Pill Organizer
It is not our place to remind you of the importance of taking the right medications at the right time. We can, however, suggest something that might help keep that routine running smoothly.
The Lewis N. Clark AM/PM Pill Organizer is a lightweight polyester carrying case with an adjustable fastener to keep its contents secure. The 16 individually labeled pouches, each with slide-lock closures, are color-coded for daytime and nighttime use. A medical reference card is included. When folded, the organizer is 8 inches by 4 inches by 1 inch. The suggested retail price is $12.99.
LCI Brands
2781 Katherine Way
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(312) 455-0500
www.lcibrands.com
Antislip Tape
Sure, you try to watch your step, but slips, trips, and falls can happen, resulting in at best a bruised ego and at worst a serious injury. To help keep you on solid footing, there’s Duck brand Tread Tape.
The black skid-resistant tape has a permanent adhesive backing that can be applied to RV steps, ladders, walkways, or any surface indoors or outdoors that you want to make less slippery. A package of Tread Tape, 5 yards long and 2 inches wide, sells for $10 to $14 at home improvement stores.
ShurTech Brands LLC
32150 Just Imagine Drive
Avon, OH 44011
(800) 321-0253
www.duckbrand.com
Combo Brush
Okay, so it may not hold a place among the world’s all-time great combos such as Churchill and Roosevelt, or bacon and eggs, but the Combo Deck Brush from Shurhold Industries might just make cleaning your motorhome’s exterior a little easier.
The 6-inch brush combines long, soft fibers for washing with medium-short, stiffer fibers for scrubbing. Pushing down on the brush allows the stiffer fibers to go to work on stubborn spots. The brush is made with a solid wood block and features a rubber wraparound bumper to prevent scratching the surface of a vehicle. The brush snaps into any Shurhold handle. The suggested price of the Combo Deck Brush is $33.98.
Shurhold Industries
3119 S.W. 42nd Ave.
Palm City, FL 34990
(800) 962-6241
(772) 287-1313
www.shurhold.com/rv
Central Vacuum
The Dirt Devil CV1500, a central vacuum system from H-P Products, lends itself to quick tidying jobs as well as deep-cleaning sessions in the RV. The unit offers flexible mounting options and can be installed in an out-of-the-way place. Its crushproof, 7-foot-long hose expands to 35 feet, making it possible to clean all sorts of motorhome surfaces, from carpet to cabinets to countertops. Dirt and debris are stored in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter bag that is said to capture 99.97 percent of particles that are 0.3 micron and smaller.
The system includes an adjustable, one-piece telescoping wand; 10-inch rug and floor tool; dusting brush; upholstery and crevice tools; and three HEPA filter bags. The unit is 7.5 inches by 7 inches by 14.5 inches and weighs 14 pounds. It draws a maximum of 11.7 amps. Its price is $399.50.
H-P Products
512 W. Gorgas St.
Louisville, OH 44641
(330) 875-5556
www.dirtdevilrv.com
Desktop TV Mount
Not every RV needs a wall-mounted TV. If placement on a desk, table, or counter works best, you might consider the Master Mount Desktop RV TV Mount from McNaughton Inc.
With your TV securely screwed to a flat surface, you’ll have no worries of children or pets knocking it over; a bump in the road sending it crashing to the floor; or a thief making off with it, should you leave your coach unattended. The mount works with screens from 10 inches to 42 inches and holds up to 80 pounds, according to McNaughton. It fits VESA mounting hole patterns 100 x 100 and 200 x 200. And, the mount swivels so you can view the screen from various angles. The suggested retail price is $74.95.
McNaughton Inc.
10700 Highway 55 #260
Plymouth, MN 55441
(800) 423-5487
www.mastermounts.com
Backup Camera
Regulations that require backup cameras on all new passenger vehicles will go into effect in 2018. Any motorhomer whose nerves have been set aflutter when shifting into reverse knows the advantages of such cameras.
Rear View Safety’s RVS-770613 backup camera system features a 7-inch digital LCD color monitor with distance grid lines and mirror image capability; a 130-degree Sharp CCD backup camera with 50-foot infrared night vision; a three-channel multiplexer so you can hook up other cameras or a DVD player; and all the necessary wires, connectors, and mounts. The waterproof system can be configured so the camera turns on when the engine is on, or only when the vehicle is in reverse.
The suggested price is $249.99.
Rear View Safety Inc.
1797 Atlantic Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11233
(800) 764-1028
www.rearviewsafety.com
Smartphone Tripod
If the photos you shoot with your smartphone look like something from the blurry world of Mr. Magoo, the likely culprit is camera shake — the device moves too much when the photo is taken. One solution is the iStabilizer Flex, a tripod with flexible legs that can wrap around a variety of surfaces, securing the smartphone in place.
The Flex’s standard mount (1/4-inch tripod thread) can be used with digital cameras that are 2.75 inches wide or less. The suggested price of the iStabilizer Flex is $29.95. People using wider phones, such as the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, also will need a smartMount adapter, which works with devices up to 3.5 inches wide and is priced at $19.95.
iStabilizer
5 S. Main St.
Kamas, UT 84036
(800) 348-8055
www.istabilizer.com
Portable Dehumidifier
Moisture gets most of the blame when mold and mildew grow inside a motorhome. The problem can be particularly bad when a coach is in storage. That’s why some RVers swear by the Air-Dryr, from Davis Instruments.
Just place the device on the floor and plug it into a 110-volt outlet. Damp air circulates through the Air-Dryr via natural convection; air is heated to a temperature above the dew point and then released through the device’s vents. It operates silently 24 hours a day, using about the same amount of electricity as a light bulb.
The Air-Dryr 500 is designed for up to 500 cubic feet of space, draws 0.6 amp, and has a retail price of $59.99; the Air-Dryr 1000 handles up to 1,000 cubic feet, draws 1.1 amps, and is priced at $69.99.
Davis Instruments
3465 Diablo Ave.
Hayward, CA 94545
(800) 678-3669
(510) 732-9229
www.davisnet.com
CO Alarm
Hundreds of people die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Don’t be one of them. Choose one of the many good CO alarms on the market, buy it, and replace it when the manufacturer recommends.
The COSTAR Model 12RV-DB from Quantum Group is designed for RV use. It is hardwired to separate 12-volt power supplies, such as the house battery and the engine battery. If one of those power sources is off, the alarm operates via the other. If both 12-volt power sources are off, a 9-volt battery in the alarm continues to provide protection. The alarm uses a biomimetic sensing technology that performed best with no false alarms when tested by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It is certified to standards of Underwriters Laboratories and the Canadian Standards Association. Each alarm carries a limited six-year warranty from the date of manufacture, and Quantum Group recommends replacement of all CO alarms at six years. The suggested retail price is $60.
Quantum Group Inc.
6827 Nancy Ridge Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
(800) 432-5599
(858) 566-9959
www.qginc.com