RV Maintenance – Campanda News

How To Use Pinterest To Plan Your RV Trip

Tom Sperner — Wed, 09 May 2018 17:04:25 +0000

RV trip planning can be fun and exciting. It can also be overwhelming. What should you pack, where should you go, what route should you take? Questions like these are just the beginning of what can feel like a daunting set of tasks. Luckily it’s Pinterest to the rescue!

Keep reading to find out how Pinterest could make your next RV rental even better.

What is Pinterest?

A good “pin” will have a well-crafted description explaining the image.

When Pinterest came onto the scene back in 2010, people used it to search for and save (“pin”) things like recipes and wedding dresses. If you loved scrapbooking then you were guaranteed to love Pinterest even more. It’s like a massive, online vision board with infinite possibilities of ideas.

If you haven’t logged in to Pinterest in a while (or ever) then you might be puzzled when I say that it’s also an amazing tool to plan road trips and vacations. It’s not just for cupcakes anymore!

When you click on a pin it will take you to the source of the content, like a website, where you can get more information.

Why Pinterest Is A Great Tool

Over the years Pinterest has evolved into a search engine. A search engine helps you locate information on the internet. Google is what everyone thinks of as the go-to search engine. But Pinterest is a powerful search engine too, which surprises people because they think it’s a social media platform like Facebook. It isn’t, and that distinction is important for a couple for reasons.

Although it’s a social platform, Pinterest functions like a search engine. That means you can use it to look up information and tips.

For consumers (aka RVers browsing the internet), it’s a place where you can search and find information. For example, let’s say you want to travel to Utah and see national parks. If you type “Utah National Parks,” you’ll to find a wealth of information.

For content creators (bloggers, companies, etc.) it’s a useful platform to share your content and drive traffic back to your site. Let’s say you’re a travel blogger who writes articles about national parks: If you write one about Utah and make a great visual pin, there’s a good chance that your pin (and therefore your article) could be found in a search.

How To Use Pinterest To Plan An RV Trip

So how exactly do you use Pinterest to plan a vacation? To get started, you’ll need set up a profile on Pinterest. This will enable you to set up “boards” where you can organize all the pins you collect. Think of boards like file folders or different pages in a scrapbook, each with its own category.

You can use Pinterest to search for travel inspiration and discover amazing destinations.

Here’s how a board works: Using the Utah national parks example, you would create a board called “Utah Travel Board.” Then, you’d search for terms that fit the type of trip you’re planning, such as:

Utah National Parks
Utah driving routes
Hiking in Utah
Utah RV Parks

After you’ve collected a bunch of images and resources about your destination, you can then search for other helpful information. For example, if you want ideas about what to pack, you could search for terms like “RV travel checklist,” “hiking gear” or “packing for RVing.”

You can find tons of RV resources on Pinterest, like helpful checklists and packing tips.

You can even look for awesome camping recipes by searching terms like “RV recipes,” “camping recipes,” “food for camping” and so on.

As you discover new pins, you can keep adding them to your board. Over time you’ll collect a wide range of pins that you can refer to as you plan — all in one place!

(As a side note, Utah has some truly awesome National Parks. Check out this article for my favorite hikes while RVing, including Bryce Canyon in Utah.)

Using Pinterest Long-Term

You can also create multiple boards for different categories. For example, if you plan to take multiple trips, you could categorize your boards. This could mean one for each destination, or you could set up boards like this:

North America Travel
Route Planning
RV Parks
RV Gear
RV Cooking & Recipes

This way, whenever you plan a new trip, you can consult your boards and look at the pins that relate to that trip. You can check out how I’ve organized my own RV Pinterest boards here.

Think of boards as folders. These can be organized however you want, and one pin can be put in multiple folders for cross-categorization.

Over time you’ll build a great resource for trip planning. Your account becomes like a resource library and you become a part of the Pinterest information-sharing community (you can also set your boards to “private” if you’re feeling secretive about your travel plans).

In short, Pinterest is a wonderful way to plan an RV trip. It’s easy to use and fun too! The next time you plan a trip, consider using Pinterest as a source of helpful information.

Already have a Pinterest full of road trip ideas? Hit the road in an RV rental from Campanda! Click the link below to search our selection of camper vans, motorhomes and trailers:

Rent An RV

If you already own an RV that’s sitting idle, rent it out! Campanda makes it easy to rent your RV. Click the link below to learn more:

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The post How To Use Pinterest To Plan Your RV Trip appeared first on Campanda News.

12 Must-Have RV Cleaning, Storage & Maintenance Products

Tom Sperner — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 13:59:02 +0000

By Liz Wilcox Hot dogs, hikes and hammocks in the shade are some of my favorite things about RV camping. Cleaning, storage, and maintenance products … not so much. But those things are an essential part of staying safe and sane on an RV road trip. Here is a list of must-have products that I always keep in my rig.

RV Cleaning Products

1. Compact Vacuum

When we lived in our luxury 5th wheel, I hated having a large vacuum. There was never a “home” for it. Once we bought our smaller motorhome, I decided to trade in the traditional model for a handheld vacuum. I absolutely love it. It’s lightweight, easy to clean and, best of all, easy to put away. I just set it on my shower floor and voila! It’s out of sight, out of mind. When I need to charge it, I grab the charger from my hanging organizer and set it up on the bathroom counter. Again, it’s not in the way at all! If you really don’t want to go the handheld route, you can still get a full-size model. Just remember that you want it to be lightweight and skinny. If it is cordless, even better! This will make it easy to store and use in your RV.

2. Multi-Purpose Cleaner

No one likes to play Tetris with cleaning supplies. That’s why I recommend a multi-purpose cleaner onboard your RV. It will save you a ton of space and hassle. I make my own cleaner and keep it in a spray bottle. I put it under the kitchen sink so it’s easy to grab when cleaning the high-traffic areas in my rig. It’s important to remember that your RV is a small enclosed space and it can take hours for chemicals to leave the area. I found this out the hard way when I was scrubbing the outside of my toilet with regular bleach. I almost passed out before I realized I needed to go outside! Don’t be like me — look for cleaning products that are light on the chemicals and heavy on natural ingredients.

3. Air Fresheners

In an RV, things can get a little … stinky. Make sure to equip yourself with some type of air freshener, no matter how short your trip. Personally, I love to melt a wick-less candle throughout the day to give the camper a fresh smell as I go about my day. Whenever I finish cleaning, I spray an odor eliminator (think Febreze or OdoBan). It’s a great way to keep things fresh longer. And when the weather is nice, never underestimate the power of fresh air. Open the windows and doors of your camper and let it in.

4. Microfiber Cloths

Yesterday my husband came home with a new roll of microfiber cloths. He said a friend had given them to him. I yelled out “SCORE!” Yes, I was genuinely excited about a cleaning product. Here’s why: Little messes happen all the time in your camper, especially when you have a young child. Microfiber cloths are the perfect solution because they clean up spills quickly and efficiently. We keep a stack of them in the pantry where they are always easily accessible from any area of the RV. We have at least 20 in our rotation. I use them to clean up toddler messes, pet water spills and to wipe the stovetop clean. They are great because they absorb things very quickly and are usually the perfect size for small to medium messes. They’re also great for scrubbing away gooey messes that somehow always happen while camping. Lastly, they hold up really well wash after wash.

RV Storage Products

5. Plastic Containers

Plastic containers, large and small, are a smart way to make better use of the limited space in your RV. In our 32’ ft motorhome, I use small ones for my toddler’s closet and large ones in my RV shower to hold her books. My husband recently purchased a plastic container for his paperwork and has been very happy with the results. All his paperwork is now neatly organized and in one place. It’s been a great tax season for us!

6. Hanging Organizers

Buying one of these for our RV has been a game changer! I now have a nice and neat place to put all my towels where they don’t unfolded or messy after a day or two. The hanging organizer is also great for shoes. It gets them off the floor and makes them easily accessible. Our hanging organizer is kept on a rod in our RV shower, but there are plenty of other places that it could go. We previously had it on tension rods in our bathroom and I know a few friends put them in their wardrobes to create more closet space.

7. Command Hooks

If you own an RV, you really should invest in some command hooks. They can help you with just about any storage problem in the RV. Plus, they are simple to install and easy to get rid of when the job is done. For specific ideas on how to use these little RV miracles, check out this post on RV hacks.

RV Maintenance Products

8. Levelers

An off-kilter rig can cause more problems than you’d expect. Your refrigerator may malfunction and cause major damage, for example. Being unlevel can also cause your recreational vehicle to simply be unstable. While a little wiggling is normal in just about any RV, it can actually get bouncy if left uneven. Do yourself a favor and get some levelers. It will save your fridge and keep you from a crazy case of vertigo.

9. Disposable Gloves

You never know when things could go horribly wrong with your RV holding tanks. Even with proper care and maintenance, you’re going to want a nice pair of disposable gloves around. This is one “just in case” item I don’t mind having around, despite the small space.

10. WD-40

Nothing drives me crazier than squeaky cabinet doors. And the ones in my RV seem to get noisy often. I assume this is from the constant temperature changes I put my rig through. The wood swells and relaxes with each region I drive through. Keeping WD-40 on hand isn’t something on most other lists as a must-have, but it should be! Unless, of course you are a madwoman who likes the sound of squeaky doors.

11. Sealants

In the year and a half that we’ve been RVing, resealing our rig has saved us thousands of dollars. Some people use silicone. Some people use EternaBond. We used both when renovating our RV and repairing water damage. Use a sealant anywhere in your RV where you need a watertight coating, including your roof and windows. It’s important to check these places a few times a year to ensure proper sealing throughout your camper. Water damage can cost a lot of time and money — at its worst, it can cost you a whole new RV. No matter what brand you use, make sure a sealant is part of your regular maintenance.

12. Small Toolkit

Your RV is a recreational vehicle. And vehicles need regular maintenance. Always keep tools on board to ensure that things run smoothly. There are certain things you should do before you put your rig in drive. A checklist can help; here’s a shortlist of things to check before any journey:

Brakes
Tire pressure
Lug nuts
Battery

Having a small toolkit will come in handy more often than you’d think. My husband uses his at least once a day. He loves being able to fix things himself and having the small kit on deck saves us a lot of money in maintenance costs each year.

So there you have it! A must-have list of cleaning, storage and maintenance products for your RV. Having these things on board will make your RV camping trip stress-free so you can focus on the important things — like roasting hot dogs, hiking, and laying in your hammock!

Does your RV have all these things? Don’t forget to mention them when you list your RV for rent on Campanda!

Click Here To List Your RV

Just doing a bit of research before renting an RV for your next vacation? Once you find a vehicle you like on Campanda, message the RV owner to ask about what cleaning products are included in the rental price so you can keep their vehicle clean and tidy.

Click Here To Rent An RV

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A Beginner’s Guide To RV Holding Tanks

Tom Sperner — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 18:57:51 +0000

By Liz Wilcox

RVing can take you to some beautiful locations and help you create wonderful memories. But not every part of RVing is pretty. Maintaining and emptying your septic system on a regular basis is an unglamorous — but necessary — part of any RV adventure. And without proper maintenance and care of this system, things can get pretty ugly.

Whether you’re a new RV owner or you plan to rent an RV on Campanda, it’s important to know how to care for your RV tanks properly. This handy guide will help you get started:

What does an RV septic system look like?

Recreational vehicles typically come with three tanks, located on the underside of the RV, to keep things running smoothly.

1. Fresh Water Tank

There are usually three tanks on an RV: fresh water, grey and black.

As the name suggests, this tank is for fresh water. This is the water that comes out of your taps.

2. Grey Water Tank

The grey tank holds the dirty water from your RV shower and the kitchen sink. Some used campers and vintage RVs may not have this tank.

3. Black Water Tank

This is the one that tends to scare new RVers. The black tank holds waste water from the toilet. If your RV does not have a gray tank, all dirty water is dispensed into this tank.

When not maintained properly, any one of these tanks can cause problems.

How often should I empty my RV tanks?

There’s no hard and fast rule about when to empty your tanks — it all depends on how much you use them.

How often you need to empty your tanks is relative. If you are traveling with a large number of people, you may need to empty your tanks every other day. If it is just you and your spouse, once a week may be enough.

A general rule of thumb is to wait until your tanks are about two-thirds full before emptying them. It creates a much better “flow” when dumping, making the process much more efficient.

Some recreational vehicles come with systems to show you exactly how full your tanks are. This is a great way to gauge when to dump, but be warned! After a few years, these sensors don’t always work well. Even new ones may give an incorrect reading because of paper or other waste sticking to the sensor making it read “full” when it’s not. It’s important to stay cognizant of how much water waste you are really accumulating.

How do I empty my RV tanks?

The holding tanks should be clearly marked on your RV. If renting, be sure to request a walkthrough from the RV owner.

Before your first waste water dump, make sure you have a sewer hose and some gloves to protect your hands.

Next, be sure to identify the valves on the outside of your RV. These will be clearly marked “grey” and “black”.

Hook your sewer hose up to the valve on the RV. Take the other end and secure it to the sewer you are using. Ensure it is fastened on both ends before pulling the valves!

Start with the black tank. Remember, the toilet waste water dumps directly into this tank. Never dump this water anywhere except designated dump stations. Dump stations are always clearly marked.

To empty, pull the valve and let the tank drain. Close the valve when you can no longer hear any liquid coming through the hose. Ensure the valve is closed completely. This is very important. Leaving a black tank valve open is an absolute no-no. It will cause all the liquid to flow out, leaving the solids no way of draining.

Always make sure the valve on your black tank is closed completely after dumping.

When you’ve ensured the valve is shut, pull the grey tank valve. Again, close when done.

Some people leave the gray tank valve open outside of the RV and let it drain continuously. This is a mistake. Flushing the gray tank after the black tank helps flush any solids stuck in your sewer hose. If you keep this valve open, you will not have that extra water to flush out the sewer hose after the black tank.

For easy clean up, go slowly when detaching the sewer hose. Many RVers use a bucket or tub to contain the hose when not in use.

How do I maintain my RV septic system?

You can find starter kits like this one at Walmart or RV stores.

Once you get the hang of emptying the tanks on your recreational vehicle, the process can go quickly and smoothly. But there’s more to using your tanks properly than emptying them — maintenance is just as important and will help prevent trouble down the line.

In general, regularly flushing along with cleaning and sanitizing your tanks will keep the system up and running fairly free of problems.

Other things to know about your RV holding tanks:

Fresh Water Tank

The least scary of the three tanks, the fresh water tank still needs maintenance from time to time.

When hooked up to water or filling the tank, use only a potable water hose. These are easy to spot because of their white color.

With this tank, it’s important to pay attention to the weather. Insulate your hose during freezing weather and drain your fresh water in extreme heat to prevent water stagnation.

The fresh water tank holds the water that comes out of your taps. It’s the least scary of all the RV tanks.

If the tank begins to smell, it may be contaminated. Use household bleach to clean the tank.

Pour ¼ cup of bleach for every 15 gallons of water in your tank.
Run the water until you smell bleach.
Continue to run until all the bleached water is out.
Let your tank sit for 24 hours.
Refill your tank and run the water until bleach smell is gone.
Use as normal.

Gray Water Tank

Again, this is where runoff water from your sink or RV shower is held. In large travel trailers and fifth wheels, there may be two gray tanks.

It’s important to note that the drain into this tank is small. Take every precaution to ensure food particles do not go down the drain. Even something as small as a pea may cause a clog.

Black Water Tank

You should only ever empty your tanks at a designated dumping station.

There are a few good rules of thumb for minimizing trouble with the dreaded black tank:

Use single-ply toilet paper. Two-ply can clog the tank.
Flush regularly, always adding water to the toilet bowl before flushing.
Sanitize your tank after dumping. You can find special chemicals for this in the RV section of any big box store.
Clean this tank often by putting a garden hose down the toilet. This should help flush your system and clear up any build ups.

Your #vanlife fantasies may not involve draining sewage, but this is a very real and essential part of RVing. When done properly, it should be a quick and painless process. Follow the guidelines above and after a few turns at the dump station, you’re going to be a pro at handling your RV septic system!

Emptying your tanks may not be a fun job, but it’s a necessary part of RV living.

Totally grossed out by the idea of emptying your own RV tanks? Many RV owners on Campanda offer to dump your tanks on return for an extra fee. Browse Campanda’s selection of trailers, motorhomes and campers by clicking the link below:

Click Here To Rent An RV

Looking to share the joys of RVing — black water tank included — with other RV enthusiasts? Rent your RV on Campanda and turn your rig into a second stream on income!

Click Here To List Your RV

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