V ownership is an adventure — and it’s not solely driven by the travel and social aspects, but also from the experience of setting up a home away from home. Leaving the humdrums of daily life is certainly a major factor, while most people want to see new places and partake in outdoor activities without giving up the niceties associated with living in a stationary home. Today, RVs are well equipped, and owners can augment livability — and the fun factor — by turning to the accessory aftermarket to purchase the items needed to customize and personalize their RVs.
And they do it with gusto. Ever watch how RV owners — and sometimes even those looking to get into the lifestyle — grab a cart in big parts and accessory stores like Camping World or those at dealerships and peruse the aisles with passion? Many times, these enthusiasts have no clue why they went shopping — they just knew they would find something to “use” in their RV. I can remember doing just that numerous times myself…and have always found something to throw in the cart.
Those people who take a more serious approach to accessorizing usually target systems and products that will fit the bill for their particular lifestyle. I can probably safely say that there are three segments that are among the most popular these days: Accessories to get RVers to their destinations safely without creating disharmony in the family; the ability to have energy independence while on the road and in camp; and staying in touch with family, friends and the world via good Internet access.
Fortunately, there are plenty of aftermarket products out there to fulfill the above needs, and more. This issue, in fact, is filled with them. Most, in fact, won’t probably fit into my three groups, but that’s okay — our equipment needs will always be different.
Why do I believe in the popularity of those three segments? Exploring unfamiliar territory is appealing to RV enthusiasts, though that tends to leave a lot of people in the dark when it comes to directions. And while guys still seem hardwired to not ask strangers for assistance, just about everyone today uses a GPS device to help navigate the roadways. However, not all are created equal. Undoubtedly, Garmin dominates this space with GPS devices that are packed with RV-specific features. I’ve used the Garmin RV 1090 since its introduction, which has given way to an updated version, the RV 1095. The Garmin GPS units for RVers are indispensable. Once loaded with personal profile information, like RV type and dimensions, it routes owners safely without worrying whether the roads are suitable for larger vehicles. Add in RV park data, and GPS assistance becomes an invaluable tool for planning trips—or making adjustments on the fly.
Then, too, I’ve spent enough time on the road to know that not all drivers love RVers, especially those drivers with little patience and short fuses. There are too many bad drivers out there, so installing a dash cam should be priority for every RVer. Most dealers don’t promote these easy-to-install devices and may be missing an opportunity. Proving accident responsibility these days is critical — and I’ll go out on a limb to say that RVers are safer drivers — and a dash cam can provide the necessary proof. Again, I like Garmin products, which can be plugged into its GPS hardware for added installation simplicity, but there are many dash cams available.
RVers are natural conservationists and have been infatuated with off-grid living long before solar panels became fashionable. Today’s offerings for energy independence are exciting; it seems like the technology curve is advancing at lightning speed. Companies like Xantrex, which previously concentrated on inverters for RVs, have expanded offerings to include solar panels, regulators, lithium batteries and other support electronics. Complete packages from GoPower!, Zamp Solar and Renogy — and others — have come on the market, driving prices down while raising the efficiency bar. Lithium batteries with complementing power management systems like those from Battle Born also are common and more practical than ever. I can’t imagine RVs without lithium batteries in the near future, especially since ancillary equipment like inverters and converters have been programmed for compatibility.
On-board energy independence makes it practical to employ sophisticated Internet systems on a 24-hour basis. The ability to stream entertainment — and the need to stay connected, especially for those who work from their RVs — has inspired several companies to develop mobile systems that offer quality, truly unlimited Internet service with little throttling during peak periods. Some of these companies, like Pace International and Winegard, team up with existing cellular providers to provide service to their wireless modems. Tie these modems to components from weBoost, for example, and distant signals become stronger.
The jury is still out on whether satellite Internet systems will ultimately offer more reliable service. StarLink, a division of SpaceX, continues to expand its service for RVers. The concept is fantastic, but at this juncture, there’s still work to be done. A clear sight to the northern skies creates the bugaboo for RVers. Navigating around trees and other obstacles in an RV park can prove to be just as difficult as finding clear southern skies for satellite TV. Service can be spotty or slower in some areas, but in pure Tesla fashion, the system should improve dramatically as more satellites are launched. Except for the initial cash outlay for the equipment, the monthly charges are comparable to other systems on market. RV manufacturers continue to provide internal wiring for Internet hardware, which makes it more practical than ever to offer these systems as a dealer installed option.
As this issue of RV Enthusiast demonstrates, development in the aftermarket arena continues to grow exponentially with new, exciting products feeding a burning desire to accessorize and customize. It’s an obsession we can all live with.