Our Blog
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Top 12 RV Awning Fabric DIY Installation Mistakes
This is not a step-by-step tutorial on how to install new RV awning fabric. That is a subject best watched, not read. I encourage you to visit the land of YouTube and watch a DIY awning fabric installation video by The RV Geeks, AZ Expert, Tough Top Awnings, or an RV owner/influencer. Every awning is…
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Uh Oh! Is Your Freshwater Tank Filling When You’re Hooked Up to City Water?
You likely sussed out the problem thanks to a drip, drip, drip sound coming from the bottom of your RV. “Is that … my freshwater tank?” you wondered. “Why would my tank be full?” Sure enough, the water was leaking out of the tank overflow vent. You double-checked your water connection and bypass valve orientation.…
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The RV Timed Gas Pressure Drop Test: What It Is And Why You Need One
If RV technicians had a Top 40 list, a timed pressure drop test would certainly be a recurring hit. If you’ve ever hired a mobile RV tech to repair or replace a gas-fired appliance, then you’ve likely paid for a pressure drop test. In fact, many technicians conduct a gas leak test anytime a gas-tight…
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Should I Get an RV Slide Topper? A Tech Weighs In
Customers commonly ask me, “Should I buy an RV slide topper? Do I really need one?’ In response, I ply three questions: An RV slide topper, or canopy, is a Lilliputian awning that is mounted above your slide-out room. One end is fixed to the sidewall; the other end is mounted to the top of…
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Deep Dive: The Difference Between Gas Heat and Electric Heat in an RV
What’s the difference between “gas heat” and “electric heat” in an RV? You’ve probably seen these terms scrolling through the modes in your digital wall thermostat. You might also have a setting for “heat pump.” On an analog thermostat, these modes are likely different positions on the linear selector switch. Unfortunately, these terms probably don’t…
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Suspect an RV Roof Leak? Don’t Trust Your Ceiling!
One would expect that a leaking RV roof would cause a stain, bubble or wrinkle on the RV ceiling. Water has to go somewhere, right? Isn’t it reasonable to assume that a hole in your roof would manifest itself on the ceiling below? Unluckily for you, dear RV owner, Recreational Vehicles follow their own rules,…
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What Happens If You Forget to Winterize Your RV??
If you’re reading this article in November, time may remain. Pump your RV’s veins full of antifreeze, and you may stave off the worst of the effects of the cold. But if you’re reading this March, then the prognosis is poor. If you forgot to winterize your RV, and Christmas Bells have already stopped ringing,…
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Chat With an RV Tech: Can You Actually Keep an RV Safe from Theft?
Customers ask me all the time how to protect their beloved RVs. Chains? Couper lock? GPS tracking device? An anti-missile Iron Dome defense system? They’re desperately hoping I have some insider knowledge of a particular, recently invented but as yet unknown device that will assuage all their worries. My standard response is that protecting your…
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Smackdown: Advanced Surge Protector Vs Multimeter vs Circuit Analyzer?
Concerned about the quality of the power at the pedestal? In the matter of RV electrical protection, you have three options: Which Is Better: A Multimeter or Surge Protector? Between the first two options, you might assume, given that I am a borderline Scrooge AND a bit of a data freak, that I would award…
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Uh Oh … Are You Exercising Your RV Generator Every Month?
Much like humans, generators don’t like being couch potatoes. Just like our arteries clog up from a sedentary lifestyle, so does bad fuel gum up tiny passages in carburetors when left to stagnate. Most RV generators die from neglect, not old age. How Often Should I Exercise My RV Generator? All the major RV genset…
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Yikes! Replacing the Corroded Battery Lugs of an RV’s House Batteries
Recently, I replaced the house batteries on a Class C motorhome. What would normally be a routine maintenance item turned into a miniature masterclass on RV battery maintenance. Here is the Spark Notes version: My customer wanted to upgrade his flooded RV/marine lead-acid batteries to modern AGM deep-cycle batteries. He’d be the first to admit…
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What Causes a Failed Cooling Unit on an RV Propane Refrigerator?
You’ve probably heard the term “bad cooling unit.” This is a catch-all phrase to describe any number of failures with an absorption refrigerator’s cooling unit, which is the labyrinth of tubes partially encased in foam that we’ve been talking about. A failed cooling unit = a dead refrigerator. It runs, but no cooling. A failed…