Extension Cords
You may be great at connecting the dots and equally adept at connecting with other RVers. Sometimes, though, you may need help connecting to shore power. Mighty Cord extension cords, from Valterra Products, are available in 30-amp and 50-amp versions. The cords come in lengths of 10, 15, 25, and 50 feet. They have met the requirements to be UL and/or ETL listed and are deemed safe for outdoor use.
Depending on the Mighty Cord model, the cords may have a finger-grip male end or folding-end handles. The cords in 25-foot and 50-foot lengths can be purchased with or without LED-lighted ends that illuminate when the cord is connected to power. The suggested retail prices of Mighty Cord extension cords range from $40 to $465.
Valterra Products LLC
(818) 898-1671
www.valterra.com
CO Alarm
You should have a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in your RV. If you already do, check that it hasn’t exceeded its service life. MTI Industries recently introduced the Safe-T-Alert RV Carbon Monoxide Alarm, model SA-339. Once activated, it’s always on.
Unlike traditional CO alarms that require you to change batteries when they are low, the SA-339 is powered by a sealed-in, nonreplaceable lithium battery designed to last five years. Starting 30 days from the alarm’s expiration, an end-of-life signal alerts you that the device needs to be replaced. The SA-339 case is 5.25 inches in diameter, and is available in white or black. The suggested retail price is $79.95. Another CO alarm from MTI, the SA-340, is identical to the SA-339, except it is rectangular. Be sure to follow the instructions for correct placement of alarms.
MTI Industries Inc.
(800) 383-0269
www.mtiindustries.com
Stainless-Steel Drinkware
Wine and plastic cups are not a perfect pairing, but traditional wine glasses can be fragile, so RVers may want to consider the Stainless Steel Chardonnay Wine Glass, from Snowfox. The stemless, insulated vessel holds 8 ounces. The food-grade stainless steel doesn’t affect taste, according to the product description, but it does mean the glass is shatterproof.
The double-walled construction of the glass helps keep the drink cold and your hand warm. Experts say the best wine glasses have a thin rim; it’s 1 millimeter on the Snowfox glass, or about as thin as fine crystal. Several colors are available. The suggested retail price for a set of two glasses is $24.99. Snowfox also sells a variety of other stainless-steel drinkware.
Snowfox
www.snowfox.fun
Door-Lift Kits
It’s a hassle when an RV storage compartment door unexpectedly slams shut, especially if it bonks you on the noggin. Hatchlift is a hydraulic door-lift system that assists in opening, closing, and holding open existing lightweight basement doors.
Hatchlift kits can be installed on motorhomes, fifth-wheels, and travel trailers. The Hatchlift website has information about choosing the kit that fits your RV; kits are available for doors ranging from 14 inches to 44 inches tall. Doors up to 30 inches wide require one kit; for doors wider than 30 inches, order two kits. Each kit comes with installation hardware. Kit prices range from $50.49 to $52.49.
Hatchlift LLC
(303) 233-6083
www.hatchlift.com
Cargo Carrier
You’re all packed for camping, but there’s no room for the portable meat smoker, the frozen drink maker, the extra hoses and cords, etc. Times like these call for a cargo carrier on the top of your towed vehicle or in the bed of your pickup truck. The Sherpak Go! 15, from Seattle Sports, has a capacity of 15 cubic feet. It’s 15.5 inches high, 37 inches wide, and 45 inches deep.
Features of the Go! 15 include radio-frequency-welded seams to protect against leaks; ultraviolet-resistant vinyl; a deeply recessed zipper; heavy-duty plastic hardware; and a universal mounting system that allows the carrier to be secured to vehicles with or without roof racks. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $124.95.
Seattle Sports
(800) 632-6163
www.seattlesportsco.com
Water Filter Systems
The Clearsource RV Water Filter System is designed for outdoor use. A 5-micron filter removes silt, sediment, and other particulates. Then a 0.5-micron filter improves taste with coconut shell carbon, and it removes pesticides, petrochemicals, volatile organic compounds, cryptosporidium, giardia cysts, and more. Also available is the Clearsource Ultra version, in which a third filter rated at 0.2 microns traps even smaller pathogens, such as E. coli and Legionella.
Clearsource systems are designed for use with standard-size RV water-connecting hoses. The replaceable filter cartridges have a service life of 2,000 gallons. The Clearsource two-filter external system weighs 22 pounds and is 15 inches high, 14¼ inches wide, and 7 3/8 inches deep. The price is $275. The Ultra system is $350. Clearsource also sells on-board water filter systems.
Clearsource
(949) 860-1561
www.clearsourcerv.com
Exterior Wash
After a long trip, your RV may look like a dirt magnet, so have a bucket and soap ready. Kleen Wash, from Bio-Kleen Products, is a concentrated cleaner that’s formulated to produce plenty of foam for removal of black streaks, dirt, grime, insects, and water spots from the exterior of RVs, boats, and other vehicles.
According to the product description, Kleen Wash contains a polymer that leaves an SPF 40 UV blocker on washed surfaces for added protection and shine. Kleen Wash is said to be biodegradable, nontoxic, and ozone safe. The directions call for using one to two ounces of Kleen Wash per gallon of water. The suggested retail price of a 32-ounce bottle is $16.95. Larger sizes are available.
Bio-Kleen Products Inc.
(800) 240-5536
www.biokleen.com
Dry Lubricant
Here’s the rub about friction: It can prevent your RV’s slideout from, well, sliding properly. ProtectAll Slide-Out Dry Lube Protectant & Rust Inhibitor, from Thetford, is formulated to penetrate and lubricate between and around parts, making for smooth sliding. Its other job is to protect slideout parts such as support arms, gears, and cables against rust and corrosion. But the product need not be used only on slideouts; it protects other moving metals that are exposed to the elements.
When applied, ProtectAll produces a dry, waxy, amber-colored film, which, unlike wet lubricants, is less prone to attract dust, dirt, sand, salt, and road grime. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a 16-ounce aerosol can is $15.97.
Thetford Corporation
(800) 543-1219
www.protectall.com
Reading Light
Avid readers — okay, even those who are semi-avid — deserve good lighting by the bedside (or anywhere else, for that matter). The Dane LED Reading Light, from SalVinCo, operates on DC power, consumes just 3 watts of energy, and provides 220 lumens of warm white light. A USB port is located on the side of the mounting base.
The aluminum light is available with a satin nickel or chrome finish. Its aluminum shade adjusts up, down, right, and left to direct the light. A soft-touch dimmer button doubles as the on/off switch. The mounting hardware is hidden from view. The fixture’s height is 3.15 inches, the base diameter is 2.56 inches, and the maximum protrusion is 4.14 inches. The suggested retail price is $118.
SalVinCo LLC
(941) 378-9727
www.salvinco.com