I love your tips. Here are a few extra tidbits. If you don't have a pizza stone, a ceramic tile works well and is cheaper. That foil insulation you use in your windows makes a great camping pad. Diatomaceous earth or instant grits will also kill ants. I choose those because I have small children and they are not harmful to people or pets. I keep them in an old parmesan cheese shaker and sprinkle it all over the ground as soon as we set up camp. Baby oil and a plastic scrubber will clean off bugs and tar and prevent more from sticking, but you don't want to use it on top of wax. Thank you for taking the time to share you video.
a must for flies and bugs are ;the hand held bug zapper[rechargeable] and or a good vacuum to suck the bug out of the air.swatting bugs leaves a mess.i left the door open one day and came home to hundreds of flies.that when i discovered the vacuum trick.cranking up the AC will slow them down.spays can get all over your stuff too.i vacuum them up and follow it with a good shot of bug spray into the vacuum too.you don't want to put your vacuum away filled with live bugs.
Thank you so much for making this video. I'm almost 50, husband left me and I'm losing my home. My plan is to use what money I have to buy an RV so that I will always have a home no matter what. But until I found your video, I was so overwhelmed and scared of so many things. I don't know why, but this video really made me feel so much more like I can really learn how to do this. Thank you.
+kristen beauregard hey Kristen 1sthello my name is Dallas Lee ...im also in my 50's and and after my divorse from my wife, i also had many concerns & fears about living the full time life in 33"travel trailer ,but i jus dove in head first sorta speak, and now after living the full time life and trail and error,and watchin many youtube vids , wht use to be my concerns and fears hav all became somethng i laugh at now , thngs jus became simple after actually doing it ,,,all in all it has been a very simple and great transition,and will never go back , ill live in my travel trailer forever ..oh and ive been thru 2 other trailers from a 20' to 27' now my 33' im now a expert ha ha ha lol jus ask me , ill tell you ......but if u do really need anythng jus ask , ive probably been thru it
Hi Ray! Spending my Sunday doing chores and watching some of your old videos .... what a surprise to see Angie come out from under the sink! LOL Such a cutie .... I miss seeing her. Great tips too!! (as always) Thanks!
The best advice ever for full-time RV living is: Bring Half The Clothes & Twice The Money That seems to be what it always comes down to. Space and Money.
loved your tips... I love Quartzsite. I tent camped for 5 years during the winter there. I want to get an RV of some sort and travel again. By the time I get my RV, I should have a huge list of ideas from everyone.
About the only thing I'm not allergic to! Traveling this week. Your videos are wonderful and I'll read and listen to everything you post. This 70 year old newbie is on an adventure. Alone. ODG, what have I done!!
I'm thinking of getting a Class B Roadtrek so I can park in any parking lot. However, its nice to know about those little things one doesn't think about. Like the windex, which I plan to use in my house. Also the plumber's grease along with the pizza stone. But I'm wondering on newer models if ovens are better made or more efficient now?
Mary Sheffield Most of the rigs are using basically the same gas oven I have, but some of the higher end RVs are going with just a microwave/convection oven combo instead.
Thank you for all the great advice. I'm just getting into this sport. I'm getting my 1st trail in a few months. I've getting a Kodiak 23ORBSL 4 season trailer. I can't wait.
Good video. I got an used RV last year and started doing some RVing locally to work out the problems on an older RV. Anyways, great tips. My toilet does slowly leak so I will get some plumbers grease and as for the Bounce fabric softener, it has a lot of uses besides laundry. Throw a couple in hidden spaces as an air freshener and I also use it on tv's as it cleans them and the anti static slows the dust build up too. Can't wait for this next season to do some more RVing and go further this time.
georgeof78 Thanks, and thanks for the Bounce tips, I also heard they can ward off mosquitos and mice. I have a box of really fragrant off brand ones in the basement storage and haven't mouse problems since so maybe... :)
Fantastic, thanks for that and I'll check out your other videos too. We lived full time in a 40ft class A and I even sold RVs for the winter in FL but I learned things from your tips that I'd never heard. 2 thumbs up
The water hose: In a pinch, a turkey baster with an x cut into the bulb end might do the trick. It would probably depend on just how things were situated, but just a little keep-in-mind thing.
That's a great looking rv, and some great tips. Also someone said you can use dish detergent on the front of your rv to make a slick cover against the bugs too.
Love Your RV Yea as you can probably tell I watch a ton of rv, and campervan type of videos. I'm always trying to learn as much as I can so that when I can get ahold of some money I can work on getting a better set up with my campervan.
You only need to use it on the front areas where the bugs will hit, not on the whole rig. After you get to your destination you can re wax it. It's about making life easier.
campervandavid You got to think about what you are saying. The more wax on the finish is what makes the bug guts come off easier. So if you cut the wax off, how easy do you think it will be to get that crap off. I mean, you can test it out if you like and report back, but I learned a long time ago when my mom said to not touch the hot pan, don't touch the hot pan. Hey, to each his own.
@loveyourrv I'm so thankful I found your channel thank you so much for all of the helpful content. I just found my first RV yesterday and am jumping straight into the deep end. I don't know much about rv's either or the rv lifestyle so any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you so much I'm super excited and ready to start my adventure :) I actually feel pretty comfortable with the RV so far and am comfortable with learning as go with good resources and the willingness to learn. Only thing I'm having issue with is really finding a long term RV lot to stay at. I did just find the videos today though and am beginning to wonder if it is even as big of deal as I'm thinking it is.
Great video, I have been full-time for the past year and didn't know most of these! I have to ask, why do you keep your freshwater hose in a container with your dump hose?
Love Your RV Good tips.. I am thinking to get a RV for my first home... So thank you.. In the future, should you come up with more tips please make more videos...
Sure will thanks! There are a few others on the channel not sure if you found them. 10 Helpful RVing Tips and Tricks and 8 More Simple RVing Tips From a Full Time RVer
for moisture you should run fans to help keep your RV dryer, Also spray your tires with insect repellent and rub Vaseline around your outdoor cords and electrical hook ups as well. Thank you for the info help mine helps as well.
Thank you for the great tips. The hairdryer was my favorite because our fridge ices up on occasion and i couldn't figure how to remove ice without losing my cold. Plus, I have an small freezer in our RV basement. ( like 3 cubit ft, I think) to take extra frozen items. ( less trips to the grocer) Thanks!!😊😊
Yes, good idea. I noticed our Keystone trailer had most of the gaps filled by spray foam from the factory. Around any of the plumbing pipes etc. This won't stop sugar ants though, they are so small they get in any little crevice. :)
Place a thin sheet of steel (not aluminum or galvanized) under the pizza stone... the exact dimensions...you might actually want to make a pizza or a focaccia... Use an electric bug zapper...20 watts...... Silicone spray on the front cap...
For the toilet, I put cheap washing up liquid into the cassette and that tends to keep the smell away. Coca Cola works great for cleaning the grey water tank.
Great tips! For any future ant infestations you can use Baby Powder. They don't like it and tend to stay away from areas where it is laid out. Plus, it is not toxic.
Hey, I just noticed your comment regarding Pam for a protectant on your RV front. You were concerned that the Pam might migrate to the top where your surface would be damaged by petroleum based products. I think you will find that those type of products are vegetable based and will be harmless to the top and finish of your unit. Thanks for your tips though, much good information is available from watching.
Hi very good video. I have one a cottage from Cedar Creek i am living in New Zealand what i want to ask is how do i fill up my storage fresh water tank; just love living in this its very comfortable how you can help a widow on her own thanks
Any tips on protecting plastic from the intense desert UV rays? Do you spray your plastic roof vents and A/C cover, etc with Formula 303, or a similar product?
There is a video in this post - www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-tips-and-tricks-for-newbie-rvers/ and you'll find lots more dry camping info and videos in this archive - www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-archive/ Cheers Ray
I use two types, one twice a year for a thorough waxing job called Pro RV,Boat abd Aircraft wax - amzn.to/2Ek9Jel and one for quick touch-ups called Protect All - amzn.to/2DU7q42 Cheers! Ray - www.loveyourrv.com/wash-wax-and-detail-the-rv/
My wife and I are going to be full timing next year on hopefully a lot of BLM land. Other than conserving water which is a must, how do you handle the water situation when on BML land that has no water when you run out? Where do you get your water filled? Do you ask gas stations for water? Do you have to offer folks money to fill your water tanks? I was just curious about that because it will be a real issue for us Thanks and great videos enjoy the info
We have a 60-gallon freshwater tank and I carry 14 gallons of drinking water in jugs. That can do us for 10 days to 2 weeks. I can always take the empty jugs and get them filled to extend a stay. In the desert, there are lots of water fill machines and places to fill the rig. RV sanidumps, rest stops, truck stops, etc. You can also stop by most RV Parks or state campgrounds and pay around 10 bucks for a dump and or water fill. Check out www.sanidumps.com/ It lists places to get water.
Any tips on RV bumper mount cargo carrier issues? Like must we reinforce bumper weldings. I've seen supportive struts for sale but didn't like bolts through the ends idea. I know about the clamp for the reciever connection wiggle. Also awnings ; my Dometic rear awning support bracket doesn't fold flat tight against the RV like my front one does. Four bucks seems alot for such a tiny amount of grease. Can't we use wheel bearing grease at 2 bucks for an entire tube.
Depends on the bumper, ours is so thin-walled I wouldn't trust it. I'd be tossing the bumper and having a heavy duty one welded on. Our trailer though has the pull-out bike rack good for a 200 lb load. Sounds like your awning is twisted or the material has stretched on one side, maybe it was damaged by a wind gust. The plumber grease is silicone so it won't damage the rubber gaskets, a 4 buck amount lasts for 5 or 10 years of use and is designed specifically for the task. Go ahead and save 2 bucks if you like. Cheers Ray
HI Tom, we use a gadget from Verizon called a Mifi and it hooks into the cell network, Verizon has a lot of coverage out west, so most times we are on the internet through that. It also is a hotspot router so we can connect all our devices to it. Down side is it's about 8-10 dollars per Gigabit on our current plan for data. I'm surprised now how much 4G super fast speed coverage there is now, I had to go in and shut 4G speed off, because we were burning through our data too fast. :)
No problem Tom , for more info on connecting while traveling check out www.technomadia.com/ +Technomadia has an app called Coverage which shows you where you can get internet through the cell networks and they wrote a ebook i recommend covering mobile internet solutions - www.loveyourrv.com/mobile-internet-handbook-review/ Cheers Ray
the best internet service I can find for full time rv is called autonet mobile is a in motion internet service. You can get 1 GB of internet for 29 a mouth to 5 GB for 59 a mouth.
Here I thought I was being original with my reflective window coverings! lol. I can verify they work great. I also just used packing foam to make my own vent cushions, free. ;-)
I have a solution to your dog on couch problem. It works really well and does not harm the dog at all. It trains them without you even having to be there. It allows the dog to get on the couch when you are okay with it and when you want them to join you for a movie or whatever. All you need is a bunch of small paper bags, like the kind you would pack a sandwich into, and some mousetraps. Set the mousetrap. Reverse fold the creases on the paper bags so that they retain an inflated shape. Place the mousetraps into the bags and fold the opening underneath so that they just look like inflated paper bags. Set the bags around the couch close enough to each other so that there is no area between them that the dog can lay without touching one. When your dog gets on the couch it will bump into one or more of the bags and set off the mousetrap. The snapping sound will spook the dog and they will jump off. Continue doing this trick for several days. The best time to do it is when you are not home. When you return it is easy to tell if the dog attempted to get on the couch because some of the traps will have triggered. All you have to do is hit the bags to see if they've already been triggered or not. One day, and it shouldn't take more than a couple of days, you will notice that none of the traps have been triggered. This means that your dog did not even attempt to get on the couch. From this point forward all you need to do is to puff up the bags and lay them around the couch without even having to put the traps in them. The dog will see the bags and will be scared to get on the couch. He/she has no idea that there are no longer any traps in the bags but the mere sight of them will cause them to seek somewhere else to lay down, like the doggie bed that I'm sure you've provided for him/her. This trick works great because it causes absolutely no harm to the dog at all. It just makes them scared to climb on when they see the bags. The best part is that the dog will feel perfectly safe when there are no bags on the the couch. Thus they will have no fear when you want them to join you on the couch for some buddy time. Pretty genius idea, yes? I've told many people about this trick and a few have tried it and said that it works fantastically. What do you think?
Dry sheets are good to remove bug but, it isn't the coarseness of the sheets that remove the bugs. What chemical impregnated into the sheet is ANIMAL FATS and with the coarseness will remove them bug guts. Great channel for learning about full timing tips. Haven't got my motorhome yet but working towards that now, can't wait.
lloyd67lp Got it at a Camping World store, can also order it on Amazon it is called Reflectix. I think Home Depot and Lowes stock it too. I just cut it to fit. Pretty well holds itself in place.
Great video. Instead of killing ants try another idea: feed them. Give them a little piece of cookie but put it out away from the the camper. Cupcakes and other such things work too. Poisons are not such a great idea because they impact our environment. Create containers with baking soda(arm and hammer) and holes for roaches. Kills roaches dead. Some other variety of roach needs you to mix the baking soda with bacon fat and create little balls- place those in containers with big enough holes for the larges bug to get through.Great way to remove such bugs from a camper. Always use organic gardening approved methods when growing organic veggie gardens. Full time campers often have a good spot of land they can grow things upon. If not try growing plants other ways- such as buckets which can optionally come with you if you have to relocate.
The holes in the upper portion of your toilet bowl that guards from overflow, will allow tank gases to come back within the RV. So the seal at the bottom is a mute point...
I have 28 - 1/8" holes around the inner rim for fresh water, 2 - 1/2" holes at the rear of the bowl for overflow. Original equip China not Plastic. 91' Beaver Contessa...
Awesome tips..... East shore RV park in San Dimas, Ca, is built on an ancient ant hill. RVers are guests of them!!! Taking all precautions on every entry point one year I was surprised to wake up and find my daughters birthday cake was no longer white as Coconut should be. It was black. Entry point...... last child in the rig at bedtime leaned her bicycle up against the drop strap on the awning. They came up bicycle, up strap, up awning and in they came. They marched around all of the powder and poison. They like the cake better. Those drops would have prevented this!!! When you wash the coach do not use soap unless totally necessary. A good workout with the soft brush will clean it, and the wax on the front will not get stripped off. When I wax the trailer I triple wax the front and then the bugs slide right off. After years of turtle wax i went to Meguires, RV Geek approved. The RV Geeks were correct it is so much better. 3X as much but better results without the labor!! Thank you!!
I usually use a product called - P-38-Q RV, BOAT & AIRCRAFT WAX Takes some more effort to apply and buff off but I find it really lasts. For quick waxes I use Protect-All
Luckily we summer on Vancouver Island BC where it only gets to maybe 85 degrees max in summer so no problems keeping the rig cool. This last winter we had a hot spell down in Arizona and temps got over 90 degrees while boondocking with no AC. The dog was fine, kept her in the shade with lots of water on hand. I wouldn't want to try Vegas in the summer though, I hear it can get super hot there.
Re. your toilet gasket tip: Thetford states that any petroleum based product can degrade the rubber gasket. So Plumbers Grease is a good option but the Vaseline Lip Therapy would not be a good choice.
So does Dometic and silicone grease is the proper type for rubber, but I have used the lip therapy in a pinch a few times, going on three years now and seal is still in great shape. I wonder if that is just a blanket statement they use and really how much real rubber is in the gasket. The plumbers grease sure does last a lot longer tho, I lubed mine months ago and the seal is still good, using it everyday.
fyi..Vaseline degrades rubber, do not use on the toilet seal..the swimming pool supply place has a silicone based type of lube specifically made for rubber, it's called "magic lube"... great vid & thanks for sharing!
I love your tips. Here are a few extra tidbits. If you don't have a pizza stone, a ceramic tile works well and is cheaper. That foil insulation you use in your windows makes a great camping pad. Diatomaceous earth or instant grits will also kill ants. I choose those because I have small children and they are not harmful to people or pets. I keep them in an old parmesan cheese shaker and sprinkle it all over the ground as soon as we set up camp. Baby oil and a plastic scrubber will clean off bugs and tar and prevent more from sticking, but you don't want to use it on top of wax. Thank you for taking the time to share you video.
Thanks for the tips Heather!
You should spray the bottom of ur wheels with raid. And another one is you could get magnets and tape for the reflective insulation
a must for flies and bugs are ;the hand held bug zapper[rechargeable] and or a good vacuum to suck the bug out of the air.swatting bugs leaves a mess.i left the door open one day and came home to hundreds of flies.that when i discovered the vacuum trick.cranking up the AC will slow them down.spays can get all over your stuff too.i vacuum them up and follow it with a good shot of bug spray into the vacuum too.you don't want to put your vacuum away filled with live bugs.
Thank you so much for making this video. I'm almost 50, husband left me and I'm losing my home. My plan is to use what money I have to buy an RV so that I will always have a home no matter what. But until I found your video, I was so overwhelmed and scared of so many things. I don't know why, but this video really made me feel so much more like I can really learn how to do this. Thank you.
You're welcome, glad the video helped out. You can find tons more RVing tips over on my website - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-tips-and-tricks/ Cheers Ray
+kristen beauregard hey Kristen 1sthello my name is Dallas Lee ...im also in my 50's and and after my divorse from my wife, i also had many concerns & fears about living the full time life in 33"travel trailer ,but i jus dove in head first sorta speak, and now after living the full time life and trail and error,and watchin many youtube vids , wht use to be my concerns and fears hav all became somethng i laugh at now , thngs jus became simple after actually doing it ,,,all in all it has been a very simple and great transition,and will never go back , ill live in my travel trailer forever ..oh and ive been thru 2 other trailers from a 20' to 27' now my 33' im now a expert ha ha ha lol jus ask me , ill tell you ......but if u do really need anythng jus ask , ive probably been thru it
Those are great tips, I really like the windex for killing flies, bubble wrap in the window and the vent insulator.
Thanks! Am planning on buying an RV in about a year and traveling alone. As an old lady, these are great things to know.
Hi Ray! Spending my Sunday doing chores and watching some of your old videos .... what a surprise to see Angie come out from under the sink! LOL Such a cutie .... I miss seeing her.
Great tips too!! (as always) Thanks!
haha, yeah that was a funny one. :) See is sure missed. Cheers, Ray
The best advice ever for full-time RV living is:
Bring Half The Clothes
& Twice The Money
That seems to be what it always comes down to. Space and Money.
loved your tips... I love Quartzsite. I tent camped for 5 years during the winter there. I want to get an RV of some sort and travel again. By the time I get my RV, I should have a huge list of ideas from everyone.
Thanks Diane, There are some great spots down there is Arizona. We love exploring all over the South West. Great place to RV.
Lip Balm on the toilet seal! We had a great laugh. Only RVers would understand. Great tips, thank you for taking the time to share.
About the only thing I'm not allergic to! Traveling this week. Your videos are wonderful and I'll read and listen to everything you post. This 70 year old newbie is on an adventure. Alone. ODG, what have I done!!
I use Pool & Spa Lub at Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies on all water parts plus the price is much cheaper than plumbers grease. Just an FYI, Dennis
Those are some really great tips. Thanks! I have a Great Dane so there goes my couch accessibility.
Buddy! I just saw a Newfoundland magnet on your range hood at 6:02.. right on!
Nice video, thanks for the tips. Happy travels!
Chad Adams haha! Ya, we took the RV over and spent a few weeks in Gros Morne a few years back. Was awesome! Cheers Ray
getting our rv in December. just came across this video and tips,they are great. will help get a good start. looking forward to sharing the trips
Thanks Debbie, best of luck with the new RV. :)
I'm thinking of getting a Class B Roadtrek so I can park in any parking lot. However, its nice to know about those little things one doesn't think about. Like the windex, which I plan to use in my house. Also the plumber's grease along with the pizza stone. But I'm wondering on newer models if ovens are better made or more efficient now?
Mary Sheffield Most of the rigs are using basically the same gas oven I have, but some of the higher end RVs are going with just a microwave/convection oven combo instead.
Thank you for all the great advice. I'm just getting into this sport. I'm getting my 1st trail in a few months. I've getting a Kodiak 23ORBSL 4 season trailer. I can't wait.
Cool! You're welcome. Cheers! Ray
Good video. I got an used RV last year and started doing some RVing locally to work out the problems on an older RV. Anyways, great tips. My toilet does slowly leak so I will get some plumbers grease and as for the Bounce fabric softener, it has a lot of uses besides laundry. Throw a couple in hidden spaces as an air freshener and I also use it on tv's as it cleans them and the anti static slows the dust build up too. Can't wait for this next season to do some more RVing and go further this time.
georgeof78 Thanks, and thanks for the Bounce tips, I also heard they can ward off mosquitos and mice. I have a box of really fragrant off brand ones in the basement storage and haven't mouse problems since so maybe... :)
Really cool basic RV tips. Much thanks.
Cool tips. I was at Quartzsite in my rig in January and went to the RV show.
Fantastic, thanks for that and I'll check out your other videos too. We lived full time in a 40ft class A and I even sold RVs for the winter in FL but I learned things from your tips that I'd never heard. 2 thumbs up
hughess004 Thanks!
The water hose: In a pinch, a turkey baster with an x cut into the bulb end might do the trick. It would probably depend on just how things were situated, but just a little keep-in-mind thing.
Great tips I'm going to put them to good use the summer.
That's a great looking rv, and some great tips. Also someone said you can use dish detergent on the front of your rv to make a slick cover against the bugs too.
Thanks! That's a new tip about the dish detergent, interesting.
Love Your RV Yea as you can probably tell I watch a ton of rv, and campervan type of videos. I'm always trying to learn as much as I can so that when I can get ahold of some money I can work on getting a better set up with my campervan.
NEVER use Dish detergent, it will cut the wax off the paint. I use dish detergent when I am going to put a fresh coat of wax on my rig.
You only need to use it on the front areas where the bugs will hit, not on the whole rig. After you get to your destination you can re wax it. It's about making life easier.
campervandavid You got to think about what you are saying. The more wax on the finish is what makes the bug guts come off easier. So if you cut the wax off, how easy do you think it will be to get that crap off. I mean, you can test it out if you like and report back, but I learned a long time ago when my mom said to not touch the hot pan, don't touch the hot pan. Hey, to each his own.
Thank you for sharing! Really useful tips. Much appreciated!
You're very welcome. Glad you liked them.
Another easy tip. When your not using your fresh water hose connect both ends together, it keeps bugs and spiders out.
Good tip
bucsfan116 Great Idea on the fresh waterhose! Thank you!! I had mine in a huge freezer bag doubled up..lol I didn't want bugs either. 😄
Thanks, Not a full timer, just got my first camper this year and think your tips are great.
Thank you for the comment Don Wilson happy camping this year!
I try to use these tips in my own way when I'm traveling in my CamperVan. Thanks
Spray pam cooking spray over your wax and the bugs will not stick
Oil from Orange peel or simple green is great for bug and tar removal
Only thing I would be worried about is the cooling oil spray migrating in the wind while driving and ending up on my rubber roof.
just wanted to comment that I enjoy your videos because I am mostly interested in boon docking type camping
Thanks Daniel, it' sure gets you into some great scenic areas.
Great tips! Can’t wait to encounter some flies now that you’ve shared this great tip! Your tips are much appreciated.
You can also us aluminum foil for a quick fix to help keep your rig cooler. We did this while we were down in Weslico, Texas
One of the best, straight forward tips videos. Really useful. Thank you
Except using (any) petroleum jelly products on rubber seals and gaskets. It will kill 'em in a hurry.
@loveyourrv I'm so thankful I found your channel thank you so much for all of the helpful content. I just found my first RV yesterday and am jumping straight into the deep end. I don't know much about rv's either or the rv lifestyle so any advice would be greatly appreciated
+Kevin Green Awesome, welcome to RVing! Glad my videos are helping out, Cheers Ray
Thank you so much I'm super excited and ready to start my adventure :) I actually feel pretty comfortable with the RV so far and am comfortable with learning as go with good resources and the willingness to learn. Only thing I'm having issue with is really finding a long term RV lot to stay at. I did just find the videos today though and am beginning to wonder if it is even as big of deal as I'm thinking it is.
Great video, I have been full-time for the past year and didn't know most of these! I have to ask, why do you keep your freshwater hose in a container with your dump hose?
I don't. It was just a mistake when doing the video, threw it on there not thinking. It normally is stored in the fresh water hookup closet.
Oh, got cha. Thank you!
Love Your RV Good tips.. I am thinking to get a RV for my first home... So thank you.. In the future, should you come up with more tips please make more videos...
Sure will thanks! There are a few others on the channel not sure if you found them.
10 Helpful RVing Tips and Tricks and 8 More Simple RVing Tips From a Full Time RVer
Great.. Thank you I really appreciate it
for moisture you should run fans to help keep your RV dryer, Also spray your tires with insect repellent and rub Vaseline around your outdoor cords and electrical hook ups as well. Thank you for the info help mine helps as well.
Thanks Connie, good tips
Thank you for the great tips. The hairdryer was my favorite because our fridge ices up on occasion and i couldn't figure how to remove ice without losing my cold. Plus, I have an small freezer in our RV basement. ( like 3 cubit ft, I think) to take extra frozen items. ( less trips to the grocer)
Thanks!!😊😊
Great advice. What about a foam sealant to prevent bugs from getting in?
Yes, good idea. I noticed our Keystone trailer had most of the gaps filled by spray foam from the factory. Around any of the plumbing pipes etc. This won't stop sugar ants though, they are so small they get in any little crevice. :)
As a person who will hopefully be a fulltimer for the first time ever, later this year, I appreciate the tips.
Glad I can help, best of luck on going full time. It's a great lifestyle. :) Cheers Ray
Place a thin sheet of steel (not aluminum or galvanized) under the pizza stone...
the exact dimensions...you might actually want to make a pizza or a focaccia...
Use an electric bug zapper...20 watts......
Silicone spray on the front cap...
Loved your tips, great tips. Thank you for sharing.
dude! I love all your info very helpful! keep it coming! I am a fairly new rv owner so thanks.
Cool. Thanks!
you have great tips ...thank you
For the toilet, I put cheap washing up liquid into the cassette and that tends to keep the smell away. Coca Cola works great for cleaning the grey water tank.
Wow, Coca Cola! Never would have thought of that.
Love Your RV
I think perhaps it is something European - but it works!
How much coca cola do you put ito a 20 g tank and how long do you leave it in? drive around with it? what'a the prescription :-))
Great tips, will be watching your channel for more videos!
No tip for dog hogging the couch. Love it!
Thank you for the tips and for that fact, ALL of your videos!
Great tips, thanks Ray!
Thanks!
Fantastic tips, thank you for sharing.
Thanks Peg, appreciate the comment - Ray
Wish I could tag along with you on your adventure.
Some good, practical tips. Thanks.
Great idea on the pizza stone!
Great tips! For any future ant infestations you can use Baby Powder. They don't like it and tend to stay away from areas where it is laid out. Plus, it is not toxic.
Sanet Basson Thanks for the tip. It smells nice too. :)
Hey, I just noticed your comment regarding Pam for a protectant on your RV front. You were concerned that the Pam might migrate to the top where your surface would be damaged by petroleum based products. I think you will find that those type of products are vegetable based and will be harmless to the top and finish of your unit. Thanks for your tips though, much good information is available from watching.
David Redmon Thanks for the info.
You're the best. Thank you and blessings!
Love the windex idea! Thanx.
Good information. We do a lot of primitive camping. As your aware, we learn as we go. Thanks.
Thanks for some great tips!
Happy Trails!
Hi very good video. I have one a cottage from Cedar Creek i am living in New Zealand what i want to ask is how do i fill up my storage fresh water tank; just love living in this its very comfortable how you can help a widow on her own thanks
+noeleen falkner Thanks, somewhere on the outside you should find a label saying fresh water or city water fill. It might be behind a locking panel.
Any tips on protecting plastic from the intense desert UV rays? Do you spray your plastic roof vents and A/C cover, etc with Formula 303, or a similar product?
Yes, usually twice a year I wipe down all the plastic things up there with some 303 Aerospace Protectant.
Would like to see videos tutorials on dry camping tips. Never done it, want to be prepared. Power, water, gadgets, etc.. Thanks
There is a video in this post - www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-tips-and-tricks-for-newbie-rvers/
and you'll find lots more dry camping info and videos in this archive - www.loveyourrv.com/boondocking-archive/
Cheers Ray
tooo awesome, love the tips before we hit the road!!
What kind of wax do you use on the front of the rv? Car wax?
I use two types, one twice a year for a thorough waxing job called Pro RV,Boat abd Aircraft wax - amzn.to/2Ek9Jel and one for quick touch-ups called Protect All - amzn.to/2DU7q42
Cheers! Ray - www.loveyourrv.com/wash-wax-and-detail-the-rv/
All great tips, thanks.
My wife and I are going to be full timing next year on hopefully a lot of BLM land. Other than conserving water which is a must, how do you handle the water situation when on BML land that has no water when you run out? Where do you get your water filled? Do you ask gas stations for water? Do you have to offer folks money to fill your water tanks?
I was just curious about that because it will be a real issue for us
Thanks and great videos enjoy the info
We have a 60-gallon freshwater tank and I carry 14 gallons of drinking water in jugs. That can do us for 10 days to 2 weeks. I can always take the empty jugs and get them filled to extend a stay. In the desert, there are lots of water fill machines and places to fill the rig. RV sanidumps, rest stops, truck stops, etc. You can also stop by most RV Parks or state campgrounds and pay around 10 bucks for a dump and or water fill. Check out www.sanidumps.com/ It lists places to get water.
Thanks for the tips! Awesome video! :)
+Swaying With The Palm Trees You're welcome. Cheers Ray :)
This is very helpful.
Many Thanks.
Any tips on RV bumper mount cargo carrier issues? Like must we reinforce bumper weldings. I've seen supportive struts for sale but
didn't like bolts through the ends idea. I know about the clamp for the reciever connection wiggle. Also awnings ; my Dometic rear awning support bracket doesn't fold flat tight against the RV like my front one does. Four bucks seems alot for such a tiny amount of grease. Can't we use wheel bearing grease at 2 bucks for an entire tube.
Depends on the bumper, ours is so thin-walled I wouldn't trust it. I'd be tossing the bumper and having a heavy duty one welded on.
Our trailer though has the pull-out bike rack good for a 200 lb load.
Sounds like your awning is twisted or the material has stretched on one side, maybe it was damaged by a wind gust.
The plumber grease is silicone so it won't damage the rubber gaskets, a 4 buck amount lasts for 5 or 10 years of use and is designed specifically for the task. Go ahead and save 2 bucks if you like.
Cheers Ray
really great tips, thanks.
Nice good PM info , Thank you
Ray I have a question for you being out in the desert like you are how are you getting a wifi signal Thanks Tom
HI Tom, we use a gadget from Verizon called a Mifi and it hooks into the cell network, Verizon has a lot of coverage out west, so most times we are on the internet through that. It also is a hotspot router so we can connect all our devices to it. Down side is it's about 8-10 dollars per Gigabit on our current plan for data.
I'm surprised now how much 4G super fast speed coverage there is now, I had to go in and shut 4G speed off, because we were burning through our data too fast. :)
Ray thanks for the info Tom
No problem Tom , for more info on connecting while traveling check out www.technomadia.com/ +Technomadia has an app called Coverage which shows you where you can get internet through the cell networks and they wrote a ebook i recommend covering mobile internet solutions - www.loveyourrv.com/mobile-internet-handbook-review/
Cheers Ray
the best internet service I can find for full time rv is called autonet mobile is a in motion internet service. You can get 1 GB of internet for 29 a mouth to 5 GB for 59 a mouth.
Thank you
This is very helpful. Thank you
Here I thought I was being original with my reflective window coverings! lol. I can verify they work great. I also just used packing foam to make my own vent cushions, free. ;-)
Love the dog data 😄 Great tips! Thank you.
I have a solution to your dog on couch problem. It works really well and does not harm the dog at all. It trains them without you even having to be there. It allows the dog to get on the couch when you are okay with it and when you want them to join you for a movie or whatever.
All you need is a bunch of small paper bags, like the kind you would pack a sandwich into, and some mousetraps. Set the mousetrap. Reverse fold the creases on the paper bags so that they retain an inflated shape.
Place the mousetraps into the bags and fold the opening underneath so that they just look like inflated paper bags. Set the bags around the couch close enough to each other so that there is no area between them that the dog can lay without touching one.
When your dog gets on the couch it will bump into one or more of the bags and set off the mousetrap. The snapping sound will spook the dog and they will jump off.
Continue doing this trick for several days. The best time to do it is when you are not home. When you return it is easy to tell if the dog attempted to get on the couch because some of the traps will have triggered. All you have to do is hit the bags to see if they've already been triggered or not.
One day, and it shouldn't take more than a couple of days, you will notice that none of the traps have been triggered. This means that your dog did not even attempt to get on the couch. From this point forward all you need to do is to puff up the bags and lay them around the couch without even having to put the traps in them.
The dog will see the bags and will be scared to get on the couch. He/she has no idea that there are no longer any traps in the bags but the mere sight of them will cause them to seek somewhere else to lay down, like the doggie bed that I'm sure you've provided for him/her.
This trick works great because it causes absolutely no harm to the dog at all. It just makes them scared to climb on when they see the bags. The best part is that the dog will feel perfectly safe when there are no bags on the the couch. Thus they will have no fear when you want them to join you on the couch for some buddy time.
Pretty genius idea, yes? I've told many people about this trick and a few have tried it and said that it works fantastically. What do you think?
***** Wow, that's very ingenious!
Love Your RV Why thank you! Please let me know if you try it and if it works for you.
***** that is an excellent idea! thanks for sharing
Dry sheets are good to remove bug but, it isn't the coarseness of the sheets that remove the bugs. What chemical impregnated into the sheet is ANIMAL FATS and with the coarseness will remove them bug guts. Great channel for learning about full timing tips. Haven't got my motorhome yet but working towards that now, can't wait.
Interesting, thanks! Sure seems to work well, I just cleaned the bugs off yesterday after our long trip south.
Great tips. Where did you purchase the reflective material for your windows?
lloyd67lp Got it at a Camping World store, can also order it on Amazon it is called Reflectix. I think Home Depot and Lowes stock it too. I just cut it to fit. Pretty well holds itself in place.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the tips.
Great video. Instead of killing ants try another idea: feed them. Give them a little piece of cookie but put it out away from the the camper. Cupcakes and other such things work too. Poisons are not such a great idea because they impact our environment. Create containers with baking soda(arm and hammer) and holes for roaches. Kills roaches dead. Some other variety of roach needs you to mix the baking soda with bacon fat and create little balls- place those in containers with big enough holes for the larges bug to get through.Great way to remove such bugs from a camper. Always use organic gardening approved methods when growing organic veggie gardens. Full time campers often have a good spot of land they can grow things upon. If not try growing plants other ways- such as buckets which can optionally come with you if you have to relocate.
Great tips! Thank you!!
Thanks for the good tips!
The holes in the upper portion of your toilet bowl that guards from overflow, will allow tank gases to come back within the RV. So the seal at the bottom is a mute point...
Dwayne Harris Those holes aren't for overflow, they are where the fresh water enters the bowl. ;)
*moot
I have 28 - 1/8" holes around the inner rim for fresh water, 2 - 1/2" holes at the rear of the bowl for overflow. Original equip China not Plastic. 91' Beaver Contessa...
Awesome tips..... East shore RV park in San Dimas, Ca, is built on an ancient ant hill. RVers are guests of them!!! Taking all precautions on every entry point one year I was surprised to wake up and find my daughters birthday cake was no longer white as Coconut should be. It was black. Entry point...... last child in the rig at bedtime leaned her bicycle up against the drop strap on the awning. They came up bicycle, up strap, up awning and in they came. They marched around all of the powder and poison. They like the cake better. Those drops would have prevented this!!!
When you wash the coach do not use soap unless totally necessary. A good workout with the soft brush will clean it, and the wax on the front will not get stripped off. When I wax the trailer I triple wax the front and then the bugs slide right off. After years of turtle wax i went to Meguires, RV Geek approved. The RV Geeks were correct it is so much better. 3X as much but better results without the labor!!
Thank you!!
I usually use a product called - P-38-Q
RV, BOAT & AIRCRAFT WAX
Takes some more effort to apply and buff off but I find it really lasts. For quick waxes I use Protect-All
What about putting that "Home Defense" spray around the RV? It works awesome at my house, no bugs ever get in
Maybe , but sometimes we move quite often, also is it harmful to dogs, my beagle likes to sniff everything. Cheers Ray
Tip for the dog "get a bigger couch" Lol Beaut vid.
omar skipper haha. Thanks. :)
Thank you for sharing this video.I'll be an RV owner soon.these tips will help me a great deal :-)
Erica Samuel You're welcome Erica, have fun with the new RV.
Thank you i will.freedom living :-)
Great video! Thank you great tips! :)
Does it stay cool enough in your RV for your dog during the summer? I live in Las Vegas and I don't know how well my cocker spaniel would hold up.
Luckily we summer on Vancouver Island BC where it only gets to maybe 85 degrees max in summer so no problems keeping the rig cool. This last winter we had a hot spell down in Arizona and temps got over 90 degrees while boondocking with no AC. The dog was fine, kept her in the shade with lots of water on hand. I wouldn't want to try Vegas in the summer though, I hear it can get super hot there.
Re. your toilet gasket tip: Thetford states that any petroleum based product can degrade the rubber gasket. So Plumbers Grease is a good option but the Vaseline Lip Therapy would not be a good choice.
So does Dometic and silicone grease is the proper type for rubber, but I have used the lip therapy in a pinch a few times, going on three years now and seal is still in great shape. I wonder if that is just a blanket statement they use and really how much real rubber is in the gasket. The plumbers grease sure does last a lot longer tho, I lubed mine months ago and the seal is still good, using it everyday.
GREAT TIPS!!
Thanks. Good info.
Good tips...
Windex for flies -
Best. Tip. Ever!
Thanks.
You can use a 18x18 floor tile for a pizza stone.
Good idea, I guess you need to make sure its food save, I guess unglazed will work. Cheers, Ray
Next time you have a bunch of flies, mosquitos, etc, grab the vacuum, and suck them right up! Quick!!!! Works great!
Thanks, I'll give it a try.
fyi..Vaseline degrades rubber, do not use on the toilet seal..the swimming pool supply place has a silicone based type of lube specifically made for rubber, it's called "magic lube"... great vid & thanks for sharing!
BAM! a hair dryer!
I love it.
Great tips.... thanks!
Thanks for sharing.....
Love the dog tip.lol