Issue 1175
The latest news for RVers
Manufacturer tactics could raise RV parts and accessories prices. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to fixing your RV, you may price shop when it comes to parts and accessories. With the average American watching their wallets, it’s only a natural. After all, why spend $21 for a trailer breakaway switch from Camping World when you can get one from Amazon for $9.99? But lobbying by the RV industry and manufacturers has had an effect: You may soon see RV parts prices soar. Yikes. Here’s why.
A man tragically died after falling into his campfire last Friday at Pioneer Lakes RV Park, an 185-acre site at the foot of the Laurel Ridge Mountains in Pennsylvania. The coroner’s office said that it would perform an autopsy. Results have not been made public yet. Here’s more of the story.
Some stockholders may be a bit disconcerted with the latest news: Marcus Lemonis has dumped thousands of Camping World shares at less than market value. These are not the only occasions this year where Lemonis has dumped Camping World stock. This year, the Camping World King has dumped 350,000 shares, according to simplywall.st. What does it all mean? At least one stock analyst firm offers an opinion.
Are you used to seeing Forest Service workers? They may be doing campground maintenance, improving trails, or working to prevent a wildfire. Many of these folks are temporary workers, hired on a seasonal basis. In a surprising move, no Forest Service temp jobs will be available for the Service’s fiscal year 2025. And that doesn’t mean sometime in January: the fiscal year begins in October. What’s behind the hiring freeze, and what effects will come from it? Find out here.
Gas prices are down. While gas prices only dropped two cents last week, the overall trend is anything but wimpy. Gas prices are plummeting, about 50 cents per gallon, or 14%, since they peaked last April. What’s driving the drop?
A catastrophic fire in a Texas storage facility has devoured dozens of RVs. The fire at Allsorts Storage in Brenham broke out Wednesday evening and burned for several hours. Firefighters struggled with the intensity of the blaze, made all the worse by exploding propane containers associated with the doomed rigs. Continue reading.
Heart-stopping bodycam footage from the July 4 Yellowstone shooting has been released. As we reported earlier, a Yellowstone contractor employee, Samson “Lucas” Fussner, had earlier taken a hostage, then made threats to shoot participants at events outside the park. Following protocol regarding officer-involved shootings, the park has now released body-worn camera footage from that officer-involved shooting at Canyon Village. Viewer discretion is advised.
The cause of death has been revealed in a tragic RV park abduction and murder. A coroner’s report decidedly establishes murder in the case of a couple who vanished from their home in a California RV park. Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife, Stephanie Menard, 73, were reported missing on August 25. Two weeks later, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office released its findings as to the Menards’ cause of death.
While the RV industry, particularly RV dealers, is looking at sales doldrums, the annual “America’s Largest RV Show” in Hershey, Pennsylvania, has now come and gone. Industry folks often look at the Hershey show as a harbinger of things to come. Based on this year’s Hershey RV show, what’s the future look like?
Officials have still not identified the man who had to be airlifted after his RV caught fire on Friday, September 13. It’s a cautionary tale for all of us. Witnesses told fire crews that the 61-year-old man who was living full-time in the fifth wheel had a fire break out. Rather than getting out of the RV, he tried to fight the fire himself. In the end, witnesses said he was essentially blown out of the rig. Here’s the full story (and what NOT to do in the event of an RV fire!).
NEW! Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter for our new weather feature.
RV review
New-for-2025 Coachmen Catalina Trail Blazer 18TH—love it or leave it
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2025 Coachmen Catalina Trail Blazer 18TH. This is the smallest in the brand’s lineup of wood-framed, aluminum-skinned toy haulers. Yep, another toy hauler, and this one’s going to be a love it or leave it, in my opinion. For some it’s going to be great; for others, it’ll absolutely be a “no way.” Here’s why.
RV and RV-related recalls
Winnebago motorhomes recalled for fire risk
Winnebago is recalling certain 2025 Winnebago View, Navion, and 2024-2025 EKKO recreational vehicles equipped with certain GE air conditioners. The air conditioner’s soft start device may fail and overheat. Continue reading.
Portable power stations recalled for fire danger
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of HALO 1000 Portable Power Stations sold by ZAGG Inc. (ZAGG), of Midvale, Utah, Alliance Consumer Group (ACG), of Roanoke, Texas, and retailer QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Learn more.
More RVing news
This might be good news for RVtravel.com readers who question whether they experience sleep apnea. The condition is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Last week, the FDA allowed Apple to market a sleep apnea notification feature. It’s an over-the-counter software-only, mobile medical application that analyzes Apple Watch sensor data to identify patterns of breathing disturbances suggestive of moderate to severe sleep apnea. Learn more.
On Sept. 16, a 60-year-old woman visiting Yellowstone National Park reportedly suffered second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg while walking in a thermal area near Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful. The woman was walking off-trail with her husband and leashed dog in a thermal area when she broke through a thin crust over scalding water and suffered burns to her leg. Continue reading.
RVer hits motorcyclist but motorcyclist gets charged. Wait, what? It’s an RVer’s nightmare: You hit a person with your rig. It happened to an RVer in Fargo, North Dakota, last Monday, Sept. 16. The RVer, towing a travel trailer on Interstate 94, ran over and dragged a woman. But in this case of the motorcyclist run over by RVer, the biker is the one facing charges. Here’s why.
Here’s a story that proves dumb crooks aren’t just a U.S. phenomenon. Swiss police say three crooks tried using a motorhome as a getaway car. They left their getaway RV stranded on railroad tracks, shutting down a rail line for hours. Kids, don’t do this at home!
Great Smoky Mountains’ tallest peak reclaims its original name. The tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River is no longer Clingmans Dome. Rather, the name for that highest peak has reverted to its original name. Here’s the story.
Bontrager Outdoors has introduced two new products for the 2025 model year: the 7ROD and 10ROK, part of the company’s new branded Small Line, previously known as the Bushwhacker line. The 7ROD is just under 11 feet long and weighs 500 pounds and includes a swivel hitch, making it towable with compact cars, EVs, ATVs, and larger motorcycles. Learn more.
Need some extra cash? Try collecting pinecones! The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking for the public’s help collecting red and white pine cones for its reforestation program. If you’re traveling in the Wisconsin area, this might be a good opportunity to pick up some extra cash.
Considered by some to be the most magnificent of birds, only 84 California condors exist free in northern Arizona and southern Utah. But later this month, four more will join them. You can witness California condors take their first flight to freedom. And you can do it in person, or watch it live on the internet. Learn more.
Beginning today, Sept. 21, at 7 a.m., through Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., crews will close both lanes of U.S. 101 in Oregon to begin emergency repairs on the Necarney Creek Bridge at milepost 39.5 along the Oregon coast. The closure is necessary to remove the concrete hanging below the bridge. More details here.
Traveling in or near Seattle or Bellevue, WA, this weekend? Watch out! Travelers should plan for two full directional closures on the Interstate 405 corridor starting Friday night, Sept. 20, to Monday, Sept. 23: northbound Interstate 405 in Bothell and southbound I-405 in Renton. More details here.
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this national parks puzzle?
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 camped in or near Quartzsite, Arizona, within the last five years?
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of September 16, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.18
Change from week before: Down 6 cents; Change from year before: Down 70 cents.
Diesel: $3.53
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down $1.11.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain teaser
What is round at both ends and high in the middle?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Recipes of the day
4 yummy low-carb recipes for lighter, healthier meals
You won’t miss the carbs in any of these four recipes. These all sound delicious! We’ve got a casserole, a smart make-ahead breakfast option, delicious Asian lettuce wraps and a whole new way to eat a sandwich. Make one of these recipes when you want a lighter, healthier meal. Enjoy!
Trivia
Most RVers share a pet peeve about dog owners who don’t properly dispose of their pet’s poop. Interestingly, dog poop wasn’t a problem in the mid-19th century, at least in London. Back then, a dog mess was called “pure” and considered a sort of “brown gold” because of its properties for softening leather by tanneries. “Pure” finders would roam the streets, collecting their product (some with gloves, others with their bare hands) and selling it, some earning a very good living. Today, “pure” is certainly history.
The perfect scam
Dentist runs affinity fraud scam
Neill is a successful ER physician and business owner who has regrets after a recent missed investment opportunity that proved to be lucrative. So he jumps on board after meeting Clinton Herzog, who is offering buy-ins for his dental clinic chain in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, this new investment opportunity turns out to be a classic Ponzi scheme and Clinton disappears with hundreds of thousands of dollars from the doctor and his friends.
Laugh of the week
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under. (PDF)
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
“Be careful what you ask for- You just might get it”. Backrubs included.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 A friend’s husband joined a medical practice after medical school and his residency. All seemed wonderful until the office manager for the practice disappeared along with thousands of dollars. (Ever recovered? Never thought to ask. 🤔) Hubby became an ER doctor and never joined a practice again. Not much in common with the fraud alert, but it reminded me of this event. 🤔 Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Saturday giveaway-Parks Puzzle prize .. but safe straw discription?
Great Brain Teaser. I use it often.
Using the ‘How can we help you’ form, sent message regarding the Brain Teaser.
Didn’t know how else to do it.
Hi, Chuck. If you’re not giving away the answer to the Brain Teaser, you can just write a comment here. I don’t see when readers use the “How can we help you” form, so I’m not sure how long it might be before you get a response, if you’re expecting one. Or you can comment in Sunday’s newsletter, where the answer will be anyway. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Including the current weather map as part of the daily newsletter is the most useful addition I’ve seen in a while. Thank You!