Multipurpose Opener
Arghhh! No, it’s not talk-like-a-pirate month. But you might hear that sound coming from people who struggle to open jar lids, screw tops, and pull tabs. The 5-in-1 Multi Kitchen Tool was made just for those folks.
The tool includes a bottle opener; a pull tab hook for pulling off can tops; a tab pry assist hook for opening soda cans; a jar seal opener for breaking the airtight seal of a jar lid; and a screw-off opener for water and soda bottles. The price is $9.95.
Mo+M Kitchen
8974 Shannons Mill Road
Foley, AL 36535
(866) 563-1201
http://mom-kitchen.com
Infrared Thermometer
Is the frying pan hot enough? Is the air conditioner cooling well enough? What are the tire temperatures? Where are the motorhome’s insulation leaks? Is it really hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk? The EnnoLogic Dual Laser Infrared Thermometer eT650D can help answer those questions and more.
The device measures surface temperatures from minus 58 degrees to 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit. (But because it reads surfaces, it can’t be used to measure internal temperatures as a meat thermometer would.) Hold the trigger button down and aim the device at different points, and the LCD display continuously updates the temperature reading. A soft storage case and a 9-volt battery are included. The suggested retail price is $59.95.
Cascadia Innovations
P.O. Box 25207
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 525-9175
www.ennologic.com
Telescoping Ladder
A stepladder may not handle all your needs, especially if you’re a full-timer. A more versatile option is the Werner MT-13 13-Foot Type 1A Telescoping MultiLadder. The aluminum ladder can be used in four positions: twin stepladder (with a height of 3 to 5 feet), stairway stepladder, extension ladder (with a height of 7 to 11 feet), and as two scaffold bases.
Features include slip-resistant feet; double-riveted steps; flared ends for firm support; and smooth curved rails for comfortable climbing. The load capacity is 300 pounds. The ladder weighs 31.5 pounds, and when folded up it measures 43 inches by 22 1/8 inches. The price ranges from $99 to $119 at retail stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Werner
93 Werner Road
Greenville, PA 16125
(888) 523-3370
(724) 588-2000
www.wernerco.com
Speaker/Awning Light
This might be music to the ears of anyone ready to upgrade a run-of-the-mill awning light. The Bluetooth Weatherproof Speaker & Awning Light, from King, provides light from LEDs and sound from Bluetooth speakers. Once the speaker/light is hardwired to a motorhome via a simple two-wire connection, favorite tunes can be streamed from a smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth-enabled device.
Two versions are available. The basic model comes in white or black and has a suggested retail price of $199. The premium version, also available in white or black, has a downloadable app that makes it possible to use a mobile device to control music equalizer, light power, light dimming, and bug light features; the premium version’s suggested price is $249.
King
11200 Hampshire Ave. S.
Bloomington, MN 55438
(952) 922-6889
www.kingconnect.com
Step Stool
Pssst. Want a tip? Buy a step stool that doesn’t. Tip, that is. Avoiding a fall is paramount, whether you’re using a stool to retrieve a hard-to-reach item or to step into or out of a motorhome, which is where the Safe-T-Stool comes in.
The product description says the polypropylene stool has an antislip top and bottom and is designed never to tip or flip, no matter where you stand on the top of the stool. It supports up to 500 pounds. Turn it upside down and the stool becomes a basket with built-in handles that make it easy to carry a variety of items. The Safe-T-Stool is 19.5 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 7.75 inches tall. It’s available in five colors. The suggested price is $29.95 plus shipping.
Safe-T-Stool
P.O. Box 12311
New Bern, NC 28561
(252) 259-4446
www.safetstool.com
Odometer Screen Replacement
Motorhomes built on Workhorse chassis from the 2003 to 2005 model years are equipped with Actia instrument clusters that have been beset by unreadable LCD odometer screens. For the past two years, Ultra RV Products has been repairing such clusters in-house, but now the company has made its replacement LCD screen kit available for do-it-yourselfers, along with detailed instructions and photos.
The screen’s backlight color is dark blue, which provides high contrast for reading in daytime and evening. Mileage data is stored in a separate memory chip on the cluster board, so the display automatically reads the correct mileage after the screen is installed. The kit’s suggested retail price is $199.
Ultra RV Products
3912 Harrison Ave.
Centralia, WA 98531
(800) 417-4559
(360) 736-2158
www.ultrarvproducts.com
Sewer Hose
Okay, so emptying the holding tanks will never be your favorite RV activity. Thetford is striving to at least make the chore more pleasant with its Titan Premium RV Sewer Kit System. The kit includes a 15-foot hose, preattached bayonet fittings, a Revolve universal sewer adapter with handle, and two end caps to eliminate dripping during storage.
The hose is constructed using a proprietary thermal plastic elastomer, or TPE, which has properties of both plastic and rubber. According to the product description, the hose resists punctures and abrasions, excels in extreme temperatures, and is virtually uncrushable. The suggested retail price is $39.95.
Thetford Corporation
P.O. Box 1285
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
(800) 543-1219
(734) 769-6000
www.thetford.com
Tow Wiring Kit
An electrical connection is needed for a motorhome to operate a towed vehicle’s taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Roadmaster’s new all-in-one wiring kits use diodes to achieve that goal, while also preventing electrical feedback. The kits, which are expanded versions of the company’s towed vehicle wiring kits, are made for the two most popular towing combinations: seven wire to six wire, and seven wire to four wire.
The kits include a Flexo-Coil power cord (expandable to 8 feet) with built-in, corrosion-resistant plugs; 27 feet of four-wire harness; wire connectors; cable ties; a ring terminal; 3 feet of plastic loom; a socket mounting bracket; and either a four-wire or six-wire electrical socket. The part number for the seven-wire-to-four-wire kit is 15247; suggested price is $141. The part number for the seven-wire-to-six-wire kit is 15267; suggested price is $147.
Roadmaster Inc.
6110 N.E. 127th Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98682
(800) 669-9690
(360) 896-0407
www.roadmasterinc.com
Spill Absorbent
Cry over spilled milk? No. But you might feel like bawling over a spill of oil, fuel, paint, or other potentially hazardous liquids in your workshop, driveway, garage, or kitchen. Fortunately, you need not resort to paper towels. SpillFix Industrial Organic Absorbent, from American Green Ventures Inc., is said to instantly absorb hazardous liquid spills.
SpillFix, made from a coconut by-product, is a 100 percent renewable organic material. It’s dust-free, nonabrasive, environment-friendly, harmless to humans and pets, and can be reused multiple times, according to the product description. SpillFix is sold online by Jegs. A 3-quart jar that absorbs up to 2 quarts of liquid sells for $5.99; a 7-pound bag that absorbs up to 2 gallons costs $12.99; and a 20-pound bag that absorbs up to 7 gallons is priced at $29.50.
American Green Ventures Inc.
180 Towerview Court
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 535-8278
Jegs: (800) 345-4545
www.spillfix.com/jegs