Issue 1173
The latest news for RVers
The lives of 29 RV owners have been harmed and the man responsible is facing the music. An RV dealer gets 20 years in prison having been found guilty of selling the victims’ rigs on consignment and never paying. Last week Ruben Bernt made an impassioned plea for mercy—and got none. And this wasn’t even the RV dealer’s first RV ripoff rodeo! Here’s the full story.
Feeling the heat across the Midwest? Corn may be to blame... “Corn sweat” is an amusing term for a process that makes summer in the Midwest even stickier. It refers to the water vapor released by corn plants during a process called evapotranspiration. During the hottest months, corn fields can release an astounding amount of moisture. You might want to sit down. It’s that amazing! An acre of corn can emit… Well, click here to see.
Last week, RVtravel.com’s Gail Marsh wrote about a plan to bring golf courses and pickleball courts to Florida’s pristine state parks. The Florida state parks whistleblower who brought attention to the plan lost his job. Now citizens are applauding him, and financially supporting him. Here’s the full story.
Compared to the rocketing years of COVID, 2024 has been a downright lousy year if you manufacture RVs. But, says the RV Industry Association, that’s all turning around. RV manufacturers will move more new rigs to dealers this year, at least according to the RVIA.
After idling over the Labor Day weekend, the national average for a gallon of gas resumed its pace of daily declines by falling six cents since last week to $3.30. Key contributors are low gas demand and the plunging cost of oil, which is struggling to stay above $70 a barrel. See the gas numbers, broken down by state, here.
Is the Oklahoma “Disneyland-style” 750-site RV park on the skids? Late last year we wrote about a new $2 billion theme park. The anchor point of this “Oklahoma Disneyland” was a 750-site RV park near Vinita, Oklahoma, just northeast of Tulsa. Called Three Ponies RV Park & Campground, it drew a lot of interest—and government support. But then…
Arizona is sizzling! Snowbirds, you might want to stay away… for now. Considered one of the premier destinations for Snowbirds, Arizona is a wonderful place to be—in winter. But right now, Arizona is snowbird hell. Phoenix has set a new record—100 days of 100-degree or above weather. But hold on, you “winter visitors.” Quartzsite isn’t far behind. Read more.
An update on that Grand Canyon water situation… One of the nation’s most popular national parks has fixed the leaky pipe that provides water to popular tourist areas. Grand Canyon’s Transcanyon Waterline leaked so badly that the park closed hotels and motels and shut off water for days in campgrounds. Now the leak is repaired, and Grand Canyon water has returned to hotels, but not campgrounds.
Add this to your “DO NOT DO” list: Three campers at New York’s Lower Saranac Lake Campground were evicted when they caused a dangerously large fire by starting their campfire using gasoline. At about 8:19 p.m., Aug. 27, the Saranac Lake Fire Department and two park rangers were dispatched to a campsite after receiving a call about an out-of-control campfire. Yeah, we’ll say!
It all played out last Thursday, August 29. Police in Lexington, Nebraska, got reports of burglaries to RVs at the Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area. Officers from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 1:30 in the afternoon. In our latest “dumb crooks” installment, this dumb crook, an RV burglar, hid under a rock. Read it to believe it.
Here’s another one for the stupid driver tricks file. A commercial truck driver is up on a reckless driving charge after a dump truck opened on a Virginia interstate. The resulting mess closed all lanes for most of the day while highway engineers scratched their heads about cleaning it up. It wasn’t just your ordinary 20-yard dump truck, either…
COMING TOMORROW: How much of your RV is made in China? Well, maybe more than you think… Don’t miss the story by RV lemon lawyer Ron Burdge.
RV review
New 2025 Flagstaff Classic F282RK—a small 5er with a big glitch
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2025 Flagstaff Classic F282RK fifth wheel. This is one of the two smallest fifth wheels in the Flagstaff line and is a new model for the brand. There is a lot I like about this, but there is one glaring glitch that you should be aware of before you make a decision. Continue reading.
More RVing news
Glacier National Park is reminding visitors that September 8, 2024, is the last day vehicle reservations are required. This includes reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road via the West Entrance, the North Fork, and Many Glacier. Vehicular traffic is expected to increase when reservations are no longer required, and entry may be temporarily suspended due to congestion. Learn more.
A stinky odor forces closure of part of Cape Hatteras. On Thursday morning, September 5, rangers’ noses went on alert mode. Strong petroleum smells made themselves known. The odors are impacting the area due to the strong northeast winds and erosion. Rangers closed down beach access in the stink area and, after consulting with the local health department, the closure area had to be expanded.
Traveling to Grand Teton National Park? Be warned… Routes into the park are closed. Due to the Fish Creek fire, as of Sept. 3, an evacuation order has been issued for Brooks Lake Road, East and West Pinnacle Drive and Breccia Drive. All residents were advised to evacuate immediately. Here are the details.
Leaf peeping is big. In 2023, three-and-a-half-million people took to enjoying the colorful autumn in New Hampshire alone. The brilliant foliage somehow manages to build us up for what could be a dull, lifeless winter. But if you’re planning a leaf-peeping adventure with your RV, how do you time it? A motion-filled fall leaf color map can help you know where to go—and when—to catch fall color.
No boondocking at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes, please! National Park Service officials have turned to social media with the warn-off. In a recent Facebook post, rangers sympathized, but admonished: “We understand the desire to run away from it all as a new school year is knocking on your door. At the National Lakeshore, camping is only allowed at designated campgrounds and campsites.” Continue reading.
Route 66 in Wellston, Oklahoma, a state highway that was once a part of U.S. Route 66, closed on Tuesday for up to a year as part of the I-44/Turner Turnpike bridge widening project. Local SH-66 traffic will be directed by signage to a detour route on county roads that is for local traffic only. This local route will be size- and weight-restricted. Learn more.
Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is kicking off its 50th anniversary celebration and you’re invited! Now through the end of 2025, visitors will have opportunities to commemorate this milestone. RVers, this is your invitation to join adventures on the trails, rails, and the river. Learn fascinating history from national speakers and connect with the arts through concerts and more. More details here.
It’s fall, y’all! As we wrote earlier, a recent survey showed 79% of RVers said autumn RV travel is part of their plans. But where will you go? Maybe you know you’ve just “gotta go,” but aren’t sure where to point the motorhome’s nose. Senior support organization AARP has five fall “can’t miss” RV destinations.
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this mug warmer?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today by 7 p.m. Pacific time. You can only enter once and after we notify you by email that you won, you have 24 hours to respond.
Click here to enter or see last week’s winner!
Reader poll
Have you spent a free night in a parking lot with your RV in the last year?
RV and RV-related recalls
Ford recalls 90,000 vehicles—Engine valves could break
If your F-150 fails, or your Bronco bucks and dies, you may be in for a new engine. Ford is recalling 90,000 popular vehicles as catastrophic engine failures have been tied to intake valves breaking while on the road. Continue reading.
Jayco recalls motorhomes for rear camera issue
Jayco is recalling certain 2023-2025 Entegra Ethos, Ethos LI, Arc, Jayco Swift, Swift LI, and Comet motorhomes. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, “Rear Visibility.” Learn more.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of September 2, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.29
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 52 cents.
Diesel: $3.63
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 87 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain teaser
What has thirteen hearts, but no body or soul?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Recipe of the day
Delicious recipes that will transport you straight to Greece
Greek food, anyone? Greek food is the perfect transition from summer into fall, especially while it’s still warm out. Greek burgers, Greek fries (on the grill) and delicious chicken gyros are all here. Check ’em out.
Trivia
There’s so much more to Google Earth than you think! If you download Google Earth Pro (free for desktop computer users) you can explore the surface of Mars and the Moon and check out detailed 3D maps of these celestial bodies. It even includes historical imagery and guided tours of Mars provided by NASA.
Additionally, with Google’s Flight Simulator, you can feel what it’s like to fly a plane! Download Google Earth Pro here and have fun!
The perfect scam
Sisters Help Bring Down a Magazine Telemarketing Scam
When Penny signs up for a few magazine subscriptions, she thinks she is helping some kids with a school fundraiser. Little does she know that it will lead to years of harassment from telemarketers and the theft of much of her savings. But it will also lead Penny and her sister Nancy to help bring down a 20-year conspiracy that robbed more than 150,000 victims nationwide of millions of dollars.
Laugh of the week
Today in history
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
No “Pet of the Day” today?
Maybe one of the urinals got them.
Good answer Tom!
I know- I missed that too.
Good morning, Ed, Tommy and Drew. FYI, as far as I can remember (sometimes much further than others, these days!🫤), we’ve never run a Pet of the Day in the “newsy” newsletter (now on Saturdays). We only run them in the “classic” weekend newsletter (now on Sundays) and each weekday. But have we got a little cutie for you tomorrow!👍 Y’all have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thanks for the update Diane. Not sure that I understand the reasoning behind it but it is what it is! We all like to see the little fur babies that everyone has! 🙂
I’m not sure what the reasoning is either, Ed. (I don’t make the rules.😉) But I love to see the dogs, especially, and want to adopt (dognap?) most of them.😅 Take care. 😀 –Diane
Thank you for so many interesting and informational news stories. Your reporters are great.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 The laugh is funny. Is it at Sea World? Ha! I think that I know the brain teaser! I guess we’ll see. 🤔 Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Very enjoyable, educational Saturday edition this week, thanks to you all for putting it out here for us!!
And thanks to a few unnamed (🤔) commenters for their unbiased opinions, always a new learning experience. 😵💫