WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? TIPS AND TRICKS

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Painted Rock Park, Stratton, CO

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Painted Rock Park, Stratton, CO

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RVillagers receive 10% off their first stay at Painted Rock Park. Just mention the code: PRPARK10 and take advantage of this special offer. Reserve your spot today at (719)-348-5007
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WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? TIPS AND TRICKS (4,942 members)

Share your tips and tricks you have discovered while camping. Hey, we can all use a little help. Post some of your clever ideas you have done to make camping a little easier. Thi... see more

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? TIPS AND TRICKS Feed

BobbieK :
3 hours agoThe bed in our Jayco travel trailer is pretty flimsy. The plywood that the mattress sits on is very thin. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that we can do to make it a little more sturdy without adding a lot of weight? The entire bed lifts up for storag... more
- EXPLOREAZ and 1 other like this.
- View all 25 comments
- LarandSus 2 hours ago I still don't know why but someone recently posted that they were advised by the salesman (I think) to put pink board from Home Depot under their mattress. Maybe that was his reason.
  
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  BobbieK 1 hour ago Interesting!
- Patte M 2 hours ago this may help https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f7/master-bed-reinforcement-and-insulation-33547.html . And joe is pretty good at that home improvement stuff.
  
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  BobbieK 1 hour ago This is great! I'll definitely show it to Joe!! Thank you!
- Newlife 2 hours ago I cut 3/4" plywood and changed the bed platform out. Adds a little more weight but it makes the bed safe and sturdy.
  
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- Jim & Sharon Ham 2 hours ago Plywood weighs less than particleboard or OSB, and holds up better in moist conditions. A simple reinforcement of what is there is easier than replacement. Plywood comes in all thickness, but a simple 5/8 inch should be good for this purpose.&... more
  
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  BobbieK 1 hour ago Love this! I'll pass this info on to my husband. Thanks!
- Eric and Kathy 1 hour ago We replaced ours with an inner spring from Amazon and added a 3 inch memory foam pad. Definately heavier than the original. The bed didn't come with lifts, so I installed a couple of heavy duty struts from Amazon. The weight distributing hitch seems to... more
Tina and Eugene King:
Wed at 1:57 PMthe silverware always bounced around My wife bought this lock and lock with three trays. When we move we just put the lid on and lock it.
- Mike_F and 14 others like this.
- The Rolling Stones Wed at 7:08 PM Hmmmm. This is one of those slap myself in the forehead moments. Instead of this we just bought a bigger (45’) RV. Same effect, the silverware doesn’t move...... LOL
  
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- Randy & Ginger Wed at 8:11 PM ROFL
- John And Debbie Maxson 15 hours ago 😂😂😂😂😂
- Robbie & Alice 14 hours ago Yeh, just hate disorganized silverware!
Tina and Eugene King:
Wed at 1:55 PMI hated the crank that was supplied with the camper jacks... I bought a long handled ratchet and a 3/4 socket. The Ratchet made leveling the camper so much easier.. and a lot less stressful... The long handled ratchet has a pivot point next to the head m... more
- BobbieK and 4 others like this.
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- Seann ( the Canadian) Wed at 4:09 PM I got a battery operated impact gun from harbor freight perfect for lowering the levelers hand if I get a flat tire for removing the lug nuts
  
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- Curt & Isabel (WhereRV?) Wed at 4:11 PM Makita (or any brand) 18 volt drill. You can buy a 3/4" adapter off Amazon.
  
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- Oien Wed at 7:07 PM You could also have an extension and socket attached to a battery operated drill to run Jack's up and down.
- SGM & Mrs G Wed at 8:07 PM I agree with the drill and socket comments, but caution you. the scissors jack are not for leveling, just stabilizing - hence the name stabilizing jacks... experience and $200 talking here
  
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- TeamFoxy 16 hours ago I'll keep my hydraulic leveling jacks. Just push a button from the driver's seat.
  
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Benji:
Tue at 7:54 PMBeing a man of many hats I’ve seen the question at least 100 times “what tools should I have in my RV. For newbies here’s a really good start. And the price is great. It’s in Lowe’s as you get skills add to it.
- Hank & Shirleen and 7 others like this.
- View all 12 comments
- Malkey Tue at 8:47 PM As a newbie, I thank you. most appreciated.
  
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- Andy & Maureen T Wed at 6:19 AM Go to Harbor Freight. They have basic tool sets to advance tool kits
  
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  Andy & Maureen T 16 hours ago Start with the basic and add. I believe that a basic set is less than $40 for 130 pc set.
  
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- Dockery Wed at 7:41 AM This is the tool set we have!
  
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- Matt & Mary Wed at 10:52 AM While having tools is important, if someone might help he may not know much about your unit. So, having all of the documentation you can get will be valuable.
  
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- TeamFoxy 16 hours ago Buy an empty tool bag that fits in your storage space. Start doing routine maintenance and whatever tools you need, put in the bag and keep them there. You will soon have everything. You need and nothing that you don't.
  
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Tina Sumner:
October 12Hi All, we just got our first motor home and are going to spend a few days at our daughter’s house where it is below freezing at night. What do we need to do overnight so we don’t cause damage to the motor home?
- View all 13 comments
- SouthParkSteve October 12 The key question is--does your trailer have an enclosed underbelly or not? If it is enclosed (and if the valves for your dump tanks are INSIDE the insulated part of the trailer (the valves are not exposed underneath), you should be fine just running... more
  
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- Ronnie & Milt Abrams October 12 When caught in that “Icy situation” in addition to leaving the cabinet doors open we leave the inside faucets drip all night, just a very slight trickle to keep the water moving.
- Tami and Barry October 13 Bring your water hose inside, ours froze and took hours to defrost. That's all
  I got. I might empty my tanks so they don't become giant ice cubes. I'm a newby so I'm sure you will get better advise.
- Tina Sumner October 13 Thanks everyone for you advice! The good news is that all of the tanks and water pipes are up inside the coach. Also, I called the dealer and there is a heater vent under the bed that blows under the house. So other than remembering to b... more
  
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  SouthParkSteve October 13 You should be fine down into the 20s with that setup. Just make sure you are actually using your furnace when it is coke, so that the heater vent actually blows warm air under there.
- Tina Sumner October 13 K, thanks for your help.
  
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  Bandit455 Mon at 4:17 AM When I am in temps that low, I fill fresh water tank and run off of that, essentially dump and refill tanks during the day when it is a little warmer, not rely on fresh water hose for supply. They do sell heated hoses, but they are pricey. You will be jus... more
  
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Glen & Margie:
October 11this happen to me in April and it was the fuse block on the positive wire on battery. The park we were in had a power failure three time with in a minute which blew the fuse block. It is about two inches long with a terminal at each end housed in black pl... more
- David & Joyce E. October 12 that is why a surge/ low voltage protector is used at the power hookup point to the park power pole.
- Glen & Margie October 12 I bought a surge protector the next day
  
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Chasing RV Dreams :
October 11I HAVE NO POWER!!! We have a 2005 Tiffin Allegro. We had power last night at brother-in-law Boon Mooching and pulled in to Friend surfing location and I have no power. Not from a pole OR!!! from the Generator!
All that happened between times is we had ... more
- Karen and Steve Veneskey and 1 other like this.
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- Todd Ramsay October 11 Might be a fuse or reset on the converter or the converter itself.
  
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- Benji October 11 Brake line repair has nothing to do with it
- AZRickey October 11 Have you checked the use/storage switch. When RV's are taken in for service the garage puts the RV in storage position. I found this out the hard way and it cost me the food in the in the refrigerator..
  
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  LindaLee79 October 11 AzRickey where might the use/storage switch be located?
- Rick and Georgette October 12 My use/store switch is right inside the RV door on the left. A red light comes on when it's in the 'use' position.
  
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- gfessler Mon at 3:47 AM The use / storage switch is also called the Battery Disconnect or Battery isolate switch on many RV's
EXSSTR :
October 11I had an issue with the Blind Spot indicators on my 2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 Val Camper. The indicator did not work after I attached a Stow-Away cargo box and attached the tow electrical plug.

When I took the Van to my Mercedes Dealer the Engine... more
- Mike_F and 2 others like this.
- David & Joyce E. October 12 I had the same issue with my Jeep Grand Cherokee with just my setup for Husky Inline sway bar being on the back (without RV hooked up) . the Park sense would slam on the brakes when I backed up. Had to learn to turn the Park Sense OFF when putting o... more
Bandit455:
October 11Not sure what this is for. Friends bought a Georgetown GT3, Ford F53 chassis. This float switch was in a drawer and no idea what it is for. Any thoughts?
- Mike_F likes this.
- rvericksons October 11 Fill indicator for Blue Boy sewer tote. You might want to keep it in the zip lock bag!
  
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- Seann ( the Canadian) October 11 Yep blue boy float indicator
  
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- Bandit455 October 11 Thanks, this was in the drawer of a brand new RV. The float itself is also brand new, and they don’t have a tote! It just doesn’t seem like that would be an “included” accessory.
  Thanks for the quick response!
Donna&Teresa:
October 11I just bought a Tiffin Allegro Bus and I need to store it here in Massachusetts. Does anyone know who I could get to winterize it. I can read the manual and winterize it except the refrigerator and ice maker because I just do not understand how to do it a... more
- Sherry Stout likes this.
- View all 7 comments
- SouthParkSteve October 11 You might search for a "Mobile RV Repair" company in your local area, or check the "Market Place" tab above to see if any RVillagers have recommended anyone in your area. Out here, at least, the wait for a mobile tech is much shorter than trying to ... more
  
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  Donna&Teresa October 11 Oh my....I see you are about 40 minutes from us. Would you share your guys number with me?
- rab October 11 Where are you in Ma we have a mobile tech coming out to repair our Rv and he will winterize it at that time at our house. Many recommendations from RV Brothers, Petes RV in Plainville say he is best in business and Normandy farms recommends him too. Curre... more
  
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  Donna&Teresa October 11 We live northwest of Boston in Bedford around Lexington and Concord. Is that near Wrenthom?
  
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- rab October 11 No you are about one hour from us we are 2 miles from PATRIOTS
  
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  Donna&Teresa October 11 Oh, yes I see. I looked at a map and see where you are.
- sitruc Mon at 7:00 PM I have a red with commercial refrigerator. All I do is run the fresh drinking water on the refrigerator until it turns anti-freeze color then I run the ice maker until it dumps anti-freeze color. Usually 12 hours. Pretty easy.