New Awning Fabric, Under $100!

It’s new awning time!  After a tear in the Sunbrella fabric that was put on in 2012, it was time for something a little different.  I was never happy with the Sunbrella material–it tore easily, and was too tightly woven to allow light breezes to pass through.  In other words, it was always fluttering.  At…

The HCSM: Healthcare Sharing in General

After a couple of dense, long posts that were kind of dreary in tone, it’s time to shed some light on a set of viable options for RVers.  Generally, what I’m referring to in this post are Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs). WARNING: This series of posts about insurance contains some political commentary, along with…

“Insurance” for Full-Timers

Phew!  Yes, this post and the ones that follow on this subject are going to touch on some sensitive subjects, but dealing with medical care is both sensitive and plays a large role in our comfort, security, and freedom to travel.  This first post is intended to outline some of what conventional insurance is and…

Camera for Hood-Mounted Mirror

NOTE: This post is something I wrote back in May 2015, and was published on the Escapees HDT Forum.  Here it is with a few minor updates.  Still my most-used electronic driving aid! After adding a Volvo hood-mounted mirror, I still wasn’t quite happy with how well I could see my front right corner. I…

Step Covers from a Door Mat

This short write-up about making custom step covers goes back to something I did years ago on my first RV, and quickly duplicated after getting my current one. The Problem Inevitably, dirt gets tracked in.  In a campsite with grass, a paved site or patio, or good gravel, it’s not too bad.  But sandy and/or…

My Trusty Toastmaster 1B14 Toaster

When I first started RVing, a little over 11 years ago, I bought a new toaster.  It wasn’t fancy–a two slice Toastmaster bought for about $20.  It worked fairly well, from 2006 until 2013.  But it failed, and the circuit board with the timer wasn’t repairable.  It was a throwaway appliance, made in China. Grandma’s…

Water Misters, Part 2: How Much Money Can I Save?

The water misters can make the air conditioner perform better, but does it make sense to use them?  Of course, if you’re in a campground with unmetered water and electricity, there are no immediate savings other than comfort. Electricity is one of the bigger costs in operating an RV park though, so we all pay…

Lithium Batteries and Upgrading the 12V DC Power System

Last fall, I wrote about installing a PC power supply to power the remaining 12V DC loads in my RV, but that’s getting replaced with a DC-DC converter.  The power supply did the job it was supposed to, without fail.  But there are a few drawbacks with it: The power supply converts AC power from…