Fortunately, I was able to find a RV and Boat storage lot. I actually really liked the lot overall and they were good people running the place. I parked there for two years and then I was able to bring the RV back home after some backyard renovations.

But let’s look at the pros and cons and how to make it work for you…

Pros to an RV Storage Lot

The good news is that my parking area was covered. So while not completely protected from the weather, it was an improvement over being left in the open at my home. I didn’t have to worry so much about water leaks from storms which was a big deal.

Another thing about my parking spot, which isn’t always the case with all RV lots, is that my space came with power! It was 30-amp power, and we couldn’t run ACs or heaters. But by having power, I could keep the fridge cold and the batteries charged without issue. That meant that I didn’t have to unload the fridge between tailgates. Saved a lot of time during football season, when I was using the RV weekly.

I’ll say another pro to parking my motorhome in an off-site storage lot was that my neighbors and others driving by my house didn’t know if I was in town or out of town. When you park your RV at your home, it’s obvious when it’s gone. And that likely means you are gone and no one is at home. Makes it easy pickings for people up to no good.

Now, I have a great setup at my house, making it easy to dump my black and gray tanks after a trip. There’s a sewer cutout in the middle of my front yard. But many RVers don’t have that access. Instead, they have to go to a dump station. My RV storage lot had both a dump station as well as a fresh water fill station.

This made it easy to handle the water system on the RV. Except for sanitizing the system (more on that later).

Cons to an RV Storage Lot

The biggest problem for me was that the lot was about 45 minutes to an hour away (depending on Atlanta traffic). That’s one way. So at least two hours out of my day roundtrip to the lot. And no, there weren’t any closer to where I live.

This made it difficult for me to pop in for things like maintenance or if I left something in the RV between trips. I had to get way more organized in everything dealing with the RV since it wasn’t convenient for me.

I will admit that I didn’t winterize my RV as well as I should have after the end of the 2022 football season. While I drained all the tanks, I forgot about the water filter. When a freeze hit, the filter casing cracked and that was a fun way to start 2023. I’m just happy that I went to get the RV a week before my first trip that year. I had time to fix it.

And one of the reasons that I got the RV out of storage early in 2023 was because I knew I needed to sanitize the fresh water system. That’s hard to do when the RV is in storage and it takes a 2 hour round-trip to get there. Who is realistically going to drive 2 hours on Saturday to fill it up with bleach and water and then 2 hours on Sunday to dump it? And since the fresh water fill was not at the dump station, it would mean several trips between the two to completely flush out all the bleach from the system. Not ideal.

Can’t Ignore the Cost

No one is letting you store your RV for free. The closer to the city you are, the more it is going to cost you. Most of the lots around me were going for $150-500 a month. The $150 were basic gravel lots with no power. The $500 and up were for full-service indoor, climate controlled spaces.

And if you have a large motorhome, you’ll likely be unable to find parking close to the city anyways. The long-term storage unit places often have a parking lot for RVs and boats, but also have limited space for large units. The ones near me were limited to 30 feet and under. It’ll be cheaper the further out you go, but that increases your travel time to get the RV.

Uncertain RV Security

I gotta admit that one of the issues I was worried about was RV security. Sure, the lot had an access controlled gate with individualized codes to get in. And was completely fenced in. But I still worried.

That’s when I got the Ring system for the RV. So not only was I paying the monthly fee to park, I was also paying a monthly subscription for the Ring system and also I had to buy the equipment.

There are limitations on the Ring system though. I added a motion detector so if anyone came in, I knew it. There were also cameras – one that I ran inside the RV so again, if someone came in, I’d have a good shot of them. I could also check in to make sure nothing happened inside (water leaks, animals, etc). And I had a camera that looked out the front windshield.

But this also left the storage bays unmonitored if someone came up from the back of the RV. I was working on getting additional cameras, which I could setup on the door or windows to cover the sides.

I was always afraid that someone would put something in the gas too since it isn’t a locking gas cap. I still should upgrade to the locking gas cap, because it’s more likely that it’ll happen on the road (like if I had to overnight in a gas station travel spot with truckers who just don’t like RVers) than a facility with RVers and boaters.

What if the Lot isn’t Covered or Have Power?

For many RVers that have to store their RV in a storage lot, you won’t have a covered spot or power. I will say that I was fortunate to be able to find a lot that had both and could also fit my RV (it’s about 37 feet long so it was actually a double spot at my lot).

If you don’t have power, you’ll probably have to turn the power system off. This means turning the fridge off which means emptying everything out of it. It also means that it is going to be hard to run something like the Ring security system. And you’ll have to be careful with the batteries, possibly even removing them if you have a long storage period. That’s a lot of work (and those batteries are heavy if you have to remove them!)

Some RVers have put solar systems in place, to at least be able to trickle charge the batteries.

Why I Brought My RV Back Home

Even though I had a great RV lot with a covered parking spot with 30 amp power, I still wanted to bring the RV back home for storage between trips.

I had to do a giant backyard project (long story, but don’t buy a house with a pool in it – it’s totally not worth it when you’d rather be in the RV traveling that at home maintaining the pool). But when I took the pool out, I made a parking area for the RV that made the city code people happy.

By bringing the RV home, I was able to not only save on the monthly parking fees, I saved 4 hours each weekend that we had a home football game (2 hours to pick it up and 2 hours to drop it off after the RV tailgate).

By having it at home, I was able to get the RV ready on Thursday nights. I could do the grocery shopping and load it up right there. I could fill the water, check the tires, and do many of the other pre-trip checklist steps the night before. That meant I was getting to the tailgate much earlier (day job work permitting).

And there’s also nothing like having the onboard generator available when the power goes off at the house. I can run extension cords to the fridge and not lose the food in there when there is an extended power outage. And if needed, sleep in the RV with the air conditioner (because I need it cold to get a good night sleep).

RV Storage Lots are Great When You Can’t Park at Home

Not gonna lie, the RV storage lot was a great resource to have when the city told me I couldn’t park in my driveway. And while I eventually was able to move it back home after a really expensive and massive backyard project, I was glad to have the temporary parking lot to park the RV.

It was even better that this lot had power and a covered spot. That gave me more options to protect the RV and made things more convenient. Highly recommend this setup for a frequent road tripper.

See Also:
How to RV Tailgate Like a Pro
7 Common RV Mistakes to Avoid
How to Save Gas while RVing

The post Pros and Cons of RV/Boat Storage Lot appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Then you might be tempted to take a home office deduction for a portion of your RV on your taxes.

But this is a bad idea. Let’s explore why, despite what at least one “influencer” is promoting on social media.

First, let’s get a little legal stuff out of the way: RV Tailgate Life does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors.

RVs and Taxes

Many of you know that when I’m not writing about RVs and sports, I spend my time as an attorney. I’ve even got lots of knowledge (hi Masters in Tax) and experience in tax and accounting. So when it comes time to talk RVs + taxes, I know my stuff.

It’s why I’ll drop in every once in awhile with articles like these:

• How to Maximize RV Tax Deductions
• Fact or Fiction: Registering RV in a Montana LLC to Avoid Sales Tax

Now it is time to talk specifically about RVs and the Home Office Deduction.

What is the Home Office Deduction?

Under the home office deduction, you can write-off a portion of your rent or mortgage expenses, including utilities, on your taxes.

But of course, you have to qualify for the deduction.

Qualifying for the Home Office Deduction

There are a couple of different ways to qualify for the home office deduction in a standard sticks and bricks home (or condo, apartment, townhouse, etc. This can also be a separate structure on your property).

To qualify, your home office must be “exclusive and regular use” for business purposes and then be either the principal place of business or where you regularly meet clients or customers.

So your kitchen table does not count. But a room that you use only for your office space and not a guest bedroom would count.

It doesn’t even have to be a separate room; it can be a portion of an area – a nook or corner area. The idea is that the only purpose of this area is for work and that you use it regularly.

Since we are talking mostly about self-employed digital nomads or professionals that can work on the road, we’ll assume that this home office can qualify as the “principal place of business.”

You Must be Self-Employed

Before 2018, pretty much everyone that worked from home could take a home office deduction. However, that changed with the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

Since the 2018 Tax Cut, only business owners or self-employed individuals can take the home office deduction. If you are an employee, your home office expenses are not deductible.

If you file a Schedule C for any kind of business – self-employment, gig jobs, or freelance work – you will likely be able to take a home office deduction. If you otherwise qualify (exclusive and regular use of a portion of your home).

RVs Can Be Your Home

The tax code, in several different places, says that RVs can qualify as homes. For example, for the home mortgage interest deduction that I discussed in-depth in an earlier post.

For purposes of the home office deduction, the term “home” is defined pretty broadly and would include your RV.

But You Likely Won’t Qualify for the Home Office Deduction

Even though your RV can be considered your home, you likely won’t be able to qualify for the home office deduction, even if you are self-employed.

Because of the regular and exclusive use of the area as your home office.

Very few RVs are big enough to have dedicated spaces. Most RVers end up using the kitchen table as their office.

Some people may have converted a bunk area into an office, which would make it more likely to qualify. But if that space is also used as a closet, it wouldn’t be exclusive use.

If you think you have an area that could qualify, make sure that you document it well. Take pictures and videos – do a video tour of your RV that shows the entire thing and where you spend most of your time (ie show that you have separate sleeping, eating, and leisure spaces). Then show the office where you have your office computer, screens, and any other equipment setup.

These Social Media Influencers Say Otherwise

Recently, and what really prompted this article, is that I came across a post by this social media influencer on Instagram. They claim to be a tax preparation service that is powered by AI.

So you probably already know where this is going. In fact, they were so wrong that I’m not even going to link to them.

In their video – and repeatedly in the comments – they say that you can use the home office deduction in your RV. For sitting at the kitchen table or the living room sofa to work. That it doesn’t matter if you use the area exclusively for business purposes or not.

They say that you can use the percentage of time you use your RV for business purposes to claim this deduction.

Like much of the social media tax and law guidance out there, it is wrong. You cannot use a percentage test of how much you use your RV for business vs personal use to calculate the home office deduction.

Now, there may be some other expenses that you can use a percentage test – like say your internet connection. But not for the home office deduction.

AI gone wrong. Again. (Hey, not bashing all uses of AI, but it is also really good at making stuff up. So beware as you see videos like this one spouting all the wrong info.)

What the IRS Says

It’s not just me that says that you are unlikely to qualify an RV as a home office. The IRS has consistently held this position and courts have backed them up.

In Dunford v. Commissioner, 2013 tax court case where the taxpayer lost because the area used as a home office was the dinette area. Court found that it was “implausible to suggest that, in the cramped quarters of a motor home, an unclosed area like the countertop would somehow be exclusively reserved to business activity.” Many other business related expenses associated with their RV travels were also disallowed.

The taxpayer then had to pay not only the taxes, but penalties and interest on top of it. Ouch!

There are many more audits that have also held the same.

Even if You Can… Should You?

We know that you have to use an area of your home (or RV) exclusively and regularly for business purposes in order to qualify for the home office deduction.

Let’s assume for a minute that you do have a space that qualifies for this – say you converted a bunk room into an office space that you don’t use for storage, sleeping, eating, or leisure (no watching movies on those screens or playing video games).

How many square feet is that?

My Tiffin 34PA is approximately 355 square feet in total. In the 36UA model, the bunk bed area is 28″ x 70″ – about 13.6 square feet – with a similar total square footage of 355 square feet. Yes, this is with all the slides out.

Under the simplified methodology, you get $5 per square foot, up to 300 square feet. That’s worth about $68 in a deduction. Is that worth the audit risk?

Under the actual expenses methodology you would use the percentage of your expenses for the deduction. For a Tiffin 36UA using the entire bunk space as the office, that’s 3.83%.

Now you have to figure out the expenses that qualify and make sure you document them. Utilities and interest, insurance, repairs, security, and so on. Yes, you have to have good quality records.

Your deduction would be 3.83% of the allowable expenses. But don’t double count the interest if you are also taking it on the home mortgage interest deduction. Don’t double count things like cellphones or internet access or gas that you deduct directly as a business expense.

What do I do?

I am a part-time RVer – I have a traditional sticks and bricks house and then use my RV on a part-time basis.

My house has an area that qualifies for the home office deduction – a dedicated office space that is only used for that purpose and is also the principal place of business for my company (both RV Tailgate Life and my law practice). So I take the home office deduction for my house.

However, my RV does not have a space that I can qualify for a home office – when I work from the road, it is at the kitchen table (or a co-working space or client location). This means that I cannot take an RV home office deduction.

I am able to take the home interest mortgage deduction on the RV. And when I use it for business travel, I can take the expenses associated with the business travel.

Most RVers Don’t Qualify for an RV Home Office Deduction

The bottom line is that most RVers are not going to qualify to use the home office deduction in their RVs.

Most self-employed individuals that work in their RVs are not going to have a space that qualifies under the “regular and exclusive use” test.

Even if you do qualify, it probably won’t be worth the small savings to justify the documentation required and the increased risk from penalties and interest if it is disallowed by the IRS.

So let’s continue to enjoy the RV lifestyle and find other ways to save some money.

Like these RV tips? Pin for later!

You may also like:
How to Save Gas while RVing
RV Insurance Explained Before You Shop
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The post Can You Take a Home Office Deduction in your RV? appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

They found a nice travel trailer that suits their purposes for a year of stationary living. Once they got it setup on their land with temporary power pole, they had to go about getting their RV ready to live in.

So in their honor, here’s my recommendations for must haves for first time RV owners!

General Advice for New RV Owners

There is a lot of advice out there for new RV owners, especially when it comes to gear. But my advice is probably contrary to most… only buy the absolute minimum when you first get your RV.

With next day shipping from Amazon and same day curb-side pickup from Home Depot and Walmart, you can easily get more stuff later on, as you need it. Plus, for many things, you can go shopping in your own home, especially kitchen gear where you may already have duplicates.

On the other hand, storage space is limited in an RV and who wants to store stuff that they will never use?

So let’s take a look at what you need for that first weekend in your RV.

See Also: A Guide to Common RV Abbreviations and Slang

The Absolute Must Have RV Products

Sewer hoses

One of the biggest issues with RVs is the sewer system. And how you get rid of the waste. That’s where sewer hoses come in.

Some RVs may come with sewer hoses. But often these sewer hoses are ridiculously thin or may not even have connectors on the end!

For under $50, you can get a good quality RV sewer hose kit that includes two 10 foot long sewer hoses, connectors to connect the sewer hoses together and to the RV and a clear elbow adapter to connect to the sewer hookup.

Most RVers are going to be fine with just 20 feet of sewer hose. On occasion, you may find that you have a dump station or hookup just a little further away. In that case, you’ll probably want to add a couple more sections of hose. I would stick with the 10 feet long sections since they are easily stored and connected together.

You’ll probably also want somewhere to store the sewer hoses (and fresh hoses, and electrical cords, and all the other stuff). I highly recommend RV hose storage bags. The sewer or black water bags easily hold 4 10 foot sections and a variety of elbow adapters. They are much easier to get into basement storage over the hard-sided plastic container I was using before.

See Also: Do You Leave Black and Gray Tanks Open or Closed?

Fresh water hose

Fill her up! With fresh water.

You’ll want a water hose that is dedicated to only potable water, so you don’t cross-contaminate with waste water. Because eeewww! and potentially dangerous.

To make it easy to keep track of what is what, get a white hose which are typically safe for potable water. And this way, your RV neighbors aren’t silently judging you. 25 feet of hose is normally enough and still easy enough to store. As you RV, you may find you need more, but I recommend connecting multiple fresh water hoses together rather than going with a 50 or 100 foot hose. The longer lengths are just too bulky and hard to handle for the few times you’ll need them.

You can then use a standard garden hose for the black tank rinse, washing the exterior of the RV, or other purposes.

See Also: How to Sanitize the RV Fresh Water System

Electrical Management System (RV Surge Protectors)

One of the big pricey things that I recommend that all RV owners have is a special RV electrical management system. This is like a fancy RV surge protector that does way more than protect against power surges. I mean, it does that too, but more.

Like miswired power pedestals, low and high voltage, and of course surges. Get one that fits your RV power: 50 Amp Total Electrical Protection or 30 Amp Total Electrical Protection.

And while these may seem pricey up-front, they won’t if you ever need them!

First Aid Kit

Safety first! Just like your home and cars need a first aid kit, so does your RV. From bumps and bruises to more serious sprains and deep lacerations, basic first aid is important. Especially when you might be RVing outside of easy access to urgent care. And who wants the deductible for a visit, right?

Read More: Yes, You Need a First Aid Kit in the RV

Emergency Roadside Kit

Again, with the safety. You would have at least a few basics in your car, so why not your RV? This is especially true for motorhomes, when you may not be towing a car. Jumper cables and road reflectors are mandatory.

Being able to change an RV tire? You may just want to call roadside assistance for that one. But those reflectors or flashers can be great to warn off other motorists while you wait.

Basic Living Accessories

For your first night in your RV, you are going to want a few basics – sheets and pillows for the bed, blanket or comforter and probably some towels for your shower. The first couple of nights you’ll probably want to spend eating out, but if you are going to be cooking, you’ll need the basic kitchen setup.

Here, I suggest you go minimal until you know what you want. Or what your RV comes with – hello scratchy comforter provided by Tiffin. But it is also about color schemes and the decorating part – wait until you see what the colors are going to be.

In the meantime, just bring the basics from home.

When you are ready, here are the kitchen accessories that I recommend for your RV kitchen.

Toilet Paper

In the “basic living necessities” you are going to need toilet paper. There is a big debate over RV toilet paper – do yo need it or not?

I’ll start by saying that I have never used RV specific toilet paper in my RV. I am not a fan of 1 ply tissue and it doesn’t even tend to be “ultra soft” no matter what they claim.

I also have found that RV toilet tissue is generally more expensive than regular septic-safe toilet paper. I can buy that at Costco and get enough for the RV and the house at the same time!

Use plenty of water and black tank bombs and you won’t have a problem!

Good RV Insurance

You have just bought a something with a pretty hefty price tag. Now you need to insure it.

This will absolutely be required for any motorhome to be able to legally drive it (state required minimum insurance for any motor vehicles). It will also be required if you take a loan out to purchase your RV.

It is highly adviseable that you buy more than the minimums, to make sure that you are fully insured in case something happens. It’s complicated, so be sure to read about RV Insurance Explained Before You Shop.

The Nice to Haves

As you start RVing more, especially as you travel around, you’ll find that there are some things that are nice to have.

Water filters

When I started RVing, I was doing mostly weekend trips to sporting events where I would be boondocking. I would fill up my freshwater tanks at home where I had a dependable, clean water source without a lot of contaminants – I could drink water out of my home faucet. The water filters weren’t a requirement.

As a I started traveling more and for longer periods, I was getting water from campgrounds that didn’t always have the best water. That meant I needed water filters to help make the water more suitable – for taste and to prevent hard water issues.

Water Pressure Regulator

When I’m at home filling up my tanks, I typically rely on the gravity fill. It’s just easier mostly because it is on the passenger side which is closer to my hose.

But when I’m using the “city water” connections at campgrounds, I want to make sure that the water is coming in at a pressure that won’t damage the pipes or connections. That’s where the RV water pressure regulator is helpful!

These regulators make sure that the water is not coming in at too high a water pressure, which could damage your pipes.

Power Adapters

Sewer Hose Supports

Some RV campgrounds with full hookups require that the sewer hoses be off the ground. Or you may need the help to create a nice slope for gravity to assist with the dumping process. Either way, you’ll probably find that sewer hose supports are good if you stay in a full hookup campground.

I don’t include these on the absolute must haves because not all RVers need them. If you are staying in partial hookups or boondocking, then the supports are likely not necessary. Many campgrounds don’t need or require them. So you can probably wait until later to buy this.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System and Inflators

If you are going to be traveling in your RV and not just staying stationary, then you need to check on your tires before you go.

Many people are comfortable with using a tire pressure gauge before they leave on their trips and then checking at their stops for gas, food, or sleeping. Make sure you get one that reads high enough for the recommended PSI for your tires – big rigs go over 100 psi and many standard car tire gauges don’t go over about 60.

Other people want to know how their tires are doing while they are underway. This is especially important if you are towing (either as your truck is towing a trailer or your motorhome is towing a vehicle), as you may not be able to “feel” what is going on behind you. That’s where a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) comes in. Again, make sure your system is rated for the PSI for your tires (the cheap systems only go to 99 PSI and aren’t suitable for big rigs).

Tire Inflators

Another thing I learned the hard way on my big rig – the gas station air isn’t going to inflate the tires on your big rig. Neither will that Ryobi battery powered inflator (I’ve tried). You’ll need an inflator that is rated for your tires!

I’ve got an old Black & Decker Air Station workhorse straight out of the 90s that I “inherited” from my parents. OK, I borrowed it with no intention of returning it after I found out it works on my RV. I left them with the Ryobi for their cars, so it’s all good.

But if you need to buy something today, the VIAIR inflators are top-notch and I highly recommend!

Outdoor Living Accessories

The best part of RV living is the time we spend outside. So while they are not the absolutely-gotta have to not totally fail at RVing, outdoor living accessories are pretty key to enjoying the RV lifestyle.

At a minimum, you are going to want some camping chairs to sit outside in. Many RV parks have picnic tables and fire rings at your camp site, but not all of them. So you may want to add a portable folding camping table to eat at or serve up food and a propane fire pit for when there are burn bans (often propane fires are still allowed during burn bans).

Once you get past the few basics that you just have to have, you can go pretty crazy. Flags, rugs, tents, you get the idea…

See Also: 10 RV Outdoor Living Accessories for Summer

RV Gear to Wait Until You Just Have to Have It

On many RV gear lists, you’ll find a lot of things for a fully outfitted RV. But many RVers never use these things. So wait until you know that you have to have it.

RV Portable Sewer Tanks

Portable sewer tanks are great when you are staying in one place for a long time and you don’t have a full hookup that includes sewer. But I’m already 7 years into RVing and haven’t needed one yet.

That being said, my aunt and uncle that are doing the stationary RV living on their property needed it from day 1 because while they have convenient water and power, not so much on the sewer dump.

Depending on your setup and needs, a RV macerator pump may also be a good choice instead of the portable tank. You can pump the waste slightly uphill and over a pretty long distance through a standard garden hose to a sewer or septic clean-out. Many people don’t need both the portable tank and the macerator pump, so you can wait to figure it out.

Mattress Toppers or New Mattresses

RVs are notorious for bad mattresses. But I recommend that you wait until you have your RV and spend a few nights in it before you go out buying a new mattress.

First, you may buy an RV with a pretty decent mattress in it already. My first one was pretty comfortable because I bought it used and they had replaced the RV mattress with a comfy residential mattress. And it wasn’t even an RV short mattress which meant my sheets from home worked on it! Win-win!

Then, when I upgraded, oh my. The upgraded foam mattress left much to be desired. I didn’t know this until I had slept on it a few nights. But it was fixed with a nice mattress topper from Amazon.

Generator Exhaust System

First, you won’t need this unless you have an onboard generator to power your RV. But if you do, especially if you spend time boondocking or tailgating, you’ll eventually need an RV generator exhaust system.

These can be homemade or you can buy a system pre-made. The important thing is that they are tall enough to take the generator exhaust up and over your RV.

This helps to protect you and your neighbors from the potential deadly effects of carbon monoxide.

Read more: GenTuri RV Generator Exhaust System

Must Have RV Gear for Your First Weekend Trip

You can go crazy buying gear for your RV. But you may regret it later on, when you have all this stuff and nowhere to store it.

That’s why I recommend that you start with the smallest amount of stuff and then only add what you need as you go.

Like these recommendations? Pin for later!

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The post Must Have Gear for Your New RV appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Beverly Beach RV Campground Amenities

The best amenity at this campground is the beach front camping. They have a great sea wall, to put your RV up above the sunbathers and help keep the sand to a minimum, along with a bricked boardwalk between the RVs and the sea wall.

At night, the boardwalk becomes a place for RVers to hang out, enjoy an adult beverage, and socialize.

There are several sets of stairs throughout to give you easy access to the beach. Because there are nesting sea turtles in the area, plus tides, you cannot leave your beach gear on the beach overnight. But those stairs provide easy access.

Each stairwell also has hoses providing fresh water to rinse off the salt and sand from you and your gear.

The campground also has a small store in case you forget some of the basics or need a quick treat. They also have bath houses if you prefer not to use your own RV bathrooms.

There is no pool for those that would prefer to stay away from the sand or out of the ocean.

RV Camping Sites

The individual sites at Beverly Beach are pretty close together. You’ve got enough room to put your awning out and maybe a little extra, depending on how wide your rig is with the slides out.

If you are traveling with other RVers, try to get buddy sites next to each other to provide more room to spread out. You can position the RVs so that they are awning to awning.

Some sites are specifically made for Class A and Class C motorhomes to pull-in and take advantage of those big front windows. Other sites are made for towables, where you back-in. You’ll want to make sure that the Campground Office knows what type of RV you are bringing so that they can make appropriate arrangements.

But be prepared with extra water hoses and electrical cords in case you need to go the other way (especially for you motorhome owners that could back-in if needed). Or if you have the RV Valet that will let you pull in your trailer.

Extra Car Parking Restrictions

The sites are long enough for most RVers to have not only their RV but also a tow (or toad) vehicle at the site.

If you have more than one car, you’ll need to get a visitors pass and park across the street in overflow parking. They are strict about this and you will get a call while you are out on the beach if you break this rule.

A Day at Beverly Beach

Beverly Beach is what I would call a sleepy beach town. In that there isn’t really any commercial activity on the beach itself.

When you are at Beverly Beach, it’s about what you bring and how you entertain yourself.

You’ll want your pop-up tent and camping chairs. I also splurged for the Ostrich Beach Chairs for this beach trip. I love their beach chairs – they fold nicely but also have cutouts for your face and arms when you are on your stomach!

Don’t forget some simple floats to bob around the ocean in.

Often, the surf is high enough for some basic surfing. It’s a great place for some beginner surfing lessons and practice. (See some great surfing quotes for inspiration!) My neighbors at the campground were out there everyday surfing and ocean kayaking.

Cost of Staying at Beverly Beach

The only downside of Beverly Beach is the price. It is definitely on the pricier side of campgrounds.

But then again, when you are getting 1,500 feet of beach-front camping, it can only be expected.

During the high season and during special events, the prices are the highest. If you want lower prices, try the summer. It’s got the best beach time anyways.

The other way to get lower prices is to be willing to be close, but not beach front. They have a second row of camp sites on the beach side of the road and then more across the street.

Beach Front RV Camping – Location, Location, Location

The best part of Beverly Beach RV Campground is the location. Right on the Atlantic Coast, you wake up to the sound of waves.

You have unobstructed views from your rig of the sunrise (if you are up early enough).

And it is convenient to local area restaurants in Flagler Beach, just down A1A from the campground.

Flagler Beach

Flagler Beach is your typical Florida coastal community. You’ve got restaurants that cater to the seafood crowd.

The Golden Lion was a favorite for their happy hour special on appetizers, including oysters on the half shell. I went three times in one week visit to Beverly Beach.

We also enjoyed the Funky Pelican at the Flagler Fishing Pier. Tortugas had a great brunch.

From the Fishing Pier, if you head back towards I-95, you’ll have popular grocery stores including Publix and Winn-Dixie.

After you cross I-95, you’ll have all your major big box shopping, including Wal-mart, Lowes, and Home Depot. There are also several Amazon drop boxes, in case you need anything shipped (like that new Blue Ox coiled cable that I needed for the Jeep).

Day Trip to Daytona

If you want more of a city adventure, you can venture down to Daytona Beach, home of the Daytona NASCAR race. And plenty of big hotels, restaurants, and shopping.

Beverly Beach becomes a favorite pre- and post-race stop for RVers wanting to extend their time in Florida around the Daytona NASCAR race in February.

If you visit when there isn’t a race going on, you can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the speedway and visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame on site.

Day Trip to St. Augustine

St. Augustine is another one of those famous Florida beach towns, this time with quite a bit of history.

It’s fun to walk through the oldest city in the U.S. and tour the Spanish architecture.

And don’t miss the city dressed up for Christmas! It’s a great treat.

Beverly Beach RV Resort Campground

Next time you are looking for a beach front campground in Florida, be sure to check out Beverly Beach RV Resort.

Just don’t forget to get your RV washed after a visit to the beach! You’ll want to wash all the sand and salt off.

Like this RV Campground Review? Pin for later!

You may also like:
RV Campground Review: Edisto Beach State Park
Your Guide to Charleston, South Carolina
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The post Florida Beach Front Camping at Beverly Beach RV Resort appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Who’s Giving These Tips?

Don’t worry – this isn’t some AI generated BS. These tips are from a real-life RV tailgater.

In fact, I’ve been doing this for a really long time. Over two decades now.

I first started as a friend of the RV tailgaters. This is how I tailgated from the time I first started at Georgia Tech, way back in the “olden days.” We will just say that George O’Leary was the head coach then. That’s how old.

When Georgia Tech used to beat georgia. Yeah, that old. Sigh.

Then in 2014, I went and became a card-carrying member of the RV Tailgate Life. That’s when I bought my first RV – Starter RV. It was a 1990 Winnebago Chieftan. Everything worked, but let’s just say that it had the look of the RV in Breaking Bad.

After a few years of learning about RVing and getting totally hooked, I upgraded to my current RV – a Tiffin Open Road 34PA.

Today, I want to share with you my best tips for RV Tailgating Like A Pro.

Tip 1: Prep Before You Tailgate

Let’s start with what you need to do before you even get down to the tailgate. Preparation.

In fact, preparation may be the biggest and best tip to RV tailgating like a pro.

Because when you prepare, you avoid a lot of mistakes that will make your tailgating experience pretty disappointing.

So here’s what you need before you ever leave home:

• Check your RV maintenance:
  • Oil and generators are a common source of RV tailgating headaches.
  • Empty tanks and check your valves. No leaks that are going to lead to smelly problems please.
• Get a Genturi: Many RV lots require generator exhaust systems to run generators.
• Fill up with fresh water & gas
• Meal plan
• Grocery shop
• Review the travel route (don’t forget game day traffic blockages)
• Have your RV parking passes and game tickets on your phone, printed, or in hand before you leave.

Read More: Tips to Prepare Your RV For Tailgate Season

Tip 2: Know the Parking Lot Rules

It’s important to know the rules and regulations for where you are going to be RV tailgating.

A few of the big rules that you want to know and follow, so you can avoid confrontations with security, police, and your RV neighbors:

When Are Quiet Hours?

Some RV tailgating lots will have quiet hours, similar to RV campgrounds.

The rules will vary by lot, so you’ll want to review them to know what time you have to turn off your generator and/or turn down the music.

Common quiet hours are either 10 PM or Midnight to 7 or 8 AM. During this time, you are restricted on what you can do outside.

Now, not all lots have quiet hours. But those that do, not following them can get you kicked out and banned from the lot.

These are really common at some of the NASCAR lots, where they want some more family friendly and less party-all-night experiences.

Can I run a Generator?

RV tailgates are going to take a lot of energy. A lot of power. And most RV tailgating lots do not come with electrical hookups.

So you’ll want a generator.

But many lots will have restrictions on generator use.

It may be when you can use them (see Quiet Hours).

Or that you need a Genturi or other RV generator exhaust system to protect other RVers.

Or that your generator must be below certain noise thresholds.

When Can I Get There/When Do You Have to Leave

Every RV tailgate lot is going to have rules about when you can arrive and when you have to leave.

Many of these lots are multi-purpose. Like staff or student parking on college campuses. Office parking near stadiums.

So you want to know the rules about when you get there. Often, it is the day before, after business hours. Some colleges though have the advantage of lots of empty fields that can be used for tailgating. For these, you can often arrive several days ahead of time.

It’s also important to know how long you can stay after.

For colleges, that usually means you have to depart before school starts again (Monday morning).

For NFL official lots, that’s two hours after the game. Yuck! It’s a big reason why I try to find lots nearby that aren’t official NFL lots to RV tailgate.

Leaving NASCAR Tailgates

If you are tailgating in the infield of a NASCAR race, you also need to know that there may be times when you CANNOT leave.

Like immediately after the race.

In Atlanta, the NASCAR team trucks use the same exit tunnels that the RV tailgaters do. In order to get them on the road quickly, NASCAR says that the RVs can’t leave near the end of the race or immediately after.

Important things to know if you are trying to get out of town quickly!

How Much Space Do You Get

At some RV tailgates, space isn’t much of a consideration. It’s perfectly fine to spread out.

But in other tailgate lots, you are going to be confined to a very small area.

It’s even smaller in places where they have you packed in real tight, like in the infield at a NASCAR race.

So make sure you pay attention to how much space you get for your RV and your tailgate gear. You may have to make special arrangements if you have a really large RV.

Tip 3: Have the Right Tailgating Gear

If you are going to talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk.

And you’ve got to look the look.

Which means your RV tailgate has gotta look good!

At a minimum, you’ll need:

• Camping/Tailgating Chairs for everyone (plus some for visitors)
• Pop-up Tent
• Tailgate Flags
• Table – with covers and decorations
• Grill
• Tailgate Games (Outdoor Jenga, Cornhole, etc)
• TV and entertainment
• Firepit

You can’t be buying just any tailgate gear – it should highlight your team and showcase your team colors.

Yes, even the grill and coolers should be in the correct color, or at least not in your rival’s colors. So you’ll never see a red grill in my tailgate.

When Coleman first came out with the Roadtrip grills and they were all in red, we spray painted them with high-heat outdoor paint to make the red go away.

Yes, we are those fans.

Read More: Tailgating Gear Reviews

Tip 4: Arrive Early

If you want to RV tailgate like a pro, then you’ve got to get there early!

First off, it gives you the most tailgate time. And if you aren’t maximizing your RV tailgate time, are you really doing it right?

Second, arriving early means that you avoid the worst of the game day traffic. Even if you can’t get there the day before, you want to get there as early as possible to avoid the game day traffic and road closures.

Third, it gives you time to setup the tailgate gear, cook the food, and enjoy an adult beverage or two before your friends and visitors arrive.

Tip 5: Stay Organized!

OK, before some of my friends laugh too hard, I’ll admit that I’m not always the best at this.

But one thing I can say is that I know where the stuff in my RV is, even if you don’t understand the rhyme or reason.

In particular, my tailgating gear.

I know which order and how to pack those basement bays to get ALL the tailgating gear in.

And I know where all the hidey holes in my motorhome are for things like: extra plastic ware, disposable plates, first aid kits, food, rain and cold weather gear, and tools.

Yes, you’ll need all of those things at some point each season. And you’ll look like a professional if you always know exactly where all your stuff is.

Staying organized also helps keep all the clutter out of the RV. And stops you from buying duplicates. No one has room for all that stuff in their RV.

Tip 6: Be Prepared to Switch Things Up

You can tell the real experienced RV tailgater pros from the beginners mostly when unexpected things happen at the RV tailgate.

Like weather. Especially weather.

From rain to cold to intense winds, are you prepared for it all?

Sometimes when it is too cold and windy, we’ve moved the tailgate to inside the RV.

Change is inevitable

But it’s not just the weather.

Since I started with this group, we’ve moved the RV lot 5 times across GT’s campus. And being a downtown campus, there aren’t that many surface lots available for us to keep moving to!

We’ve also lost some friends at the RV tailgate through death, divorces, job changes/moves, and retirement from RVing. But that also means that new RV tailgaters get to join us. New friends to be made.

Experienced RVers know that change is inevitable, but the party must go on.

Tip 7: Leave the Lot Better Than When You Arrived

It’s the leave no trace philosophy at work.

Professional RV tailgaters know that you have to leave the parking lot in at least as good a shape as you found and really, it should be better.

This means picking up the trash and definitely making sure that any grill or fire pit ashes are completely out before you leave. Only leave trash in approved spots or containers, or take it home with you.

Many tailgate lots will provide trash cans during tailgates. Some will even come by once the crowds arrive to leave extra trash bags and recycling bags.

Pro Tip: grab these bags! They are much sturdier than your typical trash bags. They are often contractor grade so less chance of a really ugly mess when the bags break.

But even if they don’t, you should always put trash in a bag. And if your lot doesn’t have trash pickup, then take it to a dumpster. Even if this means taking the trash home first.

What You Don’t Need to RV Tailgate Like a Pro

I think it is important to note that you don’t need a big fancy motorhome.

Yes, I have a motorhome, but my RV tailgate also has fifth wheels, Class C motorhomes, travel trailers.

And although not currently, there have been some van lifers and schoolies that have RV tailgated with us previously.

Some tailgates even have converted ambulances.

Don’t feel like you have to have a big expensive mammoth Class A motorhome to tailgate like a pro.

Everyone is welcome!

When is your next RV tailgate?

You are now ready for your next RV tailgate, just like the professional tailgaters!

Like this article? Pin for tailgate season!

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The post How to RV Tailgate Like a Pro appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

When you bring the RV, you have a full kitchen. So blenders to make frozen drinks, condiments to add varnishes, multiple juices to create new connotations. There’s no reason that you have to stick to basic beer out of a cooler like the rest of the tailgaters.

Let’s get crazy with some awesome tailgating drinks! All RV Tailgate Life tested and approved.

It’s Not Just Drinks at the Tailgate

Don’t forget to check out other RV Tailgate Life approved recipes and tips for cooking in small RV kitchens:

• All the Tailgating Food and Recipes Things
• Easy Tailgating Desserts
• All the RV Kitchen Things

Like these tailgate drink recipes? Pin for later and come back as new recipes are added!

Tailgate Drinks

It's not a tailgate until you have fixed a tasty beverage to sip on. Here you'll find RV Tailgate tested and approved tailgating drinks.

1

Pumpkin Spice Sangria

Take the flavors of the Pumpkin Spice Latte and make a tasty adult beverage. Great recipe to make-ahead of time. Perfect fall tailgating drink!

Get the Recipe

2

Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade Cocktails

Perfect drink for hot days at the lake or summer/early fall tailgating. Easy, cold and refreshing. Can't beat that combo for a tailgating drink! They are so easy to make that you can do this even after a few rounds.

Get the Recipe

3

Peach Sangria

An easy sangria recipe perfect for hot summer days. Make ahead for best flavors! Light and refreshing!

Get the Recipe

4

Jedeye Mimosa

A champagne mimosa perfect for an early morning tailgate! Brunch has never tasted so good.

Get the Recipe

5

Frozen Fruit Slush

A frozen rum cocktail, perfect for hot days tailgating, at the beach, or by the pool. Easy to make and it contains fruit - so it's healthy, right?

Get the Recipe

The post Awesome Tailgate Drinks appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Is that smell making your already short and cramped shower even more miserable?

The good news for RV owners everywhere – it doesn’t have to be that way! We can fix bad RV shower odors with some simple troubleshooting and then trial and error!

Making RV Showers Awesome

RV showers are notorious for being less than awesome. From small, cramped spaces to a lack of water pressure.

While there really isn’t anything I can do about the small space in my RV shower, I can do everything possible to make the rest of the RV shower experience awesome.

I solved the water pressure situation by installing an Oxygenics RV Showerhead soon after I got my Tiffin motorhome. This helped A LOT.

But I definitely don’t want to be dealing with really bad and unpleasant odors during my RV showers. While you’ll probably deal with this problem at some point during your RV life, the good news is that you can solve the smelly RV shower problem with a little troubleshooting and then trial and error.

What Causes Smelly RV Showers?

There are typically four main reasons that you are going to get a horrible odor when you start up your RV shower.

From the beginning of the system to the end of the system, in order, here are the main reasons you’ll get a bad odor in your RV shower:

1. The water source is smelly.
2. The water heater is causing your water to smell.
3. The valve under the shower is creating the odors.
4. The RV gray tank is a horrible mess.

Let’s take a look at how we can solve each of these problems and get you back to enjoying your RV showers.

See Also: Tips for Dealing with RV Odors

Bad Fresh Water

If your fresh water source has a lot of bacteria or certain chemicals in it, the water is likely to smell. This is going to cause your showers to smell.

You’ll also likely smell the water when using the sinks or toilets in your RV. It may not be as noticeable since your face may not be all up in the water, but it’ll definitely be noticeable in the shower.

To fix this, you really have two options:

1. Find a new source of freshwater. Perhaps you’ve been using campground water and you need to switch over to your onboard tanks.
2. Filters. Lots and lots of filters.

When it comes to filters, you have a few choices. Sometimes it even pays to double up on them.

The easiest is the inline water filter that attaches to your fresh water hose. You hook this up between the water source and your water hose which connects to the RV. This is a great, cheap option if you don’t have an onboard water filter. It filters sediments at 20-microns in size.

Another inline water filter is the Camco Evo Water Filter. It is heavier duty, with activated carbon and a replaceable filter cartridge. It catches impurities over 5-microns in diameter and then has the carbon for additional filtration and to help filter the bacteria.

The top of the line inline filters is going to be a multi-stage filtration system, getting bacteria, cysts, and viruses. The first stage is the 5-micron filter like the Camco Evo filter. Then there is the 0.5 micron filter that removes chlorine, VOCs, and other contaminants. Finally, the third stage filter goes after bacteria, like e. coli, and viruses.

Some RVs, like my Tiffin Open Road, also have water filters that are hooked up to the city water connection in the wet bay. These are also considered “whole house” filter systems, capable of serving several bathrooms. These water filters are commonly available from the big box stores.

Water from the Fresh Water Tanks Smell

If the smell is coming from your onboard tanks, but you believe that the source of the water is clean, you may need to sanitize your fresh water tanks.

Have you ever used a Brita filter pitcher in your fridge for a long time? After months and months of drinking the water and filling it back up, despite the filters, there is this layer of scum that forms on the pitcher.

If you felt so inclined to stick your head in the pitcher, you might find it even smells.

Well, the same thing can happen in your RV fresh water tank. So we sanitize them to get rid of that scum (and the bacteria) and hopefully also the odor.

Read More: How to Sanitize the RV Fresh Water System

Water Heater Causes RV Water to Smell

Does your water smell like rotten eggs?

The likely source of this horrible smell is your water heater, specifically the anaerobic bacteria living there. As this bacteria interacts with the anode rod, they produce hydrogen sulfide. Combined with the magnesium or aluminum of the anode rod, you get this horrible rotten eggs smell.

Fortunately, the fix isn’t hard. To remove the rotten eggs smell from your water heater:

1. Remove the old anode rod.
2. Drain the water heater of all existing water
3. Flush the water heater with hydrogen peroxide to kill the bacteria.
4. Install a new anode rod.

A magnesium anode rods usually last about 1-2 years while an aluminum anode rod lasts about 3-5 years.

Replacing the Anode Rod

Most RV anode rods use a 1 1/16 inch socket. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t have that in my toolbox before I became an RVer.

So if you have never replaced your anode rod before, you’ll need a few things:

• 1 1/16 inch socket
• 1/2 inch ratchet
• Anode rod
• Plumbers Tape

With the proper tools, it is easy to remove the old anode rod, although you might have to put some serious pressure to get it loose. Then put the plumbers tape around the threads at the end of the new anode rod and screw it in.

Oh, and make sure that you’ve turned off the heater and let it cool off before you do this. Otherwise, you could seriously burn yourself!

Shower Valve Smells

If you aren’t noticing any nasty odors coming from your kitchen or bathroom sinks or even the toilet, then one of the likeliest culprits is the valve under your RV shower.

Many RV manufacturers use a special kind of valve under the RV shower because of the limited space.

A HepVo valve is a waterless valve. It replaces a traditional P-trap like you would find in a bricks and sticks house. It provides an airtight seal between the gray tank and the shower using a special membrane or flap that works with water pressure.

The good news: without water, you don’t have to worry about it freezing during the winter, expanding and bursting.

The problem with the waterless valves, though, is similar to any shower drain you’ve seen before – hair (especially when it is as long and thick as mine is), soaps, and oils all build up and create clogs. This prevents the flap from closing. And thus, all the bad smells can come up from your gray tank and into the shower stall area.

Clearing Clogs from Hepvo Valves

So to compound that issue, you CANNOT use a clog removal tool like a snake to clear the hair and other stuff out of the valve. Using these tools can damage the seal that prevents the bad smells from coming up. So you’d remove the clog, but damage the seal. Not a good solution.

Instead, you’ve got to use chemicals and other cleaning solutions. I’m not a big fan of using Drano and other harsh chemicals in my RV tanks. Mostly because I want to protect the seals from degrading. And then also when you go to dump, these chemicals can really do a number on septic systems that many RV campgrounds use.

That’s why I use and recommend Bio-Clean Waste Eliminator. Bio-Clean uses bacteria and enzymes to break down the organic material, like hair and soap film, that live in our drains and pipes. But they leave the inorganic materials, like your pipes, alone.

And once it goes through the Hepvo valve, it will continue to your gray tank, eating up the organic material there. After you dump, the bacteria will continue in the RV campground septic systems, improving how those operate. All good, right?

Traditional Method of Baking Soda + Vinegar to Clear Clogs

Another more time tested method that sometimes works well is the baking soda and vinegar method. Just like you may have used at your home, you can use this in your RV shower as well.

To unclog RV drains with baking soda and vinegar, follow these steps:

1. Pour near boiling hot water down the drain.
2. Add a cup of baking soda to the top of the drain.
3. Pour a solution of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water over the baking soda.
4. Cover with a container or bucket (mop bucket anyone?). Wait 10 minutes
5. Flush with more hot water.

When you pour the vinegar over the baking soda, it is going to create a chemical reaction that bubbles up. As it works down through the drain, it will loosen up the materials. The hot water after it will clear out a lot of gunk.

It’s not as strong of a solution as Bio-Clean, so you may have to repeat several times. It is a good maintenance option though to run weekly.

The RV Gray Tank Smells

In many newer RVs, the RV black tank has a rinse system that allows you to back fill the tank with high water pressure nozzle that sprays the entire tank. This lets you get a lot of the waste, from toilet paper to poop, that can be left behind on the walls.

Unfortunately, most RVs don’t have a similar system for the RV gray tank. Some high-end systems do, but most of us mere mortals do not have a gray tank rinse system. I find this highly annoying and problematic.

It’s a problem because the RV gray tank can be just as bad a smelly culprit as the black tank. From the hair and soap scum from the showers, toothpaste and makeups from the bathroom sinks, and then food particles from the kitchen sink, there’s a lot of stuff that can get stuck in the gray tank.

It’s one of the MANY reasons that I recommend that you leave your gray tank valve closed when you are at full hookup campgrounds. Only open it when you are ready to dump, so that you don’t let all those bits and pieces settle to the bottom of the gray tank a la a poop pyramid that forms in the black tank.

Anyways, back to the smelly RV showers…

When the Hepvo valve opens up, it can let odors creep up from the gray tank. This is really noticeable at the beginning of the shower when the shower waste water hasn’t flushed it all back down again.

How to Fix a Smelly Gray Tank to Fix Your Smelly RV Shower

The good news is that as long as you have a full hookup, it’s not going to be too hard to fix the smelly RV gray tank.

In fact, you just need to do a lot of laundry, take a lot of showers, and keep filling up your gray tank as far as you can get it. I am talking to the very rim, where you are getting some backup into the shower even.

Then dump the tank all at once. By filling it up, you get to all the upper corners and crevices where waste can stick to the sides. Filling it up with laundry water, if you have an onboard washer, gets you some nice sudsy soaps to help clear out those smells and wash the tank as well. If you don’t have an onboard clothes washer, get to doing all the dishes with Dawn! It’ll do a lot of the same cleaning action.

Dumping a full tank helps use gravity and water pressure to get the larger waste bits out. You know how we recommend that you wait until the black tank is full to empty? Yeah, same thing with the RV gray tank.

Read More: RV Gray Tanks: The Other RV Waste Tanks

Stop Odors During RV Showers

After you’ve checked your water source, cleared out the water heater of bad bacteria, cleared the clogs from your Hepvo valves, and flushed out your gray tank, you should be clear sailing with normal smelling RV showers.

Like these tips? Pin for later!

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The post Fix Awful RV Shower Odors appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

Maybe the water coming out of your fresh water system is smelling?

Whatever the case may be, it is time to sanitize your RV fresh water system.

Why You Should Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water System

No one wants to be concerned about any bacteria or mold that is growing in the dark and damp spaces below the RV and in the plumbing. But we also want to make RV life as easy as possible.

I know that I have spent way too much money on my motorhome to not enjoy it to its fullest. Which yes, includes taking showers in it, brushing my teeth, and just living like it is home.

I don’t want to worry about bringing in bottled fresh water when I have this large fresh water tank on board.

See Also: Do You Leave Black and Gray Tanks Open or Closed?

What You Need to Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water System

Sanitizing your fresh water tank won’t take any special tools and you already have at least half of them on hand (or maybe all of them).

Here’s what you will need:

• Bleach – household bleach, but not the colored or scented version.
• Funnel – I prefer one with a flexible spout. Do not use the one you use with your generator or engine oil!
• Fresh Water Hose – Use the one you already use to fill up your fresh water tank
• Water bucket
• Measuring Cup

Easy Steps to Sanitizing the RV Fresh Water Plumbing

Sanitizing the RV fresh water system is actually really easy. Just follow these seven steps to a fresh and safe water system.

1. Prepare a bleach solution of 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of fresh water.
2. Pour this solution into the RV fresh water tank.
3. Run each faucet until you can smell bleach.
4. Let the whole system sit and soak with the bleach solution for at least four hours.
5. Drain the fresh water tank.
6. Refill the tank with fresh water tank with fresh, unbleached water.
7. Flush each pipe by opening up the drains and running fresh water until you can no longer smell bleach.

You now have a freshly sanitized RV fresh water tank!

Frequently Asked Questions about Sanitizing RV Fresh Water Tanks

Now You Have Safe, Fresh Drinking Water in Your RV

Now that you have sanitized your RV fresh water system, you can feel safe drinking, showering, washing the dishes, and all the normal life activities that deal with water while you are out RVing.

You’ll save money by not needing to buy bottled water, and it’s better for the environment as well.

Like these RV tips? Pin for later!

You May Also Like:
RV Waste Tanks Explained
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RV Gray Tanks: The Other RV Waste Tanks
How to Poop in an RV (aka How to Use the RV Toilet)

The post How to Sanitize the RV Fresh Water System appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

But it is annoying to have to get out and put jack pads down under the jacks. Wouldn’t it be better to just press the button and let the jacks go down because you already had permanent RV jack pads installed?

Keep reading to find out about RV SnapPads and how you can get a special discount on your next order!

What RV Jacks Do

RV jacks extend from the body of your RV to touch the ground. These provide another point of contact with the ground other than the wheels.

There are two kinds of RV jacks – and the difference is important to know and understand.

Stabilizing RV Jacks

Stabilizing jacks are important in campers to support and literally stabilize the RV from movement inside the RV.

You know, the sway and annoyance that comes from walking around inside the RV. Or um, the more recreational fun for adults (don’t come a-knocking if the rig is rocking!) If you know, well, you know what I’m talking about.

Stabilizing jacks won’t eliminate all sway and movement, but they aren’t perfect.

Also, while they may help with leveling, stabilizing jacks should not be used to level your camper. You should rely on leveling jacks for that (see the next section) as well as blocks and other leveling methods. They aren’t built for leveling and you could end up with some pretty big disasters if you use them improperly.

Leveling RV Jacks

The other type of RV jacks are leveling jacks. They level your RV from front to back and side to side.

Leveling jacks are specifically designed to take on the heavy duty loads and weight of your RV. (Yet another reason not to overload your RV. It’s not just the tires but also the jacks that can be damaged when you go over the weight limits).

More Variations on RV Jacks

While there are two types of RV jacks, stabilizing and leveling, there are quite a few different common variations of these.

Many leveling jacks come with an automatic leveling option – a powered solution with an internal level to figure out when your camper is balanced. You can then manually adjust, while still using the power, to fine-tune or override the automatic setting.

Many of the stabilizing jacks also come with powered or manual options. For the manual options, I highly recommend a jack drill adapter so that you can use a cordless drill instead of manually cranking and thus wearing you out before the fun of tailgating and camping even begins!

If you are looking for an awesome cordless battery powered drill, I highly recommend the Ryobi Cordless Drill from Home Depot. I use the Ryobi line of tools in both my RV and my sticks and bricks house. Since I have so many of their tools, I have a lot of batteries that I can change out between the tools. And now, I can buy “tool only” instead of the tool + battery for new tools that I decide I just have to have.

Scissor Jacks are a type of stabilizing jacks that are common on trailers and smaller campers. They get the name from the way that they extend, as it looks like they are opening like a scissor.

Tongue Jack is used on trailers to support the front of the trailer, where it would otherwise hook up to your tow vehicle. These can be manual or powered, but powered is easier to setup.

The next kind of stabilizing jack is the Jack Stand that is also used on trailers. These typically have a wider base than other RV jacks which definitely helps with the stability.

There are a variety of jacks, and even manufacturers. Which means what works for some people may not work for you. Keep trying until you find the perfect combination of leveling and stabilizing jacks.

What are RV Jack Pads?

RV Jack Pads are items that you place between the jack and the ground.

Jack pads can be made of a variety of materials – wood and plastic being the most common. But rubber is also an option.

You can make your own RV Jack Pads out of wood. I’ve got wood jack pads as well as wood ramps to place under my wheels. But I have also installed permanent jack pads on my leveling jacks.

Why You Need RV Jack Pads

Since RV jacks are designed and intended to make contact with the ground, there’s a chance of two different mishaps happening. These are both closely related, but still distinct problems that happen when you don’t use jack pads.

Mishap #1: Jacks Sink Into the Ground

The first is that the RV jacks will sink into the ground. This is more common on grass fields after a rain. In other words, when you are putting the jacks down into mud.

You may start on solid ground, but after a good rain, the mud forms and your jacks sink. Oops!

When you go to raise the jacks when it is time to move on, the jacks can be stuck in the mud. A suction type event happens to keep the solid jack surface from being retracted.

When this happens, you may have to get down on the ground so you can help the jacks up. If you are lucky, you’ll have a long piece of wood or metal that you can use to provide an air gap to break the suction and to provide leverage to help those jacks up.

RV jack pads help prevent this kind of mishap with RV jacks by providing a middle layer between your jacks and the muddy ground. The greater surface area also helps to prevent the sinking.

Mishap #2: Jacks Damage the Ground

When jacks are placed on asphalt, or even on grass, they concentrate a lot of weight onto a small surface area.

This can be a problem with jacks sinking into the ground too. But it also causes a similar problem on the other side.

This can be very damaging to the asphalt parking lots that we tailgate in. Even in fields of grass, the jacks can dig in and create holes and divots.

By using RV Jack Pads, you spread out the weight over a greater surface area to help protect the ground surface.

Now, jack pads and even SnapPads are not a guarantee against damage to parking lots. After all, there’s only so much space we can spread out the weight of a Big Rig RV. I’ve seen heavy rigs do some damage to parking lots just by driving on them (especially when the asphalt hasn’t completely cured yet).

But jack pads definitely decrease the likelihood of damage done by the jacks themselves.

What are SnapPads?

One of the problems with most RV jack pads are that they aren’t always on your RV jacks. You have to get out of the RV or your tow vehicle and get down on the ground to place your pads.

This is just so much fun when it’s raining. Or not!

That’s why I really like RV SnapPads, a permanent solution that stays on your RV jacks all the time.

You don’t have to worry about leaving these jack pads behind. You don’t have to get under the RV to place them each time you park. They are there and always ready.

Another side benefit – they are made with recycled tires. Which means they are environmentally friendly, keeping tires out of the landfills.

Special Discount on RV SnapPads

Do you want a special discount on RV SnapPads?

How does 10% off sound?

With the discount code KIMBERLY60334 you can get 10% off your order from RV SnapPads!

Using this link though, it should be automatically applied to your order! Just in case though, make sure to check on the checkout page that the code KIMBERLY60334 has been applied! You won’t see the discount until the checkout page, not the shopping cart page (just an FYI).

Installing RV SnapPads on a Motorhome

I’ve had SnapPads on my motorhome for a few years now and highly recommend them from personal use!

The most difficult thing was to get them installed… and it really wasn’t that difficult. The instructions were pretty clear.

But here are a few tips:

1. You want to have two people for this job. One person that will get under the motorhome and one person to run the jacks from inside. Probably not as big of a deal if you have manual jacks, but definitely want that second person if the automatic jacks control is not mobile/is inside the motorhome like mine is.
2. Get some regular old dishwashing soap. It’s good for lube. Well, lube for SnapPads not for other purposes.
3. Keep your fingers out of the way of your jacks.
4. Start with the bottom of your jacks clean of any dirt or debris. Wipe them off and even hose them down if necessary. Otherwise you’ll be trapping the dirt on the bottom of the jacks in the SnapPad.

Installation Process

OK, now that you are ready to begin, put some dishwashing detergent around the lip of one SnapPad. You are going to install one SnapPad at a time. Don’t try to do all of them at one time.

One person is going to get on the ground to position the SnapPad directly below the jack.

The other person is going to be inside, running the jacks. You’ll want windows open and the radio off. Maybe even some walkie talkies so that you can talk to each other.

Once the ground person gives the OK (and their hands are not under or near the jack), you’ll want to manually lower the appropriate jack. As the jack lowers down, the ground person may tell the other to stop or keep going, depending on how accurately they placed the SnapPad.

The ground person will know when the jack is fully seated in the SnapPad when they hear a distinctive snap. (You didn’t think the creators of SnapPad were being all that creative when they named their product, did you?) Have the inside person raise the jacks to be sure.

Now repeat with all the other jacks on your rig.

Don’t Ditch Your Existing Jack Pads

Even though I have and love my SnapPads, there are times when the DIY wood jack pads still come in very handy.

And that’s when you are parking on unlevel/uneven ground. I use the wood to help extend the reach of my jacks when there’s too much distance to get the motorhome level.

In my new tailgate parking spot at GT, the driver’s side of the RV is much lower than the passenger side. I cannot get the driver’s side high enough without using some additional help from the wood blocks. So I use both the SnapPad and the blocks to get level.

I have found that the SnapPad helps keep those wood blocks in good shape longer though. Before I installed the SnapPad, I’d go through them in about a year’s worth of tailgating because of the concentrated pressure from the metal jacks. Now, I have only gone through one set, although they are still getting near the end of their lifespan.

Add RV SnapPads to your Jacks

Don’t forget to use the discount code KIMBERLY60334 to get 10% off your RV SnapPads.

I’ve had them on my motorhome jacks for years now and really enjoy having them permanently attached. It makes for quicker setup on level(ish) parking spots.

Like RV SnapPads? Or buying later? Pin to remember to get your discount code!

You May Also Like:
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The post Adding Permanent Jack Pads with RV SnapPads appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.

But we can learn from others so that we can avoid the most common RV mistakes. And yes, yours truly is sometimes as guilty of these mistakes as everyone else. Let’s just hope that nothing bad ever comes when we don’t avoid these mishaps.

Leaving Your Awning Out

Whether when you go to sleep or when you leave the RV for the ball game, it’s a good idea to pull your RV awning in whenever you leave. It’s a big mistake to leave it out.

When you are away from the RV, you may not have time to get back before a storm hits. A sudden thunderstorm or heavy rain can damage your awning in a big way.

And it doesn’t even have to be raining. Just big wind gusts can do major damage.

I also would not rely on wind sensors on high-end RV motorhomes and fifth wheels. They will bring in the awning when winds pick up, but they may not react in time for sudden gusts. They are a great backup in case you forget, but don’t make it your first line of defense.

Don’t Forget the Awning when Leaving the Campground

One other time that RVers make a big mistake with the awning – when getting ready to leave the campground.

Even long-time RVers will sometimes make this mistake.

A friend of mine told me that last summer, when he was staying at an RV campground that had only partial hookups, he forgot to bring the awning in when he went to go dump the black tank. He wasn’t leaving the campground, so he didn’t do a full pack up to move. And forgot this very important step.

See Also: What to do in an RV when Severe Weather Threatens

Leaving the Waste Tank Valves Open in RV Campgrounds

Staying in a full hookup RV campground comes with a really big advantage – uninterrupted electric, water, and sewer dumps. But it would be a major mistake to leave the waste tank valves open while you are staying the RV campground.

When you leave the black tank valve open, you allow the liquids to slowly drain out while the more solid parts – the poop and the toilet paper – will collect, forming the dreaded poop pyramid.

Meanwhile, some people will argue that leaving the gray tank open is OK. Personally, I still don’t recommend it. Things can crawl up the pipe and odors can come into your RV.

See Also: Do You Leave Black and Gray Tanks Open or Closed?

Not Paying Attention to Electrical Issues

Without electrical systems, our RVs would be nothing but really expensive tents. On wheels.

Yet, I often see RV owners making serious mistakes when it comes to their electrical systems.

Not Watering Their Coach Batteries

First, RV owners are not properly maintaining their RV batteries.

I’ve been guilty of this mistake myself – not checking all the cells in the RV battery to make sure that they are at proper levels.

When this happens, you’ll end up with all sorts of issues. Flickering lights, steps not working properly, and then the generator won’t start or will trip the breaker when a short is created.

It also can prematurely kill your RV batteries, causing you to need a pricey replacement.

See Also: Water Your Batteries: RV Battery Maintenance

Overloading the RV Electrical System

Second, RV owners are notorious for trying to run too many things on RV electrical systems.

If you are running on 30 amps, you should really only run 1 air conditioner. You need to upgrade to 50 amps if you want to run a second A/C.

But don’t forget about dryers – both clothes and hair. Or space heaters. Or microwaves. All power hogs that can easily overrun an RV electrical system.

This starts with breakers tripping. But over time, those breakers break themselves. And won’t stay open.

Not Running an RV EMS

Every time I plug in, whether at home or at a campground, I am plugging my RV into a Surge Guard 50 amp Total Electrical Protection to protect my RV from electrical surges.

But that’s not the only thing that the Surge Guard protects my RV from – it also continuously monitors and protects from low and high frequency issues and voltage drops. Before it even connects the RV to the power pole, it is checking for open grounds and open neutrals.

And it comes with a lifetime warranty. So after you are hit with an electrical problem that the Surge Guard was intended to protect from, they will pay for the damage.

Disregarding Proper Tire Maintenance

From overloading the RV and carrying too much weight to not checking the tire pressure, many RV tire problems are easily avoidable. Not properly maintaining the RV tires is a major mistake that many RVers make.

And this mistake can be deadly! A tire blowout, while not always avoidable, can be disastrous.

The #1 cause of tire blowout is improper tire maintenance – which includes replacing tires when they age out.

Remember, age is your enemy on tires, not the number of miles you drive. Likely, dry rot is going to kill your tires way before the miles do.

While you should always do a pre-departure check, I recommend a tire pressure monitoring system for keeping an eye on the pressure and temperature while you are underway.

And to have an air compressor on-board that is capable of airing up your RV tires. I found out the hard way that many gas stations do not have air compressors capable of filling up a Big Rig’s tires. They just don’t put out enough PSI. (that’s what she said!)

See Also: TPMS: Protect RV Tires with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

Not Making and Sticking to a Plan

I can be as guilty of this RV mistake as anyone else. Probably actually, more prone to it than many others. And that’s not making a plan when traveling in the RV and sticking to that plan.

From unplanned side trips down dusty roads that no RV should travel to not having a good idea of where I’m going to park and sleep the next night on a long road trip, I wing it way too often.

And that can lead to disaster. Fortunately, I’ve avoided it so far.

Have you gone down roads that had too short of bridges to clear? Or maybe just end up in a dead end?

But what happens when you are exhausted and can’t drive anymore but there is nowhere safe to park? Do you really want to be on the side of the road while traffic is flying by? Or what if you park in an area that is “no overnight parking” and you get a rude wake-up call from security or even the police?

See Also: Tips for Overnight RV Parking on a Roadtrip

Forgetting The Checklist

Part of the plan every trip is following the checklist. Do you even have a pre-departure checklist?

That pre-departure checklist will include things like checking the awning and slides, picking up all the stuff and securing it, and ensuring that you are in proper shape to depart.

What about a maintenance checklist? Maintenance checklists will help avoid many of the issues – like watering batteries, changing oil, checking the roof – that lead to many of the mistakes highlighted here.

Ignoring Safety Warnings

When you first start RVing, every thing is new. All the beeps and bumps and well, everything pretty much scares you.

But after you’ve got some miles on the tires and hours on the generator, you start to feel like you’ve got it. And that’s when things can get dangerous.

You forget the checklist (see above).

You figure that nothing bad has happened before, so why do you need to put up the Genturi this time? After all, it’s raining and yuck, who wants to deal with that?

Or that pesky beep that signals the carbon monoxide detector has detected something. Or maybe the battery is just low. So you rip it out so you can go back to sleep that night. Or maybe the beep is from the jacks that won’t retract.

Whatever it is, it is really easy to start ignoring safety warnings. And that can be deadly.

So please, do not make the mistake that too many RVers have made and ignored safety warnings. They are there for a reason, after all.

See Also: 8 Annoying Things That Are Actually RV Safety Features

Not Asking for Help

Overall, I’d say that RVers are a pretty self-sufficient bunch. It’s what happens when you hit the road.

You know you are going to run into problems, so you are going to have to find a way to fix them.

But one of the biggest mistakes that RVers make is not knowing when to call in others for help.

Whether that means turning to the RV blogs like this one or YouTube for how-to instructions or asking the RVer next to you at the campground, you should avoid this very common RV mistake.

Remember, most RVers are friendly people. They would love to help you out if they can. Give them the opportunity to pass along some of their lessons to you.

What Other Common RV Mistakes Do RVers Make?

While these are the top seven mistakes that RVers make, I know there are more.

Comment below and let us know what other mistakes we should avoid.

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How to Save Gas While RVing
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The post 7 Common RV Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on RV Tailgate Life.