
Hey! I'm Andy, "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

Sure, You Can Run Your RV Air Conditioner on Batteries … If You’re Rich!
“Hey, Ross, can I run my RV air conditioner on batteries alone? I want to go boondocking for the weekend, and I don’t have a generator.” If I had a dollar every time I’ve been

RV Furnace Not Turning On? RV Tech Says “Don’t Make This Mistake!”
A veritable encyclopedia of bad information has been published online about the humble RV furnace. If your RV furnace is not turning on, I highly advise you to take the Top 10 pages on Google

An RV Technician’s Guide to Replacing Your RV Skylight
Last week, I replaced an RV skylight – and I’ll show you how to do it, too. Like many DIY jobs, 90% of the work is the preparation. It’s a simple job that most anyone

Why Does Everyone Love to Hate on the Schwintek Slide-Out System? +5 Maintenance Tips
Every RVer loves to hate the Lippert In-Wall (formerly known as Schwintek) slide-out system. It’s a simple motorized rack-and-pinion drive system that pulls your slide room in and out of your RV, driven by two

Does More Weight Really Reduce RV Fuel Efficiency?
In a previous article about why motorhomes don’t have MPG ratings, I gave you a few tips how to calculate your own fuel efficiency and how to improve it. This is a quick follow-up about

Here’s the Wrong Way to Reseal Your RV Roof
Everything on your roof – except for your air conditioner, which uses a thick foam gasket – is waterproofed with a butyl tape gasket underneath (where you can’t see) and a self-leveling cap sealant on

Did Your Water Tank Fall Off? Not My Problem …
In the same way that a jack-o-lantern represents Halloween or a bald eagle symbolizes ‘Murica, an RV is supposed to embody freedom: the open road, tomorrow’s adventures, fighting The Man. But nothing is more disappointing

Is Your Propane Tank Empty – Or Is It Just Too Darn Cold Outside?
It’s November 14th. You’re using the RV as a base camp during hunting season. After a long, icy day in the blind, you’ve returned to the RV dreaming of a steamy shower – and the

RV Furnace Not Working – Is It Always the Sail Switch?
“My RV furnace isn’t working!” is a common distress signal across many RV forums and Facebook groups. I’ll bet $100 that the first (and second) response to this SOS will be, “Check your sail switch.

A Water Pressure Regulator Is a Top 3 Item that I Recommend to All RVers
A water pressure regulator is one of the top three items I command recommend to all RV owners (the other two are a surge protector and a valid driver’s license). This simple $20 device is

Old, Decrepit RV Roof? 5 Options for Repair!
Unfortunately, RV roofs age less like fine wine, more like milk. Within 10-25 years, most RV roofs look like an abandoned petri dish experiment. But with full roof replacements commonly costing $150 to $400 per

Troubleshooting: How to Fix a Leaking RV Baggage Door?
RV baggage doors – also known as storage doors or cargo doors – are a common point of water leaks. Typical signs are dark water stains and spongy floors around the baggage door, sometimes as
Cool RV Gear
Discount Clubs
Featured Partner
Random Article!
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 🙂
