Category: Chris Dougherty, RV Technician, Q&A

Tools for RVers: IMPELtronics flashlight

RV Staff
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV technician Having a good flashlight in an RV is important, and even a couple of flashlights that serve different purposes is a good idea. Sometimes a flashlight can serve more than one purpose, as is the case with the IMPELtronics magnetic flashlight. Ideal for your RV toolbox, this 4-LED flashlight has magnets on each end:... Read More

RV Gadget: keyless lock system by Lippert Components

RV Staff
Many of us have become accustomed to remote control and keyless locks on our cars, but aside from high-end motorhomes that option hasn’t been available for RVs. Recently, Lippert Components introduced the RV Lock keyless lock system for travel trailers and fifth wheels that allows for an easy upgrade to keyless and keypad entry. The battery-powered lock system is a... Read More

Will you spend a day getting your RV ready for the season?

RV Staff
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV Technician Being a “tech guy” in RV land can be both a punishment and a reward. People always have questions (which I welcome, by the way) about their RVs, and they range from the newest technologies to all kinds of how-to questions. Most of the time I can give a helpful answer, which is rewarding.... Read More

Why use an RVDA/RVIA certified RV technician for repair work

RV Staff
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV technician In 1984 the RV industry, led by our friend Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, developed some of the first formal testing methods for RV technicians. The idea, according to Gary, was to have a baseline to determine how much a technician knew, a platform to determine how new technicians were to be trained, and a basis... Read More

How to protect your RV’s electrical system

RV Staff
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV technician A reader wrote in recently who had heard about RVs getting fried by bad wiring in campgrounds, and asked if I would recommend purchasing a surge protector for an RV to help prevent this. I highly recommend surge protectors. I have worked on numerous RVs over the years that suffered electrical problems caused by... Read More

Electrical gremlins? Multimeters to the rescue

RV Staff
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV Technician There are many brands and kinds of multimeters, from inexpensive dollar store specials to Flukes and Extechs. While I’ll refrain from recommending any particular brand or mode, I will make a few recommendations for features. AC/DC Amp Clamp: Power is measured by volts (pressure) and amps (flow). Since more than half of the electrical... Read More

Tools for RVers: Battery-powered screw gun

RV Staff
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV technician One of the most useful tools you can carry in an RV is a good battery-powered screw gun. As a professional technician, I use a DeWalt 12-volt screw gun every day. I’m never without it. What’s nice about this tool is it’s lightweight, compact, pretty powerful, has a huge array of bits available and... Read More

Tools for RVers: Two handy screwdrivers

RV Staff
Spotlight on Tools Here’s a useful tool you might want to carry with you in your RV. By Chris Dougherty Certified RV technician A standard throughout the RV industry, Robertson or square head screws hold almost everything in an RV together, from cabinetry to outside trim. Robertson screws are used because the screws hold exceptionally well to the screwdriver or... Read More