A Useful Comparison of Some On The Go Water Softeners

RV owners have their work cut out for them. As enjoyable as recreational vehicles can make on the road living and camping, there are so many special tools and gadgets that it’s worth your while to carry because of the unforeseen pitfalls of RV life. There’s also a lot you need to be aware of. For example, never leave your RV awning open and unattended or store it wet, and take care to cover your RV tires to protect them from long-term damage attributable to UV light exposure.

These are just two very small, very specific instances in which RV owners need to be uncommonly attentive to the details of RV living and RV care. Here’s another one, that has real consequences for RV owners - the quality of the water that you run through your pipes.

Here is an unfortunate truth about the quality of water in the United States. We may have a lot of it, and it may be freely available, but in most areas of the country, the water sources will be hard. This is something you need to be aware of as an RV owner - and something against which you need to take action, for the better of your RV.

Hard and Soft Water 

It’s been said that over 80% of the homes in the United States have hard water, which would then allow it to follow that a majority of RVs are exposed to the same. Just what is hard water, though?

Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals. The two chief minerals that most hard water contains are magnesium and calcium, although water can be considered hard if it contains traces of other minerals as well.

The thing about hard water is that there is nothing categorically wrong with it. You can drink hard water, use it for cleaning and cooking, and much more. The problem arises when you use hard water for a prolonged time.

Some of these issues are specific to RV owners and others of them are general nuisances. For example, hard water can make dishes and glasses more brittle and prone to chipping and breaking over time. It can also leave white or yellowish marks or stains on dishes and silverware - but more on that in a moment.

Hard water is also a nuisance for homeowners because hard water ruins laundry over time. A few wash cycles and you won’t notice much of anything, but after repeated exposure to hard water, the colors of clothing will fade. Your clothes, towels and other textiles will fade and wear out long before their time when exposed to hard water.

Soft water, by comparison, is water that does not contain the same concentrations of dissolved minerals, chiefly magnesium and calcium. Soft water is beneficial for a bunch of reasons, namely because it does not leave marks on dishes and appliances, and is not damaging to clothing and other textiles. Soft water also increases the efficacy of soap and detergents and is better for your skin and hair.

Is My Water Hard?

If you want to know for sure whether your water is hard or soft, you can always get a test kit with test strips to know for sure. This will tell you about pH readings as well as what dissolved minerals are present in the water and in what concentrations. However, in many instances, a testing kit is not even necessary to determine if water is hard or soft. Sometimes, hard water will present itself with some of the following telltale signs.

If your water is soft, you have little to worry about and probably will not notice anything amiss. However, if your RV is chronically exposed to hard water, you may notice spotting, staining, or streaking in your dishwater, on or around your pipes, or on your appliances. Sometimes this discoloration appears white and cloudy, other times it appears yellow or even almost brown. You might also notice this type of discoloration on your dishes, glassware, or silverware.

Another telltale sign is that your clothing, towels, or other garments appear washed out, dull, or feel prematurely worn out or rough. Of course, this is not a dead giveaway - it might also mean you should be using a different detergent - but it is a sign of hard water.

Another sign that you’re experiencing hard water is if your skin and hair feel “off” after showering. This could be due to the residue left on your skin by hard water, but it could also be because hard water limits the efficiency of soap and leaves soap on your skin or hair as well.

Finally, one of the big giveaways is diminished water pressure, which can indicate that you’re not only using hard water but that it is actively causing damage to your RV’s plumbing system. If you notice diminished water pressure from your faucets or showerhead, along with unsightly stains or spotting, you’re almost certainly laboring under hard water and need to do something about it. This is because of the scale deposits left behind in your pipes by the hard water. 

What Is Scale? 

Hard water scale is, simply put, the deposits of magnesium, calcium, and other minerals that are left behind by hard water as it passes through pipes or comes into contact with a surface. The spots and stains left on dishes and glassware are a form of scale, which, though unsightly, is not necessarily a material issue.

Hard water scale can become a serious problem when it is left unchecked and allowed to accumulate within pipes and appliances. This is because, some of the time, these deposits are accumulating unbeknownst to the other of the RV and can damage your plumbing system over time.

When too much hard water scale accumulates within the pipes in an RV, or the lines of an appliance, the first thing that will happen is that it will diminish the performance of that appliance. This is where you may notice that a faucet or showerhead is providing a more sluggish flow than usual.

If this occurs, it means that the scale within the pipes has accumulated to the point that it is adversely affecting the flow of water through them. This is a problem for several reasons. For one, it will impact the use of your plumbing. For another, it places an immense strain and terrible pressure on the pipes and fittings. This can result in burst pipes, damaged appliances, and more. These are expensive to remedy in their own right, but if a pipe bursts and floods your RV, you’ll be looking at an entirely different issue altogether.

Luckily, you can remedy the issue of hard water with a simple system like an On The Go Water Softener 

How a Water Softener Can Help 

A water softener can help you preserve the life of your RV’s plumbing system as well as your appliances while providing a wide range of other useful benefits as well. Generally speaking, a water softening system will work to remove some of the dissolved minerals from your water before it makes its way through your pipes and into your appliances. This way, a water softener can help with some of the following problems:

-       No more spotting or staining on dishes, silverware, glassware, or crystal

-       No more washed out or faded laundry

-       Soap and shampoo will work better, so your skin and hair will feel much better

-       No more staining of appliances which will adversely affect their value

-       Most importantly - no more scale buildup in pipes which can damage your plumbing system and appliances

Here at RV Upgrades, we offer quite a range of solutions in water softeners, including several options in On The Go Water Softeners which will work hard to remove dissolved trace minerals from your water before you use it. 

Some Options in On The Go Water Softeners 

If you’re looking for an On The Go Water Softener to prevent some of the issues named in this article, consider some of the following: 

On The Go Portable Standard RV Water Softener (OTG4-StdSoft) 

The On The Go Portable Standard RV Water Softener is a highly practical solution for most RV owners that are plagued with hard water. It not only solves a whole host of problems caused by hard water, but it is also easy to fit, easy to use, and easy to recharge.

This portable water softener removes magnesium and calcium from your water before you use it. Its design features an easy-carry handle and a wide mouth to make it easier to recharge - it’s also lightweight and easy to hook up.

This On The Go Water Softener does not require any tools or electricity to operate and can be hooked up to your RV effortlessly. It takes nothing more than a standard hose connection between the park faucet and your RV’s inlet hose.

The unit itself contains 8,000 grains and can soften anywhere between 320 and 800 gallons before it needs to be recharged, lasting up to 20 days on a single charge. It utilized potassium chloride and can be recharged with common table salt to continue softening water.

It’s small and lightweight, which means it can be installed even in tight spaces and stored out of the way if it is not needed, both traits that are highly valuable on RVs where space comes at a premium.

This portable water softening system comes with an inlet cap, an outlet cap, a handle, an inlet hi-flow shutoff valve, inlet, and outlet hose adapters, a backflush adapter, test strips, and a high-pressure 4-foot white drinking hose.

On The Go Double Standard RV Water Softener (OTG4-DBLSOFT) 

If the capacity of the previous Portable On The Go Water Softener is not adequate for your needs, then you might be interested in the On The Go Double Standard RV Water Softener. This On The Go Water Softener can last anywhere from 10 to 32 days - that’s a month - before it needs to be regenerated.

This water softening system features 16,000 grains per unit of softening, and works great to soften your RV’s water supply, thereby reducing damage to your plumbing and your appliances.

Like the previous On The Go Water Softener, this water softening system can be easily installed. It requires no tools for installation and no electricity for operation and can be easily regenerated with normal table salt within as little as 30 minutes.

Throughout one charge, it can soften anywhere from 500 to 1,600 gallons before it will need to be regenerated, depending on the level of hardness. This portable RV water softener also offers an excellent water flow rate of around 4.5 gallons per minute. It’s a little larger, bulkier, and heavier than the former unit, but it is still compact and lightweight, perfect for taking on the road.

This water softener also comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty, as well as storage inlet and outlet caps, along with a handle, an inlet hi-flow shutoff valve, inlet and outlet hose adapters, a backflush adapter, and a 4-foot high-pressure white drinking hose.

Questions? Contact Us! 

Whatever your questions are, the team here at RV Upgrades is here to help you. We’ll put your concerns about hard water to rest, whether you’re looking for a test kit to determine whether or not you have hard water or you need an actual water softening system to solve the issue.

Additionally, if you need some help picking out a water softening system, we are here to help. Contact us via your preferred method and let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll help you choose the right water softener. You can reach us by phone at 866-332-7881, but you can also reach us via the live chat feature that you can use right here on our website, whichever is easier for you. Soft water is within reach - you just need the right water softening system for your RV!

Why a Quality RV Dehumidifier is Worth Investing In

 

An air conditioner, a microwave, and a mini-fridge are some of the more common appliances that come into play when talking about how to make an RV more livable, but there’s another appliance that you may want to consider if you really want your RV or camper to be as cozy as possible.

An RV dehumidifier will help reduce the stuffiness of the cabin and ultimately help to make your RV experience more enjoyable, especially on long excursions or when you have to spend extended periods of time inside the RV.

If you have been thinking about adding one of these appliances to your RV and aren’t exactly sure about their effectiveness or the benefits that are involved with using them, this quick guide will help to answer your questions.

Making Your RV Comfortable

Whether you’re an outdoorsy type or prefer the creature comforts of your camper, everyone can agree that it’s important to make sure that your RV is as comfortable as possible. One of the joys of owning an RV is the ability to take the comforts of home with you on the road so that you can feel more relaxed and less stressed no matter where you are.

There’s a lot that goes into making an RV feel comfortable, however. There are many appliances and features of a typical home that we tend to take for granted and not even think about, but that you may need to consider for your RV if you truly want it to provide you with the kind of comfort you are looking for.

For instance, a microwave is the perfect example of a go-to appliance that you may at first think you won’t need on the road, but which is all but essential if you want a quick and easy way to heat up your food. These days, microwaves are such a common part of everyday life it’s easy to forget about them, yet they could make or break a fun trip in your RV.

This is just one example of the different comforts we are accustomed to at home that you may want to consider applying to your RV. The use of an RV dehumidifier is another prime example.

While these appliances aren’t always a necessity in a modern home that is well ventilated, being able to control the humidity within the smaller space of an RV cabin is an absolute must if you want to maximize your comfort.

What Does a Dehumidifier Really Do?

You may be wondering what do these appliances actually do and will you feel their benefit? The fact that many of us forgo using dehumidifiers in our own homes may make you wary about investing in one for your RV.

The truth is that the smaller and often less ventilated space of an RV doesn’t lend itself to a comfortable level of humidity. Between the steam created when you get a hot shower or boil water on the stove, to the hot and humid conditions outside of your RV, moisture is bound to build up inside the RV itself. With an increase in moisture comes the tell-tale signs of high humidity, including clamminess and air that’s oppressive and hard to feel comfortable in.

Anyone who has tried to sleep in a hot and humid environment knows how much of a nuisance moisture in the air can be. An RV dehumidifier essentially sucks the moisture out of the air continuously, helping to regulate the air and simply make your RV far more comfortable and livable.

Even if you have a high-quality air conditioning unit for your RV, this isn’t necessarily a replacement for a dehumidifier. Cool clammy air can be similarly uncomfortable.

It’s also important to regulate the humidity inside of your RV because of health reasons. Moisture in the air encourages mold buildup and also contributes to bacterial growth. It’s far easier to keep the inside of your RV fresh, clean, and comfy when the air is less humid.

Shopping For a Reliable RV Dehumidifier

Now that you know how beneficial these appliances are for the overall comfort levels of your RV, it makes sense that you would want to invest in one. Here at RVupgrades, we specialize in providing top-quality RV supplies, including appliances and electronics, so you are already in the right place.

As you browse through our extensive selection of RV products, you will notice that we have everything you need in order to make your camper nice and comfortable. From powerful AC units to high-quality dehumidifiers for RVs, heaters, covers, and a wide variety of other essentials.

If you own an RV, make sure it provides you with quality comfort. Get what you need here in our online RV store or contact us for more details on the products we offer.

What You Need to Know About Surge Protectors for RVs

Keeping up with the needs of your RV can be a lot like owning a home. A smaller, more mobile home - which is why RVs are sometimes considered by similar terms. Among other things, you need to be well-informed about best practices in towing and towing safety, how and when to use a water softener system (and why), all about RV awning care, the differences between RV leveling jacks and stabilizing jacks, and so much more.

When and where should you use RV roof tape? What happens to some RV fridges when the RV isn’t leveled? How can you prevent damage to your appliances, both electrical and those that deliver water?

These are just some of the questions you need to be able to answer readily as an RV owner. Keeping well-researched and informed on these matters will enable you to more effectively deal with problems on the road and possibly even prevent them.

One of the chief electrical considerations you will have to make for your RV is how to prevent damage to your electrical appliances attributable to power surges. To do this, you need not only a surge protector for your RV, but also need a basic understanding of shore power connections, what a power surge is, and why you need protection in the first place.

Starting Out: What is Shore Power?

Your RV has a battery and an alternator which enables the rig to generate electrical power from some of the energy released from the fuel that the engine burns. However, when you’re in camp or elsewhere that affords the convenience of a connection to an external power source, there’s no reason to put that type of strain on your battery. When you’re living in your RV, powering lights and appliances places a great strain on your battery that you can avoid with the use of shore power.

Shore power is basically any power supply that provides electricity from an external source to an RV, enabling you to utilize electricity when you’re in camp or at an RV park. Shore power could theoretically come from a house, but many RV campsites actually offer shore power hookups.

Depending on the size and specifications of your RV, you’ll probably have either 30 or 50 amp service, as these are typical ratings for RVs, whereas many homes have between 100 and 200 amp service. RVs can understandably get away with lower ratings because they are smaller than homes and do not have such a pressing need for power.

This makes it important for you to select a shore power cord that is rated accordingly. Choosing a power cord that is not properly rated can be dangerous, and you should never utilize a shore power cord that does not meet the minimum requirements (that is, do not ever use a 30 amp power cord to draw 50 amps as it can overheat, start a fire or otherwise damage your electrical systems). A good rule of thumb is to follow the ratings precisely.

Connecting to shore power is highly convenient because it frees you from the need to draw from your RV battery (unless you have a generator in which case that might be a moot point). However, once you’re hooked up to an external power source, you need to be very wary of a specific threat to your RV’s electrical system that is more common than many would like to admit: power surges.

Starting Out: What is an Electrical Surge?

Electrical supply is measured primarily according to two metrics, voltage, and current. Current is a measurement of how much electricity is flowing through a circuit for a given unit of time. Voltage is slightly more complex and is treated as the product of current multiplied by resistance. Resistance is a measurement of how much the circuit “pushes back” on the flow of electricity and therefore voltage is a large indicator of how much (for lack of a better term) electricity a circuit can handle safely. This is why appliances and electrical cables have voltage ratings.

Most shore connections are rated to 120 volts, and for that reason, many appliances are rated for 120 volt systems. Appliances are only rated to work properly (or safely) through a very narrow range of voltage ratings. Any change in the voltage rating, either up or down, can damage the appliance, result in a fire, or otherwise post a hazard to health and safety.

A power surge occurs whenever the supply of electricity to your RV spikes, and there are many different factors that can cause this. A power surge can be caused by a malfunction in a nearby transformer that regulates and controls the local voltage or it could be caused by utility companies manipulating the power supply on the grid, which can cause surges and dips in voltage. Power surges can also be the result of natural causes, such as lightning strikes or even interference with a power line, such as a tree limb coming in contact with it.

A surge can actually even be caused by usage inside of the RV. If you have appliances within the RV that draw a lot of power, if they are suddenly shut on or off, they can disrupt or divert the flow of electricity to other components on the system, which can be very damaging. Usually, these surges are comparatively small, but over time they can wear down your other electrical components.

Because many of the most powerful (and therefore the most damaging surges) are the result of unpredictable natural events, it is not practical to avoid them. You must secure protection against them because of the damage they can cause.

Similar to a power surge is a power dip, which is the opposite situation, in which the voltage periodically drops. Although it might make sense to assume that there are no risks associated with power dips, this is not the case. Dips in power, like surges, can be just as negatively impactful for the appliances in your RV.

The Problem with Power Surges

When you exceed the voltage capacity of an electrical appliance, such as what would happen during a power surge, you create a very negative set of circumstances for that appliance. Worse is the fact that power surges occur in the blink of an eye, so they are not something that can be predicted and avoided.

When there is a power surge and unprotected electrical appliances bear the brunt of that surge, the voltage increase inside the appliance can cause an arc across components. The extra energy from the arc is spent as heat which can be extremely damaging to electronics. For example, some electronics are controlled or managed via internal circuit boards that direct and control the flow of energy. When these overheat, they can “burn out,” which in a sense destroys them and renders the associated appliance inoperable.

Even if a surge doesn’t immediately incapacitate a device, over time, smaller surges to unprotected devices can slowly wear out and degrade their components. An electrical device like a TV that has been exposed to too many “small” power surges will eventually wear out and cease to function ahead of its time. Sometimes you can’t see the immediate damage caused by a surge, but overtime surges will shorten the length of electronics’ lifespans.

While smaller surges can damage, destroy or otherwise shorten the usable lifespans of electronics and other electrical appliances, extremely powerful surges can actually be much more destructive. Particularly powerful surges can even start fires, making surges not only a threat to your RV’s electrical infrastructure but also to the safety of you and your loved ones.

In order to protect against these adverse effects, a surge protector for an RV, or an EMS (electrical management system) provides even better, additional protection.

How Do Surge Protectors for RVs Work?

The most basic surge protectors for RVs are themselves fairly simple electrical appliances that serve a few simple functions. The basic and central function of a surge protector for your RV is to serve as an interrupting force to divert or limit extra voltage in the event of a power surge or a spike (which is like a surge but does not last as long)

Surge protectors don’t all operate by exactly the same principle, to take a high-level approach to the protection they offer, they typically divert the excess voltage away from your RV. if the surge protector detects a spike or a surge in voltage, it will shunt the excess electrical potential away from your RV so that your appliances and electrical system do not suffer the damage.

Surge protectors for RVs are not the only way to provide your RV with electrical protection against power spikes and surges. A more comprehensive solution would be an electrical management system, or EMS, which does basically everything a surge protector does and provides additional protection when you connect your RV to an external power source.

An EMS, which will cost you more than a surge protector for your RV, and will provide you additional protection, against both high and low voltages. While the damage that can be caused by high voltage is apparent, the damage that can be caused by low voltage is not as apparent, and low voltage issues are more common than you might expect.

Whenever there is a strong demand on a local power supply, the voltage supplied to your RV can dip, causing your appliances to run on a lower voltage than they should. If this happens and you continuously run your appliances on a lower voltage, they will eventually fail, just as they would with prolonged exposure to spikes.

A surge protector for your RV or even an EMS might seem like a significant investment, but it’s well worth the protection if you ever experience a serious surge that knocks out your electrical system. Consider the cost of wiring issues, rewiring, or even the cost of a new air conditioner or fridge!

What Features to Look for in Surge Protectors for RVs

Now that you know a little more about power surges and why you need to afford protection to your RV, here are some features you should consider if you decide to go with a surge protector for your RV to protect against surges and spikes.

-       Accurately measure power pedestal levels - You’re only as accurate as the information at your disposal; your surge protector should indicate the level of power you’re drawing from the pedestal you’re hooked up to.

-       An LED display or indicator - Many surge protectors come with an LED display that will indicate conditions such as “Power On,” “Open Ground,” “No Power” and even power levels.

-       Portability in surge protectors is a bonus - Look for a model that not only provides adequate protection but is also lightweight and easy to install! There are plenty of portable units in our store.

-       Weather-resistant design and thermal protection - If your surge protector is going to be plugged in outside between the shore power connection and your RV, you might as well get a unit that is resistant to high temperatures as well as the weather - it’ll last longer.

-       High response time - Some surge protectors will kick in and provide protection in as little as five nanoseconds.

-       High and low voltage protection - Many surge protectors do not protect against low voltage, but some do, increasing their utility and overall value.

-       Automatic restart features - Some surge protectors automatically restore power once the surge has ended.

-       Look for a model that delivers alerts - Many surge protectors are compatible with apps like Power Watchdog that can deliver you updates via Bluetooth.

-       A high degree of surge protection - Since surges are unpredictable, the higher the protection a surge protector can offer you, the better.

Choosing a surge protector for your RV to help diagnose and prevent electrical issues is not a task that you should take lightly. The right purchase can make a big impact on the prolonged health and operability of your electrical system. It’s important to get a compatible unit that has the features you desire.

If you have any questions about any of our products, including our RV surge protectors, please feel free to reach out to us and we’ll help you make the best choice. You can reach us at 866-332-7881. Let us know more about your RV, what electrical protection it currently features, and we’ll help you pick the best surge protector for your unique situation.

Why You Need to Shop RV Patio Mats Before Taking Off

Taking a trip out in your RV with the family is a great way to enjoy each other's company and to try new experiences while you are at it. You can go out on a long or short road trip together or take a trip into the woods camping. Before you embark on your voyage together, you will want to make sure that you have everything you need on the vehicle. You want to be as prepared and self-sufficient as possible while you are out together so that you all can be comfortable with what you have. One thing that comes in handy during RV outings is an RV outdoor mat or patio rug. Having one or two good RV patio mats onboard can provide a lot for you and your family and help to elevate your trip experience so the entire time is all the more enjoyable. Let’s take a closer look at RV patio mats and why your vehicle definitely needs them.

A Place to Gather Around

The first reason that might convince you to get a patio rug is a very family-oriented one. With an RV outdoor mat, you and your family, or anyone else you invited onto your trip, have a great place to gather when the vehicle settles down at your destination. Once everyone hops out and begins to set up where they are, you can roll out your RV rug alongside the vehicle and make a space for everyone to place their gear, seating, etc. It provides a comfortable seating and activity area where people can stay off of the soil and rocks and relax. People can keep their shoes relatively clean by staying on the patio rug, which means less dirt gets tracked into your vehicle. Your RV outdoor mat acts as a meeting spot for the whole family where you can sit and play games, talk, listen to music, and do really anything you want. It’s your trip after all.

Decorate the Space

Another way that you can have fun with RV patio mats is by choosing styles that you will enjoy decorating with. Here is where you can let out some of your creativity and put it to good use for your next RV outing. Choose a patio mat in a design you and your family will like. It could be a design of a scenic view, wild animals, checkered or striped patterns, or anything else you want. Some mats are even double-sided for when you want to switch things up. RVupgrades has plenty of options for RV patio mats in different styles for just this reason. Everyone likes different things and having your own preferred styles makes the whole area feel much more personal and comfortable, almost like a home away from home.

Made for the Outdoors

In case you had any amount of concern on your mind when thinking of how these camping rugs will hold up, let us put your mind at ease right now. Our patio mats are designed to be resilient and tough. They are truly meant for the outdoors. They will hold up to environmental pressures like rain, mud, and being placed on uneven surfaces. You can bring your camping rug out with you and not have to worry about it being damaged from regular use. A strong, well-made patio mat will last you a long time.

Low-Maintenance

As useful as they are to have around, RV patio mats get even better when you realize it does not take much effort to take care of them. You do not need to bend over backward to make your RV rug work for you. A patio mat is easy to clean and only needs to be hosed down before leaving it out to dry. On top of that, your mat dries quickly and is mold and mildew resistant so you do not have to worry about the water damaging the material. Once it is time to pack up and head out again, you can just roll your mat up and leave it in its convenient carry bag which securely holds your mat inside the RV again. A good RV mat makes it easy for you to maintain, use, and store it for another day.

Once you have your plans decided for your next trip, or even before that if you want to have things ready to go, you can start shopping for some high-quality RV patio mats. RVupgrades can help you out in this area as we have a substantial amount of RV rugs for you to choose from. You can peruse our offerings by looking for an RV outdoor rug in the right size, style, and color for you. It should be smooth sailing from there, but do feel comfortable reaching out to us if you have any additional questions about our products or about RV patio mats in general. We would love to help make your next family trip even more enjoyable.

The Difference between (and Necessity of) RV Stabilizing Jacks and Leveling Jacks

 

Anyone who has ever been camping in an RV has been there. Anyone who owns one has certainly been there. You pull up to your campsite, or to a location you’d like to camp at and park the rig. It shouldn’t take you much more than a few seconds to notice if the trailer or the camper is not level.

Let’s face it. The world, in general, is not level. There are more sloped grades out there than you could possibly number, and they’re tied to the enjoyment of camping. After all, the purpose of camping isn’t to find a large blacktop surface and hang out for a couple of days. It’s to get out there.

With that in mind, “out there” is made up of wilderness, and wilderness has slopes and grades. Now, when you’re backpacking and really roughing it, tolerating a night on a slope is no big deal. In fact, in a way, it sort of makes the whole experience that much better. The imperfections in the land bring you closer to nature.

This is not the case with an RV. Allowing your RV to rest on a surface that is not level is not the only problem you can have in camp, but it is one that will need to be addressed immediately. Before you can really enjoy your camping experience, you need to see that some of the following problems are addressed. 

The Problems 

So you pull up to a campsite or you get off the grid and stop on a gentle incline. Gentle or not, you could experience some serious problems if you allow your RV to rest on a surface that is not level for a prolonged period of time.

The first problem you’ll experience is, luckily, one that won’t incur any permanent damage to your RV or infrastructure. It’s just generally uncomfortable when you’re living on a slant. Think about it; there’s a reason that homes are built on level floors. People just aren’t made to roll around!

Comfort alone is not the only reason that an RV must not be allowed to remain on an off-level surface when at rest. There’s also the fact that your RV is a bit like a mobile home in the sense that it has furniture and accessories stored within it and throughout the closets and cabinets.

Similar to how airlines and bussing companies tell you to be careful when retrieving luggage after a trip because it could have shifted in transit, the same can occur to the items in your RV when it is off level. Imagine opening a cupboard only to have the contents clatter past you and onto the floor. That wouldn’t happen on a level surface!

So now we’re getting into what the issue is here; that being on an uneven surface for too long can result in damage, but this is just the beginning of the picture. This may be something of an esoteric fact, but believe it or not, you can actually cause permanent damage to your fridge if you store your RV on an uneven surface for too long. Anything more than a few degrees of incline can cause this damage.

Depending on the type of RV fridge you have, if it is operated on an uneven surface, water and ammonia can gather in the low areas of the lines. When this happens, the fridge will stop working. This is a best-case scenario, although the damage would probably be irreversible. In some instances, the fridge would not only fail but might also present a fire risk.

While you can cause permanent damage to your RV’s fridge if you operate it off of a level surface, that isn’t the only damage that you can incur. You’ll also have to be cognizant of the fact that allowing your RV to stay at rest in a slanted attitude puts a lot of stress on the frame and structure.

Much like buildings, RVs aren’t designed to rest off-level. It stresses a wide range of internal components of your RV when you park it on an uneven surface or a grade. In addition to the actual frame of the vehicle, you can cause damage to windows, door frames, internal fixtures, and even plumbing.

Finally, though this is more of an annoyance than a concern of permanent damage, camping with your RV off of a level surface has the potential to cause inaccurate fuel readings. That’s one final afterthought for you.

Now, accounting for all of that, there is a unique issue that some RVs face even when they are on level ground. Consider the following issue and reflect on whether or not you have ever experienced it.

Let’s say you’ve reached your intended campground and set up shop. You’re on level ground, so everything appears to be going by swimmingly. The only issue is that as you move around in the RV, it’s either swaying front to back or side to side. This is a pretty common issue encountered by RV’ers when their RV hasn’t been stabilized.

Moving around inside the RV, or just shifting the contents within, can cause an RV to sway or rock. This, however, is a separate issue from resting your RV on ground that isn’t level, and so has a separate solution.

The Solutions 

As you can see, there is no single issue here. Even when your RV has been parked and set up on level ground, you might still experience issues related to stability. That being said, you’re going to need an RV leveling system to solve one problem and a stabilizing system, like RV stabilizerjacks, for the other. While some leveling systems can be used to stabilize the RV, the opposite is not true and RV stabilizing jacks should never be used in an attempt to level an RV.

Let’s start with leveling. It has already been shown why this is a necessity in some situations, and there are a variety of ways in which you can solve the problem of being on a grade. Some RVs are built with a level system, which means you don't need supplementary levelers or supports. For the rest of us, there are a variety of other solutions.

The most basic solution for leveling an RV probably comes from leveling blocks, which can be used to provide a more stable and level surface for an RV. These are decidedly more low-tech than crank-handle jacks and other hydraulic levelers, but on the flip side, they’re easy to use, require no maintenance, and can never break down or need to be fixed. They’re the ultimate form of cost-effective, dependable leveling, even if they’re not as easy to use as some jacks.

In addition to these basic levelers, there are, of course, hydraulic jacks that, when coupled with a jack pad, can bring your RV back to level in short order, and easily at that. Though Bigfoot Hydraulic Jacks and Equalizer Hydraulic Jacks are more expensive than basic levelers, many of them have very adequate weight capacities and are also easy to use.

Now, leveling systems like these can bring your RV back to level and should serve to stabilize it. If you’re dealing with an issue of sway, when you might not need a leveling system but you’ll still need to bring along or install RV stabilizers or RV stabilizing jacks.

Whereas levelers provide both functions, RV stabilizers are solely intended to help the RV better respond to the movement within it so it is more secure on a level surface and doesn’t rock, sway or shift.

For the most part, the easiest and most approachable way to stabilize your RV is by utilizing stabilizing jacks. Here at RV Upgrades, we sell a number of different stabilizing jacks and tongue jacks, all of which can be used to stabilize your RV, provided they are rated appropriately and used with the proper associated equipment, such as jack pads.

Why Your RV Should Be Stabilized 

By the way, we went on at length about why your RV should be leveled but didn’t allocate an uncommon measure of reason to the matter of stability. While the need to stabilize your RV is not as imperative as your need to level it, it should be stabilized nonetheless, especially if it is subject to a lot of movement when parked.

If you don’t use stabilizing jacks, just like if you don’t use levelers, the first area of camping that’s going to take a hit is comfort. It’s not something you can’t learn to live with, but as you move around inside the RV it will sway and bounce. It’s a little unsettling and it can be prevented.

Then again, as you might expect, there is a much more material reason for the use of RV stabilizers, and just like leveling, it has to do with preventing damage to the RV’s structure and internals. Stabilizing your RV using a set of stabilizers, whether you use the RV’s inherent leveling system, a series of jacks, or even slide-out levelers, can help prevent damage to the structure of the RV. When used to their fullest effect, both levelers and stabilizing jacks can help alleviate wear and tear on your RV.

Just as we offer a large range of levelers and leveling accessories, we provide plenty of equipment for stabilizing your RV, including but not limited to tongue jacks, stabilizing scissor jacks, and much more. 

Why You Can’t Use RV Levelers and RV Stabilizing Jacks Interchangeably 

One thing that needs to be mentioned here is that RV stabilizing jacks and leveling jacks cannot be used interchangeably. As we have stated, some leveling jacks and other systems can be used both for stabilizing and leveling your RV, but the opposite situation is not true.

Stabilizing jacks cannot be and must never be used as leveling jacks. This is because whereas levelers are designed to shoulder the weight of the RV, stabilizers are not. RV jacks that are intended to be used as stabilizers don’t support the entire weight of the RV, just enough of it so that the RV or the camper doesn’t sway or rock back and forth.

Using a stabilizer as a leveler is a potentially dangerous situation and should be avoided entirely. With that being said, if you purchase an adequate set of levelers, these can potentially solve both problems for you. 

What Can You Do About It 

If yours is one of those that doesn’t come with a leveling system, then you’ll probably be looking for a solution like a set of leveling scissor jacks or a set of stabilizers or potentially even both, that way you’re prepared in any situation.

Just by bringing along a set of stabilizers or levelers to help you get your rig steady fast, you’ll be protecting your investment and making the most of your time on the road and in camp. Since you can’t use them interchangeably and a good series of levelers have the potential to provide the benefits of both, that may be the way to go. Just get in touch with us for additional information! 

Get in Touch with Us for Help 

Whether your unique situation would be best remedied with a set of distinct levelers and stabilizers or you should just get a set of levelers is up for debate, but if you need the input of those with experience we are never more than a call away.

Just give us a call anytime you want to learn more and we’ll fill you in. Plus, if you aren’t sure which direction to take or even which type of levelers or stabilizers will serve you best, we’d be happy to help you get to the bottom of it.

You can reach us via live chat on our website, but if you prefer the personal touch of a phone call just give us a ring at 866-332-7881. Let us know about your RV or your camper trailer, your budgetary concerns, and more and we’ll help you figure out what you should choose!

How to Choose a Quality RV Roof Tape

RV roof tape is a surprisingly essential accessory for RV owners to keep on hand. It might seem like something you can go without, that is until you’re caught in a rainstorm and the roof starts to leak. Keeping roof tape on hand is an amazing emergency plan for dealing with leaks that spring up out of the blue.

With that said, not all types of RV roof tape are created equal, and they don’t even all have the same properties. Here are some of the qualities you can look for in roof tape, as well as why they matter. No single roof tape will possess all of these qualities, but if you can find a good mix, you’ve just landed on a roofing tape that might save the bacon when the rain comes down. 

1.    Look for RV roof tapes that don’t require a primer

While it’s standard practice to ensure that a surface is clean and dry before applying roof tape, some of them don’t require primers. This makes it highly beneficial for leak repairs and roof seals for RV owners who have to apply them at a moment’s notice, often on the road and away from home - which is exactly what usually happens.

While you will need to ensure the surface is generally clean and clear of dirt and oil, some of our roof repair tapes require no additional preparation prior to application.

2.    An adhesive that is compatible with a wide range of surfaces is best

Since the manufacturers of these roof tapes can’t predict with certainty what the given roof material of their client’s RV roofs will be, they have to cover the widest number of bases. You should, too. While your RV’s roof might be rubberized or aluminum, you might also want to seal joints or surfaces made of EPDM rubber roofing, TPO, fiberglass, PVC, vinyl, wood, OSB, or other metals besides aluminum. Many roof tables can bond to all of these and more.

3.    Roof tapes that remain flexible are superior

Several brands of roof tape claim to provide an immediate, permanent bond, but non-hardening is a better guarantee of permanence than a blanket promise. Several RV roof tapes are non-hardening, which allows them to expand and contract and remain flexible across time and with exposure to the elements. This makes it harder for the bond to break down and gives the tape extra longevity.

4.    Look for a tape that bonds instantly

Since these tapes are typically applied at basically a moment’s notice and you need to ensure that they create an instant, watertight seal so no water can leak through, this trait is desirable. Many types of roof tape will boldly advertise that they create an instant, permanent seal. Also, look for one that doesn’t require any tools to apply it - even if they are suggested.

5.    RV roof tapes that have high UV stability are superior

Besides the fact that these types of roof tape will need to sit out in the spring, summer, winter, and fall and deal with all sorts of weather when the weather does cooperate, they’ll be baking in the sun. That’s bad news for most synthetic materials, including your RV awning and tires, because UV light breaks down many of them. That’s why you need to look for a roofing tape with the highest UV resistance possible.

6.    Look for a wide range of temperature stability as well

On the same note, it’s just as valuable to look for a roofing tape that is highly stable under as wide a range of temperatures as possible. Far northern RV owners might be used to dealing with temperatures way south of freezing. Similarly, campers in the south and west might need to contend with temperatures well in excess of a hundred. Both very high and very low temperatures have the ability to damage adhesives, which is why temperature stability is so important.

7.    VOC-free is a plus

Finally, one more thing that is nice, though not absolutely necessary, is a roof rape that is free of VOCs. Since VOCs are harmful to humans, it’s simple and generally advisable to avoid them wherever possible.

If you can meet those standards, then you’re well on your way to choosing a high-quality RV roof tape that will serve as a great disaster game plan when you’re on the road and the roof starts to leak. Let’s put it this way - it’s a common enough problem that these products exist, so shell out a few dollars and be prepared. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll be fortunate enough to never need the roof tape.

If you have any questions about our products, don’t be shy about getting in touch with us at 866-332-7881. We’ll field any questions you have and we might even be able to make some recommendations about which roof tape is best, given your specific circumstances.

Towing Mirrors: Improve Your Visibility

Any licensed driver is bound to be familiar with the use of mirrors while driving. All vehicles, commercial and recreational, must be outfitted with a number of mirrors - as prescribed by law - in order to provide the best level of visibility to the driver.

This is because the value of attention, paired with optimum visibility, helps to mitigate the risks of the road. Concepts like the “blind spot,” an area around the rear and sides of the vehicle which the driver cannot easily see. Even with the help of the side view mirrors, seeing fully into the blind spot is difficult; it’s a good practice for drivers to turn around and actually look out the side and rear windows of the cab to ensure that the space is clear.

This is just the best practice for recreational vehicles; that is, cars, SUVs, and the like. For commercial vehicles, RVs, and trucks equipped to tow larger loads, the picture changes quite a bit - literally.

This is because the blind spot takes on a new meaning in these scenarios. Whether you’re driving a moving truck with a cab and “trailer” that are joined, an RV with no rear visibility, or simply towing a trailer that severely limits your sight picture, your rig may actually have true blind spots. That is to say, even with the help of most mirrors, there will be areas that remain blind to you.

For example, some rigs have no visibility for a couple of yards directly behind the rear of their trailers. That’s why some truckers place a convex mirror at the rear, top corner of their trailers; it gives them a small measure of visibility into an area that would quite literally be obstructed without it.

That’s a bit of an extreme example because, for most drivers, the blind spots they’re concerned about are the ones at the rear sides of the trailer. This impacts safety because drivers must be sure these areas are clear before making moves on the road, such as changing lanes or while turning.

To help with these maneuvers, most drivers enlist the help of specialized mirrors known as towing mirrors. 

What Are Towing Mirrors 

When you’re driving a recreational vehicle (like a car, as opposed to a commercial vehicle) typically, your side-view mirrors will provide you with enough visibility to make safe decisions while you’re driving. However, these mirrors are limited both in size and in the sight picture they offer. Towing mirrors are specifically designed to provide better visibility to the rear and sides of the vehicle.

Let’s say your vehicle is not equipped with tow mirrors (some pickup trucks are) and you go to tow a camper with your car or van. When you hitch up the trailer, with it extended away towards the rear of the car, you’ll probably notice that suddenly your mirrors are not as useful as they should be.

For one thing, your rearview mirror will probably be useless. It depends on the size and height of your trailer, but typically rearview mirrors are totally obstructed when you’re towing a load. That throws them out of commission.

It also means you now need to rely entirely on the sight picture provided to you by your side-view mirrors. However, once you have a trailer behind your vehicle, you’ll find that it’s hard to acquire the visibility or the sight picture you need with just the mirrors that come with most vehicles. Either you’ll be cropping out the rear edge of the trailer or it will be difficult for you to see what’s right behind and to the side of your actual car.

Before we go any further, that only addresses visibility issues on one side of the vehicle - the driver’s side. The passenger side of the vehicle is a whole different animal.

With a trailer behind the car or truck, you’ll have even less visibility on the other side of the vehicle. Here’s the kicker -  you’ll have the same limitations on the passenger side, but the problem is that you won’t be able to turn your head and see what’s there because the trailer will be obstructing your view.

The first few times you drive a truck or tow a load, the knee-jerk reaction to check your passenger-side blind spot is to turn around. When you do, you’ll just be looking at the trailer. It’s very frustrating and takes some getting used to. Luckily, tow mirrors were specifically designed to solve this problem.

Just in case you’re not familiar with them, have you ever seen a truck, like a pickup truck, on the road, with really large, tall, wide side view mirrors? Meaning, mirrors so large they almost seem oversized? Those are tow mirrors. Take a look the next time you’re on the highway; basically, all commercial vehicles, from tractor trailers to buses, have these mirrors, and several angles of them, on the sides of their vehicles. 

How Towing Mirrors Can Change Your Experience 

Generally speaking, towing mirrors, especially those that have been built into the design of a truck or another large vehicle with limited visibility, are large mirrors with a lot of surface area and dimensions that make them useful for eliminating or at least minimizing drivers’ blind spots.

Since some vehicles come readily equipped with tow mirrors, we can only assume that you’re here because yours does not and you are probably interested in the value they provide - or in options at your disposal.

What you can expect from towing mirrors (depending on what you choose to add to your current vehicle) is that they will make it much easier for you to see along the sides and to the rear of your vehicle and trailer. These types of mirrors will not eliminate the blind spot that exists directly behind the trailer, but when adjusted properly, they will allow you to see the full length of your vehicle and trailer on both sides. That will enable you to make much safer reactions and decisions while you’re driving. 

Towing Mirror Options 

Since many vehicles do not come with tow mirrors, there are plenty of options on the market today that can be added to your vehicle’s current mirrors in order to improve your visibility and provide utility similar to towing mirrors.

Short of providing you with a custom job to retrofit your vehicle with new tow mirrors, here at RV Upgrades we provide a number of towing accessories including tow mirrors that clip, snap, or clamp onto your existing mirrors. These mirrors both add surface area to the mirror and extend your visibility along the sides of your rig.

Some of the tow mirrors on our website slide onto your vehicle’s existing mirror using adjustable rubber straps. There are a few benefits to mirrors such as these. For one thing, they are adjustable, which makes it easy for you to get the proper sight picture, regardless of who’s driving or how the seats are positioned.

Additionally, these types of mirrors will experience minimum vibration when adjusted properly. They can be removed easily and stowed somewhere safe when you are not towing, and, in addition, they do not obstruct your vehicle’s mirrors since they do not overlay them (as some do).

Others attach to your current mirrors via different methods. The Prime Products SpeedFix Clamp-On Towing Mirror attaches via a series of high-quality plastic and steel clamps that are engineered to last a lifetime. Because of the nature of attachment, these mirrors are easy to affix and remove, are suitable for almost any vehicle's mirrors, and can be used on either side of the vehicle.

They are also highly adjustable, making it easier to get exactly the view you need and are aerodynamically engineered to ensure minimal wind resistance.

A number of the tow mirrors we sell here are produced specifically to fit the factory mirrors of specific models. Our line of K-Source Snap & Zap Exterior Mirrors is made specifically for certain models of Dodge, Ford, GMC, Toyota, and Chevy Trucks. They’re designed to give you a perfect fit for your vehicle with minimal fuss.

They also do not obstruct your current mirrors, require no hardware to mount, and have an adjustable, flat lens to help minimize or eliminate your blind spot. For a no-frills solution that works, these might suit your needs. 

Other Considerations 

At certain points in this article, we mentioned that some mirrors “don’t obscure your current site picture.” The reason for this is that some supplementary mirrors occasionally referred to casually as towing mirrors, actually overlay your side-view mirrors. This requires a brief explanation.

Some mirrors actually stick onto or lay on top of your current mirrors. Often these are little, circular mirrors called convex mirrors or hot spot mirrors. They’re very functional, but they don’t provide quite the same level of functionality that true tow mirrors do.

What these convex mirrors do provide is the ability to see further around the sides of your vehicle, which helps to eliminate your blind spot. They are very practical and can improve your visibility on the road, but they are small and usually occlude part of your mirror.

You may notice, however, that some commercial vehicles have more than one set of side-view mirrors. Occasionally, they are outfitted with convex mirrors on the top or bottom of their flat side mirrors that give them the functionality of these smaller convex hot spot mirrors.

Depending on your circumstances, it might be valuable for you to get a set of mirrors that you can easily remove. This will make it easier for you to maintain them, allow you to store them somewhere out of the elements, and cut down on the clearance on the sides of your car or truck. 

Get Your Other Towing Essentials and Accessories Here

By the way, while you’re here reading up on towing essentials, keep in mind that they are not the only useful pieces of equipment or “must-haves” for towing. Here at RV Upgrades, we also provide the following useful towing essentials, among our other camper accessories:

●     Tow Bars and Tow Bar Accessories: Tow bars are the quintessential piece of equipment that enables you to tow a load, whether it’s a camper, a trailer, or a disabled vehicle. We also provide a number of tow bar parts and accessories, along with tow bar adapters.

●     Hitches: Naturally, if you’re going to tow a load, you need a towing hitch that’s properly rated to do so. In our collection of hitches, we carry 5th wheel hitches, gooseneck hitches, and a variety of other hitches, ball mounts, hitch covers, hitch pins, and more.

●     Wiring Kits: Towed vehicles must often be properly lighted in order to comply with the law and foster safe communication between other drivers on the road. We have a full collection of towed vehicle wiring kits to ensure you’re safe and compliant!

●     Towed Vehicle Braking Systems: In our collection of dinghy towing accessories you will also find towed vehicle braking systems that significantly enhance the safety of your rig. Designed to brake for the load, they will improve your control and handling, thereby improving safety.

●     Tie Downs: Depending on what you’re towing, you may need a set of towing tie-downs or ratchet straps.

●     Jacks and Levelers: When you get to your destination, the journey hasn’t ended! You may need a jack to raise or lower the tongue of your trailer so that it can be hitched and unhitched - we carry tongue jacks, in addition to a variety of other jacks and levelers.

Call Us for Help! 

As proud as we are of our expansive collection of RV essentials and accessories, we’re every bit as proud of our customer service. If you have questions about towing and would like our advice, don’t be shy about reaching out to us.

You can reach us via the live chat feature on our website and of course, you can reach us by phone at 866-332-7881. Give us a call any time and let us know what you’re looking for and we’d be glad to help.