Awning Elevation

To keep rain from accumulating on my motorhome’s slideout awnings, I decided to blow things up. That is, I began using inflatable rafts. I have two slideouts; each one extends approximately 31 inches from the side of the motorhome. At a local swimming and pool store, I found rafts that measure 30 inches wide and 72 inches long. I inflate the rafts just enough to slide them under the awnings. The longer slideout requires the use of two rafts, while the shorter slideout uses just one. A neighbor who uses this concept has to employ an additional inflatable tube to fill up the space under his longest slideout. By adjusting the amount of air I put into the rafts, I can control the height and ensure that they won’t blow away. Storing them is easy once they are removed from under the awning and deflated.

Al Chabot, F371218, Nokomis, Florida

Dish Protection

I always keep extra expandable curtain rods handy. On one motorhome trip, the doors to the cabinet holding my dishes flew open during a bumpy ride, and some of the dishes fell out. So, on the next trip I put an expandable curtain rod inside the cabinet to prevent the dishes from falling out in case the doors opened again.

Arlene Jeknavorian, F193524, Orlando, Florida

Appliance Access

In January 2009, my wife and I traded in our 1998 National RV Tradewinds for a 2006 Tradewinds M-40 that was equipped with something we thought would be a plus — a combination washer-dryer. The first time we used the machine, it worked okay, switching from the wash cycle to the dry cycle. The second time we used it, after the wash cycle was completed and the machine switched to the dry cycle, the 15-amp circuit breaker popped. The third time we only used the wash cycle and hung the clothes outside to dry. When we returned home after spending the winter in Texas, I decided to look into what was causing the circuit breaker to trip. I found that the blower motor in the washer-dryer had shorted out.

To repair the unit, access to the top of the machine would be necessary, which meant removing the 200-pound appliance from an enclosure that was 21 inches off the floor. To accomplish this, I purchased a motorcycle/ATV hydraulic aluminum lift from Sears and built a platform that the washer-dryer could be slid onto. That way, the machine could be removed and lowered, allowing it to be serviced.

Ramon L. Van Sickle, F274324, Zionsville, Indiana

Our motorhome has a diesel engine. We use it during the winter, so on cold nights we plug in the block heater, which helps the coach start in the morning. Unplugging the heater, however, is a procedure that easily can be forgotten, so my husband made a block of wood with the words “Remove Block Heater” written on it that we hang on the steering wheel to remind us to unplug the heater before departing.

Arlene Chiarolanzio, F181694, Florham Park, New Jersey

Tire Protection

I have found the perfect pad to put under my motorhome’s tires to help protect them in all types of weather. It lets the tire breathe and eliminates flat spots. It is a thick rubber anti-fatigue commercial pad that is perforated and measures 35.8 inches wide and 38.5 inches long. I found the mat at several home improvement stores for $19.99 each. I bought two mats and cut them in half for a perfect fit under the front and dual rear tires. A $40 investment to protect six tires that cost $300 each is a solid investment.

Milton R. Cooper, F281334, Lakeland, Florida