Camping Tips
RV Battery Dies Overnight? The Draw You Forgot
A battery that's full at bedtime and dead by morning usually has help: the furnace fan, tank heaters, the propane detector and a dozen small things. How to find the drain and…
Articles
Camping Tips
Condensation on the Camper Windows, and the Vent That Fixes It
Wake up to dripping windows and damp bedding? Where camper condensation comes from on cold nights, and the simple habits that cut it down.
Camping Tips
Carbon Monoxide in a Closed Camper: The Rule Is the Detector
Cold weather means closed windows, furnaces and heaters running, and generators nearby. Why every camper needs a working CO alarm, where it goes, and when to replace it.
Camping Tips
Propane vs. Electric Heat on a Cold Night in the Camper
Your RV furnace, a ceramic space heater, a catalytic heater. What each costs to run, what each does to your battery and windows, and how to stay safe.
Camping Gear
RV Tank Heaters: What They Draw, and When They're Worth It
Tank heater pads keep fresh, grey and black tanks from freezing. How they work, how much battery power they use, and when cold-weather campers actually need them.
Camping Gear
Solar Panel Output on a Short Fall Day
A portable solar panel that kept up in July may not keep up in October. Why fall solar output drops, rough numbers to plan with, and how to get the most from…
Camping Gear
How Long Will a Power Station Run a Camping Fridge?
12-volt compressor fridges sip power, but they run all day. How to estimate how many days a mid-size power station will keep it cold, and the tricks that stretch it.
Camping Gear
A Power Station for a CPAP, Not for a Space Heater
A portable power station can run a CPAP all night. It can't run a space heater for long. How to figure out what size you need, and how to get more nights…
Campgrounds
Generator Quiet Hours, in Plain English
Why campgrounds limit generators, how to find the hours for your site, and how to keep the peace when the power is off and the furnace still needs a charge.
Camping Tips
Dump Station Open, Rinse Water Off: How to Empty Your Tanks
In fall, a lot of campgrounds shut off water but leave the dump station open. How to empty black and grey tanks without a rinse hose, and what to bring.
Camping Tips
A 50-Amp RV on a 30-Amp Site: The Adapter Is Not a Promise
A dogbone adapter lets a 50-amp rig plug into a 30-amp pedestal. It doesn't give you 50 amps. What happens, what you can run, and how to avoid melted plugs.
Campgrounds
Why Campgrounds Are Upgrading 30-Amp Sites to 50-Amp (and What a 30-Amp Site Won't Run)
A Nebraska state park closes its electric campground October 5 to upgrade 64 sites to 50-amp. Why older campgrounds are making the change, and what you can and can't run on a…