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06-14-2018, 06:59 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 3,087
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Best money spent?
As a relative newbie, I’ve found a ton of great suggestions for items that make RVing easier, safer, cheaper or just plain fun. Some are simple and fairly cheap, like that sink cutting board or refrigerator bars. So, for all of us newbies, what is the best $100 (give or take) you’ve spent on your trailer and/or TV? I’ll offer mine: My Hopkins Smart Hitch backup camera. A life, time, and marriage saver!
__________________
2018 JayFlight SLX 212QBW
1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat SC, 7.3L PSD, 3.73
Transfer Flow 50 gal aux; Andersen WDH; Prodigy P2
😁 "If a man says he’ll fix something, he will. There’s no need to remind him every 6 months.
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06-14-2018, 07:04 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Connellsville
Posts: 22,680
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Progressive Industries SSP 30-X surge protector (~$85 they make much more expensive units but this is the entry level model). I had lightning strike a tree behind our house last week while the trailer was plugged in to the 30a outlet on our garage. I had one fried and destroyed surge protector but absolutely no damage to anything in the trailer. I purchased another the next day. Money well spent in my opinion.
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Moderator
2017 Jay Feather 7 22BHM Baja/Andersen WD
2018 F150 4x4 3.5L Ecoboost Max Tow
2015 MB Sprinter 2500 Passenger 2.1L Diesel
2007 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins 5.9L G56
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06-14-2018, 07:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 942
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Two come to immediate mind: A pair of Andersen levellers, and a pair of BAL X-Chocks. They work well together, make levelling the trailer super easy, and eliminate a lot of the wiggle.
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Geoff & Jill
& Sierra, the little white monster
2013 Ford F-150 XTR SC Ecoboost
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 24FBS
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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06-15-2018, 09:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Rochester, MA
Posts: 491
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I've spent so much not sure I can decide what's best
Simple as it sounds...good pine blocks for support & stabilizer points instead of a bunch of smaller boards or whatever else folks carry. $20 from a local saw mill. Plus they get lighter as they dry out! Picture below.
I'd spent the next $20 on a roll of duct tape to fix all the gaps in the AC duct system: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...tml#post551273
The rest of the money I'd spend on lumber to add as many drawers and shelves as I can, because there is no such thing as too much storage!
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Tom
2017 F250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab, 4x4, 6.7L Power Stroke
2016 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS
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06-15-2018, 10:08 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,324
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Recirculating fan for the inside of refrigerator! Makes big difference on how cold things stay in the door thanks!
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06-15-2018, 10:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Dallas
Posts: 365
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Best advice for saving money regarding a camper is Costco. One of the benefits they offer is pre-negotiated prices on vehicles - including campers. We've used the Costco program to purchase 3 vehicles and our 5th wheel. Regarding our 5'r, the MSRP was upwards of $62K. Our negotiated price was $45K - a 25%+ savings! If you've got good credit, you may be able to leverage RV financing for under 5%.
Unfortunately, buying an RV is like buying a home. You've got regular payments for 10-15 years (whatever you negotiate) and the RV depreciates fast. Knowing that, I would buy an RV with better resale in case you sell it later. The upside is you can write some of it off in taxes (like a second home) but I believe it must have a bedroom/bathroom/kitchen to qualify for the IRS.
On the "cheap" side of things, buying a box of latex gloves was the biggest payoff. I wear them when working with the black tank/hoses/electrical because it keeps crud off your hands.
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Let's go camping!
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06-15-2018, 11:37 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,402
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$4.99 for a pair of stick on levels. Level the trailer once with a carpenters level on the frig, stick these on the front of the trailer (driver's side) and no need to ever go into the trailer to check if it's level.
__________________
2018 Jayco 28RLS
2012 F-250 6.2L 3.73
Equalizer Hitch
Yamaha 2400ISHC
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06-15-2018, 12:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Walpole, NH
Posts: 367
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Electric jack, memory foam mattress, and my Jayco G2 29BHS travel trailer.
__________________
TV 2013 RAM 1500 4x4 Tradesman W/5.7L Hemi 6spd auto w/3.55 rears
TT 2009 Jayco Jayflight G2 29BHS
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06-15-2018, 01:09 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Spanaway
Posts: 86
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BAL X-Chocks, they really are worth it! Outside of that I'd say our Oxygenics shower head and swapping out the faucets for residential faucets.
__________________
2016 Ford F150 XLT S-CREW Long Bed 3.5L EcoBoost.
2007 Jayco JayFlight 23FB
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06-15-2018, 01:48 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Muskegon
Posts: 804
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Ditto on the Anderson levelers.
Other than that:
- The cover for the bathroom roof vent on our 26BH. No way you could camp without one.
- And, just got new foam mattress to replace the junk that Jayco included. The Jayco foam was worn out and uncomfortable after less than ten nights.
- Upgrading from a mediocre 12v battery to a pair of 6v golf cart batteries
- It was a couple hundred bucks, but ditching the WFCO convertor charger for a Progressive Dynamics unit, allowing us MUCH shorter battery recharge times.
- Replacing many of the crummy LED ceiling lights with units by Lumitronix.
- Lots of wall hooks for hanging clothes. Makes a big difference in the bathroom.
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06-15-2018, 02:12 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 2,210
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I think you need to increase with a couple of 00's . Just when you think you have it all...
All good things above, but for me I would have to say my Camp Chef 3 burner pro griddle. Does it all for me and we use it 2x's a day minimum.
__________________
2014 375 BHFS Eagle Premier
2014 Ram 3500 Longhorn DRW CC
6.7 CTD, Aisin, 4.10's
Yamaha EF3000iSEB
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06-15-2018, 02:57 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Connellsville
Posts: 22,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3'senough
I think you need to increase with a couple of 00's . Just when you think you have it all...
All good things above, but for me I would have to say my Camp Chef 3 burner pro griddle. Does it all for me and we use it 2x's a day minimum.
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That's a nice griddle. I don't own one myself but a camping buddy of ours does. Makes me jealous every time they pull it out.
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06-15-2018, 03:30 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Nanaimo
Posts: 455
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A good quality sewer hose with fittings and a set of Anderson Levelers.
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2016 Jayflight 26BHS Elite
2014 F150 4x4 Super Crew, Eco-Boost, Max Tow
Bayliner Trophy 2002ff
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06-15-2018, 03:43 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Eckville
Posts: 155
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A bottle of fine rum...then nothing else matters lol..
Seriously, all the above suggestions are great.
From my perspective...The X-chocks do pretty good, a Lifetime collapsible table, a 12' telescoping ladder to name a few. Bigger money items are a pair of EU2000 Honda generators...oh so sweet to not hear these things purring away.
Whoops..missed the $100 or so comment...
Well, the rum will make the list (barely) as well as the chocks and table.
Cheers
__________________
2015 F350 DRW King Ranch
B&W Turnover Ball and 20K Companion
2017 Eagle 339FLQS
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06-15-2018, 05:05 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Vernon
Posts: 103
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Replacing the incandescent bulbs with quality LED's made not only a huge difference in battery life while boondocking but they also give off very little heat. It took three tries to get it right. First ones were cheap but ended up flickering and or failing. When I bought my next set I got bright white instead of warm white. However I did decide to keep the brighter ones in the bathroom and kitchen fixtures and the amber porch light.
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06-15-2018, 05:19 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 3,087
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Some great offerings — thank you all and keep ‘em coming. Bought a pair of Andersen levelers today!
__________________
2018 JayFlight SLX 212QBW
1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat SC, 7.3L PSD, 3.73
Transfer Flow 50 gal aux; Andersen WDH; Prodigy P2
😁 "If a man says he’ll fix something, he will. There’s no need to remind him every 6 months.
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06-15-2018, 05:29 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 5,004
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__________________
Murff
2015 White Hawk 20MRB (It's last year)
2017 F150 2.7 Eco Boost 3.73 Gears
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06-15-2018, 05:32 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 5,004
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One more and it's a freebie!
Android phone owners! Want to know if your trailer is level?
Download "Bubble Level" in the Google Play Store!
Murff
__________________
Murff
2015 White Hawk 20MRB (It's last year)
2017 F150 2.7 Eco Boost 3.73 Gears
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06-15-2018, 06:12 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Connellsville
Posts: 22,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Murff
One more and it's a freebie!
Android phone owners! Want to know if your trailer is level?
Download "Bubble Level" in the Google Play Store!
Murff
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That is really cool. Thanks.
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06-15-2018, 07:29 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: RV
Posts: 892
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There's lots of bubble level's for Iphones on the App Store.
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Full Time RVing
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