Category: RV Tips

RV Converter vs Inverter – How To Know The Difference

This article is going to be talking about the RV converter vs inverter. And how to know the difference between them and what they do.

Of course, most RVs have multiple power sources built into them. And that allows them to go almost anywhere you want to go.

So wherever you go you can have useful power to run the items in your RV.

But RV electrical systems are very often misunderstood by the RV owners themselves.

Watch my video about RV converter vs inverter

In fact, many RV owners don’t really know what a converter is, and what an inverter is.

So very often you’ll hear them using those terms interchangeably. And of course, it’s really no shame that you don’t know that, if that’s the case.

RV converter vs inverter explained in this article

Because this kind of equipment is not really used in normal homes that people live in. Homes that are connected to the power grid.

So that’s the purpose of this article. To help explain the basics of converters and inverters, and what you really need to know about them.

You can also listen to my podcast on this subject by clicking here.

Table of Contents

RV Power Sources – Alternating Current

Now let’s start out by discussing RV power first. And the power in an RV actually comes in two main forms.

The first is direct current, abbreviated by DC. And the second is alternating current abbreviated by AC.

RVs Use Two Different Kinds O Power

Now alternating current is what your stationary home usually uses on a daily basis.

Because that’s what’s sent to it by a power plant, or by the grid that it’s plugged into.

So when you take a device and you plug it into the wall socket at home, most like likely you’re getting alternating current to run it.

But here’s the problem with alternating current and RVs. It can’t be stored in its present form and taken with you on a mobile basis for whatever you need.

RV Power Sources – Direct Current

So what about direct current? Well, it can be stored in batteries. And then the batteries can go with you on a mobile basis.

And it’s this ability to use DC power on a mobile basis that makes it so useful for RV life.

What’s Happening When Your RV Is Plugged Into a Power Pedestal

However, RVs also can power the same 120 volt items that you use at home.

Things like televisions, microwaves, washers and dryers, and so on.

The 120 volt items an RV may have to power

So let’s say that you are plugged into a power pedestal for instance. Probably at a campground or an RV park.

Well in that case, you’re going to receive the alternating current that you need to run those AC items.

What Your Batteries Are Doing For Your Power Needs

But RV batteries and the 12 volt electrical system in the RV will also be running the lights in your RV. And it will be doing that at the same time.

It will also power the water pump, the furnace, and other smaller items like that as well.

The 12 volt items that your RV has to power

These are all components that run on 12 volt direct current instead of alternating current.

But the problem with batteries is that battery power doesn’t last forever. It has a limit when it is stored in a battery.

So when power goes out of a battery, it has to be replenished or recharged.

RV Converter vs Inverter – What The Converter Does

And here is where the converter comes in. Because you’re going to find converters in almost all RVs out there.

And their purpose is to receive shore power, or 120 volt alternating current that comes from the grid.

Then the converter changes it to 12 volt direct current to recharge your batteries if needed.

Converter vs inverter - what a converter does in an RV

And then it will help run all the 12 volt items and components in the RV as well.

Now when the batteries finally reach a fully charged state, it maintains them at that level.

So shore power, or alternating current, lets you run both 12 volt items in your RV and 120 volt items in the RV at the same time.

And that’s because of the converter. But RVs are not always plugged into shore power.

What Happens When Your RV Isn’t Plugged In?

So what happens when you unplug and take the RV on the road when you’re traveling?

What about your power needs when your RV is unplugged?
What about your power needs when your RV is unplugged?

Or what happens when you’re camping in an area that doesn’t have a power pedestal?

For instance, what happens if you’re boondocking off grid and there is no other power source available?

Well, your batteries are still going to run those 12 volt items in the RV with no problem.

At least until the batteries are depleted of their stored 12 volt power.

But how do you operate those larger 120 volt items that require alternating current?

Or in other words, how do you run your TV, the coffee pot, a hair dryer, and so on?

And how do you recharge your electronic devices now? Because they don’t run on 12 volt direct current either?

RV Converter vs Inverter – The Inverter

Well here is where the inverter comes in. Because now its job comes into play.

It has to take the power stored in your batteries, and then change it from 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current.

Converter vs inverter - what an inverter does in your RV

And that way it helps run the devices in your RV that require alternating current.

Of course, inverters are not found in all RVs. Remember earlier I said that you pretty much find converters in almost any RV out there?

Well, inverters are only found usually in better equipped RVs. The ones that are a little more expensive.

So it’s possible that you may have to install an inverter in your RV if it’s needed.

And if you do, you need to figure out what size inverter you’re going to require.

RV Converter vs Inverter – What Size Inverter Will You Need?

So here’s a general guideline for how you can go about doing that for your power needs.

First of all, 120 volt alternating current devices usually have a label on them somewhere that explains what it’s power needs are.

And the label will usually tell you how many watts of power the device consumes when it’s running.

So look for those labels on the 120 volt items you have or use in your RV.

Then add up the watts that could be used by all those devices you might use at the same time.

And then I recommend that you add about another 20% on top of that just to be safe. That gives you a little extra headroom for AC power.

Converter vs inverter - determining the proper size of an RV inverter

That way you can determine the size of the inverter that you are going to need.

An Example That Helps Explain Your Inverter’s Power Needs

So let’s give you an example that may help. Suppose the 120 volt devices you think you’ll use at the same time total up to about 400 watts.

Well then add 20% to that figure. And 20% of 400 is 80. So that’s 480 watts of inverter power that you are going to need.

And that means that if you get about a 500 watt inverter, then you should be in pretty good shape.

So that’s how you can figure out the size of the inverter that works for your particular needs.

A Word Of Warning About Using RV Inverters

Now one word of warning though. Inverters are not known for being very efficient in the exchange of power.

So there’s energy that’s lost in in that change from 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current.

And that means that when you’re using your inverter, you will actually deplete your batteries faster.

Or at least faster than if you were just using the battery power for direct current alone.

So what that means is this. Only turn on your inverter when you really need it. Or only when you need to run those 120 volt devices.

And that way, you can make your batteries last longer while you’re unplugged from shore power.

How Do You Replenish Power In Your RV Batteries?

Now what happens though when your battery power has been used up and is all depleted?

Well, this is a situation that RV boondockers face on a regular basis. And they have two main choices at that point.

What about your RV power needs when boondocking?
What about your RV power needs when boondocking?

First of all, RV boondockers can use solar power to replenish their batteries.

That means they can use solar panels that take the power from the sun and transfer that into the batteries.

That way they don’t have to break camp and then go plug into shore power somewhere.

Because that would then use the converter to power the batteries back up to normal.

Instead, they can stay right where they are and recharge their batteries using solar power.

But another solution is to use an RV generator instead. Either a portable one or one that’s permanently installed in your RV.

You can recharge your RV batteries with either solar power or a generator

Because generators will recharge your RV batteries as well. It just uses fuel to do that.

RV Converter vs Inverter – The Conclusion

Well, I think you can see that the RV power system in most RVs is very flexible.

It allows you to camp almost anywhere you want to go. And enjoy all the things your RV has to help you have a good camping experience.

So hopefully this article has helped you understand better what a converter is and what it does. And what an inverter is and what it does.

So if I have helped you understand that better, then the article has done its job.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

4 Season RVs – What Are They And Who Makes Them?

This article is going to be about 4 season RVs. And what it means when an RV is 4 season capable.

Of course, it’s common to find RVs that are labeled just that way, as “four season ready”. But what does that term even mean?

Watch my video on 4 season RVs

Well before I cover what it means, let me tell you what it doesn’t mean first.

What The Term “4 Season RV” Doesn’t Mean

It doesn’t mean that particular RV can withstand pretty much anything nature has to throw at it. Or the most extreme temperatures possible.

Actually four season RV is mainly just a marketing term. And these days RV marketing is kind of like the wild west, in that almost anything goes.

The 4 season RV sticker often mainly just for marketing RVs
The 4 season RV sticker often mainly just for marketing RVs

So there’s lots of hype out there that’s often not very reliable. Or that exaggerates the truth.

And truthfully, there’s no set standard for what 4 season RVs actually are in the industry.

So because of that, some RV brands just claim almost anything in this area.

But here’s the truth. RVs are not made to handle the extremes of summer and winter temperatures, no matter where you go.

Are RVs Insulated Like Houses?

No, they’re not made for extreme weather like houses or regular homes are.

For instance, RV walls are thinner. And there’s less insulation in general than you would find throughout a stationary home.

Comparing homes with RVs
Comparing homes with RVs

Also, a house has a solid foundation. So there’s no air traveling up underneath it like you find in an RV.

And we could go on and on about the differences between RVs and home construction.

But then we get back to the question, what does “4 season RV” actually mean? Especially in real world application in the RV industry.

What Does “4 Season RVs” Actually Mean?

Well, here’s what I think. To me, it should mean it should mean that 4 season RVs can simply handle more extreme conditions better than most other RVs.

Now of course, as long as you have a good air conditioner in your RV, summer should not be nearly the kind of challenge that winter is.

Because winter camping can not only be uncomfortable in an RV. Meaning that you just find it difficult to stay warm.

No, actually there is more to consider when that happens. More serious consequences that can happen in extreme cold weather.

And the truth is that when temperatures drop below freezing for an extended period, it can also damage the plumbing inside your RV.

This is not just about comfort then. It also can mean that real damage to your RV can take place.

So what should you look for then in four season RVs? Well let’s talk about that now.

Feature #1 Found In 4 Season RVs

And the first thing that I encourage you to look for in a true four season RV is a better “R factor” of insulation.

Now having said that, I encourage you to be careful in this area. So beware of some of the claims made by RV factories and manufacturers.

Because there are some that just put a thin piece of material in the walls, and claim that the R factor has been increased dramatically.

As if there has been a significant increase in insulation by using that “magic” material. But it’s just not true, it’s bogus!

There is no such magic material in existence. Where taking a thin sheet of it transforms the R factor into much better insulation.

And what I encourage you to do is not only find out what the R factor is in the walls.

But also check on the insulation they have used in the ceilings, floors, and slides as well.

And ask them what makes this RV so much better insulated? How have you increased the insulation’s R factor in these places?

Then listen for the answer. And if they tell you about some magic thin sheet of material, you will know that this is not a true four season RV.

In other words, what you want to know is what makes this RV better insulated?

And then listen for an answer that actually makes sense. One that is reasonable.

Feature #2 For Four Season Capability

Now here’s the second point for determining whether an RV is four season or not.

And that is, does it have double pane windows? This is an important consideration because most RVs have single pane windows.

Double pane windows are important for true 4 season capability
Double pane windows are important for true 4 season capability

RV manufacturers put single pane windows in most RVs just to keep the price as low as possible.

But what happens when a window with two panes that has a pocket of air sealed in between is used? Well, that’s a much better insulated window!

Now if you spend time in RVs with single pane windows, you will learn why they need to be upgraded. Especially for use in all four seasons.

Because with single pane windows, you can easily have a temperature transfer from inside the RV out, and from outside the RV in.

So double pane windows are very good to have to keep the temperature more constant in an RV.

Also as a side point, they help reduce condensation on RV windows as well.

Feature #3 That Helps In Extreme Cold Weather

OK, the third point to consider is to look for sealed underbellies in 4 season RVs.

In other words, you shouldn’t be able to go under that RV and see exposed pipes.

You know, water and plumbing pipes that are exposed to outside weather. That’s really not good!

The last thing you want in extreme cold weather is frozen pipes in your RV
The last thing you want in extreme cold weather is frozen pipes in your RV

Instead, you want a sealed and insulated RV underbelly. But a true 4 season RV will go one step further.

It will often have a dedicated heating vent for the underbelly. One that allows hot air from the furnace to get down into the underbelly.

And that will help keep all the plumbing in that area from freezing in very cold weather.

Feature #4 – What About The RV Waste And Water Tanks?

Now our next point to consider for four season RVs has to do with the fresh and wastewater tanks.

Because you really don’t want these to freeze in extreme weather. They will be a mess if that happens, and it will be expensive to repair.

So RV manufacturers often put tank heaters on the waste and water tanks to keep them warm.

Then all you have to do is just press a button inside the RV to turn those heaters on. It’s a simple feature that really helps in extreme cold!

Feature #5 In Four Season RVs

OK, here’s the last point we want to talk about to identify a true four season RV.

And that is to look for both a higher output furnace and air conditioner.

That means that they shouldn’t just be the normal kind of units that are put in most RVs.

Instead, you want a higher output to keep things comfortable inside the RV. And by the way, ducted systems are the best for overall comfort.

OK, so those are the things that you should look for when you’re looking for true 4 season RVs.

Another Important Idea For Stationary Camping In Cold Weather

Now let me give you another point though to consider. Especially if it’s wintertime and you’re camping in one place for a while.

In that case, I encourage you to consider putting skirting around your RV too.

Skirting can be a huge help in extreme weather
Skirting can be a huge help in extreme weather

And skirting is simply a piece of material that goes from the bottom of the RV all the way down to the ground.

It just seals off that bottom area so no wind is passing through under the RV. And believe me, it will make a real difference inside the RV!

Now I’ve made a video about some four season brands of travel trailers.

And these are RV brands and models that I can recommend for your consideration.

Just click on the image below to watch that video now.

Watch my video on 4 season travel trailers

Or you can read this article about it instead.

How To Protect Your Water Source In Extreme Cold

Now here’s one last tip that I want to give you even if your RV is a four season RV.

And that is you need to protect the water source that comes into that RV during sub-freezing temperatures.

Many people handle that by wrapping the hose outside with heat tape. Or they use a specially designed heated water hose like you see at this link.

And of course, that can work fine. But you may not want to go to that kind of effort if you are rarely in extreme weather with your RV.

So in that case, there is a simple thing you can do when sub-freezing temperatures happen.

You can fill your fresh water tank first. Then disconnect the water hose that feeds water to your RV altogether.

You can store it in the meantime until you need to put more water in the fresh water tank.

It’s a strategy you can use at times just to be safe in really cold weather.

And to prevent any ice from coming into your RV through a frozen water hose.

Conclusion

Well I hope that now that you know more about what makes an RV a true 4 season RV.

And knowing this information means that you don’t have to just trust the salesperson on the subject.

Or even an RV factory’s brochure, or a sticker on the outside of the RV.

Instead, hopefully now you can verify for yourself whether it really is a four season RV or not.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

Buying An RV Out Of State – Should You Do It?

This article will be talking about buying an RV out of state. Is it really something you should do?

Well, there’s no question that these days RV buying is super popular. And the best place overall to look for RVs for sale is definitely in your area.

Where you can find RVs locally
Where you can find RVs locally

You can find them at dealers and with private owners. But there are also online links that help you find RVs that are close by too.

And there are a lot of advantages to searching for and buying an RV that way.

Watch my video about buying RVs long distance

Table of Contents

Why Buying An RV Locally Is A Good Idea

Because it allows you as a buyer to personally go and take a look at those RVs. You can go through them and verify the shape their in and so on.

Then you can decide if it’s something that’s good for you or not. But what if you can’t find what you’re looking for locally?

Well, you could always expand your search a little bit farther away from your local area. Maybe to the entire state you live in or the region your in.

Of course, that may require a little bit of extra driving to do that. But it’s still possible for you to personally go and take a look at those RVs for sale.

However, what if you’re looking for a particular brand or model? And what if that RV just can’t be found in your area?

Or what if the ones that are nearby just don’t live up to your expectations? Should you expand your search even further away?

Perhaps look for an RV from a long distance away? Or maybe many states away from you?

Well these days, all of that is very possible with the resources that we have available to us.

How To Find RVs That Are A Long Distance Away

For instance, we have RV Trader and RVT.com that allow you to search for pretty much any RV and model nationwide.

But then there’s also eBay and Facebook groups too. And oftentimes, the folks that post there are posting their RV for sale on a nationwide basis.

Where to look for buying an RV out of state
Where to look for buying an RV out of state

These are all very good sources for national RV sales. And using them you can find pretty much anything that you are looking for.

However, you need to be very careful and very cautious when buying an RV out of state.

Buying An RV Out Of State – Why You Need Caution With Dealers

Because you want to avoid fraud on the one hand. And on the other hand, you don’t want to be disappointed with the RV that you buy either.

Now when you’re working long distance, the least risk you’ll probably encounter is with an RV dealer. One that is not in your area.

But that doesn’t mean that there’s no risk at all with working with them.

It just means that there’s less risk involved. Because they’re a recognized business. And they have a location where they can be found.

In fact, you can even go online and research online reviews for that particular RV dealer.

And that way you can find out how folks that have been their customers in the past have felt that the whole sales experience went with them.

You can also call and talk to them personally over the phone. And you can ask questions about the RV you are interested in.

In fact, you can even ask for them to send you specific photos about the RV.

Maybe ask for photos of areas on the RV that you want to see a little closer. Or get ask for photos with more detail.

And if they comply, that’s an indication that they actually have that RV and it is on their lot.

What If The RV You Want Is A Motorhome?

Now if it’s a motorhome, you can go even further. You can run reports like Carfax produces to find out more information about that RV.

And these reports are very good because they’ll allow you to verify the history of that motorhome.

For instance, you can determine whether there’s a lien on it or not.

You can also learn about the history of accidents for that RV. Or any other major incident in its history.

And another similar source of great information on the history of a motorhome is found at Faxvin.com.

So it’s a good idea to use both of these online resources to get as much information as you can about the RV you’re considering.

Learn about the history of a motorhome with these online resources if you're buying an RV out of state
Learn about the history of a motorhome with these online resources if you’re buying an RV out of state

Of course, all of that information is very good to be able to have. But one word of warning needs to be covered here.

Why You Can’t Fully Trust What An RV Dealer Tells You

And that is, don’t expect an RV dealer to be fully transparent with you.

Remember, they’re a dealer. So they want to sell you that RV anyway that they can.

And that often means that they’re not going to tell you everything you need to know.

Also, they just don’t want you to know about any negative things that could be associated with that RV.

However, we can say this about RV dealers. Usually, they can make the buying process so much easier.

Buying An RV Out Of State – Why A Dealer Can Be A Good Choice

And one reason for that is because they can handle all the paperwork for the sale.

You know, the things that are important. Like taxes, the bill of sale, financing, and things along that line. And that does help a lot!

But RV private owners are a very different story. And here is where it’s going to require a lot more caution on your part.

Why Buying From Private Owners Requires Even More Caution

That’s because you often really don’t know for sure who you’re dealing with in that situation.

And some have represented themselves as the RV owner when that is not the case at all.

So you really must be able to talk to somebody who owns the RV.

And to make sure your talking to the RV owner, ask questions that only an owner would know about their RV.

Once again, ask for photos of specific places on the RV that they can send to you. Why?

Because it helps verify that the RV actually exists. And that they have possession of it.

Once again, you also want to run the Carfax if it happens to be a motorhome as well.

That way you can make sure of the history of that RV before you go any further with it.

A Little Advance Knowledge Is Needed When Buying An RV Out Of State

But now, before you get into dealing with private owners, you need to do some research though.

You need to know all about the state documents that are going to be required for the RV sale.

All the things that state wants you to have for this sale to proceed legally.

And you will need to know about the taxes that will be required as well.

Here’s A Suggestion That Can Be Very Helpful

Now here’s one other suggestion that I’m going to give you here. And that is to consider the use of a third-party escrow service.

And what is an escrow service? Well essentially, they receive the funds from the buyer initially when the sale is made.

But they hold the funds until all of the agreements on the part of both the buyer and the seller has been fulfilled.

So that way it protects both parties in the arrangement. Both the buyer and the seller.

And this kind of service can be very helpful for these long distance RV transactions.

Now you can find escrow services online. Just make a search for them on Google.

But then be careful to follow their directions very carefully to make the sale go well.

What About The Condition Of The RV?

Now let’s talk a little bit about something else. And that is, how do you know what shape the RV is in since you can’t visit it yourself?

Well, you have a couple of options here. Number one is that you can buy a plane ticket and go and take a look at it personally.

And the second option is that you can hire a local RV inspector to thoroughly inspect it for you.

To do that, just go to rvhelp.com to find an inspector that’s nearby the RV.

Hire an NRVIA certified RV inspector to find out what shape an RV is really in
Hire an NRVIA certified RV inspector to find out what shape an RV is really in

When you hire them, they can verify that the RV exists. And they also can verify that it matches the vehicle identification number that you have been given.

In addition, they can also verify the condition of the RV as well which is a huge help.

Now what if the seller refuses an RV inspection like this? Well, my recommendation is to just move on.

Because it means that there’s most likely something not right with this RV.

Especially when they don’t want you to know everything about that RV’s condition.

And that’s information you need since you’re the one who’s paying for the RV inspection.

What If The RV You Found Isn’t A Good One To Buy?

Now what if the RV inspection goes forward and you find out that the RV really isn’t the way it was being represented? What do you do then?

Well in that case, you have really only lost a little bit of time and the cost of the RV inspection.

But isn’t that a lot better than being stuck with an RV money pit? One that you’re probably going to spend thousands of dollars to get in shape?

And you can avoid all the irritation and frustration that would go along with that. For me, the inspection cost is well worth that!

But now, let’s suppose that the RV inspection goes forward and it finds a few things but nothing major. And that means that it meets your criteria.

In that case, you can go right on and complete the sale since it appears to be a good RV to own.

How Can You Get The RV Back To You When Buying An RV Out Of State?

But remember, that with either a dealer or a private owner you are somehow going to need to get that RV back to where you are.

And you could do that by one of two ways. First, you could fly there and transport it back yourself.

Or secondly, you could pay for a transport service to do that for you instead.

So once again, just search online for RV transport services on Google.

And you’ll find that there’s plenty available there that can do that for you.

But remember, you need to include the cost of that transport in your budget for buying an RV.

So do a little bit of advanced research on the transport cost to know how much to budget for it.

Conclusion

Now let’s talk a little bit about what we’ve gone over so far. And first of all, it’s very possible to buy almost any RV that you want these days long distance.

But you need to conduct the search and the purchase very carefully and cautiously.

I also recommend not letting any seller talk you into speeding up the sale.

Perhaps using tactics like “Oh I have somebody on it right now. So you’d better hurry and get this if you want it”.

My advice is not to fall for that. Not from a dealer or from a private owner either.

Instead, take your time and work through the process step by step without being hurried.

And if that particular sale doesn’t work out for you, don’t get shook about that.

Because there’s another great deal coming right along behind that one. There always is.

So here is the good news. Lots of people these days are successfully buying an RV out of state that they are very happy with.

And most likely it could work for you as well.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

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