RV Information Index – articles by Collyn Rivers
This Articles Index shows all current collected articles by Collyn Rivers. This is a significant storehouse of RV information. You can also access a number of articles of interest written by others. Click Here to access this link.
Batteries & Battery Charging
- 12 volts dc from 24 volts dc
- AGM batteries for caravans – they are still worth using
- Are Lithium-ion Batteries Worth Their Price – homes and properties
- Australian Battery Breakthrough
- Baghdad battery myth
- Battery capacity for home and property
- Battery capacity required for cabins and RVs
- Battery charging and battery chargers – how to do it properly
- Battery ventilation is vital – why take any risk?
- Best Batteries for Solar Power Storage
- Blade fuse problems in caravans – they may burn or melt
- Connecting caravan batteries – there’s no magic way of doing it!
- Dc-dc charging – how to speed alternator charging
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Electrical converter problems in caravans – problems when used for free camping
- Electrolysis corrosion in vehicles – how to find and fix it
- Fast battery charging from generators – cheap, effective and relatively simply
- Generator Battery Charging – Quickly and Deeply
- How long can lead acid batteries last
- How to tell caravan battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Imported RV electrics
- Interconnecting batteries in parallel or series – here’s how and why
- Lead acid batteries for caravans – they are still a good buy
- LiFePO4 jump starters really do work – they power other things too
- Lighting for caravans – it makes every sense to install LEDs
- Lithium batteries for caravans
- Lithium battery rival
- Lithium battery safety in caravans – are they all the same?
- Lithium-iron batteries in RVs – they are safe to use
- RV Alternator Charging Problems
- RV Batteries
- RV electrical wiring – twin-wire or chassis return – here’s why twin-wire is usually better
- RV Fuel cells – great idea, but cost is too high
- Variable voltage alternator problems with caravans – how to fix
- What Peukert really meant – but is so often misunderstood
Caravan/Tow Vehicle Behaviour & Suspension
- Caravan and tow vehicle dynamics
- Caravan suspension – it is mostly misunderstood
- Caravan Tow Ball Weight – how much
- Caravan weight safe to tow – depends on what tows it
- 10 Tips for Safe Caravan Towing
- Caravan design need for change
- Caravan Length and Stability
- Caravan nose weight – it’s vital for safe towing
- Caravan wheel placement
- Choosing a Caravan Tow Vehicle
- Do Not Trust Caravan Declared Mass
- Fifth wheelers are safer – here’s why they are
- Gross Combined Mass Upgrades
- How caravan and tow vehicles interact
- Is Caravan Independent Suspension Essential? – the answer is no.
- Loading a Caravan Safely
- Making stable caravans – here’s how and why to do it
- Mechanical sway-control has little value at speed
- Motorhome and trailer tyres
- Need for a WDH – avoid using one if possible
- Overhung Caravan Hitches
- Overweight RVs – a police point of view
- Reducing caravan sway – here’s how to minimise the causes
- RV Accident Data (Australia)
- RV Industry Changes Needed
- Should I grease my tow ball?
- Tow Vehicle/Caravan Weight Ratio Explained
- Towing Without a WDH – Weight Distributing Hitch
- Trailer Dynamics Simply Explained
- Warning for Potential Caravan Buyers – how to buy a caravan
- Weight Distribution Hitch limits cornering
- Weight distribution hitch setup – how much correction is needed
- Wheels falling off trailers – and how to stop it happening
- Why caravans sway and roll over – how to prevent it
Cooling and Heating
- Caravan air conditioning – here’s how
- Caravan fridge problems – how to fix the most common faults
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Diesel heating in caravans and motorhomes – it’s easy, effective and safe
- Make caravan fridges work as claimed – here’s how to do it
- RV Fridge Basics
- Safe RV heating – use diesel or LP gas
Electric Vehicles
- All electric vehicle efficiency & emissions
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Electric Vehicle History
- Electric Vehicle Home Charging
- Electric Vehicle Motors
- Electric Vehicles Energy Use
- Solar charge your electric car at home
- Why the Move to Electric Vehicles
Electrical (general)
- 12 volts dc from 24 volts dc
- AGM batteries for caravans – they are still worth using
- Battery charging and battery chargers – how to do it properly
- Blade fuse problems in caravans – they may burn or melt
- Caravan fridge problems – how to fix the most common faults
- Caravan Fuses and Circuit Breakers – how to know which to use
- Dc-dc charging – how to speed alternator charging
- Electrical converter problems in caravans – problems when used for free camping
- Electrical converters in RVs – they’re unsuitable for free-camping
- Fast battery charging from generators – cheap, effective and relatively simply
- Grid connect solar modules for RVs – here’s how you can use them
- Imported RV electrics
- Interconnecting batteries in parallel or series – here’s how and why
- Inverters for caravans – and motor homes too
- LiFePO4 jump starters really do work – they power other things too
- Lighting for caravans – it makes every sense to install LEDs
- Lithium battery rival
- Make caravan fridges work as claimed – here’s how to do it
- Quietening caravan water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- RV Alternator Charging Problems
- RV Batteries
- RV electrical wiring – twin-wire or chassis return – here’s why twin-wire is usually better
- RV Fuel cells – great idea, but cost is too high
- RV supply cables – choices of current capacity and length
- Solar regulators with current shunts – how to fix misleading readings
- TV interference from LEDs – here’s what causes it
- Variable voltage alternator problems with caravans – how to fix
General
- Caravan suspension – it is mostly misunderstood
- 10 Tips for RVing Around Australia
- All solar house – self-building an off-grid all solar house
- Are Lithium-ion Batteries Worth Their Price – homes and properties
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Baghdad battery myth
- Buy a New RV in 5 Steps
- Buying used caravans – what to check
- Caravan air conditioning – here’s how
- Caravan design need for change
- Caravan facts and opinions – the nonsense so often on caravan forums
- Choosing a Caravan Tow Vehicle
- Choosing the right interior fittings for an Australian RV
- Convert to your own all solar home
- Driving across Africa – in 1956/60 the very last time it was possible
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle History
- Electric Vehicle Home Charging
- Electric Vehicle Motors
- Electrolysis corrosion in vehicles – how to find and fix it
- Energy and Power
- Ensuring Successful Solar Projects
- Fuel savers do not work – almost all are scams
- Generators for Cabins and RVs
- Generators for Home and Property Systems
- Going off the grid
- Have portable solar in your rented home
- How much solar capacity do I need?
- How much solar energy available?
- How much solar input – here’s how to find out
- How to free camp legally in Australia
- How to stop paying for electricity
- Inverters for Homes and Properties
- Is a 4 wheel drive needed for motorhomes
- Is Napisan a Safe Toilet Chemical?
- Lightning risk in RVs – 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
- Our Solar Equipped RVs
- Overhung Caravan Hitches
- Problems with stand-alone solar – much applies also to RVs
- Quietening caravan water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- Retarding rust electronically – claims are exaggerated
- RV fault issues – who is responsible?
- RV forum common sense – a rare commodity?
- RV Layout – How to Choose the Best
- RV Solar and Alternator Charging
- RV Solar Basics
- RV Toilets – Which is Best?
- Safe toilet chemicals – can Napisan be used in septic tanks?
Health & Safety
- Caravan weight safe to tow – depends on what tows it
- 10 Tips for Safe Caravan Towing
- Battery ventilation is vital – why take any risk?
- Blade fuse problems in caravans – they may burn or melt
- Caravan Fuses and Circuit Breakers – how to know which to use
- Caravan nose weight – it’s vital for safe towing
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Claims for dual-cab ute towing capacity mislead caravan buyers
- Diesel heating in caravans and motorhomes – it’s easy, effective and safe
- Fifth wheelers are safer – here’s why they are
- Free camp safely in Australia – this article shows how
- How to Reverse a Caravan
- Is Napisan a Safe Toilet Chemical?
- Lightning risk in RVs – how to reduce that risk
- LP Gas risk in caravans – deaths & brain damage still occurs
- Making stable caravans – 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 Caravan Hitches
- Overweight RVs – a police point of view
- RV Accident Data (Australia)
- RV Industry Changes Needed
- RV supply cables – choices of current capacity and length
- Safe RV 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
- Towing Without a WDH – Weight Distributing Hitch
- Using correct size cables for RVs is essential
Household Solar
- Battery capacity for home and property
- Best Batteries for Solar Power Storage
- Convert to your own all solar home
- Ensuring Successful Solar Projects
- Fuel cells for homes and properties
- Generators for Home and Property Systems
- Going off the grid
- Grid connect solar problems – what vendors may not reveal
- Have portable solar in your rented home
- How to stop paying for electricity
- Inverters for Homes and Properties
- Refrigerators for Home and Property Solar
- Solar charge your electric car at home
- Solar Modules for Homes and Properties
- Solar Regulators for Home and Property Systems
- Solar Shadowing – reducing the losses
- TOP 10 SOLAR SCAMS
- Upgrading solar system has unexpected traps
- Vital things about solar in the USA
Legal & Compliance
- Caravan and motorhome compliance
- Australian Road Rules Confuse
- Australian RV and towing rules and regulations – a general guide
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Buying used caravans – what to check
- Caravan design need for change
- Caravan tare weight issues – some declared weights may not be correct
- Gross Combined Mass Upgrades
- Imported RVs – there can be major problems re-registering private imports
- RV Compliance – Here’s how to know
- RV electrical work – Victorian exception
- RV fault issues – who is responsible?
- Tow Vehicle & Caravan Weight Definitions
RV Solar
- Australian Battery Breakthrough
- Grid connect solar modules for RVs – here’s how you can use them
- How much solar input – here’s how to find out
- How to tell caravan battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Lithium batteries for caravans
- Lithium battery safety in caravans – are they all the same?
- Our solar equipped RVs – all proved a major success
- Problems with stand-alone solar – much applies also to RVs
- RV Batteries
- Solar input available for caravans – know what’s available and increase it too
- Solar regulators with current shunts – how to fix misleading readings
Travel
- Caravan Tow Ball Weight – how much
- 10 Tips for RVing Around Australia
- Australian Road Rules Confuse
- Australian RV and towing rules and regulations – a general guide
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Best Way to RV Around Australia
- Buy a New RV in 5 Steps
- Caravan design need for change
- Caravan Length and Stability
- Caravan tare weight issues – some declared weights may not be correct
- Caravan wheel placement
- Choosing a Caravan Tow Vehicle
- Choosing the right interior fittings for an Australian RV
- Claims for dual-cab ute towing capacity mislead caravan buyers
- Do Not Trust Caravan 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 free camp legally in Australia
- How to Reverse a Caravan
- Is a 4 wheel drive needed for motorhomes
- Loading a Caravan Safely
- Microwave for RV oven power draw – it’s more than many users think
- Motorhome and trailer tyres
- Need for a WDH – avoid using one if possible
- Overhung Caravan Hitches
- Quietening caravan water pumps – easy and cheap to do
- Reducing caravan sway – here’s how to minimise the causes
- Retarding rust electronically – claims are exaggerated
- RV forum common sense – a rare commodity?
- RV Fridge Basics
- RV Layout – How to Choose the Best
- 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 caravans – know what’s available and increase it too
- Top 10 Australian RV Apps
- TV interference from LEDs – here’s what causes it
- Weight Distribution Hitch limits cornering
- What off-road really means
The Camper Trailer Book
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)