Issue 1176
How “forever chemicals” are shaking up the RV industry. Are you at risk?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Have you heard of PFAS? Maybe not, but you probably have heard of forever chemicals. They are human-made chemicals that are extremely difficult to break down in the environment. Not only do these chemicals last a long time, but they can also cause serious health problems. And now, the RV industry is finding itself in the heart of the forever chemical situation. Does your RV contain forever chemicals? Yep… Read the story here.
Today is National Public Lands Day! That means it’s a free entry day to all National Park sites around the country. Here are the details.
The latest news for RVers
The new data is in, and it suggests motorhome shipments are in trouble. While towable units saw a bit of an increase over August of 2023, motorhomes are doing a “drive of shame.” Are motorhomes failing? We can’t say, but their sales certainly have run out of gas. Learn more.
Get ready… it’s coming. Thor is launching the first hybrid engine Class A motorhome. It’s beyond the engineering paperwork stage—some RV dealers can already jump behind the wheel and test drive the prototype. Built on an electric vehicle platform developed by EV manufacturer Harbinger, the collaboration is a first. The new RV can deliver an estimated 500 miles of range. That’s big news for RVers. Check it out.
And speaking of Thor… RV companies in California are trying to weaken state protections for RV owners, with changes expected by September 30. If passed, California could shift from a top state to one of the worst for RV buyers. Nationally, Thor’s 2025 warranties cut buyer protections, while RV quality declines, marked by a spike in recalls on September 23. The industry is also moving to block legal routes that allow buyers to make manufacturers repurchase faulty RVs. What a mess!
National parks are being loved to death. As crowds line up at the gates, traffic jams inside change park visiting from a joy to torture. Several national parks have responded by creating a system where reservations are required just to get in the gate. Others require reservations for certain routes, once inside the park. But things are changing. The reservation system is closing, at least for a time, in several popular parks across the country. Here are the details.
Mystery stowaway on board! A California woman got a major shock days after visiting Yosemite National Park. A Yosemite critter hopped in her car days earlier and finally made its escape. Her dogs kept nosing around the engine compartment of her car. When she popped the hood, out jumped a big, furry… Well, you’ll see!
Internet giant Starlink and big cell service provider T-Mobile have promised cell phone users could reach out from just about anywhere. If out of network range, you can bounce your call through an earth-orbiting satellite. And to start the whole game, the companies promised you could start texting this fall. But the Starlink/T-Mobile plan for space-texting appears to have hit a snag.
One of RVers’ favorite snacks may soon disappear from shelves. Bananas were a staple of comedy sketches—peels on the floor leading to hard rump-landings. But there’s no comedy here if you like EATING the big yellow fruit. A fruit shortage of sorts could be building up that could see some store shelves empty and prices on those few bananas left skyrocket. Here’s what’s going on (you might want to stock up on bananas…).
If you’re looking to buy a new tow vehicle, listen up. Earlier this week Ford told customers just what they can expect to pay for one of their popular pickups. The F-250 Super Duty price will go up a little—or a whole lot—depending on which one you plunk down your money for. Continue reading.
Truma Combi G moves RVs one step closer to all-electric models. Truma Combi G will complement its existing propane-powered Truma Combi, which serves as both a furnace and water heater. “Many RV manufacturers we work with are shifting toward fully electric models. Eliminating propane is a step in that direction,” said Nick Dunning, head of business development at Truma North America. Learn more.
The national average for a gallon of gasoline shifted slightly by a few cents before ending up where it started a week ago at $3.22. Pump prices have been sliding recently, but the rapid intensification of Hurricane Helene appears to have had an effect.
Campground crowding (and more!)
Paid-off RV still costs more than $1,000 a month; plus “shocking” car, hotel costs
This week Nanci Dixon shares more of your stories about the cost of campground fees going up but without much, if any, increase in amenities; another couple’s plans to give up RVing due to higher costs; and some tips for finding good campsites at affordable rates. All those and more here.
RV review
Embassy RV Cape Cod—an RV I’d be proud to have built
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the Embassy RV Cape Cod, a Class B+ RV that comes from a company that makes a lot of commercial vehicles and also some pretty nifty RVs. I have to admit, I really like the thinking that goes into the products Embassy RV makes. In many ways, if I were an RV company, this is how I would build RVs—no wood, no slides, lots of innovative ways of just solving problems in a usable package. Continue reading.
More RVing news
Hear that buzzing in your ear? Don’t just slap at that mosquito, keep it away from you! That’s the news from New York state as officials react to the first death of a person from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) there since 2015. The state considers the problem so serious, it’s giving away mosquito repellent to visitors to all Empire State parks. This is serious business—Stay away from mosquitoes!
Conditions from Hurricane Helene vary at Florida National Parks. Following the passing of Hurricane Helene, visitors to the South Florida National Parks and Preserves should continue to exercise caution with the potential for unidentified hazards on land and in park waters. More details on each park are here.
A federal court in Indiana awarded Forest River, Inc. $5.56 million in damages after finding that inTech Trailers, Inc. willfully infringed Forest River’s trademarks. The original $2 million jury award was deemed insufficient to deter inTech’s actions, leading the court to increase the damages to ensure inTech did not profit from its infringement. Continue reading.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced plans late last week to tow oversized vehicles on city streets including RVs parked overnight if occupants refuse housing offers. The measure aims to address complaints from residents and businesses about occupied vehicles used as housing, particularly between midnight and 6 a.m. Learn more.
FMCA’s president Gary Milner has resigned to battle cancer. The following statement was issued to members of the FMCA by President Gary Milner: “It is with a heavy heart that I submit my letter of resignation from my position as the FMCA President. I have recently been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of cancer that is not curable, and that will require my full attention and devotion for the next several years….” Continue reading.
Rayne Beau the cat, from Salinas, California, went missing during a camping trip in Yellowstone National Park. After days of searching for the family pet, owners Benny and Susanne Anguiano finally gave up. Then, 60 days later, 2-year-old Rayne Beau miraculously reappeared on the streets near Sacramento, more than 800 miles away.
All road closures in California’s Sequoia National Park due to the Coffee Pot Fire were lifted last Saturday, allowing public access. Mineral King Road and its recreation areas, as well as the section of South Fork Road within Sequoia National Park, are now open. Atwell Mill Campground has also reopened. More details here.
Like fossils? Then mark your calendar for October 9 and head on over to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) in Page, Arizona. The area, one of the best places in the nation to study fossils, is hosting the premier National Park Service (NPS) event for this year’s National Fossil Day.
RV and RV-related recalls
Winnebago recalls trailers after siding blows off in transit
After receiving reports of siding blowing off some of its RVs, Winnebago is recalling certain 2024-2025 Winnebago Access travel trailers. The metal siding may have been improperly attached and can come loose, becoming a major road hazard. Learn more.
Reader poll
How would you feel about being in the campsite next to a lit-up RV?
Saturday giveaway
No giveaway this week, folks. We’ll be back with a new prize on October 12th.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of September 23, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.19
Change from week before: Up <1 cent; Change from year before: Down 65 cents.
Diesel: $3.54
Change from week before: Up 1 cent; Change from year before: Down $1.05.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain teaser
Can you find the sun hidden among the fall leaves?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Recipes of the day
5 yummy shrimp recipes for a delicious weekend meal
These shrimp recipes have us altering our dinner plans tonight (no, we’re not kidding!). These all look sooooo good. There’s something for everyone here, too—shrimp tacos, Greek pasta salad, shrimp and grits, bang bang shrimp (Never had it? You’re missing out!) and a classic shrimp scampi over pasta. Yum, yum, and yum! Here are the recipes. Enjoy!
Trivia
Montana has more cattle than people! With a population of just over 1 million people and around 2.16 million cattle, it’s a state where cows outnumber humans by about 2 to 1. This makes Montana one of the top beef-producing states in the U.S., and its vast open landscapes are perfect for cattle ranching.
The perfect scam
U.S. Army financial advisor defrauds soldier’s grieving family
Kim is grieving the tragic death of her son, who was serving in the Army, when she learns that she is the sole beneficiary of his military death benefit. To help with financial decisions at such a vulnerable time, an adviser named Caz Craffy is offered by the military. Kim plans to use the money to buy a home, but Craffy insists that she make investments in stocks of specific interest to him. One day Kim is contacted by the FBI and learns that Craffy is under investigation for redirecting military benefits to investments that pay him high commissions.
Laugh of the week
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
RVtravel.com All Star Team
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If this is Saturdays newsletter why are many of the article comments one,two,three,or four days old?????? Did I miss them on the daily news?? Thanks
A lot of issues or articles are repeated from time to time. I’ve verified this by scrolling down to comments section and sure enough, there’s my comment. It’s not one, two three or four days, it’s years lol!
I can’t quite understand why they repeat articles from a year ago either. Hopefully they will give us an explanation.
Donny, only a tiny percentage of readers read every issue of our newsletters, and typically read selectively, skipping most articles, reading one, two or three of interest. So we do tell readers about articles from the past. We have 23,000 articles on our website and most readers have only read a fraction of them. When we tell readers about articles previously published we first make sure they are still correct. In the last year, we have issued more than 600 newsletters, each with maybe 5 articles. That’s 3,000 articles. How many of those do you read the first time they appear? Our goal is to provide readers with helpful information, whether just published or two years ago.
I guess the recent articles come from their tips newsletter published each weekday.
They are in the daily “Breaking News” email, not the Tips newsletter, HappyCamper7424. RV Travel reports the news daily, as it is found. The articles are repeated in Saturday’s newsletter rather than held until then. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Love the national weather chart in the newsletter above. Can you explain where you obtained that exact image page. The link below the image does not give the L & H icons along with the front lines.
The image above is what I was taught to interpret in the late 1970s. Thanks, in advance.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Why do I have to hit the back arrow twice to get to the main newsletter after reading an article. Never happened in the past. Is it because of your change over to a different Web company.
I was very happy when the military started providing counselors to survivors of military members. I saw so many that wasted the money and within 6 months were broke and complaining that the military had abandoned them.
But this makes me sick that someone would screw over a family member like this.