
Hey! I'm Ross, "The RV Engineer!"
RVs can be a little scary, can’t they?
You’re handed the keys after a hurried 15-minute walk-through. Now you’re in charge of a factory-built home on wheels that experiences a hurricane and an earthquake every time you drive through a rainstorm.
As an RV designer and RV technician, I get your frustration. My industry isn’t necessarily known for award-winning customer service, now is it?
This blog contains industry-insider information about how RVs work. Get your info straight from the horse’s mouth – er, or mine, anyway. You have a friend on the “inside” now!
Don't want to miss my latest?
Every month, I send out a monthly email newsletter.
- Latest blog posts
- Some industry insider information
- Questions From the Road Column
- And more!
If you’re serious about RV ownership, you should check it out. Just sign up to the left. You can also send me a direct email at my About/Contact page.
Recent Posts

The RV Engineer Goes to RV Tech School! (Part 2)
This isn’t exactly a blog post; it’s more of a public journal entry. It’s a follow-up to my personal life update, The RV Engineer Goes to Tech School (Part 1). As you know, I recently

Federal Trailer Lighting Info and Regulations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed standards and regulations for lighting on all road-ready trailers. These standards define the number of lights and reflectors a trailer must have, where the lights and

“Isn’t Marine-Grade OSB an Oxymoron?” – Letter from a Reader
Engineers don’t have a Hippocratic Oath, per say, but the National Society of Professional Engineers does publish a Code of Ethics for Engineers. Among other mandates, it states: I may not have raised my right

“Is RV Payload Based on Stationary Use with the Occupants Inside?” – Letter from Educated RV Owner!
Towing is complicated, isn’t it? Every time I think I know everything, I go back to SAE J2807 or the FMVSS, and I learn something new! One of my Readers, “Charlie,” recently asked me a

6 Insider Hints for PERMANENTLY Cleaning Your Waste Tanks
I recently had the privilege of attending a free seminar by Sue “the Queen of Poo,” RV Tech and founder of Royal Flush RV. Sue Rasmussen is a delightful, well-spoken certified RV technician who specializes

Quick Tip: Can (or Should) I Recharge My RV Air Conditioner Refrigerant?
There is a LOT of false advice going around about recharging your RV air conditioner. When I typed the search phrase “Can I recharge my RV air conditioner?” into Google, 8 of the first 10

“4-Season Ready RVs? Forget It!” – Letter from a Building Science Guru
I love receiving letters from my Readers! Recently, I received an email from a gentleman named “Martin,” and I thought it was so insightful and articulate that I just had to share it. I’ve copy-and-pasted

The RV Engineer Goes to RV Tech School! (Part 1)
In a few weeks, I will be departing for the southern United States for nearly 2 months to become an Advanced Certified RV Technician. It’s not every day an Engineer leaves his Ivory Tower, padded

How to Protect and Rewire Trailer Wiring
Let’s take a break from our regularly scheduled RV programming and look at their close cousin, the utility trailer! (Although a lot of this advice does apply to RVs as well. It’s just harder to
Cool RV Gear
Discount Clubs
Featured Partner
Want to get the most out of this blog?
If you want to get the most out of this blog, bookmark AskTheRVEngineer.com in your web browser! Return whenever you need a technical refresher.
- You can view every single article I’ve ever written about at the article index, organized by niche.
- For questions asked by real RVers like yourself, read the Questions From the Road column.
- I also keep a list of RV products I recommend. You’ll get my honest opinion!
- You can also peruse a list of RV discount clubs and memberships that will help you save money on the road.
Trailer and Towing
Learn all about towing, tires and trailers!
Click HereBuying or selling an RV?
Check out my 200-point (and growing!) RV PDI checklist (courtesy of Changing Gears/Sterling RV Solutions.)
Use it to conduct a thorough PDI inspection of an RV before purchasing or selling. Just my way of saying thanks for being a Reader 🙂
