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 travel trailers – 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 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
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Electrical converter problems in travel trailers – 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 travel trailer battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Imported RV electrics
- Interconnecting batteries in parallel or series – 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 for travel trailers
- Lithium battery rival
- Lithium battery safety in travel trailers – 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 travel trailers – how to fix
- What Peukert really meant – but is so often misunderstood
Travel trailer/Tow Vehicle Behaviour & Suspension
- Travel trailer and tow vehicle dynamics
- Travel trailer design need for change
- Travel trailer suspension – it is mostly misunderstood
- Travel trailer weight safe to tow – depends on what tows it
- Travel trailer wheel placement
- Travel Trailer Length and Stability
- Travel Trailer Tow Ball Weight – how much
- 10 Tips for Safe Travel Trailer Towing
- Caravan nose weight – it’s vital for safe towing
- Choosing a Travel Trailer Tow Vehicle
- Do Not Trust Travel Trailer Declared Mass
- Fifth wheelers are safer – here’s why they are
- Gross Combined Mass Upgrades
- How travel trailer and tow vehicles interact
- Is Travel trailer Independent Suspension Essential? – the answer is no.
- Loading a Travel Trailer Safely
- Making stable travel trailers – 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 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?
- Tow Vehicle/Travel Trailer Weight Ratio Explained
- Towing Without a WDH – Weight Distributing Hitch
- Trailer Dynamics Simply Explained
- Warning for Potential Travel Trailer Buyers – how to buy a travel trailer
- 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 travel trailers sway and roll over – how to prevent it
Cooling and Heating
- Travel trailer air conditioning – here’s how
- Caravan fridge problems – how to fix the most common faults
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Diesel heating in travel trailers and motorhomes – it’s easy, effective and safe
- Make travel trailer 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 travel trailers – they are still worth using
- Battery charging and battery chargers – how to do it properly
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – 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 travel trailers – 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 travel trailers – and motor homes too
- 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 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 travel trailers – how to fix
General
- Travel trailer air conditioning – here’s how
- Travel trailer design need for change
- Travel trailer facts and opinions – the nonsense so often on travel trailer forums
- Travel trailer 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 travel trailers – what to check
- Choosing a Travel Trailer 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 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 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?
- Should I grease my tow ball?
- Solar Basics You Need to Know
- Solar Regulators for Home and Property Systems
- Solar Shadowing – reducing the losses
- Solar usage in the USA
- Top 10 Australian RV Apps
- TOP 10 SOLAR SCAMS
- Tow Vehicle & Travel Trailer Weight Definitions
- Tow Vehicle/Travel Trailer Weight Ratio Explained
- Ultra-light travel trailers – they are rare but feasible. Here’s how to do it
- Vital things about solar in the USA
- Warning for Potential Travel Trailer Buyers – how to buy a travel trailer
- Weight distribution hitch setup – how much correction is needed
- What off-road really means
- What Peukert really meant – but is so often misunderstood
- Wheels falling off trailers – and how to stop it happening
- Why travel trailers sway and roll over – how to prevent it
- Why the Move to Electric Vehicles
Health & Safety
- Travel trailer weight safe to tow – depends on what tows it
- 10 Tips for Safe Travel Trailer Towing
- Battery ventilation is vital – why take any risk?
- Blade fuse problems in travel trailers – 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 travel trailer buyers
- Diesel heating in travel trailers 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 Travel trailer
- Is Napisan a Safe Toilet Chemical?
- Lightning risk in RVs – how to reduce that risk
- LP Gas risk in travel trailers – deaths & brain damage still occurs
- Making stable travel trailers – 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
- 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
- Travel trailer and motorhome compliance
- Travel trailer design need for change
- Australian Road Rules Confuse
- Australian RV and towing rules and regulations – a general guide
- Australian RV Road Rules – Summary
- Buying used travel trailers – what to check
- 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 & Travel Trailer 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 travel trailer battery charge – energy monitoring explained
- Lithium batteries for travel trailers
- Lithium battery safety in travel trailers – 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 travel trailers – know what’s available and increase it too
- Solar regulators with current shunts – how to fix misleading readings
Travel
- Travel trailer design need for change
- Travel trailer wheel placement
- Travel Trailer Length and Stability
- Travel Trailer 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 tare weight issues – some declared weights may not be correct
- 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 free camp legally in Australia
- How to Reverse a Travel trailer
- Is a 4 wheel drive needed for motorhomes
- Loading a Travel Trailer 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 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 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 travel trailers – 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)