RV towel holder grabs your attention

Towel racks are nothing new in an RV, but where they are located is frequently a nuisance. The Carolina Cane Company makes a great towel holder that installs without tools and looks and works great. The secret to this invention is the marble that holds the towel as gravity pulls it down.To remove the towel you pull it sideways. You can’t pull it down because the friction of the marble against the towel holds it secure. We purchased a plain holder that matches our wood, but they come with a variety of laser art engravings.

To install it simply clean the surface where you want to place it with rubbing alcohol, allow it to dry then peel the film off the adhesive patch on the back and press it into place. Simple, effective and space efficient these towel hangers sell for $6.50. You can order them here: Carolina Cane Company. Helping you with your RV hang-ups - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

What do you stock in your RV pantry?

I probably get invited into more RVs than your average RV journalist. If you’ve followed my writing you know the variety of great ideas coming from everyday folks who love RVing. They show me all sorts of things in their RVs and I keep a notebook full of these ideas. One of the things I frequently see is the RV pantry. A family legend revolves around my great grandmother and her pantry. Seems, when times were tough (depression era) she was able to go to her pantry and whip up a delicious five course meal with practically no food on the shelves.

When I visit fellow RVers I don’t pay much attention to what's in the pantry because I’m more interested in how it's organized or what kind of lighting it has. The other day I was at a relatives house and I snapped this photo of her colorful pantry. As I studied it I began to be jealous because her pantry was so much larger than my RV pantry. Then it occurred to me I have a bunch of stuff in my RV pantry that I rarely (if ever) use. I have spices I haven’t even opened. I have containers of stuff that will never see the light of day. But, seriously, that can of spam may come in handy someday.So tell me, be honest, what kinds of stuff do you have in your pantry that you’ll never use but you keep hauling around anyway? Let me know in the “comments” section below.

RVer Discovers Aluminum Foil Trick

My good friend and full time RVer Joyce McClain told me about how to more effectively deploy aluminum foil. I did a quick survey at the market today asking ladies if they knew about this secret and not one single lady knew about this. Perhaps you are one of the rare enlightened ones who already knows this secret.For years I've been dropping the roll out of the box while trying to extract the correct length. I've always thought this was frustrating but never thought to look at the end of the box. Sure enough, there is a perforated tab at the end of the box that will hold the roll in place as you reel out the foil. Just push this tab into the box on each end and it will prevent the roll from escaping the box. Now you can get the exact amount you need the first time. Many other brands also have this device including clear plastic wrap. Thank you Joy for this helpful tip. Giving you more control in your RV galley - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Extending Your RV Table For More Seating

I recently visited with my RV friends John and Evelyn Culver who are full timing in a 2003 Monaco Windsor motorhome. I asked John if he had done anything new to his coach since I saw him last year. He immediately went into the bedroom and pulled a piece of plywood out from under the bed. He showed me how he was able to make a table extension so they could accommodate more family and friends. On his table there is about a quarter inch space between the table top and the cabinet where the table moves in and out. He cut the plywood to extend his table another 10 inches. He used a router to make the “lip” edge on the plywood to fit snugly under the open space. Evelyn enjoys the bigger table when it’s covered with a tablecloth and surrounded by people she loves. What can you do if your RV doesn’t have a space to slide the extension under? Use a small cargo strap and ratchet to secure the table extension. When covered with a table cloth you won’t even notice it. Bringing new ideas to your table every day - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Microwave Lemon Magic in Your RV

Do you have “splatter matter” in your RV microwave? Crud build-up can be tough to remove especially if you’ve “cooked it” into your microwave/convection oven. The Professor found this tip at wikiHow to pass on to you. Cut a lemon in half. Squeeze the juice into a microwave safe container along with one cup of water. Put it in the microwave and cook it on max power for 10 minutes. Allow the steam to fill the microwave and enjoy the fresh lemon aroma while it cooks. Carefully open the door being careful not to burn yourself with the steam and remove the hot container (I recommend using a hot pad or oven mitt). I know this sounds elementary, but some bonehead may just reach in, take it out, burn themselves then complain about it or blame me for not giving them complete directions. Wipe down the inside microwave surfaces with a wet towel or sponge. Easy! To prevent small food explosions from splattering in your microwave keep your food covered or use a splatter guard like this.Helping citrus farmers stay gainfully employed - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Rethinking RV Countertop Space

Space is critical in recreational vehicles and every square foot must be carefully engineered for comfort and functionality. Meal preparation, cooking and clean-up are much easier if you have adequate countertop space. Many RV manufacturers have employed the “fold-down counter extension” in their models, but the problem is they don’t always remain level and you can’t put much weight on them. The kitchen "island" has become a popular addition to RV floor plans, but they take up too much space. Tiffin Motorhomes is using this very functional roll out cabinet design. I like this design because it gives you a great deal more countertop space when you need it and retracts back into the cabinet when you’re finished using it. I love this idea because in my world flat spaces tend to collect more junk. This system won't allow you to collect junk for long because you have to stow it when you travel. I would also like to see this concept used in desks and bathroom cabinets. Another less expensive way to give yourself more countertop space is to use a stove-top cover. These can be the folding metal type or a wood top that also doubles as a cutting board. We’ve had both of these types of stove-top covers and liked them both. The folding metal type looks better, but the wood top is more functional. Helping you find more working surfaces in your RV - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Want Products that Fold Away

Because RVers live in confined spaces, any product that folds up for easy storage is highly valued. Check out this video of one such product.

Pots and Pans Storage

Imagine having an earthquake at your house for eight straight hours every few weeks. You would eventually learn to make adjustments after the earthquake. Well, that is exactly what happens in your 5th wheel everytime you travel. If it isn't tied down it will fall, roll around and make a mess. This twisting and turning, churning and shaking causes wear and tear on thing that are secured in drawers like your pots and pans. If you store metal on metal it will cause abrasion and do things like wear off that nice T-Fall non-stick coating on your expensive pans. So, RV'rs have learned to pack these things to minimize the damage. Many RV'rs use the no-slide "Grip-It" shelf and drawer liner (note the liner in the photo). Not only is it good as a non-slip lining but it is also a good separator for glassware. It is soft and spongy so it nicely absorbs the rattle of travel. Some RV'rs use bubble wrap or dish towels to accomplish this. I wore off the non-stick coating on my last electric skillet by putting the lid upside down in it so the drawer would close. Now I put a rubber muffin pan in the skillet before I put the lid in place and it protects the non-stick lining of the skillet from abrasion.

Electric Appliances Save You $$$

Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) is what we full time RV'ers try to conserve. Lots of things can run off of propane in RV's including the refridgerator, stove/oven, heater, water heater and even the generator. One of the ways to conserve your LPG is to use as many electric appliances as you can. I rarely use the stove unless I am boondocking (dry camping - withoug hook-ups). Instead I use electric appliances like the coffee pot, microwave, electric heater, crock-pot, electric pot and electric skillet. I use the pot and skillet almost every day. I particularly like the pot because it has a vegtable steamer and I like the safety break away magnetic cord. We also switch the refridgerator and water to electric when in a campground with hook-ups. By using appliances we conserve on LPG to the point that we only refill the tanks every three months or so. When we first started RV'ing we were filling the LPG tanks every few weeks. At campgrounds you have already paid for the use of the electricity, so use it and save $$$. Jim

Dish Rack Drain Problem Solved

When we lived in a house we had a built-in dishwasher. Nowdays you can get a built-in dishwasher in your RV (usually where the oven used to be located), however in our RV - I am the dishwasher! One of the problems I encountered early on as the "Chief Bottle Washer," was the problem of water not draining off the dish rack drain pan. The dish rack tray needed to be elevated in order for the water to be able to run back into the sink.

I added the equivalent of a 2x2 under the drain tray at the oposite end from the drain lip. I cut the wood to size and attached it using two drywall screws. Here is the side view showing the elevated tray: