Articles Index – updated articles about RVs by Collyn Rivers
This Articles Index shows all current collected articles by Collyn Rivers. All are updated at least once a year (some far more often). You can also access a number of articles of interest written by others. Click Here to access this link.
Batteries & Battery Charging
- Travel Trailer twin-wire or chassis return – here’s why twin-wire is usually better
- 12 volts dc from 24 volts dc
- AGM batteries for travel trailers – they are still worth using
- Australian Battery Breakthrough
- Battery charging and battery chargers – how to do it properly
- Battery charging with generator – how you can speed it up
- Battery ventilation is vital – why take any risk?
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – they may burn or melt
- Connecting travel trailer batteries – there’s no magic way of doing it!
- Dc-dc charging – how to speed alternator charging
- Electrical converter problems in travel trailers – problems when used for free camping
- Electrolysis corrosion in vehicles – how to find and fix it
- Fuel cells for travel trailers – great idea, but cost is too high
- How long can lead acid batteries last
- How to tell travel trailer battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Imported RV electrics
- Interconnecting batteries in series or parallel- here’s how and why
- Lead acid batteries for travel trailers – they are still a good buy
- LiFePO4 jump starters really do work – they power other things too
- Lighting for travel trailers – it makes every sense to install LEDs
- Lithium batteries in travel trailers and motorhomes
- Lithium battery rival
- Lithium battery safety in travel trailers – are they all the same?
- RV Alternator Charging Problems
- RV Batteries
- Speeding battery charging from generators – cheap, effective and relatively simply
- Variable voltage alternator problems with travel trailers – how to fix
Travel Trailer/Tow Vehicle Behaviour & Suspension
- Travel Trailer and motorhome tyres
- Travel Trailer and tow vehicle dynamics
- Travel Trailer design need for change
- Travel Trailer Dynamics Simply Explained
- Travel Trailer Length and Stability
- Travel Trailer nose weight – it’s vital for safe towing
- Travel Trailer suspension – it is mostly misunderstood
- Travel Trailer Tow Ball Weight – how much
- Travel Trailer weight safe to tow – depends on what tows it
- Travel Trailer wheel placement
- Choosing a Travel Trailer Tow Vehicle
- Do travel trailers need independent suspension – the answer is no.
- Do Not Trust Travel Trailer Declared Mass
- Fifth-wheel travel trailers are safer – here’s why they are
- Gross Combined Mass Upgrades
- How travel trailer and tow vehicles interact
- How to Load a Travel Trailer Safely
- Making travel trailers more stable – here’s how and why to do it
- Mechanical sway-control has little value at speed
- Need for a WDH – avoid using one if possible
- Overhung Travel Trailer Hitches
- Overweight RVs – a police point of view
- Reducing travel trailer sway – here’s how to minimise the causes
- RV Accident Data (Australia)
- RV Industry Changes Needed
- Should I grease my tow ball?
- Ten Tips for Safe Travel Trailer Towing
- Tow Vehicle/Travel Trailer Weight Ratio Explained
- Towing Without a WDH – Weight Distributing Hitch
- Warning for Potential Caravan Buyers – how to buy a caravan
- Weight Distributing Hitch limits cornering
- Weight distribution hitch setting up – how much correction is needed
- Wheels falling off trailers – and how to stop it happening
- Why travel trailers sway and roll over – how to prevent it
Cooling and Heating
- Travel Trailer fridge problems – how to fix the most common faults
- Air conditioning a travel trailer – here’s how
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Diesel heating in travel trailers and motorhomes – it’s easy, effective and safe
- Interconnecting batteries in series or parallel- here’s how and why
- Make travel trailer fridges work as claimed – here’s how to do it
- RV Fridge Basics
- Safe travel trailer and motorhome heating – use diesel or LP gas
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 14: Fridges
Electrical (general)
- Travel Trailer fridge problems – how to fix the most common faults
- Travel Trailer twin-wire or chassis return – here’s why twin-wire is usually better
- 12 volts dc from 24 volts dc
- AGM batteries for travel trailers – they are still worth using
- Battery charging and battery chargers – how to do it properly
- Battery charging with generator – how you can speed it up
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – they may burn or melt
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – they may burn or melt
- Circuit breakers and fuses in travel trailers – how to know which to use
- Dc-dc charging – how to speed alternator charging
- Electrical converter problems in travel trailers – problems when used for free camping
- Electrical converters in RVs – they’re unsuitable for free-camping
- Fuel cells for travel trailers – great idea, but cost is too high
- Grid connect solar modules for RVs – here’s how you can use them
- Imported RV electrics
- Interconnecting batteries in series or parallel- here’s how and why
- Inverters for travel trailers – and motor homes too
- Lead acid batteries for travel trailers – they are still a good buy
- LiFePO4 jump starters really do work – they power other things too
- Lighting for travel trailers – it makes every sense to install LEDs
- Lithium battery rival
- Make travel trailer fridges work as claimed – here’s how to do it
- Quietening travel trailer water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- RV Alternator Charging Problems
- RV Batteries
- RV Solar Basics
- Solar regulators with current shunts – how to fix misleading readings
- Speeding battery charging from generators – cheap, effective and relatively simply
- Supply cables for travel trailers – choices of current capacity and length
- TV interference from LEDs – here’s what causes it
- Variable voltage alternator problems with travel trailers – how to fix
Health & Safety
- Travel Trailer nose weight – it’s vital for safe towing
- Travel Trailer weight safe to tow – depends on what tows it
- Battery ventilation is vital – why take any risk?
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – they may burn or melt
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Circuit breakers and fuses in travel trailers – how to know which to use
- Claims for dual-cab ute towing capacity mislead travel trailer buyers
- Diesel heating in travel trailers and motorhomes – it’s easy, effective and safe
- Fifth-wheel travel trailers are safer – here’s why they are
- Free camp safely in Australia – this article shows how
- Gas risk in travel trailers – deaths & brain damage still occurs
- How to Reverse a Travel Trailer
- Is Napisan a Safe Toilet Chemical?
- Lightning risk in travel trailers – how to reduce that risk
- Making travel trailers more stable – here’s how and why to do it
- Mechanical sway-control has little value at speed
- Napisan and Look-Alikes safe for Septic Tanks – a professor’s view
- Overhung Travel Trailer Hitches
- Overweight RVs – a police point of view
- RV Accident Data (Australia)
- RV Industry Changes Needed
- Safe travel trailer and motorhome heating – use diesel or LP gas
- Safe toilet chemicals – can Napisan be used in septic tanks?
- Sleep apnoea machines for camping – correct choice is vital
- Supply cables for travel trailers – choices of current capacity and length
- Ten Tips for Safe Travel Trailer Towing
- Towing Without a WDH – Weight Distributing Hitch
Legal & Compliance
- Travel Trailer & Tow Vehicle Weight Definitions
- Travel Trailer and motorhome compliance – the Caravan Council of Australia explains all
- Travel Trailer design need for change
- Travel Trailer fault issues – who is responsible?
- Travel Trailer tare weight issues – some declared weights may not be correct
- Australian Road Rules Confuse
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Australian RV rules and regulations – a constantly updated general guide
- Buying used travel trailers – what to check
- Gross Combined Mass Upgrades
- How to free camp legally in Australia
- Imported RVs – there can be major problems re-registering private imports
- RV Compliance – Here’s how to know
Solar
- All solar house – self-building an off-grid all solar house
- Australian Battery Breakthrough
- Grid connect solar modules for RVs – here’s how you can use them
- Grid connect solar problems – what vendors may not reveal
- How much solar input – here’s how to find out
- How to tell travel trailer battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Interconnecting batteries in series or parallel- here’s how and why
- Lithium batteries in travel trailers and motorhomes
- Lithium battery safety in travel trailers – are they all the same?
- Living with solar – how make it all work
- Our solar equipped RVs – all proved a major success
- Problems with stand-alone solar – much applies also to RVs
- RV Batteries
- RV Solar Basics
- Solar input available for travel trailers – know what’s available and increase it too
- Solar regulators with current shunts – how to fix misleading readings
Travel
- Travel Trailer and motorhome tyres
- Travel Trailer common sense – a rare commodity?
- Travel Trailer design need for change
- Travel Trailer Length and Stability
- Travel Trailer tare weight issues – some declared weights may not be correct
- Travel Trailer Tow Ball Weight – how much
- Travel Trailer wheel placement
- Australian Road Rules Confuse
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Australian RV rules and regulations – a constantly updated general guide
- Best Way to Drive an RV Around Australia
- Buying a New RV in Five Steps
- Choosing a Travel Trailer Tow Vehicle
- Choosing the right interior fittings for an Australian RV
- Claims for dual-cab ute towing capacity mislead travel trailer buyers
- Do Not Trust Travel Trailer Declared Mass
- Driving across Africa – in 1956/60 the very last time it was possible
- Electrical converters in RVs – they’re unsuitable for free-camping
- Free camp safely in Australia – this article shows how
- How to Choose the Best Travel Trailer Layout
- How to free camp legally in Australia
- How to Load a Travel Trailer Safely
- How to Reverse a Travel Trailer
- Is four wheel drive needed for motorhomes
- Microwave oven power draw – it’s more than many users think
- Need for a WDH – avoid using one if possible
- Overhung Travel Trailer Hitches
- Quietening travel trailer water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- Reducing travel trailer sway – here’s how to minimise the causes
- Retarding rust electronically – claims are exaggerated
- RV Fridge Basics
- RV Toilets – Which is Best?
- Safe toilet chemicals – can Napisan be used in septic tanks?
- Sleep apnoea machines for camping – correct choice is vital
- Solar input available for travel trailers – know what’s available and increase it too
- Ten Tips for RVing Around Australia
- Top 10 Australian RV Apps
- TV interference from LEDs – here’s what causes it
- Ultra-light travel trailers – they are rare but feasible. Here’s how to do it
- Weight Distributing Hitch limits cornering
- What off-road really means
General
- Travel Trailer & Tow Vehicle Weight Definitions
- Travel Trailer common sense – a rare commodity?
- Travel Trailer design need for change
- Travel Trailer facts and opinions – the nonsense so often on forums
- Travel Trailer fault issues – who is responsible?
- Travel Trailer suspension – it is mostly misunderstood
- Air conditioning a travel trailer – here’s how
- All solar house – self-building an off-grid all solar house
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – they may burn or melt
- Buying a New RV in Five Steps
- Buying used travel trailers – what to check
- Choosing a Travel Trailer Tow Vehicle
- Choosing the right interior fittings for an Australian RV
- Driving across Africa – in 1956/60 the very last time it was possible
- Electrolysis corrosion in vehicles – how to find and fix it
- Fuel savers do not work – almost all are scams
- How much solar input – here’s how to find out
- How to Choose the Best Travel Trailer Layout
- How to free camp legally in Australia
- Interconnecting batteries in series or parallel- here’s how and why
- Is four wheel drive needed for motorhomes
- Is Napisan a Safe Toilet Chemical?
- Lightning risk in travel trailers – how to reduce that risk
- Living with solar – how make it all work
- Napisan and Look-Alikes safe for Septic Tanks – a professor’s view
- Overhung Travel Trailer Hitches
- Problems with stand-alone solar – much applies also to RVs
- Quietening travel trailer water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- Retarding rust electronically – claims are exaggerated
- RV Toilets – Which is Best?
- Safe toilet chemicals – can Napisan be used in septic tanks?
- Should I grease my tow ball?
- Ten Tips for RVing Around Australia
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 14: Fridges
- Top 10 Australian RV Apps
- Tow Vehicle/Travel Trailer Weight Ratio Explained
- Ultra-light travel trailers – they are rare but feasible. Here’s how to do it
- Warning for Potential Caravan Buyers – how to buy a caravan
- Weight distribution hitch setting up – how much correction is needed
- What off-road really means
- Wheels falling off trailers – and how to stop it happening
- Why travel trailers sway and roll over – how to prevent it
The Camper Trailer Book
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 1: Camper Trailer Overview
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 2: Where to Go in Australia
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 3: What can be towed where
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 4: Tow vehicles
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 5: Chassis and suspension
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 6: Trailer Hitches
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 7: Trailer brakes & braking
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 8: Wheels and Tyres
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 9: Batteries
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 10: Battery and Alternator Charging
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 11: Generators
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 12: Fuel cells
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 13: Energy monitoring
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 14: Fridges
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 15: Water
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 16: Internal and water heating
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 17: Lighting
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 18: Supplementing with Solar
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 19: Solar – bringing it all together
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 20: Example Systems
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 21: Installing the electrics
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 22: Building and modifying
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 23: Preparing for the trip
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 24: Why things work loose
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 25: Communications and GPS
- The Camper Trailer Book – Chapter 26: Safety
As with all of Collyn's writings, all articles are protected under the Commonwealth Copyright Act. No part may be produced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder (RV Books, 2 Scotts Road, Mitchells Island, NSW, Australia 2430)