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Saturday, June 3, 2023
Members edition
Featured articles
New ethanol-gasoline blend could be bad news for some RVers
Blending ethanol with gasoline is said to save you money and to stretch supplies of gasoline. But this summer, a new blend of gas and ethanol will be on the market for the first summer ever. For some RVers, the new fuel could spell trouble for their vehicles. Find out why in this article from Russ and Tiña De Maris.
Nearly one in four campers work from campsite
A new report from the Dyrt shows that about one-quarter of campers work remotely while camping, about the same as the previous year. “With return-to-the-office efforts across the country, one might have expected the work-from-campsite rate to decrease, but it stayed level,” says Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt. Read more.
Hiawatha National Forest camps closed; Recreation.gov cancels reservations
In a surprising development, Recreation.gov, the primary online resource for booking campsites on federal lands, has canceled all campsite reservations for six campgrounds in the Hiawatha National Forest. Campers involved are confused as they scramble to make alternative arrangements. Learn more.
Winnebago survey paints rosy picture of RVing in 2023
In 2022, 82% of Americans indicated that they participated in outdoor activities such as camping and hiking at a location away from their home, boating or visiting a state or national park, according to a new consumer survey from Winnebago Industries, Inc. This is an increase from 60% in 2020 and 79% in 2021, and the trend is likely to continue. Read more.
Rub elbows with 55,000 others at these national parks
By Dale Wade
We visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently. Little did we know that another 55,000 folks would be there, too. National parks are straining under the pressure of overcrowding, unbridled recreation, budget cuts, and maintenance costs. Here is a look at the top five most-visited national parks under duress. Continue reading.
Campground Crowding
‘We thought RVing would be a good way to see things, but prices were hard on our wallets’
RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs. Has that changed campground crowding? This week, Nanci Dixon relates our readers’ dismay at higher campground prices, a different perspective on noisy kids in campgrounds, ongoing frustration with “no-shows,” and a request for readers to indicate what state or region they’re talking about regarding crowding and high prices.
COMING TOMORROW: An update on last week’s Crowded Campgrounds column: Military readers set us straight about camping at military campgrounds.
RV Video Tour
The small but mighty 2022 inTech Terra Oasis Travel Trailer with solar and lithium batteries
By Cheri Sicard
Get ready to tour a unique travel trailer that packs an enormous amount of desirable features into a small, lightweight package. The Team from Endless RVing (one of our readers’ favorite RV You Tube channels) is here to give us a tour in the video below. In the video, Keith, a representative from inTech, joins Izzy for the tour.
Announcement! It’s back! The Great RV Accessories newsletter is better than ever with gadgets galore! If you love gadgets, gizmos and accessories, this newsletter is for you. Each issue, delivered to your inbox biweekly, includes gadgets that will improve your RVing life and make it so much more fun. We’ll feature tools, books, accessories, kitchen appliances, and much, much more—all tested by our incredible staff! Sign up here to receive the newest issue, coming June 8, 2023.
That was the RV week that was
The just-released 2022 RV Industry Profile from the RV Industry Association shows that Indiana manufactures 87 percent of all RVs in the U.S. and Canada. Texas remains the top destination for RV shipments with 9.96 percent of total RV wholesale shipments, followed by California (6.4 percent), Florida (6.1 percent), Ohio (3.6 percent) and Michigan (3.5 percent).
Grand Design RV is recalling certain 2023 Transcend travel trailers that were manufactured without an emergency exit window in the main living area. Read more.
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened yesterday for day use, with limited visitor services and water conservation measures due to a break in the North Rim water pipeline. The National Park Service recommends that visitors bring their own drinking water and food with them.
Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) has been named to the Fortune 500 list. The company ranked 475, moving up from last year.
A short section of Yellowstone National Park’s northeast entrance road in Lamar Canyon (between Tower Junction and Lamar Valley) will close from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 5, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15.
Distracted driving increased by 20% from 2020 to 2022, according to a report by Cambridge Mobile Telematics. The worst offenders are more than 240% more likely to crash than the safest drivers. Drivers interacted with their phones on nearly 58% of trips last year. The report suggests that more than a third of crashes happen within one minute after a driver interacts with his or her phone.
If you’re in Texas right now, after you read this newsletter grab your fishing pole and head out to your favorite public lake or stream. It’s Free Fishing Day, no license required on any public waterbody.
Ford is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco, 2023 Super Duty F-250, and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles. The tire and load information label states the wrong load carrying capacity. Ford will mail a new label free to place over the existing one. Learn more from Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. The recall number is 23C18.
In case you missed this last week, Keystone RV has formed a partnership with Bozeman-based LandTrust. Keystone RV owners now have exclusive access to more than 75 private properties in Montana and Idaho for the upcoming summer season. This collaboration opens up a range of ranches, farms, and pristine lands that were previously inaccessible to the public. To assist Keystone owners in finding their ideal location, LandTrust offers a dedicated website and concierge service tailored to individual interests, whether it be historical site exploration, star-gazing, or off-road adventures.
The Hurricane Ridge area of Washington’s Olympic National Park remains closed while investigators determine the cause and origin of the fire that destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge on May 7. It is too early to say when the area will reopen. Park officials will first need to assess and mitigate any hazards to ensure the area is safe.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho has opened for the summer. The visitor center, bookstore and museum are now open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Giant Forest area of California’s Sequoia National Park, home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world (by volume), reopened yesterday. This area closed in early March in advance of what would become a catastrophic series of storms that left behind severe road and infrastructure damage that continues to impact public access.
A man has pleaded guilty to handling a bison calf in Yellowstone National Park, ultimately resulting in the calf’s death. Clifford Walters, a Hawaii resident, faced charges of intentionally disturbing wildlife. He paid fines totaling more than $1,000, including a $500 community service payment to Yellowstone’s Wildlife Protection fund. The incident occurred when Walters attempted to assist the separated calf as its herd crossed the Lamar River. Read more.
Black Book, which publishes vehicle appraisal guides, has released the Black Book RV market commentary for June. The report noted the average selling price of motorhomes was $65,366, down $7,873 (10.7%) from the previous month. One year ago, the average selling price was $73,350. The auction volume was up 37.5% from the previous month. The average model year was 2013. For towables, the average selling price was $21,130, down $24 from the previous month. One year ago, the average selling price was $20,883. The auction volume was up 20.2% from the previous month. The average model year was 2017.
Experts warned earlier this week that they’re seeing an uptick in incidents where tourists are getting too close to wild animals. A woman got head-butted by a bison this week in Yellowstone National Park, and a young boy got his fingers bit after he was feeding an elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. Here’s a reminder from the National Park Service’s Instagram account:
More states are taking steps to expand move-over rules to apply to all highway users. Maryland adopted the rule one year ago, joining Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Since January, additional states have adopted move-over rule changes with the list expected to grow. The laws generally stipulate that motorists slow down when approaching or passing a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, public utility service vehicle or a vehicle equipped with tire chains.
After a very busy and plentiful winter season, the roads to and through Utah’s Cedar Breaks National Monument are open. Visitors should be very cautious when visiting the park during this time as snow and ice patches still cover many paths and overlooks.
On the morning of May 30 at about 6 a.m., National Park Service (NPS) found a deceased male in the road near milepost 221 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Brandon Lee Wagoner, 33 years old, had been struck by a vehicle. If you have any information to aid the investigation call 888-653-0009.
Death Valley National Park is now only accepting credit or debit card payments for camping and park entrance fees. Entrance fees can be paid in advance online at: recreation.gov/sitepass/deathvalley. Also, several popular backcountry park roads, including Titus Canyon and Hunter Mountain, are closed due to storm damage.
With very little rain statewide in Michigan during May, fire conditions remain high across the state.
The BLM’s Wildcat Campground at Hyatt Lake in Oregon will open June 9th. Reservations for the 12 campsites in Wildcat Loop will be available on Recreation.gov starting on Monday, June 5, for $7 per night.
Fruit harvest season is fast approaching in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park. Cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, apples, and pears are available for picking by park visitors each summer harvest. Due to good spring weather and low pest pressure so far, the 2023 fruit outlook is optimistic. The park uses the money collected from fruit sales to defray the cost of maintaining the old Mormon orchards, among the largest in the National Park System. Learn more.
Question: What breed of puppies are these?
Answer below, above staff box (Hint: you will not see these as adults very often).
Starting September 1, 2023, some popular Nevada state parks will require a reservation to visit. Visitors will need to use Reserve Nevada, an online reservation system, for booking of day-use passes, campsites, cabins, annual permits, and special event reservations. The first park to take reservations will be Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas.
In celebration of the start of National Great Outdoors Month, Recreation.gov is launching its third annual “Share Your Story” adventure writing contest. Nature lovers, thrill-seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to share their memorable experiences of exploring the breathtaking beauty of America’s great outdoors. Contestants can contribute up to two unique stories. Prizes vary from REI gift cards to America the Beautiful passes. Learn more and enter.
Despite the surge in travel over the long Memorial Day weekend, AAA says the national average for a gallon of gas didn’t flinch and is still $3.57.
In Wisconsin, the 11th annual Free Fun Weekend is being celebrated right now. State park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes are waived for all Wisconsin residents and non-residents on June 3rd and 4th.
Lightship, the leading brand in all-electric RVs, has secured a lease for a 32,000-square-foot facility in Broomfield, Colorado. This new space will serve as the pilot manufacturing site for their innovative Lightship L1 travel trailer. The L1, equipped with aerodynamic design, solar panels, and battery power, has received substantial demand since its launch in March.
All 55 of Vermont’s State Parks are now open for the season.
Nova Scotia, Canada, Premier Tim Houston has implemented a comprehensive ban on all forest activities including hiking, camping, fishing, use of off-highway vehicles, forestry, hunting, and more as the province battles its largest wildfire ever on record. The fire has engulfed approximately 20,000 hectares (almost 50,000 acres), with flames soaring up to 100m (328 ft.) high. In addition, a separate fire near Halifax, forcing the evacuation of thousands, remains active. The smoke from the wildfires has traveled south leading to air quality warnings in the U.S.
Happy endings: A dog that went missing from its Colorado home managed to survive in the treacherous Rocky Mountains for five weeks before being found by a hiker. The 9-year-old sheltie named Riley was discovered when the hiker, Zach Hackett, heard a faint “yip” in the distance. Hackett wrapped the dog in a windbreaker and carried him for two hours before reaching safety. Zach says, “He had no energy when I found him. He knew he was in trouble. He knew he needed to be rescued so that little ‘yip’ was the only exertion of energy he had that night. It was a, ‘Hey, save me.’” And saved he was!
Annual campfire restrictions will go into effect June 1, 2023, on portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day and White Rivers in Oregon, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.
Saturday Giveaway!
How would you like to win this brake fluid tester pen?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (June 3, 2023) by 7 p.m. Pacific time. Remember, you can only enter once and after we notify you by email via RVcontests@gmail.com that you won, you have 24 hours to respond or we’ll give the prize to someone else.
Click here to enter or see last week’s winner!
Reader poll
How well can you drive a manual transmission vehicle?
HAVE YOU SEEN THESE STOLEN RVs?
Things aren’t going so swimmingly for a Salmon Arm, British Columbia, RV dealer. Braby Motors reports someone drove off their lot with a Forest River Lexington Class C motorhome. No, they didn’t have the keys, but somehow they took off with the rig around 10 p.m. Sunday, May 28. Setting it apart, a sticker that reads “APOLLO” is pasted high up on the rear end of this rig. If you have information to share, contact the RCMP at 250-832-6044.
Can you help locate “Arby” the RV? You know there’s a story attached to this Pleasanton, California, motorhome theft. Enter the Keven and Shanna Lai family—Mom and Dad who serve in the Coast Guard, and their two little ones. Mom and Dad have just been reassigned from the Bay Area to Florida. On Monday their Class C motorhome was parked at the Pleasanton DoubleTree hotel. By morning the rig was gone. While most of their stuff was going across country in a moving van, the most precious possessions, including ultrasound pictures of the kids and heirloom family videos, in addition to items from Dad’s deceased father, were packed in “Arby,” as their young son calls the rig (because when he was younger he couldn’t pronounce “RV”). Know something? Contact the Pleasanton Police Department at 925-931-5100.
Did someone rip off your ride? Let us post information on your stolen RV. Email Russ (at) rvtravel.com.
Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of May 29, 2023:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.57
Change from week before: Up 4 cents; Change from year before: Down $1.05.
Diesel: $3.86
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down $1.68.
For fuel prices for specific states, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain Teaser
Can you find the seagull? Click the image to enlarge.
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter. And please don’t spoil it for other readers by posting the answer in the comments.)
Upcoming RV shows
Click here for a directory of upcoming shows.
Recipe of the Day
Cornbread Salad
by Melanie Miller from Cane Ridge, TN
This cornbread salad is perfect for parties or potlucks. Sweet corn and cornbread are a nice contrast to the tangy, thick ranch dressing. Cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions add a pop of freshness. Bacon and cheese add a savory touch. When the layers are combined, each bite is fantastic. It’s a great side dish for summer.
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Trivia
On July 23, 1964, in Boardman, Ohio, brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel, who owned a restaurant equipment business, established a fast food franchise with a unique concept. They recognized the potential for a fast food chain centered around a dish other than hamburgers. Originally, they had intended to name their restaurants “Big Tex,” but this title was already in use by an Akron establishment. As an alternative, they settled on the name “Arby’s,” derived from the initials of Raffel Brothers, R. B. This acronym is frequently misinterpreted as “Roast Beef,” although it represents the founders’ names.
Laugh of the Week
Today in History
Answer to puppies photo above: They are baby Mexican wolves
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Gail Marsh, Dave Solberg. Contributors: Roger Marble, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Karel Carnohan DVM, Cheri Sicard, Dustin Simpson, Dale Wade and Paul Lacitinola. Moderator: Gary Gilmore. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Artificial (AI) contributors: Johnny Robot and Milly MacWilly. Canine Mascots: Archie and Astor “the Disaster”
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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My wife is going to absolutely love the Laugh, and, yes, we have a daughter!
Sounds like she got more than she asked for.
In the 80’s we had acquaintances who were involved with the Wild Canid Research and Survival Center in St. Louis. They “housed” several Mexican Red Wolves in enclosures of many acres in forested areas above the Mississippi and I was lucky enough to be able to see them. While they weren’t tame, they weren’t totally wild either but they were magnificent!
I continue to think the guy that helped the baby bison out of the river is getting a bad deal. Sure, we aren’t supposed to mess with wildlife, but I do believe that it WAS an act of compassion to try to help. “There was nothing in the report that revealed Mr. Walters acted maliciously”. At least they were nice enough to admit that. How hard must it be to see something this happening to a ‘youngster’ and just let them drown?
I agree Tommy. Seems this judge was trying to make an example of his actions. Who among us hasn’t picked up a baby bird fallen from a nest? The report does mention the calf was on roadways and probably had no fear or people or vehicles – before or after the save by a human? Anyone’s guess. Also, the staff could have found a home for the calf at a sanctuary – where, sick or swim, nature would take its due course.
Hi, Tommy and D & J. Here’s a link to an article about this that I ran across last night. It explains the situation in more detail. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/us/yellowstone-park-bison-calf.html Y’all have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
👍👍
👎👎👎change the thumbs up. The link wants me to sign up to the nytimes for access to the Times report
Sorry, Bill. It’s not asking me to sign up, so I didn’t know it was going to do that. Shoot! When I hover the cursor over the link, it shows the signup page in the preview image. But when I click on the link it goes right to the article. Let me see if I can figure out a way to get in there without signing up.🤔 –Diane
I can’t figure out why I can go straight to the article without being asked to subscribe. Here’s the share link from the page itself. Maybe it’ll work: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/us/yellowstone-park-bison-calf.html?smid=url-share No guarantees, however. But it was the most thorough writeup I found about this incident. 😀 –Diane
Still wants me to create an accout with the NY Times. Ill try and find it elsewhere (?)
On the road, still! ..Billie Nelson
Shoot. Sorry, Billie. That’s weird that in the preview when I hover the cursor over the link it shows the signup page, but when I click on it it goes right to the article. I’ve certainly not subscribed to it. (And I think you’re on the road more than Willie is, these days.👍) Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
I agree. On top of that the Park Service was too lazy to contact one of the dozens of Bison Farms all over the nation that would have taken it in. Most of those places don’t use them for their meat, but put them out to range.
Agreed. There were errors on both sides, the government who could have put the animal up for adoption in a zoo rather than destroying it and the man who resulted in the destruction of the animal by interacting with it.
Worked halted at Lackawanna State park to build a 20 hookup full service campsites. Two weeks ago due to the contractor filling for bankruptcy. Price of the campsite construction was 1million dollars.
Great story on the found dog by Zach Hackett. Being in the right spot at the right time.
The information about all military vets with DD-214 is incorrect, this should be corrected in your article as soon as possible.
The update will be in tomorrow’s RV Travel Newsletter. Thanks, Steven. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Also, Florida has “no license required” fishing. This weekend is salt water and next weekend is fresh water. Enjoy and take a kid fishing!