Lock down RV cabinets for travel

Full-time RVers and Escapees members Murphy & Gail Horner have an easy solution for locking down the RV bathroom medicine cabinet when they travel. They uses a dual sided hook and latch strap and screwed one end int the side of the cabinet. When ready to travel they simply loop the strap through the cabinet handle and secure it. Simple yet effective in keeping your stuff where it belongs. Locking down great RV ideas every day - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

It's curtains for this RV

RVers Bob and Cindy Byrne from St. Louis Missouri enjoy their Coachmen motorhome. To help make it more like home they installed a closet rod across the front of the coach to hang a privacy curtain. Cindy made curtains for each season of the year and it's an inexpensive way to change the hue of color inside the rig. They can see what's going on in the campground over the top of the curtains yet they provide adequate privacy during the day. They used an existing retaining screw to attach the closet rod holders over the dash. They also installed a standard curtain rod over the entry door with a short curtain. They found this side curtain much easier to use than the full front privacy curtains. Making simple changes like this to your RV will make your RVing experience more enjoyable. Taking a curtain call - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Prevent slide out streaks on your RV carpet

Slide out rooms make RVs larger inside but they can sometimes leave streaks on the carpet. The streaks come from the rollers and and the weight of the slide out on the carpet surface. You can prevent streaking by using "Slide-Out Slicker" by Lippert Components. These carpet protectors have teeth to hold them in place on the carpet while the slide moves over the smooth top surface. Once the slide out room is extended you can pick them up and store them under the sofa until you need them again. You can find more information on this product here: Lippert Components. Replacing the carpet can get expensive while the Slide-Out Slicker is an inexpensive safeguard at around $20. Keeping my eye out for slick new RV products. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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The RV Care & Maintenance DVD addresses issues like: information on the proper care and maintenance for the interior of your RV, the exterior of your RV, RV appliances, LP gas system, water system, electrical system, RV generators, RV batteries, chassis & frame, and RV tires. RV tech pro Mark Polk helps you thoroughly understand how to take care of your RV. Learn more or order.

Hooked on RVing

My friend and fellow RVer John Culver uses double plastic hooks to display his Marine Corps Officer's sword over his slide-out frame. He also showed me this clever idea for combining two of these plastic hooks to hang over a closet or shower door. He modified one of the hooks by cutting a piece off the end so they fit together. He drilled a small hole and attached them with a screw. You could use a rivet or glue to accomplish the same thing. He also hangs single hooks over the slide-out frame and uses them for his hat and the occasional article of laundry that needs to hang dry.These hooks are very convienient for hanging a towel on the shower door. They have many other uses as well. If you have other ideas on how to use these hooks please share them with us in the "comments" section below. Hanging out in RV Land - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Chair bed shows promise for RV living spaces

The RV industry has been a leader in innovation for many years. Crafting comfortable living quarters in the confines of a small space is where RV manufacturers have excelled. But sometimes we find inspiration outside the confines of the RV world. I recently visited a relative in the hospital and discovered a chair that converts into a bed. This is my nephew Joe Manley relaxing in the chair. RVs have couches and dinettes that convert into beds, but you don’t see many chairs that convert into beds. This is called the “Cascade Slumber” by the Brandrud company. They say it is, “designed to provide a dimensionally compact and visually comforting sleep solution for guests.” The company is named after Harold Brandrud who established his furniture business in the Pacific Northwest in 1955. His company provided furnishings for the Space Needle for the 1962 World’s Fair. The company now produces furniture for health care institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Harvard University and many other famous institutional customers. The chair is unique because it slides out to make a chase lounge and slides out again to make a bed. Most hide-a-beds are not very comfortable, but this chair/bed is exceptionally comfortable. I would like to see more of these kinds of chairs incorporated into RV interiors. They are functional, comfortable and multipurpose. These units are not cheap costing six times as much as a brand name recliner. I believe they could be made for a more reasonable price and fit nicely in the RV environment. Learning to relax - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Bumpy Ride Tests RV Closet

Those of you with rear kitchen 5th wheel RVs know just how hazardous a bumpy road can be to the stuff in your cupboards. The rear section of an RV is the most vulnerable to the rock-n-roll of the RV road. Last week after we pulled into camp Mrs. Professor opened the rear clothes closet to discover the wooden clothes hanger bar had fallen down along with all the clothing. On closer inspection I found that the plastic retainer screw was yanked out of the wall. It is amazing to me that one little screw was holding up that bar of clothing. I busted out the cordless electric drill (a tool every RVer should have) and promptly reattached the retainer with not one but four new screws. I didn't drill a hole, just powered the screws through the existing plastic plate. I did the same with the opposite side retainer which already had two screws. Now all is well in closetland. Not only are we raising the bar at RV Now, we're actually putting it back in place - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

A Shady RV Deal You May Want

RVers Jim and Joy McClain enjoy the full time RV lifestyle in the comfort of their Contessa motorhome. Joy was tired of her “dust catcher” curtains that came with the coach so they went looking for an alternative. Home Depot came to the rescue with custom made blinds. These sharp looking blinds are easy to install and come in enough colors to match whatever project your contemplating. They are also easier to keep clean. They easily attach with a couple of drywall screws. The trim adds a nice touch and blends well with the decor. The shades pull down just by pulling on the bottom rim and they'll stay at whatever level you choose. Jim ordered the shades about a foot longer so the shade can slope down over the terrain of his dash. The side shade is installed with the pull-down side closest to the window. When you want to raise them, just pull the side cord a couple times. These shades can also be used while driving since they stay put at whatever level you choose. I’m always looking for innovative ideas that make your RVs more enjoyable. So if you see me in the campground, stop me and show me what you’ve got. Opening the curtain to new ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Prevent Your RV From Causing A Headache By Installing Some Edge Cushion

Our kids are not RVers (yet) but while visiting with them on Christmas I picked up a good tip for RVers. Our kids have a one year old and also have several pieces of furniture with sharp edges. To protect our precious grand-baby, my son purchased and installed “Kids’ Edge” on the hard edges of the furnature. These edge guards are easy to apply and will protect you from bumps and scratches caused by protruding edges in your RV. I’m thinking about putting some of this around my TV cabinet because I’m always bumping my head on it when I enter the coach. Kids’ Edge is made by Cardinal Gates Company and they have two types. One is metal backed designed for a brick hearth around a fireplace but would work well in RV applications. The other has adhesive on the back and adheres to wood, plastic and countertop surfaces. The self adhesive type comes in 12 foot rolls and will wrap around a straight or curved surface. To go around 90 degree corners you’ll need to order the pre-made corners. My son said he used Super Glue to attach the corners to the straight lengths. The edging and corners come in five colors, light brown, yellow, grey, white and charcoal. You can purchase these from many vendors on the internet. For more information on these products go here Cardinal Gates. On the edge of new technology - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Loose Those Awful Vegas Motel RV Mirrors

The RV industry uses mirrors extensively in RVs because they can make small spaces appear larger (smoke and mirrors). 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. These solvents when used in conjunction with a heat gun or blow dryer (set on high) will do the trick. You will also need a thin putty knife to help you pry off the mirror. Since you are working with glass there is a possibility you may break it. As a safety precaution I advise putting duct tape all over the mirror to contain the breakage should it occur. With any luck you’ll be able to remove the whole thing without breaking it. You may also want to use leather gloves to prevent cutting yourself. After you’ve removed the mirror you’ll have to decide on a wall treatment. You could use wallpaper, wood paneling, fabric, paint or be creative and glue up some art like that tire tread you found that looks like Elvis. Helping you RV in style - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Where Do You Put an Alarm Clock in Your RV

What in the world would a full time RVer like me possibly want with an alarm clock? Well, when I don’t have to get up early for a doctor’s appointment or go fishing, I want to know for sure I’ve slept in for an appropriate amount of time. It wouldn’t do to get up too early when I don’t have to. So, where does one put an alarm clock in an RV bedroom? I don’t like a plug-in alarm clock on the night stand because I can’t read it without leaning up on my elbow and you have to fool with a cord. I also like to use my limited night stand space for more important things like junk. Many RVs have cabinets that hang over the headboard or an over head space from a slide-out and this is the perfect place for an alarm clock. I like the Timex Indiglo battery operated digital alarm. When it’s dark, just reach up and touch the button and the display lights up for a few seconds. I used 3M Command Strips which function like a hook and latch tape only much stronger. In fact, I use 3M Strips to hang pictures in my coach. The clock is flat and thin which works out great for this application. I removed two small screws holding the fold-up plastic cover, took the cover off and threw it away. I put the screws back in and prepared the back surface of the clock by cleaning it with rubbing alcohol (this helps the adhesive stick better). I attached a 3M Strip to the back of the clock. Repeat this same procedure for the space under your bedroom cabinets. Press the clock against the 3M strip and it locks into place. You can remove and replace this clock as many times as you like because 3M Command strips won’t wear out. Our 5th wheel had fuzzy fabric on the ceiling over the bed slide-out so I used the "hook" part of some hook and latch tape on the clock and stuck it to the ceiling. Helping you have a great time in your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Dry Air Makes a Happy RV

Many RVers are preparing their rigs for winter storage. One of the considerations is to include a dehumidifier of some kind. The obvious reason is to prevent mold and mildew and the accompanying smell. The easiest and most economical way is to use a chemical dehumidifier like the Dri-Z-Air brand. These consist of a two stage plastic unit that holds the dehumidifying crystals in the top and allows moisture to collect in the bottom. The crystals are cheap and the unit is easy to use. The only drawback is that you will need to empty the water and change the crystals at intervals during storage. Other products such as DampRid do the same thing. DampRid also has a plastic container that holds the crystals on top and collects the water in the bottom. You can purchase a large quantity of DampRid available in a detergent sized bucket. Electric dehumidifiers can also be a good option like the Dry Wave air dryer. It uses about the same amount of electricity of a standard light bulb and requires that your RV be connected to electricity while in storage. Keeping you drier than antiperspirant - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Remedies For Cold Weather

As a full time RVer I strive not be where it gets cold. In fact, I am normally moving in a southerly direction this time of year. However, I’m not always able to be where the outside temperature averages 70 degrees, so I need to be prepared for cold weather in the unlikely event it catches up with me. Last October we spent a bone chilling night at a Flying J in Wyoming when an early snow storm rolled through the area. The coldest places inside the 5th wheel were the overhead vents. These vents are covered by a thin plastic bubble that allows cold to penetrate into your RV. We used a vent insulator to plug this hole and it worked great. They are held in place with Velcro and put three inches of insulation between you and the cold. Not only are they excellent for winter, but they’re reversible (shinny side up) so they work great in summer when you’re running your air conditioner. These are available at most RV parts stores or you can make one yourself out of a piece of Styrofoam or foam rubber. Helping you stay warm and comfortable - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Easily Modify Your RV Cabinets

Can you tell which cabinet door did not come with this motorhome? If the owner didn’t tell me I wouldn’t have a clue that it was an addition. The cabinet door in the middle of the photo was added. They ordered this door from a cabinet shop. They simply took in one of their other doors, gave the shop their measurements of the cabinet opening and they were able to fabricate a door that looked just like the others. In order to make the hole in the cabinet where the door would be placed you first draw an outline on the wood where you want to cut out the opening. Next you drill a hole in each corner large enough to insert your scroll saw blade. Then you simply cut out the opening being careful not to cut into the bottom (the floor) of the cabinet frame. Installing the door is a simple matter of lining it up where you want it and screwing in the hinges. I recommend that you drill small holes before you put in the screws to avoid cracking the wood frame. Before, they had to get on a chair in order to reach way back in the corner to access their stuff. Now they simply open the door and get what they need. Helping you to get the most out of your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Professor Gets Down In His RV

We’ve been full time RVers for a few years now and, like most RVers we’re open to trying new things. We’ve been using an electric blanket in our motorhome and previously our 5th Wheel Trailer for warmth. This year the electric blanket finally retired itself. I can’t say that I blame it for checking out early, because we were always forgetting to turn it off when we got up in the morning. Many times we would go to bed only to find it already toasty warm. This is not the only problem we encountered while using the electric blanket in our RVs. Our biggest problem was when we stopped to dry camp overnight at WalMart or boondock for a few days. You don’t want to run your generator all night just to power up the electric blanket, so you have to carry extra blankets for this occasional use. I remember a cold snap last year when we were driving through Wyoming and we stopped at a Flying J parking lot for the night. It was snowing and blowing and the windows were all fogged up at the Flying J restaurant. We retrieved every sheet, blanket and throw we had to make the bed warm. The heater ran all night and we managed just fine, but, I remember thinking that a warmer blanket would have been nice. Last week we were in Costo and I spotted this nice down filled blanket and that cold night in Wyoming flashed through my mind as I pulled the blanket off the shelf. Some down filled blankets are just too hot, but this one strikes a perfect match for our type of RVing because we are snowbirds and are usually in more temperate climates. This particular blanket is designed for use in the Pacific Northwest and is light weight. We’ve been “field testing” this blanket all week and have found it keep us “snugly warm” on cold nights. It's over sized so you can tuck it under the mattress for a tidy appearance. This particular down blanket is manufactured by Pacific Coast Blankets and advertises that the down is “Hyperclean” for people who may have allergies to down products. This company has been making down bedding for more than 100 years and I can attest that they’ve got it right. Their products can be purchased at amazon.com, Carson Pirie Scott, Costco, jcpenney.com, Linens 'N' Things and Sears Canada. You can find their website online at Pacific Coast. Helping you think outside the box-springs - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RVers With Corian Counter Tops Watch This

Many RVs now have Corian counter tops. Sometimes these surfaces get scratched or gouged. The Professor of RVing shows you how to remedy this. Watch this video to learn how:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Broken RV Drawers Are An Easy Fix

If you are an RVer then you will become something of an RV technician if you aren't one already. Today Mrs. Professor showed me a kitchen drawer that broke. Turns out it was the Face Frame Drawer Socket. A simple piece of plastic that is cheap and easy to replace. Watch this video to find out how to do this simple repair.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV TV Cabinet Turned into Usable Storage

RV interiors can often be modified to accommodate your particular RV lifestyle. Watch this video as the Professor shows you how to turn a bedroom TV cabinet into a storage cabinet.

Remote Control Window Treatments That Actually Make it Dark in the RV Bedroom at Noon.

As avid RVers, we’ve used several different kinds of window treatments over the years. From old fashioned fabric curtains to aluminum blinds to the more modern pleated day/night shades we’ve used them all. I don’t care for the aluminum blinds because they make too much noise, and the pleated day/night shades are better but they still let in too much light. Here Christine Franks shows how a scene from your RV window looks with a typical day/night shade (top) compared with the MCD motorized shade (bottom). The bottom view is with the day time MCD shade. 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. MCD Helping you live comfortably in your RV – Jim Twamley

Don’t Bonk Your Head Anymore! Get A Flat Screen TV Or Wear A Helmet!

If I had a dime for every time an RVer hit their head on the TV while entering their coach, I’d be a millionaire! The entry area on most motorhomes is the most dangerous area of the coach. It is here you can slip and fall, skin your knees, break your arms and hips and enjoy the classic Three Stooges “Bonk” on the head rendered by your TV cabinet. 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

Special thanks to John Culver for showing me his coach and how he modified his TV cabinet. Me, I'm still wearing a helmet.

Warm Weather Brings Out The Fans

It’s warming up and we’re breaking out the fans and running the air conditioner. So, what do you know about those small fans mounted by the driver and passenger side windshield in most motorhomes? 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

Shake Rattle And Rolling Down The Road The Crystal Vase Stays In Place!

It has often been said that by driving or pulling our rigs down the road we expose them to earthquake-like conditions. It’s a wonder more stuff doesn’t fall off and break! 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 Gel is another product that works best for anchoring crystal and glass objects because it is clear. You apply it the same as Museum Putty, but it takes about an hour to set.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

How Do You Effectively Use The Electric Oultet Under Your Cabinets?

Power outlets under cabinets may be OK for a few appliances, like a mixer or a coffee pot (if the cord is long enough), but a little thing called gravity makes them totally useless for things like transformers, battery chargers and items with short cords. Here is one possible solution. 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.

RVer Hangs Picture Frames Upside Down For a Reason

Full timers Marjorie and David Morrison live in this 2002 Cruise Air by Georgie Boy. Marjorie wanted to display the smaller pictures of her family and came up with the innovative idea of hanging picture frames on the slide out ledge. To do this place the pictures in the frames upside down and then flip them right-side-up and hang them on the slide-out ledge.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.

Prototype Driver and Passenger Chairs Have Customers Relaxing Instead of Fussing!

When you look at a typical motorhome driver or passenger chair, you think to yourself, “Do I need to go to a seminar to learn how to operate this thing?” 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.

If you want more information you may contact the company here: www.villainternational.com

Thinking of Replacing Your RV Carpet? How About Tile?

I met Jenne Sprunger at the Family Motor Coach Association convention in Perry, Georgia this week. She is a sales agent for Habegger Abbey Floors which is a company that specializes in RV flooring.

The news here is that carpet is out and tile is in. Jenne says, “Everyone seems to be switching from carpet to tile in their motor coaches.” The reasons people are giving is that tile is easier to clean and you can wear your shoes in the coach instead of parking them at the door. Tile has less maintenance and it's easy to replace a tile or two if it cracks or chips.

Jenne assured me that they have experienced fewer cracked tiles in RVs in the last five years because of the advancements in setting materials (glue and grout). These new materials are flexible and allow tile to wear better in the pitch & roll environment of RVs in motion. Jenne says that, “We are selling tile like its going out of style!” For more information you can check out the website at www.habeggerfloors.com

Trash Latch

Stowing things securely in an RV is VERY important otherwise when you travel you’ll discover the true meaning of rock and roll. 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.

Heater Vent Covers

Central heating vent covers are a pain! Just try to find them in an RV sales brochure. Most of the time they are covered by a rug, plant or an animal or something, but you rarely see them. That’s kind of funny, because they are right smack in the middle of most 5th wheels. In fact we step on them every day.

One of the problems with these central heating vent covers is that they break easily. They are especially vulnerable to high heels. Here is what happens when your wife walks down the center of the 5th wheel with her high heels on. 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!

My wife’s high heels aren’t the kind that fashion models wear, they are more broad based in the heel but still assert a lot of pressure per square inch.

Since most 5th wheels have slides, these vents have to be placed in the middle of the coach otherwise when the slides are in and you need heat (which happens when you are stopped in WalMart overnight or at a rest stop for lunch) the vents have to be between the slides right down the middle of the coach. There really isn’t anyplace else to put them. 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

Screen Door Lock

Here is a great idea for your screen door. By putting this sliding lock on the door frame you are able to prevent your dog or cat from accidentally opening it. 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.

Catalytic Heater

Bob Kendall is an avid part-time RVer with two RVs, a 5th wheel toyhauler in which he totes around his Mini Cooper and a regular 5th wheel. 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.

His cardinal rule is, “Never run an unventilated heater while sleeping.” So “crack” those vents!

Another rule Bob lives by is, “When you are running a heater, always put a portable battery powered CO alarm where you are sleeping.” He doesn’t trust the CO alarm his rig came with because it was bought and installed by an RV manufacturer, and…. well, are you willing to trust you life to a lowest bid item? I didn’t think so.

Bob’s wife made a nice cover with magnets sewn into the corners so it holds itself nicely in place. CAT heaters should be protected from dust when not in use. 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: http://www.VentedCatHeater.com/

You may email him with questions at platcat@att.net Warm Regards! Jim