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Category: diy

  • 5 Alternative Uses for a Toy Hauler Garage

    A toy hauler’s garage gives it a level of versatility that simply isn’t found in most other RVs. Designed for transporting an ATV, motorcycles, bikes, and other gear, most garages convert into a bedroom or lounge when empty. But with a bit of creativity, that same space can be used for a variety of other purposes. Here are a few suggestions you might want to consider.

    RV offices

    Photo Credit: Mikel Allica/Getty

    A Work-From-Anywhere Office

    Many RV owners are lucky enough to have jobs that allow them to work from anywhere. Having a dedicated office not only improves productivity but also makes it easier to separate work from relaxation and play.

    The additional space a toy hauler garage provides makes it easy to create an office environment. In most cases, the garage is closed off from the rest of the RV, providing additional privacy for those all-important Zoom calls and meetings. Personalize the space by adding a desk, a comfortable office chair, and by mounting monitors on the wall and connecting a printer. Filing cabinets, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and an easily-accessible power strip are also nice additions.

    Photo Credit: PeopleImages/Getty

    Turn the Garage into a Gym

    RVing is meant to be relaxing, which can make it a challenge to maintain your usual exercise routine while on the road. But converting your toy hauler’s garage to a gym can add a healthy dose of motivation, not to mention convenience. Throw down a couple of exercise mats for pre-workout stretching or a full yoga session. It is also easy to add weights, resistance bands, kettlebells, a jump rope, or even a compact treadmill or stationary bike, provided you secure everything while in transit. Essentially, anything your home gym might have is also possible in your toy hauler.

    Photo Credit: Dutchmen RV

    Extra Storage Space

    By its very definition, a toy hauler garage is a storage space, albeit one designed for an ATV, golf cart, kayaks, or other “toys.” But storage is always at a premium in any RV, making it a no-brainer to use the additional space for carrying more stuff. Add dressers, luggage, a rolling clothing rack, plastic storage tubs, or even a firearms safe.

    Obviously, everything needs to be secure while traveling, but the extra room can make a huge difference in what you can bring along and what needs to stay at home. And having a space for bulk storage always comes in handy.

    Photo Credit: Northwood

    A Kid-Focused Playroom/Lounge

    As noted above, a toy hauler garage often serves as an extra lounge area, in addition to the main living room found inside the vehicle. But if you travel as a family, it is nice to utilize that space specifically for kids, giving them their own place to relax and play. Options include adding a rug to the floor and incorporating kid-friendly furniture, like bean bag chairs and a table for playing games. For older kids, consider connecting a video game system to the TV. You can even go all-out by painting the room with whimsical colors and patters, replacing the blinds with colorful curtains, and stringing up fun, mood-setting lights. In other words, let your imagination run wild. The little ones will love it.

    Photo Credit: Keystone

    Hobby/Craft/Game/Rec Room

    Living for extended periods—or even going full-time—in an RV often means having to give up on some of your favorite hobbies and activities simply because there isn’t enough room. But, as we’ve already established, a toy hauler garage does offer extra space that can be used to continue those pursuits. For instance, you can set up a craft room for sewing, knitting, and quilting. Why not create an art studio for painting or sculpting? Convert the garage into a game room or make it the ultimate fan cave for watching your favorite teams play.

    Think of the garage as a blank canvas, allowing you to utilize it anyway you choose. That versatility is what makes toy haulers so popular, even if someone isn’t planning on filling it up with motorized vehicles, ebikes, and outdoor gear. If you are bringing those kinds of toys along with you, the extra items will need to be able to be packed away while in transit, but other than that, the sky is the limit. Get creative and make the extra space your own. It will only further enrich your travels and make life on the road that much better.

    The post 5 Alternative Uses for a Toy Hauler Garage appeared first on RV.com.

  • How to Convert to Lithium RV Batteries

    Does your RV still use lead-acid power cells for its house battery? Have you been thinking about switching over to newer lithium batteries instead? If so, then the video above is definitely for you. It comes our way courtesy of the All About RVs YouTube channel, and it takes an in-depth look at this process, taking us through everything you need to know to convert to lithium RV batteries.

    The clip takes us through everything you need to consider when making this conversion, including whether or not you’ll need to replace your battery monitor, adding a solar converter, alternator charging, performance in extreme temperatures, and more. It also takes a look at the cost of such a conversion, which has gotten considerably less expensive as lithium batteries have come down in price. What once seemed prohibitively expensive is now quite affordable, especially when you factor in the longer lifespan that comes with lithium power cells.

    Lead-Acid vs. Lithium RV Batteries

    We’ve already touched on a few of the benefits of lithium batteries versus lead-acid models, most notably increased storage capacity and a much longer lifespan. Whereas lead-acid power cells offer 300-500 charge cycles, a lithium battery is generally good for ten times those numbers or even more. Lithium cells also charge much more quickly, require less maintenance, weigh a lot less, and are less likely to spark a fire, making them safer, too.

    At this point, the main advantage that lead-acid batteries have over lithium is price. The initial cost of buying lithium house batteries is certainly more than their lead-acid counterparts, although you’ll recoup that cost over the lifespan of the battery. A lithium cell can easily last up to ten years, even with heavy use, while a lead-acid model will lose capacity much more quickly and will need to be replaced multiple times over the same span.

    Photo Credit: Battle Born

    Converting to Lithium RV Batteries

    The video does an excellent job of taking viewers through the process of converting your RV to using lithium batteries. As you’ll see, you can complete that conversion in stages, replacing the batteries first, then upgrading the charge converter, your inverter, and other parts over time. That isn’t necessarily the most efficient way to complete the process, but it can help defray the costs to some degree. Ultimately, you’ll want components that are lithium compatible to get the best performance, but you can get by temporarily with your existing parts if you have to.

    The notes that accompany the video on YouTube list all of the parts used in the conversion with links to their online product pages. That makes it easy to grab the same parts for your own lithium upgrade project or compare specs with similar products made by alternative manufacturers. Either way, it makes it very easy to see everything you’ll need ahead of time, allowing you to purchase and install those items as you complete different phases of the switch over from lead-acid batteries.

    Perhaps the best thing about this video is that it demystifies the process nicely. It shows that there are a number of things to consider when converting from lead-acid to lithium, but that the actual implementation isn’t as difficult as you might think. The clip mixes technical know-how and practical experience nicely, which hopefully will make this project less daunting.

    Thanks to the All About RVs channel for sharing.

    The post How to Convert to Lithium RV Batteries appeared first on RV.com.

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