Issue 1178
Why we had to prove a reader wrong about RVing
By Nanci Dixon
Howard B. sent this email and asked that we please prove him wrong: “I have been planning for my retirement in a couple of years, but as I have been reading, RVing appears to be on the downslide. Bummer, as I planned on buying a Super C Newmar and traveling around the country with wifey. All I read about is how bad RVing is now, and how difficult it is to RV across the country. I am now in a quandary as to what I will do. It does not look promising at all. Prove me wrong, PLEASE.” Well, Howard, let me be the one to prove you wrong!
How to vote if you’re RVing
By Gail Marsh
I just realized today that our RVing plans for October and November will find us camping far from our stix-n-brix location on voting day. That means if we intend to vote in the upcoming election, we’ll need to figure out our game plan. Read on to find out how to vote when RVing.
Why you need an electric bike
By Dave Helgeson
Electric bike (aka e-bike) sales have soared over the last few years due to their rise in popularity. Undoubtedly you have seen RVers cruising around the campground this past summer. Here’s why they’re so popular and what makes them so great.
Today’s RV review…
Keystone Cougar 22MLS—big updates, lower price
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review looks at one of my favorite couple’s campers out there—the Keystone Cougar 22MLS. We’ve looked at this rig in the past and I looked very seriously at it when we were shopping for our own RV. When you have something that sells like hotcakes, as this does, it’s tough to justify changes to it. But that’s just the opposite of what Keystone did for this year.
RV service centers and repairs report
RVers must hire mobile tech to fix Camping World’s mistakes
This week Nanci Dixon relates more of your stories about RVs’ long stays at service shops and still not being correctly repaired. But there are three more RV service locations with positive reviews. 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
- Market watcher suggests Lemonis may lack confidence in future of Camping World
- Hurricane aid or business move? The truth behind “free” Starlink access
- RV sales face unprecedented meltdown in latest stats
- Scams, misinformation spreading about FEMA hurricane efforts
- Caught on camera: Helene flooding drags RV over dam
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
HAPPY 249TH BIRTHDAY TO THE U.S. NAVY!
The two types of RVing boondockers: those who like solitude and those who don’t
By Gail Marsh
What would you do? A conversation erupted on a Reddit group recently. An RV boondocker posted this: “Thousands of acres to camp in. Why do they have to camp right next to us?” Reddit members quickly chimed in. Sentiments from fellow boondockers were split. Looks like there are two types of boondockers: those who enjoy solitude and peace and quiet, and those who don’t. Continue reading.
Why you need to be nice to your RV dealer
By Ron Burdge
When your new RV has box problems and you have a chassis problem, too, which should you fix first? That’s easy. Can you get them both fixed without having to run around yourself, when the RV dealer is just across town but the chassis dealer is halfway across the state? Well, maybe. Continue reading and learn why it’s so important in a situation like this to be extra nice to your RV dealer.
Don’t judge an RV, or RVer, by its cover
By Emily Woodbury
Today I’d like to ask you not to judge. I’d like to ask that you put your discriminations, your hate, and your preconceived notions aside and just read Mary’s story about her and her husband’s experience RVing in Arizona. She sent us the following note…
What’s the view out your window?
Where are you reading this newsletter from right now? We want to know!
A few years ago, during the pandemic, we ran a feature called “Your views from quarantine: What’s out your window?” We want to bring it back… only a little different this time. Send us a photo of the view out your window (or porch, deck, campsite, etc.). We will feature one photo a day in each of our newsletters, so keep an eye out to see if it gets featured. Bonus points: Take a photo of your screen with any of the RVtravel.com newsletters in it, like the photo above. You’ll have a better chance of it being featured. Click here to learn more and submit a photo. We can’t wait to see your submissions. Thank you!
Travel destinations
Visit the national parks that no longer exist
By Gail Marsh
Where did they go? How can some national parks no longer exist? You may be surprised to know that not all national parks have stood the test of time. Over the years, several parks and monuments have been abolished, reclassified, or transferred to other forms of management. These forgotten parks are an interesting part of America’s conservation history. Plan a visit to one today.
Reader poll
Should campgrounds/RV parks have a “lights-out” rule?
More recent popular polls:
- Do you use your RV’s outdoor shower?
- What’s your take on automated cameras for traffic enforcement?
- Do you think drones should be allowed in U.S. national parks?
Brain teaser
I’m a ball, but I can’t be kicked, thrown or tossed. What kind of ball am I?
(Answer below.)
You might enjoy these popular stories from the archives:
- RV extended warranties: Worth the money?
- Are you doing it wrong? Here’s how to correctly perform a zipper merge
- RV engineer spills the dirty truth about RV cargo capacity
- RV engineer answers: “Is silicone sealant the worst thing ever for your RV?”
- Did upgrading the suspension on my F-53 chassis work?
In the RV shop with Dustin
Learn all about RV underbelly plumbing leaks
By Dustin Simpson
One of the most frustrating things for an RVer is having to deal with a water leak underneath the RV in the underbelly area! And if you didn’t know, this is a dreaded repair for any RV technician. Underbelly leak repairs can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Here’s why.
RV gadgets and gizmos
No new gadget reviews this week, but make sure you read Thursday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories newsletter. In this issue, Cheri focuses on multi-taskers! Tools, gadgets, and accessories that can do more than just one job. Read it here.
Video of the day
Amazing flower pot cooking with just three briquettes!
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, the Carolina Cowboy of Carolina Cowboy Cooking introduces us to an unusual camping cooking method—flower pot cooking! The Cowboy uses an ordinary terra cotta flower pot he picked up for just $2.48 and three (count them) charcoal briquettes. That’s all you need. Oh, and one little crunchy item to get the briquettes burning. Seriously, this is amazing!
RV tire safety
Why are tire ply rating and load range different?
Tire expert Roger Marble received a message from a reader regarding his confusion on a tire’s “load range,” “load capacity,” and “ply rating.” In this post, Roger explains the differences.
Popular “Ask Dave” questions
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook”.
- Can I tow a fifth wheel with a 1/2-ton pickup?
- Why is there no industry-wide RV quality control?
- Do’s and don’ts when replacing RV batteries
- RV trips GFCI circuit breaker in storage facility. Why?
- Reader says: ‘RVIA is all hat, no cattle.’ What about RV electrical codes?
Vintage RVs
Transforming a 28-foot Boles Aero Estrellita into an ideal 20-foot trailer
BY Paul Lacitinola
Scott Burud, based in Bakersfield, CA, initially resisted buying a 1953 Boles Aero Estrellita trailer. The first time he checked it out, he expected to see a 20-foot-long trailer. After a three-and-a-half-hour drive, he arrived and quickly realized the trailer was much larger than he anticipated—28 feet, to be exact. The size was a dealbreaker for Scott… until it wasn’t.
Recipes of the day
6 soup recipes for chilly fall and winter nights
The weather is getting colder by the day and we’re going to declare it officially soup season! These six soup recipes are all very different, which means there’s something for everyone here. Baked potato soup? You got it! A southern-style shrimp stew? Yep! What about a chicken poblano chowder? Sure thing! But wait… there’s more!
Readers’ pets of the day
“Three-year-old Calvin and Ellie love to travel with us. They enjoy looking out for birds, squirrels, dogs, rabbits, and even groundhogs. They are constant entertainment for us with all their antics. They hunt for bugs in the RV and see things we don’t see.” —Bill & Anne Boehler
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
What animal has the best sense of taste in the world? Is it a dog, human or maybe a cat? Well, if you guessed cat you’d be half correct. Surprisingly, the animal with the best taste is a catfish. Not only do catfish have taste receptors in their mouth, but their entire body is covered in them. A typical catfish has upwards of 100,000 taste receptors on its body. For reference, we humans only have about 9,000. Maybe this is why catfish taste so good… mmm…
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
An eyeball.
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How about a debutant ball?
I’m having a ball with this!
How about a Hitch Ball? It can’t be kicked, thrown or tossed but I sure have hit it a few times with my shin! You use all those special words you’ve been saving.
Ouch! You use all those special words you’ve been saving for just such a special occasion, eh?🫢 Have a good night, Dave. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Brain teaser…kind of gross but I’m sure an eyeball could be kicked, etc. How about a Policeman’s Ball or Cinderella’s Ball?
That was my guess too.
Mine too..
Ever heard of throwing somebody the stink eye?
Cannonball?
Very ambiguous Brain Teaser……
Regarding your Sunday funny, what the other driver is doing is called a “zipper merge” and is the preferred method for handling lane closures in most areas: https://www.codot.gov/travel/zippermerge
Which there is an article about zipper merging just above the Sunday funny. So which is it…zipper or not??? And why do I have to occasionally reinsert my name, email, and check the three boxes???
Zipper. But bear in mind if you have a long rig, plan ahead a bit. As for you name/details, did you check the box that says “Save My Data for the next time I comment”?
Zipper merge should have a sign denoting that as most folks don’t really know what that is. One driver going all the way to the merge and passing everyone else for the last 1/2 to 1 mile does not make a Zipper merge. He’s an as………
…astute driver. Yes. 03 39L
FYI:
R V Exchange, Pahrump, NV has closed.
Thanks, John. I’ve updated the list. On their website it says they’re “temporarily closed” and hope to reopen in early 2025. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Missed the brain teaser. 🙁 Have a great week and safe travels!
Bill & Anne, Calvin & Ellie are beautiful! Years ago we moved to a new home that allowed pets so the kids & I went to a shelter & they each picked out a kitten. Their coloring was exactly like your pretty kitties. Lucy & Linus were well loved for many, many years. Enjoy your travels with them.