Happy Holidays
Ho, ho, ho, my goodness! The holidays are upon us, and another year is almost over. How did that happen? We don’t know. What we do know is that we have the power to make RVing great. Literally. This edition’s New Tech items offer three different ways to provide you with the power to keep your RV life fully charged. If your camping plans include getting away while it’s still winter, check out the RVideo item about ways to heat your RV — and what to do when the heater goes haywire.
Happy Holidays and safe travels!
The FMCA Team
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Join FMCA Today At Our Great Low Price!
Don't forget to hit the great outdoors with an FMCA membership, now available for only $60! Click here to learn more.
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Watt's Up With My RV Power?
The electrical system is an important part of the RV infrastructure, yet many owners don’t understand how it works or how to even begin to troubleshoot problems that may arise in their home on wheels. This is understandable, since the electron flow that creates the power can’t be seen (with the obvious exception of sparking and arcing). For many people, not having the ability to visually follow an electrical fault makes problem solving difficult. While this article will not cover troubleshooting specifically, it will discuss the basics of electricity and provide an example for readers who aren’t familiar with the terms or need a refresher.
The most important electrical troubleshooting tool to carry in your RV is a multimeter, also referred to as a volt-ohmmeter (VOM). This easy-to-use instrument allows for the measurement of resistance, volts, current (I recommend an AC/DC “amp-clamp”-style VOM), and other functions. Other tools that are important to have include a plug-in circuit tester and a non-contact voltage tester.
To properly use the above-mentioned tools and troubleshoot electrical issues, some definitions and two simple formulas help.
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Camping In The Cold
White Christmases are great . . . in movies. But Old Man Winter isn’t the best camping companion. Still, cold happens. If you can’t go south or west, or you get caught in a sudden storm, your RV may be able to handle the cold — to a degree. Chad and Tara from Changing Lanes break down the basics of a heat exchanger versus a furnace; what the heck a Btu is; and the best kind of space heaters for an RV. They also offer DIY tips on how to handle frequent problems, such as if the furnace fan kicks on for a minute and then switches off, or how to deal with that humming noise that comes from the propane tanks. Check it out here.
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A discussion of new products on the market to enhance your RV lifestyle.
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CarGenerator
After selling his technology company and buying an Airstream, Jonathan Schloo became frustrated by not being able to stay “off grid” as long as he wanted because of power limitations. And then an ice storm knocked out power at his home in Toronto. He realized that his truck already included 75 percent of the components of a generator — gas tank, engine, and alternator — and all he needed was an inverter. So, he created the CarGenerator, an inverter that connects to a car battery with booster cables and inverts the energy into watts and watts of power. Use a power cord to connect the CarGenerator to the travel trailer, and you’re camping and amping for a long time. The most popular model is the 1,000/2,000-watt all-weather version, which weighs 16 pounds and costs $799 (Canadian). A variety of other models are available, all the way up to one that provides a whopping 2,000/6,000 watts of power and costs $1,699 (Canadian).
www.cargenerator.com • (800) 750-4660
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Power Pack
The challenge with portable batteries is that they are limited as to what they can charge. GoSun just helped to resolve that issue with its new SolarEnergy 1100, a portable power plant that is about the size of a mini cooler and can operate devices up to 1,200 watts, such as cell phones, laptops, power tools, and medical apparatuses. It has two 110-volt-AC plugs, a 12-volt-DC plug, two USB plugs, a USB-C plug, and more. It comes with a foldable 100-watt solar panel to keep it charged, or it can be plugged into a wall socket or 12-volt outlet. On the back is a 450-lumen LED light just to keep things merry and bright. Price is $1,449; a smaller, 550-watt version is available for $749.
gosun.co/products/solarenergy-1100 • (888) 868-6154
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Flexible Solar Panel
Sunflare has added a new twist to solar systems. Its Flex60 solar panels are sandwiched between two polymer sheets, not glass, so they can bend and flex with every twist and turn your RV takes. They’re also light, with each panel weighing just 11 pounds, and they adhere to your RV using peel-and-stick backing that won’t let go even as you’re cruising down the highway. They come in a 105-watt panel for $450; 126-watt panel for $550; or 180-watt panel for $750.
www.sunflaresolar.com • (888) 577-9935
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FMCA's picks for tips you need now.
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Directory Of RV Service Pros
Jason and Lisa Carletti ― the first husband-and-wife team to be certified as master RV inspectors by the National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association ― operate a website that gives RV owners and shoppers a place to find trusted professionals who offer a wide array of RV services. The site lists more than 6,000 companies across 15 categories, including RVs for sale and RV-related job postings. RV owners who sign up for a free account receive access to more features, such as enhanced filtering of service types and searching for RV technicians who offer specific services, among them furnace or water heater repair, towable inspection, and more. Find out details at https://myrvresource.com.
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RV Hacks
Marc and Julie Bennett of RV Love have been living life on the road for the past eight years, and in the process, they have visited all 50 states, traveled more than 100,000 miles, and garnered a substantial amount of knowledge. So, they decided to write a book to share this with fellow RVers: RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun. Over the course of 227 pages, the Bennetts share their hard-earned expertise about issues such as driving, repairs and maintenance, camping, RV living, technology, and family life — all broken down into tidbit-sized nuggets of info. In addition to sharing their own knowledge, they tapped the expertise of 21 fellow RVers and spread their tips and tricks throughout the book. RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun can be purchased through any bookseller, or digitally through Apple Books and Google Play.
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RV Insurance When was the last time you obtained quotes to make sure your RV insurance rates are still competitive and in line with your current needs? FMCA RV Insurance can help with that process.
FMCA RV Insurance is powered by the FMCA Coalition, a group of RV insurance specialists. These experts know RVs and what it takes to maintain and repair them, and they know which coverages RVers need. Whether you are a full-timer, a part-timer, or a weekend warrior, the FMCA RV Insurance folks can connect you with a policy that meets your needs. And with one phone call, you can obtain quotes from multiple carriers for RV insurance, as well as auto insurance and even homeowners insurance in some states and provinces (Alberta and Ontario).
FMCA members may qualify for a group discount (discounts not available in all states and provinces or from all insurance companies), and upon request, you can obtain an annual policy review and rate comparison.
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Join FMCA And Save Today!
As an RV owner, protecting your RV is just one of your many priorities. With our member-only discounts, you can save on insurance for your RV, home, or automobile, as well as pet insurance and international travel insurance. Click here to learn more about all the ways FMCA enhances the RV lifestyle.
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