• Smoke detectors. No matter how sensitive they are, (whether the toaster will set them off), they should not be dismantled. Remove the detector and lay it face down on the bed and it will stop screaming.
• Fire extinguishers. These are placed near the RV door and should not be located anywhere else. They are supposed to be used by a person outside the RV. If one was located in, say, the bedroom, you could get trapped inside the vehicle.
• Propane gas detector. Some will turn off appliances when a problem is detected. Downside - some are triggered by exhaust fumes, hair and flea spray.
• Circuit Analyzer. These are used to detect problems with the power at the source - at the poles in campgrounds. They are standard for 15 amps, for the others you will need an adaptor.
• Volt checker. This protects from fluctuating power, so that you can detect power fluctuations in time to protect your electrical appliances.
• Surge protector. To protect from power surges from the campground power. These have automatic resets when the power surge has passed.
• Water pressure regulators. These protect against water "surges". They tend to collect debris and to calcify, so they have a somewhat limited life.

Several books were recommended for the RV bookshelf. In addition to atlases, maps and a campground guide (Woodalls or Trailer Life), these were:

• " RV Repair and Maintenance Manual", author Bob Livingston
• "Mountain Directory", which lists the steepest grades and their percentages in the 11 Western states
• "Rest Area Guide," which lists the length of time which may be spent, and whether a dump station may be found there.