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Many people are getting new RVs just now and knowing what to spend additional dollars on for new gear or upgrades is important. In this episode, we’ll look at the top 8 things I would upgrade on a new RV were I to purchase one now.
Let’s look at the 8 Items:
Power Tongue Jack. Given I have used a weight distribution hitch on all my trailers, and would on a new one, a power tongue jack would likely be my first purchase if the trailer didn’t already have one from the dealer. With a Weight Distribution Hitch, like the Blue Ox* I’ve had on both my R-Pod 179 and my Keystone Bullet 243BHS, it requires lifting and lowering the front tongue to hook or unhook the hitch. A power tongue jack helps greatly with this task. I plan to do a separate review on the Husky Power Tongue Jack* I’ve used on my R-Pod 179 at a later point, but this specific power tongue jack has been stellar to use for closing in on 4 seasons.
Bug Screens. There are several openings on the RV that can allow insects and critters to enter the RV and potentially nest. The bug screens I’ve used cover the water heater (2)* and furnace outlets* as well as the refrigerator vents*. I’ve had these screens on my R-Pod 179 for several years and haven’t had an issue with anything entering these areas. They are easy to install, are well made and can stand the elements and don’t easily fall off.
Maxxair Fanmate Cover. Like the bug screens, the Maxxair Fanmate Cover* with screen acts as a bug screen* for your exhaust fan, given it is a Maxxair fan. This is especially important so that you can run your exhaust fan in rain or in buggy environments. I did wait a while to install this on my R-Pod 179, but certainly would not wait to do this on a new trailer. I think the benefits of this are excellent.
Gel-Foam Mattress Topper or New Mattress. You may already know that many factory RV mattresses are not of the best quality. Being able to sleep comfortably is essential to enjoying your travels in an RV. Given I couldn’t sleep well on the factory mattress, upgrading the mattress with a gel-foam topper or an entire mattress replacement is one of the very first things I would do in a new RV. Obviously this depends if you bought a trailer that has a decent mattress to begin with. If not, this is an early task to complete. I went with the less expensive gel-foam topper option in my R-Pod and have had more than 200 nights on it without issue.
Upgraded Seating Foam. This is likely one of my favorite upgrades. With better and firmer foam, there is a night and day difference as to the enjoyability of your dinette or seating area in your trailer. If you tend to work remotely or sit a lot at the dinette, this is a great idea. Even if you are only sitting inside for shorter periods, you will greatly appreciate better foam. The Lux Foam I’ve installed from the Foam Factory in Michigan has been well worth the money spent. You can see how this changed the useability of one of my ottoman cushions in my R-Pod 179 from these comparison pictures. Overall, the upgraded foam will give you better support when working or relaxing and will likely instill more contentment with your trailer. Here is a link to the Foam Upgrade Video we published a while ago.
Command Designer Hooks. There are usually not enough places to hang things in most RVs. I’ve used Command Designer Hooks* in my trailers to have places to hang clothing, jackets, towels, etc. You can get these in different weight ratings to accommodate various loads. They will add functionality to your trailer and can free up other storage.
LED Puck Lights. Much like hooks, there are usually very few lights in RV storage cabinets and other storage areas. I’ve used LED Puck lights* extensively in my RVs as they assist greatly in shining light into storage areas. It is a very inexpensive and easy to install upgrade, but well worth it.
New Tires. There is much debate on various forums about upgrading to new RV tires immediately upon purchasing an RV. Factory tires have certainly been given a bad rap and some of this is not unwarranted. For my 2017 R-Pod 179, I used the 15” factory D-rated tires for just under 9,000 miles and three years without any issues. However, I was very cautious about proper inflation and also used the EEZ Tire Pressure Monitor System* (TPMS) so I could keep track of tire inflation and temps while traveling. We have a video about tires safety basics that would be worth watching if you haven’t already. Recently, I did replace my R-Pod’s original tires with Goodyear Endurance tires and am very pleased with these new tires.
On my Keystone Bullet, it came with 14” tires that I wasn’t confident in given it actually had a flat tire while being delivered to the dealer! I did immediately replace these factory tires with highly rated Carlisle HD Trail D-Rated tires. I have done a full round-trip from MI to FL as well as much local camping without any issues on the Carlisle’s and like them very much.
So, what should you do about tires when purchasing a new trailer?
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- If your dealer will give you credit for your factory tires and upgrade them for you prior to delivery, you may want to pursue this option. For an R-Pod with 15” tires, I would recommend the Goodyear Endurance.
- If you already have your new trailer with 15” D-Rated factory tires, I would probably not upgrade immediately, but I would use a TPMS when traveling and be careful to keep the tires properly inflated. However, you have to be comfortable with this decision, and if you are not, upgrade.
- Either way, I would use a TPMS with any tire regardless of brand. I see this as essential safety equipment at this point.
All the best in your camping endeavors!
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