motorhome

Insulated-RV-Window-Coverings-768x1024

RV Window Coverings – Happiest Camper

Published by Ronald Hughey

A walk through my favorite fabric-by-the-pound store led me to Insul-Bright fabric, the stuff used in oven mitts and pot holders. It was sold in folded bunches for $3.99/lb. I grabbed two large pieces (I’m not a measurer) hoping it was enough for all the #RV window coverings, and walked out for less than $10.00. It ended up being enough to double layer each window!

Window-Fabric-Insulation-768x1024

I cut two pieces of the insulation fabric to fit each window and stapled them together along with sticky backed Velcro circle fasteners.  Depending on the size of the window, I stapled Velcro to all four corners and at least two places in between.  Then I stuck the other side of the Velcro just inside the window to correspond, and stuck the fabric panel to it. Since these are covered by curtains, I saw no point in sewing or making them pretty. They serve a functional purpose of blocking the sun and heat, however, the Velcro makes them easily removable to see out the window or take them down during mild weather.

Velcro-Window-Insulation-768x1024

Next I put some thought into how to hang more traditional curtains. Originally, the camper had mini blinds, curtain rods, curtains, and a cornice over all of that. I’ve always hated mini blinds. They collect dirt and are terrible at blocking light, and need I remind you of the hideous pink flowered fabric? It all had to go. The obvious solution was to hang new curtain rods and curtains. I was concerned that a rod would allow the curtains to hang away from the wall thereby letting in heat and light that made it through the first insulated barrier. Velcro and staples to the rescue again!

 

I cut panels for each window out of heavy, felt-backed fabric (another opportunity for added insulation) and added a decorative fabric across the top. Again, I’m not a measurer, but I can tell you the panels extend about two inches on the sides and bottom of the windows and about four inches across the top. That’s after hemming all four sides.

 

Recreational vehicles are known to have little insulation and thin windows to keep their weight down. Our 1987 Kountry Aire 5th Wheel is no exception, and it heats up fast! When it became apparent that we would still be parked in the Phoenix, AZ area during the peak of summer, I came up with an RV window coverings solution that was easy, fast, cost effective and not terrible to look at.

 

Curated from RV WINDOW COVERINGS

 

20140728w_ratwerk02

Can You Write Off Your RV as a Business Expense? – RV Life

Published by Ronald Hughey

Most tax and accounting professionals are not well-acquainted with our oddball lifestyle. You’ll want to work with a knowledgeable numbers and tax law guru who understands the intricacies of tax filing for full-time RVers. Ask around on full-time RVing discussion forums and groups, you’re likely to find a professional who can keep you as far away from the audit trail as possible.

 

We hunted around and found George Montgomery, a former full-time RVer, business man and enrolled agent for the IRS. He wrote a book called “Can I Write Off My RV? What Every RVer Should Know About Taxes” which is a great place to start your full-time RVing tax picture research, even if you don’t choose him as your tax preparer.

 

MontgomeryBook-150x150George’s book will put a stop to the myths you’ve probably heard about writing off #recreational vehicle expenses. After living and working on the road as a tax man, George is so qualified he’s earned the title of “RV Taxmaster” from Workamper News.

 

One of the most interesting things I learned from George’s book is that if a full-time RVer has no primary residence other than their RV, none of the lodging portion can be written off, but some deductions can be taken if the RV is being used for business. What a surprise to learn that this is completely opposite of the way I always understood the “sticks and bricks” home office deduction, which my husband and I have always taken advantage of since we became self-employed in the 1990s.

 

But wait: before you call H&R Block, if you’re a full-time RVer who lives and works or volunteers on the road, you want to make sure you get the right person to file your tax paperwork. Don’t be fooled into thinking that deducting expenses for your full-timing lifestyle is the same as when you lived in a stick house. Living and working from your RV paints a very different tax picture, so before you try to write off your RV payment and associated costs as a “small business” expense, take a minute to learn more about how the tax laws affect – and benefit – you as a full-time RVer.