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Replacing An RV Toilet? Read This First!

Posted by Sep 24, 2025 RV living, Tips, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
Replacing An RV Toilet? Read This First!
New RV toilet in RV
Replacing my RV toilet didn’t go as planned.

Upgrading My RV Toilet

RVs aren’t built to last forever. With that said, everything in any RV will eventually break, even when they’ve been properly maintained. This isn’t unlike a house, but with so many plastic (and OSB strand board) components, things just don’t last as long in an RV. WIth that said, when my RV toilet broke last week, I did what many other RVers do: I consulted the experts on Youtube. I perused videos of how to replace an RV toilet.

Youtube Videos are deceptive

The videos looked easy. Unbolt and pop the old RV toilet out. Then pop the new one in and bolt it down. I’ve replaced a few household toilets before so I didn’t even consider hiring an RV technician for this “easy” job. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Measure Twice, Cut Once

I researched the part and found that I couldn’t get a direct replacement for the toilet, but the best fit would be a Dometic 321. I ordered the toilet from Hitchweb.com, and after being redirected a few times, it arrived 7 days later. I’ve always wanted to install a bidet, and now was a good time. So I ordered a Clean Camper RV Bidet. This RV specific bidet installs under the toilet seat. The connections are simple to do. However, in the limited space of an RV bathroom, doing the install on a new toilet would make everything easier. Then I’d just take the broken toilet out, an pop the new one in. Easy peasy. Or so I thought.

The World Of RV Repairs Is Not What It Seems

Before the install, I emptied and flushed the black tank. As an extra measure I added about a quarter cup of biodegradable dish soap down the old toilet and flushed the tank again. I turned the water supply off and put down a towel to catch any water drips before I disconnected the water intake hose. I Now it was time to put my Nalgene gloves on and unbolt the toilet from the floor.

Surprises In Store

I took took the outer housing off and found 4 bolts instead of the two bolt configuration on the Dometic toilet. Big deal, I thought. I can just move the mounting bolts to a different position on the toilet flange. Worst case, you just replace the flange. However, that’s not how it works in an RV at all. Especially in a 2008 Fleetwood Southwind.

There was no way to move the bolts around on the toilet flange, and the flange itself was about 2 feet long and curved around to be part of the plumbiing system. What to do? Now was a good time to call an RV technician.

For A Few Dollars More…

I called Courtenay RV Specialists and found out that they sold an adapter that would allow the 2 bolt toilet to be installed on the 4 bolt flange. After several trips back and forth, and about $200, I was able to get one that wound up working. Including the bidet, this RV toilet was now going to cost more than $1200. Yikes. But a toilet is necessary equipment, so I went ahead with the repair.

The toilet wound up installed. However, unlike the YouTube videos there were moments of sheer horror involved as things seemed to fly down the crapper. There’s no doubt that where there’s a will there’s a way when it comes to RV repairs, but if you’re replacing a toilet in an older RV, here are some key-takeaways from my experience.

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Key Takeaways For Replacing A RV Toilet

  1. Lower your expectations for this upgrade (haha)
  2. Measure your old toilet
  3. Find the correct replacement toilet
  4. Ceramic toilets are much heavier than plastic toilets. If you have a travel trailer, consider the additional weight before you upgrade your toilet.
  5. Don’t panic if the bolt pattern is different on your new toilet. You can get an adapter for your old toilet flange.
  6. Use tape to hold the toilet flange adapter in place while you drill pilot holes. Then remove the tape before installing it.

Well, it all worked out in the end, and I must say, I’m flushed with pride at the results.

The Advantage Of Stuff

Posted by Aug 18, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

There’s a lot to be said for downsizing and simplifying life. However, it was my extra e-bike that saved Daisy Mae and Moonbeam from damage when we were rearended on our way home on Friday. Without getting into yawny details of how this occurred, let’s just say it was a new driver who didn’t see the massive RB stopped in front of her. The impact felt massive. By that I mean that it sent a cabinet’s worth of precious jars of preserves flying through the RV, and this upended my ever-patient dogs.

I got out to get the other driver’s details and looked for damage on my vehicles including my ebike which was still secure on its rack. In spite of the escalating pain in my neck, nothing else looked damaged. B

ut the front of the car that hit me was damaged pretty bad. I got her details, took some ibuprofen to prevent further inflammation of my neck. And I continued on to get in line for the ferry.

It wasn’t until later that I realized it was only the bike rack that prevented a lot of damage. And I wouldn’t have had it on my Jeep if I didn’t have the extra e-bike that it was carrying. So sometimes stuff is good to have!

Healthy Plant Based Tabbouleh Salad Recipe

Posted by Jul 10, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Healthy Plant Based Tabbouleh Salad Recipe
Bowl of tabbouleh salad
Image: Freestock

RV road trips don’t have to mean abandoning healthy eating habits. This delicious nutrient dense Tabbouleh salad is easy to take on the road. This plant based recipe incorporates bulgur and chickpeas with staples like tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley and mint.

Bulgur is not just tasty. It’s also a super grain, a powerhouse of nutrients, including 4 grams of protein per cooked 1/2 cup serving. Chickpeas and parsley both provide an additional nutrient boost. And the dressing here is simple and light. It creates a beautiful balance of flavours.

You’ll want to take this recipe everywhere you go. It’s delicious on its own. However, it also wraps up in a pita or tortilla with a little lettuce for delicious, nutritious road trip snacking.

Bowl of tabbouleh salad

Bohemian Style Tabbouleh Salad

Delicious Bulgur based, vegan tabbouleh that's packed with protein rich ingredients
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean, middle eastern
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup red bulgur
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 3 cups finely chopped parsley substitute 1/2 cup dried if you don't have fresh
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped mint
  • 1/4 cup finely minced green onions
  • 2-3 medium tomatoes, diced
  • 1 medium english cucumber finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup cooked or low sodium canned chick peas
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice about one lemon's worth
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method
 

  1. In a heatproof bowl, add boiling water to bulgur, stir and allow to soak for 1 hour.
  2. Drain well and squeeze out any excess moisture.
  3. In a big bowl, combine drained bulgar, parsley, mint, green onions, tomatoes, chickpeas, cucumbers, Salt, ground cumin, black pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil. Mix together thoroughly
  4. Refrigerate for at least an hour, preferably overnigh to allow the flavours to truly meld and develop.

Good Morning! from Coastal Black Winery In Black Creek, BC

Posted by Jul 7, 2025 Destinations, News, RV living, Uncategorized , Leave a Comment
Good Morning! from Coastal Black Winery In Black Creek, BC
Coastal Black Winery, Black Creek, BC

I’m not normally what a farmer would call an early riser. However, travel days that involve ferry travel frequently involve being woken from a perfectly sound slumber in the first

I’m not normally what a farmer would call an early riser. However, my travel days that involve ferry travel frequently involve being woken from a perfectly good sleep before the light of dawn. 

Coastal Black Winery

That’s because Daisy Mae is a long, overheight vehicle, so ferry fares at most times of the day are well over $350. That said, I shop for super saver fares to get fares as low as $145.  The only pain point here is that these fares are only for salings before 7:45.  Today this meant waking up at 3:30 am.  At that hour, I was surrounded by the ethereal morning beauty of the Coastal Black Winery farm.  

The Sun Blinking Away Darkness

The sun was just beginning to blink away the last of the darkness. This is when all the colours of the world are muted, diluted in varying tones of bluish grey with the black silhouettes of trees stretching toward the skyline.  Vague hints of colour stretched out beyond evergreens that marked perfect rows of a huge market garden.  These rows would soon produce a wealth of beans, onions, carrots and fresh corn. There is no doubt that this is a truly magical time of day.  Every time I get up that early, I resolve to do it more often. Sometimes I actually do.

Some people are early risers

3:30 AM is a normal waking hour for a dairy farmer.  That said, Coastal Black Winery was once the site of one of a handful of Black Creek dairy farms.  As I waited for coffee to percolate on the stove, I heard the putting of a farm vehicle coming through the opalescence of the coming day.  I looked outside to see my bearded host on a side-by-side. Alongside this ran a stunning black and tan german shepherd who seemed happy to run alongside.  I greeted the dog and the farmer equally. He’d come by on his way to morning chores to wish me a good morning and give me directions to get out of the gated property.  

This level of friendliness is typical for any of the Harvest Hosts locations I’ve stayed at. I  highly recommend getting a membership to the Harvest Hosts & Boondockers Welcome if you travel a lot in an RV. A $200 annual membership gets you unlimited free stays at thousands of host locations wherever you happen to be. 

Is It Worth Going To Mexico for Dental Care?

Posted by Jun 7, 2025 Uncategorized , , , , , Leave a Comment

I Travelled To Los Algodones To Find Out!

I am in Los Algodones, Mexico. Otherwise known as “Molar City”because there are more than 250 dentists here with back to back offices throughout town.

Any storefronts that aren’t dental offices are optometrists, pharmacies or botox clinics.

Los Algodones Is a Mecca for Dental tourists from all over North America

One very high sign proclaimed “Stem Cell”.

Watch Out For The Sidewalks!

With all the money flowing into this town, you’d think the streets would be paved in gold fillings. However, walking down the insanely wacky sidewalks here could cripple you. I’m talking about sudden drop offs that are immediately followed by steep ascents. That said, there are good sections of sidewalks.

Los Algodones Has Hundreds Of Street Vendors

These sections are divided into impromptu street vendor stalls. The boundaries of each stall are marked on 3 sides by colourful mexican blankets, But these boundaries don’t keep vendors in their stalls, as you navigate through the maze of striped and patterned blankets. They sit waiting to pounce, trading their trinkets for US dollars with dental tourists. As I make my way a vendor yells emphatically “I give you best deal, please take look”! When I answer “No gracias” it seems to encourage him, and he follows me until another vendor takes over trying to win my pesos.

Dental Work in Mexico Can Save You A lot Of Money

Faced with horrendous dental bills at home, I decided to try a much touted Los Algodones dentist to get the urgent work I needed done. The trip, including dental work, accommodations and transportation would be less than half of my dental bill at home, so it seemed well worth the trip.

Is It Worth It?

But is it worth traveling from Canada to Los Algodones fordental work? I decided to vlog my experience from start to finish so you could decide for yourself. Here’s the first of a 6 part series of video vlog updates I did. #dentalcare#dentist#travel#dentalclinic#dentaltourism#LosAlgodones#molarcity#mexico#FrugalLiving#rvlifestyle

Stay Informed! Follow my vlog on

Don’t Miss This Best Kept Secret In Canada: Alberta Camping

Posted by May 20, 2025 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Don’t Miss This Best Kept Secret In Canada: Alberta Camping
We camped at Preacher's Point North near Nordegg, Alberta, Canada
We camped at Preacher’s Point North near Nordegg, Alberta, Canada Photo: Lynne Fedorick

One of the best parts about traveling in an RV is being able to visit friends and family. Having you as a guest is easy because you bring your own guesthouse. I have to say, the new Fleetwood Southwind has allowed me to do just that very comfortably so far. This week I was able to enjoy self contained luxury when I visited relatives in Edmonton, Alberta. All I had to do was pop out the passenger side bedroom. And then Boom! The RV was comfortable and well-equipped to do some serious streetside camping. (haha). But this article isn’t just about visiting people in your RV. I want to share some of the reasons I love traveling and camping in Alberta.

Today started with a beautiful July morning. I write this as I wait for my coffee to percolate in the espresso maker on the gas stove. I’ll head back down to Drayton Valley today and I always like to drive with a beverage close at hand. That’s a habit I got into years ago as I traveled around for work.

Alberta Is An Underrated RV Destination

I think Alberta is a massively underrated province as an RV destination. It’s a pretty province and this time of year it’s bursting with canary yellow fields of canola and hay crops grown mainly as winter feed for cattle and horses. The fields stretch out for miles. They’re nearly always bordered by pretty windbreaks of spruce, or quaking aspen.

Alberta’s Rocky Mountain Parks Could Be Overrated

Alberta’s Rocky Mountain parks, Jasper National Park and Banff National Park are famous around the world for their scenic beauty in a natural setting. So much so that the areas attract millions of visitors every summer., Which is fine if you like crowds. However, like many Canadians I don’t like visiting crowded parks. Instead, when I’m not visiting relatives or friends, I seek out quiet places to camp, write, and recreate with my dogs.

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Beautiful Free RV Camping In Alberta

This year I discovered Preacher’s Point North, tucked between Abraham Lake and Highway 11 just North of Banff. It’s about 80 km West of the little town of Nordegg, Alberta. This place is quiet, hugely scenic and what’s more, there’s free camping here. However, don’t expect any services if you go. You’ll need to bring water, firewood and a picnic table. Of course, if you want it to stay as nice as you found it, you’ll also need to pack out everything you bring here. The campsites are huge, mostly private, and each has a stacked rock fire pit.

Note: This post is from my old blog at rpodadventure.com, which I am shifting over to RV Adventure Guide.