If you own an RV, you already know the little things make a big difference. One trip to the ER or one busted awning is all it takes to wish you had done more. Good news: there is a cost-effective, straightforward solution for several common and potentially hazardous RV issues.
Pool noodles. Yep, those colorful foam tubes from the dollar store can seriously level up your RV safety game, especially around your awning.
Vlad / Pexels / RV awnings usually have long, thin metal arms that support the fabric overhead. They are sturdy but nearly invisible, especially at night or in low light.
It is way too easy to walk straight into one and get a nasty bump on the forehead. Worse, a hard hit could bend the arm or mess up your awning alignment. That is a problem you don’t want.
To fix this, grab a bright-colored pool noodle. Yellow, orange, or neon green are perfect. Cut it lengthwise with a utility knife, but only to the hollow center. You want it to open up without cutting it in two. Then, slide it over the awning arm. Just like that, you have added a cushion and a visual warning.
Beat the Pooling Blues
Heavy rain is no joke when you have an awning out. If water starts to collect in the center, it pulls the fabric down, stretches the material, and can even collapse the awning if the situation worsens. You don’t need to stand outside with a broom pushing water off every few minutes. There is a better way.
Take a pool noodle and stuff it between the awning roller and the fabric where it tends to sag. This lifts the fabric just enough to keep water moving. If your awning has a center brace, you can slide another noodle in for extra support. This hack helps keep the slope just right, allowing gravity to do the hard work.
Make Your Hitch Obvious
Backing into your hitch should be a one-try job, not a ten-minute stress-fest. Still, a lot of hitches are low and easy to miss, especially when the sun is in your eyes or shadows are messing with your depth perception.
Cut a noodle to size and slide it over the hitch. Bright colors make it pop in your rearview mirror. It is easier to see, and you will align quickly. Plus, it softens the blow if someone does walk into it or bump it with a shin. No blood, no dented metal, no swearing.
Stew / Pexels / Slice a V-shape into one side of the noodle and fold it around the sharp edge. And you will get a corner protector that stays in place and keeps skin safe.
Corner Padding Saves Skin
Sharp corners on slide-outs, storage bays, and even RV steps can do real damage. One wrong turn and your elbow is bleeding. Luckily, foam works great for corners, too. You don’t need anything fancy, just a pool noodle and a few cuts.
If it is wobbly, a zip tie or a bit of tape will secure it in place—no more near misses with sharp metal.
Stop the Trip Line Trick
Tie-down lines are important. They keep your awning, tent, or shade setup from flying off in the wind. But they are also tripwires, especially in the dark. It is so easy to forget they are there until your foot catches one and sends you flying.
To fix this, cut up a pool noodle into sections and slit each one. Slide them over the ropes. Now, instead of a thin black line, you have a bright, chunky warning that people will actually notice.
