Space saving ideas for RV entertainment gear

Don and Carol Huck have been RVing for more than 30 years and know how to renovate an RV to suit their needs. Don needed a place to install this kitchen DVD entertainment center and came up with the idea to put it between the cabinets. The space was there so he built a shelf, attached the entertainment unit and hung it between the existing cabinets.

Another of Don's innovations is a folding DVD shelf. The flat screen TV is out of the way of the slide, but they couldn't add a permanent DVD shelf because it would interfere with the slide-out. A folding bracket was the answer so now when they bring in the slide the DVD is removed and the shelf folds neatly down for travel.

You can find these folding brackets at hardware stores and cabinet shops. They also work well for counter and desk extensions. Folding more ideas into the mix every day - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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DVD: Do It Yourself RV Care
This DVD is written and presented at the RV owner level and shows those systems and components that need regular attention. As Gary states, “Today’s RVer understands the necessity for annual preventive maintenance; they just need guidance in how to actually perform many of those tasks themselves.” This production walks the RVer through the proper procedures that are easily handled by the astute RV handyperson. Learn more or order.

Big Screen TV in a Small RV? No Problem

Where are you going to put your TV in the RV when February 2009 rolls around and analog TV is gone for good? Now RVers can take along a big screen HDTV by storing it on the ceiling. Brian Lewis from Georgetown, Texas is changing the way you watch TV in your RV. He invented HD Locker which mounts a 37 inch flat screen TV snugly to the ceiling of your RV. The system has an integrated pneumatic counterbalance that assists in lowering and stowing the TV. The unit can slide the TV 24 inches front to back for optimal viewing. The patent pending mounting system will support up to 800 pounds without damaging the RV roof. Since the unit weighs less than 100 pounds with the TV installed it poses no problem for your RV. The majority of installations are flush with the ceiling, but HD Locker can also be mounted so it doesn’t quite touch the ceiling allowing ample room for lights and air vents. Check out Brian’s website here HD Locker.

Keeping you UP on new RV technology - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Turn Satellite TV Upside Down

RVers love satellite TV because they can take it with them wherever they go. In order to receive satellite programming you must set up your dish and aim it at the appropriate satellite. Many RVers have a satellite antenna on the roof of their RV that automatically "finds" the satellite while other models are operated manually. Many RVers use a tripod system or some other way of setting up and aiming the dish. This RVer used the picnic table for his set-up. The only problem is that the dish hogs up the table.My friend Stet Elliot uses a PVC stand that has a low profile, is wind resistant and turns the satellite dish upside down. Stet has used this system for three years and loves it. You can make a four pier stand or a three pier stand out of PVC fittings. Some RVers fill the PVC stand with cement or sand to give it extra weight and stability. You can make this stand yourself from PVC parts available at your local hardware store. If you will be using it in Canada or Alaska, you should make the riser about four inches taller so you can aim lower on the horrizon. You aim the dish with the assistance of some basic math. Pull the elevation off the TV for the zip code where you are located then subtract that number from 90 and use that number to set the elevation scale on the dish. The azimuth is the same. If you don’t glue everything together, you can easily break this stand down for compact RV storage. Yet another application affording you more flexibility in your RV travels. Jim

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.

Don’t Wind Test Your TV Antenna!

How many times have you seen RV’s tooling down the road wind testing their RV antenna? You’re thinking, “Yeah, but that will never happen to me!” If you RV long enough it will happen to you, it’s only a matter of time and one incidence of carelessness and you’ll join the many who have already wind tested their antennas. There is however one simple device that will help prevent you from doing this and it is the “Antenna Saver”. You can buy this device at most RV stores or you can make your own. Either way, it’s a handy way to remind yourself to “crank-er-down” before you drive off into the sunrise. Simply attach the “Antenna Saver” to your TV antenna crank handle when traveling and when you put the antenna up just take the “Antenna Saver” and (for motorhomes) attach it to your steering wheel or sun visor. For travel trailers and 5th wheels, attach it to your King Pin housing or tongue crank or other similar location that will remind you to “crank-er-down” before take-off. If you have other ideas of where to place this handy reminder please tell us in the “comments” section below. Jim