✨ *PRODUCTS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO* ✨ 🛌 25% off RV Mattress www.rvmattress.com/rvtips (use RVTIPS at checkout) 🛌 -30% off RV Mattress- This promotion has expired. 🔹 Lens Filter (1/2 CTO) amzn.to/3yxiUbu (this is not the same manufacturer lens filter I have in my RV, which is made by Lee. Lee no longer sells my lens filter on Amazon, however this product looks similar.) 🔸 Other Lens Filters amzn.to/4bPe1c7 🎥 Dimmer Switch Video ua-cam.com/video/2bbqBcSsRZQ/v-deo.html 🔹 TireMinder i10 TPMS amzn.to/3QY6q31 🔸 TireMinder A1AS TPMS amzn.to/4bKhmd7 🔹 Slide Out Rack amzn.to/4bKExDm 🔸 Oxygenics Body Spa Showerhead White amzn.to/3VbPNTR 🔹 Oxygenics Body Spa Showerhead Silver amzn.to/3wBfe8c 🔸 Micro Air Thermostat www.microair.net/pages/easytouch-rv-thermostat-replacements-select-a-brand (use code RVTIPS at checkout for $15 off, good through August 2024) *OTHER VIDEOS YOU MAY LIKE* 🎥 RV Dimmer Switchews ua-cam.com/video/2bbqBcSsRZQ/v-deo.html 🎥 Micro Air Thermostat Installation ua-cam.com/video/o0-Yvr3YPQo/v-deo.html Here is a short list of products & upgrades you can make immediately to your RV. They are simple products that can save you time, money, frustration & overall simply make RV life more enjoyable. #rv #rvlife #rvliving #rvlifestyle #rvtips #rvtravel #rvtipsandtravels ✨⭐ *OUR FAVORITE RV ACCESSORIES* ⭐✨ *ESSENTIALS:* 🔸 Camco Rhino Flex Sewer Hose & Elbow Kit amzn.to/3wxaiyG 🔹 Camco 90 Degree Clear Sewer Elbow amzn.to/3eezBe7 🔸 Camco RV Water Filter amzn.to/4dfEp0x 🔹 Rubber Wheel Chocks amzn.to/3v0lL5I 🔸 Hughes Watchdog 30 Amp Surge Protector/EMS amzn.to/3hAmgCy 🔹 Hughes Watchdog 50 Amp Surge Protector/EMS amzn.to/3HKrpm1 🔸 Beech Lane Wireless RV Leveler amzn.to/402YpgI 🔹 Liquified RV Tank Treatment amzn.to/3ksg1Ck 🔸 Tire Minder TPMS amzn.to/3mjuBg0 🔹 Water Pressure Regulator amzn.to/3m3ZFzZ 🔸 Rubber Gloves 6 Mil amzn.to/3XNo7Dc 🔹 Collapsible Water Hose amzn.to/3SvNubw *MAINTENANCE:* 🔸 Boeshield T-9 Rust Preventative & Lubrication amzn.to/3sjcjMx 🔹 Eternabond Roof Tape amzn.to/3Ad290J 🔸 Geocell Proflex Sealant amzn.to/3Qdbj8c 🔹 Road Tool Kit amzn.to/41NIQKj *INTERIOR:* 🔸 Camco Cross Bar Door Handle amzn.to/3o8WWS5 🔹 Shower Caddy amzn.to/3bdU80W 🔸 Soap Dish amzn.to/3pKheSn 🔹 Oxygenics Shower Head (White) amzn.to/3nhDMYW 🔸 Perfect RV Paper Towel Holder amzn.to/3tZxd1K 🔹 Dimmer Switch amzn.to/3rQdfFD 🔸 Sliding Door Latch amzn.to/3EkpTT0 🔹 Electric Heater/Fireplace amzn.to/44ujuCX 🔶 Foldable Storage Bins amzn.to/3tIp01f *EXTERIOR:* 🔸 X Chocks amzn.to/3m3ck2i 🔹 Carmtek 10 Digit Keyless Entry System amzn.to/3t4IMpB 📺 The Carmtek Video ua-cam.com/video/KcEUgsDw6kk/v-deo.html 🔸 Low Point Drain Valves amzn.to/3Vko8AH *OUTDOOR GEAR:* 🔹 Blackstone Griddle amzn.to/3TG0pK1 🔸 Outdoor Gravity Chairs amzn.to/3Sb1p4M 🔹 Ground Mat amzn.to/41u3wXg 💥 Sign up for our FREE Newsletter: rvtipsandtravels.myflodesk.com/freenewsletter *If you want to support the work I do to help others, you can:* 1) Buy us a coffee: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=J2KKM9NR3BJJA or 2) If you cannot donate, the easiest way to support our channel is to SUBSCRIBE, turn on ALL NOTIFICATIONS, click the LIKE BUTTON, leave a COMMENT & SHARE the video with your friends. ✨⭐ *MORE RV ACCESSORIES ON AMAZON* ⭐✨ www.amazon.com/shop/rvtipstravels 💥 *NEW TO OUR CHANNEL?* Check out our catalog: www.youtube.com/@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS/playlists 👇 *DISCOUNT CODES TO SAVE YOU MONEY* 🚐 *10% off RV Snappads & Snapjacks* rvsnappad.com/discount/RVTT10 🛌 Get *25% off your RV Mattress* by Brooklyn Bedding at rvmattress.com/rvtips Use discount code: rvtips 🚙 RV accessories & specialized parts on Etrailer: www.etrailer.com/?etam=a0038 🔨 Learn how to *repair & maintain your RV* like I did w/ this COMPREHENSIVE training course: rvtechcourse.com/?ref=rvtips&travels 💻 *We have an RV store on eBay!* www.ebay.com/usr/rv_tips_and_travels If you find a dead link, let us know & we’ll send you an RVTT sticker! *Follow us* 📸 Instagram instagram.com/RVTipsAndTravels 🕺 Facebook facebook.com/RVTipsAndTravels As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There is NO additional cost to you when purchasing from our links & it helps us cover video creation expenses. AI imagery may be used in this video. We may also receive products or payment in exchange for content discussed in this video, however our feedback is strictly based on our experiences, regardless of compensation. tips rv modifications upgrades mods maintenance camping travel trailer camping hacks diy living full time best rv accessories must haves camping rv gear rv essentials upgrades modifications repairs
Sometimes I think I’m the only one who is happy with our trailer as it came from the factory. We’ve done very few mods to ours. I did upgrade the shower head with one that increases pressure. I upgraded the thermostat to digital. But all in all we like the way it is. We like the mattress, never thought about the lights being to bright or harsh. Our trailer came with a TPMS. We don’t live in ours full time. We upgraded from tent camping. I think we’re just happy not to sleep on the floor and have more room when the weather is bad. I enjoy watching you videos and suggestions. Thanks.
David, who is your go to for lens gels? After a few years I noticed they faded right where the led's were resting against them. im guessing thats normal after a few years.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS ya I would imagine after a few years of use they might fade. I only needed a small pack for my speedlights so I can't really help on a brand. Unless it's an exceptionally cheap set I would imagine any should work with LEDs, since they're designed to withstand much hotter flashes, constant studio lights, etc
Pro Tip: If there's a theatrical supply house that sells lighting or a music store that caters to working bands (like Guitar Center or Sam Ash?) who carry their own lighting gear, you can get "gels" for filtering lighting in a bazillion different shades & colors for reducing the intensity of your LED lighting - my target is 3800°K-4000°K color temperature. Rosco and Lee are the two major gel makers on the planet; you can't go wrong with either. (Plus it's just fun to call someone up and ask if they'll sell you a "half-sheet of Rosco Bastard Amber.")
Lee was what i used initially, but it seems that same listing is no longer available, and they dont look like they do much on amazon anymore, at least the listings have changed and are not Prime.
Hi Ross , your Canadian fan Randy ,in regards to lighting ,I came up with great idea. Get rid of lights over bed to a switchable pivoting spot light over bed light from amozon ,then took lights from above bed and added to the kitchen . One I parallel wired to existing light and one under cupboard right above sink . The other over stove area. Now 3 lights in Kitchen area wife 150% happier all controlled by on/ off switch. Keep sending great videos..
I haven't watched yet, but can see who's sponsoring and: OH MY GOSH! We got our Brooklyn Bedding Mattress in before Memorial Day and had it for the 4-day camping weekend. Without question, you were RIGHT again! That mattress is amazing, man. Seriously. Made sure to tell them the reference came from RVTT. So good that I told my buddy about it, and he and his wife also bought one and were blown away at how nice it is (and how much it expands!).
Macfady, sure buy all new lights, remove the all housings instead of the lens, rewire and solder all the new lights in, make adjustments so they fit because whatever cheap lights your referencing probably aren’t the same size or mounting style, and spend more money and time in the process. Sounds like a great alternative. Clown.
@@macfady2181not having a bad day at all, your comment is just stupid. I’d love for you to prove where you can get 12 drop in replacement pucks for less than $30. But you can’t, you’ll just come back with some dumb response again that doesn’t apply to anything. Typical keyboard hero redirection response.
I'm going to stay out of this little back and forth, but I would love to know where you can get replacements for $1-2 each, because thats really all the gel would cost to do that many lights. Please share!
@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS It was 3-4 years ago now, I was replacing 921 style bulbs. I think the ones I went with were from Aliexpress. I do remember trying to pay careful attention to lumens, as much as kelvin. Anyway, the film didn't even come to mind, so I appreciate the video (and all I've learned from your others).
Another "RV" specific thing to avoid is faucet fixtures - we replaced our bathroom faucet with an off-the-shelf hardware store option that has served us well over the years.
im ready to do the bathroom, not leaking, but squeaks like a mother. just had to replace hoses on the toilet yesterday, that was fun... ill text you the pic. 🤣
Thanks! I think I'll get some of that film. It never occured to me to do that, even though I'm a life-long photographer. My wife got a natural rubber mattress for our trailer. I don't know who she bought it from, but it's pretty comfortable. My understanding is there are health benefits. But it was pretty heavy.
It figures. I just ordered replacement furniture (cloth this time!) from RecPro for my rv last Friday. My kids purchased furniture from a local low cost furniture store and their furniture material peeled just like my rv furniture. So I had no confidence in low cost furniture stores and went with cloth this time. Furniture is very expensive (as well as everything else) in CA. A friend of mine riding on an Amtrak through LA today sent me a picture of their fuel prices, $7.79 a gallon for regular. We pay a premium for great weather.
thanks for the input Terry, sorry to hear about the furniture peeling... not all home furniture is the same for sure, but its a much more competitive market so you'll almost always find better prices. Keep those receipts! $7.79 is crazy! I wonder what diesel costs?
Upgraded my kitchen water faucet to one with an integrated separate drinking water faucet and run that line through its own filter under the sink. No more filters at the hose connection. I don't need my whole RV water system with filtered water, just the drinking water.
I put a filter under the sink too. It just goes to the cold water side of the tap. Plus when its nice and cold inside at night, the water gets cold too.
It's a good idea to still filter the water coming into the RV. It removes sediment and sand that can harm you RV plumbing system - especially your water pump. I even filter water going into my water hold tank.
The slide out drawers shown look really handy, but by the look of it they do seem to sacrifice some cupboard real estate between the drawer and the side of the cabinet and possibly under the drawer. They’re also really expensive and wonder if there is a more affordable (non-stainless steel?) alternative. Doing this for multiple cabinets would really add up. Great tip, though.
They definitely do sacrifice some space, but that matters much less to me than having the convenience of grabbing whatever I want without having to move things around. Thanks Peter
Agree on TPMS, disagree on Tire Minder. My experience was terrible with that hot mess. First unit was difficult to pair, but I did eventually get it done. The display lasted less than 3 months before becoming so dim in was unreadable. To their credit, Valterra did replace it without fuss, then the pairing of transmitters to the new display was again, just not smooth. The second unit from day one, after about an hour on the road, first, one tire would alert for temp and pressure. Then another, eventually, all 6 were showing high temp. A power on/power off would reset everything back to normal, and the process would start all over again. It simply was not a product I could depend on.
sorry to hear that... if you still have the system I would be more than happy to help you get the problem figured out. I personally have not had any pairing issues, but I've heard of pairing problems with every single TPMS manufacturer at one point or another. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help, they are a channel sponsor so I can get you to the right people quickly.
I like the thermostat and was wondering, does the app notify you if the RV loses power or signal and the thermostat can't communicate? This would be great for pet owners if it does.
Great video, your channel has so much very informative content. I have placed an order for a RV, and have been watching all kinds of content to try to learn everything I can. Your channel seems to have some of the most detailed information, thank you. I have a high end mattress at home, and I am a huge fan of good mattresses. My RV (I don't have it yet) is going to be a travel trailer on the smaller size (17ft). Not of a size that supports a "mattress" unfortunately. The main bed is an area that doubles as a dining area, and the "mattress" is the pillows from the dining area being arranged in a mattress form factor. There is one upper bunk in it that has a one piece mattress, but there are thickness limitations there (it folds up for travel and when not in use). I may decide on putting a mattress topper on it once I get it and test it out. I am definitely going to bring a shower head and light filter with me when I go to pick up my trailer.
I don't know if you covered this in prior videos. What do you use for yellowing or dirty shower skylight? I've used a mild soap with no change to the plastic on the outside. Some people say a car headlight restorer or just change it to a darker one. Not going to change a non leaking skylight for a darker one. Thanks for the info.
The shields on our interior lights seem to be permanently affixed to the ceiling, so there doesn’t appear to be an option to add filters which would be great to do over the head of the bed like you showed.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELSProbably a poor choice of words. The fixture shields don’t unscrew like the ones in your video and are affixed to the ceiling. Maybe they pop off with something like a screwdriver but I’m not confident enough to do that without knowing if that will work or might damage the shield.
We bought an old rv as a 'starter' trailer . The old hand me down mattress was crap. So we bought a amazon special 8" memory foam mattress in a box. When we upgraded the trailer, we swapped it for the "factory" Mattress for obvious reasons.
Brand new to owning a RV. We have a 2019 toyhauler that has a fold out couch and two rocking swivel chairs that are the leather type of material. Feels like leather and decent quality. But I do understand about the deterioration. I am just wondering about the furniture section in your video. Don’t you have to strap that stuff down for concern of the furniture moving or damaging the inside of the rv/trailer? I’m just curious, no sarcasm here. Just want to make sure that I am going to go about this the right way. Thank you for your time. We love watching your videos and we are learning a lot. MaryLou
I just added about 6 wood screws through the bottom of the framing where it meets the floor into the wood floor under the carpet. Since it is on a slide out, I used short enough screws so would not penetrate all the way through the wood and interfere with the slide. it didnt need to be bolted down very tight, with the weight of the couch and a couple screws, it doesnt move at all.
Love the channel and this video gave me some ideas. I have a 2014 TT (bought new) and finally see a feasible option for adjusting the colour temperature of the lights. Just ordered the filters with your link. I'm also interested in the furniture idea: how did you bolt down your new loveseat? We have a similar sized one from the manufacturer and I'd love to replace it with something like you have there.
I just used a few heavy duty threaded bolts that went through the bottom of the framing into the plywood floor on the slide. to access the framing i just reclined the seats and went in from the front. i only put 2 or 3 bolts in... just enough to keep it from moving. you dont need a lot to keep it in place. you also need to make sure your bolts or screws dont penetrate through the floor or even poke through its on a slide. measure carefully and use the right bolts.
FYI, we've had our loveseat like yours for 2 years and traveled all across the USA. We didn't bolt it down,we slid it back to the wall to travel. We then pull it out so we can extend the leg support and lay it flat. It never moves out of place.
Subbed! Man you have some really great tips. We are picking up our first travel camper Saturday and will see how long the sofa lasts. Are the drawer slides full extension? doesnt say so
The first thing my husband and I did was replace the RV mattress, in Canada we used Endy, a great mattress.. We also added a mattress extender at the head to have extra length as my husband is 6 ft.
We have the same shower head, and it's been worth every penny! We also upgraded our master bed mattress with a real pillow top mattress (wrestled it in and swore it was never coming out!). Then we upgraded our bunk mattresses with a 10 inch memory foam mattress from Amazon (we had clipped corners, so I was able to trim the mattress with a bread knife) worked perfect and I only paid $189 ea. And they are so compfy compared to the chinsy 3 inch teddy bear mattress the camper came with. Why don't tbose manufacturers just put the better equipment in and charge a little more? Kinda ridiculous!
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS you lose the ability to setup the table if you want, therefore, did you do something else for dining. Our unit came with a bracket attached to the front of the sofa that we are able to setup a table. Do they not have that feature anymore?
Would like to hear what your thoughts were on trailer tires. Lots of information and debate out there and would be interested to hear your opinion. Is there a brand you prefer or heard good things about and what to stay away from.
great question, right now I am running goodyear. We'll see how they hold up, but i had china bombs for 5 years and they actually didnt give me any trouble. its a tough question to answer. so many factors... i will have to circle back on this one.
I just put on Carlisle 205/75/r14. I heard good things so I decided to give them a try. I know it’s a tough question with no real concrete answer other than peoples opinions and experiences. Thanks for the reply. Really enjoy your content.
lol, i think they do, but i can neither confirm or deny. One of the reasons we RV is to have our own private bathroom so i dont visit the bath house other than to wash dishes in the dish sink outside. it is very different from what you may be used to. electric only, sites are unlevel, but people go all out. lights, decorations, the atmosphere is great. the park is a 5 minute walk away, and being at the campground or the park is very cool at night, especially during October if you can make it then.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELSI’ve heard all of the above as well. I’ve always wanted to go in October for Phoenix Phall Phunfest but stuff always seems to come up. I’m a coaster junky and I’ve never been to Knoebel’s and it’s all of 3-1/2 hours to the south of me. That’s bordering on criminal.
its worth it. ive ridden the phoenix for 40 years... the other wooden coaster is twister, built around 99 i think so its definitely a little better IMO. theres personal nostalgia there for me for sure, but its such a great place. especially at night. the haunted house ride hasnt changed much in 40 years either, its cheesy, but thats one of the great things about that place, it doesnt change much. look me up if you ever go.
thanks Ryan, its just me. I do everything. 60 hours a week to produce these videos myself. well, let me say there is of course my wife Tara, who takes care of the house and the meals. 😊
The day everyone realizes that RV mattresses are for display use only the happier they will be. Just include the cost of a new mattress when negotiating the out the door price of the RV.
@@janicecrockett1400 no kidding! What a waste of money to even display the stupid things. RV manufactures should contract with Mike Lindell for a better mattress… seriously
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS My extended family has been going every July for about 40 years. We’re up to about 14 sites in the Canadian provinces between all of us
Followed the link for the rv mattress discount of 30%, entered my phone number as requested, submitted and got an error message that something went wrong. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you resolve it. Thanks.
please try it again. it is working on my end... if that doesnt work ill see if i can just get you a code from them. let me know, either way i will get you a 30% code.
There’s nobody in the market making good thermostats. So while micro air may be a little on the higher side vs a home thermostat, there’s a lot of expense behind designing these to work with RV AC’s. Plus the micro air thermostats work flawlessly, it’s a top of the line product… it’s going to cost more. In my opinion, it’s well worth the 1 time cost.
Because they are different. Different voltage, different schematics. There’s actually more variables in an RV than what most builders are putting in houses.
I think you’ve been letting your dogs drink too much. They look drunk! The thermostat here is pretty pricey. I don’t remember if it was one of your videos but I just got a thermostat for less than $30 that I intend to replace mine with. I can’t stand these thermostats that come with trailers and there is no digital display.
They were tired from a day out on the bikes. Its definitely not a cheap thermostat, but its the best, its built to be easily installed, and has a lot of R&D behind it to work with the many different AC's available on RV's. I would like to see them get the price down a bit too.
minimum $400 or more to do the same thing you can do for $20. I don't even think they make 4000K led replacement fixtures, and if they do, they definitely wont be available for the hundreds of different models of RV's on the road. So you're spending a ton more money and will probably have to retrofit them into your roof, PLUS wire them. No thanks!
This is the dumbest comment I’ve seen on UA-cam in at least 8 months. “Buy them in the first place.” Lights come with the RV dummy and you don’t have the option to choose a color temp. I’ll bet this dummy doesn’t even own an RV.
✨ *PRODUCTS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO* ✨
🛌 25% off RV Mattress www.rvmattress.com/rvtips (use RVTIPS at checkout)
🛌 -30% off RV Mattress- This promotion has expired.
🔹 Lens Filter (1/2 CTO) amzn.to/3yxiUbu (this is not the same manufacturer lens filter I have in my RV, which is made by Lee. Lee no longer sells my lens filter on Amazon, however this product looks similar.)
🔸 Other Lens Filters amzn.to/4bPe1c7
🎥 Dimmer Switch Video ua-cam.com/video/2bbqBcSsRZQ/v-deo.html
🔹 TireMinder i10 TPMS amzn.to/3QY6q31
🔸 TireMinder A1AS TPMS amzn.to/4bKhmd7
🔹 Slide Out Rack amzn.to/4bKExDm
🔸 Oxygenics Body Spa Showerhead White amzn.to/3VbPNTR
🔹 Oxygenics Body Spa Showerhead Silver amzn.to/3wBfe8c
🔸 Micro Air Thermostat www.microair.net/pages/easytouch-rv-thermostat-replacements-select-a-brand (use code RVTIPS at checkout for $15 off, good through August 2024)
*OTHER VIDEOS YOU MAY LIKE*
🎥 RV Dimmer Switchews ua-cam.com/video/2bbqBcSsRZQ/v-deo.html
🎥 Micro Air Thermostat Installation ua-cam.com/video/o0-Yvr3YPQo/v-deo.html
Here is a short list of products & upgrades you can make immediately to your RV. They are simple products that can save you time, money, frustration & overall simply make RV life more enjoyable.
#rv #rvlife #rvliving #rvlifestyle #rvtips #rvtravel #rvtipsandtravels
✨⭐ *OUR FAVORITE RV ACCESSORIES* ⭐✨
*ESSENTIALS:*
🔸 Camco Rhino Flex Sewer Hose & Elbow Kit amzn.to/3wxaiyG
🔹 Camco 90 Degree Clear Sewer Elbow amzn.to/3eezBe7
🔸 Camco RV Water Filter amzn.to/4dfEp0x
🔹 Rubber Wheel Chocks amzn.to/3v0lL5I
🔸 Hughes Watchdog 30 Amp Surge Protector/EMS amzn.to/3hAmgCy
🔹 Hughes Watchdog 50 Amp Surge Protector/EMS amzn.to/3HKrpm1
🔸 Beech Lane Wireless RV Leveler amzn.to/402YpgI
🔹 Liquified RV Tank Treatment amzn.to/3ksg1Ck
🔸 Tire Minder TPMS amzn.to/3mjuBg0
🔹 Water Pressure Regulator amzn.to/3m3ZFzZ
🔸 Rubber Gloves 6 Mil amzn.to/3XNo7Dc
🔹 Collapsible Water Hose amzn.to/3SvNubw
*MAINTENANCE:*
🔸 Boeshield T-9 Rust Preventative & Lubrication amzn.to/3sjcjMx
🔹 Eternabond Roof Tape amzn.to/3Ad290J
🔸 Geocell Proflex Sealant amzn.to/3Qdbj8c
🔹 Road Tool Kit amzn.to/41NIQKj
*INTERIOR:*
🔸 Camco Cross Bar Door Handle amzn.to/3o8WWS5
🔹 Shower Caddy amzn.to/3bdU80W
🔸 Soap Dish amzn.to/3pKheSn
🔹 Oxygenics Shower Head (White) amzn.to/3nhDMYW
🔸 Perfect RV Paper Towel Holder amzn.to/3tZxd1K
🔹 Dimmer Switch amzn.to/3rQdfFD
🔸 Sliding Door Latch amzn.to/3EkpTT0
🔹 Electric Heater/Fireplace amzn.to/44ujuCX
🔶 Foldable Storage Bins amzn.to/3tIp01f
*EXTERIOR:*
🔸 X Chocks amzn.to/3m3ck2i
🔹 Carmtek 10 Digit Keyless Entry System amzn.to/3t4IMpB
📺 The Carmtek Video ua-cam.com/video/KcEUgsDw6kk/v-deo.html
🔸 Low Point Drain Valves amzn.to/3Vko8AH
*OUTDOOR GEAR:*
🔹 Blackstone Griddle amzn.to/3TG0pK1
🔸 Outdoor Gravity Chairs amzn.to/3Sb1p4M
🔹 Ground Mat amzn.to/41u3wXg
💥 Sign up for our FREE Newsletter: rvtipsandtravels.myflodesk.com/freenewsletter
*If you want to support the work I do to help others, you can:*
1) Buy us a coffee: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=J2KKM9NR3BJJA
or
2) If you cannot donate, the easiest way to support our channel is to SUBSCRIBE, turn on ALL NOTIFICATIONS, click the LIKE BUTTON, leave a COMMENT & SHARE the video with your friends.
✨⭐ *MORE RV ACCESSORIES ON AMAZON* ⭐✨
www.amazon.com/shop/rvtipstravels
💥 *NEW TO OUR CHANNEL?* Check out our catalog:
www.youtube.com/@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS/playlists
👇 *DISCOUNT CODES TO SAVE YOU MONEY*
🚐 *10% off RV Snappads & Snapjacks* rvsnappad.com/discount/RVTT10
🛌 Get *25% off your RV Mattress* by Brooklyn Bedding at rvmattress.com/rvtips
Use discount code: rvtips
🚙 RV accessories & specialized parts on Etrailer: www.etrailer.com/?etam=a0038
🔨 Learn how to *repair & maintain your RV* like I did w/ this COMPREHENSIVE training course:
rvtechcourse.com/?ref=rvtips&travels
💻 *We have an RV store on eBay!*
www.ebay.com/usr/rv_tips_and_travels
If you find a dead link, let us know & we’ll send you an RVTT sticker!
*Follow us*
📸 Instagram instagram.com/RVTipsAndTravels
🕺 Facebook facebook.com/RVTipsAndTravels
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There is NO additional cost to you when purchasing from our links & it helps us cover video creation expenses. AI imagery may be used in this video. We may also receive products or payment in exchange for content discussed in this video, however our feedback is strictly based on our experiences, regardless of compensation.
tips rv modifications upgrades mods maintenance camping travel trailer camping hacks diy living full time best rv accessories must haves camping rv gear rv essentials upgrades modifications repairs
Sometimes I think I’m the only one who is happy with our trailer as it came from the factory. We’ve done very few mods to ours. I did upgrade the shower head with one that increases pressure. I upgraded the thermostat to digital. But all in all we like the way it is. We like the mattress, never thought about the lights being to bright or harsh. Our trailer came with a TPMS. We don’t live in ours full time. We upgraded from tent camping. I think we’re just happy not to sleep on the floor and have more room when the weather is bad. I enjoy watching you videos and suggestions. Thanks.
thats the beauty of it, we all have different preferences and can modify accordingly. Thank you for watching and being here Ralph!
As a photographer I'm absolutely embarrassed that I never thought to stick a CTO gel in the lights to change the temperature 🤦♂️, great tip!
David, who is your go to for lens gels? After a few years I noticed they faded right where the led's were resting against them. im guessing thats normal after a few years.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS ya I would imagine after a few years of use they might fade.
I only needed a small pack for my speedlights so I can't really help on a brand. Unless it's an exceptionally cheap set I would imagine any should work with LEDs, since they're designed to withstand much hotter flashes, constant studio lights, etc
To the point! Thank you sir!
I put a "sleep number" mattress for an rv in my 5th wheel..love it
Then just upgraded the water pump to a higher gpm, pressure prob solved.
👍
Pro Tip: If there's a theatrical supply house that sells lighting or a music store that caters to working bands (like Guitar Center or Sam Ash?) who carry their own lighting gear, you can get "gels" for filtering lighting in a bazillion different shades & colors for reducing the intensity of your LED lighting - my target is 3800°K-4000°K color temperature. Rosco and Lee are the two major gel makers on the planet; you can't go wrong with either. (Plus it's just fun to call someone up and ask if they'll sell you a "half-sheet of Rosco Bastard Amber.")
Lee was what i used initially, but it seems that same listing is no longer available, and they dont look like they do much on amazon anymore, at least the listings have changed and are not Prime.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS Another good gel source are camera stores. If Amazon fails you, try the B&H Photo web store, out of NYC.
We did your dimmer switch upgrade and it was the best upgrade we've ever done!!!
Thanks for your post and detailed instructions.
Great to hear!
Great list my man! Never even thought about drawer sliders, so I’m ordering them now!
Glad I could help!
Hi Ross , your Canadian fan Randy ,in regards to lighting ,I came up with great idea. Get rid of lights over bed to a switchable pivoting spot light over bed light from amozon ,then took lights from above bed and added to the kitchen . One I parallel wired to existing light and one under cupboard right above sink . The other over stove area. Now 3 lights in Kitchen area wife 150% happier all controlled by on/ off switch. Keep sending great videos..
awesome mod, thanks for sharing Randy!
I haven't watched yet, but can see who's sponsoring and: OH MY GOSH! We got our Brooklyn Bedding Mattress in before Memorial Day and had it for the 4-day camping weekend. Without question, you were RIGHT again! That mattress is amazing, man. Seriously. Made sure to tell them the reference came from RVTT. So good that I told my buddy about it, and he and his wife also bought one and were blown away at how nice it is (and how much it expands!).
thanks my man... always appreciate a visit from you.
Which one did you buy?
Alternatively, just switch your bulbs for the color temperature you want. Bulb multipack and film appears to be around the same price.
Macfady, sure buy all new lights, remove the all housings instead of the lens, rewire and solder all the new lights in, make adjustments so they fit because whatever cheap lights your referencing probably aren’t the same size or mounting style, and spend more money and time in the process. Sounds like a great alternative. Clown.
@stanfuller3739 I'm sorry you're having a bad day, I was just noting it worked for me and cost
@@macfady2181not having a bad day at all, your comment is just stupid. I’d love for you to prove where you can get 12 drop in replacement pucks for less than $30. But you can’t, you’ll just come back with some dumb response again that doesn’t apply to anything. Typical keyboard hero redirection response.
I'm going to stay out of this little back and forth, but I would love to know where you can get replacements for $1-2 each, because thats really all the gel would cost to do that many lights. Please share!
@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS It was 3-4 years ago now, I was replacing 921 style bulbs. I think the ones I went with were from Aliexpress. I do remember trying to pay careful attention to lumens, as much as kelvin. Anyway, the film didn't even come to mind, so I appreciate the video (and all I've learned from your others).
Another "RV" specific thing to avoid is faucet fixtures - we replaced our bathroom faucet with an off-the-shelf hardware store option that has served us well over the years.
im ready to do the bathroom, not leaking, but squeaks like a mother. just had to replace hoses on the toilet yesterday, that was fun... ill text you the pic. 🤣
Thanks! I think I'll get some of that film. It never occured to me to do that, even though I'm a life-long photographer.
My wife got a natural rubber mattress for our trailer. I don't know who she bought it from, but it's pretty comfortable. My understanding is there are health benefits. But it was pretty heavy.
thanks Bob! as long as you have something comfortable thats all that matters! Thanks for the comment!
So reducing the temperature of your lighting makes the camper feel warmer?
visually, its a warmer light. it doesnt change the temperature.
It figures. I just ordered replacement furniture (cloth this time!) from RecPro for my rv last Friday. My kids purchased furniture from a local low cost furniture store and their furniture material peeled just like my rv furniture. So I had no confidence in low cost furniture stores and went with cloth this time. Furniture is very expensive (as well as everything else) in CA. A friend of mine riding on an Amtrak through LA today sent me a picture of their fuel prices, $7.79 a gallon for regular. We pay a premium for great weather.
thanks for the input Terry, sorry to hear about the furniture peeling... not all home furniture is the same for sure, but its a much more competitive market so you'll almost always find better prices. Keep those receipts! $7.79 is crazy! I wonder what diesel costs?
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS surprisingly diesel is less expensive, 7.69
Great weather or WOKE politicians? 😆
I did this the first year we owned our rv. I have a 2021 Grand Design Transcend 200mk . It was a great mod..
thanks for watching and commenting!
Upgraded my kitchen water faucet to one with an integrated separate drinking water faucet and run that line through its own filter under the sink. No more filters at the hose connection. I don't need my whole RV water system with filtered water, just the drinking water.
nice, thanks for sharing!
I put a filter under the sink too. It just goes to the cold water side of the tap. Plus when its nice and cold inside at night, the water gets cold too.
It's a good idea to still filter the water coming into the RV. It removes sediment and sand that can harm you RV plumbing system - especially your water pump. I even filter water going into my water hold tank.
The slide out drawers shown look really handy, but by the look of it they do seem to sacrifice some cupboard real estate between the drawer and the side of the cabinet and possibly under the drawer. They’re also really expensive and wonder if there is a more affordable (non-stainless steel?) alternative. Doing this for multiple cabinets would really add up. Great tip, though.
They definitely do sacrifice some space, but that matters much less to me than having the convenience of grabbing whatever I want without having to move things around. Thanks Peter
Agree on TPMS, disagree on Tire Minder. My experience was terrible with that hot mess. First unit was difficult to pair, but I did eventually get it done. The display lasted less than 3 months before becoming so dim in was unreadable. To their credit, Valterra did replace it without fuss, then the pairing of transmitters to the new display was again, just not smooth. The second unit from day one, after about an hour on the road, first, one tire would alert for temp and pressure. Then another, eventually, all 6 were showing high temp. A power on/power off would reset everything back to normal, and the process would start all over again. It simply was not a product I could depend on.
sorry to hear that... if you still have the system I would be more than happy to help you get the problem figured out. I personally have not had any pairing issues, but I've heard of pairing problems with every single TPMS manufacturer at one point or another. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help, they are a channel sponsor so I can get you to the right people quickly.
I like the thermostat and was wondering, does the app notify you if the RV loses power or signal and the thermostat can't communicate? This would be great for pet owners if it does.
it does not, and something i have been on them to update.
Great upgrades Ross I love to see more reviews with the sledgehammer lol 😆
ill see what i can do!
Can I remove the dinette in the slide and replace it with a sofa? Would prefer reclining theater type
absolutely, its been done a million times. you may have to take the backs off to get it through the door but its very easy.
Definitely buying a new shower head first day. Thanks for the tip
You bet!
Great video, your channel has so much very informative content. I have placed an order for a RV, and have been watching all kinds of content to try to learn everything I can. Your channel seems to have some of the most detailed information, thank you.
I have a high end mattress at home, and I am a huge fan of good mattresses. My RV (I don't have it yet) is going to be a travel trailer on the smaller size (17ft). Not of a size that supports a "mattress" unfortunately. The main bed is an area that doubles as a dining area, and the "mattress" is the pillows from the dining area being arranged in a mattress form factor. There is one upper bunk in it that has a one piece mattress, but there are thickness limitations there (it folds up for travel and when not in use). I may decide on putting a mattress topper on it once I get it and test it out.
I am definitely going to bring a shower head and light filter with me when I go to pick up my trailer.
thanks for watching and commenting!
Hey Ross, any chance you could do a video on what to look for / avoid when purchasing a new or used rv?
hoping to buy new next year, will do something on this eventually.
I don't know if you covered this in prior videos. What do you use for yellowing or dirty shower skylight? I've used a mild soap with no change to the plastic on the outside. Some people say a car headlight restorer or just change it to a darker one. Not going to change a non leaking skylight for a darker one. Thanks for the info.
Not sure if it will work on the skylight but it works on headlights; OFF bug spray in the green can. Obviously spray it on the outside.
thanks for helping out Shane.
see shanes comment.
We ordered the thermostat upgrade on your recommendation on another video and so very glad we did !!!
Great to hear, thanks for the info and safe travels Gary!
I have several of these and totally agree. Spot on Brudda. Thank you for sharing
thanks my friend!
The shields on our interior lights seem to be permanently affixed to the ceiling, so there doesn’t appear to be an option to add filters which would be great to do over the head of the bed like you showed.
i would imagine any light fixture should be removable in case it fails?
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELSProbably a poor choice of words. The fixture shields don’t unscrew like the ones in your video and are affixed to the ceiling. Maybe they pop off with something like a screwdriver but I’m not confident enough to do that without knowing if that will work or might damage the shield.
The thermostat is great! Got one a year ago.
It sure is!
We bought an old rv as a 'starter' trailer . The old hand me down mattress was crap. So we bought a amazon special 8" memory foam mattress in a box. When we upgraded the trailer, we swapped it for the "factory" Mattress for obvious reasons.
👍
Thanks for all your videos Ros. We've upgraded almost everything you've shared 😉
Thank you Karen, glad to have you here on the channel!
Brand new to owning a RV. We have a 2019 toyhauler that has a fold out couch and two rocking swivel chairs that are the leather type of material. Feels like leather and decent quality. But I do understand about the deterioration. I am just wondering about the furniture section in your video. Don’t you have to strap that stuff down for concern of the furniture moving or damaging the inside of the rv/trailer? I’m just curious, no sarcasm here. Just want to make sure that I am going to go about this the right way. Thank you for your time. We love watching your videos and we are learning a lot.
MaryLou
I just added about 6 wood screws through the bottom of the framing where it meets the floor into the wood floor under the carpet. Since it is on a slide out, I used short enough screws so would not penetrate all the way through the wood and interfere with the slide. it didnt need to be bolted down very tight, with the weight of the couch and a couple screws, it doesnt move at all.
Love your light filter idea, this is my next project, thankyou, where is the best place to purchase 1/2 cto?
the stuff I ordered is no longer available, but this looks similar: amzn.to/3yWsGEn
Can that thermostat replace any domestic in a Rv? I hate my domestic thermostat
The dometic thermostat is so horrible. I just cant justify the price of that wifi thermostat.
here is their site to find out: www.microair.net/pages/easytouch-rv-thermostat-replacements-select-a-brand
Thanks. This is a very informative video. I will have to check out the RV mattress site.
thank you for watching and commenting!
Love the channel and this video gave me some ideas. I have a 2014 TT (bought new) and finally see a feasible option for adjusting the colour temperature of the lights. Just ordered the filters with your link.
I'm also interested in the furniture idea: how did you bolt down your new loveseat? We have a similar sized one from the manufacturer and I'd love to replace it with something like you have there.
I just used a few heavy duty threaded bolts that went through the bottom of the framing into the plywood floor on the slide. to access the framing i just reclined the seats and went in from the front. i only put 2 or 3 bolts in... just enough to keep it from moving. you dont need a lot to keep it in place. you also need to make sure your bolts or screws dont penetrate through the floor or even poke through its on a slide. measure carefully and use the right bolts.
FYI, we've had our loveseat like yours for 2 years and traveled all across the USA. We didn't bolt it down,we slid it back to the wall to travel. We then pull it out so we can extend the leg support and lay it flat. It never moves out of place.
Thank you for the awesome tips! Just subscribed and trying to watch your older videos!
Thanks for watching and commenting Jim!
100% agree on the slide out racks!
thanks for watching and commenting!
@9:18 ....
L. M. A. O. !!! I actually feel the same way about Jayco's JAYCOMMAND 🍺
lol, here is the thermostat video: ua-cam.com/video/o0-Yvr3YPQo/v-deo.html
How do you replace/repair the floor scratched while closing push out?
i cant answer that without seeing your floor.
Subbed! Man you have some really great tips. We are picking up our first travel camper Saturday and will see how long the sofa lasts. Are the drawer slides full extension? doesnt say so
by full extension, i think so, they come out pretty far, but mine have been discontinued so the links may be slightly different.
The first thing my husband and I did was replace the RV mattress, in Canada we used Endy, a great mattress.. We also added a mattress extender at the head to have extra length as my husband is 6 ft.
nice, thanks for sharing!
We added a tp topper 😍
Hey Ross, great video. Do you have a recommendation for LED bulbs for the interior lighting?
no, i havent ever changed them out, they are still the factory fixtures. sorry i couldnt help... but these seem to be popular: amzn.to/3yS9V51
Thank you! Any discount code for the oxygenics shower head by chance? 🚿
this is the best price I could find: amzn.to/4cbrFqj
We have the same shower head, and it's been worth every penny! We also upgraded our master bed mattress with a real pillow top mattress (wrestled it in and swore it was never coming out!). Then we upgraded our bunk mattresses with a 10 inch memory foam mattress from Amazon (we had clipped corners, so I was able to trim the mattress with a bread knife) worked perfect and I only paid $189 ea. And they are so compfy compared to the chinsy 3 inch teddy bear mattress the camper came with. Why don't tbose manufacturers just put the better equipment in and charge a little more? Kinda ridiculous!
im with you!
Great tips!
Glad you think so!
What do you do about a dining table?
what do you mean "what do you do?"
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS you lose the ability to setup the table if you want, therefore, did you do something else for dining. Our unit came with a bracket attached to the front of the sofa that we are able to setup a table. Do they not have that feature anymore?
oh, got ya, we just eat on our lap, or at the table outside. we go out to eat a lot while traveling too.
Would like to hear what your thoughts were on trailer tires. Lots of information and debate out there and would be interested to hear your opinion. Is there a brand you prefer or heard good things about and what to stay away from.
Carlisle makes great tires, and BFGoodrich makes a great tire. I dont tow much, and my camper has amazon tires that are load range E rated.
great question, right now I am running goodyear. We'll see how they hold up, but i had china bombs for 5 years and they actually didnt give me any trouble. its a tough question to answer. so many factors... i will have to circle back on this one.
heard good things about Carlisle too.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS I think I was thinking of goodyear, not BFG. The Goodyear endurance are highly rated tires.
I just put on Carlisle 205/75/r14. I heard good things so I decided to give them a try. I know it’s a tough question with no real concrete answer other than peoples opinions and experiences. Thanks for the reply. Really enjoy your content.
Where did you get your lenses filter? I got some off Amazon but they made the light way too yellow.
i got mine on amazon as well, but the one i got is no longer available.
I actually picked up new pucks at 3200 kelvin. When I did, I noticed that up to 25% of the bulbs inside were dead anyway
👍
Thank you, Ross, good stuff!
My pleasure! Thank YOU for watching!
Well done. Actually really useful video
Glad you liked it
Knoebel’s Campground! That’s on my to-do list. I’ve heard rumor the campground bathrooms don’t have toilet seats. Can you confirm or deny?!?
lol, i think they do, but i can neither confirm or deny. One of the reasons we RV is to have our own private bathroom so i dont visit the bath house other than to wash dishes in the dish sink outside. it is very different from what you may be used to. electric only, sites are unlevel, but people go all out. lights, decorations, the atmosphere is great. the park is a 5 minute walk away, and being at the campground or the park is very cool at night, especially during October if you can make it then.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELSI’ve heard all of the above as well. I’ve always wanted to go in October for Phoenix Phall Phunfest but stuff always seems to come up.
I’m a coaster junky and I’ve never been to Knoebel’s and it’s all of 3-1/2 hours to the south of me. That’s bordering on criminal.
its worth it. ive ridden the phoenix for 40 years... the other wooden coaster is twister, built around 99 i think so its definitely a little better IMO. theres personal nostalgia there for me for sure, but its such a great place. especially at night. the haunted house ride hasnt changed much in 40 years either, its cheesy, but thats one of the great things about that place, it doesnt change much. look me up if you ever go.
Hey Ross, just curious how many people you have on your staff? Videos are excellent, you have a great team.
thanks Ryan, its just me. I do everything. 60 hours a week to produce these videos myself. well, let me say there is of course my wife Tara, who takes care of the house and the meals. 😊
Great info...really helpful thx
you're very welcome
Great video, thanks!
You're welcome!
I would absolutely LOVE to know where you got that loveseat! And, maybe what brand? We are in desperate need of changing out our nasty recliners!
theres no tags on it so i dont know the brand... bought from Mealy's, i think they are out of business now.
Nice list
Glad you think so!
Which mattress did you get?
we got the Aurora Luxe... we have bad backs so mattresses are things we always go big on. thank you for watching my friend.
The day everyone realizes that RV mattresses are for display use only the happier they will be. Just include the cost of a new mattress when negotiating the out the door price of the RV.
they are pretty bad right?!
@@janicecrockett1400 no kidding! What a waste of money to even display the stupid things. RV manufactures should contract with Mike Lindell for a better mattress… seriously
6:40 Knoebels!
love it there, we go every October for the Halloween weekends. it was our first trip in the RV actually too. Do you still go?
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS My extended family has been going every July for about 40 years. We’re up to about 14 sites in the Canadian provinces between all of us
AWESOME! we stay at Florida 13, it was our first site, and because they give a week to lock it for the next year, we stay there every year.
Followed the link for the rv mattress discount of 30%, entered my phone number as requested, submitted and got an error message that something went wrong. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you resolve it. Thanks.
I’ll reach out to you tomorrow and see if I can figure this out for you. I’ll call rv mattress tomorrow too.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS thank you so much
please try it again. it is working on my end... if that doesnt work ill see if i can just get you a code from them. let me know, either way i will get you a 30% code.
@@RVTIPSANDTRAVELS thank you so much
keep me posted please
Do you also have to get zero clearance on the loveseat?
im not sure what zero clearance is, its just a home furniture loveseat.
Lens filters are often used in jail :)
so as to keep prisoners calm?
Why are RV thermostats so overpriced? Is it really that difficult to install a regular 'home' smart thermostat?
There’s nobody in the market making good thermostats. So while micro air may be a little on the higher side vs a home thermostat, there’s a lot of expense behind designing these to work with RV AC’s. Plus the micro air thermostats work flawlessly, it’s a top of the line product… it’s going to cost more. In my opinion, it’s well worth the 1 time cost.
Because they are different. Different voltage, different schematics. There’s actually more variables in an RV than what most builders are putting in houses.
Home thermostat runs on 24v AC and the camper runs on 12v DC. That is the only difference.
Hey Ross! As usual this is another well done an informative video, it helps new channel like ours by "setting the bar"
Well done!
Keith@ThreedayRV
i appreciate that, thank you! and keep posting!
I think you’ve been letting your dogs drink too much. They look drunk!
The thermostat here is pretty pricey. I don’t remember if it was one of your videos but I just got a thermostat for less than $30 that I intend to replace mine with. I can’t stand these thermostats that come with trailers and there is no digital display.
They were tired from a day out on the bikes.
Its definitely not a cheap thermostat, but its the best, its built to be easily installed, and has a lot of R&D behind it to work with the many different AC's available on RV's. I would like to see them get the price down a bit too.
Or, just buy the 4000K bulbs/fixtures in the first place.
minimum $400 or more to do the same thing you can do for $20. I don't even think they make 4000K led replacement fixtures, and if they do, they definitely wont be available for the hundreds of different models of RV's on the road. So you're spending a ton more money and will probably have to retrofit them into your roof, PLUS wire them. No thanks!
Sure when I’m building my own rv from the ground up, I’ll do that.
right?
This is the dumbest comment I’ve seen on UA-cam in at least 8 months. “Buy them in the first place.” Lights come with the RV dummy and you don’t have the option to choose a color temp. I’ll bet this dummy doesn’t even own an RV.
Some guys make comments to be cool, like this guy, as if color temp fixtures are an option for new buyers. 😂😂😂😂
Taking your white lights to yellow? Gross. People really like that yellow dull color? How do you wake up?
As mentioned in the video, its a personal preference mod. If you don't like it, dont do it, pretty simple. Thanks for watching and have a good day.
Ive been wondering how to get a good yellow, since those white lights are so bad for our eyes and sleep!! Thank you for this!!!
You should try softer lighting in your life, I think the exam room lighting you live in has affected your happiness.
🤣