14 RV Upgrades to Make to Your Rig This Spring

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Spring is nearly here, meaning the weather is warming up again and we can finally get out and start working on our rigs to make them adventure-ready. Some people will be perfectly happy resealing everything and giving the RV a good wash. That said, those of us who plan to head off-grid—or just want to be more comfortable wherever we land—might want to consider some RV upgrades before heading out on springtime adventures.

We have done a number of RV upgrades throughout the years. I’ve listed the ones that were most helpful below. Pick and choose some upgrades from this list and you really can’t go wrong.

Upgraded Vent Fan

Upgrading our motorhome vent fan was one of the best things I ever did to that rig. While the factory fan was fine, the MaxxAir vent fan I installed moved air so much better. When the windows and roof vents were open, it created a lovely breeze all throughout our RV, making it much more comfortable to boondock in warm temperatures and removing the need to run the A/C in many situations.

We also had a Fantastic Fan in that same motorhome. Unfortunately it wasn’t working when we first acquired the rig, but I was eventually able to get it up and running and fix some wiring. This fan was almost as strong as the MaxxAir fan and was likely equally efficient when new, meaning a Fantastic Fan would likely be as good a replacement as a MaxxAir fan.

Vent Covers

One of the reasons I chose to install a MaxxAir fan rather than a Fantastic Fan was because it came with a vent cover. This is a wonderful addition because it allows you to run the fan even when it’s raining.

In another rig we had vent covers over all of the roof vents rather than just the fan. This allowed us to keep the vents open and the fan running during rainy weather, meaning we could still keep a nice breeze going through the rig even when the weather wasn’t ideal.

If you plan to replace a vent fan to improve the ventilation system in your RV, I recommend also installing vent covers so you can take advantage of that fan no matter the weather.

Window Rain Guards

Another thing that could allow you to keep the RV well ventilated in rainy weather? Window rain guards. These are installed over the windows and direct water away from the windows as it comes down. This allows you to leave the windows open without letting rain in.

Unfortunately, these do not always keep all water out. If the wind is blowing, rain can still make its way past the rain guards and into the window. Therefore, you do have to pay attention if you leave your windows open when it’s raining. Still, these are worth considering if you want all of the ventilation options possible.

A/C Soft Start

In many parts of the country, a good ventilation system is all you’ll need for the spring season. That said, those in the south will need the A/C a lot sooner, and even if you’re far north, you’ll likely need the air conditioner in your RV eventually.

Sadly, you will need a 30-amp RV hookup in order to run your RV air conditioner, meaning you won’t be able to run the A/C using a small generator or a 20-amp household outlet. The good news? There is an easy way to remedy this. Enter the RV A/C soft start.

This handy gadget reduces the amount of power your air conditioner pulls upon start-up, making it possible to run the thing on 20 amps. This is amazing because it makes it possible to run your air conditioner while boondocking with a small generator or while parked in a family member’s driveway.

Dehumidifier

Okay, so this one isn’t technically an RV upgrade, but it is a purchase that will make RVing a whole lot more comfortable—especially in the cool, wet spring weather. A dehumidifier will literally pull moisture from the air in your RV, helping prevent the condensation that tends to gather on the interior walls of your trailer or motorhome. Since condensation can cause mold, mildew, and water damage, a dehumidifier is one of the smartest purchases an RVer can make.

Note: If the dehumidifier isn’t taking care of moisture build up in cabinets and closets, consider putting Damp-Rid in each cabinet to aid in moisture removal.

New Slide Seals

Slide seals are super important. They keep all that spring rain from making its way into your RV. Unfortunately, factory slide seals don’t last forever, meaning they will have to be replaced from time to time.

If your RV slide-out seals are showing signs of wear—such as fading, cracking, or tearing—or if your slide is leaking, it might be time to replace the seals. Fortunately, this is an easy enough thing to do.

 

Gutter Extenders

Another thing you’ll want to check on before the spring showers hit? Your gutters. Last spring, I noticed water wasn’t draining from our roof right. I went up to check things out and noticed our gutters were completely filled with debris. I cleaned them out and water started draining properly again.

Too bad for me, even though the water was draining properly, it was still causing issues. I realized that as the water ran out of the gutters, it was running down the sides of the RV, leaving horrible black marks behind. The solution to such a problem? RV gutter extenders.

RV gutter extenders are installed at the ends of your gutters, and as the name suggests, they extend the gutters out so water is draining further away from the walls of the RV. This will prevent black streaks, ensuring that washing the rig is a whole lot easier.

Awning and Slide Toppers

One of the best things about RV travel? The ability to spend more time outdoors. That said, without some sort of sun shade, sitting outside of your RV to enjoy the view simply isn’t as fun as you might want it to be. This is where an RV awning can help.

If your RV didn’t come with an awning (or if the one from the factory is torn), now might be the time to install one. While you’re at it, consider installing slide toppers as well. These help with temperature regulation in the slide-outs and also help prevent slide leaks, both of which are major bonuses in my book.

Awning Screen

If you already have an RV awning, you might be looking for ways to improve upon it. For this, I recommend an awning screen. An awning screen is great because it allows you to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air while blocking bright sunlight that might otherwise make sitting outside uncomfortable.

Most RVers just use a single screen on the front side of their awning. That said, some will install entire screen rooms around their awning. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is easily removable, as you will still want to be able to pull the awning in and out when storms blow in.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

One of the most important parts of any RV? The tires. Tires are what ensure that your rig can roll down the road, and well-maintained tires are going to keep you as safe as possible while you do that.

That said, even the most well-maintained tires can give out with no warning. This is why I highly recommend installing an RV tire pressure monitoring system. These systems will continuously monitor the tire fill level for you, and some can even monitor temperature and other important stats while you’re driving, helping prevent tire blowouts.

New Batteries

If you plan to do some boondocking this year, you might also want to think about upgrading your off-grid electrical system.

The best place to start with this is by upgrading your RV batteries. We went from a factory-installed flooded battery to a set of lithium batteries, and we were astounded by how much better they were in every way. The lithium batteries held a charge for longer and could be depleted completely, giving us longer battery life. On top of that, they require no maintenance!

This is one of the RV upgrades I will make in every rig I own from now on.

Solar Panels

Of course, you will need a way to keep those batteries charged. Plugging in at campgrounds and getting to another campground before the batteries die is one option, but a very limiting one. A small generator can also do this job, but requires that you carry fuel and find places where you’re allowed to run the generator. For this reason, I much prefer using solar panels to charge RV batteries.

In our motorhome, we installed a set of rooftop solar panels that worked beautifully. That said, installing the system was a lot of work. Since we aren’t sure we want to be in our current rig for long, we opted to invest in a portable solar panel, which has also served us well. Pick the option that makes the most sense for you.

Inverter

It’s important to note that not everything in an RV can be run on the DC system. This means in order to run things like the outlets, microwave, and TVs off of battery power, you will need an inverter.

This is an excellent addition to your off-grid power setup. Just make sure you purchase a pure sine wave inverter (not a modified sine wave) and that you get one powerful enough to run everything you need to run, and that you’ll have enough battery power for the inverter you chose.

For instance, in order to run most kitchen appliances, you will need at least 2,000 watts of power—and in order to run a 2,000-watt inverter, you will need at least two 100-amp-hour batteries. Do the math and make sure you get the right thing.

LED Lighting

Last but not least, I highly recommend upgrading your RV lighting by installing LED bulbs. This is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that absolutely anyone can do, and it will make an enormous difference in your RV in a few different ways.

For one thing, LED bulbs use far less energy than traditional bulbs, meaning you’ll be able to run your RV lights on battery power without fear of running the batteries down. Additionally, LED bulbs do not put out heat. This is great because it means the bulbs won’t add heat to the RV in summer when it’s already hard to keep the interior of the rig cool. Lastly, LED bulbs are brighter and last longer than traditional bulbs—both bonuses you’re sure to appreciate.

There you have it, 14 RV upgrades that will truly improve your RV living experience. Pick the upgrades that make the most sense for you and get to work putting them in place so you’re ready to hit the road as soon as the weather allows!

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