Members RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, May 5, 2024

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May 5, 2024
Issue 1155
Members edition

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

• Some RVers likely part of $1.1 billion CPAP settlement
• Automatic braking systems on the way; benefits in question
• More than half of campers “no-shows” at campsites they reserved
• Look out for the E-ZPass scam
• Campground Crowding: Campground owners have no experience in RV industry – just see dollar signs

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

Curious about RV caravan tours? Our first experience was a hit!

By Nanci Dixon
Have you ever wondered what an RV caravan tour is like? Exhilarating and exhausting are the two words that describe the Adventure Caravans tour we just took in Washington, D.C. We had never been on an RV tour before, and Washington, D.C., has been on my bucket list for years. I saw the tour advertisement, asked my husband “yes or no,” and before he could really think about the drive from the West to the East or ask the price, he said, “Yes”! Read all about their exhilarating, jam-packed tour and see what an RV caravan tour is really like. (Loaded with Nanci’s gorgeous pictures!)

Does your RV refrigerator have a baffle? No baffle = poor cooling

By Andrew Herrick
Two- and three-way RV refrigerators (propane/electric) require airflow. This is common knowledge to most RV technicians, but it’s often unknown to consumers and overlooked by the manufacturers (cough, cough). Fair warning: I do sling around some technical language in this post, which I’ve italicized for your benefit, but you don’t need to memorize all the terms to get the main point: Airflow is critical, and it’s a straightforward (but time-consuming) DIY fix. Learn about it here.

How, and why, to install insect screens on your RV vents

By Gail Marsh
We recently removed our non-working RV refrigerator from our fifth wheel. As we worked, we noticed several mud dauber nests inside the compartment where the refrigerator rests. We cleared out the nests and thoroughly cleaned the entire area before installing a new fridge. Once we discovered the wasp nests, I finally realized how wasps were accessing our RV’s interior. Continue reading.

Today’s RV Review…

Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS—Big things in little spaces

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Jayco Jay Feather Micro 199MBS. This is the largest variant of one of Jayco’s smallest travel trailers. The Jay Feather Micro line of trailers are single-axle trailers that measure 6 1/2 feet wide.

Jayco’s Jay Feather series is one of a growing number of smaller travel trailers that are “high content” models.

Click here to read

Other RV’s reviewed this week:

• 2024 Alliance RV Avenue All Access 28BH fifth wheel – It’s “bunkhousey”
• The 2024 Arctic Wolf 27SGS 5th wheel by Forest River makes good use of space
• Prime Time Tracer 270BHSLE – It’s affordable, with some surprising features
• The affordable 2023 Capri Retreat truck camper—Pick and choose your features
• The Super Pacific USA X1 pop-up truck camper is “designed around you”

RV Service Centers and Repairs Report

RVer gives surefire way to hold RV techs accountable: See everything they do!

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. This week, Nanci Dixon relates your stories regarding two locations of a dealer who couldn’t fix the RV’s furnace but a mobile tech quickly could, ongoing problems with a new RV which made it unusable for nine months of its 12-month warranty, and a recommendation of how an RV dealership should be split into two businesses: sales and service. Also, one RVer explains how he can hold the RV techs accountable. Hmmm. What do you think? Oh, and there’s high praise for another dealer.

Click here to read

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

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• How do you hang a TV wall mount on an RV wall?
• RV turning tips to help you feel more confident driving
• Get the most from your RV’s exhaust fan
• How to clean an RV awning
• Improve the grip of your RV front door assist handle

This truck camper’s position on pickup scares us

Wait until you see this photo that came to us via our Facebook Group RV Crashes and Disasters. We cringed when we first saw it (and we still do). We wondered how far this truck camper could go before ending up in an accident. This is crazy!

SoftStartUSA debuts new device – No installation required

By Chuck Woodbury
SoftStartUSA™ has introduced a new device called the SoftStartUp™ that plugs into a campsite electric pedestal or portable generator to manage the startup power surge required by RV air conditioners. This is the “thump” you hear when starting your A/C under normal circumstances. The SoftStartUp™ reduces the startup power demand by up to 50% without stalling out appliances or causing the power circuit breaker to trip. Learn more about this exciting new product.

Can I use my CPAP machine when I boondock? Yes, here’s how

By Nanci Dixon
One of RV Travel’s past surveys told us that 35 percent of readers use, or their partner uses, a CPAP machine. If you’re one of those people and struggle with where to keep your machine at night or while in transit, or don’t know how to use your machine when you boondock, this is for you.

Does RV size, age, REALLY matter?

By Lucinda Belden
We know size does matter when it comes to what campgrounds we want to get into. Or, if we want to boondock or stay in national and state parks. But have you had someone say to you, “How can you live or camp in an RV that small?” … We have no idea why the RVers around us have picked their recreational vehicle. It might help each of us to stand back and not make snap judgments on other RVers’ rig choices. Here are some thoughts that should run through your mind when you start to question someone else’s RV choice.

Reader Poll

Do you own a desktop/laptop computer?

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: What’s your favorite truck brand? See if RVers prefer GMC to Dodge, or Chrysler to Ford here. (Interesting post by Gail Marsh included.)

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 roof air conditioner cools for 15 minutes then just blows air. Why?
• Water won’t go into the RV’s freshwater tank. Your thoughts?
• Should I carry a battery charger in my RV? If so, what brand?
• The tanks of my 5th wheel make the underbelly bulge. Is this normal?
• My RV water heater will run on LP most of the day then stops. Any ideas why?

Click here to see more questions for Dave.

THIS IS COOL! If you’ve always wanted to visit world-famous museums, now you can and you don’t even have to get on a plane! Here’s a list of 12 museums you can “walk” through from your couch.

In the RV Shop with Dustin

How often should your RV suspension be lubed?

By Dustin Simpson
I wanted to share this as a reminder if you own a towable unit to check and see if you have wet bolts or grease Zerks on your RV suspension. How often should your RV suspension be lubricated?

Click here to find out

Mother’s Day gift guide

Mother’s Day: The best gifts for the RVing mom

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching (listen up!) on Sunday, May 12. What special thing are you doing for the mom in your life (and yes, fur-parent moms count too!)? If you don’t know what to give to that special mom, we’ve compiled a list that may help. Check this out.

Great gift ideas for moms who RV: It’s the simple things…

By Gail Marsh
Mother’s Day is coming soon (next Sunday)! If your children ask you for gift ideas, you’ll know what to say because here are some great gift ideas for moms who RV. Hint: Nothing says you can’t buy one of these gifts for yourself, right? So, take a look! You’ll likely see something you want!

DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS AND RSS FEEDS!

• Weekly News Highlights. Every Saturday. 
• RV Daily Tips. RVing tips, advice, maintenance and repair guidance, RV reviews, gadgets, and more. Monday-Friday. 
• Great RV Accessories. The best gadgets for RVers. Every other Thursday. 
• Daily RVing news. Get the latest news about RVing every weekday afternoon straight to your inbox.
• RV Maintenance & Repair tips. Don’t ever miss a maintenance or repair article. Every Tuesday. 
• New! RV Reviews. We write one RV review every day! They’ll be delivered to your inbox every other Friday. 
• New! RV Recalls. Never miss an important RV or RV-related recall. Every other Wednesday.

Learn more or sign up for any of these great newsletters here.
(No spam. Easy unsubscribe if you don’t like it.)

Video of the Day

Brilliant RV screen door hack—Why didn’t I think of that?

By Cheri Sicard
The YouTube shorts video below may be very short on time, but it shares a BRILLIANT RV screen door tip that’s especially useful if you have pets or small children. It costs nothing and needs no installation, assuming your RV already has this accessory (and most do).

Click here to watch

RV Gadgets and Gizmos

Vibe Anywhere by Cherokee Footwear are the ultimate shower shoes

By Cheri Sicard
From the Medical Scrubs Collection come what just might be the ultimate shower shoes. (If you aren’t wearing shower shoes in public campground showers, you should be!) Everything on the Medical Scrubs Collection website is geared with medical professionals and people who are on their feet all day long in mind. Therefore, the Vibe Anywhere sandals by Cherokee Footwear are probably the most comfortable and supportive shower shoes you will ever wear.

Click here to read

RVing with Dogs

Dog owners, beware of deadly blue-green algae in bodies of water

With summer months approaching, it’s a good time to review this critical safety tip: RVers with dogs, beware of blue-green algae! Learn all about it and how to protect your dog in this important article from Gail Marsh.

Click here to read

RV Tire Safety

Why tire valves are more than just those “little black things” in your wheels

By Roger Marble
Last week I covered tire valve cores and how important they are to maintain so they don’t leak. While the core is important, the valve body itself is also very important. Hopefully you now know that with proper care of the core you can avoid a leak that, even though small, can still lead to a tire failure if corrective action isn’t taken.

Read more

Recipe of the Day

Mom’s Rhubarb Crisp

by Penny Larson from Litchfield, MN

When rhubarb is in season (that’s now!), this rhubarb crisp needs to be on your baking list. The base and the top are a buttery and crisp oatmeal crumble. A simple syrup is drizzled over the rhubarb to add sweetness to the tart rhubarb. An easy and delicious crisp recipe that spotlights rhubarb.

Get the recipe here

Need a new book to read? These are some we love:

• Travels with Charley in Search of America
• Don’t Make Me Pull Over!: An Informal History of the Family Road Trip
• Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
• A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
• The Nightingale (WWII historical fiction)

Readers’ Pets of the Day

“Tobi on top, Mandy in the middle, and Ivy on the bottom. These three are great travelers and seem to really enjoy our fifth wheel and being with us. This is unusual to catch them in a great photo op!!” —Dennis Brown

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

HELP! We’re running low on pet photos! Please 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

I am not alive, but I can die. What am I?

(Answer below.)

Do you have a brain teaser you think we should use? Send it to us here.

Trivia

Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day; that’s celebrated on September 16th. Instead, it commemorates Mexico’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Celebrated more in the U.S., it originated in California in 1863, organized by Mexican miners to honor the Battle of Puebla.

Sunday funny

Answer to today’s email alert knowledge quiz

No, the largest manufacturer of tires worldwide is not on the list in the quiz in today’s email alert for this newsletter. By far the largest manufacturer is Lego, which since 2011 has held the Guinness World Record for being the world’s largest manufacturer of tires. In 2010, the toymaker turned out 311 million tiny tires, which are made with a rubber compound similar to tires on domestic cars. Of the tires we listed in the quiz, Michelin leads the pack.

If do not now receive an email alert for this newsletter, sign up here. Check out our other newsletters, too. Easy unsubscribe, if you change your mind.

Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

A battery.

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, Janet Groene, and Paul Lacitinola. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Social Media staff: Gary Pratt and Maryanne 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.

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