NEW: Now, near the bottom of every issue of this newsletter and our weekday RV Daily Tips, a national forecast map of severe weather and a link to a directory of U.S. highways with low bridges.
HURRICANE WARNING: (Sunday, Oct. 6, 11:20 am, PDT): Hurricane Milton is headed toward Florida. Milton has rapidly intensified from a Tropical Storm into a hurricane a day ahead of forecasters’ predictions, as Florida officials gear up for the state’s largest evacuation in years. As of Sunday afternoon, Milton was located approximately 800 miles from Florida’s west coast. The National Hurricane Center forecasts it will make landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 110 miles per hour. Monitor its progress.
Issue 1177
The RV crash danger no one talks about
By Chuck Woodbury
“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger … and you (we) don’t talk about this RV crash danger.” I have exposed myself and my family to this danger many times, knowing full well that a traffic accident could end tragically. Read more and see a video where this danger is documented.
Why go small? This time we’re looking at the case for owning a small RV
By Tony Barthel
Recently, Mike Sherman, full-time RVer, made a very good case for the reasons to go big and have a larger RV. I saw that and, as a small trailer enthusiast, I wanted to share my thoughts on why I think small trailers have the advantage. The first thing I have to clear up is that the RV industry is incredible. There is literally “something for everyone.” In fact, there’s almost no “right” or “wrong” answer. I’ve seen people adapt to all sorts of RVs. But… Continue reading.
How long can you safely keep fresh water in your RV’s tank?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Having your RV sitting in the driveway, “ready to roll” on a spur-of-the-moment trip, is one of the gifts of our lifestyle. One thing you need to consider is how long does the “fresh” water in the RV’s tank stay fresh? Find out here.
Today’s RV review…
2025 Forest River Wildwood X-Lite 273QBXL – two rooms, 10 beds
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the new 2025 Wildwood X-Lite 273QBXL. This is a mid-sized bunkhouse, but the bunkhouse is done differently. Actually, the whole trailer has something special going for it. Find out what it is here.
RV service centers and repairs report
RV tire woes from several RVers: “How can manufacturers be so careless?”
This week Nanci Dixon shares several readers’ frustrations regarding poor-quality tires, and three more rave reviews for RV service centers. Read about them here.
UPDATED WEEKLY: A list of RV dealers, service centers, and mobile techs as recommended by our readers. Click here.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- New report shows campers are changing dramatically
- FMCA doubles cost of membership. Bad move
- Hurricane Helene didn’t stop falling gas prices – but experts warn of uncertainty
- Little Guy Trailers officially out of business; warranty customers up a creek
- Love’s offering 15 cents off diesel and 10 cents off gas
- “Crime and civil unrest affecting RV travels.” Plus, long-term RVers turning RV parks into “mobile home parks”
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
The most ridiculous RV campsite we’ve seen
By Chuck Woodbury
This is one of the worst-designed RV campsites my staff and I have come across in nearly 23 years of publishing RVtravel.com. I found this photo on social media, and recall that the campsite and its steep approach was on a U.S. military base. You won’t believe this! Could you get your RV in here? We don’t think so!
Are RV AirSkirts worth it? Temperature test plus installation
By Cheri Sicard
There’s no doubt that RV skirting can help keep your RV warm in cold temperatures as well as cooler in warmer temperatures. There are many types of commercial and DIY RV skirting available, but RV AirSkirts have to be the easiest to install. So let’s put them to the test.
How to make lasting friendships with other RVers
By Nanci Dixon
We are grateful to have made a few long-lasting friendships while RVing. They are people we stay in contact with and even do meetups every once in a while. How can we build on those relationships and continue to make friends as older adults? Here are some tips for making new friends and staying connected.
Around the Campfire
Would you change your RV’s flat tire yourself?
By Gail Marsh
A late arrival to the campfire explained that this RVer didn’t intend to pull into the campground after nine in the evening. He arrived late because he had a flat tire on his travel trailer. After waiting three hours for road assistance to show up, he finally changed the tire himself. I wondered what other RVers would do in this situation…
The dirty secrets of buybacks of defective RVs
Join RV consumer advocate Liz Amazing (her real name) as she sheds light on the frustrating reality of consumers with defective RVs who attempt to secure a buyback from manufacturers who insist they do not do such a thing. (Actually, as Liz explains, they do.) Read more and watch her video.
Travel destinations
Train buffs’ bucket list trip: Visiting Golden Spike Tower
By Cheri Sicard
RVing railroad buffs are going to want to route their travels through North Platte, Nebraska, for a chance to experience what has to be one of the best train buffs’ bucket list attractions ever. The Golden Spike Tower overlooks the largest rail transfer yard in the world. Even better, this attraction is part of Harvest Hosts, so if you are a member of this terrific program, you can spend the night. Check this out.
Heading to Arizona? Check out these oddball AZ attractions
By Nanci Dixon
We arrived in Arizona too early this year. It is 101° out right now and climbing to 107° today, so I am inside with the A/C on. I am taking this inside time to check out some of the oddball roadside attractions in Arizona that I may want to visit during our stay. Here they are. You may want to visit them, too.
Reader poll
Have you ever continuously stayed 3 months or more in an RV park or campground?
Brain teaser
A clock chimes 5 times in 4 seconds. How many times will it chime in 10 seconds?
(Answer below.)
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Have a paint nick or chip on your RV? Here’s an easy trick
- Bet you’ve never thought of these uses for cardboard tubes while RVing
- How to deal with losing your wallet while on the road
- Prepare your RV for storage or less use: Follow these tips to clean, organize and prep
- Fiberglass RV polish and restoration 101
In the RV shop with Dustin
Minimize RV plumbing issues with the RV Tissue Digester
By Dustin Simpson
Are you tired of dealing with clogged holding tanks in your RV? Say goodbye to plumbing issues with the amazing Thetford RV Tissue Digester! Here, we explore how the Thetford RV Tissue Digester can keep your system flowing smoothly. Continue reading.
RV gadgets and gizmos
Powerful, quiet, portable air compressor fits in small compartments
By Dave Solberg
Recently I had the opportunity to test out a new air compressor called the AstroAI T6. I have to admit that at first, I was skeptical as most of the portable 12V models I have used are pretty much one-and-done or disposable units. Not this one—I am very impressed. Here’s what makes it stand out.
Video of the day
7 practical space-saving RV storage ideas
By Cheri Sicard
In today’s video, Rhonda from Over the Hill Adventures shares seven practical space-saving RV storage ideas she uses to keep her RV neat and organized. These may be things you’ve never thought of before. Check them out.
RV tire safety
RV tire air pressure – Part 3: Interply shear is why tires fail
By Roger Marble
The entire reason we are doing this in-depth series is to better understand how to avoid tire failures. If you haven’t read the first two parts, you can read them here: Part 1: Is your RV tire temperature or pressure too high? Part 2: The air pressure supports the load. …
The best we can do is to lower the interply shear. This force cannot be eliminated. Read how to lower the interply shear force 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:
- How to install a battery disconnect switch in RV
- Why does RV furnace light on second attempt but not first?
- Is there a ‘back seat’ on propane valve? Should it be fully open?
- How long should it take to get hot water at RV faucet?
- Best way to clean and lubricate RV slideout rails and gear
Vintage RVs
RVer’s Spartan trailer restoration highlights the legacy of a WWII classic
By Paul Lacitinola
Brand loyalty is something every manufacturer, producer, and mom-and-pop business strives to achieve. It’s a bond that can last far beyond the life of a company. In the world of vintage camping, this loyalty is especially evident. Owners of vintage trailers are deeply proud of their rigs and love camping with fellow brand enthusiasts. So when Frank Stevens stumbled upon an all-original 1952 Spartanette on eBay, he knew exactly what he had to do.
RVing with dogs
Top 8 dog trainer tips for RVing with dogs
By Cheri Sicard
Endless RVing’s MJ happens to also be a certified professional dog trainer. Here, she shares her top 8 tips for RVing with dogs. As a professional dog trainer, MJ works with dogs every day. She frequently sees things going on with dogs at campgrounds that she wishes were different. So she produced this video to help make camping and RV trips better and easier for both dogs and owners.
Recipes of the day
It’s National Noodle Day! Celebrate with these yummy noodle and pasta recipes
Life’s simple pleasure… noodles. There’s no doubt about it, noodles make the world spin. These 6 noodle recipes range from Asian noodles to pastas to noodle soups and casseroles. Get cozy with these comfort foods and enjoy! Here are the recipes.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Lily has been traveling with us since see was 10 weeks old. Being a Lab, she has a particular penchant for campgrounds with lakes or rivers!” —Wendy Ansel
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.
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
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
Taos, New Mexico, is home to the mysterious Taos Hum—a low-frequency sound that some residents and visitors have reported hearing since the early 1990s. What makes it intriguing is that only about 2% of people can hear the hum, and its source remains unexplained. Scientists have studied it, but there’s no definitive explanation, making it one of the state’s unsolved mysteries! Have you heard it?
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
The clock will chime 12 times in 10 seconds.
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.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
I disagree with the brain-teaser answer. If the clock chimes five times in four seconds, that means it’s chiming every second: one chime at the start, a second chime after one second, a third chime after two seconds, a fourth chime after three seconds and a fifth chime after four seconds. (You have to start counting seconds with the first chime because how else would you know when to start?) Continuing the same sequence, it’s clear that after ten seconds clock will have chimed 11 times, not 12.
I realize this is just another interpretation of the question: If the clock chimes every 4 seconds, and chimes 5 times. In 10 seconds it will have chimed 10 times as there are only two 4 second periods within 10 seconds.
This is how I interpreted it. I looked it up on brainly.com and the answer is 12.5. According to this website, we are all wrong.
Mathematically, yes, the answer is 12.5 (it chimes every 0.8 seconds). However, since a chime is a binary yes/no event, you cannot have half a chime, so the correct answer is, in fact, 12.
If is 5 o’clock, it will still only chime 5 times.
Were not told what time it is, only the rate at which the clock chimes. (If it’s 1 o’clock, for example, the clock will chime only once.)
All the other answers above that end up with fractional chimes clearly miss the mark. The key is knowing when to start counting–and as I said before, the only logical answer is with the first chime.
This is not a mathematical puzzle (so no fractions!) as much as it is a commonsense, real-world question: a clock starts chiming. After four seconds it has chimed five times–so how many times will it have chimed after 10 seconds?
I still maintain the answer is 11.Not 12, not 10.5 or 12.5.
I don’t understand the clock chiming teaser. If it is chiming 4 times because it is 4 o’clock, it won’t be chiming any more after the 5 seconds.
Sorry, but I don’t have time to explain it to you.
LOL good one Ken!
Regarding Chuck’s informative crash tests for RV’s. Here’s a novel idea…….SLOW DOWN!!
We drive a Tiffin Wayfarer Class C, built on a Mercedes Benz 3500 sprinter chassis. I NEVER exceed 60 mph, regardless of the speed limit. Interstate 95 in Maine has a 70 mph speed limit. I travel in the far right lane – the slow one – and let everyone go by me as fast as they please. If I’m going too slow, pass me in the passing lane. I don’t change lanes. I don’t pass people. What’s the rush?? We’re out RVing, not going a drag race. I’ve had every conceivable class of RV pass me at break-neck speed – no pun intended. What’s the hurry??
Agreed.
I agree that slower is safer. I generally stick to no more than 65. It helps gas mileage big time also. However, even an accident at 30 mph can kill, so precautions should still be taken, regardless of your driving habits.
Too many people in a rush to donate their organs.
Any chance there is a map of the low bridges?
All stays Pro or the Hammer App
The Brain Teaser answer is correct ONLY because it can’t “half-chime” on the 10.5 second mark.
A brain teaser does not have an answer from simple math. I agree with 11 as the time starts with a chime and with 4 more to reach 4 seconds and if you continue on for 6 more seconds you then have six more chimes for a total of 11.
Did anyone else have trouble with the articles? A full-screen drop down ad for either Chevy or Cadillac kept interfering and would not go away no matter how many times I gently… or maybe not so gently… clicked on the “x” to get it to go away. Very frustrating. I couldn’t finish a video or article.
Sorry, Kris. How annoying! I haven’t seen any complaints in the Comments, but I don’t know if anyone has written to the Editor about that issue or not. I’ll pass your comment along to the editor and also to our IT dude, Kim, to see if they know anything about it. Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Hi, Kris. Here’s the response I just received from Kim: “Haven’t seen anyone specifically complain about this type of ad. We’ve turned off full page ads, pop overs and interstitial ads (between page loads), so I’m not sure how he was seeing this. May just have been a one time thing.” So…I hope it was just a temporary occurrence for you and that it doesn’t happen again.🤞 Otherwise, I don’t know what to tell you.🤔 Sorry. –Diane at RVtravel.com
This has not happened to me today in this newsletter. HOWEVER, my computer uses Chrome and the stupid thing has done this to me today on other things I was looking at. I am going to have someone get rid of this for me, I hate it.
Regarding the Brain Teaser, if the clock chimes 5 times in 4 seconds it means it is 5 O’clock. In ten seconds it will be 14 seconds after 5 O’clock and the clock won’t chime at all. Unless you are talking about some special clock, that’s how clocks work. Now I have chimed in.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 Ha! I got the brain teaser right! 🙂 Have a great week and safe travels! 🙂