Members RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, March 24, 2024

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March 24, 2024
Issue 1149
Members edition

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 Cover story 

Embracing the childlike joy of RVing and rediscovering life’s simple wonders

By Nanci Dixon

M

ore people than ever are looking at ways to rediscover that childlike wonder and awe they once had. We as RVers have the upper hand in getting there. We get to be in nature and discover, travel to, and uncover amazing places all the time.

Do you remember the first time you thought about RVing? It might have been when you were trying to sleep on that ultra-thin mattress over a rock in a tent. Or, it might have been when you saw an RV roll down the highway. Or perhaps when everything shut down in Covid, RVing looked like a way to salvage canceled vacations or was just a way to travel out of the house safely. Just stepping into your new or a new-to-you RV can be a moment of breathless joy.

The first time I saw a 1967 Winnebago at a car show in South Dakota, I held my breath and realized that was my dream sitting right in front of me. Oh my! It had a sink, an ice box, a stove, a bed and, wonders of all… a bathroom! It would be many, many years before we actually had a vehicle that could be legitimately called an RV. However, that feeling of enchantment remains in my memory.

For whatever reason, sometimes that childlike joy and awe in RVing can dim, particularly with high gas prices, crowded campgrounds and service hiccups. How do we rediscover that awe? As RVers, we have a leg up, a starting point closer to that moment, that sense of childlike wonder.

So, how do you do it? How can you get that childlike moment of awe, wonder, and joy again?

Continue reading

A special note from publisher Chuck Woodbury…

Reader asks for clarification on subscription donations

It’s no secret that we rely on voluntary contributions from our readers to help balance our budget. But we also rely on advertising (and more of it lately as other sources of revenue have dried up). A reader wants to know if it would be feasible for RVtravel.com to succeed with only donations? Chuck explains.

Click to read

Yesterday’s Top News for RVers
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

These all have received lots of interesting comments!

• The hollow promise behind RV “Quality Assurance” badges: Nothing but a “tax stamp” 
• If government shuts down, so do most national parks, other areas
• Fights get bigger in congress as debate over truck speed limiters intensifies
• New U.S. Navy policy will allow personnel to live in RVs
• Suit filed to stop the National Park Service from going cashless
• Human waste and litter force closure of popular boondocking site on Calif. Route 1

Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.

Today’s RV review…

2024 Coachmen Catalina Summit Series 8 231MKS—An affordable gathering space

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is a relatively affordable yet nicely packaged travel trailer in the Coachmen Catalina Summit Series 8. The 231MKS is one of those trailers that’s kind of not too big and not too small, by my definition, but that offers a lot of usability. Further, this is a trailer that is aimed at the more affordable side of the market and it may be just the right fit for some couples for that reason.

Click to read Tony’s thorough review

RV Service Centers and Repairs Report

Reader claims an article is just “alarmist BS.” But is it?

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 more service claims denied, another warranty which ran out while the service department was awaiting parts to repair the RV, more claims denied by the manufacturer, an RVer who took matters into his own hands and has learned to make his own repairs when the service department supposedly repaired something but didn’t, and many similar stories, including a post from a reader who claims an article is “alarmist BS.” Plus, more rave reviews for good service centers.

Click here to read all of those and more

UPDATED WEEKLY: A list of RV dealers, service centers, and mobile techs as recommended by our readers. Click here.

What you’ve been told about your RV’s anode rod is wrong

By Andrew Herrick, The RV Engineer
Uncover the truth about RV water heaters: The myth that aluminum tanks don’t need anode rods is debunked! Both steel and aluminum tanks require protection against corrosion. Learn about the vital role of sacrificial anode rods and the differences between magnesium and aluminum/zinc options. Explore how Dometic and Suburban address corrosion, ensuring your water heater’s longevity. Don’t let misinformation corrode your adventures; discover the facts to keep your water heater running smoothly. Click here to read.

How squatters could move into your RV or onto your land

By Gail Marsh
Dive into the potential risks of leaving your RV unattended as law enforcement struggles to combat this emerging issue. Explore the vulnerabilities of RV locks and the unexpected challenges faced by property owners like Tommy Kramer, embroiled in a months-long battle to reclaim their land from determined RV squatters. Could squatters live in your RV? Could they stay on your land? Find out here.

Send us your best RVing tip or trick and you could win $50!

With Keith Ward, the RVtravel.com YouTube host
Share your ultimate RV tips and tricks for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card every month! Join the community-driven excitement as we transform the RVtravel.com YouTube channel into a hub of invaluable advice and shared experiences. Learn how to craft standout videos and unleash your creativity while making a meaningful contribution to our growing RV community. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

RV Fact or Fiction?

Weight-distributing hitches improve mileage

By Dave Helgeson
RV blogs, social media groups and You Tube videos have exploded over the past couple of years. Some provide great information, others questionable information and some downright bad information. Can you tell the difference?

Fact or Fiction? Weight-distributing hitches improve mileage.

Take a guess, see what others think, then view the answer

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• 13 tips about work camping that will point you to success
• How I plan, pack, and book for six months on the road
• Using painter’s tape while RVing in brilliant ways you’ve never thought of
• ABCs of full-time RV living
• Tips for dealing with unresponsive RV shops

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).

Spring cleaning time for fresh water tanks

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Learn the unmistakable signs indicating your RV’s fresh water system needs disinfection urgently. This spring, follow a straightforward process to sanitize your water system effectively. Don’t compromise on water quality during your travels—take action now to ensure safe and refreshing water for your next adventure. Here’s what to do.

Hearing help for the hearing impaired on travel days

By Gail Marsh
Take a look at the challenges faced by RV travelers with hearing impairments and discover practical solutions for smoother communication on the road. From navigating sixty-foot rigs to overcoming the obstacles posed by amplified road noises through hearing aids, explore strategies to enhance communication between drivers and navigators. Learn about innovative devices like the Pocketalker and specialized settings for hearing aids tailored for travel situations. Don’t let hearing impairments hinder your adventures!

READERS LOVE US! Reader Kip K. writes, “When I read Chuck’s recent editorial on how Google is changing its formula to cut out the small online businesses who need people to know about them I cringed. Artificial Intelligence is changing the rules of everything and I hate it. You guys at RVtravel.com do an incredible job of covering the industry. Your writing is thorough, informative, friendly, valuable, well-written, and researched, and so much fun to read. I do not want to see anything change at RVtravel.com, especially since you pay your writers! My husband and I now do small, but regular, monthly donations, and I just contributed another $25 to you as a result of Chuck’s sobering article. Please keep up the good work, and keep up the good fight. You have been an Encyclopedia Britannica for us in our four-year journey into RVing!” (From Chuck: Thanks, Kip! Your letter made my day!)

Readers’ RVing Mistakes

Setting up camp at night in the dark? You don’t know what you might wake up to…

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’s installment from Nanci Dixon sharing your stories includes a lesson learned regarding designated “parkers” at RV rallies, a reminder to not get distracted and accidentally leave the water pump running, a humorous lesson learned by then-newbie RVer Nanci Dixon, another sewer hose mess, why you should be nice to your electrical outlets, and several lessons learned from one momentous Memorial Day weekend camping trip.

Click here to read

Reader Poll

Do you turn off the water supply when away from your RV? (And should you?)

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

Tell us here

POPULAR POLL FROM THIS PAST WEEK
We asked: Will you travel in your RV to view the upcoming eclipse? See how more than 1,300 other RVers answered, and who will see the eclipse from their RV!

Outstanding but affordable RV parks

In this column, we’re sharing information taken from our Facebook group Outstanding but affordable RV parks. Also, from time to time, we’ll include our staff’s favorite affordable campgrounds. We hope to provide real options for folks looking to RV in reasonably priced, well-kept RV parks all across the country.

Click here to see this week’s picks for outstanding but affordable RV parks.

Travel Destinations

Fantastic RVing at New Mexico’s historic Pancho Villa State Park

By Cheri Sicard
Nestled in the tiny village of Columbus, New Mexico, near the U.S.–Mexico border, Pancho Villa State Park offers RVers affordable camping spots overlooking breathtaking desert scenery with a hefty side helping of U.S. history. For such a tiny village, Columbus boasts two important historical claims to fame: … Read all about this interesting region, including those historical claims to fame.

Small Midwest museums, part two, as recommended by our readers

By Gail Marsh
A while back I wrote about three small Midwest museums. I asked our readers to add to my list and you certainly did not disappoint. Here is the second installment of small Midwest museums, as recommended by RVtravel.com readers.

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:

• I have several questions about storing my motorhome in Florida
• I installed a new water pump and it’s still loud. Now what?
• We want to replace RV flooring. How do we protect it from slide room damage?
• Hot sun bakes refrigerator in slide room. How can we cool it down?
• My batteries don’t charge when connected to shoreline power. How can I test my converter?

Click here to see more questions for Dave.

LAST DAY to catch Dave at his educational and entertaining seminars at the New Hampshire RV Show in Bedford, NH. He’d love to meet you! Tell him RV Travel sent you.😀

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).

In the RV Shop with Dustin

Cool Tools: Making cord hangers from an inner tube

By Dustin Simpson
Dave Solberg and I used to meet every Wednesday for a livestream we called Talkin’ RV Tech. We’d not only answer technical questions, but we’d also share what we like to call “cool tools.” These are the tools and gadgets that we actually use and ones that we believe would be helpful to you as RVers. Here’s a clip from one of those livestream events where we discussed cord hangers made from inner tubes.

Click here to watch

RV Gadgets and Gizmos

The small but mighty Reese trailer hitch lock

By Cheri Sicard
A while back I was looking for a coupler lock for my travel trailer when a friend, who happened to be in the hitch business, recommended the Reese trailer hitch lock. I have been successfully using it ever since.

Read Cheri’s review

Video of the day

Simple shuttle bus conversion is camping home for family of 4

By Cheri Sicard
In [this video], Patrick Botticelli from New Jersey Outdoors joins Rita for a tour of her amazing shuttle bus conversion. Rita camps in the converted shuttle bus RV with her three daughters and, as you will see in the video, she’s extremely comfortable doing so. … Even though Rita’s home on wheels still looks like a shuttle van from the outside, the inside has been majorly transformed.

Click here to watch

RV Tire Safety

What is the “best” tire for my RV?

By Roger Marble
An RVer asked “What is the ‘best’ tire for my RV?” However, “best” probably means different things to different people. I am going to guess that the author of that question was hoping for an answer that included the tire brand and maybe even the tread pattern. Sorry, but answering the “best tire” question is a bit like answering “What is the best meal or best fountain drink?” There are just too many variables and personal preferences involved. … The one part of the answer I can provide is based on some hard facts about tires.

Read more

Recipe of the Day

Ham and Cheese Sandwich Frittata

by Lindsay Dougherty from Maple Shade, NJ

This easy ham and cheese frittata is great for brunch but hearty enough for a tasty dinner. The eggs and cheese are rich and creamy. Chopped ham adds a savory and slightly salty flavor. Buttered and toasted bread cubes stay slightly crisp and add texture to the dish. You’ll taste the garlic, onion, and dry mustard in every bite. This egg skillet bake calls for deli ham, but leftover baked ham from a holiday meal can easily be substituted.

Get the recipe here

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“Nights started getting cold at the campground in Joseph, OR. Rusty (Boxer) liked being in a blanket burrito. Not sure if he’s a supermodel or if he should ‘phone home.’ 🙂 ” —Kara Kinley

Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! Please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!

Brain Teaser

Can you write down eight eights mathematically so that they add up to one thousand?

(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

Japan boasts one of the most punctual rail systems in the world. With a reputation for precision and efficiency, Japanese trains are famous for their remarkable punctuality, with delays of just a few seconds considered significant.

Sunday funny

Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000

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, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Dustin Simpson, Dale Wade, and Tony Barthel. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Director of Video: Keith Ward. Social Media staff: Gary Pratt. 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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