By Jim Twamley RV window awnings typically have two positions — deployed or stowed. When the window awning is deployed it can cut your viewing area in half. But half the fun of RVing is the scenery, isn’t it? Here’s a swift trick to solve the problem: Use a bungee cord to hold the window awning partially open. Loop…
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Getting the most out of your RV
By Jim Twamley I intend to RV till I die. I don’t want to drive my RV across the finish line in showroom mint condition; rather, I want people to see a well-loved RV with the battle scars of adventure. To get the most out of RVing you need to ask yourself an important question. What are the things you…
Read MoreHow to help children enjoy RVing
By Jim Twamley Do kids really enjoy RVing? While having a haircut last week the topic of RVing came up. My barber was a young woman who asked if I enjoyed RVing. I told her that I loved it and started RVing with my grandparents when I was a kid. She told me she hated RVing. How could anyone hate…
Read MoreDo-it-yourself generator maintenance saves money, frustration
By Jim Twamley RV generators are great because they allow you to run all your electrical stuff without being hooked up to shore power. It’s not uncommon for us to pull off on a lonely roadside, fire up the generator and use the microwave to make lunch. On excessively hot travel days we use the generator to run both our…
Read MoreGrab handle makes RV screen door reach a lot closer
By Jim Twamley Unless you have telescoping arms, if you’re like most RVers you may struggle to reach out and grab that RV screen door to close it. Kelly Melfi from Frankfort, Ill., is quite an innovator and he’s a lot like the rest of us. Grabbing the screen door was a hassle. But as an innovator, Kelly couldn’t just…
Read MoreDealing with RV kitchen fires
By Jim Twamley When I was a kid I was frying something in oil and the pan caught fire. I didn’t know what to do. My mom got a hot pad, grabbed the pan, and put it in the sink under running water. This caused the flames to erupt into a fireball and ignite the curtains. My dad came over…
Read MoreTips on portable waste tanks
By Jim Twamley There are several portable “dump” tanks available to RVers. Most are familiar with the blue tanks with wheels, but these come in gray as well. These tanks will help extend your stay while dry camping without having to move your rig to the dump station. Simply hook the tank up to your sewer hose and empty your…
Read MoreSewer extension dilemma solved
By Jim Twamley RV plumbing is a BIG issue to most RVers. Many travel trailers and 5th wheels have two separate gray water dump valves. Usually one gray tank drains into an exit drain pipe shared with the black water tank, while the additional gray water drain is located elsewhere. This type of arrangement makes it easier for the RV…
Read MorePutting RV cabinets on lockdown
By Jim Twamley A couple of full-time RVers I met on the road proved that solving perennial RV problems doesn’t have to be complicated, norexpensive. They have an easy solution for locking down the RV bathroom medicine cabinet when they travel. They use a dual sided hook and latch strap and screwed one end into the side of the cabinet.…
Read MoreUsing a propane heater in your RV? Be careful!
By Jim Twamley RVers have been using propane heat for almost as long as there have been RVs. Most RVs come with a forced air heater that operates on electricity for the blower and uses a propane burner for a heat source. These heaters provide a warm, comfortable environment for your RV but take a big bite from your budget.…
Read MoreDisplaying your travel collection — in a unique way
By Jim Twamley RVers love to collect things. The problem is that some collectables are too large or heavy to carry along with you in the confines of your rig. I ran across an RVer who loves to collect stickers from the places he’s been and at the events he’s attended. As you can see, he can enjoy them as…
Read MoreA simple solution to that rockin’ trailer
By Jim Twamley If you have a travel trailer or fifth wheel you know about rock-n-roll — and I’m not referring to music. When you step onto your RV steps do they sink a little, causing the whole rig to move? You can brace the steps but that won’t solve the problem, especially in long rigs. You’ll still get movement whenever…
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