Showing posts with label diy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diy. Show all posts

LED Light Bulb Comparison

Walk through the light bulb section of Home Depot these days and you're likely to see more LED replacement bulbs for your home lighting fixtures. Though expensive, the claims are that they use very little electricity and that you'll probably never need to replace them. So let's see. 
The Battle of the Bulb
Most of us already know that LED bulbs use much less electricity than traditional bulbs and that they last forever. I wanted to run my own test. I decided to replace the bulbs in my RV light fixtures with LEDs. During that project I ran this comparison to see exactly how much more efficient my LED replacement bulbs were over the original incandescent bulbs.



Are you thinking of replacing your bulbs with LED bulbs? Event if you just replace a few, it's probably worth the expense and it's very easy to do. I picked up my bulbs from Amazon. Here are some quick links (below) if you want to check them out for yourself.


I used this 9 LED bulb in my RV for about $7 each (I needed about 16 of them).

I later found these that come in a 2 pack for around $12.

If you try this out on your RV, leave a comment. Do you like the result? How much power do you think you've saved?
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Dead Mouse in RV, Heating Duct Replacement

After finding out that a mouse (or mice) had been camping in my RV over the winter, I had to take drastic measures to remove any evidence and smell left behind. The little guy had made nests in my propane heater duct which stunk up the rig when turned on.

I've put off this project for two weeks and finally got it done this weekend. Check out this latest video.


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Solar Project Completed!


This weekend I installed a new solar panel on the roof of my RV. The project went pretty smooth and I'm very happy with the result. Every time the sun comes out, I actually want to run down and look at the battery voltage. It's addicting!


Stay tuned for more details about this project. I'm putting together a project video that I'll be posting in the next few days.

Tonight I'm going to sit back and watch the Olympics. Go Team U.S.A. !!!
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Towing a car behind your RV

Traveling around in your RV is a wonderful liberating experience. Also liberating is having the freedom and convenience of a car to get you around town or to nearby attractions once you've reached your destination. Plus there are places that your RV just can't go. That's why you will seldom see us without a car in tow.

Our RV and CRV Toad at Yellowstone
I get asked a lot by friends or beginning RVers how this whole "towing your car" thing works. We'll I use the four wheels on road method which requires a tow bar setup. Here's a video to show you how I connect and disconnect my tow vehicle.


RV Speak
Now this is important. If you don't want to sound like an RV newby, you'll have to learn to use the correct RV towing lingo.
  1. Be sure to refer to your tow vehicle as your "Toad" or "Dinghy"
  2. A "Dolly" is not something you play with. It's like a trailer that lifts the front two tires off the ground and leaves the rear tires on the ground
Can your car be towed?
Certain makes and models of cars are designed to be towed and some are not. If your's is in the "not" category, then you need additional equipment installed first. Your car's owner's manual should have a section about towing if it is designed to be towed. There is also a list of vehicles in the 2011 Dinghy Towing Guide (PDF). Finally, check your RV's towing capacity. My RV can tow up to 5000 lbs.

What Equipment Do I Have?
My tow vehicle is a 2004 Honda CRV and the equipment I use is:
Is it expensive?
Configurations vary, but plan on spending around $2000 to $3000 to get a quality towing setup (car not included...of course).

Does towing affect my gas mileage?
Yes. I drop about a mile or two in MPG when towing versus not towing.

Good luck! Once you're setup to tow your car, you won't want to leave home without it. Enjoy.
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Showing off my shiny new Hellwig bars

So we're doing some dry camping at the coast when my buddy Deuce said to me "I see you've got some shiny nuts under there". So I replied "I sure do...let me show them to you."

Here we are admiring my new Hellwig anti-sway bars and yellow Bilstein shocks. Do you remember that "Aaar Aaar Aarr!" animal sound that Tim Allen (from Home Improvement) used to make. Well that's pretty much what I'm thinking at this point.

And....my daughter was thoughtful enough to capture the moment on her phone.

What have done to your RV lately that you've wanted to show off?

~Tito
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RV Suspension Upgrade Part 2 - Installing Rear Anti Sway Bars and Bilstein Shocks

Back in May I started a project to upgrade the suspension on my Class-C motor home. I purchased heavy duty upgraded anti-sway bars from Hellwig and replacement Bilstein shocks. I decided to do the anti-sway bar installation myself and managed to get it done without doing any damage to myself or my RV. Did you see my post from May? If not, here's a link.

In part one I covered the replacement of my front anti-sway bars. My plan was to shortly follow that up with "Part II" of the series that would cover the replacement of the rear anti-sway bars. If you have been following my blog, then you know that didn't happen. As it turns out, I finished the project a couple of months ago but haven't had the time to tell you about it. Truth be known, I just haven't had the time to edit the video and post it to YouTube. Why? Well here's my excuse. This year, I decided to run a marathon and, frankly, the training is "taking over my life!" But hey, two months later...I've finally finished the video!


I'm so glad I did this install, and the results have been remarkable. Unless you are the driver of your RV, it's hard to explain the difference the upgrade makes. Before...when the RV handling was not good...I would have to remain calm and collected behind the wheel in order not to alarm the rest of my family. While my family continued to enjoy the ride, I might be "white knuckling" it a bit as cross winds toss the RV around, or semi-trucks go speeding by, or while uneven roads cause the RV to shift from side to side. This suspension upgrade minimizes much of that affect and has changed the whole RV driving experience for me. As if I didn't enjoy driving the RV before...now it's much more relaxing.

For details on what I did, check out part 1 and part 2 of the videos I put together. 

Finally, here are some links to the vendors I utilized for the upgrade:
If you're planning on keeping your RV for a while, then I highly recommend this upgrade. It's worth the investment and you'll feel safer and more in control behind the wheel. 

~Tito
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Finished installing my anti sway bars

I've finished the install of my heavy duty Hellwig anti-sway bars this weekend. I'm sooo excited. 


I have the say that the rear sway bar install was a little tough due the amount of heavy wrenching involved. I was pooped after that one! All of the bolts were locking bolts which required a significant amount of wrench cranking. But I did it!

I was very anxious to test the new bars so I took the RV for a little test drive. Awesome! The difference was very significant. I had become used to the tipping feeling when taking a turn in the RV. Now the RV takes turns like an SUV. Amazing.

I'll be getting my new Bilstein shocks installed this week (hopefully) followed by a front end alignment. Then I'm all set. It will be like driving a totally different RV.

For details check out these two posts:
Part I: Replacing the front anti-sway bar
Part II: Replacing the rear anti-sway bar

~T
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RV Suspension Upgrade Part 1 - How to install Hellwig anti sway bars


So what happens when you put a 30+ foot house on a Ford truck chassis, then load it up with people, a generator, water, appliances, furniture, food to last a month, and other stuff? The result is an uneven heavy RV that doesn't handle very well. To accommodate the odd extra loads, the suspension and front tires have to work extra hard to keep the RV stable. This is especially true for longer class-c RVs such as mine.


I've found that many life-long RVers, who have owned multiple RVs, make it a priority to evaluate and improve the suspension components in their RV shortly after buying it. The stock shock absorbers, anti-sway bars and steering stabilizers can all be upgraded to heavy duty components that are better suited for the RV application. The results can be dramatic and make driving your RV a more pleasurable, relaxing and safer experience.



In part one of this two part video, I'll replace my RV's stock front anti-sway bar with a heavy duty upgrade. I chose to go with anti-sway bars from Hellwig for this project. There is no jacking up, drilling or special tools involved. I was able to complete the job using basic wrenches and ratchet hand tools. In a future video post I'll replace the rear anti-sway bar and have my shocks upgraded.

Keep reading: Part II of this project (Replacing the rear anti-sway bar)
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Men with DIY skills with be extinct by 2048

Say what! A recent study claims that 71% of men in the 1970s learned DIY skills from their fathers. They learned how to use power tools, build stuff and perform routine home maintenance. The research shows that today only 44% of men will learn how to do it themselves.

"Pay attention son"
73% of men age 55 to 65 claim to have the skills to do it themselves compared to the 55% of men under 35 who could. And it gets worse...only 32% of men 25 and under were handy around the house. But say you need help hooking up your HDTV. Not a problem right?

Say hello to the Techno-Sexual Man. The study claims that "men increasingly view technology as essential to their masculinity, resulting in the rise of a new generation of 'techno-sexual' men. Researchers found that 'being knowledgeable about technology' was the most important quality for men to feel masculine, whereas DIY skills were fourth behind being successful in their chosen career and being a competent driver."

I say why not master both power tools and technology? It goes without saying that computer-based technology has become a significant part of our lives. After all you're reading this on your computer right? So having technical skills are indeed essential for the modern man. But c'mon guys let's keep DIY alive.

As for me, I would much rather learn how to do it myself and learn how to do it right (that the important part). If I can't, then I'll hire someone and look over their shoulder. I'll do my best to pass what I know on to my son.

~T
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Restringing RV Shades

I recently repaired two sets of day/night shades in my RV. Over the past year or so these two shades have been slowly wearing out. Once wearing starts, one side can start to droop or not stay up at all. What happens next is that one of the strings inside finally snaps. So what do you do when this happens? The solution is to restring the blinds.

Of course, you could find a window covering store to repair the shades, or you can restring the blinds yourself. As it turns out, this is a pretty low-cost repair should you attempt this yourself. But don't be afraid. I put together this video to show you that this is certainly something you can do yourself. Just be sure to check the string configuration before you disassemble your shades, and just take your time.


Before you start here's what you'll need

1. About 20 yards of 1.2mm or 1.4mm string (you can get it from your craft or fabric store or order online from fixmyblinds.com). The length you'll need will vary depend on the size of your window. So it's better to get more than you need. I got about 25 yards for around $7.
2. A flat head screw driver (to remove the plastic end caps)
3. Scissors (to cut the string)
4. Thin gauge wire or large fabric needle (for feeding the string through the blinds)

The diagram below (from fixmyblinds.com) illustrates the typical 4 string configuration that you'll probably find in your typical day/night shade.

When I took apart the wide upper bunk window shade, however, I discovered that the configuration was a little different from the standard size window I did first. On the wider window, there were two springs (one per side) and the 4 string threading was different. So be sure to inspect the string configuration to make sure you reassemble it correctly.

Standard Window (after)
Bunk Window (after)
So go ahead and give this project a shot. You'll be happy with the result and you're shades will operate just like new.

Good luck!
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Onan Generator Oil Change


One of the cool things about owning an RV is having the ability to generate your own A/C power when you need it. So today I performed an oil change on my Onan MicroQuiet 4000 generator to keep it running in tip-top shape. The generator manual recommends changing the oil each year. Changing the oil is pretty straight forward and takes less than an hour. There is no oil filter on my model so that's one less thing to worry about. Some generator models do have an oil filter, so review the generator manual for your model before taking on this project.


Before starting I made sure I have the following things on-hand:
  1. 2 quarts of SAE 30 motor oil. The generator takes 1.6 quarts. Oil recommendations vary depending upon the temperature ranges in your area. So be sure to check your manual.
  2. Drain pan and funnel.
  3. T-30 Torx socket for the Torx screws on the drain plug panel (got mine at Sears)
  4. 9/16 socket for the drain plug.
  5. Plumbers pipe thread sealant for sealing up the drain plug before you put it back in.
Changing the oil
The following procedure is pretty simple and outlined in your manual as well:

  1. Run the generator for a few minutes to warm it up before you drain the oil.
  2. Shut down the generator.
  3. Remove the green panel on the underside of the generator that covers the drain plug (see photo). Use the T-30 Torx bit/socket to remove those screws. You only need to remove one screw then loosen the other. You can then just swing the panel off to the side.
  4. Using the 9/16 socket, remove the drain plug.
  5. Drain the oil into your oil pan until all of the oil is drained.
  6. Apply some pipe thread sealant to the drain plug and screw it back in. Use a torque wrench if you have one to ensure you don't over tighten it. Check your manual for the recommended torque.
  7. Remove the oil cover and add 1.6 quarts of new oil. Check your level to make sure you don't over fill.
That's it, you're done! Run the generator for a few minutes and check for leaks before screwing the drain plug panel back on.

Other things to check
Before I button up the generator, I take a few minutes to inspect the air filter, and wipe down visible areas. Finally, I log the date and generator hours in my RV maintenance log.

Performing regular oil changes is important to keeping your generator running efficiently for many years. I also run the generator for an hour each month with the A/C and water heater on. This keeps the generator components lubricated and makes starting easier.

Now let's go do some worry free boondocking!

Need more info?
(Update 9/11/2011)
Many of you have questions that I don't necessarily have answers to, so I've added some links here that may help:
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Do It Yourself Windshield Chip Repair

You're traveling down the highway having a jolly 'ol time in the RV, then the car in front of you launches a small rock right at you. Have you ever had the experience of watching a little speck get larger and larger until "smack", it hits you square in the windshield. There's nothing to do except cringe when it makes impact. Sound familiar?

Last year, while driving through Utah, a truck kicked up a rock that struck my windshield leaving a noticeable chip. I thought..."Great! I guess I'll have to take the RV back into Novus when I get home. What a pain..." I had taken the RV into Novus the year before for a chip repair and had thoughtfully grabbed a handful of those stickers to place on chips to keep them from spreading. One of those stickers came in handy on this occasion.

Having stared at that sticker on my windshield for the last few months, I felt it was time to take care of that chip. This time, however, I figured I would try to repair it myself. There had to be a way. After all, those "Free Chip Repair" folks who hang around in grocery store parking lots could do it. So I thought there must be a way for me to fix my own windshield. After a few minutes Google-ing "do it yourself chip repair", I found a relatively inexpensive Do It Yourself Windshield Repair Kit on Amazon for under $10. It was the Fix A Windshield Repair Kit and the reviews seemed favorable. I thought "How come I didn't think of this before?" I ordered two kits thinking that I could keep one with me in the RV in case I needed to use it on a trip.

The Repair
Today, I attempted my first repair. After carefully reading the directions, I cleaned the chip area, placed the tube holder over the chip, and followed the instructions to inject the resin into the crack. I had read several of the reviews for this product and picked up a couple tips from other customers. I placed a heat source on the inside of the windshield to allow the resin the spread into the crack easier. Instead of a heat gun or hair dryer, I just used a utility light. Once the crack was filled, the instructions said to expose the car to direct sunlight (or UV light) to bond the resin to the windshield. There's very little sun here this time of year, so I used a simple black light which did the trick.

Success!
I was very satisfied with the result. It was as good or better than other chip repairs I had "paid" $60 for. Using the same kit, I repeated the process for two other windshield chips on our Honda CRV tow vehicle. The result was a "barely" noticeable mark where the ugly chip had been. Each repair took about 30 minutes.

I still have the second kit I purchased, so I'll keep that one in the RV in case I get another chip while on the road. The repair process is easy enough to perform while at the RV park. Try it out for yourself if don't believe me. Once you've repaired a couple of chips on your own, you'll never pay again.

Have you tried this? Tell me how it went.

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