Educational Articles - Blog

This TechTip is the third in a series of six, that cover the twelve-volt (12V) battery and power control systems used in modern RVs.  All RVs depend upon a reliable twelve-volt (12V) power... [read more]

Wouldn’t is be great if you could charge your EV (tow car) at your campsite, when travelling with your RV? You Can! …. And most often EV charging is no additional cost!!  We have a... [read more]

This TechTip is the second of a series of six, that cover the twelve-volt (12V) power systems used in modern RVs. As time rolls on, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the low voltage... [read more]

Ever since power management systems became widely available, I have recommended their use, including using a system on each of my RVs. For those that are unfamiliar with these electronic safety... [read more]

TechTips #120 to #125 form a series on RV power sources and systems. During the first week of each month, the next TechTip in the series will be published starting during the first week of... [read more]

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number of first time RV owners. Many existing owners have taken advantage of this opportunity to change their RV,... [read more]

In addition to changing the incandescent bulb in the high mounted, large drivers side utility light to LED, I added some changes to the way water is connected to the Bounder.   ... [read more]

The Chassis Upgrades: Crawling underneath soon afterwards, gave me some sense of why the ride was so improved. There are yellow Sumo Springs on each corner which take some of the body... [read more]

This article follows up on the three-part Blog articles I published in October that led us to order our 2021 Bounder 33C. We’ll give you some quick impressions, some things we like, some we... [read more]

120 Volt RV Electrical Wiring   It is the season for RVers to be repairing and improving their RV and those repairs have raised some interesting questions in phone calls that I... [read more]

A Significant Change During this investigative process, we learned that the Ford F53 chassis would be undergoing significant upgrades for the 2021 model year, after being relatively... [read more]

Our Lifestyle Intervened: Our lifestyle had developed into selecting a destination or area to visit, loosely planning a travel route, choosing a place to stay for a while, then exploring... [read more]

For those of us that have been RVing in a self-contained Motorhome for many years, eventually this question comes up; selecting an answer determines what we will do in the remaining years of... [read more]

With the unprecedented closure of campgrounds in various states and provinces, to curb the spread of Covid-19, questions abound about what should a RVer do to protect the fuel?  This... [read more]

Since my last posting about EV towing, I have made some noteworthy changes and improvements that I recommend to anyone considering towing an EV on a Tow Dolly behind a motorhome. These... [read more]

I am frequently asked by RVers about issues arising from the L.E.D. lights in their RV. Before dealing with these issues, I will cover a little of the technical side of the industry transition... [read more]

Our Trip Begins We charged the night before our trip home, so that we were fully charged upon leaving. After driving for about ½ of an hour, I realized that I had forgotten to put my... [read more]

In the last Blog Post, I described Dolly towing our EV to the destination in Tennessee, where we left our RV and the tow dolly. That article gave some of the things that we learned in the... [read more]

After 50 km (30 mi.) Check Straps Our first long trip while towing an EV on a Tow Dolly was interesting. Loading the dolly becomes easier as we familiarize ourselves with the... [read more]

  Kwik Lube (Step), H.D. (6.6%) Silicone, Corrosion Block (2 Sizes), Slide-Out Rubber Seal &... [read more]

In this Technical Tip, I will address some of the questions that are posed when people call us looking for a lighting solution for their RV. In the next one I will address where to find common... [read more]

Selecting an EV to Tow: Before selecting an EV that you want to tow behind a Motorhome, ensure that the vehicle can be towed. Check the owner’s manual under Towing and see if there are... [read more]

With new Technology making its way into our coaches, there is one component that has not caught up – the Roof Top Air Conditioner. Many coaches are equipped with digital glass dash displays... [read more]

For clarity, I’m referring to a Electric Powered vehicle that uses a battery to power an electric motor and does not have any auxiliary power source, generator or gas engine – a Pure Electric... [read more]

What about a 2019 Kia Niro EV? Everything changed on one hand and came together on another, in late April 2019. My son, Peter is a Customer Experience Manager at our local Kia... [read more]

Economical transportation is my calling card As any that know me personally, you know that I readily engage with new technology and actively try to be near the forefront of using it. I... [read more]

I’ve pondered this question for several years. With the dramatic climate change events that have ravaged the world recently, I began to search for an answer to the question: What is the RV... [read more]

With my purchase of the Zero SR electric motorcycle in the Spring of 2018 (see previous blog posting for more on this), the big decision was how was I going to transport it to Florida, so that I... [read more]

Some 2019 American Coach and Monaco Coach models have the option of a Lithium Battery Package to replace the conventional AGM maintenance free Coach Batteries. After extensive bench and in... [read more]

This is the third of what was planned to be two Technical Tips which provide a viable option to converting an RV refrigerator from an absorption to a ‘residential’ refrigerator. In the... [read more]

I recently read an article in Family RVing (May 2018, Page 40) that listed a number of Specialty Products for RVs . I looked at the list and thought: Wow that is a lot!  ... [read more]

This is the first of two Technical Tips which will provide a viable option to converting an RV refrigerator from an absorption to a ‘residential’ refrigerator.   The... [read more]

When you see the name of this new product you wonder: "What is it?” The answer is as simple as deciphering the name: It is a " quick ” way to " band ” (or wrap-up), something " it ”. This... [read more]

In Technical Tip 103, I began this two-part article. What follows will give you some background and if you have not read Technical Tip #103 you will find it helpful to read it before this one.... [read more]

I have presented seminars on travelling to Alaska and the Yukon and afterwards I am asked: "How do I (or did you) prepare (y)our coach for that trip?” That’s a great question and one that is... [read more]

With more and more vehicle makers requiring some method of maintaining the battery in a towed vehicle while it is being towed, it seemed like it was a good time to bring this topic forward in a... [read more]

As many are aware, there has been an issue with flat towing some of these vehicles. During certain circumstances, while being flat towed behind a motorhome, these vehicles suddenly begin... [read more]

The RV community is known for sharing ideas which solve or deal with situations. The willingness of others to pass along their experience is what makes it easier for those new to the RV... [read more]

While attending a RV Rally about a year ago, my wife turned on our front (over the dash) TV and heard a loud ‘pop’ sound. The TV did not come on and when I returned to the coach, I tried to... [read more]

While attending a RV Rally recently, a few attendees commented on the failure of their towing systems. Before going into details, I’d like to thank Bob Young of the Mid America Bounders Chapter... [read more]

On a cross country trip this summer, we stopped for the night and discovered that our satellite TV Antenna was not working and that we had no TV reception. We confirmed that the receiver and... [read more]

During a cross-country trip in which we boondocked (or dry camped) many nights, in addition to staying at a selection of RV parks, I reflected upon the equipment we use while RVing. Like many,... [read more]

 In the last Technical Tip, I discussed the towed vehicle selection process, the installation of the baseplate (bracket) and selecting a tow bar. In this article, we’ll look at the some of... [read more]

We recently removed an SMI Air Force One from our 8-year old Saturn Vue and re-installed, after refurbishing it, in our new Buick Envision. The refurbishing involved completely checking out all... [read more]

Most RVers tow a vehicle behind their coach and the convenience of flat towing on all four tires makes using a towbar and baseplate (bracket) the preferred method. That’s not to say that... [read more]

Many RVs are equipped with a combined washer and dryer made by Splendide. Our 2009 American Coach Allegiance 40X has a 2000 series, which has been replaced by the 2100 model in newer RVs where a... [read more]

In Technical Tips #82 to #84, I detailed the process for installing Lithium Batteries in our coach. I wrote a blog update in March, 2015. I thought that it would be good to provide a... [read more]

Many RVer’s occasionally experience a slideout that fails to move when the switch is depressed. We had this situation occur on our last major trip and just as many before have experienced, the... [read more]

With the interest in L.E.D. Strip lighting for RV’s, I am frequently asked how the strip should be powered on coaches equipped with Multiplex light controls. A multiplex control system is... [read more]

In Technical Tip #92, I detailed how we determined that our RV’s Automatic Transfer Switch had failed and that it was contained within an integrated Transfer Switch and Electrical System Protection... [read more]

According to many that chose a newer Jeep Cherokee to flat tow behind their motorhome, one of the reasons they chose the Cherokee was for its simplicity in setting it up to tow. Simply put it in... [read more]

Our RV came equipped from the factory with an integrated Transfer Switch and Electrical System Protection (ESP) unit supplied by TRC... [read more]

Most new cars and light-duty trucks come with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System as standard equipment. Many higher end motorized RV have such a system as standard equipment or as an option.... [read more]

Upg rading RV Exterior Lights to L.E.D.’s In TechTip #85, I discussed upgrading the rear incandescent light fixtures on our RV to L.E.D. ones. With that improvement completed... [read more]

The Background Over the last couple of years, we have received requests for LED strip lighting that can be retrofitted to coaches that do not come factory equipped with LED strips on the... [read more]

In the last TechTip, we covered Tire Maintenance and weight carrying capacity. We learned that tires can provide many years of useful life when properly maintained and when inflated to the tire... [read more]

With an increasing number of people joining the ranks of RV owners, some of the basics need to be passed along to provide safety while travelling. One basic precept is proper tire maintenance... [read more]

A question, RVers frequently ask in the fall when planning to store their coaches over the winter, is: What is the best way to store my RV’s batteries? Generally speaking, it is always... [read more]

RV Leveling Systems: Most RVs are equipped with a leveling system which allows the RV to be levelled prior to extending slide-outs. There are two common styles: Electrically operated and... [read more]

I have included a series of photos in a PDF file that you can refer to as you read this blog posting. Shade Repair Photos   It should add some clarity to a number of... [read more]

Many RV owners of Tow Vehicle Braking Systems prefer to have a Notification Light on the dash of their RV to warn them that the Brake in the Towed Vehicle is ‘ON”. This light is more likely... [read more]

In July 2014, we installed a 300AH Lithium-Ion "SMART™ Battery” in our RV, replacing all 4 Coach 6 Volt AGM batteries. We also had to upgrade the Inverter to the current "software” which... [read more]

Happy New Year and safe travels in 2015. We’ve got great news for those who are looking at converting their RV to L.E.D. lighting this year. Our second book: The ABC’s of L.E.D.s has... [read more]

We’re Giving Seminars at the Hamilton RV Expo!   If you have not had a chance to experience one of our seminars before, then you are in for a treat (at least I think so).... [read more]

  Introduction:   In the TechTips #82 & 83, I covered the process we went through in making the decision to replace our Coach Batteries with a Lithium-Ion one and the... [read more]

Introduction:   In the TechTip #82, I covered the process I went through in making the decision to replace our Coach Batteries with a Lithium-Ion one. We left off with a picture of... [read more]

Introduction:   With the advances in Battery Technology and the proliferation of battery powered gadgets in addition to partial or fully electric vehicles, one may wonder:... [read more]

I receive many questions from RVers that are investigating whether they can repair the Day-Night blinds in their RV. We sell the United Blind First Aid Kit for blinds, however many want... [read more]

Introduction:   Lubricant analysis is a new service option available to RVers now. Many large vehicle fleet operators have taken advantage of this service and they have enjoyed more... [read more]

We’re Giving Seminars at the Hamilton RV Expo!   If you have not had a chance to experience one of our seminars before, then you are in for a treat (at least I think... [read more]

I frequently receive questions about using a vehicle’s power outlet to supply power to Braking Systems. Most "Box-style” systems require a dedicated power supply, terminating in a receptacle... [read more]

As towing and braking systems have evolved to be mainstays of the RV experience, maintenance of these systems becomes part of the regimen of using the towbars and braking systems. Towing... [read more]

As towing and braking systems have evolved to be mainstays of the RV experience, maintenance of these systems becomes part of the regimen of using the towbars and braking systems. Braking... [read more]

I walked around a campground on this May Victoria Day (Canada) long weekend and noticed a number of new RVer’s enjoying their first weekend in their "new to them” RV. I remember many years ago... [read more]

Sometimes it seems that it takes a long time to get a RV out of storage and ready for a season of RVing. From my experience, and that of many others, proper preparation before storage reduces... [read more]

With my last post I spent a lot of it dealing with items that relate to motorized RV’s. This Blog Posting will cover both motorized and non-motorized RV’s interior systems. So far we have... [read more]

In my last posting I walked through some exterior items to look at after a long, cold winter. Let’s turn to the inside next. While I am biased, many RVers have found our book:  ” All the... [read more]

It looks like the long and cold winter is finally behind us. For those living in "snow country”, we no longer need to worry about digging out our RV, however if it was stored outside this past... [read more]

With all of the extreme winter weather this year, many are planning to get away if a break in the weather appears. It is always best not to drive a RV in the winter for a number of reasons, one... [read more]

  One constant issue with RVs over the years since double pane were introduced in 1994 has been their propensity to "fog up” or lose their seal. These windows are truly dual panes of... [read more]

    Case Study 2   Dead Chassis Batteries   The second case involved a RV that had experienced "dead” Chassis/Starting batteries even though all batteries... [read more]

Lubricant Analysis   Introduction:   Lubricant analysis is a new service option available to RVers now. Many large vehicle fleet operators have taken advantage of... [read more]

Battery Issues / Charging Issues (Part 3)     Note: It is important to note that all batteries in a battery bank should always be replaced with identical batteries of... [read more]

Battery Issues / Charging Issues (Part 2)   Charging Systems:     The typical Battery Charging Control system on newer RVs will give priority charging to... [read more]

Battery Issues / Charging Issues (Part 1)  Introduction: Battery related problems can manifest themselves in many ways in a modern (motorized) RV. Chassis and Coach systems... [read more]

Should I leave my Inverter on?  I am frequently asked this question and typically I respond with a few probative questions before trying to provide an answer.  Before... [read more]

With the recent cold weather, furnaces and water heaters often will not start. In cold weather, the quality of the electrical connections can determine whether you will have heat or hot water.... [read more]

Fluorescent Tube Fixtures Occasionally installing LED replacement tubes in a ThinLite® brand of fluorescent light fixture causes the LED tubes to be dim and the supply wiring included... [read more]

Technical Tips #75    How to Install RV LED Replacement Bulbs Once the decision is made to upgrade the lighting in an RV to LED's, the task of methodically replacing the... [read more]

Technical Tips #74    Bounder - 2014 vs 1994: Look how far they've come I recently had the opportunity to look at a 2014 Bounder 36K RV and as I did so I marveled at how far... [read more]

Technical Tips #73    The ABC's of LED's (Part 3) The RV industry is moving toward the installation of LED (Light Emitting Diode) light fixtures. In some cases this involves... [read more]

Technical Tips #72    The ABC's of LED's (Part 2) The RV industry is moving toward the installation of LED (Light Emitting Diode) light fixtures. In some cases this involves... [read more]

Technical Tips #71    The ABC's of LED's (Part 1) The RV industry is moving toward the installation of LED (Light Emitting Diode) light fixtures. In some cases this involves... [read more]

Technical Tips #68    A number of issues have focused me on safety recently. Obviously, the death of three people referred to in the last TechTip (#67) article was one factor.... [read more]

Technical Tips #67    Emergency Exits  At a recent FMCA rally that I attended, we heard about a terrible situation that once again emphasized some of the basics that we... [read more]

Technical Tips #66    In the last TechTip #65 I focused on flat towing. For this one, we’ll turn our attention to utility trailer towing. I am often amazed at the size of the... [read more]

Technical Tips #65      Notes And Updates: Since more and more SUV's and pickups are being towed the "Drop"... [read more]

Technical Tips #64    Did you know? Jane and I recently had a tour of the Fleetwood diesel plant in Decatur, IN and we were impressed with the quality of the coaches being... [read more]

Technical Tips #63      Notes And Updates: The contact information for the REV Group, Fleetwood RV Parts and... [read more]

Technical Tips #56    Do-it Yourself Trend, RVing FuseSwitch TM &Toad Braking Systems Thanks to those readers that sent me an email after my last column on a Baby... [read more]

Technical Tips #55    Is it time for a baby Bounder? Recently, I had a discussion with a close friend about the decision he and his wife had made to sell a beautiful trailer... [read more]

Technical Tips #53      Notes And Updates: RV Refrigerator Manufacturers have implemented a number of "Recall... [read more]

Technical Tips #49    Day-Night Shade Adjustment & Repair Most late model coaches are equipped with pleated window shades, commonly known as "day-night blinds" with a... [read more]

Technical Tips #48      Notes And Updates: With the implementation of "Just-In-Time" production and as a result... [read more]

Technical Tips #47    Let's Get Ready for Another Summer of Travel! With Spring here, most of us are ready for another season of traveling. Now is the time to carry out some... [read more]

Technical Tips #46    "Ground" Maintenance, Auxiliary Start, and Generator Start Tips I have often read messages on the Bounder "Yahoo Group" about a vehicle or a generator... [read more]

Technical Tips #43    Tips to Improve your Fuel Economy (Part 2) In the previous Tech Tip, I gave a number of examples that if applied will save you fuel whether you have a... [read more]

Technical Tips #42    Tips to Improve your Fuel Economy With the recent rise in the price of fuel, many have become concerned with the increased cost of RV travel. The reality... [read more]

Technical Tips #36      Notes And Updates: We recommend using Corrosion Block® rather than Di-electric... [read more]

Technical Tips #34      Notes And Updates: The link to the articles on the Blue Ox website is no longer active.... [read more]

Technical Tips #32      Notes And Updates: For a Copy of the Seminar Notes which included color photos and... [read more]

Technical Tips #30      Notes And Updates: Newer high quality inverters of up to 500 watts may be used for... [read more]

Technical Tips #27      Notes And Updates: Ontario's Drive Clean has adopted a revised approach to Emission... [read more]

Technical Tips #20    New Power Systems are on the way (Part2): In Technical Tip #19, I described the impending move to 36Volt power systems. The ability to return the engine... [read more]

Technical Tips #19      Notes And Updates: 36-42 Volt power systems have been slow in coming to market.... [read more]

Technical Tips #17    BOA International Rally at Amishville, (Berne) Indiana (continued) This is the second article on events at the Rally. Bounder Diesel: One of the most... [read more]

Technical Tips #16      Notes And Updates: Kwikee no longer supports direct consumer contact. If this kit is... [read more]

Technical Tips #11      Notes And Updates: The A Weigh We Go seminars are now provided as a service of the RV... [read more]

Technical Tips #3      Notes And Updates: This article contains recommendations that have been superceded... [read more]

Technical Tips #2    Transmission Oil Change: Most of us know that the automatic transmission fluid should be changed periodically (i.e. every 24 months or 20,000 miles/30,000... [read more]

  Technical Tips #1    Beginning in the fall of 1996, when I was appointed as the 1st Canadian Bounder of America Chapter Technical Representative, I began writing... [read more]