The upper roof appeared to have a coating applied over the membrane which had split in several places and the coating was now flaking. The roof was black in spots and hot as hell! It was not leaking. Yet. Unfortunately, RV shops were already booked up and my time was running short to head out on my trip for which I already had an appointment to meet someone in Utah to get some work done on my van. I decided to go the roof coating route for the repair and bought Henry’s Tropicool at Home Depot. The cost to coat a roof yourself is very low at around $300 including throw away tools such as cheap roller covers, 3″-4″ paint brushes, a roller extension rod, gloves, etc. You can’t clean this stuff up afterward so you will have to use new ones for each coat. I put 2 coats on.
To put it on, you need to do it in the cool of the morning or evening and it should not be windy. The wind delayed me several days. First I scraped the old caulk off the front seam across. Not fun. The black got on my shoes and left shoe prints everywhere that I had to clean up when done. I taped over the seam with an Eternabond equivalent and caulked the edges down. I inspected the caulking around the vents and it was decent so I left it but added some of the tape again.
I washed the roof well and had someone on the ground with a hose to spray the sides as it dripped down so they didn’t get black streaks.
To start the coating, I used a paintbrush to go along the edges and around the vents. I then switched to a roller on an extension pole and a paint pan to roll it on front to back. It went on easily but you have to be careful near the edges so it doesn’t drip down the side or block up the rain gutters. I waited 24 hours and used a new roller cover and paintbrush to do the second coat.
It looks great and the roof is now much cooler than it was. No leaks. Going with a roof coating I will need to redo it again in a year or two but it is not expensive and the next time should be even easier. I’ll watch it for deterioration over time and may or may not replace that part of the roof eventually.
For two coats on my 8′ x 12′ piece of roof that I did, I used 1.5 gallons of roof coating.
The front shocks on the van were bad and had to be replaced. I used Monroe shocks rather than the Bilsteins the Facebook groups were recommending due to my . . . → Read More: Van Repairs and Upgrades]]>
The front shocks on the van were bad and had to be replaced. I used Monroe shocks rather than the Bilsteins the Facebook groups were recommending due to my camper van being a 3/4 ton rather than the 1 ton most of them have. Go with the Monroe RV ones if you have a 2500 3/4 ton. I also had them put on a Moog steering stabilizer which definitely helps it go straight and of course an alignment was done. In 1994 and higher models, a Big D steering stabilizer should be added to the steering for better support instead of the Moog.
Later I had the front brakes redone and both calipers replaced since one was sticking. The brake master cylinder reservoir was also leaking so replaced that.
Inside, I replaced the light fixture in the kitchen with an LED one that also provides a USB port. I also added 2 more USB ports and a 12V port above the rear passenger seat. It was not easy adding wires for the ports. I had to snake them through the ceiling and open one side wall to do it. The bulbs in the other light fixtures were also replaced with LEDs to save power for boondocking.
While I was working on adding wires, I found wires had already been run between the roof vent and and the converter to add a powered vent fan. I got a Vortex II off Amazon and installed it. It just shoves up into the current vent after connecting the two wires and is held in place by 2 screws into the metal brace that is already there. It has 3 forward modes (blowing in) and 2 reverse modes (blowing out). Nothing fancy. No rain sensor or remote but it is so easy to reach that I don’t mind. I must say it helps tremendously with the heat buildup inside the van.
A message board was added to one cabinet door for messages when I have a passenger with me and for my own notes to myself.
I screwed a cup holder that would normally sit between car seats in the crevice to the doghouse over the van engine. I also have one with a trash bin and other slots that sits on the floor between seats.
Two bubble levels were added with one over the driver in the center of the cupboard there and one overhead to the side. They make parking level for the fridge to work properly very easy.
Speaking of the fridge, it’s a 3 way but was only working on gas. An RV tech cleaned the rear of it up and told me the control was bad and could not be gotten anymore. I jumped on Ebay and searched for it. It took me a few days but I found one brand new in the bag and ordered it. Be sure to get an American 120V one and not the Australian 240V one. The RV tech had no trouble putting it in and now I have all 3 modes to use and I do use them all! I use AC when provided in camp, DC when driving only (it drains the batteries), and gas when boodocking.
Because I still don’t trust the old fridge and I tend to over-shop on groceries, I knew I also wanted an AC/DC portable compressor fridge which also cools down much faster than an RV absorption fridge. The only place I can put it is where the rear passenger seat/bed is. I removed the seat and put it covered in my garage. Then I cut a sheet of plywood and added some thin would strip stops to it to cover the remaining pedestal and not move around. Above it is the new 12V port I added to run the portable fridge.
The center rafter was missing for the awning and the plastic loop that opens the awning broke. I was able to get the parts from FiammaUSA in Florida. Silly me couldn’t find anywhere to store/mount the rafter other than on the short wall running under the bathroom so I installed the clips for it there. Later someone in one of the Roadtrek Facebook groups mentioned just tossing it in one of the long open cubbies up front that run just below the ceiling. Like duh! It fits easily there.
Due to the TV antenna being built into the ceiling, the Roadtrek has to be oriented right for best reception which you have no control over when in a campground. I added an external antenna that I can clamp onto the side of the van when needed and run the wire inside to the TV.
That’s it for now. Doing what I can to make it fit my camping style. As far as more repairs, even new RVs these days need them right out of the factory and certainly should be expected when purchasing used. Still, I paid very little for this Class B motorhome including the repairs compared to the cost of a new one from $70,000 to $170,000! Roadtreks are particularly popular as well as Chinooks no matter the age and folks drive them into the ground. Who wouldn’t at those new prices?!
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However, at home where refrigeration . . . → Read More: Milk Replacer]]>
However, at home where refrigeration is not an issue at all, I now also use unsweetened original flavor almond milk. To me it tastes the same as cow milk, it is only 30 calories (YES!), and it lasts for months not days!!! Since I don’t normally drink milk, cow milk spoils long before I can use it all in my cooking and lately the date range on it in my local store has gotten very short. So, I tried almond milk and I LOVE it! It works just fine for baking, cooking, and drinking. Best of all, I haven’t had a carton of it go bad on me yet. Cost is also similar to regular milk. This is a solid win!
Be sure to use unflavored or original flavor. Vanilla flavored is terrible for cooking.
NOTE: Not for those with nut allergy nor should it be used around them. Be very careful using it the first time in case of a reaction.
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We started by pulling off the corner bracket and lightly bending the corner sheets back. It became apparent real fast that much more of the slideout was damaged and that it would be easiest to repair by taking off all the slideout siding. We got another neighbor to help hold it up as we released the staples and pulled each of the long, narrow sheets off and laid them in the yard. Thankfully, my RV park was very nice about it. Most would not be. TIP: weight those siding sheets down well so the wind doesn’t twist them and throw them all over the neighborhood. Don’t ask how I know!
We found the leaks had started at the roof line on both sides but not in the middle. We then worked out a plan for the repair, took measurements for the lumber needed, and covered the entire wall with 2 large gray tarps and clamps. We found gray was less offensive to the neighbors than the bright blue tarps.
It took us about a month to finish what with morning cold weather and much needed breaks. Our park loaned us ladders and sawhorses. I got the job of pulling out all the old staples (a ton of them!), painting the new wood, unscrewing the metal corner and roof pieces, cleaning those pieces with Goo Gone and a plastic spatula, general cleanup, getting supplies, and providing an extra hand to hold pieces while my neighbor cut them or put them into place.
We had to remove the windows each day and put them back in with just a couple screws to hold them every night then re-tarp the whole wall.
Before we sealed the wall back up, I remembered how buggered I was not having an electrical outlet next to the couch. I ran down to the RV store and bought an RV outlet then broke into the lighting circuit which runs to both sides of the couch and installed it. I LOVE IT! I also went to the hardware store and bought a new LED light fixture to replace the old partially broken one over the dining table.
The wood sheathing we replaced I painted with a primer and sealer before installing to give the wall a better chance to survive if it leaked again per my wood guy. Most of the inner wall was still intact so we left it alone. The inside of the corner that started it is not so great and could use some more work which I’ll do later. I also need to find the slideout gaskets that were removed to replace them. This trailer is a 1993 and will not be going back out on the road anyway. I just live in it on my own lot with a 99 year lease in an RV park.
We used an electric staple gun to put the siding back on over the wood. It came out pretty good in the end though the metal was dinged up by wind. It will do and the park is happy with it.
UPDATE: Several months later and after several big storms, the slideout has not leaked!
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The new shower head has an On/Off switch built right into the handle and the switch turns the water fully off unlike the Oxygenics. I realize the continued dripping of the Oxygenics is a safety feature to keep the water temp the same both On and Off to prevent scalding but, as an adult, I am fully capable of managing my shower and being careful after turning the water back on.
The Camco shower head comes with both a delightful rainfall mode and an adjustable massaging mode for those rough days when I have disobeyed doctor’s orders and done things I shouldn’t have like bending over too much to wash the car or fix something I am otherwise capable of fixing.
I also find the water pressure quite adequate. It’s great with high pressure but with so many streams coming out of it in rainfall mode, it is also very nice when pressure is low.
The cons? It is not exactly water saving so I have to be careful during the main part of my shower to manage my puny 6 gallons of hot water in the winter time. The switch on the handle makes that easy except that the rainfall is so enjoyable that I sometimes forget to turn it off. In the hot summertime, which is most of the year where I live, hot water conservation is not an issue. Another con is that the shower hose can’t swivel on these so I suggest getting the armor hose for it for more flexibility rather than using a plain vinyl hose.
I am very pleased with the Camco RV Shower Head and look forward to many happy showers.
]]>I looked at a couple of camping toasters. The most popular one is the round one that folds up for use and down for storage. It is very compact for storage and does a decent job though it can be a bit flimsy depending on the maker. I decided to go with the flat box design of the Camp-A-Toaster CT1 instead. It feels solid, works quite well, and I can actually toast a sandwich on it since the surface is flat rather than angled. It is certainly not as compact as the other but it is still lightweight and I’m willing to give up some storage space for it.
This morning I made peanut butter toast on top of my stove. It toasted fairly fast and was delicious! Best of all it is not wasting my precious counter space nor does it need electricity. If storage space is also an issue, then by all means go with the folding toaster.
Yep, this is going in my van when I travel but staying inside my 5th wheel I live in for those rare days.
To support my new camping style, I am upgrading my van and adding items to provide more comfort off grid. I want more battery power, more DC outlets, change everything I can over to DC power or propane, install items that use less power, etc. More power! Aar! Aar! Aar!
This week I tested out a new CanCooker Companion 1.5qt. My van has a 2 burner propane stove and a microwave oven but no oven so I wanted something to cook roasts, etc. in that does not use electricity. While I do have a portable inverter generator that will be traveling with me, I want to use it as little as possible and can’t use it in some places I might stay.
The CanCooker can be used over any source of heat except induction. You can use it on a stovetop, a grill, on coals, or even a campfire. It works similar to though not the same as my favorite appliance, my Instant Pot. Liquid in the bottom is heated to a steam and then the design of the pot creates convection. There is a hole in the lid for steam to escape so it is not a pressure cooker. You can put all the food in directly on the bottom or you can buy an insert to keep food above the water so it is less mushy or to make a cake. NOTE: If you have an Instant Pot, the insert for that does fit through the mouth of the CanCooker to dual purpose it.
There are three different sizes of cookers. I chose the smallest to feed up to 4 people which is the 1.5 qt. It is about 10 x 7 inches and made of lightweight aluminum. Every part of it gets very hot while using so be sure to use pads when touching it. The inside is coated with a non-stick coating so be sure to use proper utensils so as not to scratch it. It does come with instructions and a bag made of a poor material that won’t last long. If you go to cancooker.com, there are numerous recipes available.
For my first experiment, I cooked a pork roast with potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion. The vegetables go on the bottom while meat should be placed on top. I used a bit over a cup of beef broth for the liquid though plain water would have worked too. They stress that the heat should be kept to low or low-medium for cooking. I waited the required 15 minutes for steam to come out the top but nothing happened so I turned the stove up to medium and that got the ball rolling. 45 minutes later I had a fully cooked roast with flavorful potatoes and perfect texture carrots, celery, and onions. Of course, a little salt and pepper after dishing it out always helps too. I’m thinking ribs or perhaps a dessert for my next experiment.
Cleanup was a breeze! I let it cool down a bit then turned it over and dumped the remaining food out into a large storage bowl. Then I easily rinsed it out and done. I like that! One thing they mentioned that I never knew, if you rub soap all over the bottom before using over a campfire, the soot will come right off. Nice!
This is definitely going in my RoadTrek van to use on the road.
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Why should you do this? As their site says:
A Lifetime of 50% Savings at nearly 1,600 quality parks across North . . . → Read More: Passport America Lifetime Deal]]>Why should you do this? As their site says:
- A Lifetime of 50% Savings at nearly 1,600 quality parks across North America
- Discounts on Passport America Rallies and Caravans (over a $200.00+ Value)
- (2) One Year Gift Memberships to give to Friends and Family from You ($88.00 Value)
- One Time Transferable* Immeasurable SAVINGS!
- GO Green, Eco Friendly! No More Renewal Notices or Price Increases
- Plus, FREE Bonus Gifts & FREE U.S. Priority Shipping (3-5 business days)
For the free gifts, I got 2 quality denim ball caps with their insignia, a PA keychain, and a safety door puller to help avoid germs on door handles.
The 2 free memberships made some nice Christmas presents and when it is time for me to hang up the keys, I can transfer my lifetime membership to someone else. Heck of a deal!
Now some will argue that there are a lot of restrictions on using this and there are. Campgrounds are free to set whatever rules on using it they want. Many only offer 50% off for one night. There have been many times while traveling that I just needed one night. Many only allow it Monday-Thursday. OK but that is 4 days of savings! Most don’t allow it during holidays or special events in the area. Yeah, that sucks but I have personally stayed at several campgrounds for 2 weeks or more at the PA rate which saved me way more than it cost. Some do have an extra charge for 50 amp but that is normal among other non-PA campgrounds too. If you have a Passport America campground near you that you like, this can save you money easily. If you travel a lot, this is a good addition to your membership arsenal for those stops along the way.
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Bottomless is another 10+ miles outside Roswell. I reserved the same spot I was supposed to have previously when I was unable to go there due to car trouble. It’s on the hill against the canyon wall across from the restrooms. Big mistake. That is where two very fat raccoons live. Every night they ransacked the trash cans nearby. I have heard of them eating vehicle wires and causing lots of problems. My magnetic motion activated lights seemed to help keep them from spending too much time close to my rig but didn’t totally keep them away. Don’t leave anything out there you don’t want them to get.
My fridge worked fine on propane which was a pleasant surprise since it failed to work mid-summer in 108 degree weather. I ended up clearing out the ice chest I brought just in case.
The park has WI-FI but the signal was weak where I was. Deploying a WI-FI booster antenna that plugs directly into my laptop through a long USB cord fixed that issue. It worked both outside on the windshield and inside on the dashboard. I got it on Wish dot com.
I was able to stream TV through my phone’s internet and Amazon Firestick. Good signal there. I also used my portable satellite dish for the first time. Roadtreks have a cable port in the side storage area so I connected to that to get the signal to the inside TV port.
I took my first bath in the van. The restroom showers are closed for Covid. Toilets are open though. Go figure. My van doesn’t have a water heater or shower. I haven’t finished building a shower curtain yet so I just took a bath using a 5 gallon solar water bag, a collapsible bucket, a folding dog pool that fits in the closet, and a battery powered USB portable water pump with shower attachment. It worked! I may just keep doing baths since it was so easy and I can sit in the narrow pool in my center aisle. I used Dr. Bronner’s eco-friendly soap though I read that my homemade glycerin soap is also eco-friendly. I had all the water I needed. When done, I used the water pump again to pump the water back into the bucket then tossed it outside.
Everything worked great and I was very comfortable.
I was camped at Lea Lake campground with water and electric for $4/night with my annual pass. There is a sewer dump on the way out. My space had a nice covered table and patio. The view was fantastic with red rock all around, the lake, an excellent well-done beach and picnic area, and a walking bridge trail through a marsh. I walked a LOT! That gave me a chance to try out my camcorder I bought some time ago and of course I took lots of pictures.
There are also numerous boondocking areas around the other lakes there. They also have covered tables and I wouldn’t mind camping at those either.
]]>Luggage packing cubes are mentioned a lot on travel sites. I wondered if they live up to the hype. Supposedly they save more space and make it easier to find what you need. I bought a large set of them with all kinds of sizes including a shoe bag and clear toiletry bags. See YAMIU Packing Cubes 7-Pcs Travel Organizer Accessories with Shoe Bag and 2 Toiletry Bags(Blue)
For the test, I used them on a flying trip to Oregon. Here are the results:
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- I don’t believe they actually saved me any space in my suitcase but they did help me limit what I was taking so I didn’t have to sit on my suitcase to close it this time but still had plenty of clothes with me. I tend to over pack. If space is that big an issue, the kind of bags where you vacuum out the excess air might help though I would go with the ones you roll the air out instead so you don’t have to hope a vacuum is available or bug anyone for it.
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- They did make it easy for me to separate types of clothing such as shirts in one bag, pants in another, under garments in another. Each morning it was very easy to find what I needed to change clothes. I really liked that! No digging needed and my suitcase always looked neat rather than like a teenager’s bedroom.
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- My shoes had their own bag so they didn’t soil my clothes and the bag looked a lot nicer than the grocery bag I usually use.
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- The clear bags for the toiletries made it easy to see what I had with me. Again, no digging to find what I needed and I could see what I brought.
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- For the dirty clothes, I kept them in a separate laundry bag I brought until it was time to go home then I shifted items around to empty out some cubes, rolled the dirty items again, and fit them back into the cubes which I placed at the top of my luggage so they would come out first and immediately go into the laundry hamper at home. Unpacking my suitcase actually took very little time since I just had to yank cubes out of it then could put it away immediately to get it out of my way.
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- When not in use, the packing cubes flatten and fold up into almost nothing so they take up very little storage space.
Conclusion: Two thumbs up for packing cubes! I will be using them from now on. They may not necessarily save space but they sure do make packing, daily travel life, and unpacking much easier. I recommend them.
For my new Class B RV, I used the packing cube concept to buy clear shoe boxes that I keep in the RV in all my cabinets. Some hold items that stay in there permanently to organize them and keep them from rolling around. Other boxes I pull out to pack them in the house then carry them back out when loading. Actual packing cubes would work too but I prefer the open tops of shoe boxes for quickly grabbing items. If your cabinets won’t hold the plastic boxes due to size or contour, give packing cubes a try and leave them unzippered during the trip. You could also combine the two items to fit your space as needed.