Tips and Tricks from Season Five 2023
It is that time of year again to review our lessons learned from the previous season. None of these tips are earth shattering, but we hope you pick up one or two items that can help you improve your life on the road. If you don’t want to read through them all, use the links below to go directly to a particular tip you want to learn about.
Tip 1: Use a Ford Truck Service Center
Tip 2: Be aware of non-covered warranty item charges
Tip 3: Attach carabiner to Super Slider door
Tip 4: Remove rear view mirror
Tip 5: Can fold back just part of fan cover
Tip 6: Make sure items left outside can withstand the abuse
Tip 7: Lubricate & tighten window hinges periodically
Tip 8: Use checklists when packing up camp
Tip 9: Use driver’s seat as foot rest
Tip 10: 3M Dual Lock Strips work better than Command picture hanging strips
Tip 11: Mount Verizon Jetpack outside of cubby
Tip 12: Command hooks in bathroom for hanging wash cloths
Tip 13: Travel with empty or only partially full fresh tank to reduce weight
Tip 14: Set water heater to Comfort mode with a low temperature before taking a shower
Tip 15: Flick screens before opening
Tip 16: Use smaller pillow to gain more length in bed
Tip 17: Give unused items to charity or ship home
Tip 18: Side snaps on insulating curtain are not necessary
Tip 19: RV toilet chemical tablets can be cut into four pieces for the cassette toilet
Tip 20: Plug high-power appliances directly into 20A outlet on camp site pedestal
Tip 21: Cover up most of Watch Dog surge protector with tape
Tip 22: Scrape Americanizer with file when sewer hose is hard to get off
Tip 23: Add handle to screen door
Tip 24: Keep a spray bottle filled with a vinegar solution
Tip 25: Tape up AC air duct for better air flow
Tip 26: Add DC fans for better air circulation
Tip 27: Secure items on bedroom shelf
Tip 1: Use a Ford Truck Service Center
Red Tail Lodge Two (our Winnebago EKKO) is taller than most passenger vehicles. Red Tail Lodge One was a VanDOit camper van built on a Ford Transit. It was short enough that we could take it to our local Ford dealer to have it serviced. However, they informed us that the EKKO (build on a Ford Transit cut-away chassis) is too tall if they need to put it on a lift. So we found a Ford Truck Service Center that is a little farther away, but they will service our EKKO.
Tip 2: Be Aware of Non-covered Warranty Item Charges
When we first took Red Tail (our EKKO) to our local Winnebago dealer (Transwest RV in Frederick, Colorado) to look at some warranty items for us, we had a list of items. They informed us that if they looked at an item and it turned out to not be covered under the Winnebago warranty, then they would charge us a fee, over $100 per item. We originally had looking at the wires coming from the solar panels on the roof because they didn’t look very secure to us. However, we quickly took that off our list so we wouldn’t run the risk of Winnebago saying the wires were installed as designed and Transwest charging us $100. For that kind of money, we can secure the wires better ourselves.
Tip 3: Attach Carabiner to Super Slider Door
The Super Slider (paid link) is an expanding tube to store a “stinky slinky” (sewer hose). When we first mounted the Super Slider under Red Tail, we somehow lost the little flapper door, even before we started traveling. After replacing the Super Slider little door, we added a carabiner, so, even if the door accidentally pops open, we shouldn’t lose it. It has not had any problems since.
Tip 4: Remove Rear View Mirror
The EKKO comes with the Ford factory rear view mirror still installed. It is useless as a rear view mirror, as there is no window in the back of the EKKO, so you can’t see anything other than the inside of the EKKO. You could just ignore it, but light would reflect off the mirror and catch our attention. We found it a distraction while we were driving, so we removed it. Having it out of the way also made taking the windshield shade in and out much easier, although the shade was designed with a hole for the mirror.
Tip 5: Can Fold Back Just Part of Fan Cover
We have an insulated cover from Vanmade Gear (unpaid link) for our MaxxAir fan. We use it to block the sun shining in and to block any drafts. The cover folds, so you can partially block the sun while still allowing air flow out through the fan. A bag clip also helps keep the cover from accidentally unfolding.
Tip 6: Make Sure Items Left Outside Can Withstand the Abuse
Our camp sign sits out in all kinds of weather, snow, sun, wind, hail, and pouring rain. We used stainless steel hinges on it, but not stainless steel screws. After one season of use and abuse, the screws rusted badly. We replaced the screws with stainless steel ones and touched up the paint and added a coat of urethane on the sign for Season Five. The sign weathered a little better this time, but it still needs a little more work.
Tip 7: Lubricate & Tighten Window Hinges Periodically
The window hinges on the EKKO can often be a little finicky, getting stuck in the open position periodically. We found that keeping the hinges lubricated with Boeshield T-9 (paid link) along with making sure the screws are tight seems to help.
Tip 8: Use Checklists When Packing Up Camp
We have been traveling about half the year for five years now. We still use checklists when we are breaking camp. We also have checklists for setting up camp along with preparing for the travel season and ending the travel season. However, we’ve found that having a checklist for packing up camp is the most important. We still sometimes forget things and the checklist saves us. Forgetting some items can be costly, like leaving a window open which can break as you drive down the road. Other items can just be annoying, like forgetting to fill up a water bottle to drink while on the road. Initially we used an index card with the checklist items written on it. We then switched to the checklist feature of the Togo RV app. We liked the app since you could check off each item, making it easier to zero in on the remaining items. So we were disappointed when the checklist feature was removed as they moved the Togo RV app into the Roadtrippers app. However, the friendly support staff at Roadpass pointed us to the Check Check app (be sure to get the right app as there are several called Check Check). Check Check is a simple, resettable checklist app. We’ve moved all our checklists to Check Check as we prepare for Season Six. For more details of what is in our breaking camp checklist, go to Our EKKO Life.
Tip 9: Use Driver's Seat as Foot Rest
Well, this tip is probably only useful for Ann, with her extremely long legs. The average person, including Keith, doesn’t have legs long enough to reach.
Tip 10: 3M Dual Lock Strips Work Better Than Command Picture Hanging Strips
We initially mounted our TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System - paid link) monitor display with Command Large Picture Hanging Strips (paid link), but it kept falling down. We then tried 3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener (paid link) and the TPMS has not fallen since. Enough said.
Tip 11: Mount Verizon Jetpack Outside of Cubby
We travel with a Verizon Jetpack (paid link) to give us cell service options (our phones are on AT&T). Initially we put the Jetpack on a shelf inside one of the upper cab cubbies. However, there isn’t much insulation in there and the cubbies can get extremely hot (we destroyed two GoPro batteries in there). In addition to adding a DC fan to blow into the cubby, we moved the Jetpack from the cubby and mounted it just outside the cubby. The Jetpack is much happier there.
Tip 12: Command Hooks in Bathroom for Hanging Wash Cloths
OK, if you are an experienced camper or RVer, Command hooks is not a new tip but a tried-and-true standard. During Season Five, we just added some more Command hooks, this time in the bathroom for hanging our wash cloths in a convenient location.
Tip 13: Travel with Empty or Only Partially Full Fresh Tank to Reduce Weight
The first thing we did when we hit the road for Season Five was to stop at a CAT Scale to weigh Red Tail. When we weighed our EKKO, we were both in it, fully loaded with all of our gear and groceries, along with a full tank of gas, full propane tanks, and a full fresh water tank. We were within our front axle and rear axle rating limits, but we were about 100 pounds over our GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Instead of getting rid of gear and groceries, we removed water. Water is heavy. One gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds. So we only needed to about 12 gallons of water. Since the fresh water tank holds 50 gallons, that means we should keep it under 75% full on travel days (with the gray tank and toilet cassette empty). We were able to live with that easily during Season Five. We’ll see if we can pack less gear for Season Six.
Tip 14: Set Water Heater to Comfort Mode With a Low Temperature Before Taking a Shower
There are two different modes for the EKKO’s water heater, Comfort and Eco. In Comfort mode, the hot water circulates through the piping so the water is immediately hot when you turn the hot water faucet on. In Eco mode, the water does not circulate, thus saving on fuel by not maintaining hot water in the water lines. This is a balance between managing resources, propane and water. If the water is instantly hot, then you don’t need to waste water down the drain as you wait for it to heat up. When taking a shower, you also don’t want to waste water as you try to adjust the mix between hot and cold water to find the right temperature for your shower. If you set the water heater to Comfort mode, setting the temperature to the desired temperature of your shower (like somewhere between 95 and 105 degrees), then wait a few minutes for the water temperature in the lines to adjust. That way you can take a shower with the faucet adjusted to all hot water, no mixing required and no water wasted.
Tip 15: Flick Screens Before Opening
In the EKKO, the window screens are on the inside. In order to open, close or adjust the windows, you have to first open the screen. Bugs like to hang out on the outside of the screen. Flicking the screen with your fingers should get the bugs to fly away before you open the screen. Then, hopefully, you won’t be letting the bugs inside the RV.
Tip 16: Use Smaller Pillow to Gain More Length in Bed
The twin beds in the EKKO are only 76 inches longer, which is four inches shorter than a regular queen bed. We are both six feet tall. The beds are barely long enough for us. Ann doesn’t mind the length, as she usually sleeps on her side and scrunches up her pillow. However, Keith switched to a smaller pillow to gain a couple more inches in length for his body.
Tip 17: Give Unused Items to Charity or Ship Home
Don’t waste space or weight in your RV with items you don’t really need. You may discover as you travel that there are things you are not using, or you want to swap them out for other things. During Season Five, Keith didn’t like the big, bulky comforter on his bed. He purchased a wool blanket to replace it. Then we stopped by a Goodwill store to donate the comforter. Hopefully it found a good home. If you still want to keep an unused item, consider shipping it back home.
Tip 18: Side Snaps on Insulating Curtain Are Not Necessary
We like the privacy and insulation the Winnebago curtain provides hanging between the cab and the rest of the RV. We put the curtain up every evening before going to bed and take it down every morning. There are snaps along the top edge of the curtain and down both sides to secure it to the RV. However, we’ve found that using the side snaps are unnecessary. The curtain hangs just fine without them. Saving a little bit of time and effort from our daily routine makes life a little better.
Tip 19: RV Toilet Chemical Tablets Can Be cut Into Four Pieces For the Cassette Toilet
We normally use liquid toilet chemicals for our cassette toilet. However, we developed a leak in one of the bottles, which made quite the mess, and sometimes we can’t always find liquid chemicals. We prefer liquid over tablets because we can control the amount used that is more appropriate for the size of the cassette. But tablets can be used in a pinch. Cutting them into four pieces makes the amount closer to what is needed for the cassette, although still more than is required. Beware that cutting them does make a crumbly mess.
Tip 20: Plug High-power Appliances Directly into 20A Outlet on Camp Site Pedestal
When we have Red Tail plugged into the 30A outlet on the camp site pedestal and we want to use another high-power appliance, such as the Instant Pot (paid link) or the induction cook top (paid link), we are a little concerned that we might overload the circuit and trip a breaker. Plus the appliance may add unwanted heat to the inside of the RV. To avoid that, we take the appliance outside and plug it into the 20A or 15A outlet on the pedestal. Many camp sites have multiple outlets, usually at least one 20A and one 30A. Sometimes there are multiple of each and may also include a 50A. Carrying a 50A to 30A dogbone (paid link) along with a 15A to 30A dogbone (paid link) increases the possibilities of what you can connect. At one campground, having our RV plugged into the 30A outlet blocked the 20A outlet. So we moved the RV plug over to the 50A outlet, using our 50A to 30A dogbone so we could plug an appliance into the 20A outlet. Problem solved! (Fredericksburg, Texas - July 19th to 21st, 2023).
Tip 21: Cover Up Most of Watch Dog Surge Protector With Tape
Early in the season, we were camping at a state park in Florida (Three Rivers State Park, Florida - March 26th to 29th, 2023). It was not a very busy campground, so it was pretty dark outside. As Ann was laying in bed, trying to fall asleep, she noticed a bright light shining in her window. She peered out the window to see who had such a bright light on, only to discover the light was coming from our Hughes Watchdog Surge Protector (paid link). The protector has the face of a dog on it, with a light shining out the face. The light is white when everything is functioning correctly and turns red when there’s an issue. We covered up most of the dog face logo with tape, except for the dog’s eyes. That way we could still see if the light turned red, but now the light is not as strong as before.
Tip 22: Scrape Americanizer with File When Sewer Hose is Hard to Get Off
The Americanizer (paid link) is a product designed by James at the Fit RV. It is a part that fits onto the toilet cassette and attaches to an RV sewer hose. It makes it easier to dump the cassette into an RV dump station (thank you, James!). The Americanizer worked great on the sewer hose that came with our EKKO. But that hose was too short and we replaced it with a 10 foot Rhinoflex hose (paid link). The Americanizer fit tighter on the Rhinoflex hose and we struggled getting it back off each time. Wrestling with a sewer hose is not our idea of fun. But filing down the little pegs on the Americanizer just a little bit seemed to correct the fit. Now we have no issues getting it on and off.
Tip 23: Add Handle to Screen Door
The RV door design still baffles us (One Year EKKO Review). Even after adding the Camco RV Screen Door Opener (paid link), there still wasn’t a great way to pull the screen door closed from the inside of the RV. Adding a simple handle on the inside of the screen door solved the issue.
Tip 24: Keep a Spray Bottle Filled With a Vinegar Solution
A vinegar solution is great for cleaning. It is inexpensive and environmentally friendly (Cleaning With Vinegar). We keep a spray bottle with a vinegar solution (equal parts distilled vinegar and water) in the outside water compartment. It is handy to clean up anything that spills while dumping the gray tank or toilet cassette. We also use it to clean the surfaces in the bathroom. Vinegar is not quite as effective at killing germs as bleach is, but it doesn’t stain like bleach.
Tip 25: Tape Up AC Air Duct For Better Air Flow
This was a tip we learned from James at the Fit RV. It allows more of the cool air to flow to the front ducts than dump directly out the AC unit into the bedroom. See the Fit RV for more details (RV Air Conditioner Performance Improvement Tests).
Tip 26: Add DC Fans for Better Air Circulation
Having better air circulation helps even out the air temperature inside the RV, whether you are heating or cooling. Plus, air blowing directly on your body helps you feel cooler. Over the course of the season, we added four DC fans (paid link). One blows into the front cubby to keep it from overheating, especially if we have the WeBoost (paid link) turned on. A second fan is clipped above the entry door, usually aimed at the person seating in the dinette seat. Two more fans are clipped to the shelf between our beds. They can be angled to blow directly on us at night. We definitely use the fans when it is hot and we’re not running the AC because we don’t have electrical hook ups. But we also run them in addition to the AC or when the heater is on to increase air circulation.
Tip 27: Secure Items on Bedroom Shelf
On the bedroom shelf between our beds, we keep a Bluetooth speaker (paid link) and an essential oil diffuser (paid link). To keep them from falling off on travel days, we’ve secured them to the shelf. Things can bounce around quite a bit on travel days. Keeping things secured reduces the mess to clean up when you reach camp and reduces the risk of breaking something. The diffuser is secured using a Command Picture Hanging Strips (paid link). The speaker is held in place with a couple of bungee cords.
Tip 28: Check Awning for Debris Before Closing
At one point during the season, we unknowingly closed the awning when there were a couple of twigs on top. The twigs jammed up the awning and we had a heck of a time getting the awning to open back up. After that, we try to make it a habit to look on top of the awning before closing it. Sometimes it is not easy to get a view of the awning. It usually involves standing on a picnic table, a stool, or climbing up on the ladder on the back of the EKKO.
Tip 29: Keep Hand Sanitizer in Water Compartment
Having easy access to sanitize your hands after dumping the toilet cassette and gray tank is not only convenient, but keeps you from touching anything else with dirty hands.
Check out our related video: Tips and Tricks from Season Five
(Ann)