3 RV Accessories to Eliminate Winter Condensation Problems

It’s well known that winter condensation problems can be both annoying and detrimental to your RV over time. Windows full of condensation leak water that can delaminate fiberglass, rust metal frame work, rot wood structure, and ruin wall board and wall coverings  So it’s best, as they say, to “nip the drip in the bud” as soon as possible. Thankfully, there are affordable RV Accessories that can help you do that. Here’s a rundown on three of the best ones:

Eva-Dry Dehumidifiers

Adding an Eva-Dry Dehumidifier to your camper is one surefire way to beat back condensation problems. The company makes several different models that range in size from petite to high capacity. Some of the dehumidifiers, like the EDV-500 and EH-500F, do not require a power source and utilize renewable crystals. Others, like the EDV-2200 and EDV-1100, run on 120v electricity and feature a removable drip container. The drip container is designed to be easily emptied and cleaned in between uses.

Dri-Z-Air Cans & Crystals

The Dri-Z-Air Company also manufactures a handy condensation solution for campers. It consists of a canister that gets filled with odorless, non-flammable, water absorbing crystals. The crystals are made with a calcium chloride material that will need to be kept away from salt sensitive materials. If you do decide to go with the canister and crystal combination, keep in mind that you may need to buy more than one. In general, one unit is capable of only controlling moisture in a 10’ x 10’ interior camping space or less.

Roof Vents

Of course opening a window or roof vent can prove to be beneficial too. It will allow the excess hot air to escape, thereby reducing the camper’s interior humidity levels. There is an array of roof vents on the market today. Some feature power operated doors. Others require manual operation. They may be paired with other camper parts and supplies like Barker Vent Stik/Knob Kits. 

To make inquires and learn more about camper parts and supplies like these, please contact us at (866) 332-7881.

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Blue Ox Towing Products Let You Bring a Car Along on Your Motorhome Adventures

A motorhome lets you bring many of the comforts of home along as you explore new places, whether

they are historic sites, campgrounds or other tourist areas. Many new RV owners think they will be able to tour around in their motorhome, but quickly come to the realization that preparing the RV to travel after a nights sleep takes quite a bit of time.  Also parking becomes an issue as does clearance under bridges, building overhangs and entry gates.  Bikes or walking are an option, but you will miss out on everything other than what is close by to the campground. 

Bring a Vehicle Along
So wouldn't it be great to have a car or SUV to run around in? Then you could go exploring without needing to disturb your nicely settled in RV. So what are the options?  Well, you could go with a trailer which would allow you to tow pretty much any vehicle within the towing limits of your motorhome.  But, you have to find a place to store it and loading and unloading will get old pretty quick.  A tow dolly is easier to store at your destination, but requires you to tow a front wheel drive car or a car that could be towed 4 wheels down.  Our almost 20 years of experience towing a vehicle behind a motorhome points to using a tow bar and towing a car or SUV 4 wheels down.  And Blue Ox towing products is one of the most trusted name in towing a vehicle behind your motorhome safely and economically. 

Selecting the Right Equipment

Whether your a budget conscious motorhome owner who only plans to tow a few times a year or a weekend warrior who will be towing through out the camping season, selecting the right components the first time is key. But first the most vital piece of the puzzle is determining if the vehicle you own or plan to purchase is capable of being towed 4 wheels down.  Do not assume since you saw another RV'er towing a car 4 wheels down that it can be done, there are factors such as manual or automatic transmission, 2 wheel or all wheel drive or possibly add on aftermarket transmission pumps used.  Be sure to check with the manufacturer of the vehicle to be sure!  We have also found Motorhome Magazines Dinghy Towing guide to be a great resource.

Last year we put out an article called "Blue Ox Towing System For Towed Vehicles" which details everything you need to safely tow a vehicle behind your motorhome which we recommend for anyone researching the subject.  It reviews the 4 major components you will need to tow a car or SUV including; a baseplate that is attached to the frame of the towed vehicle, a tow bar which links the tow vehicle and the motorhome, the braking system which applies brakes to the towed vehicle and towing accessories which include wiring kits, safety products and protective equipment.

The most popular Blue Ox towing setup includes the following products:

• Tow Bar - The Blue Ox Aventa LX, this is a 10,000 lb rated tow bar which will cover most vehicles and features the innovative ball and socket joint design. This tow bar also includes safety cables which are required by law.
• Baseplate - These are vehicle specific and can be selected here.
• Braking System - Blue Ox Patriot which is portable and requires very little in the way of installation.  This includes a brake away system, again required by law based on tow weight ratings.
• Wiring - The Blue Ox 7 to 6 way coiled cable kit which extends the lighting from your motorhome to the front of your towed vehicle.  And the Demco Towed Wiring Kit which features a plug and play design to activate your towed vehicles brake & taillights.

All of these products can be found in our Towing Section and will have you up and towing in no time

If you would like help in selecting the best towing option for your needs, contact us, either online or by calling toll free 866-332-7881. RVupgrades.com wants to help you have most enjoyable and trouble free RV experiences possible.

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Hot New RV Accessories to Kick Off the 2014 Camping Season

In the past we would wait patiently for RV Accessory manufacturers to release the latest and greatest accessories to hit the market each spring.  Traditionally many would tease the product release in March or April and finally have stock available in June.   What they didn't realize is that most RV'ers spend the last half of winter researching and purchasing products for spring upgrades. So many of these items would sell poorly due to how late they where released into the market.  Well, we are happy to see this tradition begin to loose it's grip on the industry with many manufacturers rushing new products to market at all times of the year. Here are a few RV accessories that we really like to kick off 2014.

TST Flow Through Sensor Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Check out that compact monitor!  With so many in vehicle devices vying for space on your vehicles dash board, we are loving the compact size of this tire pressure monitor. Other great features are the flow through design of the tire sensors and the ability to change out the batteries without sending them back to the manufacturer.  Complete systems start with 6 tire sensors at industry leading pricing and monitors will handle up to 22 tire positions as your RV grows.

Click Here to check out the full line up of TST tire pressure monitors and accessories

Aervoe Battery Operated Red LED Road Flare

With a show of hands, how many of you have road flares packed away in your truck, motorhome or camper?  We are thinking more than a few cannot get that hand up.  And you probably have seen that poor family or couple on the side of the road; cars and trucks whizzing by, while they try and change a tire or wait for help with only hazards flashing. Can you say dangerous!  Well the Aervoe LED road flare is here to save the day.  Line 3 of these a couple of hundred feet back of the vehicle and motorist will have plenty of time to get over and give you room.  These compact units are easy to store and even easier to be seen with up to a 1/2 mile range.  The road flare is available with warning red LED's or caution amber LED's.

Click Here to improve you and your RV's roadside safety

Camco TastePURE Heated Drinking Water Hose

Full timers and die-hard RV'ers who sometimes take chances with the weather are going to love this heated water hose. The hose features machined, nickel-plated fittings, self-regulated heated wire which eliminates the need for thermostat or temperature controller (a point of failure in other heated hoses) and a feature we really like, both ends are female. So with the included female-to-male adapter you can more easily position the power plug close to the power source.  Heavy-duty heat shrink provides strain relief on both ends of the hose for less stress on the fitting and hose connection.  The hose has a 1/2" diameter and is available in 12', 25' and 50' lengths. Requires 120V  and has a 3 year warranty.

Click Here to keep your water flowing this winter

To stay on top of all of the new RV accessories that become available this year, check out our New RV Accessories category that is updated almost daily with new products.

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Best RV Accessories and Traveling Games for Dominoes Fans

Dominoes are one of those games that have been around for centuries. They also happen to have ties to more than one country. Some people claim that it was invented during the 12th century by the Chinese. Others assert that the game was the brainchild of Egyptians. All we can say with a surety is that the games’ many variations remain popular with today’s RVers.  With that said, here’s a look at a few of the best RV accessories and traveling games for dominoes fans:

Domino Trays

We think that every dominoes player needs a sturdy, wooden domino tray to keep his or her tiles in order during the game. That’s why Fundex Games’ Domino Trays tops our list of RV accessories for traditional gamers. They are sold four to a box, which is enough to hold 60 dominoes.

Highrise Dominoes

Modern day fans that crave a new variation of the game may appreciate Fundex Games’ Highrise Dominoes too. It comes with 12 spacers, 36 tiles and a square base. The game starts with one player strategically filling the base with eight tiles. The rest of the players are dealt five tiles each.

Each player’s mission is to use those five dominoes to cover the base. The tricky part is that each of the five dominoes must touch two matching tiles on the base. The scoring is identical to the traditional game. So the player with the most points wins.

Mexican Train Dominoes

Fundex Games also manufactures another version of the game called Mexican Train. It includes 91 tiles, which during the game are referred to as box cars. The set also includes a sound enabled, train station hub and train engine markers. Depending on the number of people in the game, each player is given a marker and 8 to 15 tiles. There is also a marker that’s designated as the Mexican train.

Once they’ve been dealt, the players place their markers near the hub. The markers are followed by box cars. Each player gets an opportunity to build his or her own straight train as well as add to the others. The game doesn’t end until someone goes out or all of the moves are exhausted. The person with the most points then gets to make train noises and is declared the winner.

To learn more about these items and other RV accessories that are ideal for keeping campers entertained, please contact us at RV Upgrades.

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RV Accessories that are Perfect for Keeping Camping Chefs Organized

It’s no secret that whether you’re cooking inside of your RV or outside over an open flame, herbs and spices are needed to make a meal complete. So today, we wanted to talk about a few RV accessories designed to keep the chef in the family well organized.

One of the most convenient RV accessories to incorporate into a kitchen is Spice Clips. As you might have guessed, they are ideal for keeping your RV spice collection in order. What we really like about this organizing system is the attachment system. The clips get affixed to the inside of your motorhome using 3M tape instead of nails or screws. So you don’t have to worry about permanently marring your motorhome’s interior in the name of organization. The 3M tape is very effective when it comes to holding the clips in place as well, we've had ours up for two years now and they are still perfectly in place.

We also love the fact that these can be cut down in to individual holders or any other configuration you may need.  Each clip set can hold 12 standard jars of spices at a time, which should be enough to prepare most campground cuisine. Seasoned culinary kings and queens of the road, however, may want to add another set or two. That way, they can prepare more exotic dishes on a whim

If your RV’s cabinets feature glass or otherwise see-thru facing, you may want to go with the Stayzz Kitchen/Bath Utility instead. It’s made of lightweight, self-adhesive, removable foam that’s designed to sit inside of a cabinet as opposed to hanging on a door or wall. This foam holder is capable of holding 11 spice containers that range in size from 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

Of course all of those motorhome accessories are well and good if you are cooking indoors. So at this point you may be ready to ask “What’s an outdoor chef supposed to do?” In our experience, for that situation, you may want to consider buying a Camco Table Caddy, a see-thru container or a small,portable tote. The table caddy is large enough to hold the simple things such as salt, pepper and sugar. The portable totes and containers will clearly be able to handle much more than that. To learn more about these organizing rv accessories, please check the store or contact us at (866) 332-7881.

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Camping Trailer Accessories: A Look at Camco’s Little Red Portable Campfire

Nowadays, many state parks and federal lands have rules that prohibit ground level or in-ground fires. Some areas also have strict restrictions on which fuel sources may be used to create camp fires. That said, it never hurts to have a backup plan in place. One camping trailer accessory that can effectively serve as a backup is the Camco Little Red Portable Campfire.

The Camco Little Red Portable Campfire does not run on firewood or charcoal. So there is no need to worry about firewood restrictions or ash residue disposal. It’s a self-contained beauty that runs on regular LP gas cylinders and features ceramic logs instead. The unit comes with a 9.5” ring burner, 11.25” fire tray, carrying handle and an 8’ propane hose for attachment purposes.

What we like about the Little Red, besides its self-contained portability, is the BTU output and adjustable flame. It makes achieving the right amount of light and heat very easy. The unit may be feasibly paired with other camping trailer accessories like a freestanding, metal, campfire grill or a couple of Rome Pie Irons. The campfire grill has a stake that is driven into the ground and allows for easy height adjustment. The Rome Pie Irons are compact and keep your Little Red Campfire from getting grease or melted cheese dripped onto the logs.

If you do decide to try and cook something over the portable campfire, remember that propane can leave black marks onto the bottom of metal pans. So you’ll want to try and remove them right away or use old cookware. Sometimes submerging the stained pans into a boiling hot, 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water will help to remove the stains. Commercial cleaners might be of use in such instances too. 

To learn more about camping trailer accessories like the Camco Little Red Portable Campfire, please contact us at (866) 332-7881.

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RV Accessories: A Closer Look at the Blue Ox Motorcycle Carrier I

Blue Ox Motorcycle Carrier I

Your RV is a means to embark on adventurous travels on the open roads of America. For some of us, being able to hop on our motorcycle to see the scenic sights makes for an an amazing and memorable journey. Here at RVupgrades we understand bringing your bike with your while you travel can be tough without the proper equipment, and the thought of leaving your motorcycle at home can be frustrating.

This is why we offer RV accessories perfect for the motorhome and motorcycle aficionado.  This month we are featuring the Blue Ox Motorcycle Carrier. A sturdy motorcycle carrier capable of being installed on to your motorhome quickly and easily, which is a big plus when it comes to the thought of bringing your bike along on the adventure.

This unique carrier allows you to bring your bike along for the journey and still have the ability to tow a vehicle with a tow bar. This is accomplished by welding the two included receivers to the frame of your motorhome and using the included receiver extension in your 2" receiver hitch. Blue Ox powder-coats the carrier effectively preventing rust and corrosion. The durable frame construction is guaranteed to not interfere with vehicle towing equipment and will fit most motorcycles due to the fully adjustable tire stop.

The Blue Ox Motorcycle Carrier I weighs approximately 130 lbs and is easily removed if the need should arise. The included tie down brackets and six inch wide tire rail will ensure your bike's safe and stable transport. Since the weight limit exceeds 900 lbs, you should have no trouble towing a cruiser-style or sport motorcycle.  

For more information on the Blue Ox Motorcycle Carrier or other RV accessories, please visit RV Upgrades.com. We proudly provide RV owners with the highest quality products and service for all your motorhome needs.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding our products.

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