Great RV Accessories

2012-05-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a clever, inexpensive must-have gizmo for fifth-wheel and trailer owners. Called the Hookup-Memory, it makes trailer and fifth-wheel hookups fast and easy.

Simply install it on the side of the trailer tongue near the support stand where you can see it while unhitching. Just before you unhitch, move the pointer to the position where the bubble appears on the gauge. This tells you at what height the tongue should be when hitching up again.

When it comes time to head out, just adjust the tongue height back to the spot where the pointer and bubble meet and you will be at the right height to hook up--without all the adjusting and tweaking.

Isn't it great to find an inexpensive gizmo that makes life so much easier? You can find Hookup Memories at Camping World for $9.43.

Belt holster "holds everything"

2012-05-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

The HIP Pock-Its by Nite Ize is a fully enclosed, fully inclusive, "hold everything" belt holster that fits almost any hand tool you can imagine.

It has multiple internal pockets and places to clip and store smaller items, and even comes with its own waist belt.

The HIP Pock-Its will carry and organize multiple large and small items, is built tough to ensure it will handle heavy loads and to withstand years of heavy use. Made of durable, weather-resistant material with a padded cover flap, hook-and-loop closure, padded front and back panels, rugged buckles and an adjustable waist belt that fits 24" to 48" waistlines.

HIP Pock-Its also features: numerous interior pockets, three front pockets, stretch accessory loops, D-ring, hang loop, and an easy access zip-open-wide design with gusseted side panels.

Once you've filled it with the equipment you need, you can attach it one of three ways: (1) Wear it on your own standard width belt, (2) attach it to a wide tool belt, or (3) wear it with the included waist belt. Its uses are virtually limitless—it can carry everything from flashlights and cell phones to cameras and mallets—so it's excellent for everything from workshop and auto repair to camping and travel of every kind.

You can find it on the Nite Ize website for $24.99.

Information from Nite Ize website.

2012-05-29T15:06:00.001-07:00

Verilux ReadyLight™ is a rugged and durable solar-rechargeable flashlight that sets the standard for emergency lighting. Ergonomically shaped and equipped with 6 super bright LED bulbs, the ReadyLight provides a wider beam than conventional flashlights.

An environmentally friendly rechargeable NiMH battery pack eliminates the need to dispose of expensive batteries and a carabiner-style hook attaches easily to backpacks or belt loops. The ReadyLight offer security during emergency situations as it delivers dependable, bright light during power outages.

Verilux ReadyLight™features:

Unique solar panel lasts up to 20 years and fully recharges the flashlight in 8 hours for up to 4 hours of bright, Natural Spectrum® daylight illumination- just place on your window sill.
6 super-bright LED lights provide a wider beam than other conventional flashlights.
Rechargeable NiMH battery pack eliminates the need to frequently dispose of expensive batteries.
9" long, 3.5 "W and 2" thick at head.

You can find the ReadyLight on the Verilux website for $29.95.

Information from Verilux website

How to choose the right wax for your RV

2012-05-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

Have you found a visit to the car care aisle of your local auto or RV supply store to buy a wax for your RV a bit overwhelming? There are rows of surface care products claiming multiple benefits for the protection of your RV's surface. There are products that clean and wax at the same time, wax without cleaning, abrasive cleaners, and synthetics.

Shurhold and Wellcraft boats have combined to produce a video explaining these products, what they do and don't do, and how to choose which one might be right for you. Watch the video below to learn more.

Go to Shurhold's website to learn more about the care of your RV and for its cleaning and waxing products.

2012-05-22T14:34:00.001-07:00

So you've just visited that fancy Napa Valley winery, taken the grand tour, and returned to your RV with the superb 7-year old estate-bottled Pinot Noir that spoke to you in the tasting room. Now, what to do to keep it intact while you maneuver the twisty back country two lane roads and pot-holed highways until you can enjoy it in the peaceful serenity of your campground tonight?

Enter the Vinni Bag, the simple way to safely transport (or ship) valuable and/or breakable items. Here is how it works: Insert a bottle into the center of VinniBag, inflate by mouth or with a hand pump, roll up the bottom flap to form a leak proof seal, and snap the buckle closed. Voila!

The Vinni Bag offers superior protection against impact and leakage and is a versatile travel bag for wine and other liquids and fragile items. It suspends items in an inflatable air cushion that accommodates many shapes and sizes as the air chambers conform to the contents--even several smaller items.

The clear material allows for Visual Inspection without opening and it stores flat, rolled, or folded when not in use. Great for camping, biking, or just bouncing around in your RV.

You can find the Vinni Bag on their website for $28.00 (two for $25 each) with free shipping.

Secure your gear with this Perfect Tie-Down

2012-05-22T14:04:00.002-07:00

Secure loose items like coolers, camp chairs, bicycles, patio rugs, and barbecues quickly and easily in your pick-up bed or attached to your rear RV ladder with the Perfect Tie-Down.

No parts to break; simply attach the hook to one end and pull the cord with the other. Release with the thumb hole. Quick, easy and high quality. Made in the USA of high strength thermo plastic, Delrin with 1/4 solid braid polyester rope. The rated capacity is 225 LB break strength with 75 LB of working load capacity.

Patented internationally. Package of 4. Black rope and rope lock with optional color bungee. Available in Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, Blaze Orange, JD Green, Safety Green, Military Green, Tan, Pink and Purple.

The 4-pack is available from Just Ducky Products for $35.96.

Information from company press release.

Thetford offers rebate on new toilet purchases

2012-05-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

From now through summer, RVers can receive a special $25 manufacturer's rebate when they upgrade their RV bathroom with a new, best-in-class Thetford permanent toilet. Toilets purchased between May 1st and August 31st are rebate eligible.

Models included in the promotion are Aria Classic or Deluxe II, Aqua-Magic V (hand and foot flush), Aqua-Magic Style II or Style Plus, and Bravura. Rebate coupons are available at select retail outlets and can be downloaded from the Thetford website.

Thetford Corp. is the world's leading supplier of sanitation and refrigeration products for the RV, marine, and heavy-duty truck industries. Thetford is a privately-held company with eight manufacturing facilities in Michigan.
Thetford subsidiaries include Norcold, America's leading manufacturer of gas-absorption refrigerators and freezers for the RV, marine and truck markets; Tecma, a producer of fine-china toilets and powerful waste-transfer systems based in Italy; and Thetford UK, a unit in England that manufactures Spinflo brand, high-quality cooking and heating appliances, as well as accessories.

Top-Snapper makes snapping canvas covers simple

2012-05-14T16:45:00.002-07:00

Experienced RV owners know that putting up and removing canvas is seldom easy. Canvas shrinks, snaps corrode, and aligning snaps can quickly become a two-person job.

Shurhold's Top-Snapper canvas snap tool takes the struggle out of snapping canvas. The Top-Snapper's two stainless steel blades slip over the snap shoulder to snap and align the snap halves. It even works on corroded snaps and shrunken canvas.

This Shurhold tool is the only canvas snap tool that will work on either inside or outside snaps. Both blades work equally well to unsnap the snaps without tearing or ripping the canvas. An easy-to-grip, rubberized handle adds convenience.

Shurhold's Top Snapper comes with a lifetime warranty and has a retail price of $19.98. Learn more at the Shurhold website.

Cobra introduces CB radio with Bluetooth® connectivity

2012-05-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

Based on the patented, award-winning and popular 29 LX CB radio platform, the new Cobra 29 LX BT is engineered to comply with current hands-free cell phone usage legislation. Featuring Bluetooth® wireless technology, drivers can connect the 29 LX BT to their mobile phone for in and outbound hands-free and legal mobile calling.

One-touch Bluetooth operation enables initiating and terminating mobile calls with the push of a button. Caller ID with voice provides a voice announcement of incoming callers, along with caller ID display. Cobra's 29 LX BT CB Radio features text-to-speech conversion with third party apps, which supports listening to incoming email and text messages and responding to emails simply by talking.

The 29 LX BT has jacks for external push-to-talk capability and a microphone, offering complete hands-free operation. Packed with state-of-the-art safety features, this CB radio includes 10 NOAA weather channels and 24/7 emergency weather alert. It also has a four-color selectable LCD display and a noise-cancelling microphone.

Learn more about Cobra's 29 LX BT CB Radio, which has a price of $189.95.
Information obtained from company press release

2012-05-14T14:36:00.001-07:00

In this informative RV product video Mark Polk with RV Education 101 demonstrates Valterra Products complete line of standard and lead free water regulators designed to protect your RV water system from damage caused by high campground water pressure.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk
RV Education 101

sponsored by Valterra

Fill your batteries automatically to the correct level

2012-05-08T17:12:00.003-07:00

If your batteries are difficult to access to fill, or they are positioned so that you have a hard time seeing the level when you add water (it's not good to overfill battery cells), the Flow-Rite Double Remote battery watering system may be what you need.

The simple system allows you to fill all your batteries to the proper electrolyte levels from a single fill tube, using a simple hand pump. It is safer and more accurate than conventional filling, and you can install it in minutes without tools.

It sends water only to low cells without adding to or over filling those cells that don't need it! Works with any distilled water container and fits all 12V flooded lead acid batteries in group sizes 24 through 31 with standard 3-cells and spacing of 1-5/8 center-to-center. Squeeze bulb filler sold separately.

You can find the watering system at the RV Upgrade Store for $62.24 (Manufacturer P/N: MP-2000, Product Code: 55-8754.)

Information from RV Upgrade Store website.

Keep skittish towels off the floor with ToweLocs

2012-05-06T15:24:00.002-07:00

Has your spouse ever complained that your erratic driving causes all the towels to slide off their rods or from the oven door, where they end up on the floor and under foot?

They could even cause a fall and they get dirty and need laundering--even after they've just been washed.

Cindy Sawyer, founder of ToweLocs, thinks she has found a way to resolve this marital conflict, regardless of which spouse is doing the driving.

ToweLocs are decorative towel fasteners that keep all your towels in place, off the floor, off counter tops, and from disappearing.

They come in different decorative designs, are good housewarming gifts, and can be adapted for a variety of uses. You can find them on the ToweLocs website.

See how they work in this video.

For mucking around your campsite try Muck Boots

2012-05-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

If you know anyone who has--or if you have--gardened, cared for horses, walked in the rain, played along a stream, taken nature hikes, or any number of outside activities where you were subjected to wet, muddy conditions, then you probably have heard of Muck Boots.

Mucks have devoted--you might even say--fanatic followers. They are not just 100% waterproof, but also lightweight, flexible, and buoyant (in case you drop them overboard).

They are designed with a stretch-fit top line binding that fits snugly around the ankle to keep out dirt, debris, twigs, and pebbles, have a breathable lining, are reinforced for durability, and have built-in protection for the toe, arch, and heel with a fully wrapped outsole, which also provides superior traction and stability for walking across logs spanning mountain streams or navigating the rocks in a tidepool.

Muck Boots come in all varieties, from low tops to full knee boots, but their Edgewater Camp Shoe is designed specifically for a variety of outdoor adventures such as camping (of course), birdwatching walks, stream-side activities, and spectator sports. They are the perfect slip-on to keep by your entry door ready for anything you might find when you step outside.

You can find the Edgewater Camp Shoe on Amazon for $54.95 to $88.45 depending on size.

RV Awning Accessories by Valterra

2012-05-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

In this informative RV product video Mark Polk with RV Education 101 demonstrates RV awning accessories by Valterra Products, designed to protect your awning and make your camping trips more enjoyable. Discover some great RV awning accessories like the RV Twin Trak, Awning Buddy and Happy Hook awning tie-downs.

sponsored by Valterra

Happy RV Learning!
Mark Polk
RV Education 101

Learn about Mark's books, eBooks and DVDs at RVbookstore.com
Read more »

A fast and easy way to chock your tandem axle wheels

2012-04-30T16:37:00.001-07:00

Are you annoyed at having to kneel down and ratchet your fiver or trailer wheel chocks into or out of place?

Tired of kicking a chunk of wood out from under your tire when you're ready to go?

The new Fastway® ONEstep™ chock eliminates all that trouble! The ONEstep™ chock is the fastest and easiest tandem axle wheel chock available.

To place the chock, simply slide it into place and step down. No bending or kneeling required! When you're ready to go, just pull up on the cable handle, and the ONEstep chock pulls right out!

Watch the video to see how it's done. Visit the Fastway website to find a dealer near you.

Heated water hose prevents frozen water supply

2012-04-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

We are not always fortunate enough to camp in balmy 70-degree weather. Sometimes, like when visiting family for the holidays we must linger in cold climates for a bit before heading to our summer campground.

At other times when camping in the high mountains in the shoulder seasons or in the desert in winter, the night time temperature can drop below freezing, even though the days may be comfortable.

If you've ever found yourself with a frozen water hose, effectively shutting down your water supply, Pirit Heated Hoses may be a good solution. Even if you've forgotten to plug it in and get caught with a frozen hose, it can be cleared within minutes when plugged in.

Heated Hoses, available in 25', 50', and 100' lengths, will provide a constant source of water in freezing temperatures. The hoses are thermostatically controlled, turning on when temperatures drop below 45 degrees F, and turn off when temperatures rise above 50 degrees F.

Features

Pirit Hoses have been tested to -42 degrees F (-41 degrees C ).
Grounded power supply
Grounded nickel plated brass female and male coupling
Protective bend restrictors at both ends
Abrasion-resistant cover
Knit reinforcing
Heater wires are extruded directly into the hose walls for uniform heating and unrestricted water flow
Certifications: UL listed, MET approved, FDA approved materials
One-Year Warranty.

You can find Pirit heated hoses at Tweety's starting at $99.95.

Check out this snoozing chair for outdoor comfort

2012-04-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

There is no reason why you should not be as comfortable in your camp chair around the campfire or for your afternoon snooze as in your RV's comfy inside chair. After all, you deserve it.

Finally, a wide, padded Club Chair is designed like an indoor chair made for the outdoors. It folds up in seconds and stores in a convenient bag (included) for easy storage, and unfolds easily for cushy seating at any outdoor event.

It is much more comfortable than a standard bag chair, and is built on a heavy-duty steel frame (and will support 250 lbs.) with water-resistant polyester fabric.

You can find the Club Chair on Camping World's web page (online sale only) for #44.99 with $5 shipping.

The Tornado Rotary Rinser: The perfect Father's Day gift

2012-04-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

If you've been scratching your head to find the perfect Father's Day gift for the perfect husband (the one that bought you a vacuum cleaner for Mother's Day), here is the answer--the Tornado.

Your hubby will be thrilled when he finds that his new Tornado Rotary Rinser RV Holding Tank Cleaner can reach every remote corner of your rig's black water tank. This permanent tank rinser with 360 degree rotating head (how many products can claim that?) and multiple high-pressure nozzles is the easiest, most sanitary way for hubby to clean your holding tank.

No need for hoses reaching through the windows like giant serpents, or devices crammed into the murky (mucky?) depths of your toilet. It even comes with a backflow preventer and a 6-foot exterior access hose for quick hose connection with no mess.

Features & Specifications

The easiest, most sanitary way to clean your holding tank
Dislodge and flush stubborn waste deposits and odor-causing particles left after holding tank is emptied
Powerful 360-degree rotary cleaning action
No need for hoses through the windows or devices stuck down toilets with 6' hose

You can find it at RV Toy Outlet for $29.99.

This small inverter might be just the ticket for small power uses

2012-04-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

There are times when you don't need a big, powerful inverter, such as for small power loads, lights, TV, laptop computer, iPad, or recharging cameras, cell phones, and more.

This small, lightweight and portable, Go Power!™ GP-300 modified sine wave inverter is an easy solution for those small power loads.

Just plug it into any of your RV's 12-volt power outlets or your RV or dinghy lighter sockets, and you have instant 120-volt power.

Additional Information

Item # 19263
Brand: Go Power
Model: GP-300
Installation Type: Portable
AC Receptacles: 2
Continuous Rating: 300 Watt
Charger: No
Output Current: 2.5 Amp
Output voltage: 115 VAC (+5 /- 10 VAC)
Output Waveform: Modified Sine Wave
Peak Efficiency: 90%
Remote Display: None
Surge: 400 Watt (3.3 Amp)
Dimensions: 6.5" (L) x 3.5" (W) x 2" (H)
Warrant: 1 Year

You can find it at Dyers RV Parts and Accessories for $33.34.

Save space and clean up time with this collapsible, canvas, wash basin

2012-04-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

The simplicity of this low tech canvas wash basin as an addition to your RV camping gear might turn out to be one of your favorite labor savors.

Made from tightly woven canvas, they're great for washing your hands and face, your eatin' tools, the dirt off your grandkids before they bring it all inside, cleaning seashells and other valuable collectibles--and all done outside your rig with none of the gray water entering your waste tank.

It is lightweight and when folded flat takes very little space, you just fold it up and stow it away when you're done. Or carry one permanently in your day pack, in your dinghy, or in your beach gear. We found these on a trading post website that caters to Native American and Mountain Man rendezvous equipment, and since they are surplus, they range from approximately 7" to 9" in diameter and some may have been previously used--but at the price a real bargain.

You can find the collapsible canvas wash basin at the Crazy Crow Trading Post for only $3.95.

New roller shade covers angled cockpit windows

2012-04-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

MCD Innovations announces the introduction of the MCD SwayShade™ for aftermarket installations. This innovative design provides complete coverage of cockpit windows that are considerably wider at the bottom than at the top due to the more aerodynamic shape produced by many coach manufacturers.

A conventional shade, moving straight down, will not cover the front lower corner of these angled windows. As if by magic, the new MCD SwayShade™ is actually able to not only travel down, but also sideways at the same time providing coverage needed for the lower forward corner of angled windows.

This new shade design is produced in multiple configurations and sizes to provide the exact amount of “forward movement” needed for a particular coach model so as to completely cover the window providing full privacy and sun protection. The "forward movement” can be as little as 1" to as much as 9" depending upon the particular configuration.

MCD began offering the SwayShade™ as Original Equipment to several OEM manufacturers including Winnebago, Newmar, and Monaco for certain 2011 models. Since then, more and more OEMs have begun spec’ing the MCD SwayShade for an increasing number of models.

Good reviews by OEMs and an ever growing number of requests by consumers and dealers for SwayShades to fit previously built coaches, have resulted in making these unique shades available to the aftermarket. The SwayShade will be available in a number of standardized sizes to fit most applications in both manually-operated and powered day/night shade versions as of May 1st 2012. To view the SwayShade in operation, visit the MCD website.

MCD Innovations has been engineering and producing an array of sun protection products since 2003 and the company supplies a wide range of innovative products to numerous RV OEMs as well as an ever-growing number of Dealers and RV owners throughout the USA and Canada.

MCD also supplies an array of unique energy-saving and merchandising shade products to the residential and commercial markets, for example, MCD Shades are found in over 8,000 Dunkin Donuts locations as well as in a number of other nationally-known restaurant chains.

For more information regarding the benefits and features of the SwayShade™, or how to place an order, contact MCD Innovations at 800-804-1757, or visit their website.

Light up your patio with a 7-color LED light strip

2012-04-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

This 16-foot strip of colorful, programmable LED Iights by Dometic displaying seven different colored LED lights adds a splash of color to your awning and patio area.

You can program the strip to fade or step between colors (white, blue, pink, red, yellow, green, and cyan).

The 3M adhesive backing enables a permanent installation, keeping your lights in place even when your awning is closed.

Fits any size awning. Includes long-life, waterproof LED lights with adhesive strip, wireless remote control with batteries, and 120-volt AC power cord.

Features & Benefits

16' of colorful programmable LED lights
350 LEDs
Waterproof, long-lasting LED lights
Lasts over 3 1/2 years with continuous use
Simple installation
Trim to fit custom lengths
Includes wireless remote control with on/off button plus multiple program features to change colors
You can find the light strip at Camping World for $219.99.

Keep your fifth-wheel suspension in alignment with Correct Track II

2012-04-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

DID YOU KNOW?

- A suspension ¼ inch out of alignment over the course of 5,000 miles is equivalent to dragging the RV sideways for 125 miles!
- A blown out tire causes expensive collateral damage in almost all cases. Frequently, thousands of dollars.
- The major cause of misalignment is unbalanced, lateral weight caused by floor plan arrangement of heavy interior items and slide outs.
- Alignment service is less expensive than a blowout or road side service! A new tire can be done safely and conveniently on your schedule.
- Out of alignment suspensions create excessive vibration throughout the entire rig.
- Vibration is a structural enemy and will cause premature failure of appliances, electronics, gas and water lines and all the fasteners holding your coach together.

Sound Familiar?

The Solution is The Correct Track Trailer Alignmnet System!
With Correct Track, RVers now have the ability to keep their suspension in alignment using this patent pending system. Owners can drive off the lot knowing they are taking the first step to ensuring a safer ride. Though Correct Track systems come in a version for OEMs, Correct Track II is available for the aftermarket.

Correct Track II System Benefits:

Reduced vibration damage and passenger fatigue
Improved fuel mileage
Reduced wear and fatigue on suspension components
Dramatically improved tire life
Peace of mind and safety
Tires run cooler
Corrects uneven tread wear

Correct Track II is available to dealers and distributors through the Mobile Outfitters website. Correct Track II is bolted onto the existing axle hangers and must be done by a certified Mobile Outfitters Dealer. If you need alignment correction service, Correct Track™ is your best and most economical solution.

For more information you can find a dealer near you here.

Information gathered from press release, Lippert Component, and Mobile Outfitter websites.

Two easy steps to keeping your buffing pads in tip top shape

2012-04-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

Maintaining an RV's exterior is simple and cost-effective with Shurhold Industries' Dual Action Polisher. However, it's also essential to take care of this cleaning tool, including its buffer pads.

While Shurhold offers a selection of buffing pads, and you could simply replace them a couple uses, if you perform the following two simple steps, you will keep your pads in good--and reusable--condition.

Two easy steps: (1) Purchase the company's Utility Brush, and (2) Use it.

Perfect for fluffing and cleaning Shurhold's Buff Magic pads, this Utility Brush is shaped to fit an owner's hand and includes a unique spot scrubber on the handle. It's also great for use on upholstery, floor mats, vinyl and canvas.

To use the buffer pads, the compound should be applied to the RV's surface--not the Buffing Pad directly. This helps prevent overloading and clumping. When the pad becomes matted, the Utility Brush will fluff it up, much as you would your Golden Retriever (though don't try buffing your retriever).

To keep the Pro Polish Pad in good condition, it should be cleaned after every use. Both pads can be hand washed with warm, soapy water, rinsed, and wrung out to air dry.

The Utility Brush has a retail price of $4.98 and you can find it at most RV supply stores or on the Shurhold website.

New slide-out system prevents leaks and keeps dust and debris out

2012-04-16T10:18:00.003-07:00

If you've been frustrated with your RV's slides--leaking and allowing dust and debris to enter the coach--and adding the weight of cumbersome awnings that are meant to--but often don't--prevent these annoyances, Lippert Components has come up with an aftermarket slide-out sealing system known as the Solera Slide-Out Sleeve and Solera Slide Topper designed to solve these problems.

Lippert hopes that manufacturers, following their recent favorable tests, will add the Solara system as an option on new vehicle sales, but you can also order the system as an aftermarket product. It is easy to install and tests show that it will keep out leaks and even blown sand and dust common to southwest dust storms.

Features of the Solera Slide-Out Sleeve or Slide Topper include:

The Sleeve helps keep leaves, dust, and debris outside
Clean, uncluttered look on outside of slides
Water will not pool on top of the slide-out
There are no springs or mechanical parts that can break
Velcro strapping prevents wind problems common with awning tippers

See how it works in the video below. For more information on the Solara system visit the Lippert website.