Table of Contents
1.Preparing for the Day
First and foremost, I always turn off the water supply if I’m using a pressurized city water connection.
If I’m relying on my fresh water tank, I make sure to switch off the water pump.
Why? In the event of a leak while I’m away, these simple actions can save me from a lot of damage.
Another tip I’ve picked up is to close the awning if it’s windy.Awnings don’t hold up well in high winds, and securing them before leaving is a smart move.
Lastly, if I’m not using propane for anything while I’m gone, I turn off the propane tank valves. It’s a small step that adds an extra layer of safety.
2.Keeping Cabinets Secure
One of the common annoyances while driving an RV is cabinets that open unexpectedly.
Many people rely on bungee cords to keep their cabinets closed, but what if you don’t have any handy?
Instead of spending money on bungees, I’ve found that pipe cleaners are a fantastic, low-cost alternative.
Simply insert a pipe cleaner between the cabinet handles, twist it closed, and voila! You’ve got a secure cabinet.
3.Testing Marker Lights
By inserting a fuse into the positive battery pin and the running lights positive pin of the trailer plug, you can jump battery power over to your running lights.
Most RVs come equipped with a seven-pin SAE standard plug, but be aware that different plugs may have varying pin locations.
4. Securing the Safety Brake
An important safety tip that I can’t emphasize enough involves the safety brake loop.
When tightening this loop, I make sure to spin it so that it tightens down rather than up.
I learned this the hard way on a bumpy road; the loop can vibrate loose if it’s facing the wrong way, leading to potential disaster.
Tightening it downward minimizes that risk.
5.Improving Propane Tank Access
The latching design on propane tank covers can be quite frustrating.
If you find yourself struggling with flimsy plastic latches that seem prone to loosening, consider flipping the entire tank cover around so the hinges are at the front.
This way, you won’t have to deal with those terrible latches while driving.
6.Fortifying RV Screen Doors
RV screen doors are often flimsy, and the plastic latches can wear down over time.
To prevent small children or pets from accidentally opening the door, I close the grab handle from inside or outside the RV.
This little hack can save you from a lot of stress.
7.Utilizing a Five-Gallon Bucket
A five-gallon bucket is one of the most versatile items you can have in your RV.
While parked, I use it to keep my tongue jack out of the rain and my chains off the ground.
It’s a cheap alternative to a tongue jack cover and can serve multiple purposes, making it an invaluable resource on the road.
8.Command Hooks for Garbage Bags
If you repurpose grocery bags as small garbage can liners, you may have noticed that they often fall into the can when you throw something away.
A simple solution is to use Command hooks. By sticking these hooks on the side of your garbage can, I loop the bag around them, which keeps it secure and prevents it from collapsing inside.
9. Water Heater Safety
When it comes to the RV water heater, ensuring safety is paramount.
Every time I turn on the electric side of the water heater, I make it a habit to “burp” the pressure relief valve to confirm there’s water in the tank.
This simple step prevents the heating element from burning out if there’s no water present.
10.Smart Towel Storage
I’ve found that keeping my towels organized is crucial, especially in a smaller RV space.
To store slightly used towels, I hang them in the shower using Command hooks attached to the skylight.
This not only keeps them out of the way but also helps them dry quickly.
I also added hooks above the doorway, which works well if you have a sliding door where you can’t install hooks.
11.Tongue Jack Precautions
A personal quirk of mine is to remove the fuse from the tongue jack whenever I park at a campground.
After experiencing a recall with a previous tongue jack that activated on its own, I’ve become a bit paranoid.
While it may seem excessive, I prefer to err on the side of caution, ensuring that no one can accidentally extend or retract my tongue jack.
12.Shower Door Maintenance
If your RV has a spring-loaded shower door, I recommend making it a point to ensure that it’s completely open during travel days.
The latch isn’t very robust, and the jostling of travel can cause the door to open, potentially damaging the assembly.
13.Starting a Fire with Household Items
For campfires, an old-school trick that still works wonders is using dryer lint as kindling.
Simply pack it into a used paper towel roll, light it, and place it at the bottom of your fire pit.
I also use junk mail for kindling; it burns long enough to help get a fire going.
If you want, you can coat the junk mail in wax to prolong the burn time, but it’s not necessary.
14.Draining Fresh Water and Waste Tanks
Before leaving a campground, I always dump our fresh water and waste tanks to save weight and improve gas mileage.
However, I realized that this process doesn’t usually drain the water heater or plumbing lines in the RV.
Even with a smaller six-gallon water heater, that’s almost 50 pounds I don’t need to carry to the next campground.
To make things easier, I replaced our low-point drain plugs with valves for quick and easy dumping of any leftover water, which also helps to refresh the water in my lines.
15.Stabilizing Your RV
When it comes to stabilizing my RV, I’ve learned that the way I set up my stabilizer jacks makes a significant difference.
Instead of extending them as little as possible, I now aim to get as many blocks under my tongue jack as I can.
The shorter the tongue jack post, the more stable my RV feels. I noticed a considerable improvement in stability after adopting this practice.
16.Managing Your Tanks Effectively
Managing your waste tanks is another essential part of RV life.
Many folks have asked me whether it’s okay to leave their gray tank valves open when connected to a sewer line.
My answer is this: treat your gray tanks the same way you treat your black tank.
That means keeping the valves closed to prevent any build-up of oils and food particles.
On the flip side, for your shower gray tank, it’s generally okay to leave the valve open.
17.Securing Your RV and Belongings
Security is paramount, especially when camping in unfamiliar areas.
Did you know that you can add padlocks to your X chocks?
This simple addition gives me peace of mind while I’m away from my RV, knowing that I’ve taken extra steps to secure it.
18. A Game-Changer for the Bedroom: Car Seat Organizer
One of the coolest and most functional hacks I’ve implemented in the RV is this simple car seat organizer.
In the bedroom, those small bedside areas in RVs are notorious for things falling off—chapstick, phones, books, you name it.
Waking up to find all of my stuff on the floor got really old, really fast. That’s when I came across this organizer. It fits perfectly on the side of the bed, providing the ideal place for all those small items.
I picked mine up from Amazon, and it’s been a lifesaver. It fits right beside the bed, and everything stays put, no matter how much we move during the night.
19.Silencing the Noise: Microwave and Door Fixes
If you’ve ever driven an RV, you know how noisy things can get when you’re on the road. Between rattling doors, clinking dishes, and random noises from the microwave, it’s enough to drive anyone crazy.
Microwave racks and glass plates make a lot of noise, especially if you’re going over rough terrain.
My solution? Take out the metal rack and glass plate, wrap them in bubble wrap or an old towel, and stash them in a drawer until we stop.
Another source of noise? The door. This one drove me nuts for a while. Whether you have a King Aire or a budget-friendly RV, the door rattles.
It’s just a fact. One quick fix I’ve found for the squeaky door latch is to add a little strip of electrical tape.
It only lasts for about 30–35 opens and closes, but it’s easy to replace, and a roll of electrical tape will last for years.
20.Avoid Getting Locked Out: The Lockbox Solution
This one’s a lifesaver. Imagine being locked out of your RV and having to wait for a locksmith while your plans are delayed.
I know this happens a lot because it happened to us.
To avoid this nightmare in the future, we implemented two strategies.
First, we always double-check to make sure one of us has the key before we leave. It’s become a habit now—one of us physically checks the key and confirms it with the other person.
Second, we invested in a magnetic lockbox that we hide somewhere on the RV. I’m not going to tell you where we put it (that’s a secret), but if we ever get locked out again, we know we have a backup key.
21.No More Spills: Lining Your Shelves
If you’ve spent time RVing, you know that things move around as you drive.
Liquids spill, food shifts, and sometimes, you end up with a mess on your hands when you stop for the night.
To prevent this, I started lining all the shelves and storage areas with felt liners.
These liners come in rolls, and you can cut them to fit any space.
They’re great for keeping things from sliding around and reduce the noise of objects shifting as you drive.
22. Creating a White Noise Machine
If you enjoy falling asleep to white noise but don’t want to bring extra equipment, there’s a nifty trick I use: I tune my radio to a station that doesn’t get reception.
Adjust the volume, and you’ve got a free white noise machine that takes up no extra space!
23.A Handy Light: Magnetic LED Flashlight
If you’ve ever needed to look under the RV at night or find something in a tight spot, you’ll appreciate this hack.
We bought a magnetic LED flashlight, and it’s become one of the most useful tools we carry. You can stick it to any metal surface, and it frees up your hands to work.
24.Magic of Dryer Lint and Steel Wool for Fire Starting
Here’s a simple but effective hack: using dryer lint or steel wool as fire starters.
I’ve known about this trick for a while, but I hadn’t tried it myself until now.
Dryer lint is surprisingly flammable, and it makes an excellent fire starter.
It’s free, easy to collect, and ignites quickly. Steel wool works similarly, especially when combined with a 9-volt battery.
Just touch the battery to the steel wool, and you’ll get sparks almost instantly.
25.The Magic of a Cup of Water: Checking Propane Levels
Here’s a hack that’s so simple, it almost feels like magic. If you’ve ever wondered how much propane is left in your tank but don’t have a fancy sensor or gauge, all you need is a cup of warm water.
Yes, you read that right—a cup of warm water!
The process is straightforward. Pour warm water down the side of your propane tank, and then feel the tank with your hand.
The part of the tank that’s empty will feel warm, while the section that still contains propane will feel cooler.
Final Thoughts
So, that’s a wrap! Testing these hacks was fun, and I learned a lot along the way.
These RV hacks have come from years of trial and error, and I can’t imagine life on the road without them now.
These are just a few of the hacks I’ve discovered over the years, but there are always more out there.
I’d love to hear from you. What hacks have you tried that worked brilliantly? And what ones fell flat? Let me know in the comments, and if you enjoyed this post, stick around for more tips and tricks in my next adventure!
