Top products from r/RVLiving

We used this one https://www.amazon.com/RV-Tissue-Digester-19-Thetford/dp/B000GPO6FO

It took a couple of days. Be very careful when it unclogs. Almost every fulltimer has horror stories about black tanks and wearing them!

Once you’ve freed the blockage you might like to use on of the products others are suggesting for doing a clean out of any residue. I prefer the Thetford products but they’re often more expensive than competitors.

Now, about your toilet paper. Septic safe paper isn’t great in RVs but you really don’t need to buy anything special. We don’t. Like lots of others we stick with Costco’s Kirkland paper. The really important thing is to use plenty of water. Most toilet manufacturers recommend filling the toilet 2/3rds with water. This gives a bit of power to the flush. Adding a squirt of laundry fabric softener makes the sides of the pipes slippery and doesn’t usually interfere with enzymes. (FWIW we only use enzymes a couple of times a year).

As long as you use plenty of water and don’t go overboard with tp use you aren’t likely to block up. If you’re boondocking and conserving water try throwing used wet tp into a bag to dispose of later. Please flush the poop paper. Nobody wants that stuff in trash bins.

Hope this helps!

I recommend one of these!

https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-Tandem-Changing-Change-Trailers/dp/B000I4JPZE

They run about $40.00 or so, depending on the weight rating. They are ideal for dual axle trailers. No need to even fuss with a jack, even if you do have one. They never go back in the way they came out, anyway.

I watched a friend get a flat on his boat trailer. He used the trailer aid and was done in 15 minutes. I’ve used it with our TT when we got a flat. Works like a charm, super easy. Probably safer and more stable than a traditional jack.

A few more things:


Camco 40043 TastePURE RV/Marine... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006IX87S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

303 (30306) Aerospace Protectant,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XBCURW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Camco RV Brass Inline Water... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BZD08U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

These are fun but not a requirement:

MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KYPDPKC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

MPOWERD 1004-005-001-002 Luci Lux... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076JSCMPG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Again not a necessity but I like it, keeps your water house pointed down not out

The Everything Candida Diet Book:... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BZD03K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Love this because depending on where you are, it’s really nice to have an extra water source for washing things and keeping dust down on the road

2wayz All Metal Body Garden Hose Splitter. Newly Upgraded (2017): 100% Secured, Bolted & Threaded. Easy Grip, Smooth Long Handles y Valve https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019MS0HK8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fOhxDb2J6NVSQ

For long term stabilization I would look at these- Stabilization Jacks

Clothes storage in the bunks is interesting. For folded clothes I would look at bins/baskets or lightweight plastic dressers. For hanging clothes I would look at installing removable clothes rod(s)

Hope these ideas help!

I switched us over to the Anderson levelers and love them. FWIW, were in a 31’ Apex.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GC2LVM/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_fH9MDbV7X16X9

Get a pressure limiter to put on your hose inlet to the camper.

Camco RV Brass Inline Water Pressure Regulator- Helps Protect RV Plumbing and Hoses from High-Pressure City Water, Lead Free (40055) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BZD08U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DjnPDb5XWP2Q9

Tire Pressure Monitoring system.

Kitchen Paper Holder Hanger Tissue Roll Towel Rack Bathroom Toilet Sink Door Hanging Organizer Storage Hook Holder Rack

Touch Screen Backup Camera Dash Cam

Bluetooth Receiver/FM Transmitter/Car Charger with Bluetooth 4.2, Car Locator, App Support, 2 USB Ports, PowerIQ, AUX Output, and USB Drive to Play MP3 Files

Wall-Mounted Paper Towel Holder


3-Chamber Soap and Shower Dispenser


12 Volt Oscillating Fan

I use this one for dual batts on a Ford F350. It does very well throughout the winter.

A pair of two way rechargeable radios. Somebody goes on a little hike or walk, take a radio with you. Come in handy all of the time.

This book I ordered a week ago. Young guy explains the solar basic concepts in detail and can be used as a step by step guide. He also has a YouTube channel.

You can use a food stand, a no spill mat, or a water fountain bowl

https://www.amazon.com/ParkPower-301ELRV-Power-Inlet-Stainless/dp/B000E3V9R6

And


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015Y9MX38/ref=psdcmw_2230642011_t2_B003AL23TC

Look for a single axel locking chock or a Bal single axle leveling jack. This will reduce movement from the wheels moving.
BAL 28050 Light Trailer Tire Leveler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BH5MAA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PgjnDbAFSK55S

BAL 28020 Single Axle Tire Chock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UGPEJA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MhjnDbYSRYTW1

I've been living in a 19' Class B van for a bit over a year now. It's perfectly doable. If you're willing to do a little work, you can get quite a good deal on one that size.

If you're going to be stationary, you will need an external propane tank for heat. You'll probably have an onboard propane tank, and I'd fill it for emergencies, but due to the frequency of fills in winter you'll want one you can haul to town while leaving your trailer in place.

For sewer, you can dump right into one of these and either use your parents septic (assuming that's what they're using in the country) or haul it to an RV dump.

Barker (31342) Tote Tank - 30 Gallon Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MA2YLK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9ijUDbVCF14PY

If you have any specific questions about living lite, hit me up.

If I were in your position, I'd install one of these on the van, and then cut the female end off of a 10AWG cord like this and wire the remaining male end of the 20A extension cord, to the female end of the first kit.

The inlet door will never come open from driving down the road with the above inlet, it latches, exceptionally well. There's no twist-lock, it uses a patented latch to stay in place. Additionally, if you ever did find yourself needing to use the 30A RV plug on a generator or campground's power pole, all you'd have to do, is buy one of these and use it in place of your 20A setup. No rewiring needed.

I've installed a couple dozen of the smartplugs, and have yet to see one fail.

Mine was caused by the vacuum breaker on the shower hose that connects to the mixer. The water was following the shaft of the valve down the hole it comes out of the cover on the mixer, and filling up the cover until it was high enough to flow into the holes that the water pipes from through the backing board and shower wall. I fixed mine by putting a drain hole at the bottom of the cover and using silicone to block off most of the gap the little gasket misses in the cover hole that the vacuum breaker goes through.

Since you are going to take it apart, I suggest pitting a check valve on your hot water side to prevent the cold blast of water that comes from shutting the shower head off while lathering with soap. I also suggest putting a "no-trickle" valve between the shower hose and the vacuum breaker so you can shut the water off without closing the hot and cold valves (messing up your set temp) or using the trickling shower head shutoff that ends up loading the hose with cold water.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XVS17PA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDUTN6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Edit: I have a 2013 Keystone hideout 23RKSWE

Get a Kill A Watt device and measure how much power it’s using.

https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU

I’d actually expect a PC to be fairly minimal (vs appliances that make heat or cooling).