✋ Don't Waste Your Money on THESE!! ✋

While there are PLENTY of great RV accessories out there over the years I've heard a LOT of customers & owners comment on items they wish they had never purchased. Some of the items in this video may still provide some situational benefit to some owners but some are things I feel strongly you should avoid pretty much at all costs!
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#tips #dont #save #RVNerd #RV #rvlife #rving #travel #camp #camping #camper #campinglife #homeonwheels
00:00 Welcome!
01:18 Wheel Chocks
04:12 Laundry
07:31 Butt Napkins
09:30 Slide Awnings
13:03 Dishware
14:09 Slide Supports
16:46 Sewer Hoses
18:36 Tank Treatments
21:31 What WOULDN'T You Buy Again?

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

*Hey Everybody! Thanks so much for watching and for all the awesome feedback you've offered so far! I swear I learn more from my audience than you ever learn from me -- and I love it!* *If videos like this are useful, then I'd love it if you dropped me a quick review at **g.page/r/CdPcitNVx2nDEAg/review** ► It'll cost you nothing and I'd sure appreciate it!* _Uncle Josh, the RV Nerd_

[@brendenspudsbenjamin]

Well we love you Uncle Josh!!!

[@KR-1zero]

Done

[@kevinblackwell2071]

It's content like this that helps me way more than travel vlogs of this rv park or that. Keep up the great reviews.

[@deanm5325]

Uncle Josh for President!!!👍

[@djstopenhagen3711]

Happy Camper has not failed us in the poop dept! and good info on slide supports

[@dickthemooner]

This is the great example for anyone in sales!!! Take note! I would go out of my way to buy from a guy like this! I'll pay extra for honesty and integrity any day! Kudos for having the croutons to say what needs to be said, not a sales pitch!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Wow TY so much!! I appreciate the kind words :)

[@DoneRightReviews]

I think I talk my customers out of products and services they don't need as often as I show up for their problems. That said, it's never a bad thing to point out something they may NEED... even if it's totally separate from the problem you were called for the service in the first place.

[@lindamichigan5471]

Croutons 😂😂😂

[@rastus666]

I bought a toyhauler 2 years ago. I shopped around online, found one for $24k, one for $22k, and the one I purchased for $18k. Same trailer model. It pays to shop around.

[@catewalters2290]

I agree. I'm in Las Vegas heading for Michigan (my home), i'm gonna buy a new hose there rather than Amazon just cuz of the service

[@user-hm1eb7rp4r]

This is the type of salesperson that all others should strive to be like!! Honest and still wants peoples opinions! 💯 GREAT JOB JOSH!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Wow ty

[@victoriabaratta2260]

No doubt!! If I lived near you I wouldn’t buy from anyone else!! ❤

[@jeffboswell6620]

Small tip on X-Chocks. Your tires are usually warm from traveling meaning they are expanded so when you put these on tighten them an after a cool down period go back and tighten again because they most likely will be loose. Love your videos entertaining and helpful.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

good call! Let them cool down That's why I mentioned putting them on last but failed to mention WHY I suggest that. Appreciate the assist :)

[@divchiefbob7032]

Thank You both so very much Josh, we are first timers leaving for our “Maiden Voyage” this Weekend! Thank you so very much for all of your honesty, and very valuable information! We’ll let you know how we do! We just purchased a 2021 Winnebago Voyage! We are only going to a local RV Park just to work out a few kinks close to home as others have suggested!! We are listening and taking notes!

[@SLOCLMBR]

Also, most people don't have the physical ability to damage tires by cranking down on the x chock

[@lauraherron3970]

RV Digest is by far the best tank treatment. Borax with dawn and degreaser is a good option also. Rhino hoses are the best!

[@kingstonsean]

I made my own adjustable chocks using 4x4s, threaded rod and nuts. You can find instructions on line.

[@TallTexasGMan]

Regular old Charmin Ultrasoft works fine in an RV. Just do the dissolve test. Three sheets in a glass of water. Usually dissolves within a minute.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Great tip. TY

[@donaldbailey5576]

I’m picturing Uncle Josh “aggressively folding laundry”. I can’t unsee this. Help me.

[@BrittMFH]

😂

[@jtec99]

Ahhhhhh, it burns my 👀! Kill it with 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 😂😂😂

[@jtec99]

Jk Josh! You should start an OF's account buddy

[@donaldbailey5576]

@@jtec99 Noooooo!

[@rvingtheusa]

😂😂😂🤣😵

[@KR-1zero]

I’ve said it before but it’s worth saying again, the information you provide Josh is invaluable. Thanks man.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Glad you think so!

[@lorisallade2062]

Bwa ha. Just bought those wine glasses recently when saw on clearance at Wal-Mart. And I don't even have the trailer yet, still tenting and vanning it. Although looking hard at a small 15 Coleman right now.

[@albertacole3372]

I know this is an older video, but I am a just retired ole lady who lost her husband and decided to purchase an RV that we had planned to get before he passed. So just bought one and will be doing long term camping for awhile. And your video has helped me a lot…. Thank you for all the information and I definitely subscribed. 👍💕

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Welcome Alberta. I hope we have more helpful videos for you!

[@c.m.303]

I personally find the portable apartment sized washing machines work the best. They are smaller, but could still wash sheets and thin blankets, a fraction of the price, and worked great! It spun the clothes nearly dry and I could shake them out, and hang them on the shower rod to finish drying. Missed it even more when I moved back into a house and found it cleaned clothes better than the full sized whirlpool.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

I'm not experienced with them but I love this feedback. TY for taking the time to share

[@jeredslusser4141]

For the black tank ( and gray tank ) - Happy Camper and plenty of water is the way to go. One tub will last the average camping family at least two seasons, much better value than the drop ins! Also - Add a Valtera valve to the end of your dump pipe(s) to act as a backup in the event of a valve failure, use a clear section of pipe on the valve and then hook your hose to it, with a clear elbow going into the sewer hookup. This makes sure you can see if a clog occurs within the RV, and within the hose!

[@rondapowers5133]

Happy Camper is the way to go. Your camping neighbors will appreciate that you use it, too!

[@michaelnuechterlein5475]

Was going to comment the same thing. We have been RV’ing for 10 years and only found happy camper 2 years ago. Been a game changer in the black tank world.

[@denniskissinger7937]

being a new camper, class c, we started with happy camper. When that jar was empty we tried Unique. We will finish the Unique, but feel we have better results with happy camper. Nothing against unique, just feel happy camper was better

[@waynebeasley8700]

I would recommend exactly the same things……but you beat me to it. 😁 Agree 100%. Also Rhino flex sewer hose…..it collapses nicely when you're done, making it much easier to stow back inside the bumper, or carrier.

[@glenn384]

Aqua Kem was absolutely the best but pulled off the market for some reason.

[@eandjbyrne5784]

We have been camping for 20 years and have used all different kinds of black tank treatment and this year we switched to “Happy Camper” and it’s the best! We also use Rhino Extreme for our sewer hoses. Josh you Rock!!! Thanks for doing these videos! We still enjoy your videos even after we got our new camper last year!😊

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Ty so much!

[@kathygrow1652]

I agree with your choice of tank treatment and sewer hose.

[@rbinbc6767]

@@JoshtheRVNerd I also agree with happy Camper treatment and sewer hose

[@vernth64]

We're new to camping again, after being away from it for quite a while. I appreciate these videos and the recommendations. Going to look into that tank treatment. I also think I got a Rhino hose with my used 5th wheel. 😁👍

[@timstevens5178]

Ditto on Happy Camper

[@DixieNormas]

Black tank: 1C dawn, 1C borax, 1 scoop happy camper and 5G water. Gray tank: 1C dawn, 1C Zep, 1 scoop happy camper and 5G water. So far I've had zero issues and since I bought a used camper the tanks are cleaner and the level sensors work better.

[@TimberNelson]

Rhino Flex and Happy Camper and Happy Camper, oh yeh, Happy Camper - best septic treatment we have ever used.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

👍🏻

[@brucesherrill4116]

Yes Happy Camper is the best we’ve used.

[@ronhayes832]

One item rarely discussed but I find most helpful- garden hose quick connects. Not expensive and really saves time & aggravation when connecting your water hose to the filter, pressure regulator, and hose bib. Just snap together and continue with setting up camp.

[@kevincameron8437]

I love my QD for my water hoses. Definitely helps with set up and break downs

[@thomashanson2058]

It also allows for different connections in the line for the pressure regulator, filter and hose. Some hose bibs are set so low you cannot make the same connections as you are used to. I use the quick connects for the water fill, sewer clean out tool(different hose) and hot water tank clean out tool.

[@jonathanowens2337]

Make sure your quick connects are lead free though!

[@campingwithcorgis]

Yep!

[@wendybenson5903]

LOL!!!!! "Aggressively folding laundry" I'm DED!

[@peppergrinder8947]

I laughed so hard 😂

[@wendybenson5903]

@@peppergrinder8947 he was on fire today for sure! lol I was laughing through the whole thing while I was learning a lot!

[@alexis700]

I'm new to RVing and camping on a whole. I really appreciate these videos, Josh. Also, I really appreciate all the experienced campers sharing their wisdom in the comments! This is such good content I've literally started a notebook of tips and pointers! I'm loving this community!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Welcome aboard! Here's another important one you may want to tune into: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJqlZ2Bqe7Glr7c&lc=UgxNXpO02OLgLv8Jcll4AaABAg

[@seejanetraveltv]

As a full time RVer, here are my suggestions: For laundry you could get a washer/spin dryer and then hang your clothes up to finish drying. For butt napkins, you could use septic safe toilet paper but you can also just throw out your favorite toilet paper in a garbage can with a lid. For breakable dishes, I have Corelle dishes, glass glasses and dishware. The only time I have ever broken anything is when I dropped it. I use rubber mats from the dollar store to stop the dishes from sliding in the cabinets when in movement. For the stinky slinky, I have used the cheap ones for YEARS full time as I got them with the RV. They have worked just fine with zero issues. I don't use camp sites or RV parks so I just use them to dump once a week so it doesn't stay out in the sun. For tank treatments, I personally get the regular packets but I have heard people really like the geo method as it works great and is a lot cheaper.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

LOVE stuff like this from real owners and users. TY so much!!

[@lynnvera4612]

I agree with everything definitely using my Corelle dishes and using the geo method. I am trying to get away from all the disposable plastics. Switched everything to bar or sheets from shampoo to laundry detergent. Takes up less room, travels easier, and less waste.

[@rickdumont6752]

Beach balls under the slide topper helps with keeping water from pooling in heavy rain.

[@acdii]

One thing to point out about the X-Chocks. They are not meant to chock the trailer from moving, they are meant to stabilize it from side to side movement by locking the tires to each other, but if no ground chocks are used, they can twist apart from the force and the trailer will roll. Always use ground chocks even with X-chocks. Also, wait for the tires to cool before putting them on, OR go back after they cool to tighten them. For the black tank I use Geo mix for the tank instead of the chemicals. I use a cup or two of dish soap, green apple if I can find it, liquid water softener, one cup of that, and bleach tablets, one of those after every flush. I then add a few gallons of water to the mix. The soap breaks apart the fats and keeps them from sticking to the tank walls, the bleach helps kill germs and bacteria, lets face it, it is a holding tank, not a septic tank, you don't need bacteria and enzymes, and the water softener helps break up the toilet paper. Been using it since 2016 and never had tank odors.

[@michelejonston-himes2449]

Where do I find liquid water softener??

[@jimmoore7725]

Great information and suggestions. I really enjoyed the video. I like the Camco Rhino flex hoses.

[@meganoneill4801]

@@michelejonston-himes2449 I use Borax. It works great

[@kimmartin6949]

@@michelejonston-himes2449 Calgon is a liquid watersoftener.

[@shanedenmark5536]

Can you explain how the X-chocks are supposed to reduce side to side movement?

[@sqqqrly7750]

Something to buy: Order quality disposable gloves for sewer-ops that FIT you! I buy XLs and they go on/off easily wo ripping.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

good call

[@thomasspinks692]

Love the rhino products for sewer and grey tanks

[@BrittMFH]

I have so much respect and appreciation for Uncle Josh's opinion and advice on all RV-related items. 😻 Britt

[@modelmanjohn]

I wish I folded laundry more often. 😩

[@alstovalljr]

Gotta' love this guy . . . who else can work in a Sir Mix-a-Lot reference and give golden RV product advice at the same time? Subscribed!!!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Sometimes the anaconda _do_ want some

[@TheHwig]

You walked by the display but Power Watch Dog is the shizz

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Ty - I’ll have to learn a bit about those!

[@MrONHcP9]

Totally agree with you Josh: the Rhino Flex sewer hose system is top notch. We've added or upgraded many things in our travel trailer over the years. Each of these helped to improve our camping experience but two upgrades stand out. Replacing the mattress (and the foam in the seat cushions) had the biggest impact on our comfort and replacing the manual tongue jack for an electric one made setting up and leaving camp so much easier. In retrospect, I should add that replacing our weight distribution bar system with the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch (coupled with the electric tongue jack) makes hitching and unhitching a breeze.

[@JKoolina]

I've been thinking about upgrading our tongue jack from manual to electric. Sounds like it's something I need to do for next season.

[@billdye30]

The main problems I have found with the Rhino Flex sewer hose system is that neither end will fit through the floor of the Compartment in the motorhome where the valves are located for the black and grey ranks. The fittings on the end of the hose are too big for the hole. My solution is I use a less expensive RV sewage hose up through the hole in the floor of the cabinet, connect that end to the valve connector and the other end of this hose to the Rhino Flex Hose. It takes two hoses, buts it is a little longer which usually turns out to be good and every thing fits together well. Just a tip. May no apply on your RV device.

[@danjohnson7701]

Agree on the Andersen hitch - it is great!

[@stwallman]

Funny - those are the exact 2 things we replaced in our camper (foam in the seat cushions and a regular full-size queen mattress!)

[@sherisalyer4705]

What type of mattress do you recommend? We have to go with an Rv type because a full won’t fit the compartment. 😊

[@jeffbarth6041]

Great video Josh, totally agree!! One thing I would add is don't buy toliet bowl cleaners for your RV. They will kill the enzymes in your tank treatment. I recently switched over to Dometic 3 in 1 bowl cleaner and tank treatment. You put some water in the bowl, drop it in and it fizzes up like an Alka Seltzer tablet. You take your brush, clean the bowl and flush it to treat you black tank, works great. Just my 2 cents.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Ah, ty!

[@user-gv3gv5oq3s]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE ABSOLUTE HONESTY!!!!! ❤️

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

I try! Ty

[@TheMike22]

We use RV Digest it for the tank. We buy it by the gallon. For the sewer hose we went with the Thetford Tiatan. Almost everything else we own is a Camco product.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Those titan hoses are really good as well

[@cyndiloo3041]

63 & planning to tour the country in an RV in 2 years so I’ve been doing research & watching a huge amount of videos. Josh, you’re the best RV nerd out there!!! Thank you.

[@benclaase8181]

So many choices, every time we narrow it down we see something else. Our plans are similar, looking for a couples trailer. Not too long not too heavy . Josh is a great source. Cheers.

[@alantittle299]

I tried a 33 foot trailer, by renting, for the first time in April. I bought a 32 footer I love in July... but promptly injured a knee and have yet to pick it up as it you need to walk around a lot to set up and take it down. I thought I would have spent a lot of time by now on a fall folliage tour. Next year. OK, THE POINT BEING, Erin suggested renting. Absolutely, rent, rent, rent and I am shocked at myself that I only rented once. But At least I knew what my truck could tow and I followed suit in my purchase, I can visualize what I have and how to use it, and I bought on the higher end of the scale for storage, dealing with my height and spacious living. Josh has reviewed the GD Imagine MK2670; while nothing is perfect, it is darn near perfect for most of my top 5 priorities... SO PRIORITIZE AND KEEP A JOURNAL AS YOU RENT!!!!

[@cyndiloo3041]

@@Erin-Thor Thanks Erin!

[@cyndiloo3041]

@@benclaase8181 All the choices make my brain hurt 😫

[@cyndiloo3041]

@@alantittle299 wow thanks for taking the time to share all that info! As for me, I want a smaller RV to get me to less people crowded places. I long for peace & quiet…

[@barberdean4714]

Great Information. Josh is simply the best. I hope Bish's appreciates just how valuable Josh is not just to their team, but the RV community at large! I found everything Josh touched on in this video spot on.

[@user-gv3gv5oq3s]

Definitely only use Rhino sewer hose!!!! Worth every penny!!!!

[@t-bone43]

Leveling pads. I see people setting up trying to put these thing together like a jengo game. A simple milk crate with assorted pieces of 1x4, 2x4, 4x4 is far easier & most definitely cheaper than all the fancy plastic lego blocks or curved ramp thingys.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Some of you never played with Legos and it shows

[@t-bone43]

@@JoshtheRVNerd 🤣🤣🤣 my dad hated stepping on em so yea I didn’t

[@tbernardi001]

Happy Camper has never let me down. When we bought our first camper (used), and started using the toilet with "Geo method", and it really stunk. 1 scoop of Happy Camper the smell was gone.

[@mrsteve4569]

I love Happy Camper. Sadly, it’s now banned in California.

[@jcfra420]

I am thinking you didn't put enough in, because I use the geo method, and have never had an odor problem and that is even during hot summers. I also live in mine full time.

[@kevincameron8437]

Another good video. I second the recommendation for 2 sewer hoses. And I’m team Rinoflex hoses. Also everyone needs 2 25’ water hoses along with a Y fitting at the water connection. Makes cleaning a lot easier.

[@mondavou9408]

+1 team Rhinoflex (full time RV'r for 4 years)

[@AlaskaErik]

Two 25 footers is a bit extreme. I carry a 10 and 15 footer and have never needed to use the 10 footer. I dry camp mostly, so I normally dump at a dump station. The few times I've had full hookups the 15 footer was more than long enough.

[@dalefrisbie6372]

we carry 3 10footers and yes I have had all 3 out at a resort.

[@ranamurzda7657]

@@dalefrisbie6372 I agree. I have 3 hoses. 2 10 foot and a 15 foot. Had to buy them for a campsite in Virginia where I needed all 3 to reach the sewer. Very bad site. I can laugh about it now. 🤣 Extra are great to have. I have never had to use the third one since but if one fails I have a great backup.

[@michaelwaters4985]

@@AlaskaErikactually was talking about Water hoses not sewer hoses😊

[@the305hauler]

Get good hoses, both for the dump and fresh water 💧 hoses, get the best chemical products possible. Orange or blue loose liquid. No pods, I have found that they don't always break down.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Yeah the pod itself is sometimes slow to dissolve

[@ceciliapetrowsky2572]

We use Happy Camper and love it. And yes, you must spend money on the best sewer hose. Always test it out by dumping a little gray first before the black in case the hose has developed pin holes. Josh, this is the best description I’ve heard about why slide supports are bad. We bought some several years ago because my spouse has bad knees so he tends to plop on the couch. I thought we were saving the slide. Thanks for all you do.

[@happycamper4429]

👆 I never knew I was this popular 😂

[@flyermarkbig465]

For black tank treatment we have moved to happy camper treatment. we prefer this one after trying a few. It has worked very well for us to date. Also +1 on the Rhino hoses. That is what we have settled on also. I do have a spare set that are camco but are for the time I miscalculated and needed an extension section.

[@trentond3703]

I also use happy camper, it works great and has the added benefit of also working great to treat the grey water if you need.

[@shanks310]

Happy Camper for us too!

[@iabpdoc]

Same for us!

[@jeremiiah1797]

I have watched several videos from sewer flush/repair companies and have switched to calgon bath beads or borax powder to make the tanks more slippery. I add some pine-sol if there is odor in the trailer - that is not really happening though. Also - we try to leave our tanks shut and then empty them all at once so they can drain out properly.

[@davidbarbour9929]

​@@jeremiiah1797 I've found borax powder works really good

[@danmichaels1562]

This has nothing to do with this particular video, but if you're going to buy your first camper, in our experience and depending on your towing vehicle, get a little bit bigger camper. We started out with a 21 foot and after 2 seasons realized it was almost too small. We now have a 30 foot that we've had for 3 years and it makes the camping experience so much better. Thanks for all of your great videos!

[@tpaul340]

My recommendation to friends, is they go rent an rv for the week. It's worth the cost to see if it's something they want to do in the future, as well as getting a feel for the, size, layout, and type of rv they think they want.

[@jkline999]

Wheel chocks-- wood. Either split lumber or 4x4s. Tank treatments-- don't understand why it is even necessary, unless you are camping in place for weeks. Mechanical action of camper movement usually breaks things down. Thanks for the slide-out awning info. Mine is wearing out-- nice to know I probably won't need to replace it. Pooling, heck yes it does.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching!

[@roxus80]

Josh, fantastic video. Been trailer camping for over 20 years, learned a lot. So here are my thoughts 1. Rhino sewer hose, the only way to go. 2. I only use wheel chocks in my driveway, we dry camp every where we go and I much prefer to dig a hole to pull into to level the trailer and that provides better than wheel chock support. Only on one side though. 3. The porta-pak or the camco brand seem to work the best in the black tank. 4. We do laundry in the kitchen sink, put a tide pod in there and wash your stuff. Except for jeans. 5. Never had a problem using regular toilet paper, but I would bet if your out for a month you would need the other stuff. 6. The number 1 thing I would recommend for anybody that camps in an rv is SOLAR, best thing ever. Our Shockwave came with solar installed, 190 watt panel, 2000 watt inverter and a wall controller. You always have power, batteries are always charged, although we have never used the inverter its great to have if you do not want to start the generator. A few hours of sun everyday and your good to go. We still have the original batteries in it, and our trailer is a 2018, we bought it new.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Love this Ty

[@darrinsteven7002]

You always take the real person approach to things.. You connect with viewers cause you are honest and sincere. That is a good deal. As always. Thank you Josh. Keep up the good work!

[@user-bh7dm8dr3m]

I would recommend anyone with an RV installing a Valterra valve at the end of their sewer connection on your RV. They are less than $20.00 and really help you from getting a poop surprise when you go to empty your tanks. They also work in great just in case you have a problem or failure with the valve in your black or grey tank.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

YES! I talked about that here bit.ly/3Up1LXl

[@JKoolina]

^^^ 100% Don't wait for it this to happen before buying one!

[@erhodes352]

First thing I did with our new RV. Worth every penny!

[@brianhinrichs3550]

I installed this valve after getting a poop bath. They are a must.

[@bruceh3786]

I've found the manufacturing quality to be poor on the Valterra valve. First, the locking clips to do not lock on tightly and so it is easy to accidently twist off the valve when attaching the hose. That is not a good thing if there is liquid behind the valve. Second, the valve becomes very stiff to open after just a little use. It is easy to again accidently twist it off when having a difficult time trying to slide the valve open.

[@OpenCarryUSMC]

1) having done a TP test, all inexpensive brands of TP ALL broke apart with minimal agitation. If you’re driving between dumps they work fine. Test the one you want in a jar of water. Tank cleaning company says any paper and no tank additive needed or use pinesol and cascade for much less.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

TY!

[@garyhock2043]

Great advice on washers & dryers. We spend 4 months in the Winter as Snowbirds and when we ordered our 5er we did not get a washer & dryer and don’t regret it. They are very expensive to buy and one more thing to repair and Winterize. The extra space is for hanging our jackets & sweatshirts. We use laundromats in town or the campground laundry. Good advice on using a lot of water with your toilet. Makes it much easier to flush Black tank of the solids. We didn’t have slide toppers on our first 5er, but we did order them on our present 5er. Much of the rain collection problems on the toppers are because of the angle they are installed at, steep angle a lot less rain collection. Also, when I ordered my 5er they had a deluxe slide topper option, which I was told was heavier material, which is what I ordered. We use as many plastic cups and dishes as possible. We use collapsible rubber bowels & colanders also. The more unbreakable things you carry the better. Remember, the less problems you have on the road or on site, the easier your life will be. Great advice on sewer hose, don’t go cheap, buy Rhino. Remember if you make a mess, it’s your responsibility to clean it up, and nobody wants to clean up a spill from a Black Tank dump. I’ve seen cheap hoses come apart while dumping, luckily it was a Gray tank dump. Keep up the great work Josh, you’re the best salesman and customer advocate that Bish’s has. I’ve been using rv’s now for 50 + years and one thing I highly recommend is a very good 12 volt air compressor. I highly recommend the VIAIR 450P-RV 45053 portable air compressor $329.00 on Amazon. My trailer tires take 110# of air, and this small unit will put out 150#. I know all trailer or tow vehicle tires don’t take that much air, but that tells you what this air compressor is capable of. You may not always have 120 volts available for an air compressor when you need it, but your tow vehicle and trailer does have 12 volts. I know first hand what not having 120 volts available for my compressor when I needed my 120 volt air compressor to air up a low tire. I had to stop at a campground and ask permission to use electric on one of their pull through sites to air up a tire. Turns out a small crack had developed in an Aluminum Rim while I was on the interstate. That’s when I decided to buy a great 12 volt air compressor and I have not regretted that decision. Don’t put yourself in the position that I was in. Don’t make the same mistake I made with 120 volt air compressors. Also get a good tire pressure monitor system for your trailer tires, I have TST Brand with replaceable batteries. That’s how I knew I had a low tire, saved my tire, but had to replace the rim. Gary

[@paulhiebert1887]

I used Unique for the two and a half months that I was out this summer and I was astonished how well it broke down my poop and toilet paper and it never smelled. Even my stinky slinky didn't leave a smell in my storage compartment!!! I got a new hose this year and I agree with you on that, the Rhino Flex was soooooooo much better than the 5.99$ Crappy Tire cheapo brand.

[@rsmartin68]

I've been using Unique RV Digest It since day 1 in my RV, bought new, and it works great. Best product I've tried so far.

[@frankd8180]

@@rsmartin68 Love Unique - it works the best !

[@chrisjcomer]

We just switched from Happy Camper to Unique as and love it.

[@rosemarydoran9907]

Thank you so much for putting together these kinds of videos Josh! I'm not yet an RVer but have been following several channels now for a year or so and I'm trying to educate myself regarding not only the types of RVs out there and what might work for my situation but also to understand the basic day-to-day operations that have to occur as an RVer. Videos like this are so valuable to beginners like me and the input from both you and your community are very much appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to put these together and for everyone who takes the time to share their experiences and recommendations.

[@FreedomToRoam86]

Rhinoflex rocks! And because it is a system, it keeps the crud and smell inside, not on the ground by the camper

[@southernyankee2300]

My washer and dryer units cost $3500 at Lazydays so it was a little pricey, but I love not having to going to a laundromat. I do live full time in my 5th wheel and I am so glad I purchased it!

[@jeffreybryson]

I can't believe upgrading to the Rhino brown/orange sewer hose was such a game changer. It holds its shape instead of falling and going to the path of least resistance, and trying to unfold all 20' across to your neighbor's site. After 7 seasons with a prior camper, we upgraded to a Alpha Wolf 26DBHL and needed an extension to reach everything. I went to WalMart and splurged on it instead of buying more cheap hose. I tossed the old stuff in the dumpster. I added their clear shutoff valve between the dump connection and the hose. Now, there's no chances of surprises and no need to remove anything to check if it's clear/clean.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Yeah.. it really is an area where I don't believe in going cheap

[@applejacks971]

I absolutely LOVE these educational videos! Mad respect for Josh and the channel. Thanks for everything you do!

[@athanschannel2995]

Josh, we use the Rino Extreme hose. Well worth the money. Before we used a Rino Flex that was easier to store, but not as crush resistant. The Extreme is really tough and easy to see while it is deployed. Chemical wise we have switched to Unique Brand liquid treatment and found that really does a superior job of dealing with yesterdays meals on wheels. Piranha is fantastic for annual deep cleaning of both grey and black tanks. Thanks for your great videos Josh!

[@brandonbrown6623]

Piranha? And what is the unique brand you prefer?

[@modsquad8u]

In regards to the TP, just get a RV bidet, and if you have to use paper, just put it in a trash can instead of into your tank.

[@army96261]

I actually just asked this question. I have one for the house and it's amazing. I prefer a washlet because you can just switch the button but I wasn't sure if it was an option in an RV. Have you used them before or is this just a theoretical thing?

[@jasoncarter5448]

I have a friend who put in a bidet. Something fell off the hook above the toilet (she has dogs and cats) and turned on the bidet while she was at work. She came back to a flooded camper. I also flooded out my bathroom when a bottle of lotion fell out of my medicine cabinet onto my faucet handle while towing (forgot to turn off the water pump). Needless to say, that was a tough lesson. I would install an extra in-line shutoff valve for the bidet and limit the chance of something bad happening. They're all cheaply made in China and who knows when the internal check valves will fail.

[@stevebrewster7930]

We use Rhino hose and X chocks and both were selected based on your reviews and both work great. Keep up the great videos!!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

LOVE hearing the advice is working well for you!

[@86rustbucket]

Never really had great luck with the drop in pods controlling odor. Not bad, but not great either. To me, good flushing after dumping the tanks, then before using, ideally before traveling to provide some agitation, I’ve found that using 5 gallons of water mixed with some Dawn dish soap and Borax, maybe even some concentrated degreaser, helped the most. I’ve had the Rhino and Camco hoses, I like the rhino for the stability, but I feel like the Camco is easier to deal with and put back into the stinky slinky holder. I’d avoid the white, RV specific water hoses for fresh water, not worth it. I really like the ZeroG hoses, lightweight, flexible, easy to unwind and then roll up. Speaking of stinky slinky holders, the factory ones are kind of “just OK”. I’ve found that the square vinyl fence post covers are easier to use. Just come up with a mounting solution that works for your rig and use the already include caps that come with the post cover. The other things to think about, rear observation camera, tire pressure monitoring, propane level monitoring. All very cool technology that when it works - it’s wonderful, just chose wisely. Furrion cameras are Ok, but the wireless can lose signal in really long (44’) rigs and the small monitor can be hard to see with polarized sunglasses on. Tire Minder TPMS works well, but once again can lose signal in longer rigs! I like the through the phone option as it is one less thing in the tow vehicle. Mopeka propane tank monitors seem to work pretty well, I’ve never been short on propane since installing those.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

I'll have to check those LP tank monitors out sometime. I'm not well versed in them currently

[@romaldemgle5867]

A good sewer hose is a must and good gloves never mess with it with out them. We love our counter top ice maker. My wife love's ice in her glass .

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Yes! Gloves!!

[@ssadibug1]

I use Happy Camper with lots of water during the stay before we open up and drain the tank. Then before travel and after washing out the black tank with grey water and the flush hose, I add five gallons of water, a squirt of dawn dish soap and a small amount of downy fabric softener. Those will swish around the tank as we are taking her home. Then when we get home, I add one scoop of Happy Camper. Never had a problem.

[@scotthagens6613]

As always, I appreciate you Uncle Josh! You are the best resource I have found for reliable RV info!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

☺

[@lauratopliffe8179]

We've been RVers for a while and I still learn new tips from Josh and the rest of the Bish RV community. Many thanks y'all!

[@mariaspatafora1074]

So much appreciation and respect for this guy! He knows his stuff, provides great information. It’s quite the education, especially for a newbie like myself. I hope your employer realizes what a gem they have in you! Thanks for all your videos!

[@bertpeters1866]

Thanks, Josh, for what I consider to be just awesome integrity. You and your company prove time and again that you are about your customers first above absolute profit. And I'm happy you guys are in Texas now!

[@christaylor2630]

Absolutely agree on purchasing a little more expensive but better camping gear, especially sewer hoses. We have had great success with Happy Camper and Unique RV Digest It in the black tank. Dawn and Borax work great for a road flush to keep the tank clean in between trips. Thanks Josh

[@georgecook1374]

I absolutely love your content!!!! so nice to find a channel that isn't about just making sales but rather making sure we are educated so we can make more informed choices. As i am just now considering getting an Travel Trailer. thank you for making these and to your ownership for allowing you to just make content thats not based on them just emptying consumers wallets.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

You are so welcome! I sure try :)

[@DonKempt]

Best solution for cleaning/odor control black tanks I have found is borax/dish soap and water. 1 cup of borax, half cup of dawn dish soap and around 8 gal of water(about 1/8th of your tank). As you drive, it cleans the tank/sensors, breaks down pyramids. Use as normal, dump before your next move. Repeat. I used this last season based on a recommendation of a full timer. Its cheap, effective, and you can pick this stuff up at most grocery stores.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

A few others have mentioned it. TY!

[@DesertHomesteader]

So...I live in my fifth-wheel trailer. It is stationary on some land that I own. I did buy a washer (no dryer) because I have the hookups and because the nearest laundromat is 30 minutes away. But I rarely use it because it can't do a large load, it uses a LOT of water, which I don't have a permanent source for and I only have a 6-gallon hot water tank, so there isn't enough hot water anyway. If had a tankless water heater installed and a permanent source of water, it might be a slightly different story but I'd probably still hit the laundromat once a week for bigger loads, bedding, etc.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Ty for the input!

[@cindylindsay456]

As newbies to RVing I really appreciate your channel for the advice from you and the experienced RV community. There is alot to learn and having a trusted resource is invaluable! Thank you!

[@lescard3870]

I’m new into the camper world and keep watching random videos vicariously until the season starts. Watching this video was extremely entertaining and it was informative. Despite being from a sales centre, it did not have any sales gimmick, just honest (and humorous) truth. Thanks for that.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

I've always tried to make this channel focus on the info I'd want to know were I the one in the buyer's seat. TY for watching, Les :)

[@bobwilliams1983]

Best sewer hose is Lippert Waste Master!

[@jjbbrewer]

100% true. All of the bayonet/twist on couplers eventually tear their gasket and start leaking. I took the plunge, replaced all of the stupid twist on couplers with the Waste Master cam lock fittings and have been so glad I did. When I disconnect the hose, the Waste Master coupler surface is dry! Try that with any twist on coupler regardless of brand.

[@mischiefroadtripadventures]

Great information! Personally, I would rather not have slide awnings because I detest wind and the noise alone from those awnings can be horrible. Get a cheap blower and blow off the leaves before pulling in slides. It would be really nice if there were a barrier on the roof of slides to protect against the sun and heat.

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

A barrier for the sun's heat, rain and tree debris is a slide topper. Definitely worth the noise, which I've never heard. The A/C is loud too but I'm sure you use it.

[@mischiefroadtripadventures]

@@aguyandhiscomputer nope. I know what a slide topper/awning is. I have plenty of friends and family who have them and I choose not to have them. It's personal preference. I don't habitually camp in extreme heat with the slide in direct sun. No need to push your opinion on me. I also have silencers on our a/c units and never even notice them running. Anything else I need to debate with you over? No? Ok, have a good day.

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

@@mischiefroadtripadventures uh ok 🤷

[@RVMiles]

Thanks for the mention, my friend! Can't disagree with any of these items! I think one mistake people make with the x-chocks is that they put them in before leveling or take them out after hooking up, and that's when they may cause tire damage. I also prefer Rhino hoses, but I HATE the pre-attached swivel elbow they have on some of the kits. It's far better to have the removable elbow, otherwise, they don't fit in bumpers or storage tubes. It also means that once you've attached a hose and realize it's too short, you can't just add a second one. You have to detach the hose, put the extension on, and then add the main hose back on. That's a real pain when your sewer connection is under a slide. -J

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

As always I defer to your wisdom! Thank you two!

[@hotladyleo]

So is the powder better to use then pods? We r newbies just gettn educated 😍

[@ggebhard1]

@@hotladyleoI like the powder (Happy Camper) over the pods, because sometimes, with other brands, the pods don’t dissolve. Same think with laundry pods.

[@andrewharris1468]

Instead of putting blocks under your tires to level your travel trailer put camper levelers (not wheel chocks) under the low side. We use them and the just pull camper onto them while watching the level on the front of the trailer. When it reads level just push included chocks in from the other direction and you are done. Easiest and cleanest way to do it. Thanks for the great videos

[@janemuir3546]

As the one typically leveling, I love the Anderson leveling system. For cleaning the inside of our RV, i love my Enviro Cloth by Norwex, no cleaners needed, just water and the cloth. Space saver for all the bottled cleaners.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Oh that's an awesome tip on those cleaner cloths. Going to look into that

[@LisaMarli]

Cheap water hoses also suck. Get a good quality Drinking Water hose for the main water inlet. Be sure it says Drinking Water too. Several shorter lengths you can add together are easier to use than one long hose.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

oh so true! There's a difference between a DRINKING water hose and a GARDEN water hose!

[@christopherwitherington2803]

Thank you for being honest about things . I am new to living in the rv life and have learned a lot from your videos.

[@loganl7547]

We have a site we leave our RV at for several months each year, the cheap sewer hoses actually succumb to UV after a season of sitting outside in the sun every day, the Rhino Extremes been the best so far.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

You definitely get what you pay for with those

[@kingstonsean]

I taped together two sets of 4 pool noodles to support my slide awning. Works better than the beach balls I used to use.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Slick!

[@4alphazulu]

As always, Josh delivers some great content and advice!!!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Man I try! Thank you! :)

[@SlightlyDirtbag]

Josh, the hero we all need!

[@jamesmartin7282]

Appreciate the advice! Rarely will anyone be satisfied with the cheapest solution, but pushing the cheap stuff can lose you a few customers.

[@user-ln1uy2ti2v]

I concur wit the Rhino hose, also, extra cover caps for the RV pipe are not inexpensive and from experience, they can "disappear".

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

That's... actually a really great idea

[@Art-gj1ei]

Josh, thank you for your honesty I appreciate it as im a first time RV camper. Love all your advice.

[@BlackyBlackerson]

To go along with the good quality sewer hose, you may consider the sewer hose lifter-upper. You may need it, you may not. Depends on the where the sewer drain is, slope of the site, etc. I didn’t care much for the accordion style version of this thing, but the Titan platform set works great. It’s 5 platforms of gradually decreasing height. Seems a little more user friendly than the other type.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Those are super handy for sure

[@gordonwright5946]

A cover for your electric tongue jack...no matter how "waterproof" the manufacturer says that gear housing is, it's bound to get some moisture from driving rain or driving in rain over time. You know what really grinds my gears......grinding gears!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Good tip!

[@HoosierInNJ]

Been planning for three years, finally picking up our rig tomorrow and all of a sudden all this great advice becomes more real ! Thanks

[@rickhessler7064]

As always josh, great unbiased truth. It was one of your reviews that Made our decision on what unit to buy as you walk through it and pointed things out. We are in Florida a little bit far to travel up there. You are doing a great service to this industry keep up the good work.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Ironically I just landed in Sanford/Orlando!!

[@rickhessler7064]

@@JoshtheRVNerd enjoy your time here. We are in Wilbur by the Sea. South of Daytona. Had our butts kicked by the Hurricanes and made national news. Ugh.

[@crazycritterlady8788]

Thanks for all the tips, you can never have enough advice and I for one appreciate every one of the "how to, what not to" videos you do. We used the sewer hose that came with the camper never had a problem with it, and always flushed it with fresh water from a short water hose we always kept just for that. We also hung it up across the rear bumper/tire to let it drip dry before putting it away. Everyone knew on leaving day we had to use the camps toilets and not the campers so we could clean out the sewer hose before we left. When I left the dealership at the time i bought my camper, I had everything anyone would need to use to go camping. I had just what was needed and no extra fancy stuff. We started out with the horrible tp from the RV store but ended up using septic safe tp. We always had 2 types of black tank treatments one to break down solids and one to controll smell. We never had any smell. We packed plastic cups to drink out of and paper plates with plastic paper plate holders for support. Plastic silverware, and plastic anything else we needed. Installed a paper towel holder and an under counter electric can opener, altho we had a manual can opener as well just in case. The only thing I found that to me was a useless item were the matching red and yellow ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles. Made no sense to me why buy those and take the time to fill them when you could just use a smaller version of the orginal bottles? So I did take one of them and filled it with mayo and labeled it MAYO since they didn't make a version of that one. The one thing that needed a squeeze bottle yet didn't make one at that time. Cracked me up! So I bought smaller versions of like dish soap and just refilled those bottles before camping. My parents hotel camped so mom brought home plenty of bathroom supplies. Shampoo, conditioner, cheap single wrapped cups, bar soaps, same with coffee supplies, one cup/pot single wrapped drip coffee, Tea, hot chocolate packets, sugar, sweet-n-low, salt, pepper. You name it she brought it home so we loaded up the camper with tiny versions of normal things and I still have some of those things 35yrs later. We always waited till we got to the camp site to buy grocerys. Why pay the extra cost in gas to haul what you could get after you got there? The kids loved going to the local grocery store as it was packed full of toys for tourists like us and we always bought the kids some type of new toy to keep them busy for a few days till the novelty wore off.

[@rvscootin3457]

Yeah an X-Chock is nothing compared to 12,000+ Lbs. of RV rolling down the road on a tire. I have never had an issue with long term storage of them on the RV. We do use our washer/dryer constantly. So if you spend extended time in your RV it is a must. If you are a weekend warrior, then forget about it!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Sounds fair

[@bradbrown3073]

Best way to transfer DEF from 2.5 gallon container into your engines DEF container which often has a relatively small hole - buy Harbor Freights battery operated (with on / off switch )- liquid transfer pump for just $12 - a fast no spill no mess solution

[@zacharygittle4665]

Definitely agree with everything. For us the cheap chocks work as we only use them for attach/detaching as the auto level takes all the weight off the tires (mostly off the ground alot of the time) so they don't do anything.

[@babarock2000]

Well done. I would also add to the list (especially these days) a high quality surge suppressor and water pressure regulator. If you are going to drink the water I might also add an additional water filter. Thanks for the information.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Oh for sure. That would’ve made an excellent entry into this list

[@j.l.h3080]

Washer/Dryer - I would not consider full timing without them. Get the stackables.

[@1hotahi964]

Been full time in a 2018 Bighorn 3270RL for 6 years now. Did without the wash and dryer. Do have slide covers. Pro-cons. Other than flapping in heavy wind they’re great. I always raise the front slightly in order to dump water and debris off the toppers before the slides come in. Rhino are the best! Period! Still using the same 3 for 6 years. Change the rubber gasket every 2 years, no leaks. Great video!!! Subscribed. Getting a Paradigm 385FL at the end of 2023.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Really appreciate you sharing your experience as an owner!! Ty

[@jaro1800]

Another incredible video. As always love the transparency and the honesty. Keep videos like this coming. I use Unique in our black tank and when we are somewhere for several days add the little blue packet, Porta Pak. Also, love the x-chock video you did. I’m always wondered about the slide out jacks and am so glad I didn’t waste my money. Have to tell you, we were camping in Mid Missouri at Bucksaw Camp Ground, and the camper right across was purchased from none other than Bishes. It was cool to see that.

[@sherirussell7299]

Josh, you are the BEST!!! Your videos are so informative, honest and entertaining! You have the same goofy sense of humor as my husband, so that’s a plus!! 😂😂😂We are relatively new to the RV world and have learned so much from you! Thank you for all the time and hard work you put in to your channel!! We appreciate it!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Glad you like them!

[@bobcanada3656]

I really like this guy. He's my kind of people. I sold insurance the very same way.

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Good on ya, Bob

[@bethsmith6347]

Thanks for all the education Josh, we are definitely fans of the rhino hose. We have two. We watch your channels everytime they come out. We have been full time on the road for 7 weeks and watched you, and a few reliable channels to prepare for our journey.

[@badbiker666]

The wind concern is the main reason I 100% agree with skipping a slideout cover. We also plan on retracting our main awnings whenever we leave the campsite and overnight, just on general principle. I just don't feel like replacing the canvas too early because it got ripped apart. I also agree with your advice regarding the washer/dryer. My wife and I are retiring into an RV in a couple of years, and we have been going back and forth on this, and I believe we are going to ensure that the RV we buy is washer/dryer ready, but we'll put off buying one. We will be in places where laundry facilities are available. I saw an RV vlogger that did a one-year test where they recorded every penny they spent. Fuel for the tow vehicle, propane, fees in RV parks, and laundry. It turned out they spent only $170 for cleaning their clothes. This was a young couple, no children, jeans and t-shirt people. So with laundry costs that low, I just can't see spending $1000s on the machines. Plus, look at all the extra space you have in your closet without them. You've really sold me on spending more on a quality sewer hose. Your passion on this topic was palpable!

[@JoshtheRVNerd]

Thank you for watching. I really enjoy that. I get to benefit people with videos like this sometimes.

[@user-fk6id7qs6r]

as a prior full timer i completely agree on spending on a good hose, but be careful where you buy, price can fluctuate a LOT

[@samuelgrubbs1144]

Josh, I love my Lippert Wastemaster sewer hose. It costs a lot more than others, but I feel it’s worth it. I love the coupling system on it. It’s more like what chemical hoses use. I’ve had my hose for 4 years now, with no issues. Thank you also for making these videos

[@melissajohnson5670]

I use One scoop happy camper, about 1/2 cup dawn and 1/2 cup borax with 3 gallons of water. I have ZERO smell!!! Works absolutely amazing!!!

[@michaelnuechterlein5475]

One must have that I would suggest to anyone that uses their RV toilet is a twist on valve. We had a bad seal on our black tank and the pipe would fill all the way to cap and made an already no so fun part of camping a LOT less fun.