Tape Measure Secrets for RV Maintenance
Dave SolbergDescription
In this free video lesson, RV maintenance expert Dave Solberg teaches you some tape measure secrets that you can use to maximize this handy tool when working on your RV.
First, the wider your tape is, the longer it’ll stand up on its own when measuring for distance (without needing a second hand).
Next, the metal piece at the end of the tape is designed to wiggle so you can record a variety of measurements—your tape isn’t messed up, it’s meant to be that way! This metal piece also has a small slot for hooking it onto a wall nail so you don’t need another set of hands, as well as a serrated edge so you can score your material if you don’t have a pencil nearby.
As for the last of the tape measure secrets that you can use to your advantage: most tape measures have a marking every 16 inches. Those marks are to help you find the on-center distance on any standard stud wall. Studs are generally 16 inches apart, so those marks should serve as a helpful guide any time you’re looking for your center. They also have marks every 19.2 inches, which is the standard on-center distance for roof trusses.
Now you know!
Most people take a tape measure for granted after all it's a simple tool just to measure inches, metrics so forth but there's some secrets to a tape measure that you'll wanna know about. First of all, the wider the tape itself, the longer it will stand up. There's a test that a lot of the people do just to see how many feet, if you're gonna measure something. We're just gonna go back here and see how long can I go here? I'm past six feet well the wider the tape, the longer I can go I'm at seven feet, probably there when we're done. So again, the wider the tape the longer it's gonna be able to measure out. You don't need a second hand when you're looking for distance. Then on the tape major itself, there are some markings. First of all, we're gonna start with the end. This here you'll notice that it's loose and a lot of people think, Oh, my tape measure's broken. This is loose. I need to tighten it down. It's designed that way so that if I'm gonna do an inside measurement, that'll push that end cap up against the width of the actual leg itself. If I'm gonna do an outside measurement meaning going to the edge of a board, you'll notice that it is pulling out there. So that is designed to slide back and forth. Also, there's a small little slot that allows you to hook into a nail. If you have a nail on the wall or someplace that you wanna get a good second hand out of it and usually they have a little bit of a serrated edge, little spot here. So if you do have a nail as well there but that allows you to score and put a little mark if you don't have a pencil then there's some markings on the actual tape itself. You'll notice the first one's right here. That's at 16 inches. That is the typical on-center for stud walls. So 16 inch on center and you'll see that at every 16 inch length, there's 32. So that's the red marking. The next one here. You'll notice at 19.2 inches that is the on-center distance for roof trusses. So every 19.2 inches you would have a roof truss on the top and so you have one there. We pull out a little further. We see there it is. Again to those are for trusses. So a couple of hidden little features in your tape measure just to make it a lot more fun.
Dave, I have used tape measures all my life and you taught me some new stuff. I will stop throwing my tape measures away when the hook at the end seems loose.
Many tape measures have a specific length of the main body, often 2 inches. If you know that, or measure it, you can get a more accurate inside room measurement by not bending the tape and guessing on the measurement. Just run the tape measure body back tight against the wall or object opposite the tip end.