Members RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, January 21, 2024

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January 21, 2024
Issue 1140
Members edition

CHECK OUT ALL OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS. WOW!

 Cover story 

We hit a grand slam!

By Chuck Woodbury
FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER

Please excuse me for tooting this website’s horn, but I believe I have good reason. Using baseball terminology, we have hit a grand slam!

At various times this month we have:
(click play button below for drum roll)

• Posted our 20,000th article to this website. We figure that the number of words (if we say, on average, each article is 750 words) would be about the same as in 20 Bibles! (There are 783,137 words in the Bible, by the way.)
• Sometime today, we will pass 100,000 active newsletter subscribers. (Visualize the Rose Bowl with every seat filled—every one occupied by an RVer! That’s us!).

• Yesterday, we set a record for brand-new subscribers in one month — more than 6,000 in a single 30-day period: That’s an average of about 200 a day! We’re not sure what’s increasing our popularity so dramatically, but we’re not complaining, no siree Bob!
• Finally, any day now our readers will have left 250,000 comments to our articles. We surpassed 249,000 last evening and will likely add hundreds more today. (Thank you to our super-staffer Diane McGovern for moderating these and for keeping the conversation civil. That is not easy!) [😊My pleasure. –Diane aka “Big Sister”]

• UPDATE AT 11:10 AM TODAY!
  We hit 100,000 subscribers and we’re moving ahead!

  

  Okay, tooting finished

I would like to say before moving on that we worked our fannies off to achieve these milestones. I have published RVtravel.com for 23 years, and it’s never been more challenging to run a successful online publishing business while remaining honest and ethical. The online world is increasingly swarming with new websites and information sources that are filled with misinformation and other wordcrap (that’s my word) created by artificial intelligence and hack-for-hire content creators. I’m telling you, it’s not easy competing with slimy creatures who care only about money and “to hell with readers.” Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Be careful with Google GPS!

I arrived home in Seattle two days ago after 5 weeks on the road. Gail and I started off with our motorhome south along the Oregon Coast, but ended up leaving it in central California for some repairs, then driving home in our car, staying in motels because of closed, icy highways. I was reminded to not trust Google Maps. At one point using my iPhone, the app led us on an alternate route off I-5 on a curvy country road that turned into one lane and mud. We turned around easily with our little Honda Fit, but 18-wheeler trucks, motorhomes with dinghies, and countless cars continued on, following their app. I have no idea how that ended, but I can only imagine those big rigs got trapped with nowhere to turn around, and everyone else got stuck, too.

OK. That’s it for today. I have another 10,000 words (maybe 15,000) in my head that want to bust out, but I will need to save them for another time.

Drive safe! Stay warm! Tell your friends about RVtravel.com. And if you like what we do, please consider chipping in by becoming a voluntary subscriber. We work hard for you and would appreciate a little love in return to keep our wheels a-turnin’.

Over and out, my friend.

NO BIG DEAL, WE SAY: The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) boasted in its recent News and Insights Newsletter that in 2023 it had received 5.5 million visitors to its Go RVing website, proving, it said, “that [the website] continues to serve as a premium tool for RV consumers.” We at RVtravel.com should note that those visitors arrived in large part due to a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign. Well, little ol’ RVtravel.com, with its tiny staff, managed to attract more than 20 million visitors in 2023, almost 4 times more than RVIA. Our advertising budget wouldn’t buy a double cheeseburger! Sometimes the little guys win!

Today’s RV review…

2024 Keystone Montana 3623EB—made for electric bikes

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2024 Keystone Montana 3623EB. Someone at Keystone may have been watching me, as one of the biggest challenges I have as an RVer is where to put our eBikes. We have come up with a solution, for now, but Keystone has a much better idea than what we have. This new floor plan is designed specifically to address carting eBikes around. In fact, I have a funny history with eBikes.

Read more

RV Service Centers and Repairs Report

RVer gets fooled with “rotting RV.” “The RV I picked out from the website was not the one I signed the papers for!”

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. This week Nanci Dixon relates your stories about returning an RV for repairs then getting it back with only one repair made and many more issues than before. Also, one RVer’s “disappointing and degrading” experience buying her first RV, and the nightmare of a lifelong RVer trying to resolve an incorrectly installed TPMS issue. Thankfully, there are a couple of rave reviews, as well.

Click here to read

Flat-tow install process, cost, and results for our new 2024 Chevy Blazer

By Nanci Dixon
As I reported a couple of weeks ago, we finally bought a new flat-tow car! A red-hot 2024 Chevy Blazer. I was surprised how well our towing experiment and flat-tow install went—I must have euphoric memory about past tow installs, though, because I wasn’t exactly prepared for the cost. Continue reading.

Ways to make your RV sewer hose last longer

By Gail Marsh
“Newbie” RVers recently complained about having to replace their sewer hose. Again! It seems they’ve had three different hoses in the last year alone! Yipes! We talked together about some tips to help an RV sewer hose last longer. Here are the highlights…

RVer asks: Do we have to recertify motorhome LP tanks?

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
“RVer run over at Tractor Supply!” OK, not literally. But an RVtravel.com reader had her day ruined by overzealous gas-passers at a Tractor Supply outlet in Fort Myers, Florida. Linda W. rolled into the lot with her 2007 Class C motorhome, in need of LP. The outfit’s propane guy told Linda the motorhome’s tank was too old and needed to be recertified. While he did fill the tank anyway, it still left Linda in the lurch. Worried about her tank, she hasn’t been able to find anyone to recertify her motorhome LP tank. Continue reading.

Publisher’s Roadside Journal

Forget winning a lottery in central California. There’s another way

By Chuck Woodbury
Driving California Highway 99 through the Golden State’s Central Valley, you get the feeling after a few dozen miles that the ticket to riches in these parts is no longer winning the lottery but hiring a lawyer and suing someone who done you wrong.

See what Chuck is talking about

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• How NOT to pack an RV
• Getting sick, or worse, while RVing: Steps and precautions to take
• Tips for optimizing and organizing your RV refrigerator
• How I learned to navigate the language of RV maintenance and DIY repair
• Easy way to check trailer brake light connections

NOT RECEIVING OUR DAILY TIPS NEWSLETTER YET? You’ll love it! It’s filled with RV tips and tricks, RV maintenance advice, cool gadgets, trivia, a poll question, a joke, websites we love, recipes, and much more. Read the latest issues here then sign up here. Easy unsubscribe if you don’t like it (but we know that won’t happen).

Incredible RV transformation: From old, dated rig to a French cottage on wheels

We saw this post from Tilly Dixon on the RV Interior Decorating: Ideas and Renovations Facebook page and couldn’t believe this transformational RV renovation was the same RV! Wow! Tilly wrote, “We have been having a blast transforming campers into cozy, tiny houses! With this one, we were going with a cozy French cottage-inspired design. This one is a 35′ Bunkhouse that got an exterior paint job, too!” Scroll through these pictures. We bet you’ll want to redesign your RV, too!

When buying an RV for later delivery, when do your payments begin?

When buying an RV for later delivery, when do your payments begin? That’s the question Josh the RV Nerd (Josh Winters of Bish’s RV) answers in this informative video. Do they start right away, or months later when you take delivery? … Josh covers a lot in this video.

Waffle House Chronicles: A road-tested respite for RVers, and FEMA’s unlikely storm indicator

By Gail Marsh
I don’t know about you, but when we’re traveling in our RV we keep a sharp eye out for eleven distinctive yellow letters. These letters spell “Waffle House,” an RVer’s respite. Serving breakfasts, lunch, and dinners, happy patrons would say that Waffle House spells YUM! … Read all about the Waffle House and what it has to do with FEMA here. [Very interesting!]

Reader Poll (and article)

The RV laundry conundrum: Do you/would you remove unattended clothes from washer/dryer?

Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment.

Read the article from Gail Marsh then tell us here

And the Survey Says…

Survey reveals men more likely than women to skip hand washing after bathroom use

In the world of RV travel, where restrooms are sometimes trees and shrubs and hygiene is a judgment call, our RV readers have spilled the beans (hopefully not the soap) on their bathroom habits. In a recent survey that dives deep into the soap opera of sanitation, we asked the burning question: “Do you wash your hands after EVERY time you use the bathroom?” The results? Let’s just say, cleanliness might be next to godliness, but in the RV universe, it’s also next to a lake, a tree, or the occasional fence post.

Click here to read

RVing Mistakes

Readers’ RVing Mistakes: “My neighbor reported a waterfall coming out my entrance door”

In this column, we are sharing some of the not-so-brilliant things we, the RVtravel.com staff, and you, our readers, have done while RVing. This week Nanci Dixon shares your stories, including a longtime RVer’s recollection of his family’s first, and very memorable, camping trip 40 years ago. Another RVer tells us how to quickly wipe out a shore power upgrade. And there’s another horror story about what can happen when you get distracted when emptying your RV’s black tank. (Oh, my!)

Click here to read

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:

• Why is there good water pressure in RV bathroom but only a dribble in the kitchen?
• Electrician added 50-amp receptacle in garage. Why don’t RV outlets work?
• Sewer smell in RV and vacuum question update, comments, and a possible solution
• RV’s slide room controller shows error code of 1-8. Where should I start looking?
• Bubbles and loose areas on new RV’s roof membrane, but Grand Design wants to just pull it tight

Click here to see more questions for Dave.

Dave is giving several seminars every day at the Nashville RV Show, which ends today. Stop by to say “Hi” and learn lots. [BTW, he’s not only very knowledgeable, he’s also very entertaining.]

Have a question for Dave? Click any Ask Dave article and scroll down to fill out the form. 

In the RV Shop with Dustin

Keep these RV water heater maintenance tools on hand

By Dustin Simpson
The task of replacing an RV water heater element may seem difficult, but most RV owners can make this repair themselves. Having the right RV water heater maintenance tools on hand will not only help save time but also save money on repair costs.

Read how and watch the video

DON’T MISS ANY RV REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE ARTICLES! Every Tuesday we issue a free weekly email digest of all our articles from the past week on the subject. Sign up here for RV Repair and Maintenance Tips (and check out all our other reports and newsletters).

RV Gadgets and Gizmos

No gadget reviews this weekend, but make sure you read Thursday’s brand-new edition of our Great RV Accessories newsletter. You’ll surely get your gadget fix there! Not subscribed to it? Sign up to receive it in your inbox every other Thursday.

Travel Destinations

A sweet roadside stop for RVers will take you back to your lunchbox days

By Gail Marsh
Roadside attractions. Curiosity shops. Tourist traps. Whatever you call them, these unique places can end up being everything from quirky to interesting to downright enlightening. As you RV around the country, it’s always a good idea to stop frequently to stretch your legs, and this quick RV stop at Little Debbie^® Park is one you shouldn’t miss!

Click here to read

Ghost Town Trails

Bickel Camp: Explore this treasure trove of relics

By Dave Helgeson
Bickel Camp is the featured ghosted place in this month’s installment of Ghost Town Trails. This mining camp is for RVing desert rats snowbirding in the Mojave Desert, looking for somewhere to explore.

Click here to learn about this very interesting “museum”

RVing With Dogs

What is the best dog fence for RVing?

By Gail Marsh
You want your entire family to go RVing with you! I understand. What if one important part of your family is a dog? What kind of dog fence for RVing is best? … Some RVers choose to simply tether their pup outside the RV. For non-reactive dogs, this may work—until it doesn’t. While the tether keeps your dog in check, it does nothing to protect your pup from other dogs or wild predators who choose to attack.

Click here to learn all about dog fences

Video of the day

RV Fun: Put up a trail cam and prepare to be amazed

By Cheri Sicard
The video below from RV Lifestyle has a fun proposition. Put up a trail cam when camping or boondocking. Have you ever wondered what happens around your campsite in the national forest or when out in the wilderness? Especially during those times when your dogs start barking for no apparent reason? A trail cam can show you.

Click here to learn more and watch the trail cam

RV Tire Safety

Tire inflation pressure, not the sidewall, supports the load

By Roger Marble
Every few weeks I run across someone on an RV forum that makes the claim that it is the stiff tire sidewall that supports the load. As “proof” of their belief, many times they present a demonstration of pushing on a couple of unmounted tires. One is identified as a “cheap China bomb,” while the other is usually a light truck tire that was made in the USA. In their “test” they show how the “China bomb” tire can be collapsed with minimal effort while the light truck tire does not collapse. This demonstration is supposed to be the “proof” that “China bomb” tires can’t support the heavy load of a big RV, so you should run right out and buy some “12-ply” truck tires. Of course, it just so happens that the person giving the demonstration has some good heavy-duty tires on sale this week.

Continue reading

Did you miss yesterday’s Latest News for RVers?

If so, stories you missed:
• Camping World takeover turned down – Wyoming dealer says “No thanks!”
• Former TV sportscaster ejected from RV on freeway, miraculously survives (video)
• SEC withdraws Natural Asset Companies proposal; big win for RVers
• Rec.gov campground sold out? Get notifications of site openings for free
• “Not-In-My-Backyard” lawsuit filed against proposed Tennessee RV park
• RVer suggests “multi-level” campsite fees and says some RV resorts are “definitely NOT” resorts
… and much more

Read it here | Back issues

Recipe of the Day

Reuben Soup

by Lynn Zak from Pittsburgh, PA

This simple soup recipe combines the classic flavors of a Reuben sandwich into a rich, hearty soup. It’s quick to put together and takes little time to cook, but don’t be fooled. It’s filled with flavor, from the buttery sweet onion to the tangy sauerkraut and rich corned beef. On top, it has a toasted piece of rye bread with melted Swiss cheese that soaks up the broth. This soup is comforting and delicious. If you can’t find cocktail rye bread, cut a regular piece of rye bread into fourths and toast it the same way as the cocktail rye.

Get the recipe here

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“Mr. Finn (Australian Shepherd) is a constant companion in our RV travels. This photo shows him oceanfront in Crescent City, California, on the far northern coast as he takes a break from a long beach walk! Now three years old, he has been with us living the motorhome life since the day we brought him home at 8 weeks! He’s traveled all over the Western U.S. and as far east as Mississippi! He loves his ‘snowbird’ time in Arizona each winter!” —Bill Langton

• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.

Brain Teaser

You do not want me, but if you get me, you do not want to lose me. 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

Popcorn is one of the oldest snack foods, with evidence suggesting that people have been enjoying it for thousands of years. Popcorn kernels found in archaeological digs in Peru are believed to be more than 5,000 years old.

Sunday funny

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?

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

A lawsuit.

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.

RVtravel.com is a participant in many affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of the potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.

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Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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