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"I must have"

I want to hear about things you have found out to be "must haves" after watching this linked video.

Top RV Must Have Gadgets - Full Time RV - YouTube

I recently learned about and updated my surge protector to a Bluetooth Hughes PWD50 from reading another post on this forum.  600 ah of Lifepo4 batteries seem closer on the horizon for me, summer 2019 will tell.  Many "must haves" in this video were first exposed to me on this forum, many I'll never have.

Saw this video, and thought, we could start our own "must haves".
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: "I must have"

Reply #1 –
Jack, Does your Hughes PWD50 have the EPO (emergency power off) desirable feature that would automatically instantly disconnect current when voltage temporarily goes too high or low?

Re: "I must have"

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Jack, Does your Hughes PWD50 have the EPO (emergency power off) desirable feature that would automatically instantly disconnect current when voltage temporarily goes too high or low?

Thankyou for the question, I learned the following, and now I need to research my needs more.

I verified there are two units now being sold on Amazon with a $130+ difference.

This is the lower priced Hughes with no (EPO) emergency power cutoff or low and high voltage protection.
Amazon.com: Hughes Autoformer PWD50 Power Watch Dog 50 AMP Surge Protector:...

This is the Hughes unit with EPO low and high protection.  Power Watchdog 50 Amp Smart Bluetooth Surge Protector with Auto Shutoff.  The difference is price, over $130 more, and the physical size is bigger and the bulldog logo you see on the front lights up, and the EPO feature.
Amazon.com: Power Watchdog 50 Amp Smart Bluetooth Surge Protector with Auto...

My previous, a Surge Guard 44290, surge protector I bought because it did not have low and high voltage cutoff, so I could use it with my Huges Autoformer in the event of low voltage.

From Hughes website: "All new 2019, 50 amp Power Watchdog Smart Surge Protector + EPO (emergency power off) offers a powerful 4,800 Joules of advanced surge protection for your coach. Our Patent Pending Power Watchdog + EPO is the world's first smart surge guard and surge protector with built-in Bluetooth connectivity so you can monitor live park power conditions on your smartphone in real time!  Get text alerts of dangers before something catastrophic happens. The new EPO (emergency power off) units will automatically SHUT DOWN power if there are dangerous conditions of too high or low voltage, open ground or open neutral as well as more.

World's first advanced Smart Surge Protector with EPO
4,800 Joules of Advanced Surge Protection
Smart Circuit Analyzer will shut down power to RV if a dangerous event occurs. An alert will be sent to your smartphone
Plug-n-play – only 4 second delay power on after plugging in (others brands are up to 2 mins)
Built in 90 second Power-on delay to protect your AC.
Wirelessly Monitor Voltage and Current Draw (amps) on your Smartphone in Real Time
Complete LED Park Power Diagnostics with Wireless Fault Alerts – Open Ground, Open Neutral, Reverse Polarity, Open Circuit and Miss-Wired
App features power monitor, see your Kilowatt Hour usage
Replaceable Surge / Spike Module – Should you get hit by a large spike, simply order a new surge module. No need to order a whole new unit.
Heavy Duty – weather resistant/out door
Easy pull plug handles
99% pure copper 10 gauge wire, solid copper plugs and blades
Mobile app is available for free on iOS and Android platforms
Industry First, Patent Pending!
30 Amp Coach? Click here: (30 Amp is Available)"
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: "I must have"

Reply #3 –
The original post, the headline is "I must have . . ."

Well, I must have my next heartbeat, my next breath, followed by water and food and everything that follows.

I want to get rid of our old Rockwood and to that end I need to finish sorting, chucking and moving "stuff."

So. Yesterday I got a haircut and cleaned a spider web out of my wet bay telephone connection so I could stop running the DSL line through the kitchen window.

I'll pack up the DVD collection in the Rockwood today, after I crawl into the through bay and check the exact model of my power converter in our new home.

It turns out I don't do the want-need calculation any better than anyone else.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: "I must have"

Reply #4 –
My must haves are rather low tech. Baby Wipes!

I use them all the time. Carry in coach & car. Wiping hands, cleaning floor, counter top, toilet, & makes a great portable shower when boon docking. Speaking of which when boon docking instead of going in trash they go in the firepit (when we have one). You can even use em' to wipe your bum like those fancy moist wipes they advertise on TV every @*&%#$*! 5 minutes. Just don't put them in the black tank. Put in plastic bag, trash or firepit. Users choice.

Best part they are super cheap!

And don't get me started on rubber bands! I keep a plastic bag full of them handy.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: "I must have"

Reply #5 –
+1 for both.  We just couldn't get along without rubber bands.  Buy 'em by the bag. And I keep finding the things kids use for their pony tails all over, about 1 1/2" diameter micero bungee cords. I have about 5 of these now.  And old bike tires.  Cut off about 1" sections.  Perfect for binding up ropes.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: "I must have"

Reply #6 –
Cheap LED aluminum flashlights.  Like the ones they give away all the time at Harbor Freight "with every purchase".  I have them squirreled away all over our coach, inside, and outside in the storage bays.  They are light and compact, surprisingly bright, batteries last a long time, and they are extremely durable.  I dropped one off the roof of our coach onto a cement driveway.  Put a big dent in the case, but it still works fine!

3-1/2 in. Mini Flashlight
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: "I must have"

Reply #7 –
Ball Bunggies
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: "I must have"

Reply #8 –
  Thought it best to remove this post.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: "I must have"

Reply #9 –
"Come home sense". ????
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: "I must have"

Reply #10 –
Country music reference.  Probably not pc so on second thought I'm going to delete the post. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: "I must have"

Reply #11 –
Boy, has this thread gone "OFF THE RAILS"!
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020
 

Re: "I must have"

Reply #12 –
"Must have gadgets". Post your "must have".

Top RV Must Have Gadgets - Full Time RV - YouTube
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan