Season's Greetings!
This time of year tends to find RVers in two camps: those who are blissfully enjoying their RV in a warm locale, and those who were forced to put the RV into winter hibernation and dream of their next adventures. Whether you’re actively enjoying the RV life or merely planning future projects, we have a variety of information packed into this month’s Tech Talk.
Wherever you are, we wish you warm holidays!
The FMCA Team
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Plumbing Repairs
I have always been a strong advocate of RV owners performing their own maintenance and repairs. However, this comes with a major caveat: Never perform a repair you are not comfortable with, and don’t try to fix anything related to the propane system.
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If you are a competent do-it-yourselfer, carefully evaluate what needs to be done before you embark on a repair, and make sure you are confident you can handle all the required steps. You also should consider to what level and quality you can perform the repair, so you don’t end up with a fix that doesn’t look good and/or function well. If you are not handy with tools, let a professional, a neighbor, or a friend do the work.
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Do-It-Yourself Automatic Step Repair
If you keep your RV long enough, at some point the automatic entry steps may fail to operate properly. This happened to Brian Pursel of RV With Tito, and he not only repaired the issues himself, he recorded videos of the fixes to help the rest of us.
Automatic steps have three main parts: a controller, a motor, and gear linkage. Brian has replaced two of the three and shares step-by-step videos for those repairs, as well as written instructions for the third. He also provides valuable troubleshooting information.
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Keeping a Clean Furnace
Vacuum and wipe down all portions of the furnace you can easily access. Though all forced-air furnaces are quite similar in their sequences of operation, they may be assembled into many different configurations. But simply keeping the unit free of accumulated dust and dirt will help ensure proper operation.
Vacuum in and around all areas of the furnace compartment, including the floor ducts. In some cases, it may be possible to remove a front panel to gain access to the interior portions of the furnace enclosure. In other cases, access may be gained through a panel from outside the RV. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down all metal components.
Take time to fully inspect the intake and exhaust vents on the exterior of the RV. The fireside stories you’ve heard of wasps, spiders, mud daubers, and birds possibly building a nest inside that intake/exhaust assembly are true. Obstructions in the intake tube will cause an overly rich mixture at the burner, resulting in incomplete combustion. Obstructions in the exhaust tube can be a fire hazard. Neither situation is good for you, the furnace, or the RV.
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A discussion of new products on the market to enhance your RV lifestyle.
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Blind-Spot Detection System
Whether you’re driving a motorhome or towing a travel trailer or fifth-wheel, changing lanes in traffic raises the risk of an accident. So, too, does backing up. The CUB Blind Spot Detection System is designed to lessen those worries by providing audible and visual alerts. CUB systems are available for motorhomes and towables.
The radar-based system connects to the OBD-II diagnostics system in a motorhome or towing vehicle. CUB’s warning zone covers left and right adjacent lanes with up to 75 feet of range. Rear cross-traffic zones are monitored up to a 60-foot range. The system automatically activates when your vehicle exceeds 15 mph. (If you are towing a vehicle or trailer behind your motorhome, the towed unit will need a trailer blind spot detection system for complete coverage.) The price of the RV Blind Spot is the same for motorhomes and towables: $999.
Novus Radar Technologies • (714) 784-6687
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RV Water Filtration System
The CDC200 RV Dual Canister Water Filtration System, from Clear20, is designed for RV use. It can be placed on the ground in its powder-coated steel stand or mounted in a storage compartment. The CDC200 purifies water in two stages. A 5-micron prefilter extracts silt, sand, sediment, rust, and other particulates. Then, the system's solid-block carbon filter removes additional contaminants (5 microns or larger) that affect taste and odor.
The CDC200 attaches to any standard-size RV water connecting hose. Included gauges monitor the system’s pressure and show each filter’s status. The system is 19.25 inches high (including gauges), 10.25 inches long, and 7.25 inches wide. It weighs 10.75 pounds. Water filters are purchased separately ($14.99 for a two-pack of the prefilter, model CPP1002; $16.99 for a two-pack of the solid-block carbon filter, model CTO1102). The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the CDC200 is $249.99.
Clear20 • support@clear20.com
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By Gary Bunzer, Technical Editor
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| Q. Dear RV Doctor: I saw information you provided about using a Shrader valve to perform dry winterizing of an RV. They were great instructions, and I thought it good that you also addressed using RV antifreeze in the drains. One area of concern, however, is that most Type A motorhomes are now equipped with residential refrigerators that have automatic icemakers and/or cold-water dispensers. Generally speaking, the water lines supplying these devices cannot be disconnected at the point of use and blown out with air. Having this water supply line freeze and rupture would likely result in a costly repair and collateral damage from water leakage.
While I understand it is difficult to cover all contingencies in a brief space, I believe this word of caution was a fairly serious omission in your response. I would love to be able to dry winterize my rig but must resort to using RV antifreeze and making “pink ice” in my refrigerator. It is a messy process during winterizing and dewinterizing, since the RV antifreeze never really solidifies.
Also, I have no outside access panels to the rear of the fridge where I can disconnect and blow out the water supply line. If you have heard of any other possible solutions, I would truly appreciate a reply.
Tom Carsten • Dayton, OH
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A. Granted, Tom, though more and more modern Type A motorhomes are being outfitted with residential refrigerators, they still remain in the minority. The Q&A you read was from a few years back when it was quite rare to not find an absorption refrigerator in any RV. I do have a solution (or workaround) for the newer RVs with icemakers or water dispensers in a residential unit. Try the following:
• Locate the 1/4-inch tubing that runs up to the refrigerator. It has to be visible within the fresh-water supply system somewhere. Find it as close to the refrigerator as possible. Turn off all water sources and relieve the pressure on the cold system.
• Cut that line and allow the water to drain out of the upper section that feeds the icemaker. It may be necessary to cycle the icemaker to expel all the water after it drains (check your owners manual).
• Install a 1/4-inch-by-1/4-inch compression valve (needle valve) at that location. Just about any hardware store or big box store will have these in stock.
• When it's time to winterize, turn off all water sources and close that needle valve. Then disconnect the upper nut that holds the tubing that runs up to the refrigerator/icemaker and allow that section to drain by gravity.
• Reconnect the upper tubing to the valve and leave the valve in the OFF position. Then winterize as normal, with or without RV antifreeze. Leaving the needle valve shut off will prohibit RV antifreeze from going into the icemaker or water dispenser (and its associated filter). It is not advisable to have RV antifreeze enter into the icemaker. It can be difficult to explain the pink ice!
• Come spring, simply drain the RV antifreeze out of the system and flush as normal. Then, as a final step, open the needle valve, allowing fresh water to once again enter into the refrigerator.
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FMCA's picks for tips you need now.
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Winter RV Outings
Not everyone in cold climates takes a break from RVing during the winter months. After all, an RV makes a great base for enjoying winter sports, such as downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, and hiking. Following are some resources related to braving the cold and keeping things warm and toasty in the RV while enjoying outdoor adventures.
FMCA members Mike and Jennifer Wendland use their RV year-round, including an annual trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in January with a group of winter-hardy friends. Mike shares tips for winterizing an RV and for using it during cold weather in this video.
ReserveAmerica.com’s Jeff Adams provides guidance for having a safe and relaxing RV outing during the winter months in an article titled “What You Need To Know To Take A Winter RV Camping Trip.” Added tip: RV Doctor Gary Bunzer notes that a drop light/trouble light with a 100-watt bulb works for providing heat in the refrigerator compartment.
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Easy Backsplash Project
One quick way to update your RV is to add a backsplash. Using a product called Smart Tiles eliminates the need for messy grout yet gives a tile-like finish. The lightweight peel-and-stick Smart Tiles are made using a translucent material called Gel-O, which gives them the appearance of glass or ceramic tile. A wide range of colors and styles are available. This project is simple enough for do-it-yourself RVers. Check out this RV-related inspiration page: https://www.thesmarttiles.com/en_us/inspirations/rv-tiles
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A Clear Solution
When Brian and Shawnna Johnson, F484129, of Lyf Uninterrupted had to have their motorhome windshield replaced a few months ago, they remembered that FMCA has a partnership with the Custom Glass Solutions Network. They gave Custom Glass Solutions a call and were able to arrange for a replacement in the Phoenix area, where they were at the time. It turns out that a Winnebago factory-trained technician did the job, and he used an original-equipment windshield for the replacement.
The Custom Glass Solutions Network offers nationwide coverage with more than 3,000 approved glass repair and replacement providers across the United States. Custom Glass Solutions takes care of initiating the insurance claim process and finding an approved glass shop near your desired location. They use American-made original-equipment replacement parts when possible.
As a bonus, FMCA members receive a free year of membership when they work with Custom Glass Solutions to replace their RV windshield.
Hear what Brian and Shawnna had to say about their experience:
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