Necessities on the Road & Caring for Your Car

Whether you are a new RVer or an old hand, there always comes a time when you find that there are a few "necessities" that you have been missing out on. Campgrounds have also been known to change their rules, which means that you may have to invest in a few extras on your RV. Traveling will also be hard on your car whether the vehicle is towing or being towed.

Valve extenders are a must have. You will need valve extenders to reach the inside tires on your dual tire sets. Without valve extenders you will have to crawl under your RV to reach those tires. They are also useful if you need to add air to the inside tires. You will be able to hook up your extenders to any air source. Experienced RVers recommend that you invest in a good set of steel valve extenders.

Another necessity is a few boards or the interlocking polypropylene boards for leveling. Life in an RV is much easier when you don't feel like you are going to roll off the bed or walking at an angle. Your refrigerator and freezer will also work better when they are leveled. If you opt to use your own boards, use boards that are 2" x 8" x 16" beneath each tire. You will also want to be sure to have enough boards to add to the inside tires so that the RV is not strained. Jacks will also help the RV stay more stabilized when there is a lot of movement inside the RV. Boards will also help keep your RV from sinking into the ground should the ground be soft.

Non-flapping devices are handy if you plan to leave your awning out during the day. These devices attach to the awning at the support bar. Windy weather will cause major damage to your awning, so you are better safe than sorry. If really windy weather threatens, you are probably safer to roll the awning up. Patio drapes may also be added to your awning to help increase the level of shade that you will have when your awning is unrolled. This will also make your awning patio cooler when trees are scarce or non-existent.

While you are inside your RV and it is not hot enough to run the air conditioning. You will be able to prevent rain from coming into your windows with window awnings. Window awnings also help keep the sun from coming through as well. Tinted windows will also help drastically reduce the amount of heat the sun allows into the RV.

Vinyl-coated polyester rugs are also very handy for helping to reduce dirt being tracked into the RV. These rugs can be placed under awnings for an increase in carpeted living space. These rugs are also helpful, as the water will run through the rug versus being soaked up by the rug. Rugs inside the RV will also help prolong the life of your RV's carpet and they are easier to clean at car washes, etc.

"Y"connectors are also very handy for increasing your water availability. Most RV hook-up sights only have one water source and you will be able to extend the use of that source with the connector. You may also want to invest in a water regulator to keep high water pressure at the campsite from damaging your RV's plumbing system. Water hose extensions will also help you reach hook-ups that are not very convenient. You do not want to use a typical garden hose, as they will heat the water inside the hose. There are also water heaters available from the dealership that will heat your water tanks with the flip of a switch. These are very handy and will prevent you from having to light a pilot light with a lighter in the rain.

Voltage indicators and surge protectors are essential for protecting your electronics and preventing fires. Many campsites may have bad wiring and you can test the voltage with a ground regulator prior to hooking-up your RV. Plugging your voltage indicator into the 120-volt wall plug will show you if there are any discrepancies in your voltage.

Many parks also require that you use a plastic doughnut ring to hook-up your sewage. If you do not have one of these, most campsites will sell one to you. To avoid paying high campground prices, you should invest in one prior to leaving. The campsites prefer that you do not hook-up your sewage hose directly to their site and the doughnut provides a barrier.

As for car care, you will want to insure that your vehicle is up-to-date on tags and licenses. If you are traveling outside of the U.S. you may also need an insurance policy that extends to your car. If you are traveling in a towing vehicle, remember to check your tire pressure regularly and look for heat in any of the lug nuts. You will also want to be sure that you perform regular oil changes and check your fluids. Many one-stop oil change facilities include other fluid checks on your vehicle. They might even vacuum out your vehicle and wash the windows.

Traveling in your RV will be made a little more fun and convenient with these handy little necessities. You will find that through your travels, you might like other extras that you will want to invest in.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Travel Site, part of Localwin Network.