Author: Mr. CheapyPants

New RV Shopping List

So you or someone you know has a new RV. How exciting. If it is used you may get some of the products below but I hope that this would then just serve as a helpful checklist. When I sold my last trailer I passed on all the accessories so the below is what I need to go get myself. Explanations on what/why are added. I’d appreciate it if you dropped me a note if I have missed anything!

If you are interested, I put all the products below into an Amazon New RV Shopping List

#1 – A Good Sewer Hose

I really don’t enjoy dealing with the waste. It is still a job that needs to be done. I’m one thrifty person that will say to you “Don’t cheap out on your RV Sewer hose!”. The LAST thing you want is for a cheap hose to break or come disconnected while you are unloading pee and poo.
I recommend you watch the movie “RV” with Robin Williams and you will see what I mean.
I like this RhinoFLEX hose a lot. I have purchased a couple of travel trailers and the first thing I’ve done is throw away the cheap hose they come with. This RhinoFLEX kit is quite likely more than you will need but it is great value. I really like the clear elbow and the sani connector.

#2 – A Torpedo Level
Having a good torpedo level is very useful for checking the level of the RV before putting slide out or setting everything up. It is small and light. I like the magnetic side and find it useful to stick it to the trailer frame. This Craftsman Torpedo level on Amazon is just perfect and that is why it gets such great reviews.

Note that if you have manual stabilizers, it will impact the level of the rig. You still use this level to double check.

If you have automatic leveling stabilizers this torpedo level will still be useful when you want to confirm. I love mine and use it every trip.

#3 – Water Pressure Regulator

The water pressure at campgrounds and RV parks will fluctuate. You never know what you are going to get and a spike in pressure could lead to some costly plumbing repairs. So consider this as insurance to protect you internal plumbing. It will regulate, or limit, the water pressure coming in to your rig. I have always used a Camco Water Pressure Regulator on my RVs so I don’t have any horror stories to share. So far so good!

#4 – Wheel Leveling Blocks
I put this in at 4 because you could survive with just some blocks of wood. However, wood will always be less than ideal as it will not stay put and eventually you will be rockin’ in your trailer.
These Anderson Leveler wheel chocks are loved by many and will hold your rig after helping with the task of making things level.
The one thing about most of these chocks that I don’t like is that they have a lot of holes in them where spiders make webs and this makes them dirty looking. I’ll figure a solution for this some day.

#5 – 90 Degree Connector for Fresh Water Connection
Without this your fresh water hose will hang straight out and will be prone to get knocked around, bend and kink. Connect this 90 degree connector to your fresh water intake and it will be easy to connect the water pressure regulator and your fresh water supply line hose.

#6 – Holding Tank Treatment Tabs
Even if you are only allowing your residents to tinkle and have no poops, the holding tank will still stink.   Dropping in a treatment tab is a cheap way to limit odor and maintain your black tank.

Tip: Add water to your toilet bowl and don’t fully flush.   Let some water build up.  Then drop in a tab, wait about 10 minutes for it to dissolve, and flush. If you buy a larger bag you can get these down too under $2/packet. However, I recommend just getting the 10 pack. It will last you 10 trips and you don’t have to carry around 50 packets.

#7 – Air Blowout Adapter
While the RV Antifreeze is necessary for drains. If you have an air compressor that you can use this to bd the water, it saves time when you de-winterize. It also will require less RV Antifreeze.

#8 – RV Antifreeze
If you happen to live in an area that gets a real winter where temperatures drop below freezing then you will want to get some of this. Certainly to put in the drains but if you don’t use an air compressor to clear your pipes, you will want to buy a couple jugs of RV Antifreeze to run through your plumbing. To do this, you pour them in to your fresh water tank and run the pump until this red fluid comes out of your faucet. Do this for each faucet! When you un-winterize it will be a process of dumping all your fresh water tanks, filling with water, emptying again and do this a few times until you can’t see the red/pink antifreeze.

#9 – Snap on Trailer Mirrors
I have used these snap on trailer mirrors for years and really like them because:
a) They are easy to install
b) They are quick to install
c) They provide great visibility
d) They protect the factory mirror

#10 – Hot Water Anode Socket
So eventually you will need to check and maybe replace the anode in your hot water heater. These anodes will eventually wear down. RV Aluminum Anode Rods extend the life of your RV water heater by attracting corrosive elements in the water. This will protect the tank and elements from corrosion.
I typically am replacing mine every 2 to 3 years. This Camco Socket is very useful to remove the anode. I use this with my Milwaukee Impact Driver (Love this set) which makes it all light work.

Check out my Amazon New RV Shopping List with all of the above listed for your ease of use.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Future RV’ers Biggest Mistake

Getting out to explore and enjoy the great outdoors is like a soothing cream being applied to the burns of work and city stress. Getting out in an RV will simplify life and allow you to properly balance your activities by what is good for you. Time to read, exercise, relax and talk with friends will make up a bigger piece of the pie. Yes you can still do some work on the road thanks to modern technology of mobile data, cellular boosters, and backup power.

So what is the biggest mistake that future RV’ers make? They over-think things! Yes the hardest part of the journey is walking out the front door. My advice is to just get started! I’ve owned a tent, a tent trailer, a hybrid trailer, and a light weight bunkhouse trailer with a slide. As I look back, I have no regrets!

The tent trailer and hybrid trailer were both fantastic for being open, airy, and would keep you dry through the rainy days. We always liked opening up the tents on these trailers on those hot summer days and let the summer breeze flow through while looking out over the lakes and ocean. Ahh those great afternoon naps!

I don’t know what RV is right for us? Most likely your first RV will be great for 4 to 6 years. Go to a couple of RV shows, make a list of what features you like, and start! Go get something that fits most of your needs, budget, and tow-ability and go do it! If you are buying new I recommend reviewing my post on buying on selling RVs (coming soon). It is so thrilling to get out your first few times in your RV. It surpasses that experience of replacing you car. Whether you get a tent trailer, a small fiberglass, or a 25′ trailer, you will have a lot of fun figuring it out!

What about depreciation? Yeah a little, but the savings over hotels, and the benefit of the experiences make me quickly not care about depreciation and I just factor it in to the cost of living. I will post later on buying and selling RVs. We decided early on that the most important investment for our old age will be memories over money. We accept that there will be a time when we are no longer able to travel and explore. At that time, we’d rather have albums of photos and memories over a pile of money.

What about maintenance? All assets require regular maintenance to prevent premature failure. The nice thing about trailers is that they are relatively easy to maintain. Also there are a hundred videos for fixing everything from hot water heaters to pumps. Also, almost all of the manufacturers put in the same equipment. Dometic or Norcold refrigerators, Suburban heaters and stoves… etc. You will need to winterize if you live in the colder climates and then in the spring do a season preparation.

Winterizing does not take that much time! The main goal is to prevent damage caused by freezing water in the water supply and drain pipes. I also recommend using an RV Cover to protect your RV from the damaging Sun’s ultraviolet rays. Freezing water and the sun are the two most damaging things for an RV.

So start now! Make it a goal to be out there RVing as soon as you can and Don’t Over Think It! Time is passing us all by and the sooner you start, the more memories you will have.

Stocks, Markets and Training for Newbies

When my sons were old enough to open their trading accounts they were quite anxious to put their life savings into the market. They are twins and what I was interested to see their different interests and styles play out.

Before they started trading I gave them this “Dad Advice”:
– I’ve lost the most in the market from “Tips” and hunches
– I like Exchange Traded Funds when I want to invest in a market segment and not think much about the day to day management
– When I buy shares in a specific company, I buy companies that I would actually want to own
– I have done better in sticking to investing in companies that I understand
– I have lost a lot in trying to time the market. Mostly due to my lack of understanding of day trading. So I’m not saying it is bad, just that you need to educate yourself on how to evaluate the risk.

My sons’ investments included ETF’s and company shares. Twin-A stuck to tech stocks. After a few months his market value was 10% down from his investment. “Dad! Should I get out?” I told him to not time the market. His share in TSLA took a dive soon after he bought. He kept it and now, less than 2 years later, has seen his share triple in value. He bought TSLA simply because he likes what the company is doing to make the world better. Update: Today TSLA announced a 5:1 split. My son is elated.

Twin-B bought some tech stocks like MSFT which did well. He also bought and later sold some Ralph Lauren. After selling RL he bought LuLu. I asked him why LuLu. “I bought LuLu because they are growing a men’s line and they are doing pop up stores”. He made a lot of money on LuLu because he was right on his rational and from some thing unexpected….Covid created this new health equipment/clothing buying frenzy. Then he thought the price was too high and sold it, making a nice profit. Unfortunately for him, his timing was wrong and LuLu continued to go nuts.

Both of my sons have more than doubled their money in 18 months. I’ll continue to enjoy watching them make some good decisions, and talking about the bad ones.


Learning –

Real Life Trading – I enjoyed the course modules offered by Real Life Trading.
This site appeals to me because it is good, easy to understand advice and practical. Sometimes a little “heady” meaning I need to give my brain som exercise. Check out Real Life Trading: https://www.reallifetrading.com/

Great videos to learn about when to buy and hold, when to sell etc.
RLT Class – 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNRM-UX_TNw
RLT Class – 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sb-cY67pao
RLT Class – 3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khdkPb68dz4
RLT Class – 4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIrpRzPr54U

Cramer Mad Money – https://www.cnbc.com/mad-money/
I go to this site because it is unique, informative, and entertaining. I’m drawn to how broad Jim Cramer’s knowledge is of the market. I get ideas and inspiration here.