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November 5, 2023
Issue 1129
Members edition
Cover story
Lake Havasu City and the (real) London Bridge, Arizona’s second largest tourist attraction
By Chuck Woodbury
L
ake Havasu City, Ariz., is home to one of the most unusual tourist attractions in America — the London Bridge. Yes, the real London Bridge, the one that was falling down in London and by the mid-1960s needed to be replaced. The bridge was once a huge tourist attraction. But the last few times I have visited, its “English Village” was like a ghost town.
Robert McCulloch, who made chainsaws, bought the bridge in 1968 for $2.46 million and had it shipped to what is now Lake Havasu City—then a dusty outpost along man-made Lake Havasu. After buying 3,353 acres of land along the lake in 1958 for a master retirement community, the government tossed in another 13,000 acres for free if McCulloch would agree to develop it. So he bought the bridge as a promotional gimmick, shipped it over brick by brick from London, then reassembled it over the desert next to his new city. When it was done, he dug a canal beneath it so the bridge could actually cross some water.
Then he hired Disneyland designer C. V. Wood, Jr., to build a one-acre English village next to the bridge. McCulloch flew potential residents into the town in private airliners, wined and dined them and then sold them property. Seven years after the bridge was erected, the town’s population had swelled from mostly lizards and snakes to 8,000 people. For a while, it buzzed with tourists.
Today, the village houses restaurants, a couple of clothing stores, a coffee shop, a few gift shops, and the Lake Havasu City Visitor Center.
I talked to some folks in the Visitor Center there, which is a good place, actually — interesting historical exhibits and a free movie about the bridge, and a gift shop where you can buy T-shirts, coffee mugs and, if you wish, a tiny chunk of the bridge for a dollar. Well, you used to be able to buy a piece, anyway, and it used to be a dollar…
OH, THE BRIDGE HAS DONE ITS JOB. More than 58,000 people now live in Lake Havasu City and it’s still growing. The family of the late Robert McCulloch must be filthy rich: all that free land the government gave McCulloch that he then sold must have provided him and his heirs a pretty penny. I know a thousand rural small towns across America that would do anything for a tourist attraction like the London Bridge. Tourists bring in badly needed dollars to any community that can attract them. Most small towns are too poor to do much except maybe get everybody in town to clean out their basements and attics for a Pioneer Museum. Yawn! So what’s wrong with Lake Havasu City with its incredibly cool bridge? The bridge is still billed as the number two tourist attraction in Arizona next to the Grand Canyon. I don’t believe it.
Beginning Tuesday, we will report the news daily
We have discontinued the weekly news briefs feature of this newsletter in favor of a concise email recap of the very latest news about RVing every weekday afternoon. We’ll begin the weekday emails on Tuesday. Sign up to receive these timely emails here. (You can easily unsubscribe if you wish.)
Today’s RV review…
RV review: Forest River Surveyor Legend 202RBLE—upgraded
By Tony Barthel
Towable RVs seem to be getting heavier and heavier such that a smaller towable that was easily handled by a half-ton truck a few years ago might now require more truck. So I was surprised to see the numbers on the 2024 Forest River Surveyor Legend 202RBLE. While it’s still no featherweight and I might still advocate a 3/4-ton truck to tug this around, it packs a lot into the weight it does carry. … Overall a nice design with good features plus a rather substantial amount of cargo capacity in a trailer that might make a lot of sense for a lot of buyers.
RV Service Centers and Repairs Report
RVs arriving at dealership with so many defects that it takes 30+ days to fix to sell
In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. This week Nanci Dixon shares more of your emails and comments including ongoing complaints about the “quality” of new RVs, a warning about checking out the mechanics before taking your RV to a shop, a suggestion to go directly to the factory for needed repairs, and more praise for mobile techs.
We want to know…
If you could talk to an RV designer, what suggestions would you make?
By Gail Marsh
I’ve often wondered about RV designers and some of their decisions. If you could talk to an RV designer, what suggestions would you make? My husband and I recently toured several 2024 RVs and while I liked the brighter wood stains and paint colors, there were other things that just didn’t make good sense to me. Read on and see if you agree. Then please leave a comment with your suggestions.
RV lithium battery upgrades for beginners
By Cheri Sicard
What follows is my recent experience doing a lithium battery upgrade on my RV. Consider it a “lithium battery for newbies” article because that is what I was when I began this process. While I had used lithium batteries in my portable power stations, I had never used them to power my RV. Continue reading.
Your RV’s rubber roof thinner than a dime; damage could cost you $10,000 to fix
By Ross Regis
If you have a rubber roof, then your beloved home-on-wheels is being protected by a flexible plastic sheet that is thinner than a dime. For reference, a dime is 53 mils thick; an RV roof membrane is 27-45 mils. You don’t need to be a math whiz to see that 27 << 53! This membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, or PVC, can be punctured by tree branches, large hail, garage doors, and hard-soled shoes. Your roof sealants can also crumble or peel with age, leaving your seams and cutouts defenseless from water intrusion. … [F]ixing that RV roof soft spot might cost you $10,000. Read this important information.
An easy, affordable way to transform your RV into a cozy home
By Jan Steele
What’s the biggest impact you can make on your RV’s interior? What will make your lackluster RV house into your cozy RV home? RV decor! For me, it’s curtains, bedspreads and rugs. When I bought my one-year-old motorhome eight months ago, I immediately threw out the bedspread and shams. Yuck. The beige design was … I’m looking for a word here … insipid? Continue reading to see how Jan made her RV uniquely, and cozily, her own.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Deep clean your RV before storing it. You’ll be so glad you did
- Tips for removing that musty smell from RV towels
- Backroad or offroad RVing: Don’t get stuck!
- Foam gap filler is a quick fix for cracks and holes in the RV
- Give your RV’s medicine cabinet a makeover with these easy tips
Bucking the trend: Heading north for winter camping—something to consider?
By Gail Marsh
Some are tired of the hassle of trying to find open RV sites. Others have snowmobiles they love to ride. Still other folks love to ski, while many folks simply love winter. Who are these people? They are the cold-loving, hardy outdoor souls in love with snow and cold temperatures. Instead of heading south like thousands of other RVers, they head north for winter camping during the cold months. Continue reading.
Video: What if vehicles had different horns for different things? This guy created just that
By Sandi Sturm
My husband, Wayne, does all the driving, so far, of the motorhome. On more than one occasion over the years he mentioned how he would like to have a special button to push on the horn to blast people into consciousness. Well, he used different words, but you know what I mean. This engineer came up with some great alterations for car horns. Each horn means something different, and they’re actually, dare I say, polite? Watch the video.
The history, popularity, and decline of vehicle hood ornaments
By Gail Marsh
There are two jobs that I used to covet. I really wanted to be the one hired to name the paint colors for vehicles, and I also dreamed of designing vehicle hood ornaments. Now I suppose it’s too late. AI (artificial intelligence) has probably taken over naming the various paint colors and most vehicle manufacturers no longer feature hood ornaments on their cars and trucks. So much for dreams. Yet I wonder whatever happened to these ornaments? Learn about them here.
Reader Poll
If you accidentally dropped your wallet into an outhouse toilet, would you try to retrieve it?
Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment.
POPULAR POLL FROM THIS PAST WEEK
We asked: Do you like candy corn? It’s always a controversial subject, so see how more than 1,500 other RVers answered.
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook”.
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
- My RV’s floor squeaks with no apparent water damage. What can I look for?
- What maintenance does my RV roof air conditioner require?
- I’m told my LP tank needs recertification so can’t be filled, but I’m getting conflicting advice
- How do you determine proper truck towing capacity? Part 1
- How do you determine proper truck towing capacity? Part 2: Just the facts, Ma’am
Click here to see more questions for Dave.
NEW! RVing Mistakes
Readers share their worst RVing mistakes: One RVer scraped his RV’s A/C completely off!
In this new column, we will be sharing some of the not-so-brilliant things we, the RVtravel.com staff, and you, our readers, have done while RVing. We hope that in addition to a chuckle or two, we can learn from others’ RVing mistakes and not make them ourselves! This week, Nanci Dixon shares your stories including having to lasso low-hanging branches to get the RV out of a campsite, a runaway trailer, a word of caution regarding following GPS instructions (or you may end up smelling like a winery!), and more.
In the RV shop with Dustin
Behind the scenes at Dustin’s RV repair shop
By Dustin Simpson
Hey, everyone. We wanted to share a quick behind-the-scenes look with Ashley and the team from our weekly RVtravel.com column “In the RV Shop With Dustin” at our RV repair shop. In this RV Repair Shop Vlog, we’ll be taking you along on this busy day with all of our appointments—plus a few extras!
DID YOU KNOW we have many other newsletters too?
That’s right! We publish at least one newsletter every day, and sometimes two!
- RV Daily Tips: Monday-Friday. Helpful tips, tricks, maintenance and repair advice, RV reviews, and much more.
- Breaking RV News: Coming Tuesday! The latest, breaking news for RVers delivered to your inbox daily.
- Full-Time RVer. For full-time RVers or those thinking about becoming one, this newsletter comes every other Wednesday
- Great RV Accessories. Like gadgets and gizmos? This every-other-Thursday newsletter is for you!
Learn more about each newsletter here.
Travel Destinations
Roadside attractions: “Big Things Small Town” is a big adventure!
By Sandi Sturm
Earlier this year we made a trip to Elkhart, Indiana… Towards the end of our route, we were driving through Illinois on Interstate 70 when we kept seeing signs for the “World’s Largest Rocking Chair.” … What we found was not just a rocking chair, but evidence of a very small town of about 2,700 people making a very big effort to attract people from the freeway a few miles away. Casey, Illinois, is the official home to 12 World’s Largest Attractions, and we had to see them all!
RV Gadgets and Gizmos
Cadie Stubborn Stain Remover laundry stick: Rub on and stains are gone!
By Cheri Sicard
I used to be a big fan of a laundry product made by Spray ‘n Wash called the laundry stick. For whatever reason, they stopped making it. NOOOO! I set out to find a substitute and am happy to say that Cadie’s Stubborn Stain remover laundry stick does the job just as well. Whew! What is so great about a laundry stick stain remover? Find out here.
Reduce size and weight of RV laundry detergent by 95 percent!
By Cheri Sicard
I’m not a mathematician, but this amazing laundry product reduces the weight and volume of space your current RV laundry detergent of choice takes up in your rig by more than 95%! Read about it here.
RVing With Dogs
How to transport and where to store pet fencing with an RV
By Gail Marsh
A recent conversation with fellow RVers centered around ways to transport pet fencing as you enjoy the RV lifestyle. RVers with pets, especially dogs, sometimes prefer to bring some kind of fencing with them to help corral their furry friends and allow them to spend time outside.
Click here to get some great tips
Video of the day
Mini skoolie RV conversion for under $7K, including bus!
By Cheri Sicard
In today’s video, Patrick from New Jersey Outdoor Adventures interviews Rich, who shows us his budget, DIY mini skoolie RV conversion. It’s a great RV, but most surprising is that Rich spent just $7,000 on his DIY RV build, and that includes the price of the bus!
NEW! RVing With Harvest Hosts
Stay in your RV on an alpaca farm: 3 fun Harvest Hosts options
By Cheri Sicard
Unless you are a knitter or crocheter, you might not have thought much about alpacas before. (And if you ARE an RVing knitter or crocheter, you are going to love these RV stops.) Once you visit an alpaca farm, however, you are bound to fall in love with these cute creatures whose fleece makes incredibly soft and warm natural fiber yarn. Adults and kids alike will enjoy a visit to an alpaca farm, where they can have an up-close encounter with these amazing animals. Harvest Hosts offers lots of options to park your RV on alpaca farms.
RV Tire Safety
Check out what hitting a pothole can do to a tire
By Roger Marble
Some people want to claim a tire is “defective” and present the tire for a free replacement because of a bulge in the sidewall. There is no question of there being a sidewall bulge. but my job was to actually look at tires and determine if the tire actually had a defect. … Close inspection can often reveal the evidence that helps the investigator learn the root cause of the tire failure. Learn much more and see the interesting pictures.
Did you miss yesterday’s Latest News for RVers?
If so, stories you missed:
• Gasoline prices drop, even below $2 in some places, says AAA
• BLM pumps in $9M to improve recreation, but another plan could spell trouble
• Camping World’s new same-day delivery: Maybe, maybe not
• Off-roaders appeal BLM decision closing boondocking access roads and trails
• RVer quits camping after 20 years – “too much entitlement.” Plus, the most RV-unfriendly state
… and much more
Recipe of the Day
Cajun Cornbread Dressing
by Victorya Richard from Houma, LA
Smoked Cajun sausage adds smoky flavor and heartiness to this cornbread dressing. The holy trinity of veggies (onion, bell pepper, and celery) starts most Cajun dishes. They’re a great base of flavor. The seasoning mix has a little kick but pulls the flavors together. If you want a different side dish or a holiday meal, give this cornbread dressing a try.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Bentley and Tucker (West Highland White Terriers) love to go on camping trips whenever we hitch up. Of course, it wears them out greeting everyone in the campground!” —Rick Kiersey
Brain Teaser
I can travel at nearly 100 miles per hour, but never leave the room. You can cover me up, but that doesn’t slow me down. You will not know if I will come only once or again and again and again. What am I?
(Answer below.)
Do you have a brain teaser you think we should use? Send it to us here.
Don’t kill yourself or loved ones out of ignorance
• If you ever feel a shock when touching your RV, take action. Otherwise, you could kill yourself or loved ones.
• If you blow a front tire, do this. The result could be a disaster if you follow your instincts.
Trivia
The U.N.’s World Happiness Report has rated Finland the happiest country in the world for the sixth straight year. Finland responded by saying that happiness is a skill. So, what makes them so very happy and how can we learn to be just as happy as them? Click here and learn how to be happy!
Sunday funny
This video made us cry with laughter! You have to click here to view it though, but it will make your day! Get ready to belly laugh! Once the young man in the orange sweatshirt started we couldn’t last any longer!
Resources
Best Club for RVers: Escapees. Click here to learn more or join. Endorsed by RVtravel.com.
What does financing an RV for 20 years REALLY mean?
In case you missed this article the first time around, here it is again. Important! Click here.
Stuck with a lemon RV? Contact Ron Burdge, America’s premier RV lemon law attorney.
The Best RV Trip Planner Apps and Tools. Everything you need to help plan your trip is here.
Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?
Roadskill
The ongoing adventures of Earl and Burl Squirrel, from the mind of RVtravel.com friend R.L. Crabb.
Brain teaser answer:
A sneeze.
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 and Cheri Sicard. Contributors: Roger Marble, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Dustin Simpson, Dale Wade, Jan Steele and Tony Barthel. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Artificial Intelligence (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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Chuck, as a winter resident of LHC, I have to disagree. There are many events happening at the English Village mostly Fall to May. You must have missed them all. The area will be chuck full of people over the Christmas holiday, even an ice skating rink is to be enjoyed! Check the events calendar sometime.
We love Lake Havasu, and the Islander Resort, where we can park our Motorhome on a waterfront space! It is so fun going to restaurants and the shops at the London Bridge! Our doggie loves it too, as they have a huge dog park right there near the bridge🐶
The tire blow out video is excellent. A must watch, IMO, for anyone who drives anything.
Thanks to everyone for this evenings enjoyable reading!
And “bless you”…. for the brain teaser 🙂
🤧 😅 Have a good night, Bill. 😀 -Diane
Thank you, Emily and Diane!
Why don’t RV dealerships introduce quality-based total cost progressive payments with the manufacturers with graduating payment policies tied to dealer costs for time and material repair warranty work? Varying warranty durations and percentage payment values can be negotiated.
Having purchased seven RVs over the past 30 years, all with one-year warranties that have been dealer responsibilities is unfair to the dealers and the buyers, especially the one year warranties that obligate a buyer to fully exercise all of the warranted items within that year. Buyers should not be the “deferred to” quality inspectors without a financial benefit to be that; dealers should not be the only option.