When we watch TV, we always leave at least one light on so we can read the numbers on the TV remote or just to have a little background light so it’s not so dark. The problem with our trailer is that one switch turns on four LED lights, which are nice and bright while reading or eating dinner but are very irritating while we’re trying to watch TV. Some friends of mine who travel with us have small reading lights, which are perfect for watching TV — but the problem would be trying to install a light where there are no wires. We were wondering if you had any suggestions to alleviate this problem.
— Alan Gruend

Alan, you are not alone with this issue. The latest trend is to have multiple efficient, bright LED lights — and since they draw a small amount of current, it’s easy to string an entire bank of lights on the same small-gauge wire without causing an electrical overload. A great way to alleviate your problem is to install a dimmer switch, which is readily available on the Internet and is very easy to install. The dimmer switch will require a ground wire, which makes it difficult to replace the factory On/Off switch that’s built into the wall; there’s probably not a ground wire anywhere near that switch. The solution is to install a dimmer switch next to the first fixture in the string of lights and utilize the ground that runs to that light as well as the power-supply wire from the original wall switch.

An annual roof inspection will likely reveal trouble spots where water can find its way into your RV, leading to dry rot and mold. Resealing any breach before it becomes problematic will keep expensive repairs at bay.

By Bill Gehr / Photos by the author

hen it comes to enjoying the RV lifestyle, there is absolutely one thing for certain: At some point the sealant/caulking on the roof of your RV — around the vents, TV antenna, accessories and other permanently mounted hardware — will start to fail.

That’s not the biggest problem, though. The real headache is that unless you go up on the roof and inspect the surface periodically before a leak is discovered on the ceiling or inside a compartment, you may not even know about it until it’s too late for a quick repair.

In most RVs, a little bit of water can stain a whole lot of area. And, of course, Murphy’s Law dictates that the leak is going to show up above your bed when you least expect it. Regardless of where the leak originates or where it shows up, the worst-case scenario leads to dry rot that you may not even see for many years — and mold can also become a serious health issue. Depending on the location, a leak left unchecked can cause extensive damage to the roof structure and the siding, resulting in expensive repairs and big-time inconvenience. The insulation in the walls and roof can trap the water for long periods of time since there is no air circulating in this area.

The outstanding versatility of RVs makes it possible to reside in primitive locations surrounded by natural beauty and solitude — and reduce travel costs

By Bill Estes

hether it’s a pop-up, travel trailer, fifth wheel or motorhome, most RVs have at least one item in common: self-containment. While it may be minimal in some cases and extensive in others, it means having everything necessary onboard to be independent from hookups for a few days — or even for a few weeks.

Known as dry camping or boondocking, spending time off the grid is appealing to those who prefer more natural surroundings — and get a kick out of the freedom afforded by being self-contained. We can camp in the midst of some of the most beautiful and special places on this continent. Our RVs are our tickets to versatility, from spending time in a primitive campground in a spectacularly beautiful national park or national forest, a few days in a friend’s driveway or the convenience of an overnight stay at a Harvest Hosts partner location. Being “unhooked” may be a once-in-a-while choice or a preferred way of travel rather than just visiting for a few hours and then departing to a site with hookups. And don’t forget the financial consideration, which has been top-of-mind now that sites are more expensive than ever — if they are even available when you want to travel.

Swapping out an absorption refrigerator for a Everchill 12-volt DC model brings new benefits for keeping food cold — including a big jump in capacity — and its efficient power draw makes it a great choice for boondocking.

By Bob Livingston / Photos by the author

eeping food cold and frozen in an RV is quintessential to self-containment. Absorption refrigerators have been the appliance of choice for as many years as old timers can remember. But while these refrigerators have proven track records for off-grid performance — they can operate on LP-gas in just about any camping environment — they still don’t completely sever ties to civilization since those cylinders/tank will eventually need refilling. Then, too, there’s a growing segment of outdoor enthusiasts who just don’t want to carry propane.

Of course, advancements in on-board power technology have opened the floodgates for the use of 120-volt AC residential refrigerators in RVs — but the downside here when going off the grid is the need for a much more sophisticated 12-volt DC power system driven by large battery banks, big inverters and expansive solar systems.

Coming on the scene of late is the development of efficient 12-volt DC compressor-type refrigerators that work like their residential cousins — but are efficient enough to be installed in RVs with only a couple of batteries backed by a basic charging system. Elkhart, Indiana-based Way Interglobal (www.wayinterglobal.com) pioneered the move into the 12-volt DC refrigerator space and offers a number of Everchill models to the industry and aftermarket, earmarked for all RVs.

When the inverter/charger goes kaput, Xantrex has a solution for just about any configuration. The Freedom SW 3012 was a perfect retrofit for the old inverter in this motorhome.

By Bob Livingston / Photos by the author

ears ago, having a inverter capable of providing maybe 150 watts of modified sine wave power was almost a novelty. I remember my first 100-watt inverter. It was packed inside a bulky aluminum housing and powered a small black and white TV (also a bit of a novelty for those of us who turned to RVing as an outlet for leaving our daily routines behind). Today, inverters are becoming standard equipment on many RVs — and combined with a powerful, smart battery charging circuit, are becoming indispensable, especially for those RVs equipped with residential refrigerators.

In fact, sophisticated inverter/chargers capable of conditioning lithium batteries and part of high-tech packages that run just about everything in an RV — sans an umbilical cord — are all the rage these days for those who relish boondocking. Many larger systems can even run air-conditioners, eliminating the need for noisy generators. The more elaborate systems will have a large 3,000-watt pure sine inverter, a big bank of lithium batteries and a significant array of solar panels.

But while most of the inverters on the market have decent lifespans, higher dependency on off-grid power can lead to inopportune inverter malfunctions — which can pretty much render the 120-volt AC electrical system kaput when camping without hookups and/or running the generator all the time. That’s exactly what happened to the owners of this 40-foot diesel pusher motorhome. And, as expected, it happened during an inopportune time: while on their way to their winter destination.

t’s said that hindsight is 20/20 — and the Go RVing campaign was, in retrospect, truly onto something when the promotional arm of the RV Industry Association (RVIA) and RV Dealers Association (RVDA) began focusing on the “experiential” aspects of the RV lifestyle several years back. Fueled by a younger audience looking to do more with an RV than set up in a campground, the campaign captured the essence of going off the grid in search of memories. In other words, boondocking.

In the seasons since, dry camping has become the biggest trend in the RV arena. And whether it’s fed by a drive to truly experience what nature has to offer or an alternative to sold-out campgrounds, boondocking has opened up new vistas as travelers rediscover state and national parks and locations off the beaten path.

It’s also charged a drive by RV suppliers to research, design and create a wealth of components to sustain those off-road excursions. Just a handful of years back, about the only industry developing products capable of being used with 12-volt DC power was the over-the-road trucking industry. Today, RVs are awash in appliances capable of being utilized without that once-critical electric umbilical cord. From 12-volt refrigerators and lithium batteries to “soft starting” air-conditioners, solar panel arrays and energy management systems, the products intended to maximize comforts while off the grid has expanded exponentially — and continues to grow.

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When the outside elements have their way with slide-out toppers, Tough Top Awnings comes to the rescue with replacement fabric that will stand the test of time.

By Bob Livingston / Photos by the author and Lynne Livingston

lide-out toppers play an important role when it comes to protecting an RV and are arguably one of the most abused accessories in the RV space. They shelter slide-out roofs from water intrusion and debris, quiet down the noise in rainstorms and generally improve the appearance of any RV. But slide-out toppers are always exposed to the elements unless they are retracted, and that’s only when the RV is in storage or on the road. The constant beating from strong winds will weaken the fabric — not to mention the cacophony of noise inside the rig — and eventually the material will tear, usually at the poly cord seam nearest the awning rail on the sidewall.

Last summer, the five-year-old acrylic fabric (the more expensive stuff) on all three slides in our fifth wheel were damaged beyond repair in a strong windstorm; within seconds, they were history.

Granted, over time any fabric exposed to the sun — and potential damage from branches and other debris that can collect on top when parked under trees — will weaken the material. Also, roller-tube springs that are not wound tight enough will allow the fabric to flop around, which will decrease longevity, as will ice, snow, hail and debris that’s allowed to roll up on the tube during retraction.