Hi all! This month, we’ve got questions on various RV appliances. Remember to send your RVing questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hi Mark,
We’ve noticed an increase of icing on our fridge-cooling fins. It is the original Norcold fridge in our 1996 Itasca Sunrise. Food remains cold at a midrange setting and the freezer seems to keep things frozen sufficiently, so there is nothing to complain about other than a concern about the icing. We do clean out the fridge and freezer routinely. The icing is occurring while we’re hooked up to shore power and doesn’t seem to be any different whether it is set for normal operation or high humidity.  We only run on gas infrequently. Wondering if there is something we should be doing differently.
Thanks,
Phil

Hi Phil,
Usually, when an RV refrigerator starts forming more frost but still cools normally, I’d look at the door gasket. It doesn’t take much of a leak to let humid, warm air into the fridge and that will definitely increase frost production.

Visually inspect the door seal for any tears or obvious problems. Clean both surfaces. Now, close the door with a dollar bill inserted between the door seal and the body of the refrigerator. You should be able to pull it out with some resistance, but in areas where the seal is not making, it will be very easy to pull out or entirely loose. Usually, there’s no way to fix a door seal, you just have to replace it. It’s not a very hard job to do.

You find the one you want to spend your life with, you get married, and you take on life together one decision at a time…

One of the biggest choices a married couple encounter is where to live. Many newlyweds choose to rent an apartment or build a house, but it’s becoming increasingly popular for newlyweds to pursue a nomadic, minimalistic RV lifestyle. That’s exactly what we did, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Choosing to live in an RV has brought us constant excitement and adventure with a never-ending bucket list of places to explore.

A common misconception is that RVing is only for the retired community, but it has become an increasingly popular choice for young couples who wish to chase adventure. A recent survey of RVer demographics by RVIA shared that 22% of RVers are 18-24 years old and 51% are under 55 years old! Social media could be one aspect leading to the rise in young couples pursuing RV life.

The growth of social media over the last decade has made travel more desirable by opening a window to the world. Millions of us get to see places online that we otherwise wouldn’t know about, which leads us to want to visit those places and see them for ourselves! Aside from amazing destinations displayed all over social media, there are thousands of social media accounts that share a fairytale perspective of tiny living in an RV. If you are chasing wanderlust and want to pursue a more nomadic way of life, there are certain things you need to understand that will help you navigate RV life as newlyweds.

Enjoying morning coffee as a couple in the RV.

Choosing your RV

The first step is choosing your rig! Yes, it is common to call your RV a “rig,” in the RV community. When deciding on the right RV for you, there are many things that you must consider. It’s important to decide what kind of camping you intend to do, choose a layout that you love, and determine your “must-haves” in an RV.

The best part of RV travel for our family is that we can all be together, and that includes our dogs. However, it’s not all fun and games: ensuring our dogs’ safety is a major part of RVing with pets. A motorhome is our home, and their home, on the road.

Over five years of full-time travel with Peanut Butter Brickle and Digby Pancake has taught us many lessons, and we have made many mistakes. Some of the mistakes had very different outcomes. Learn from our mistakes, and you will enjoy a safe and fun time on the road with your dogs!

It is important not only to keep your dog safe while moving, but part of moving is stopping to take breaks. Whether that is at a rest area, a park, or during an emergency–preparation is key! The unexpected will happen. But you can prepare physically and mentally before your journey.

Introduce Your Dog To The RV Before That First Travel Day

First impressions are very important. Not only should you consider taking your dog with you to shop for an RV (Camping World welcomes fur family), but before you travel one mile together, introduce your dog to your motorhome! For two weeks our dogs and our RV got to know each other. As senior dogs, they were a little more unsteady when it came to stairs. So our first goal was to get them safely in and out of the RV. We did not know about dog ramps at that time, and it would have made the transition so much easier! Spend some test nights in the motorhome with your dog so you build a routine, and find a comfortable space. Take a ride with your dog in the motorhome to a park or a favorite place so that your dog associates the motorhome with fun.

Peanut Butter Brickle and Digby Pancake, fur family behind and Rachel and Nate of “2 Traveling Dogs.”

Get A Health Check-Up For Your Dog At The Veterinarian

We all know that good health is one of the most valuable assets we can have. Before you travel with your dog, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Make sure your dog is healthy enough to travel and that all medications are filled. Make copies of your dog’s records and keep them in an accessible place in your motorhome, or car if you are towing. Many states require records to cross state lines, and campgrounds may also require vaccination records in order to make a reservation.

Fall is in full swing, and that means it’s time for all things apple! If you’re an apple lover, it’s the perfect opportunity to start cooking with these delicious fall fruits. In fact, October is National Apple Month, so why not whip up a tasty apple treat on your next camping trip?

Apple crisp is such an easy and delicious dessert, which makes it perfect for camping trips! The cinnamon and sugar go so well with the crisp apples and oat topping in a way that just screams “fall.” But while most apple crisp desserts need to be baked in an oven, this foil packet recipe is easy to make at the campsite and can be cooked over the fire, on a grill, and yes, in a tiny RV oven. You can even prep some of the ingredients at home, which makes this dessert even easier when you’re on the road!

If you’re traveling to a northern state that’s known for apples, stop by an orchard or farm stand and pick up some fresh apples to use in this recipe. But even if you’re heading south for the fall, grocery stores will be brimming with apple choices this time of year. What variety of apples work best with this recipe? Many! Any good baking apple will work great, and some of our favorites include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Fuji and Gala.

So if you’re enjoying the cool weather and sipping on something warm around the campfire, add this recipe to your lineup for a festive fall camping dessert!

Don’t let the spirits of October catch you by surprise. To help you plan a fun and spooky Halloween road trip, we’ve compiled a list of some of the scariest places and events in North America. Many of these spots stay open long past October 31, giving you a chance to get your fright on well into autumn.

Find a Good Sam Park near each scary stop on this list. 

Gunfighter Ghost Tour, Tombstone, Arizona

If the town’s name and wild past doesn’t convince you that this place is haunted, then a tour through its neighborhoods might turn you into a believer. The Tombstone Gunfighter and Ghost Tour starts at Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, once the elegant Grand Hotel. A stroll down Allen’s street takes tourgoers to sites of some of the bloodiest Old West gunfights; guests are advised to be vigilant for spirit sightings. Of course, the tour includes a stop at the infamous O.K. Corral, the place where lawmen led by Virgil Earp gunned down three outlaws in 30 seconds in 1881. Whet your whistle at Doc Holliday’s Saloon after a day spent walking with ghosts.

Stay: CT RV Resort in Benson offers luxury living with spectacular views just minutes from Tombstone.

Are you looking for a delicious way to fuel your family for a day of exploring and adventure at the campground? Try out this incredible recipe for campfire bacon cinnamon rolls that you can make over the fire! Get the full fall camping recipe below!

Ingredients

Adapted from a recipe on TheKitchenMagpie.com

1 can of Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls1 package of bacon

Instructions

Heat your skillet over the fire and cook the bacon until cooked through but not crispy.Discard bacon grease.Open the can of cinnamon rolls and peel open each roll to add a piece of bacon to the roll.Reroll the cinnamon roll with the bacon inside and add the rolls to the iron skillet and cover with aluminum foil.Cook over the fire until the rolls are cooked through. Approx. 15 minutes, watching the bottoms of the rolls carefully to avoid boiling!

Enjoy your fall at the campground in a brand new RV from RVingPlanet.com!

As a society, we love our electricity. It’s difficult to do anything today without using some sort of electricity. If you’re planning to boondock in your RV, you’ll have to bring the power with you or create more of it while you’re there.

So, how long can you boondock before losing power? The answer is up to you. However, if you employ a few smart tricks and invest in the right gear, you can make it a lot longer than you think.

We recently caught up with Mike and Jennifer Wendland, RV enthusiasts and the creators of the popular RV Lifestyle blog, to learn their tips for conserving (and creating) power when boondocking. Check out their advice in the video above and read more tips below, including a few bonus tips from the Wendlands!

Try Doing Things the Old-Fashioned Way

You know, there wasn’t always an electric-powered gadget to do our jobs for us. There was a time when we had to do those jobs manually. Take a look at the things you use most in your RV and investigate how you can do them without power.

Coffee, for example, doesn’t have to be brewed in an electric coffee pot. All you really need to make coffee is boiled water. Invest in a simple coffee dripper. Use your propane stove to boil water (or do it over a campfire if you’re feeling really rustic). Then pour the water through the coffee dripper for the perfect cup of joe.

Sedona Arizona is one of the most popular destinations in the United States especially for RV travelers. People from all around the world visit Sedona ... Read more

Whether you’re hitting the campgrounds on the way to view fall’s fairytale foliage or you’re taking the path less traveled for some quality time with your loved ones, you’re going to need to stock up on gear along the way. Chances are you have a few of the essential items like a water bottle or backpack, but even if you don’t (or you need a new one of each), we have you covered in our gear guide for fall camping.

Camping Tent

Let’s start with the big one and, arguably, the most important one – a tent. Having a plan in place before you hit the campsite goes a long way in setting your trip up for success. The best way to do that? Decide what you’ll be sleeping in before the sun goes down. A solid shelter is ideal for protecting you from the elements while you’re sleeping. No one wants to be cold and uncomfortable, so avoid those complaints by investing in a quality tent.

Coleman Skydome 8-Person Camping Tent With Screen Room

The Coleman Skydome 8-Person Camping Tent checks all those boxes, plus it comes with a screen room. Designed to provide two separate living spaces within one tent, the Skydome features a weatherproof screen room that quickly and easily converts into an additional sleeping area for two people. Don’t need it to sleep, extra people? No worries. Use it for extra storage or lounge space. The entire tent sets up in under five minutes because of pre-attached poles. Speaking of the frame, it can withstand up to 35 mph winds. Nice, right? The WeatherTec system uses a tub-like floor, welded corners, and inverted seams to keep water out. A wider door design makes it easier to move gear like sleeping bags or airbeds in and out without issue. In other words, it’s the perfect choice for your next fall camping adventure.

Sleeping Bag, Cot, or Air Bed

Now that you have nailed down what you’re sleeping under, it’s time to choose what you’ll be sleeping in. Some prefer an air bed or cot, while others are perfectly fine with a sleeping bag. There’s no wrong answer here. As long as you aren’t sleeping directly on the ground, any of the above options should suffice.

Coleman OneSource Heated Sleeping Bag & Rechargeable Battery

If going with a sleeping bag, the Coleman OneSource Heated Sleeping Bag is a solid choice. Perfect for late-season camping, the mummy-shaped bag can keep you warm in temperatures as low as 32-degrees, thanks to its two heating pads. There’s one at the core and one at the foot box, and together they work to distribute heat throughout the sleeping bag. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, one charge ranges from 2 hours on high to 4 hours on low. With a ZipPlow zipper, you never have to worry about snagging when opening and closing. Bonus points for being machine-washable once you remove the heating pads, wires, and battery. A convenient stuff sack is also included!

Sink your claws into this fact: RV travelers love bringing their pets on the road with them. Surveys have shown that more than 60 percent of RVers are accompanied by animal friends on camping trips. This should come as no surprise if you’ve spent any time in campgrounds across North America (at least the ones that allow pets). People walking their dogs, and to a lesser extent, cats, are a common sight. There are also RV owners camping with parrots, iguanas, ferrets and a whole lot more. But for this post, let’s focus exclusively on cats and dogs. Let’s talk about safeguarding your pets on the road.

Finding the Right RV Park

Keep in mind that it’s essential to review the pet policies of the parks you’re visiting. Most campgrounds require dogs to be kept on a short leash and not roam free. However, many private campgrounds offer dog walks or off-leash dog park areas to accommodate pet owners. Check the Good Sam listing of the park you plan to visit to determine pet policies. You’ll find information about pet restrictions in the campground listing’s Policies section.

Differences in Geography

So how do we keep our furry friends from harm while traveling the country in our RV? How is safeguarding them while traveling any different than caring for them at home?

There are other things that change with the geographic area. Depending on where you travel, you may encounter birds and reptiles that may pose a problem. Snakes, for example, pose little danger for most of us as they will scurry away should we ever get near them. But dogs and cats like to sneak around and investigate. They might just find a Florida favorite, the pygmy rattlesnake. Not only might they come upon a snake, but cats may actually bring one back to your RV to show you what they caught. This I have witnessed several times with a park neighbor. Fortunately, these were not venomous types but more in the grass snake group.

Towing a travel trailer can be stressful work, and you’ll appreciate anything that can make the job easier. From the moment you see the trailer swaying, you’ll be wishing you had a weight distribution hitch to help ensure you stay safe while towing and get to your RV park without any issues. 

But how do you set up a weight distribution hitch for your rig, and what key steps do you need to make sure you do? The video above goes through the various steps in the process and below we detail everything out so you can make the job of hitching up a weight distribution hitch as easy as possible

What is a Weight Distribution Hitch and Why is it Important? 

A weight distribution hitch is a hitch that connects your tow vehicle to your trailer and more evenly distributes the load across all axles. It disperses the weight across the entire tow vehicle and towable RV setup, making your trailer more easily towable, reducing trailer sway, and other issues that may arise from an imbalance load. 

When you hook up your RV without a weight distribution hitch, there can be too much weight on the hitch itself which will lead to instability. The same can be said for too much weight on the trailer itself. With too much weight too far back, you’re much more likely to experience trailer sway or fishtailing.

The weight distribution hitch still uses a standard ball hitch, so it’s used with travel trailers and other small towable RVs. It’s an altogether different setup from a fifth-wheel and helps bring stability to the standard towable options. 

When it comes to hunting on the road, there’s only one tool that meets all your needs, all the time – an RV. Just ask Zach and Mary Phillips.

Mary O’Neill Phillips is the host/producer and co-founder of Country Outdoors and an avid RVer. Originally from Australia, Mary has 11 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Working on a variety of film, television, reality, and radio projects, she knows all too well the stress and inconvenience that comes with traveling, such as leaving the comforts of home behind for days, weeks, or even months at a time.

These days, she’s traveling from location to location in her Toyhauler with Zach Phillips and their Golden Retriever, Forest Gump. Gone are the frequent hotel stays and the lugging of belongings from one place to another. Now, everything is within reach since their home is literally on the road with them.

Zach, born and raised in Georgia, is a host, producer, and content creator for Country Outdoors. He’s super talented behind the lens, but when he’s not filming the outdoors, he’s out there living in it. With Mary (and Forest Gump) by his side, they’re always traveling. At first, for work and then later from hunting camp to hunting camp. It was hunting that pushed the pair to purchase an RV of their own.

Why the RV Lifestyle?

I’ve always been drawn to vintage things. Through high school, college, and now adulthood, I’ve perused the aisles of thrift stores and antique shops in hopes of finding unique treasures. In the same way, I knew when my husband and I were searching for an RV, we wanted to buy a vintage travel trailer – one that looks classic, timeless, and with a story to tell. 

We have two campers now and both look vintage, but only one is truly vintage. The other camper is retro-style. They’re so alike yet so different. We call our first camper “the Lil Hotdish,” and it’s a canned ham-style RV made in the 1960s by Monitor. I found it in the online classifieds after endlessly searching for a vintage camper that is also an ice house. Unlike regular RVs, ice houses have drop-down axles and holes on the floor for ice fishing. We ended up renovating most of it while preserving a few original features.

The second camper is a used 2017 Riverside Retro 820R and it has modern amenities but a retro look. It’s curved on one end like the canned ham but flat in the back since it’s a toy hauler. We’ve gone back and forth on the name but most recently agreed to call our newest addition “Peppermint Pattie,” because of its red and white colors. The plan is to convert this to a fish house as well, but that’s still in the works. 

Whether you want to buy an old vintage RV, or a modern retro-style RV, there are plenty of pros and cons that come with each type of camper.

The Advantages of a Vintage RV

Dream RV Come True

With a vintage RV, you have the opportunity to make your RV exactly how you want it. Since true vintage RVs are old RVs, updates are typically necessary. This is a great opportunity to do a complete renovation and make it your own. Camping World offers renovation services so that you can make upgrades to your electrical components, lighting, windows, bathroom, appliances, or whatever your heart desires. I think the best part about a vintage RV is that you can completely gut it guilt-free. I would feel much more guilty about taking apart a nice new camper versus an old one.

In every camping escapade, from the early mornings to starry nights, only two things are constant: campfires and food. For children, camp stories will be an addition. While camping, a child’s vivid and nostalgic memories revolve around these three. Cooking by the campfire, especially with its varying temperatures, which will need extensive patience from everyone, will always be a challenge. But for the kids, what can we do? Cooking in the wilderness is fun enough that the challenges to be encountered (i.e., the fire going off with every gust of wind, keeping the food at the right temperature, etc.) will likely be worth it in the long run. But for a hungry brood of kids to feed, having scrumptious recipes planned out in advance will be best. Pack up the essentials, grab your ingredients and cookware, and cook up these kid-friendly camping recipes we’ve listed below.

Savory Breakfasts

For early morning arrivals at camp, watching the sunrise will be the best way to spend the time. What better way to upgrade this experience than eating an extra special breakfast that will keep you and your family energized throughout the day? Pancakes make the perfect campfire food: You can pre-make (and pack) the dry and wet ingredients separately, then mix them up just when you need them. Another classic that kids can make themselves are peanut butter and jelly with a twist: they’re muffins. These can make this classic delicacy easy to grab and go.

Super Sandwiches

If barbecuing would be your choice for lunch, halloumi would be a perfect option as it holds its shape while cooking and develops a beautiful chargrilled, salty flavor. Light up the coals and get grilling with those cheese slices! Try these quick and easy veggie halloumi burgers (top) featuring toasted brioche buns with fresh lettuce and tomatoes. These tasty little salmon tacos with lime dressing will be a real treat for your kids as they can assemble their own after you’ve cooked the salmon on the barbecue. With just a frying pan in hand, a tasty no-oven pizza is a popular camp meal for the kids. They can simply make their dough and choose a selection of their favorite toppings to garnish!

Some say there are 2 types of RV’ers: those that camp in the Winter, and those that don’t.

RV camping in the Winter is certainly possible in a 4-seasons RV. Fun winter-weather activities like ice-fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and snow-shoeing are all excellent ways to get outside and enjoy the crisp winter weather. There are a few things you need to know for Winter RV camping, so be sure to prepare accordingly. If you’re a fan of frosty camping, don’t forget to brush up on these essential tips for towing in the snow.

For the rest of us, the camper is headed in for a long winter nap. Splendid spring and summer camping awaits your RV after hibernation, but only if you properly winterize your RV before putting it in storage. Don’t know how? Follow our helpful guide on how to Winterize your RV, then pick up these must-haves for RV winterization at your nearest Camping World, in-store or online. When starting the winterizing process, there are certain items that help make the activity easier and smoother and, most of the time, quicker

Before Mother Nature gives you the cold shoulder, you should think about the process of winterizing your RV. Procrastinating this item on the old to-do list could be the difference between a successful spring start-up or a lengthy, expensive list of repairs.

Whether you plan on camping this winter or putting your RV in storage, you’ll need some of these must-have items to get through the harshest season.

Many readers have emailed us throughout the years on how to start a RV travel blog so in this post I will walk you through ... Read more

With winter around the corner, many think it’s time to put the RV in park until warmer weather reappears. Not true! In fact, many places become the type of winter wonderland you read about or see in the movies. After a summer spent traveling in hot and humid temperatures, a winter excursion is the perfect reward.

Because winter isn’t the most popular time to travel, it’s the ideal time to take advantage of the empty roads. Some of the best destinations are national parks, which enjoy a quiet off-season. We’ve gathered up seven of the best national parks you can RV to in winter. So grab a coat, pack the RV, and start planning your next adventure.

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

In Destin, located on Florida’s panhandle, the menu for fun includes fishing, paddleboarding, shopping and dining on fresh seafood. Once a sleepy fishing village, Destin has grown to become one of the premier vacation destinations in the Sunshine State. Between the soft, white-sand beaches, the world-class fishing excursions and the thrill-a-minute attractions on shore, there’s a little something for everyone in this warm-weather paradise. Drop a line in Destin for snowbird adventure.

For a great place to stay, Camping on the Gulf is a top-rated destination situated right on the coast.

Hook, Line and Dinner

Billed as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin is home to one of the country’s largest charter fishing fleets, making it easy to arrange the excursion of your dreams. For an accessible, family-friendly outing, try the inshore waterways of Choctawhatchee Bay, where king mackerel, red snapper or grouper are a quick cast away. However, more serious anglers will want to book a deep-sea outing 25-miles offshore, where the shallow waters of the harbor give way to the rich waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Tuna, billfish, and sharks, as well as plenty of seasonal sportfish, call these bountiful waters home, so you can expect plenty of fight and plenty of fish as you cast a line alongside some of the Gulf’s most experienced guides.

Surf and Sand

Baltimore and the surrounding area seem tailor-made for autumn. The fall colors in the trees add splashes of bright crimson and gold to the town and the outlying regions. The many historic sites related to local hero Edgar Allan Poe are the perfect companions to Halloween season. And the hot seafood from the Chesapeake Bay wards off the fall chills that blow off the Chesapeake Bay. Discover Baltimore’s natural side this fall.

Known as Charm City, Baltimore is home to bustling communities, historic ships, exciting museums, and the Inner Harbor — the city’s focal point. When you’re not outdoors, explore this Jewel of the Chesapeake with a visit to the art museum with a huge selection of Impressionist paintings while harbor ships provide history lessons that span the centuries. With the African American Wax Museum, the National Cryptologic Museum and a chance to follow Edgar Allen Poe’s wanderings, you’ll find plenty to keep your mind stimulated.

Camp out in a nearby Good Sam Park and enjoy the magic of Charm City.

Hiking Outside of Town

Before exploring urban landscapes, check out the natural areas surrounding the town. Escape to Gwynns Falls, an urban hiking and biking trail with nine trailheads connecting 30 neighborhoods along with a historic greenway stream valley that provides access to Baltimore. Gunpowder Falls provides views of 18th-century Hoffmanville Cemetery and leads to Pretty Boy Reservoir. On the Chesapeake, Downs Park offers a variety of natural and recreational activities throughout its 236 acres. Black Marsh Trail winds for six miles along wild wetlands and bordering forests, perfect for birders and naturalists searching for bald eagles and swamp sparrows.

Winter’s hard on all of us, but it can be particularly hard on RVs. With lots of plumbing and areas for water and moisture to hide, winterizing your RV is a critical step in saving yourself a lot of expensive fixes once things start to thaw in the spring.

In the video above, we list a step-by-step walkthrough of the winterization process. If it feels overwhelming, don’t fret! The trained service technicians at your local Camping World can winterize your RV for you. However, if you want to take on the process yourself, follow along with our step-by-step process. We break down the details of the video in 8 easy steps below.

Please note every RV is different and some may have additional items that are harder to winterize, such as icemakers and refrigerators or dishwashers, but our guide covers the basics. Let’s dive in!

Tools Needed Before You Begin

For proper winterization, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

cordless power drill with #2 square tip driver bitsocket wrench and 1-1/16″ socketflashlightnew anode rod or plastic plug3-4 gallons of antifreeze (a little extra never hurts)2 crescent wrenches or a set of open-end wrenchessiphoning kit (if the pump is not already equipped)water heater bypass kit (if not already equipped)needle nose pliers or a screwdriver

Steps To Winterize Your RV

Image from Getty

If you follow all of the steps as outlined, your RV will be as ready as it can be for winter storage. A properly winterized RV means less headache and stress when spring comes around again.