Martin your videos are superb. I really appreciate your efforts in putting these videos together. You are a true asset to the RV community. I can’t thank you enough.
Tiffin class A 35": I built the equivalent to a "continental kit" on the back of the MH to carry a spare tire (not mounted on a rim), to give to roadside service to get me down the road and not have to pay the outrageous price for a spare tire off the service truck. Also carry an umbrella to quickly drop into the hole that a tree limb would create falling on the skylight above the shower. And keep extra beer on hand in case..........I run out of beer.
MARTINIZED again! I have a similar list of things, but I’m not as mechanically inclined so, for example, the serpentine belt is not in my coach. There were some things I carry that you didn’t mention. A 3 foot section of PEX PEX clamps Brass PEX fittings (tees, end plugs and elbows) Sharkbite shutoff valve - in case I don’t have the plumbing connections I need Tire plug kit - I don’t have a spare or room/weight to carry one 2 feet of Angle iron 3 feet of threaded rod A replacement mirror - (A trailer next to me at a Cracker Barrel left and broke off my driver side mirror. I had to fabricate one with the threaded rod & angle iron. (MacGyver would have been proud.) Wire - I have wire like you have tape! Romex, and various gauges of both stranded and solid wire. I wonder if the differences you will find in the comments are partially past experience (like my mirror incident,) personal knowledge (I’ve done more plumbing than engine work,) and of course knowing your rig.
I have a small towable. After getting a flat 1/2 way across country I decided to have two spare tires on the back of my trailer. I feel a lot more comfortable having it.
Martin, I so appreciate the time and effort that it takes for you to share your vast knowledge. We just recently purchased our first (new to us) rv. I have been researching, learning, collecting (for months !) as much information as I can so we don’t make big mistakes going forward. Like you, I want to know all the ins-and-outs so we’re prepared to maintain, repair or upgrade as needed. There are many good rv related RU-vid channels out there for sure but you two have put out the most informative and comprehensive videos I’ve seen thus far. Martin, you are such a good and thorough teacher and you are appreciated. Thanks again you two! You ROCK!
Martin your the best, I have taken your advice I carry many of the items you mention, two years ago we went camping in our Rv, our heater system went out, both of our heaters, coach propane heaters failed, I have since bought and carry all of the spare parts to repair our heaters so we can repair them, thank god I was had portable electric heaters, we had gotten through the camping trip with electric heaters. Thanks for the advise you provide.
Hey brother. I have the Tire Minder TPMS77 on the coach, dolly and rear car tires. I'm on the once a year battery & o-rings replacement plan for $5.00 every year. Good to have spare batteries and O-Rings for them. Doing my part to help you guys out when I order stuff. Thanks again. As always, I got your back. Steve Robinson
I think I'm about 65% there with my inventory of emergency parts and tools- more to go. Until I get my dead motorhome back and repaired though they don't do me much good LOL! I'm a firm believer in carrying an unmounted new spare. It rides in the toad, which is usually our small pick up. At least I'll have one if I'm in the middle of nowhere and need it. But you are so right- NO ROOM ON the Motorhome. One other part I'd suggest carrying is a coil or 2 if you own a gasser motorhome or pickup. They are so easy to change out quickly. All that said this is a great video!
I have learned so much from your videos, and I owe you a huge thank you. I'm a widow and have tried very hard to be independent. Could you expand on what you said about your battery charger/tender? I understand about charging and jumping the motor and toad battery. I'm hoping you could do a deeper dive into the Texas example you talked about.
• I'm hoping you could do a deeper dive into the Texas example you talked about* Not sure what Texas example you're speaking of but I'll try. When I bought our RV in 2016, one of the first things I did was replace our battery charger/aka the converter that charges the house batteries (batts) when plugged in or running on the generator. The factory charger/converter only charged the batt's at 1amp. It basically was a trickle charger. It was useless. So I replaced it with a Progressive Industries 4 stage converter. This converter charges my house batt's thru 4 different stages and keeps them healthy and makes the batt's last a whole lot longer. This is unit I'm talking about: www.amazon.com/dp/B000GASX9O?tag=onamzrvstreet-20&linkCode=ssc&creativeASIN=B000GASX9O&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1OLUPXWJ3B26S&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d_asin In addition to this unit I also installed a AMP-L-Start which is a little device that steals a little power from my house batteries and keeps the chassis battery topped off. I have a video coming out this spring that will go into this unit more. Hope this helps.
Martin I carry spare fuses for the coach and the e450 cab as well blus multi meter and everything electrical. Also 1/4 and 3/8 sockets ratchets and same for all types of wrenches both standard and metric plus different bits for you name it. Spare antifreeze and different lubes. The list goes further as yours so I’ll leave it there.
@@richardyoung5586 well if memory serves me right it should be under the steering column probably tucked under the plastic panel, if you look up there you should see it,, and by rights it might pull down so you can plug into it. Hope that helps
Another great vid Martin! You can carry just a spare tire (w/o rim) inside your basement on a Class A MH. That will save some money if you have an issue on the road. BTW, the expiration date on a tire is not a big deal to a tire that has not been mounted or used. As long as it’s protected from the elements. Just say’n! Keep up the great work, Sir!
•the expiration date on a tire is not a big deal to a tire that has not been mounted or used• Thank you CO but...... I totally disagree. Actually it is a big deal. Any tire begins to age the moment it comes off the assembly line whether it's protected from the elements or not, on a rack in a warehouse or sitting in at a tire dealer. This is why when you go to buy new tires you ALWAYS insist tires that have a DOT date no more than 6 months old. If they're older than and especially a year old or so then ask for a discount b/c they too know that the tire has begun to age.
@@RVstreet … Not totally true. This is the common conception, but, as long as the tire has not been subjected to the natural elements or has been mounted or used for it’s intended purpose. I can see where you would disagree, and I respect that. The same holds true for medication, canned food, and several other things that would not normally expire with a “suggested expiration date”. This is an industry standard required by the government. It does not always hold true though. I’m not trying to disrespect you or your views, but I’m here to offer a different perspective. Take it or leave it. You do a great job and I respect your opinion. Thanks Brotha!
@@COMtnPilot Ok kewl, I like a respectable debate. But your comparison to medication or food is not apples to apples. Tires are made from different materials and with chemical compounds. These chemical compounds are activated by heat. Heat is generated from running the tires. This is why when a simple question that is asked "how long do tires last, what is their life span and when should they be changed. It's a complicated answer and many, many things contribute to the correct answer. For example. • tires that are run often are much healthier than tires that sit for long periods of time. They are exercised and these chemical compounds are activated which contribute to the rubbers life • Proper PSI also contributes to the healthiness of tires • Over loading tires can be harmful too, to the life of a tire • An RV or any vehicle for that matter that just sits for long periods of time, those tires will expire and be unsafe to run under load MORE QUICKLY than tires on a vehicle operated often I could actually go on and make a very long list of things that either help the life or hurt the life of tires, but I think this makes my point. This applies to a spare tire too. Even though a spare may be protected, it just sits and none of the above happens to a spare. The suggested expiration date of meds and food is totally different but I know what your saying. Those items can actually last and be used a lot longer. But they do not need all the things tires need to stay healthy over time. It's just not the same. Here's a good read if you're interested that covers anything and everything about RV tires. It's pretty much the Tire Bible and written by Roger Marble-a man who has spent his whole in the tire industry in many capacities-and who is pretty much the authority on everything tires. www.rvtiresafety.net
I just happened on your Bluetti AC200P video tonight, and I found it so useful, I decided to subscribe to your channel and then watch some of your other videos! This one was really helpful, with lots of valuable tips. Thanks so much for these deep dives. There is no substitute for experience and/or institutional knowledge... and you've got all that in spades! Plus you are amazingly organized; very impressive. I really envy the wide range of skills you've acquired in your lifetime, and I can see how well it serves you in living this mobile lifestyle. Joanie is in good hands -- and I'm sure you two are a great team together. 👍😉 Oh, I forgot to say: after researching dozens of models of LifePo4 portable power stations, for the last couple of years, I did finally decide on grabbing that Bluetti AC200P tonight -- following your very favorable review and explanation of how you maximize use of it -- since today's the final day of their Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales and it was discounted to $1,119.00. I hope I'll be as satisfied with mine as you are with yours! Thanks again. 👌✔
You are so welcome and thank you so much LIU for all those kind words 🔧 🙏 You're really going to like your Bluetti and WOW you got a really good deal. Maybe come back later on on that Bluetti video and comment on how you used it and like it. Hopefully you bought it thru my Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/rvstreet
LOL, I think you and Martin would have gotten along great but Martin lost his battle with cancer and is in the loving arms of the lord. I have sold the motorhome and had a tiny home placed on our lot so Mission is now my permanent home.
Great video. Very helpful. We are now hitting the road in our Winnebago Sightseer, now in North Texas, heading South for Christmas. We chatted about the spare tire once before, it still worries me not having one. I understand your point in not having one, but geeze, maybe just carrying the tire without the wheel would suffice not having to locate one in a pinch. I had a back up RV water pump and had to install it a month into our trip. Appreciate your other suggestions. Keep the weather nice Martin, headed your way!
Even weekend warrior campers should take note of this Martin. Wait times and costs for maintenance are crazy so take the precautions and carry parts as you expertly recommend to enable you to keep getting out at weekends. Awesome advice as usual! Thank you.
I just bought two of the same camper and pull two in tandem. Use one for parts 😂😂. Time to go lithium. Can get 100ah for $350 with freeze cutoff. Big performance difference.
Martin you have a spare one of your dual ! Your videos are awsome Martin !!!you guys do a great job on informing others of what may be needed Furnace board Sail switch High limit Blower motor Water fittings Water pipe Water heater anode rod Water heater Eliment Water addapter 3/4 npt to pex Pex ring crimper plyers Spear 30 or 20 lp tank what ever your flavor Spare 2 stage reg, and lp hoses I changed mine over soft white led lites Fuses High amp car chager 30 ton boddle jack Jack stands Electric heaters watch 15 or 17 watt heaters need use all 15 amps of one breaker if you hqve 30 amp service your at 1/2 capasity . Have some drop cords to plug into shore power. I may revise this when i have more time .
Yep whatever you think you need for your RV. I mean, I carry a lot of stuff that wasn't mentioned in the video to do repairs, maintenance etc. Fans that follow me know that stuff. I cover it a lot in my videos. That stuff is different in my book. But this was my list of critical parts. Every bodies list will be different.
Thanks so much for your great videos! I pretty much carry almost everything that you do but I still need to pick up a few items. If I may add, my shower drain leaked on our way from Florida to California,(the threads cracked on the P-trap, I think it was that way from the factory I tightened it by hand multiple times, until I finally found the issue )I had to stop in Biloxi Mississippi at four different stops to get the right plumbing fittings, because it’s a Weird size on the black PVC that’s used on these RVs. I now carry some small, black PVC plumbing drain pipes and extra P-trap! I also carry a spare, drinking safe water hose. I hear yeah about the spare. I struggled with it myself, but I wound up getting a bumper carrier, modified and welded to my bumper. I can’t be without a spare. Even if you have roadside, they may not come with your tire size! if you’re stuck out on a highway or desolate stretch of road , like i10, where there’s no help, you’ll be crippled for days!
@@RVstreet it was the P-Trap at the bottom of the shower pan. The factory must of over tightened the nut that tightens up the trap to the tail pipe, it was cracked. I had a water leak sensor under the pan and it went off one day when I was showering. It’s in a had to reach area. One note, if you ever need to find black PVC pipe or fittings, mobile home supply places have them!
Martin, I’ve been trying to find a video I think you made. I have the same coach and went to start it yesterday and there’s zero power to dash. Battery is fine. I’m thinking it may be one of the (I may be using wrong verbiage) solenoid in the electrical bay behind driver steer. I think you carry one. Still trying to diagnose. I hate to ask with you dealing with cancer but hope you can direct me to video. Thanks and take care.
Well after looking at all the options, our budget and our needs, I chose this one and couldn't be happier. It's in my Amazon Store in the "Everything Electrical" category. www.amazon.com/shop/rvstreet Here's my video on this unit: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RraxjVpLhUc.html
Ok,I just put the link in the very first comment. Also, if you are having a tough time finding info and links under each video, please watch this video I did to help you: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bprAsHO7-F8.html Thank you Charles
Hi Martin I bought an RV that needs inside work from water damage I'm wondering if I should just sell cheap and get something newer I am handicapped and can't work on things like I used to what's your advice
The used market isn't what it was earlier this year or the past 18 months where you could of gotten a much higher price for a used RV. Dealer lots are full of used RV's now and can't get rid of them. I mean, I don't know your money situation but money isn't an issue that may be an option. But since your health has been going down lately and your unable to fix the damage maybe trading it in is the best option for you and get take the hit. If it's not that bad of water damage maybe having it fixed is the best way to go. Hard to say. 😎
I have a diesel so I also carry 2 two foot air hoses for the brakes and a coupler to make 1 four hose for the real bakes (the front brakes hose is 2 foot. ) I also carry an electrical air compressor and hoses ect for it. As you know with air brakes with a loss of air you will not be moving the coach. I also carry extra fuel filters for the motorhome and generator.
Another helpful video, thanks. But where and how do you store all these parts? We have a 2014, 38", Itasca (Winnebago) Suncruiser, similar to yours in basement layout. I am certain I could get rid of some stuff to make some room. Share some of your organizational strategies with us.
I have one bay on the drivers side that is dedicated to tools, parts, lubes, electrical stuff, bottle jack, cleaning and polishing gear, small power tools etc. I have 4,600lbs of CCC so I have plenty of room and weight to carry all this. For others reading this comment that have a smaller RV, you just have to be more select on what you can carry and where you put it. Sometimes some of this can be stored in the tow vehicle or truck that tows a pull behind in places where it doesn't get in the way.
@@RVstreet I need to clear out the stuff I have not used for awhile. I am retied Army, so I lean into preparedness as well. Now that our RV is 8 years old its time to review my priorities. Spare parts should be closer to the top of that list. The RV isn't the only thing getting older 🙂. I appreciate everything you do.
I carry a spare side view mirror. It's left/right compatible. I travel solo and once had the mirror snap off on a very narrow bridge with oncoming traffic. Also had my mirrors sidewipped by big trucks but fortunately only cosmetic damage.
Hey Martin, I listened and bought the parts you suggested. Well, yesterday I spoke to a vendor here in Quartzsite who I’ve gotten to know well. And he said one of the main companies that he buys from has 2800 items for sale. Of those 900 of them were sold out and no info when they’re restocking them. Glad I listened! Thank you!!!
How can I get in touch with you? (I'm not on fb.) I am relatively new RVer (over a year) and I discovered your channel and have started watching and learning. I wanted to support you by using your Amazon portal, both for things on your lists, and other things. After I put one item in my cart, it seems to lose your store, and I don't see anything in the cart area that says my purchases are from your store. How can I get back to your store, and verify at checkout you get credit? Thanks.
Hi Tom, There isn't any other way to get in touch other that FB messenger, but you can discuss things with me here in the comment section if you want. Here's my Amazon Store link: www.amazon.com/shop/rvstreet Save this link somewhere or book mark it in your browser and then use it the next time you need to shop on Amazon. When you get to my store, off to the right you'll see FOLLOW. Click that and now it will say FOLLOWING The next time you want to buy anything from Amazon click the link above. Then...shop for items in my store OR shop on Amazon like you normally would for anything. Toys, clothes, computers, crafts, it doesn't matter. Once you find what you want, put them in the cart and you have to check out within 24hrs. for me to get credit. There's no way for you to verify that I'm getting credit but if you do the way I just outlined I will get credit. And thank you so much for taking the time and caring enough to ask. It means a lot. 🔧
I just started watching your channel. I am just like you. I carry backup parts. A few years ago my e450 started going through calipers. I also carry my tools we bought the BT Cruiser from an older couple low mileage. I think it sat outside it was 8 when we got it. After changing 2 caliper on roadside I changed other 2 did a full break bleed installed heavy duty emergency rig pads. That was only issue we had with RV I been carrying in box for new not rebuilt 4 new Calipers with rubber break hoses. Of course they been fine but I feel better knowing I can be ready in middle of nowhere and have to be towed and pay through the noise. I also had road service and one Sunday had tire issue valve issue. We were stuck on side of road 3 hours waiting for them to find service to put on my spare. After that day I said I’m never gonna feel stuck and unsafe again. I bought a compact power tool I can start generator pull off lugs change my spare myself I bought heavy duty bottle jack easily like 15,000 pound RV just need to lift 1 inch. My coach is in a big garage out of weather and practice pulling inside rear duelers off they spin right off. I could do tire change in 10 min. Of course I chock wheels. I installed 500 watt solar system not a cheap China made system but a good safe system I built. If generator went out I can still use impact wrench to spin out lugs All my lugs are torque right so I don’t get frozen lugs. Just replaced spare so it’s fresh I also went through finding weight at Cat to adjust proper pressure to tires rear psi is 80 but front requirements are now 65 factory chassis was 80 psi Our 28 ft 1 smaller slide coach loaded is about 1500 pounds under max it’s a smaller coach on E450 I like knowing we are nowhere near fully loaded it also reflects our MPG where flat towing a manual Ford Ranger I average 11 mpg we hardly come out of overdrive. I never push coach light foot pedal staying between 63-65 I enjoy your channel I picked up things I gotta get.
Spare parts and tools are always a must with traveling because you never know that is going to happen on the road. It sounds to me like you have it all under control my friend. Safe travels to you.
My heart is deeply saddened by the news of Martin's passing. I extend my sympathies and prayers 🙏. He will be missed and the RV community and everyone he has made contact with.
Hi martin, I am constantly trying to find your RV store. Why can you just provide a link where I can get to it quick without doing all this searching. I have been searching for an hour today
Thank you Martin, I buy a lot of things through Amazon and because you are providing this information, I would gladly buy this through your site. I just bought this fifth wheeler and without you I would have never known how to fill a fresh water tank. I have a friend here with me and we call this going to RV school since we are both newbies
@@charlesharris9839 Thank you so much Charles. Since you're having trouble finding links and additional information I put under each video, watch this video I did. It will really help you: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bprAsHO7-F8.html
