Author: David Mitchell

David Mitchell Quick Answer: To cook in a campervan safely, ventilate first, set a stable stove away from fabric, and keep working carbon monoxide and propane alarms plus a fire extinguisher within reach. Cook outside when weather allows, use a purpose-built heater for warmth, and close the fuel valve after each meal. It is 6:30 a.m. at a quiet pull-off. The coffee smell is winning, and the van windows are fogged. This guide shows how to cook in a campervan safely, using a simple trip-planner checklist: before you cook, while you cook, and after you cook. It suits a weekend…

David Mitchell Quick Answer: To learn how to clean RV awning fabric, extend the awning, rinse off loose dirt, scrub gently with a soft brush and mild soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry fully before rolling it up. Skip pressure washers and harsh chemicals unless your manual allows them. Pull up a camp chair. Every spring I walk the campground and see the same thing: awnings freckled with black spots, streaked with tree runoff, and rolled up damp. Good news: you can clean your RV awning fabric in an easy morning with gear you probably already own. Let…

David Mitchell Quick Answer: To clean an RV oven and cooktop, shut off the propane, let everything cool, lift out grates and knobs, soak them in warm soapy water, scrub baked-on spots with baking soda paste, wipe the oven interior, dry every part, and test the flame. Pull up a camp chair. After a long weekend in a Class C, I once opened the oven door and found bacon splatter that looked like it had been there since spring. Sound familiar? Your galley works hard in a very small space, and a few careful minutes after each trip can keep…

By David Mitchell Quick Answer: To clean an RV gray water tank, drain it fully at a dump station, flush it with a tank rinser or wand, then fill it about three-quarters with water, dish soap, and a little baking soda or a tank cleaner. Drive or let it slosh, then drain and rinse again. Picture this: you pull into a lovely campsite after a long drive, step into the rig, and catch a whiff of something funky from the shower drain. It happens to almost every RVer sooner or later. Gray water, the used water from your sinks and…

David Mitchell Quick Answer: Start with your water source and your goal. Pick a filter listed to NSF/ANSI standards for what you want reduced, such as chlorine taste or lead. Match its flow rate to your pump, confirm the fittings, and plan replacements. Sediment plus carbon suits most campground hookups. You pull into a new campground, fill a glass at the spigot, and it smells like a swimming pool. Now what? Most of us have been there. This guide answers the questions travelers ask most, one at a time, so you know how to choose an RV water filter with…

David Mitchell Quick Answer: To choose a rooftop tent, start with your vehicle’s dynamic roof load rating, then match tent weight, style (hardshell or softshell), size, and fabric to how you camp. Confirm crossbar compatibility, check your garage and trail clearance, and budget for a rack and installation. A friend of mine once bought a beautiful softshell tent online. In his driveway, he found that his factory crossbars were rated for less than the tent weighed. He sent it back, and that is why I treat how to choose a rooftop tent as a ratings-first decision, not a looks-first one.…

By David Mitchell Quick Answer: To choose a first time RV, set a total budget, pick the trip style you will really use, and match the rig to your driving comfort or tow vehicle. Check weight ratings, inspect for water damage, and rent first if you can. Start small and simple. The question I hear most: “Which RV should I buy first?” The honest answer is the one that fits your trips, your budget, and your vehicle. If you want to know how to choose a first time RV for beginners, this guide works like a coaching session. Each section…

By David Mitchell Quick Answer: To choose a campervan conversion layout, start with how you live, not what looks good online. List your must-haves, measure your van, test layouts with tape or cardboard, check payload, and pick the simplest plan that still works on a rainy day. It’s 6 a.m. at a quiet forest pullout. You want coffee, but your partner’s feet are blocking the counter and the bed still has to turn back into a bench. That moment is why floor plans deserve more thought than paint colors. This guide shows how to choose a campervan conversion layout by…

By David Mitchell Quick Answer: Match the bar to your vehicle first, then to your trips. Check exact-model fit, airbag and sensor compatibility, steel versus aluminum weight, winch and recovery-point ratings, and your front axle’s weight limit. For most weekend overlanders, a lighter, well-fitted bar beats a heavy one. Walk through any trailhead parking lot and you will hear the same debate: “Do I really need a bull bar?” I have heard it from weekend Tacoma owners and from folks building full expedition rigs. The honest answer starts with myths. This guide busts the common ones and gives you clear…

By David Mitchell Quick Answer: To learn how to check RV tire pressure and age, measure each tire cold with a quality gauge, compare the reading to your tire maker’s load chart or the rig’s placard, then read the four-digit DOT date code on the sidewall. Also scan for cracks, bulges, and low tread. Pull up a camp chair. I want to walk you through this the way I would in my own driveway, gauge in hand, coffee on the bumper. Tires are the only parts of your rig touching the road. Checking RV tire pressure and age takes about…

David Mitchell Quick Answer: The easiest way to learn how to check propane levels in an RV is to read the built-in gauge on a motorhome tank, or weigh a travel trailer cylinder and subtract its stamped tare weight (TW). A warm-water test works as a free backup. Always confirm with a scale before a remote trip. You are packing the cooler, the forecast says 34°F overnight, and one question keeps nagging: how much gas is left? Checking propane levels in your RV takes a few minutes, and it can save you from a cold shower at 9 p.m. Think…

David Mitchell Quick Answer: To charge a lithium RV battery, use a lithium-compatible source: a converter or charger with a LiFePO4 profile, an MPPT solar controller, or a DC-DC charger on the alternator. Follow the manufacturer’s voltage and amp limits, avoid charging below freezing unless the battery has low-temperature protection, and monitor with a shunt-based meter. Picture a quiet pull-off at dusk. The fridge hums, the lights are on, and your battery monitor reads lower than you expected. This is the moment many owners wonder how to charge a lithium RV battery without guessing. Lithium is forgiving in some ways…