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April 21, 2024
Issue 1153
Members edition
Note from Chuck to members
The essay below is in today’s free edition of this newsletter as well as below. In it, I announce that I will no longer write opening essays in the free edition. But I will write in this members edition, not every week, but when I have something important to say.
I appreciate very much that you believe enough in RVtravel.com to have chosen to voluntarily subscribe, either once or on an ongoing basis. Our plan is that one day we can build this paid edition big enough that it alone can support us. We’ll likely always need some advertising, but we can cut it way back. If you are ever inclined to contribute again, it would be much appreciated.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter. A lot of people contributed to it, and I am grateful for all their efforts. — CW
Cover story
Signing off, presumably for the last time
By Chuck Woodbury
Ihave written essays most weeks in this space for 23 years. Before writing here, I spent a decade writing essays in my on-the-road newspaper Out West. Before that, I spent more than a decade writing almost daily in my personal journal, which grew to a couple million words before I penned my last entry. That’s where I learned to write.
This will be my last opening essay in this free edition. I will continue to write in our paid edition (supported by our voluntary subscribers), but only when I have something important to say. I will stay involved with this newsletter and the RVtravel.com website, but I’ll be in the background, working on ways to make your reading experience more rewarding.
In the last three decades, I have spent at least 8 years, maybe longer, on the road in an RV, two years as a full-timer. I loved every minute. I have visited every state, most Canadian provinces, and even roamed in camper vans around Iceland and New Zealand. I’ve personally observed RVing in many countries in Asia and Europe — not by traveling there in an RV but by keeping a close eye on the lifestyle when visiting other times. I took my first RV trip as an adult in my 20s and now I am in my mid-70s. Wow! Where did the time go?
I have never lost my love of RVing, but you might not know it from all the whining I have done in this space for last couple of years. I never aspired to being a “broken record” when I began my career, but that’s what has happened. Enough is enough.
My burning interest these days is no longer RVing (although I still love getting away with the RV), but the state of the news media and how easily it can be abused, and how hard it is to differentiate between truth, lies and propaganda. It horrifies me. I am terribly sad to see the traditional media disappear. It has never been perfect, but it has and still is a far more reliable source of information than Facebook, TikTok and cable TV, most of which have a political agenda. Propaganda is running wild. Here is a book you can read for free online, titled “Propaganda,” written in 1928 by Edward Bernays, the “father of public relations.” And if you are interested in keeping up with the state of the newspaper industry I urge you to monitor Editor and Publisher.
I’ll continue to write at times in the paid edition of this newsletter. But I am finished here. It’s been a good run (at least from my perspective). Our future, maybe months away, maybe years, will be with a subscriber–supported edition. That’s true of most other quality news and information websites.
So, after 23 years and another couple million words in thousands of other articles on this website, I am signing off. As you may recall, I have tried this before and failed. I’m 92.3 percent sure I’ll succeed this time.
P.S. We have tweaked our advertising placements to make viewing on mobile devices easier. Please leave a comment if you notice the improvement. We are continuing to work to improve your reading experience.
Yesterday’s Top News for RVers
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- RV market update: Mixed wholesale prices signal uncertainty. Expert offers crucial repair advice
- NASA unveils moon version of RV
- Changes to traffic camera laws. Be careful where you’re headed
- RVer says, “Campgrounds have forgotten their mission as campgrounds… the RVIA has failed campers as a whole”
- Semitruck “can opener” slices open a Class A which sideswiped it – Video
- 4,200 acres of Placitas, NM, lands are now under protection. Can you still RV there?
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
Today’s RV review…
Cherokee Grey Wolf 18RR – updated and still unique-ish
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Cherokee Grey Wolf 18RR. This is a smaller trailer that has a rear patio ramp—which means it does have toy hauler functionality. Does the big patio door and ability to hold cargo outweigh the way the bed has been configured in this trailer? You tell me.
RV Service Centers and Repairs Report
Warranty requires yearly $200 inspection; missing the date voids the warranty
In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. This week, Nanci Dixon relates issues with an extended warranty program, a dealership that wouldn’t perform the repairs in a timely manner, and more suggestions to just do the RV work yourself or with the help of friends. However, and we think this is a first, there are more recommendations for service centers and mobile techs than there are complaints. Woo hoo!
UPDATED WEEKLY: A list of RV dealers, service centers, and mobile techs as recommended by our readers. Click here.
RV tech reveals biggest RVer mistakes
By Nanci Dixon
What are some of the biggest RV mistakes that RVers make? I had the opportunity to ask our mobile tech that question when he had finished working on our RV. Dayton Hill, the owner of Coach Connection LLC in Red Bay, Alabama, has had years of experience both as an employee in every aspect at Tiffin Motorhomes and now with his own business as a mobile tech. These are the things he sees causing the most and biggest problems:…
New RV park owner asks, “What do RVers want?” Help him build the perfect RV park!
Reader Scott left this comment on a recent Crowded Campgrounds post, and we know you can help him out with his new RV park. Scott says: “I have been reading the comments on RV parks. My wife and I just purchased a 52-spot RV park. We are updating all the hookups and remodeling parking spots. I am RVIA and RVDA certified with many years in the repair field. My question is, what is the best way to get campers here and make people want to come back? Hoping for words of wisdom. Thank you for your time.” Leave your advice here.
Boondocking: A comprehensive how-to guide for a great trip
By Nanci Dixon
Every camper needs a boondocking how-to guide. Boondocking is so underrated! Even among ardent campers, boondocking is often viewed as a last resort—an overnight stop when there is nowhere else to stay. Learn all about boondocking in this very thorough guide.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Readers say THIS is the worst kind of road to drive on. We offer tips
- Keep this small, essential item in your RV or run the risk of draining your fresh water tank
- The #1 MOST important thing to do BEFORE starting an RV remodel
- An easy trick that’ll make RV dumping a lot more sanitary
- The best “life hacks” for RVers
First Airstream Clipper, owned by a President, resurfaces
By Paul Lacitinola
It is rare that anyone has the opportunity to find, obtain, and restore the very first example of something as iconic as a riveted aluminum Airstream Clipper. This is the backstory of the first Airstream Clipper ever built. This is a fascinating look at the trailer’s history, from presidential ownership to beautiful restoration.
Rev up your RV adventures: Cruise down memory lane at local car shows
By Gail Marsh
RVers, start your engines! It’s time to add a car show to your RVing itinerary! I’m convinced. While my husband has enjoyed car shows for years, I only recently discovered the joy of attending one. For decades I believed that only guys attended car shows. Not anymore! Once you learn a little about these events, I really believe you will begin to appreciate them—no matter your gender. I hope this article will encourage readers to visit a show during their RV travels.
RVers, if you don’t know what balds are, you should! And no, not tires!
By Gail Marsh
Forget what usually comes to your mind when you hear the word “bald,” like: no hair on top of one’s head; a statement that needs further explanation; missing spot of tread on your RV tires. Yes, all of these certainly relate to the word “bald.” However, none relates to these balds. RVers, if you don’t know what balds are, you should! What is a bald? Find out here.
Reader Poll (and informative article)
Who, or what, will decide when it’s time to hang up the RV keys?
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: How many countries have you visited outside the North American continent? See how more than 1,300 other RVers responded.
DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS AND RSS FEEDS!
- Breaking news for RVers. Every Saturday.
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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. Updated weekly.
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 Dometic roof air conditioner isn’t working. How do I check if the thermostat is dead?
- My frameless window leaks. How do I reseal it?
- RV’s roof air conditioner wires shorted, almost caught on fire! Why didn’t circuit breaker trip?
- One RV theater seat is flaking. Can I fix it or replace just that section?
- Can ceramic coating be applied over decals? And DON’T use Dawn dish soap? Say what?!
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
Make RV diagnostics easy with the Sperry Wire Tracker
By Dustin Simpson
In the past, Dave Solberg and I hosted a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answered technical questions, but we also shared what we like to call “cool tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use and we believe they will be helpful to you. This clip is from one of our videos where we discuss the Sperry Wire Tracker. … This can be a useful tool for RV diagnostics, especially when dealing with electrical issues.
Read more and watch the short video
RV Gadgets and Gizmos
You need a jump starter. Seriously.
By Tony Barthel
You should have a portable jump starter. Seriously. But why, you ask? Many reasons. I have had a portable jump start device that lives in my truck for years. The most obvious reason to have one is to jump start a vehicle with a dead or weak battery. But it can serve a lot of other purposes as well. Continue reading.
Video of the day
Free South Carolina National Forest camping
By Cheri Sicard
In [this video] we join Lou and Melody from Living Our Dream Now (one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards) for a visit to a terrific free South Carolina camping spot, the Honey Hill Recreation Area in the Francis Marion National Forest.
Continue reading and enjoy the campground tour
Travel Destinations
Visiting the Donkey History Museum is something to bray about!
By Bob Mims
I don’t know about you, but my spouse has occasionally warned me, “Don’t make an ass of yourself.” Now, visiting Mesquite, Nevada—and its quartet of casinos tempting Arizona, Utah and Nevada I-15 travelers to detour for a bit of gambling—might pay off or deplete that RVing gas and groceries budget. Hence the risk, amigos. Dreams of fortune versus, in my case, the wrath of my wife, she of Norwegian ancestry and the dormant genes of the Valkyrie: DNA and ancestry best left to rest in Valhalla—trust me.
RV Tire Safety
Do you want better quality tires? Here’s how you can help achieve this goal
By Roger Marble
If you want better quality tires on your RV, then there are a few things we as owners need to do. All tires sold in the U.S. and Canada must, by law, be certified by the tire manufacturer or importer to meet the published DOT standards. If tires do not meet the standards, the DOT can and has in the past ordered recalls and FREE replacement of all non-complying tires.
RVing with Pets
Sherpa Pet Tube tunnel travel kennel keeps dogs or cats safe during travel
By Cheri Sicard
This ingenious collapsible travel kennel works equally well for dogs or cats. It installs in the back seat of your vehicle, giving your pets the entire length of the seat to move about while keeping them safely contained. Read more about this (p)awesome product.
How well do you know your cat? Is he a drinker?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
How well do you know your cat? Yeah, you may know that Fluffy is feisty and tears up the carpet if left alone too long, but do you know how many toes Fluffy has for sheathing those damaging claws? Nearly all cat owners (92%) believe they’re knowledgeable about cats, as revealed in a recent poll of 2,000 American cat owners. Still, most don’t know basic facts about their feline—or its health needs. Learn all about cats here, especially if you have a cat who owns you. (Kidding. Sorta.)
Recipe of the Day
Lasagna With Zucchini
by Terri Opgenorth from Lake Mills, WI
Substituting zucchini strips for pasta is a delicious low-carb option for lasagna. It’s so robust and delicious you don’t even miss the noodles. This easy lasagna recipe is hearty and cheesy with just a hint of spice thanks to the red pepper flakes. Even if you’re not low carb, give this recipe a try. It’s super tasty.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“We adopted Melton (Jack Russell Terrier mix) through a local rescue group a year-and-a-half ago. He loves traveling and sitting beside me at the dinette, especially when we’re playing cards. Here he is checking the score!!” —Renee Galligher
Help! We’re running low on photos! Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in this Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! Please do not submit your photo more than once. Thank you!
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
Brain Teaser
It’s in the church, but not in the steeple. It’s in the parson, but not in the people. It’s in the oyster, but not in the shell. It’s in the clapper, but not in the bell. What is it?
(Answer below.)
Do you have a brain teaser you think we should use? Send it to us here.
Trivia
Wall Drug sees up to 20,000 visitors on a summer day. Read about the history of this beloved roadside stop here. (You’ll love the story!)
Sunday funny
Oh, what we’d give to hear that story!
Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?
Brain teaser answer:
The letter R
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, Tony Barthel, and Janet Groene. 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 (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
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This newsletter is copyright 2024 by RV Travel LLC.
Thanks Chuck, for all your hard work and reporting to us here at RVT (paid Subscriber). Enjoy your Semi-Retirement. I feel the same way about RVing. Been doing it for many years, but it’s getting to be complicated in many ways. We’re the same age, so I’m not a newbie off the ship! At least we can meet up down here in Ca. when you visit relatives.
Till we meet again, enjoy your next chapter!
Good luck and thank you! Thank you, as well, for the improvement on the app with the ads!
Love ya Chuck. That goes for the rest of your hard working team too! I have enjoyed, learned, and contributed for many years and hope for many more. All your work is greatly appreciated.
Doesn’t the letter “c” also fit the brain teaser?
The C is not in parson or oyster
Chuck, A fellow RV camper/neighbor told me about your newsletter and I subscribed ever since. I read it every day. Thanks for all you have done!
Thanks for all you have done for our community. And for the legacy (this publication) you are leaving us. May it last many more years. Also, I agree with you regarding the seriousness of the diminishment of traditional media. I’ll be sending another donation to RVTravel!
Good morning!
I agree Mr. Woodbury. Free doesn’t work.
Thank you Chuck. I also have appreciated your outlook on life and most of all your integrity. I am a paid subscriber and today was the first day I enjoyed an ad free edition. I also appreciate all the contributors and good information. Thank you!
Chuck …. did you think maybe this is your mission to provide these thought provoking articles. Maybe you should “whine” a little bit (thought I never read anything you wrote as whining) to enlighten folks that don’t have your experience? Old coots like us remember a simpler time of camping (before RV’ing) and we wholeheartedly remember how wonderful it was. One cannot help but reminisce on those wonderful times and lament how things seem to be spiraling in wrong directions for all manner of demented reasons. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should stop writing. You have a voice and it is needed now more than ever. Maybe you should rethink your decision to stop???
I think I heard you sing this song before. You’ll enjoy some time off and then we’ll see the occasional editorial again…Enjoy your time off. Go where you wannna go, do what you wanna do with whoever….
Chuck,
Propaganda is a great read. Even though it was written in 1928, it still applies today. Everyone should read it and think about today’s crazy social media that just fuels the new propaganda. I can only hope that people wake up and use their own brain instead of listening to the crazy stuff today.
Spot on.
Thanks for taking us along on your journey Chuck! It has been a trip.
There is no unbiased media left. The big 3 are no longer bastions of truth and fairness. Half of cable news is far left and the other half is far right. All, including the big 3 play only to the dollars they generate from those that they can drive further discontent and vitriol into. PBS has 81 people in the editorial room. We learned last week that all 81, 100% of them are registered Democrat’s. Not a single R on the editorial staff at PBS. HALF the country, 100,000,000 tax payers are unrepresented with their own tax dollars that subsidize those paychecks. Defund PBS.
Thanks for the forum Chuck.
If this is the first you have heard of the PBS story, ask yourself why and then change the channel once in a while. Take a little from both sides and center yourself, yourself, because Brinkley, Cronkite and Jennings…. all gone.
Thank you Cancelproof – I couldn’t have said it better! Sad state of affairs. Wonder where we are heading…Hmmm?
Headed down the rabbit hole towards oblivion maybe ?
As a paying subscriber I will continue to receive your editorials. I’ve really enjoyed the ride. Thank you and your staff for my morning ritual of breakfast and your newsletter. However I still am fighting with pop up ads, some covering part of the story I’m reading. Thank you for the journey! I will continue my support as I have for the past twenty years….
Chuck, keep on truckin’ when you can and as long as you want. “Broken record”, I wonder how many really knows what that means? lol. Just keep on skippin’ and scratchin’ as long as the record goes round and round.
Not one ad today but I do donate~ Chuck love your input and your daughter does a fantastic job too! Appreciate the work that your team does
Dear Chuck, We met you and subscribed to the Out West newspaper. We will miss your weekly editorials on RV Travel. I never thought I would find you again, but here you appear in my favorite on-line magazine. Best of luck to you and your magazine. Linda and John
Thank you very much Chuck for your dedication, commitment, and inspiration. We all appreciate you and this publication so much.!!!
Chuck, I’m one of the tens of thousands of your readers who have never met you, but feel that we know you. I haven’t always agreed with your opinion pieces, but I always saw your honesty and integrity as a reporter shining through. I hope that your retirement will soon morph into semi-retirement.
Chuck, don’t know why it took me so long to find you and your team’s excellent articles and commentaries, however am grateful for what I have read. Maybe if I had found you sooner, I wouldn’t have gone down some of the roads I did 😀. Recently I was asked if my wife and I ever full-timed. Said yes, about six years and considering my wife said she would give it a try for three years, six was pretty good. The person then told me, “at least you did it and don’t regret not having tried it”. Now too, in my mid 70’s still RV but at a lesser pace. My prayer is that you enjoy the memories of the journey you have been on and you look forward to the new path that is set before you!
Much more readable today on my Android pad than when the ads first arrived. Thank you.
18 years of RVing (8 years FT – 12 months a yr & 10 years 8-10 months at a time) and RVTRAVEL.COM was along all the way.
Years of great stories, helpful mechanical hints and “good advice.”
Also sorry (like others here) that we never hit the same place at the same time, yet I feel like you are one of my long time friends.
Good for you on your success of this internet news letter.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Yes, Chuck, the ads have really improved. I am amazed at how on-target they are. Lots of them pertain to universities I attended (and even graduated from). Keep them going to whatever extent is necessary to pay the writers, the bills, and whatever costs you have. Hopefully Emily never regrets coming to work here and can even afford to retire one day. 🙂 Ha! I DID get the brain teaser right! 🙂 Thanks again one and all, safe travels! 🙂
I have quit getting the newsletter. I finally made a donation, then a few days later I am shut off. I have sent two Emails asking why, I have not got a response. Am I the only one? Does anybody know what is going on? Thanks
Hi, Greg. I just checked your account. For some reason you were signed up for the Members edition of the Sunday newsletter but the regular edition of Saturday’s newsletter. I’ve added the Members Saturday edition. However, the records show that those email alerts were sent to you. Maybe they ended up in your Spam folder? I’ll check to see if any of our more-techy people can figure out why you didn’t receive them. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. If you continue to have a problem, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to help. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com