What NOT To Buy For Your RV!
Many RV Life bloggers and vloggers, including us, spend a lot of time telling new RVers what they need to or should buy for their RV! I'd like to discuss some things that you should never buy! Some of these items can actually do damage to your RV and some of them are just a waste of money.
If you want to know the "Essentials for RV'ing", check out that blog!
- A Compact Washer & Dryer - Yes, I know that many consider having a washer & dryer in their RV is like the ultimate prize! However, you must consider the load size of these RV appliances. Even if you're only traveling as a couple, you'll have to be almost constantly doing laundry just to keep up. Add to that having to do your bedding and you'll likely find yourself at either a laundromat or at the RV park laundry room anyway. Personally, we've found that just using the laundry room at an RV park is our best choice. Although not all will be quite as extensive or well maintained as the one that we currently have, they're all still functional and, with the machines in nearly constant use, they stay clean.
- RV Toilet Paper - Now, this is one of my real "pet peeves" when it comes to the RV Industry. Companies have played off of RV owner's fears of a clog to market "RV & Marine Toilet Tissue". First of all, the typical RV toilet paper sells for $3.47 per 100 sheets! The "Angel Soft" septic safe toilet paper that we use and have been using for years, sells for $0.22 per 100 sheets!! I have said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, ANY septic safe toilet paper is sufficient for use in an RV! With the possible exception of "Cottonelle" which, in our experience, did not break down as a septic safe toilet paper should.
- A "Toilet Wand" or "Sensor Cleaner Chemical" - One thing that I think everyone just needs to accept is that tank sensors on these RV's are, literally, useless. Bottom line is that, after you've used your toilet once, the sensors become unusable and untrustworthy. My current sensor reading states that my black tank is full and that grey tank 1 is partially full. I can unequivocally state that both are currently empty. The best way to determine if your black tank needs to be dumped is to look for "the burp". When your black tank needs dumping, there will be a "burp" of water when you flush. That means that the tank is nearing full and needs maintenance. Once you get comfortable with that method, you'll establish a "rhythm" and be able to know that your tank needs dumping even before the burp happens. For us, for example, it's every 4 days. Of course, based on the population of your rig and your own bathroom habits, your mileage may vary.
- Slide Jacks or Slide Stabilizers - Now this is an item that can do serious damage to your RV! RV slide outs are designed to move with your RV. They are also designed to handle the weight of any furniture in them along with the people using that furniture. If you use these stabilizers, you'll be preventing the slide outs from moving as your rig settles. The pressure on the slide outs can cause the seals to become unseated, causing leaks, the slide out tracks to crack and, in extreme cases, could cause the slide out to become unseated. These slide stabilizers are dangerous and unnecessary for your RV and do far more damage than help. Avoid slide stabilizers for your RV at ALL COSTS!
For more detail, check out the video below: