Rolling Rambles

Keystone RV Awning Parts Guide: Cougar, Montana & More

Drew Callahan · August 4, 2026

Keystone RV Awning Parts Guide: Cougar, Montana & More

Safety Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Awning systems involve tensioned springs, electrical components, and structural mounting hardware. Always consult a certified RV technician for safety-critical repairs or any work involving spring assemblies, motor wiring, or wall-mount hardware. Key Takeaways What Brand of Awning Parts Do Keystone RVs Actually Use? According to RollingRambles’ … Read more

Installing a Victron BMV-712: the Shunt Wiring Mistake That Ruins Your State of Charge

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

A battery monitor is only as honest as its shunt wiring. The one rule that decides whether your state-of-charge reading means anything, and the programming steps people skip.

Battery Cable and ANL Fuse Sizing for an RV Lithium Bank

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

Cable gauge answers two separate questions and most people only ask one. How ampacity and voltage drop differ, why the fuse protects the wire rather than the device, and how close to the battery it has to sit.

DC-DC Charger vs. Alternator: Why Your Van’s Alternator Won’t Charge LiFePO4 Properly

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

Wiring a lithium house bank straight to the alternator either undercharges it or cooks the alternator. What a DC-DC charger actually does differently, and how to size one.

Sizing a Victron SmartSolar MPPT for an RV: What the 100/30 Numbers Actually Limit

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

The two numbers in a Victron model name are a voltage ceiling and a current ceiling, and they constrain different things. How to size an array without discovering the cold-weather voltage trap the hard way.

The Inline Fuel Filter Is the Cheapest Fix for a Diesel Heater That Won’t Start

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

Before you buy a pump, a glow plug or a control board, spend five minutes on the part that costs the least and fails the most. Why heater fuel filters clog early and what else lives in the same fuel path.

Diesel Heater Blower Motor: Diagnosing Rattles, Slow Spin-Up, and Overheat Shutdowns

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

A grinding heater that shuts itself down on an overheat code is usually a tired combustion air fan. How to tell bearing wear from a blocked duct before you pull the unit.

Diesel Heater Glow Plug Symptoms: White Smoke, Failed Ignition, and How to Test It

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

White smoke and a flame-out code usually mean fuel is arriving but nothing is lighting it. How to test a glow plug properly — and why the combustion screen behind it is the part that actually failed.

Diesel Heater Fuel Pump Not Clicking? Test the Dosing Pump Before You Replace It

Drew Callahan · July 29, 2026

A diesel heater that spins up but never lights is usually a fuel delivery problem, not a dead controller. How to tell whether the dosing pump is actually failed — and the three cheaper things that mimic it.

Newmar Dutch Star Chassis Fluids: Transmission Check & Hub Oil

Drew Callahan · July 4, 2026

Newmar Dutch Star Hydraulic Filter Change: Step-by-Step Guide

⚠️ Safety Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Working under a diesel pusher involves crush hazards, hot driveline components, and pressurized systems. Always chock the wheels, set the parking brake, and consult a certified RV or chassis technician for safety-critical service. Castrol TranSynd 668 Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid Check the Allison dipstick color … Read more