Let’s assume that last week, while traveling back from your favorite fishing hole, you experienced trailer sway (aka fishtailing) with your beloved trailer. You are now unnerved (understandably), and after spending 15 minutes today swirling around the Google vortex, you have learned that your tow vehicle – a Toyota Sequoia – is not the ideal […] The post How You Can Stop Trailer Sway (Without Buying a New Vehicle) appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

This is not a step-by-step tutorial on how to install new RV awning fabric. That is a subject best watched, not read. I encourage you to visit the land of YouTube and watch a DIY awning fabric installation video by The RV Geeks, AZ Expert, Tough Top Awnings, or an RV owner/influencer. Every awning is […] The post Top 12 RV Awning Fabric DIY Installation Mistakes appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

You likely sussed out the problem thanks to a drip, drip, drip sound coming from the bottom of your RV. “Is that … my freshwater tank?” you wondered. “Why would my tank be full?” Sure enough, the water was leaking out of the tank overflow vent. You double-checked your water connection and bypass valve orientation. […] The post Uh Oh! Is Your Freshwater Tank Filling When You’re Hooked Up to City Water? appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

If RV technicians had a Top 40 list, a timed pressure drop test would certainly be a recurring hit. If you’ve ever hired a mobile RV tech to repair or replace a gas-fired appliance, then you’ve likely paid for a pressure drop test. In fact, many technicians conduct a gas leak test anytime a gas-tight […] The post The RV Timed Gas Pressure Drop Test: What It Is And Why You Need One appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Customers commonly ask me, “Should I buy an RV slide topper? Do I really need one?’ In response, I ply three questions: An RV slide topper, or canopy, is a Lilliputian awning that is mounted above your slide-out room. One end is fixed to the sidewall; the other end is mounted to the top of […] The post Should I Get an RV Slide Topper? A Tech Weighs In appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

What’s the difference between “gas heat” and “electric heat” in an RV? You’ve probably seen these terms scrolling through the modes in your digital wall thermostat. You might also have a setting for “heat pump.” On an analog thermostat, these modes are likely different positions on the linear selector switch. Unfortunately, these terms probably don’t […] The post Deep Dive: The Difference Between Gas Heat and Electric Heat in an RV appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

One would expect that a leaking RV roof would cause a stain, bubble or wrinkle on the RV ceiling. Water has to go somewhere, right? Isn’t it reasonable to assume that a hole in your roof would manifest itself on the ceiling below? Unluckily for you, dear RV owner, Recreational Vehicles follow their own rules, […] The post Suspect an RV Roof Leak? Don’t Trust Your Ceiling! appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

If you’re reading this article in November, time may remain. Pump your RV’s veins full of antifreeze, and you may stave off the worst of the effects of the cold.  But if you’re reading this March, then the prognosis is poor. If you forgot to winterize your RV, and Christmas Bells have already stopped ringing, […] The post What Happens If You Forget to Winterize Your RV?? appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Customers ask me all the time how to protect their beloved RVs. Chains? Couper lock? GPS tracking device? An anti-missile Iron Dome defense system? They’re desperately hoping I have some insider knowledge of a particular, recently invented but as yet unknown device that will assuage all their worries.  My standard response is that protecting your […] The post Chat With an RV Tech: Can You Actually Keep an RV Safe from Theft? appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more

Concerned about the quality of the power at the pedestal? In the matter of RV electrical protection, you have three options: Which Is Better: A Multimeter or Surge Protector? Between the first two options, you might assume, given that I am a borderline Scrooge AND a bit of a data freak, that I would award […] The post Smackdown: Advanced Surge Protector Vs Multimeter vs Circuit Analyzer? appeared first on Ask The RV Engineer ..read more