Retractable RV door screen makes for a better view
Mrs. Professor used to complain about not being able to see out of the entry door window while traveling because the screen blocked her view. I fixed the problem and will report the results in a future article, but here is a great solution if you can talk Atwood into selling you one.
Paul and Cary Carleton are RVers from Snohomish, Washington.
They have a lovely motorhome but Mary had the same problem as Mrs. Professor so Paul got to work on an idea to fix the problem. He noticed a retractable screen on a newer model coach and decided to find one to install in his own motorhome. 
It took him a long time and sloothing to find the manufacturer. Atwood is the manufacturer of these cool retractable screens and they should consider making them available to Joe RVer and not just to manufacturers.
The screen runs on a track on each side of the window and is held in place in the down position with a magnet. The housing has a retractable spring allowing for easy operation.
Paul had to make it fit with some minor alterations, but the end result is sweet! Now Mary can see the sights more clearly as they drive down the RV road. Rolling up yet another RV story - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Paul and Cary Carleton are RVers from Snohomish, Washington.
They have a lovely motorhome but Mary had the same problem as Mrs. Professor so Paul got to work on an idea to fix the problem. He noticed a retractable screen on a newer model coach and decided to find one to install in his own motorhome. 
It took him a long time and sloothing to find the manufacturer. Atwood is the manufacturer of these cool retractable screens and they should consider making them available to Joe RVer and not just to manufacturers.The screen runs on a track on each side of the window and is held in place in the down position with a magnet. The housing has a retractable spring allowing for easy operation.
Paul had to make it fit with some minor alterations, but the end result is sweet! Now Mary can see the sights more clearly as they drive down the RV road. Rolling up yet another RV story - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVingLabels: Interior
posted by Jim Twamley at
10/18/2008 04:00:00 AM
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Unfortunately, they often go overboard in their application of mirrors and you may want to remove them. Most mirrors are affixed to the wall and wallpaper with an epoxy type glue. Removing these mirrors is a delicate task requiring a generous amount of patience which they don’t sell at the hardware store. One method is to use a solvent to dissolve the glue such as GooGone, WD-40, Goof-Off or other such products.
Motor Coach Design has the next generation of RV window treatments available now. These are the new American Duo shades that are being installed as standard equipment on many new 2008 motorcoaches. The dark shade is the daytime shade and the white opaque shade is the night shade (that will effectively block out sunlight as well).
These shades allow you to see out but prevent others from seeing in. 
They are electric and use either a wall switch or a remote control. 
When the sun goes down, just hit a switch and the shades come down. You can install these yourself, just give them the inside measurements for your RV windows and they will custom make them for you.
Satisfied customer Bob Handren recently had these installed in his motorhome and he said, “The improvement in privacy is wonderful as the screens make it impossible to see in while it is daylight - they are even quite good at night. Plus, no more putting up and down of exterior screens as they are all inside now and easy to get to.” MCD is located in McKinney, Texas and you can call them at (800) 804-1757 or check out their website where you will find several other RV items of interest. 
Some folks do stuff like this to remind themselves of this lurking danger. Others take a more aggressive tack and remove the old TV and replace it with a newer flat screen model. 
This allows them to trim the TV cabinet back almost flush with the overhead cabinets. It removes the "overhang" of the TV cabinet and allows your head to move freely through the space previously occupied by your arch nemesis. There is still a lot of room behind your TV cabinet to run wire to hook-up your DVD, Satellite, VCR (am I the only one who still has one of those) video games, head-sets and whatever else you need access for. 
It's a good idea to also throw in a muffin fan (available at Radio Shack) and an automatic attic fan temperature control (available at most hardware stores) and some extra ventilation holes for good measure (electronic gear does not appreciate heat). 
There are some aftermarket vendors who will do this for you for a fee (make that a large fee) or you can do it yourself (now you’re talking!). By doing this you’ll save your noggin countless traumatic encounters and you’ll be in a better mood and a more likeable person to boot. Jim 
I remember seeing these small fans in my grandfather’s commercial truck cab years ago. I always thought that they were for personal cooling. You see them in most motorhomes, but they really are not for personal cooling. No, they are really supposed to be aimed at the windshield to prevent them from fogging-up. That being said, you’ll find most of them conveniently pointed at the driver and passenger. I like that, because that means they are multi-functional and in the world of RVs that's a good thing. Jim
So, how do we secure something like a crystal vase that we want to stay in one place while we travel? The answer is found in products like Museum Gel, Museum Putty and Museum Wax. Each has a specific recommended application. Below are pictures of Museum Putty that was treated with color so you can tell that it is there. Here an RV dealer uses Museum Putty to hold the dishes secure on the table so they can take customers on test drives without breaking the decorations.
Museum Putty will secure most anything to keep it from falling and breaking. Museum Putty comes ready to us in a sheet. You just pull off a chunk and roll it in your fingers until soft and stick it on the bottom of the item you are securing. 
Then you slightly twist the item with the putty onto the surface and “presto” your done. It will not harm wood finishes and it can be used over and over again. 
You can purchase all these products on the internet, just do a search for “museum putty” and you will find many vendors.
Museum Wax is the best choice for more permanent placement of objects. It works well on wood shelves but can become more difficult to remove if objects are left in place more than one year. 
“Stick” around for more RV tips and tricks at RV Now! Jim
Notice that a standard surge protector power strip was secured to the wall. The power strip cord was also secured to the wall and under the cabinet with screw-in wire holders. 
This makes a neat application utilizing the otherwise useless under-cabinet outlet. Also notice that Velcro strips are used to hold the top transformer in place on the surge protector power strip.
These plastic frames are light weight and she secures them with clear adhesive tape. 
They wouldn’t even have to be secured if you take them down while driving because the way the frame base is tilted it holds the frame safely in place by itself. 
WalMart sells these frames in various sizes and widths to accommodate most ordinary photo sizes. As you can see they are inexpensive and easy to use.
Thank you Marjorie for giving us this innovative and cost effective tip. I imagine scrap-book makers will have a field day with this concept. 
Not any more, introducing (the yet un-named) prototype remote control (in the armrest so you can’t loose it) chairs. 
Villa International engineers are trying hard to make life easier for us and came up with this idea which they were trying out on customers at the Georgia FMCA convention.
Sales representative Robert Long demonstrates the comfort of this top of the line chair. You know it's not easy to get a salesman to "sit down" on the job. 
When I was stationed onboard the USS Kansas City (AOR-3) we hit some heavy seas in the Baring Straits and let me tell you, anything that wasn’t tied down either fell overboard or rolled around in the compartments creating havoc. So, I’m always on the lookout for ideas to keep stuff from banging around inside my coach. Here’s a great idea for securing a trash can. 
Rick Schramm a retired submariner knows the importance of securing gear in his travel trailer so he drilled a hole in this can just slightly larger than the sliding door latch.
He attached the sliding door latch to the wall so that the handle securely holds the can in place. 
Stanley makes the one pictured here and ACE Hardware also has one with two sizes to choose from, the 2 1/2" model #5302096 and a 1 1/2" model # 5302088.
You’re probably thinking, “Sheesh, you’re retired! Why would she even own a pair of high heels?” Good point, but in my research of the ancient world, I've discovered that women and a multitude of shoes have existed from the beginning. When Adam sewed together fig leaves in the Garden of Eden he probably made Eve a matching purse and shoes. Accessories are important you know!
The answer is to install heavier duty (and nicer looking) vents. I haven’t made the plunge yet (they are anywhere from $50 to $75 a pop). So, until I find vent replacements I like (the major home stores don’t carry this size in the higher end vent covers), I’ll just have to make due. In the meantime, watch your step! Jim
You can take a nap with your door open confident that the screen door will remain closed. Will it stop a thief? No! Not for three seconds, so don’t think this will solve that problem. For that situation post a sign like this. 
Bob has done a unique custom install of a CAT heater in both of his RVs. Here is a view of the platinum catalytic heater installed in a cabinet door. Ingenious! 
This baby puts out 5000 British Thermal Units and is vented to the outside with a flex hose. 
A thermostat located in the bedroom controls this unit. The heat is dispersed by an electric fan in the unit. This unit is much more economical to run than a typical forced air heater. It uses less propane and much less electricity! 
Bob insists on a few safety features when he uses his CAT system. First he makes sure the propane supply line is installed with a shut off valve. 
Second, he makes sure he “cracks” the ceiling vents before he turns on the heater. This way you have a renewable oxygen supply and it helps reduce condensation. I’m not sure why he “cracks” his vents when he could just use the crank handle.
The infant safety latch helps ensure the door stays closed while traveling. 
While not in use this space doubles as storage for an additional stand-alone CAT heater. Bob likes to stay nice and toasty! 
This particular CAT heater is made in limited quantities by Arnie Lund. Contact him and see if he has a batch made up, but check out his website first: 
After living in his motorhome for a while he started thinking about the possibility of storage under his other sofa. So he opened it up and discovered some extra storage space. 
He removed the heating ducts from under the couch and put a directional vent where the vent hose comes out of the cabinet next to the couch. 
Now he stores electronic gear where previously there was just unused - empty space. So, look around; perhaps you have some extra storage space hiding somewhere in your RV.
As you can see by the stained glass, John served our country proudly as a Marine Corps Officer! This fabulous desk was designed by John and Evelyn and constructed by Mr. Tom Bradley (you can email him here 
They had to route the heater vent under the desk and out the left pedestal. 
Since electronic equipment is stored and running in the left pedestal of the desk, a fan was installed as well as a ventilation screen on the cabinet door face nearest the left pedestal.
John has a PC tower, a printer, power cables and other assorted electronic equipment neatly concealed in this left pedestal. 
The top drawer is indeed top drawer. When extended it is a laptop desk. 
Under this drawer is storage for those oversized atlas books. 
There is ample storage under the desk that will accommodate full sized three-ring binders. 
The spacious two drawer hanging file system on the right pedestal is very convenient for filing. 
The top is covered with plexiglass under which is a map of the united states, very handy when planning your next trip. 
The chair is a Lazyboy swivel, glider, recliner which was reinstalled on a round base with a cut-out to enable it to fit neatly under the slide lip when retracted. 
They use this chair for a desk chair and also for a card playing or dining chair when they have extra company. They simply swing it around and place a portable table between the driving chairs and the Lazyboy, add a dining chair to make a foursome and they have a cozy and comfortable game table space. This is a great desk in all respects and it fits where they took out a couch which John says was uncomfortable - click on the video and watch how the slide opens around this desk.
There are several things you can do to prevent this. The biggest thing is to remember to secure the door before driving off down the road! The other thing you need to do is adjust the door stop. This will in effect prevent the opposite wall from being pounded, but the door latch will still cause gouges in the pocket door as there is nothing to stop it from sliding back and forth in its pocket. 
As you can see in the above picture the stopping device is located in the pocket door railing and can be adjusted. You simply loosen the retaining screw/bolt and slide the stop to the position where you want the door to stop. I left about a one inch gap between the opposing wall and the door. That way in case the door breaks loose, it can’t reach the wall. This still offers you plenty of privacy. 
Some 5th wheel models have the pocket door securing device on the bottom of the door. Others, like the Grand Teton have an automatic pocket door retention device. Probably the most popular is a mid door locking device. You don’t have to bend down to lock it. These mid-door devices work great if you remember to secure them before travel. 
I added a strap as a back-up but it doesn’t work to hold the door when traveling so it was a wasted experiment. I replaced the screws so many times in the pocket door latch that the screw holes stripped out and I ended up having to put on a wooden plate for the retaining hardware. 
The biggest challenge remains my memory. Even using a checklist I’ve overlooked securing this pocket door. The good thing is that I haven’t had to spend much money on this so I’ve successfully limited my out of POCKET expenses :) Jim
These expandable net laundry bags came on the market a few years ago and they are a big hit with RVers. They come in several sizes and colors and have convenient carrying handles. You can get them at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, WalMart and many RV parts stores, but the easiest way to get one is to go to one of our sponsors and 
It is important that you have something to set the hamper on so that it doesn’t get wet from the shower floor. We use a handicap shower stool for this purpose. A shallow plastic tub would work just as well. These folding hampers work great and fold up for easy storage. Jim
This area also holds the “Fantastic Vent” and heat/AC controls. I mounted a thermometer next to these controls and put this dandy combination letter holder and key rack just below the controls. I used one inch drywall screws to mount the thermometer and the rack into the side of the pantry wall. This wall is a double thickness hollow wall and the screws did not protrude into the pantry.
A few RV manufacturers are beginning to build in useful stuff like this. Here is an example of a junk rack that also opens to reveal control switches. 
There are three critical steps in the process of putting up picture frames in your RV. First, you need to decide where they are going to be placed. Once you accomplish that important task and you still have your sanity, you must apply the strips to the back of the frame. It is very important that you clean the area where you place the fasteners with rubbing alcohol. This makes the adhesive work better. If the frame is not flat (it has to fit flush with the wall) then use liquid nails and a popsicle stick as a trowel and make a flat spot on each side of the frame where the tape will be placed. Let the Liquid Nails dry completely before attaching the fasteners.
Once the 3M fasteners are on the frame it is important that you actually hold the frame up to the wall where you want it and when your wife says, “perfect!” then you carefully mark (with a pencil) on the wall where the corresponding interlocking fastener strip will be placed. Once you know where to place the corresponding fasteners, you clean the surface with rubbing alcohol (being careful not to rub off the pencil marks) then you pull the backing off the fastener and place it in the pre-marked location and let it cure for the recommended time. I gave my strips 24 hours to cure before I attached the frame to the wall.
Now all you have to do is align the frame and press it to the wall so the interlocking strips engage. 
When you want to take the frame down to change out a picture simply lift it at the bottom edge and it comes right off. 
We thought for sure these picture frames (which have glass in them) would fall off the wall on the first trip. Well, after two years all the pictures are well secured and have never fallen off. We even have pictures on the rear wall where the most significant vibration occurs and they travel fine. Now you can hang as many pictures as you like and you don’t even have to put one single hole in the wall. Hang in there! Jim
Upon closer inspection you will notice that these “counter top extensions” are more than that – they are in fact “pile down” devices. It is here where you can store the breakfast and lunch dishes with impunity and hence the term “pile down.” This is very convenient because nobody notices that you have dirty dishes lingering under these “counter top extensions.”
I measured the sink-hole, cut a cardboard pattern to make sure it fit and traced the pattern onto a nice piece of plywood. I cut out the cover with a scroll saw, drilled a finger hole and stained it. Done! 
If you sink does not have a recessed rim for the sink cover to fit into, you can glue some short pieces of wood on the bottom of the cover to hold it in place along the sides of the sink basin.
OK, so what do you do with your towel once you are inside the stall taking a shower? Easy, I hang my towel on the shower door. 
These hooks are cheap (less than $2.00 at WalMart) and all you have to do to install them is open the package and hang them over the door. They come in white, grey and clear.
You have instant access to your towels without even having to open the door and let out all that nice warm air. Happy singing! Jim
