November 2012
Battery Filling
RV batteries need regular service, and sometimes they are mounted in a location that makes it difficult to see into the cells to determine whether they need water. For years, I used a flashlight and a mirror attached to a stick, which wasn’t easy to do. Then one day my brain decided to work and I remembered that back in the days before sealed batteries, there were battery fill bottles that automatically filled cells to the proper level. After checking with several automotive stores, I found one at O’Reilly Auto Parts. The cost was $10, but now it takes only five minutes to fill all four of my 6-volt batteries instead of it being a 30-minute, back-breaking ordeal.
Jerry and Jan Nickeson, F358306
Webb City, Missouri
Magnetic Trap
Whenever I change the oil in my motorhome engine, I remove the metallic “fuzz” that collects on the magnetic drain plug. I have found that much more of this metal contamination can be isolated by using a speaker magnet attached to the end of my engine oil filter. That magnet is much stronger than the one in my drain plug, and upon opening a used filter, I discovered much more steel “sludge” than my drain plug had been catching.
Frank Woythal, F291956
Andover, New York
Organization
I’ve discovered that the key to maximizing storage space is to organize, organize, organize. Soon after we purchased our motorhome, I measured all of the cabinets and shopped for containers that would fit inside the cupboards and make it easier to keep their contents in order.
The cupboard over the galley sink posed the biggest challenge. I needed containers that would prevent large and small items from shifting all over the place when we traveled yet still be easy to access when we stopped. I purchased two large plastic drawers that fit perfectly and now use them to keep canned goods, dry goods, nuts, and candy all organized neatly. Next, I invested in a brand of plastic container that offered various sizes that would stack easily in the remaining cupboard space. It was the perfect solution for me.
Pamela Pelc, F378729
Livingston, Texas
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