THE “NEVER DROP A ZOOM CALL” KIT

Most RVers think a cheap Wi-Fi booster is enough. Certified Peplink and weBoost installs mean commercial-grade cellular bonding and clean signal amplification — the setup for anyone who genuinely can’t afford to lose internet mid-call.

weBoost Drive Reach RV — cellular signal booster, boosts 4G LTE/5G across all major U.S. carriers, the standard upgrade for weak-signal areas. Peplink MAX Transit Duo Pro — dual-SIM cellular router with Wi-Fi 6, bonds two carriers together so one dead network doesn’t kill the connection.

MORE PEPLINK OPTIONS

Compact / Single-SIM: Peplink MAX BR1 Pro 5G — Wi-Fi 6, single 5G modem, the right call for a smaller rig or a simpler single-carrier setup. Dual-SIM / Bonding: the Transit Duo Pro above is the step up when carrier redundancy actually matters.

MORE WEBOOST OPTIONS

weBoost Destination RV — the stationary counterpart to the Drive Reach above, built for a parked rig at a campsite rather than while moving, with stronger gain for a fixed location.

THE “BOONDOCKING POWERHOUSE” SETUP

Victron is the gold standard for clean, reliable power management. A SmartShunt belongs on every install — without it you’re guessing at state of charge instead of knowing it, and guessing is how a battery gets stranded or cooked.

Victron MultiPlus Inverter/Charger · Victron SmartShunt · Victron Lynx Distributor — a fused DC bus bar that replaces a rat’s-nest of inline fuses with one clean distribution point. Full battery and charge-controller picks are in Lithium & Solar below.

VICTRON SYSTEM MONITORING & CHARGING

Victron Cerbo GX — the system brain that ties your Victron gear together for remote monitoring and control through VRM; pairs directly with the SmartShunt above. Victron Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC Charger — charges the house battery properly off the alternator while driving, Bluetooth-monitored.

Confused by wiring diagrams or cellular bands? We’re certified in Peplink, weBoost, and advanced RV electrical systems.

BOOK A SYSTEM DESIGN CONSULTATION

12V LITHIUM (LiFePO4) BATTERIES

Budget: SOK 12V 100Ah — well-regarded in the DIY/van-build community for value, roughly $450–550.
Best Overall: Victron Lithium Smart Battery — integrated BMS with Victron Connect app monitoring, talks natively to Victron chargers and monitors; the certified-install standard we run ourselves. Roughly $900–950.
Next Best: Vatrer 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 — self-heating BMS for cold-weather charging, built-in Bluetooth app monitoring, strong low-temp feature set at a lower price than Victron; roughly $500–600. A solid step up from the SOK if the budget allows.

CHARGE CONTROLLERS

Victron SmartSolar MPPT (75/15 through 150/100 depending on array size) — pairs with the batteries above, Bluetooth monitoring built in. Renogy Rover MPPT is the budget-friendly, reliable alternative with a less integrated ecosystem.

SOLAR PANELS

Renogy 100W/200W rigid panels — the most common RV rooftop choice, good value, easy to source replacements. Flexible panels are the fallback for curved or skoolie roofs where rigid won’t mount, though they run hotter and degrade faster — only worth it where geometry forces the call.

INVERTERS

Victron MultiPlus / Phoenix inverter-chargers — our certified install line, pure sine wave, remote monitoring. Renogy pure sine wave inverters are the budget option for straightforward loads.

BATTERY MONITORING

Victron SmartShunt 500A — Bluetooth battery monitor, no separate display required, pairs directly with the Victron Connect app to show real state of charge instead of guessing off voltage alone. The natural companion to any of the batteries or chargers above, and the one we actually run.

12V BATTERY CHARGERS

Victron Blue Smart IP22 12V 30A — Bluetooth-enabled smart charger with adaptive multi-stage charging, safe for LiFePO4 and lead-acid alike; the one we reach for on the bench and for shore-power maintenance charging. Roughly $130–160.

PORTABLE POWER STATIONS

Jackery Explorer 1000 — the no-install option if you’re not ready for a permanent solar setup. 1000Wh, runs a CPAP, laptop, or small cooler for a full night without touching the rig’s own electrical system. A common gift-worthy pick for anyone starting out.

ST (TRAILER) TIRES

Budget: Carlisle Radial Trail HD — a longtime standard trailer replacement tire, widely stocked, roughly $130–180 each.
Best Overall: Goodyear Endurance — purpose-built for trailer axles, a common upgrade pick from OEM trailer tires for better heat and sway resistance; roughly $160–220 each.
Premium / Extra Load: Sailun S637 — favored in the RV community for higher load-range options at a competitive price versus the majors; roughly $150–210 each.

LT (MOTORHOME / TOW VEHICLE) TIRES

Michelin Defender LTX M/S — strong all-around wear and ride quality for tow vehicles and light-duty motorhome chassis. Michelin XZE / Continental HSR for Class A/C chassis applications — both common OEM and replacement specs on commercial-grade motorhome chassis.

PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR

VIAIR 300P — 150 PSI, 2.3 CFM, enough to air up a low tire roadside instead of limping to a gas station. Pair with the tire pressure gauge below.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING (TPMS)

TST 507 TPMS (4 Cap Sensors, Color Display) — real-time pressure and temperature per tire, catches a slow leak long before it becomes a blowout on the highway. Expandable to more sensors for dual-axle trailers or a tow combo.

1. READ THE DATE CODE

Find the DOT code on the sidewall — the last four digits are week + year of manufacture (“2321” = 23rd week of 2021). Most manufacturers recommend replacement around 6–10 years from that date regardless of tread depth; check your specific tire brand’s guidance since it varies.

2. INSPECT

Walk all sides of every tire, including the inner sidewall facing the rig — look for fine sidewall cracking, a faded/chalky surface, cracks between tread blocks, bulges, or exposed cord/belt material. Any cracking deep enough to show cord underneath means immediate replacement, not “watch it.”

3. FILL TO YOUR ACTUAL LOAD, COLD

The sidewall PSI is the max at that tire’s rated load — not automatically your correct pressure. Weigh your rig, find your actual per-tire load, and match it to the manufacturer’s load/inflation table. Always set and check pressure cold, before driving or after several hours parked. A quality digital tire pressure gauge pays for itself the first time it catches a slow leak.

4. KNOW WHEN TO REPLACE

Replace on age (6–10 years from manufacture) even with good tread, on any visible dry rot or cord exposure, on uneven wear patterns that signal an alignment or pressure problem, or after any impact/sidewall bulge — a bulge means internal structural damage that won’t self-heal.

ROOF COATINGS

Dicor 95D40-35 EPDM Rubber Roof Coating — best overall for EPDM/TPO roofs, roughly $40–60/gal, up to 125 sq ft/gal coverage. Dicor RP-MRC-1 Elastomeric Coating for metal/fiberglass roofs, roughly $50–70/gal. Geocel Pro Flex is the budget metal-roof option — single coat, sets in under an hour, roughly $20–30/gal.

SEALANT & TAPE FOR SEAMS & LEAKS

EternaBond RSW White RoofSeal Tape — rated up to 19 years in direct sun, works on EPDM/TPO/metal/PVC, roughly $30–45/roll. Worth carrying a roll in the rig. Dicor 501LSW-1 Self-Leveling Lap Sealant for horizontal seams and vents on EPDM/TPO, roughly $8–12/tube.

ROOF VENTS & FANS

Budget: MaxxAir Maxxfan Plus — manual-lift, 10-speed intake/exhaust fan with rain sensor auto-close. Premium: MaxxAir Maxxfan Deluxe — remote-controlled, thermostat-driven, built-in rain shield so it can run while it’s raining out.

LP/CO DETECTORS

MTI Safe-T-Alert 30 Series (flush mount, propane/LP only) — the standard OEM-style replacement for most RVs. MTI Safe-T-Alert 35/45 Series (dual CO + propane) is the upgrade pick when replacing an old single-gas detector — combining CO detection is a real safety upgrade for closed-cabin RVs and vans.

REGULATORS

Marshall Excelsior / Cavagna two-stage automatic changeover regulators — the standard replacement spec, sized against our LP gas pressure chart.

QUICK-CONNECT FITTINGS

Camco 59853 Propane Quick-Connect Kit — lets you disconnect a grill or fire pit from the rig’s LP system without tools, a common add-on on outdoor-kitchen builds.

THE “AC LIFESAVER” UPGRADE

Factory thermostat lag ruins RV comfort and shortens compressor life. Swapping to a digital Dometic thermostat is a 15-minute DIY fix that saves the compressor and keeps the rig properly regulated instead of overshooting the set point by several degrees.

Dometic Digital Single-Zone Thermostat — direct OEM-style replacement for most Dometic AC systems. Dometic Brisk II Evolution (15K BTU, heat pump) for a full rooftop AC replacement or upgrade.

THE “NO-ICE FRIDGE” TRANSITION

If an old absorption fridge died, don’t just replace it with the same tech. High-efficiency compressor coolers actually hold temp in 100°F summer heat instead of struggling the way absorption units do.

Dometic CFX3 45 Portable Compressor Fridge/Freezer — AC/DC/solar powered, the standard we point owners toward when an absorption fridge is done.

WATER HEATERS

Dometic WH-6GEA Gas/Electric Water Heater (6 Gallon, 12V) — aluminum tank needs no anode rod, quick-heating burner, common direct-fit replacement on rigs already running Dometic/Atwood gear.

MACERATOR PUMPS

SewerFlo Quick Release — top pick, universal connection, lightweight (6.4 lb), garden-hose output. Flojet 18555-000A Portable is the best carry-with-you option — stainless cutters, handles uphill/long-distance dumping via remote switch. SEAFLO 12V Macerator is the budget pick, 12 GPM, twist-lock fitting.

COMPOSTING TOILETS

Nature’s Head — the standard reference composting toilet in the van-build and vanlife space, and where we’d point most owners starting from scratch.

SEWER HOSE & GLOVES

Camco RhinoEXTREME 20-Foot Sewer Hose Kit — heavier-wall hose with fittings included. Keep a box of disposable nitrile gloves in the same compartment — cheap enough to never think twice about.