Members RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, April 14, 2024

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April 14, 2024
Issue 1152
Members edition

 Cover story 

Lessons from the Father of Advertising
… What he taught me

By Chuck Woodbury
FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER
Irecently finished the book The Man Who Sold America, about Albert D. Lasker, who is considered the father of advertising. He entered the advertising business in its infancy before radio caught on, and left four decades later, after World War II. He was responsible for some of the most famous ad campaigns in history, many of which are ongoing. He was brilliant, a visionary.
Toward the end of his career, he began questioning the importance of his work. Was he helping improve the world or just growing old, living on auto-pilot?

“When my associates and I conceived and financed the first advertising of tires, when I was of that group who first advertised automobiles; when with associates I defined advertising so that it became a force of social good to introduce to the people new and better ways of life, I could work inspired, because I was fulfilling myself. But now the social frontiers that advertising could open have been crossed, and advertising is merely an instrument of competitive expression. As such it becomes only a money-making device, and … there is nothing left in advertising itself which is inspiring to me.”

He said he was tired. “I go to bed tired and I wake up more tired than when I went to sleep,” he explained. He was bored, too. He explained that for many years changes in the industry had made the job less fun for him, and the strange new world of advertising — now dominated by marketing vice presidents and account reps — no longer played to his strengths.

Wow!

Reading his words jarred me. I put down the book and took a walk. I needed to think. I have been experiencing the same feelings as Lasker. My world — writing, publishing and RVing — are far more complex and complicated today than when I set out on my first RV trip as a “roving reporter” more than four decades ago.

Thinking about Lasker, I recalled when I first published RVtravel.com, how wonderful it was that a “little guy” like me could create a website that looked almost as professional as one from, say, Time Magazine with all its money. Building my audience back then was easy and cheap (I started with $30). Today you’d better have at least a million dollars (and plenty of luck) to build a big audience and then succeed. When I was getting started with RVtravel.com I identified with the first gold miners to the California Gold Rush, when gold nuggets still lay in plain sight along the riverbeds. Easy pickin’s.

It’s different now. Like Lasker and his world, the world I inhabit today professionally has changed. I’m not retiring yet (although I have already cut way back as my daughter takes over), because the challenges ahead fascinate me and I want to be involved. But, still, I am very much concerned whether where I am headed with RVtravel.com will become less about creative expression and helping others and more about surviving, doing whatever it takes, ethics be damned.

* * *
P.S. Have you watched the videos that appear near the top of most of our pages or in the sidebar on desktop? We are busy creating them. They are mostly short tips or mini-features (about 35 seconds long) about RVing. If you are interested in making some for us for modest pay, let me know. They are fun to make and pretty easy, too. (chuck at rvtravel.com).

RV lot rot! Huh?
Don’t miss Dave Helgeson’s article (see below) about RV “lot rot.” What is lot rot? You’ll be surprised (but then realize it makes sense).

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

• Grand Design’s motorhome debut: marvel or misfire? Anticipation turns to skepticism
• Woman riding in Airstream falls out, dies from fall
• Make money filming campgrounds
• Texans sue SpaceX in land dispute over Boca Chica State Park
• Campground Crowding: Local parks feeling more like “housing” areas than RV parks; plus, RVing long-term is just “not financially feasible now”

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

Today’s RV review…

Pleasure-Way Plateau XLTS – Ya’ get what ya’ pay for

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the Pleasure-Way Plateau XLTS motorhome. This is a new offering from a company that really has built a reputation for itself, but in the Class B (van) market. This new offering is a bit bigger and is a B+ designation. Before we really dive into this, I want to share with you that this is a “ya’ get what ya’ pay for” RV in so many ways. It’s not cheap—starting at $217,750—but I feel it’s well worth it.

Read more

RV Service Centers and Repairs Report

Some RVers call this RV dealer the “world’s biggest crook”; others disagree

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. This week, Nanci Dixon shares more of our readers’ experiences with this RV mega-dealer, both good and not so good; and reports about service centers not completing the required work or not even knowing what to do. Also, happily, there are several service centers and manufacturers who received high praise. Yay!

Click here to read

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

Around the Campfire

How to make friends while RVing, especially if you’re traveling solo

By Gail Marsh
Dawn recently approached me as I folded clothes in the campground laundry room. Dawn is a lot like me—an RVing introvert. She’s single, so she doesn’t have an extrovert husband or travel buddy to coax and tease her out of her shell. She asked me, “Do you have some tactics for making friends while RVing?” I could relate and I knew that campfire friends would have some great suggestions. So, I convinced Dawn to join our evening campfire.

Click here to read

What is RV “lot rot” and why it could be your golden ticket to huge savings

By Dave Helgeson
Lot rot: A term used to describe a new vehicle that has sat on a dealer’s lot for an extended period and is beginning to show signs of aging. … All dealers have seen it at some point. An RV is in near-perfect condition when it’s delivered to the dealer’s sales lot from the manufacturer. But slowly, the sun, rain, dust, and debris take a toll. … Learn how you might use lot rot to your advantage when buying a new RV. Read more.

Is it legal to stay the night in my RV at rest areas?

By Gail Marsh
Karen M.S. recently posed this question to RVers on a Facebook group: “Is it legal to stay the night in my RV at rest areas?” There are several opinions on this topic, but what’s really allowed? Let’s take a look.

I compared several wind apps. This one is the best and most accurate

By Nanci Dixon
We are riding out the wind in Altus, Arkansas, for three long nights of tornadoes, severe weather, and unrelenting wind. As we were driving in the wind gusts, my husband would ask for continuous, up-to-the-minute wind reports punctuated by questions of where the next campground or RV park was. I started to think I needed a meteorologist degree! Turns out I just needed to try a few wind apps… Continue reading.

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• Tips for surviving lightning while RVing
• 7 tips for keeping a happy marriage while RVing
• Road vibrations cause damage to RV interior. Watch out for these things!
• How to clean your RV’s TV screen and remote control without damaging it
• Get more RV storage space: Look to your corners!

IF YOU’RE NOT SUBSCRIBED TO OUR RV DAILY TIPS NEWSLETTER, YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RVERS!
The newsletter is 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).

Video of horrifying RV crash illustrates important lesson

By Chuck Woodbury
I have struggled for a month now whether to show you this video of a horrific RV crash. But I decided to do it as a way to deliver an important safety message. Warning: Graphic video. 

All aboard! The Orient Express vintage trailer is a sight to behold

By Paul Lacitinola
How can a voyage on The Orient Express inspire someone to create a custom vintage trailer? This 1954 Boles-Aero Montecito was originally purchased new in Burbank, California, where it was manufactured. After several owners, Dave and Billie O’Neel bought the Boles in 2015. Recalling their dream vacation aboard the Orient Express from Venice to Paris, Dave and Billie decided that they wanted to recreate this ambiance in their vintage trailer. Wow! Did they ever!

Bobcat Creek RV park is what a small, family-run RV park should be!

By Nanci Dixon
We couldn’t have been more pleased with our stop at Bobcat Creek RV Park right on the edge of Sayre, Oklahoma. This is what a small, family-run RV park should be! We pulled in needing a site and wanting propane for our 40-foot motorhome towing. Read Nanci’s rave review.

Readers’ RVing Mistakes

Hysterical honeymoon chaos: “I found him in the shower stall looking like a white sudsy caricature of a human!”

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. In this week’s installment, Nanci Dixon shares more of your hard-learned lessons regarding not always trusting GPS, be sure to double-check around your RV before pulling out of the campsite, what can happen if you don’t consult Google Earth before booking a campsite or traveling to a destination, and the importance of making sure you have enough fresh water to complete your shower before you begin.

Click here to read

READERS LOVE US! “I would like to let you know that I enjoy all the newsletters and appreciate the effort all of you are doing. I am a solo RVer and not full-time. I’ve learned so much from all the articles and writers, as I’m sure so many others have, too! I just encourage you all to keep up the good work in helping those of us who need it! Thank you all!” —Judy S.

Reader Poll (and article)

The history of stick matches. Plus, do you use them to light fires?

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: How often do you go out to dinner? See how nearly 1,500 other RVers responded.

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.

Click here for a state-by-state guide to outstanding but affordable RV parks as recommended by our readers, staff and Facebook users.

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 12-volt system quit working, but 120-volt works. What to check?
• I am replacing RV’s absorption fridge with a Dutchaire. Is 120-volt DC or 12-volt AC better?
• There are PEX water lines in my RV. Why do I need a pressure regulator?
• I may purchase a 2007 gas pusher motorhome. Should I worry about it overheating?
• I had to cut a hole in my rig to access slide room motor. Is this normal?

Click here to see more questions for Dave.

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

Gadgets help with hand strength, grip on sewer connections

By Dustin Simpson 
When it comes to RVing, one of the challenges we all face is when it is time to install or remove your sewer connections. Having enough hand grip and strength to twist can become a challenge. Having the leverage required to remove the sewer cap and the dump hose or stinky slinky can be difficult to remove or install at times. We all could use a drain helper, so here are two helpful tools that can make the job a little easier.

Click here to read

RV Gadgets and Gizmos

Keep bugs away from the campsite with the Qremove USB rechargeable portable bug zapper

By Cheri Sicard
In the cold of winter and coolness of spring, it’s easy to forget that insect season is upon us! They are coming! You know it and I know it. But this little gadget, the Great Working Tools portable bug zapper, can be a lifesaver. I know it’s kept me from countless mosquito bites over the last two years. It also prevents those annoying little gnats that buzz around your ears from doing so.

Bye bye, bugs! Check it out

Video of the day

RVs gone WILD spring break edition—Crazy and weird RVs!

By Cheri Sicard
Joe, of RVing with Joe, has made a YouTube franchise out of his videos about crazy RVs, stupid RVs (and RVers), and wild RV fails and disasters. In [this video], we join Joe for his latest in the series, which he is dubbing the “RVs Gone Wild Special Spring Break Edition.” These are some weird and crazy RVs all right!

Check ’em out!

Midwest Travel Destinations

If you’re a history buff, stop at these Midwest living history museums

By Gail Marsh
As an avid history buff, I’ve always been a fan of historical books, museums, and lectures. However, my favorite way to trek back in time is to visit living history museums, and Midwest living history parks are really special.

Have you visited any of these?

RVing with Pets

Sleepypod Dog Harness—Crash tested, safety certified, and escape-proof!

By Cheri Sicard
The only dog harness you will ever need, the Sleepypod dog harness works to keep dogs safely retained while traveling in a vehicle, or safely on a leash in a nearly impossible-to-escape-from harness for walks.

Check it out

RV Tire Safety

Why it’s important to “match mount” dual tires

By Roger Marble
I have previously posted on my blog about the need to “match mount” dual tires on motorhomes and dually pickups. Here is a visual example of what can happen when this advice is not followed.

Read what “match mount” is and why it’s so important

Recipe of the Day

Lemon-Dill Shrimp and Pasta

by Belinda Hughes from Cottage Grove, OR

Light and tangy, this pasta dish has tons of flavor. The shrimp and asparagus absorb the flavor from the garlic they’re sauteed in. Once cooked, they’re tossed with pasta and a sauce filled with lemon and dill. The dill makes this lighter meal refreshing. Quick and easy to make, enjoy this hot or cold. Both are equally delicious.

Get the recipe here

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“At 80 lbs., Strider (Australian Labradoodle) thinks he is a “lap dood.” He has decided that he likes to have a pillow and blanket when he naps. Friendly as can be, but more so, smart as a whip! His eyes are intriguing, with the colour of an amber moon.” —Christine Bagatin 

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

Brain Teaser

How many squares are there?

(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

In the U.S., eBooks make up around 21% of total book sales.

Sunday funny

Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

40. Here is a demonstration explaining the answer.

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. 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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Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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