Subscribers RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, July 21, 2024

Welcome to the RVtravel.com newsletter. “Home of the RVing Experts since 2001.”

July 21, 2024
Issue 1166
Subscribers edition

TODAY IS NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY!
Lick up!

Publisher’s corner
Is the FMCA RV club in trouble?

Chuck Woodbury writes: “I have been a member of FMCA, the Family Motor Coach Association, for more than half its 61 years. For the past decade I have watched the non-profit group lose its focus and become less relevant.” Chuck wonders now if the club’s problems are serious enough that they could lead to bankruptcy? The times they are a-changin’, but is FMCA? Read more.

Yesterday’s top news for RVers
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Harvest Hosts buys Escapees RV Club
• RVers cheating with reservations, says campground industry
• Abandoned campfires surge nationwide; park officials release scary statistics
• RVers: Ignore this Wyoming road sign, you could spend a month in jail
• Summer gas prices drop

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

Today’s RV review…
Grand Design Transcend ONE 151BH—small and affordable

Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2024 Grand Design Transcend ONE 151BH. This is a new addition to the Grand Design Transcend series, which features travel trailers with a wood-framed, aluminum-skinned construction.

What you have here is a very simple single-axle, no-slide, bunkhouse trailer. The “ONE” in the name designates a single axle. Pretty simple, right?

Continue reading

RV service centers and repairs report
Readers recommend excellent service centers this week; finally, good news!

In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs. Ready for some good news? So are we! This week, Nanci Dixon shares reports from our readers regarding the excellent service they’ve received from RV service centers and a mobile tech in Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, and Oklahoma. And how ’bout the service center that drove the RVers to a local restaurant so they could have breakfast while their RV was being worked on, then picked them up when their RV (and breakfast) was done? Talk about above and beyond!

Click here to read

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

What to do when the joy of living your RV dream life fades?

By Nanci Dixon
What to do when the glitter and joy of living your RV dream life fades? It feels like I am caught in limbo, perhaps purgatory or, worse yet, Dr. Seuss’s Waiting Place. Just waiting. We have been living the (my) dream of being full-time RVers and then half-timers for the last nine years. We’ve RVed for a total of 30 years. … Read what happened this past spring. You might be able to relate.

Is RV composite building material a game-changer?

By Andrew Herrick
The alchemists of ages past sought to transmute common, basic elements into that most prized of possessions: gold. (They weren’t much different than today’s crypto miners, those digital chemists bent on transforming 0’s and 1’s into cold cash.) Anyway, Material Science engineers of the modern era have accomplished something similar. Weaving together the humble elements of polypropylene and fiberglass, a company called Hanwha Azdel has created a unique construction sheet material: Azdel. And Azdel in RVs has taken the industry by storm. Learn more.

RV oven features and tips even experienced RVers don’t know

Even though Cheri Sicard uses her RV’s oven all the time (yes, your oven can be used for more than storage!), she still learned some tips from this informative video. You might learn something, too. Read the tips and watch the video.

RV electricity
How to install a 30-amp RV outlet at home

When electricity expert Mike Sokol was writing for RVtravel.com, he received an inquiry from Cory, in the Comments section, wondering about installing a 30-amp RV outlet on a residential 150-amp service panel on the outside of his house.

Here’s how to do it

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• Creative ways to live every day like you’re on vacation
• Tips for staying safe while RVing alone
• How to clean dark streaks off your RV
• What’s ready to fall off your RV?
• 11 egg-cellent tips for RVers who love eggs

NOT SIGNED UP FOR OUR RV DAILY TIPS NEWSLETTER? Boy, are you missing out! It’s our readers’ favorite newsletter for a reason! Sign up here. If you don’t like it (we know you will!), it’s easy to unsubscribe.

Are boondocking myths limiting you to crowded campgrounds?

By Dave Helgeson
There are many boondocking myths held by both new and seasoned RVers. Most so firmly believe them that they fear even trying boondocking for one night. Sadly, this keeps many limited to camping in overcrowded campgrounds, never to experience the freedom boondocking offers. Dave debunks 10 boondocking myths here.

RV catastrophes, Part 2: The chassis that sprayed RVers with gasoline

By Dave Solberg
In a recent RVtravel.com writers’ Zoom meeting, we discussed a 5th wheel frame flex issue. I was asked if it was the biggest RV catastrophe I’d seen in my 41 years in the RV industry. (Read about that in part one of this series.) Even though the frame flex issue is a big, current concern, it pales in comparison to others I have witnessed. For example… Continue reading.

Family throws campground fairytale birthday party; too cute for complaints

By Nanci Dixon
People complain a lot about loud parties and loud music in the campground, but this party was a breath of fresh air filled with fairy dust. Our campground neighbor had set up a large mirror with dress-up clothes, a food tent, another with fairy wing makings, and a tent to create fairy gardens. I just had to go over and talk with them. So cute!

Your Sunday history lesson
“Kilroy Was Here” — Have you seen him?

By Chuck Woodbury
The photo above and much of the information below was posted on the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park Facebook page. The park is in Richmond, California. It’s about the graphic and slogan “Kilroy Was Here” that was famous during World War II. (In today’s terminology you could say it “went viral.”) I know that I still see it on occasion. I bet you have, too, even in recent times. I suppose today it would be called graffiti. Here’s the story about how this now-iconic graphic came to be.

Click here to read

FUNNY: What’s the difference between a dirty bus stop and a lobster with breast implants? (Scroll down for the answer)

Reader poll
Have you ever been evacuated from a campground?

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

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:

• RV refrigerator hot weather tips; install fridge fan?
• Update on RV aluminum frame electrical ground issue – Found it!
• Is Vaseline good to lubricate RV slide room seal?
• RV’s issues not covered by Camping World extended warranty. Have we been ‘CW’d’?
• RV’s kitchen floor has soft spots but was told there are no leaks?

Click here to see more questions for Dave.

Vintage RVs
Reviving a 1949 Vagabond Trailer: From forgotten in warehouse to ready-to-roll beauty

By Paul Lacitinola
In November 2016, upon nearing retirement, John discussed his plans for newfound freedom with a customer. During this conversation, he learned about a hidden gem—a 23-foot-long 1949 Vagabond Model 232 trailer. It had served as a construction unit during a house remodel in Pasadena, CA, and had been stored away in a warehouse for the previous 25+ years.

Click here to check this out

Travel destinations
One of America’s best road trips: Drive the beautiful Great River Road

By Gail Marsh
Three thousand miles. Ten states. Amazing cultures and rich history. That’s saying quite a lot. And yet, an RV trip along the Great River Road is all that and so much more! … Continue reading about all the adventures available on the Great River Road.

Click here

In the RV shop with Dustin
Grand Design’s entire back wall breaks loose

By Dustin Simpson
In this episode, we take you behind the scenes to explore a major issue with a 2022 Grand Design Reflection 31MB. The entire back wall has broken loose, and our team is on the case to investigate the extent of the damage.

Continue reading and watch the video

RV gadgets and gizmos
10 odd but awesome RV tools your rig needs

By Cheri Sicard
Most of the items covered here are not usually thought of as RV tools, per se, but having them onboard sure can make RV life easier.

I also love that most of these things can be found at ordinary hardware stores, which means you won’t need to rely on specialty camping stores with jacked-up specialty “RV prices.”

Click here to read

FUNNY ANSWER: One’s a crusty bus station, the other is a busty crustacean!

Video of the day
Make an adorable DIY vintage camper trailer birdhouse

By Cheri Sicard
Show your RV style at home with this charming DIY vintage trailer birdhouse. In the video below, we get a lesson on how to build one from DIYer Paul Elkins. These cute little trailer birdhouses also make terrific gifts for RV and/or bird-loving friends.

Click here to watch

RV tire safety

Where to find complete tire inflation info, and much more

By Roger Marble
After I published information on what “MAX” means on a number of RV forums, I had a few folks thank me for the clarification. Some followed up by asking where to find the Inflation Tables. This request surprised me, as I thought that most people knew that they can check my RVTireSafety(dot)net blog or simply Google about almost any topic if they had a question—but apparently I was wrong. So here is a collection of links to the various tables published by different tire companies, plus many more helpful tire-related links.

Read more

RVing with dogs
Precheck your campsite for hazards

By Gail Marsh
It’s always a good idea to precheck your RV site before parking your rig, especially if you’re RVing with dogs. You don’t know who parked there before you or what they may have inadvertently left behind. We’ve discovered nails and other debris from time to time. If you RV with dogs, it’s especially important to precheck your site. In fact, you just might save your dog’s life!

Click here to read

Recipe of the day
Southern Peach, Vidalia Onion, and Bourbon BBQ Sauce

by Penelope Malcolm from Americus, GA

Sweet and tangy with just the right amount of spice, this is the ultimate barbecue sauce for all your summer cookouts. Bourbon, onions, and peaches are the base of this sauce and give it a robust flavor. Chipotle peppers and ground ancho chilis add a little kick. Use this homemade barbecue sauce when grilling this summer.

Get the recipe here

Readers’ pet of the day

“Jasmine (Multipoo) has been our travel buddy for 10 years now and is always ready for the next adventure! Here she is riding in her very own basket mounted to the handlebars of my e-bike. She loves making friends at the campgrounds while traveling too.”

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

Want to see your pet in this newsletter? 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

My first is in ocean but never in sea.
My second’s in wasp but never in bee.
My third is in glider and also in flight.
My whole is a creature that comes out at night.
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

Think the freeway near you is wide? Well, unless you’re near the Katy Freeway in Texas it’s probably tiny in comparison. The Katy Freeway, part of Interstate 10 in Texas, is one of the widest freeways in the world. In some parts, it’s 26 lanes across!

Sunday funny

Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

Owl.

DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS

• 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.)

RVtravel.com All Star Team

Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.