wait until 3:00 am to go out in a monsoon to roll up the awning. If I think the wind is going to threaten my awning, I roll it up before I go to bed. However, weather being what it is, you should always rig your awning so it has a steep enough pitch to allow rain to freely run-off. I usually tilt one side of my awning lower than the other to accommodate a no-notice downpour. Newer, high-end RVs have automatic awnings with a wind sensor and roll up when the wind threatens. I don't have one of these, and I'm happy to deploy my awning manually, but I do keep an eye on the weather when it's out. Helping you stay high and dry - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RVers Can Repair UV Damage With this Simple Tip

Look around the RV park and you'll see examples of UV radiation damage. Window frames, vents and corner pieces that have yellowed are abundant. These items are still serviceable, but they will eventually become brittle and crack allowing moisture into your RV. You can purchase new frames and vents (they are inexpensive parts) or you can remove them give them a good cleaning then spray paint them. They will look as good as new. You should also clean off the old caulking and reapply fresh caulking at this time. If you choose to replace them with new parts, I would still paint them with a high quality paint before replacing them. Paint will stand up better to UV radiation than the PVC type material these are made from. Bringing you great RV ideas every day - Jim Twamley the RV Guy.

RVers Breath Easier When They Use This Device

Imagine a large group of RVs parked close together. Now imagine that they all have their generators running. Doesn’t that thought just make your eyes water? RVers who park infield at NASCAR races are now required to vent their generator exhaust above their RVs. Some FMCA chapters are requiring them at their rallies and a few dog shows are also asking that RVers make use of these devices. CAMCO makes the GenTuri generator exhaust just for this purpose. It breaks down into several pieces for convenient storage. It comes with a stainless steel adaptor kit to fit most generator exhaust vents. You just slip the pieces together and clamp the adaptor onto your current exhaust pipe and point the “stack” toward the sky. CAMCO has a patent on this stainless steel venture system which not only exhausts the bad fumes, but also acts to baffle the noise to make your system quieter. You can pick up this system wherever CAMCO products are sold (practically all RV stores). The GenTuri sells for around $160 clams. I know what you're thinking... but please, don't use this system to launch potatoes into the next county. I just wanted to clear the air on that issue. Jim Twamley

RV Awning Damage is Easy to Prevent

RVers love to live outdoors and that's why you'll find awnings on almost every style of RV you see. One of the problems of hauling your RV down the road at highway speeds, is that sometimes the awning gets loose and turns into a sail. When this happens, the awning tears and must be replaced. The best way to keep your awning safe is to lock it down. At the recent Redmond, Oregon RV rally, Bob Ingalls demonstrates a product called "RV Awning Clamp". The device locks your awning to the side of your RV and you use your awning rod to lock/unlock it. This product comes in two colors and sells for $50.00 and you can see it here.
Awning Clamp
Keeping you informed about useful RV products - Jim Twamley

RVer Gets a Handle on His Country Coach

RV entry doors have many different kinds of handles. Some fold sideways like this one on a 5th wheel. Others fold in and out. A majority of motorhomes have clear acrylic handles that light at night. My Country Coach has such a handle and the other day when I reached up to help myself into the coach it broke off in my hand. I was a little surprised at my own strength - or perhaps I need to weigh myself, hmmm.......We're camped in my brother-in-law’s driveway in Albany, Oregon, so I drove down to the Country Coach service department in Junction City, Oregon and picked up a new handle. Steve, in the parts department, found a replacement handle for me. The handle only cost me $17.96 because I was using the brackets that came with the original handle. The new handle was a little longer than the original handle, so I used a Dremel Tool with a grinding stone to remove a small metal lip in the bottom bracket so I could slide the handle farther down into the bracket and get the screw holes to line up. I reinstalled the handle with the original screws and now I’m back in business. Does anybody have the number to Weight Watchers? Jim Twamley

How RVers Can Tote and Store Their Little Lumberyards

RVers have often been accused of taking along a partial lumberyard on their journeys. Why do we carry pieces of wood around? Mostly it’s for leveling and configuring stabilizer jacks. Sometimes we use it to elevate our sewer hose, or hold down the sewer hose elbow. They come in handy for chalking tires, creating a barrier so we don’t back into our rigs, landing gear platforms, and all sorts of things. Go to any RV park and you’ll see lots of lumber being employed in this manner. The problem is finding a place for all this wood. It also becomes dirty and wherever you store it will soon be cluttered with dirt and debris that collects on the wood and quickly spreads to your storage area. Richard Walter of DeBary, Florida uses a canvas firewood carrier to both tote and store his little lumberyard. Notice that he also uses the plastic Lego style blocks as well. They all store neatly in his tote and it keeps the dirt and debris in the bag and out of his storage area.I’m out here digging up RVing tips like crazy so you'll have a more enjoyable RVing experience. I hope to see you on the road this summer. Jim

She's Got You Covered

Lari Foster is a mom who camped all the time with 4 kids. They were always confronted with picnic tables and benches that were…. well, yucky. So she covered them with traditional table cloths but had to deal with the wind and thought to herself, “There has to be a better way to do this!” She experimented and came up with picnic-ez. These colorful picnic table and bench covers come in 8 colors. They are made of washable water resistant nylon pack cloth. They have an adjustable bungee cord to hold them in place with an ez-locks at both ends for a snug fit. And best of all, they are oversized so they can fit on those thick and huge cement tables that nobody but Atlas can move. picnic-pz is easy to clean, fits all tables (and to Lari’s knowledge no one makes an 8 foot cover). The table and bench covers fit neatly into a color coordinated stuff sack for easy transport and storage and it only weighs 3 pounds. You can order picnic-ez at http://www.picnic-ez.com/ or call toll free at 800-257-7403

Keep Creepy Crawlies Out Of Your Exterior Appliance Compartments

Ever open your exterior refrigerator compartment only to be faced with a spider web with a bug collection? How about your water heater compartment? If you want to keep these unwanted pests out, try the moth ice crystals treatment. You can purchase these at most grocery stores or at WalMart. I recommend a small glass container with a metal lid. Drill a few small holes in the top.
Fill the container with the moth ice crystals.
Clean off a spot in the exterior refrigerator compartment and put a ball of museum putty or the like on the bottom of the jar to hold it in place. Firmly affix it inside the compartment and replace the cover. That’s it, now you don’t have to worry about unwanted visitors that can clog up your system. Jim

How About A Toolbox That Doubles As A Table, Workbench And Diving Platform?

If you have a solid bumper on the rear of your travel trailer, 5th wheel or motorhome you may want to consider employing a toolbox like this. It makes a great table and workbench when closed. John and Barbra Thompson have been full time RVers for 12 years and live in a Travel Supreme 5th Wheel with this toolbox affixed to the back. John says it's so strong that he even stands on it when washing the coach. Though the actual toolbox was custom made, the rack holding it in place is actually two spare tire holders welded with cross member supports. The tire holders bracket the toolbox and are bolted to the bumper for a nice application. John bolted a block of wood to one of the tire holder brackets in order to hold and transport his electric trolling motor. Any welding shop can do this for you, but you may want to have a custom toolbox built as well. For that you'll need to contact a company like Brunner’s Fabrication in Joplin Missouri
Custom Toolboxes . As far as a diving platform goes just back up to a pristine lake and away you go! Jim

Extra Outside Tables Help With RV Entertaining

RV Hide-A-Table may be exactly what you need. You can use this extra table space for a buffet food table, craft table or a work bench. When using it for a work bench where you will be using power tools, saws, utility knives etc. I would cover the table with a piece of padded plywood to protect the finish on the door.Phillip and Marilyn Ellis show off his new invention at the Perry, Georgia FMCA convention.This invention converts outside storage doors into tables. The price is $85.00 plus $10.00 S/H. It can also be used to make two tables. There are two models to choose from depending on what type of coach you have. Visit their website here: RV-Hide-A-Table

Hose Kinked? Get Organized With This Do It Yourself Hose Rack

John and Barbra Thompson have been full time RVers for 12 years and live in a Travel Supreme 5th Wheel. John retired from the Army as a CW-4 combat engineer. He designed and built this PVC hose and filter rack himself.
A bungee cord holds the center together as the middle PVC joints are not glued but allowed to pivot freely. Here you can see that the bungee cord also holds the filter assembly in place.The hose on the rack also acts to hold the rack together. Short lengths of light weight chain are used for width restraint.Barbra puts the rack up against the 5er slide when it is windy to prevent it from blowing over. The front legs are split with two 45 degree elbows that are permanently glued in place. This effectively enlarges the “footprint” of the rack giving it more stability.

My Porch Light Needs Help!

The porch light that came with my 5th wheel is almost as bright as a birthday candle. I would like more light available near the entry, but haven’t decided what to do. I don’t want to attract bugs, but I also want some light. I’m still mulling it over in the laboratory of my brain. Speaking of my brain, my doctor told me I really shouldn't go in there alone! In the meantime, my friend Larry Ellert came up with the idea for this porch/entry light. He used a Regent 13 watt fluorescent light with photo cell. You can pick this unit up a Lowe’s for under $25. Larry used pvc pipe (available at any hardware store) as a stand. He used a 5 way pvc connector for the base with four pvc legs (capped) extend at right angles holding the center pole vertical. If you can’t find a 5 way connector at you local hardware store you can order one here http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/pvc.shtml

An electric cord was run through the inside of the verticle pole and up to the light and electric outlet. He uses this electrical outlet for party lights or the vacuum cleaner, radio or whatever other electric appliance he needs it for. Since the light is on a photo cell, it’s not on during the day, but there is still power at the electric receptacle. This is a good way to use that extra 110 hook-up in your campsite electric box. This unit provides so much light that Larry masked part of the light off with tape to reduce the amount of available light. Also, since it is top heavy, he tucks it under the wheel of his coach to prevent the wind from blowing it over. I’m thinking of an amber light to help cut down on the bugs. Once I decide what to do, you can be sure I’ll write an article on it. In the meantime, this will give all you tinkerers out there something to think about. If you have a brighter idea leave a comment, I’ll keep the light on for you. Jim

Portable RV Clothesline Rack

Pat and Jackie Malone have been full time RVers for over 16 years. They have had campers, motorhomes and now a 5th wheel. When asked which he likes best he prefers a motorhome when they are traveling a lot. He hates the set-up involved with a 5th wheel and much prefers the motorhome for ease of setup, however he says that you have to drive the motorhome at least monthly to keep all the mechanical parts working properly. He figures that if they sit too long things start to break, so since they are now spending more time in one spot they like the 5th wheel. He also likes the value and the roominess of the 5th wheel compared to a motorhome. This summer they will be work-camping in Alaska with lots of time to enjoy fishing and the great outdoors. In the meantime, they will still have to do laundry.
Jackie likes to hang clothes out to dry in the breeze, so Pat constructed this simple yet effective portable clothes line rack. It doesn't obscure much of the rear view and it's light weight. It's made out of PVC pipe and clothes line held in place by two bungee chords attached to the roof access ladder and to the outside of the clothesline where metal eye-bolts are bolted into the PVC. It is also secured at the base of the ladder by utility hooks that are permanently secured to the ladder by screws. Notice that a reddish colored bungee chord is wrapped up around the two PVC center pipes to hold it to the ladder. In this way the entire clothesline rack is held securely in place. You will notice that Pat drilled holes in the PVC pipe and then threaded the clothesline through the holes making a neat application. Tie a tight knot in the clothesline to secure it, then thread it through the holes and secure it at the opposite end with another knot. Pat says he stores it in the basement of the 5er because it is flat and flexible. He likes it much better than the kind that attach to the bumper (pictured above) because it holds more laundry and since he doesn't have a bumper this works out great. It also doesn't allow the clothes near the ground.All the parts for this project are readily available at your local hardware store. You can save energy and enjoy the freshness of air dried laundry all from the comfort of your RV.

Screen Door Easy Open Latch

What do you do with an old bicycle wheel? Make an easy-open RV screen door latch that’s what! You need the spokes to be 10 ½ inches long. In fact, take out all the spokes and save them because you can easily install these in your neighbors units and they will think you are a genius! The spokes are easy to remove, just get a screwdriver and loosen the retaining nut then thread the spoke out of the spindle hole. Once you get all the spokes off you need to get out your drill and a bit that is just slightly larger than the diameter of your spoke. Now you drill one hole in the latch handle and another at the top of the plastic door slide stop/handle. Choose where you will drill the holes before you do it. There are two considerations here. First you must make sure the spoke will not interfere with the retaining latch on the main door. My first hole on the latch caused the spoke to interfere with the retaining latch, so I had to drill another hole. Aren’t you glad I make all the mistakes for you? Second, drill a hole in the top of the plastic door slide stop/handle at the same angel that your spoke will travel. I put my spoke at about a 3 ½ degree angle (just kidding I really didn’t measure it that close).

Insert the spoke so the button will be facing the outside of the coach. You will have to flex the spoke a little in order to feed the threaded end up through the hole in the plastic door slide stop/handle. The better way to do it is to remove the stop/handle (only three retaining screws) and feed the spoke up through the hole and then replace the handle. This way you don't permanently bend the spoke out of shape.Screw the retaining nut back on the spoke and now you can open your screen door without having to slide the plastic door back. Just push down on the retaining nut and the door opens. The spring action of the latch keeps the spoke in place. Since the spokes are stainless steel, they resist rust and look good. No more sliding that plastic door out of the way just so you can reach the latch - one finger is all you need.

Note: The above application was done on a thin latch handle. For thicker latch handles, you can either bend the spoke to fit or you can countersink the drill hole, either way you achieve the same effect. I made a countersink by wrapping a piece of duct tape around a drill bit. Some of these thicker latches may require a firmer spoke to work properly. A thinner spoke may bend too easily. I suggest you test the firmness of the spoke before you start drilling holes. Just put the spoke on top of where you would drill your hole and push it down while holding it in place. If it bends too easily, get a firmer spoke. Jim

Like many ideas, I borrowed this one from a fellow camper who had used a metal rod and a bolt in the latch to do the same thing. He used a stronger material than a spoke, but I prefere the spoke (my idea) over this type of application just because it is cleaner and less intrusive.

Slideout Solutions

RV slideouts are a wonderful invention and make RVs so much more spacious! Our first 5th wheel with a slideout would accumulate leaves, pine needles and dust especially when we parked under a tree. Since I didn’t know any better, we quickly accumulated this debris inside the rig when we retracted the slides. Some folks elect to install slideout awnings to keep dirt and debris off of their slideouts. These short awnings automatically deploy when you extend your slides. They can be purchased and installed from any RV dealer with a service department, or if you are so inclined, you can install them yourself. Here is a cheaper solution that has multifunctionality and when I can use a tool in multiple ways it makes me happy. I like leaf blowers! They are great at cleaning up a paved campsite or blowing debris off your little slice of heaven in the RV park.

Arizona is dusty and I use this jewel of a tool to clean up my site in a hurry. But, it also does double duty as a slideout sweeper. I used a length of PVC pipe and a threaded elbow fitting to make a blower extension. I used some gorilla tape to secure it to the nozzle that came with the blower.