Subscribers RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, September 15, 2025

Issue 1174

Watch out RV industry, Elon Musk is after you

By Chuck Woodbury
ON HIS SOAPBOX
I have encountered a lot of buzz lately about Elon Musk’s intent to begin producing a small, all-electric motorhome. Most images of it show a no-frills campervan that could debut in 2026. The most recent news (or is it rumor?) is that it will cost only $15,000. Could that possibly be true?

RV Engineer answers: “Is silicone sealant the worst thing ever for your RV?”

By Andrew Herrick
Many RV owners would rather swallow a live June bug than spread silicone caulk over their rigs. “Silicone is the worst possible product you could use,” they warn. “It will peel, and nothing will ever stick to it again!” Should you believe these fireside horror stories of silicone gone awry? If silicone is so bad, why are some RVs sealed with silicone straight from the factory? And what should you be using instead? Continue reading for the truth.

Finding the “perfect” RV requires a shift in perspective

By Gail Marsh
“There is no perfect RV.” That’s the advice a salesman-friend gave to us, and over the years we’ve finally realized that he was right. At the time, we were looking for the impossible. We looked for months for that perfect floor plan online and in person. There were a few we liked, but none fit our impossible list of “must-haves.” After an exhausting day of RV shopping, it registered: “There is no perfect RV.” From then on, our criteria shifted.

RV review
RV tech builds custom mini Jayco RV for his daughter

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is something very different. While we often look at RVs of all sizes, this one takes the cake as it might be one of the smallest RVs we have looked at. What we have here is a mini model of a Jayco travel trailer that was created by an RV tech dad for his daughter. You’re going to love this.

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

• Burning Man RVer caught in sting operation
• BLM eyes up to fivefold hike in long-term camping fees
• Dropped Cheetos bag threatens Carlsbad Caverns
• FCC chief pushes to disrupt Starlink’s monopoly
• Starlink price hike: What do you get for it?

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

Around the campfire
Should RVers be worried about nighttime theft in RV parks?

By Gail Marsh
We were happy to welcome a “newbie RVer” to the campfire last night. His enthusiasm seemed to roll off him in waves! He’s beginning his full-time adventure in a previously loved (pre-owned) travel trailer. He’s really excited, but he has questions… and one big, disturbing question about nighttime theft. Here’s how the conversation unfolded.

RVs and WD-40: Unusual combinations that work

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Seems like every RV has at least a can or two of WD-40. But there’s more use for WD-40 than just the occasional thread loosening. Here are a few tips that may make for slicker RV trips, both inside and outside your RV.

Can I camp in an ADA site?

By Nanci Dixon
Reader Dana M. writes: “Are ADA-accessible RV camp spots to be treated the same as handicap parking spots, with penalties for unauthorized use? Or are they available for use by non-ADA persons? We recently visited a national park that had numerous accessible sites that I’m pretty sure were occupied by non-ADA campers.” To answer Dana’s question: It depends. Here’s the scoop.

It’s time to give your RV refrigerator a makeover

By Gail Marsh
Is your RV fridge looking a bit worn? Are you tired of wiping fingerprints off the stainless-steel doors? Looking for a way to disguise those dings and scratches? Maybe you just want a pop of color in your RV. You need an RV fridge makeover! Here are a few ways to do it.

Reader poll
How long have you been reading the RVtravel.com newsletter? (This one!)

Respond here.

Travel destinations
Visit Raquel Welch’s underwear at Nevada’s oldest saloon

The Genoa Bar & Saloon in Genoa, Nevada [Reno-Carson City vicinity], was established in 1853, and today is considered the oldest bar in the Silver State. It’s been visited by many famous people including Raquel Welch in the 1960s, who stopped by once while making a film at nearby Lake Tahoe. Wait until you see what undergarment Raquel left behind…

Amazing short stop at Poverty Point World Heritage Site

By Nanci Dixon
Just a short drive from our campsite at Poverty Point State Park in Delhi, Louisiana, is the Poverty Point World Heritage Site native mounds and National Monument. The huge mounds at Poverty Point predate Stonehenge and the pyramids in Mexico and Egypt. This is an amazing stop!

Please help us understand this totally wacky RV towing setup

We know nothing for sure about these photos except that they make no sense to us. A reader who sent us this image of both vehicles together also believed it was one crazy setup. What would cause someone to tow a fifth wheel trailer this way, and then camp with it in the same position? Check this out, and please leave your thoughts.

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• Tips and tricks to reusing wine corks
• RV Mods: Protect your headlights!
• Ways to put your RV bumper to good use
• Here’s how to make boondocking fun for the partner who hates it
• Why carrying business cards is so helpful for RVers

NOT SIGNED UP FOR OUR READERS’ FAVORITE NEWSLETTER? You’re missing out on our RV Daily Tips newsletter! Sign up here. (Easy unsubscribe if you don’t like it… but we doubt that will happen!)

In the RV shop with Dustin
Slide-out resealing: A comprehensive guide for long-lasting protection

By Dustin Simpson
When it comes to resealing your RV’s slide-outs, you’re on the right track. The good news is that you can use any appropriate brand of sealant, regardless of what the manufacturer might suggest. The key is making sure you’re using a high-quality sealant that’s designed for RVs and compatible with your slide-out materials. Learn more.

RV gadgets and gizmos
Do shampoo bars and conditioner bars really work?

By Cheri Sicard
The prospect of shampoo and hair conditioner bars has intrigued me for a while, so I vowed to try them the next time I needed to replenish supplies. As an RVer, the concept of a bar of shampoo or conditioner that resembles a bar of soap held many benefits. Not only are the bars smaller than a bottle of shampoo or conditioner, but they also weigh substantially less. I picked up a bar of each. Here are my thoughts.

WANT MORE GADGET REVIEWS? Read the latest issue of our Great RV Accessories newsletter here. If you like what you see, sign up for it! 

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 had an electrical brownout. Is burning plastic smell a concern?
• Mold is throughout RV. Help!
• Why does RV 12-volt refrigerator noisily cycle hourly?
• Can you use Flex Seal on the RV roof? If not, then what?
• Do my RV’s slide outs need support if RV is permanently parked?

Video of the day
Watch this bus transform into charming cottage-style RV

By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Josie of Bus Off with Josie for a time-lapse build tour of her unusual Mercedes bus tiny home, named Bo. Josie’s bus transformation turned an old bus into a charming feminine cottage on wheels that truly reflects its owner’s unique aesthetics and personality. This is so cute!

Brain teaser

SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY: What day comes three days after the day which comes two days after the day which comes immediately after the day which comes two days after Monday?

(Answer below.)

RV tire safety
Be careful of tire inflation information online

By Roger Marble
Here was a recent post about tire inflation on an RV forum. This statement is sometimes correct but not always: “Always run any trailer tire to maximum inflation tire pressure cold! Period! Never run underinflated!”

Vintage RVs
Have you been bit by the vintage “Aluminitis” bug?

By Paul Lacitinola
If you’re into vintage trailers, chances are you’ve caught some form of “-itis.” Whether it’s Canned Ham-itis, fiberglass-itis, trolley top-itis, or the ever-popular alumin-itis, these obsessions start small and quickly grow. If you suffer from “Aluminitis”, click here.

RVing with dogs
What the color of a dog’s collar says about their temperament

By Gail Marsh
There has been a lot of chatter on our RVing with Dogs Facebook group lately concerning dogs in campgrounds. In particular, dog owners are concerned about how other campers approach them as they walk their dogs. But did you know that the color of a dog’s collar has a meaning? And it could tell you a lot about the dog’s temperament… Click here to learn more.

Recipes of the day
4 Crock Pot recipes you’ll want to make all season long

Crock Pots are the best. You throw together some ingredients and come back later to a perfectly cooked dinner. It’s like having your own assistant! We guarantee you’re going to want these Crock Pot recipes all season long. We’ve got sesame chicken, pork taquitos, “world-famous” meatballs, and a favorite comfort classic all right here. Enjoy!

Readers’ pets of the day

“Onyx, the medium-coated more white on her, is my soul dog. She has helped me in so many ways that not many people would ever understand! I have severe anxiety and depression. Onyx knows when her momma needs help and she gets me through some tough and mentally challenging moments. My boy, Granite, is young, but there are a few things he has caught onto and is also there for me emotionally These two floofs are my absolute world!! They love camping and walking trails for some adventures!! They are Seppala Siberian Husky and North American Indigenous.” —Melissa Campbell 

• 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. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once.

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

Alaska has more than 3 million lakes. In fact, over 40% of the state is covered by water, including lakes, rivers, and glaciers. The largest lake, Lake Iliamna, is about the size of Connecticut!

Sunday funny

We can’t help but laugh (and we watched it 10 times in a row)! 

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

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

Work backward from Monday. Two days after Monday is Wednesday. The day immediately after Wednesday is Thursday. Two days after Thursday is Saturday. Three days after Saturday is Tuesday. The answer is Tuesday.

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