tips
Tip 1
CHASSIS AIR VENTS
Are you getting a cold draft in the cab area on cold nights, and a warm draft in the cab on warm nights? Try closing all heating/cooling air vents in the chassis cab whenever parked and camping — this should significantly lessen the warm/cold draft up front. I have 6 individual vents in my 2018 Navion and it’s important to close them all for the draft to stop.
To test the draft, turn the bathroom exhaust fan on its highest setting and have all windows/doors closed as well as all chassis vents. Then, with the exhaust fan on high, open a single chassis vent and feel the draft coming from the vent that the fan draws out. Day and night, even with the fan off, outside air is “leaking” in through these chassis air vents if the vent sliders are left in the “open” position.
To further ensure that the vents are closed upstream, prior to removing the key from the ignition, press the “recirculation” button on the climate controls. This will close the dampers that lead to the outside.
Tip 2
WATER AT CAMPSITE
If you’re connected to city water at a campground and you leave your rig for any significant length of time (i.e. on a hike, bike ride or to explore the area in your toad) consider turning off the water valve at the campground’s post. You can keep the hose connected, just turn off the water source while you’re away.
The potential issue is the failure of a plumbing fitting inside the RV in your absence. If a fitting fails while under pressure, the leak would be continuous until someone eventually turned off the water valve outside.
Tip 3
ADJUSTING SIDE MIRRORS
After adjusting my mirrors like explained in this YouTube video, I’m more confident changing lanes in my RV than while driving any car I’ve ever owned. The dual mirrors on these Sprinters are terrific when adjusted correctly. Click here to watch the video.
Tip 4
LIGHT ON JENSEN STEREO
The inside of my RV is very dark at night with one exception — the illuminated clock on the Jensen house radio! There is an easy way to turn the brightness to “OFF”, but it requires the remote control. Once you locate the remote with the “Jensen” logo, follow these steps using only the remote: 1.) Turn on the power to the unit, 2.) Press the “Menu” button two times which should take you to the brightness setting, then 3.) Press the volume down arrow until it cycles to “OFF”. That’s it!
Tip 5
DEF TIPS
Check the seal on your DEF container before pouring the DEF into your vehicle. A common practice by some dishonest people is to refill a used DEF container with water and then return it for a refund (this is a known issue at Walmart). You don’t want to mistakingly put water into your DEF reservoir!
Another DEF tip: check the code on the box to determine if the DEF is fresh. Unfortunately, it’s a code and not a simple expiration date since the shelf life varies based on stored temperature (higher temperature = shorter life). On BlueDEF (made by Peak), you’ll see a code stamped on the box (example: CT193415733). The most important part of the code is the third through seventh digit.
The first two letters/numbers represent the blending facility code (which isn’t relevant to the date). The third and fourth number, however, indicate the year following the year of manufacture. The fifth, sixth and seventh digit indicate the days left in the year on the date of manufacture. To figure out the day of the year it was made, you’ll need to subtract those three digits from 365 (total days in a year).
Here’s a breakdown of the example code CT193415733:
CT: The designator of the plant that manufactured the DEF.
19: The year following the year of manufacture, so the DEF was made in 2018.
341: 365-341 = 24, so the 24th day of the year, or January 24th.
5733: The batch code.
In this example, the container of DEF was made on January 24th, 2018.
Storage life is highly dependent on temperature. If stored at 77° F or cooler, the shelf life would be 18 months. Assuming this DEF was stored properly, it would be good thru July 24th, 2019 (which is 18 months after the manufactured date). DEF stored at 86° F is only good for a year. Storage above 95° F (not unusual if stored in an RV parked in the sun during the summer) is limited to 6 months or even less if the temperatures were greater.
Last DEF tip: since DEF is available at Walmart as well as most auto parts stores across the country, let the stores carry it for you instead of carrying the extra weight for something that may go bad before you even use it.
Tip 6
PARKING DIRECTION
When you have the option, especially in warm weather, try to park in a direction with the refrigerator side of the RV in the shade. In my RV, the refrigerator is on the passenger side, so I try to park with the sun beating on the driver’s side. In North America, where the sun travels in the Southern sky, you’ll keep your refrigerator on the “cool” side if the RV is pointing West.
Tip 7
CONVECTION OVEN
I use my High Point brand convection oven on every trip. I bake fish, chicken, frozen pizza, cookies and/or cinnamon rolls. In all cases, I pre-heat the oven just like a regular oven.
To cook with pre-heat, simply follow these steps:
Start with the microwave door closed and void of food
Press “Convection” button near the top of the keypad
Press the number with the corresponding temperature you want (i.e. the “9” key also says “400 F”)
Press “Start/+30SEC” to begin the pre-heating to the selected temperature
Once the convection oven reaches the desired temperature, the display will flash and the oven will beep
Open the door and place the food inside on top of the wire rack
Close the door
Press the series of keys to indicate the amount of cooking time (i.e. if you want to cook for 20 minutes, press 2-0-0-0)
Press “Start/+30SEC” to begin the cooking