Issue 1187
The latest news for RVers
There’s a new RV in town! RV startup Lightship RV says it’s rolling out “America’s first all-electric” RV. A travel trailer that not only breaks the RV industry mold in appearance, it shakes things up by adding some measure of self-propulsion. Imagine towing a travel trailer without the typical loss of fuel economy. No need to stop for LP: heating, cooling, cooking—all run on electricity. Lightship’s new rig is revolutionary. But it’s not without some serious drawbacks.
An RV park manager’s $800,000 embezzlement scheme has landed him behind bars. Troy Bittner, 55, exploited the chaos of the COVID lockdown to steal from Carolina Pines RV Resort in South Carolina. Now sentenced to three years in prison, he’ll be reflecting on his crime from behind bars. Click through to uncover the full story behind his shocking betrayal.
A pair of enterprising crooks got the better of a major U.S. RV dealer in a new RV sales transaction. Eureka, Missouri, police are on the lookout for two thieves who drove away from Blue Compass RV with a brand-new travel trailer last August, after presenting a phony ID to obtain a loan on the unit. The two scammed a new RV, but it took some ingenuity. Here’s how it unfolded.
Another Little Buddy propane fire… An Oregon City, Oregon, RVer has lost her home after her Little Buddy propane space heater caught fire on a chilly night. Darlene Liedtke says she tried to do everything right, but something went wrong and the rig went up in flames.
California’s fight over gas prices is heating up as lawmakers push back against new regulations by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Designed to cut emissions under the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), the tweaks could raise gas prices by $1.50 per gallon, critics warn. Now, bills from Republican lawmakers aim to overturn CARB’s changes, including one that could take effect immediately if passed.
Planning on outfitting your RV with solar? You might move more quickly if you want to save some money. RV solar panel prices will likely increase soon. On December 11, the Biden administration announced it will double import tariffs on some solar panel components imported from China. More info here.
Is your travel trailer missing? Not anymore! We’re hard-pressed to explain how an RVer could be missing a travel trailer and not know it. But in a strange case, opening sometime before mid-October, police say it’s happened. Police found a stolen travel trailer; now they want to find the owner. This is a unique story…
RV dealers have been singing the blues for a long time. High interest rates were killing them—having to pay “flooring” for unsold units. Customers were a seeming threatened species. Finally, a break. Statistical Surveys Inc., the industry bean-counter that tracks retail RV sales, says that for the first time in more than a year, more new RVs were sold in a month than in the same month a year ago. RV sales are up—kind of, sort of.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
RVer notes RV site infrastructure wearing out; money going towards glamping areas
This week, Nanci Dixon shares more of your reports about RVing and campgrounds, some good and some not so good. One newbie says every experience they’ve had has been positive, so they’re glad they didn’t listen to the “Negative Nellies” regarding campgrounds. There are more complaints about corporations taking over parks and charging more for unused amenities, or upgrading the glamping portion but not taking care of basic infrastructure upkeep, i.e., more for their own profit. Read more.
More RVing news
This week, President Biden announced our country’s newest national monument: the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the monument is to educate the public about the traumatic history of the Indian boarding schools. In addition, it seeks to honor the resilience of the Indigenous children who endured them. Continue reading.
And speaking of national monuments… Ever since Theodore Roosevelt created the first national monument, Devils Tower in 1906, U.S. presidents have had the opportunity to leave a legacy for themselves. Only two, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, did not avail themselves of the opportunity. President Biden has designated six national monuments and has made changes to the boundaries of several others. As his time winds down, will he create more? And does it make a difference for RVers? Find out here.
Freed all about it! Are you ready to explore the breathtaking beauty of America’s national parks? In 2025, the National Park Service invites everyone, especially those who may not have considered a visit, to plan and prepare for their next national park trip early. Next year, the National Park Service will waive the entrance fee to national parks on six days. Here’s when you can get in for free.
Yellowstone National Park’s winter season begins Sunday, Dec. 15. Annually from mid-December until mid-March, visitors can travel most of the park’s roads from the west, south, east and north entrances by approved commercially guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches and via the non-commercially guided snowmobile access program. Learn more.
Northern California’s Lassen National Park Highway has closed to through traffic for the winter/spring snow season. The park itself remains open throughout the winter/spring snow season. Camping in self-contained RVs is permitted in the southwest area parking lot.
Last week, an earthquake off the coast of Northern California sent people heading for higher ground from a tsunami warning. While the warning was later pulled down, 500 miles away, Death Valley National Park saw its own “tsunami.” Waves up to two feet high rolled through Devils Hole, a deep water-filled cavern. It’s the home to the Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis), one of the world’s rarest and most endangered fish species. How have the pupfish been affected?
RV and RV-related recalls
7,000 Forest River motorhomes recalled for turn signal reflector safety violation
Forest River motorhome drivers, heads up! Nearly 7,000 Georgetown Class A units are being called back for a bad turn signal reflector. In this case, a driver behind you might not see you have your turn signals on—and a rear-ender could be the result. This Forest River turn signal problem still doesn’t have a solution, either. Learn more.
Injury caused by bad step leads to recall of Grand Design RVs
Grand Design RV is recalling certain 2023-2025 Momentum fifth wheel trailers. The interior step base does not adequately support the step tread. The tread may detach from the step, increasing the risk of a trip-and-fall injury. Learn more.
Forest River recalls RVs after 25 reports of breaking LP brackets
After a consumer filed a complaint with federal authorities, Forest River found 25 reports of breaking LP cylinder brackets. Now, travel trailers from two model years will need to be checked to see if they need replacement brackets. Learn more.
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this stacked tire insulated travel mug?
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 (and article)
Do you like your given name?
By Gail Marsh
Your given name is the first gift your parents give you. The name is often chosen with love, meaning, or tradition in mind. It’s the name you carry through life, shaping your identity in ways you might not even realize. I didn’t love my name growing up… Continue reading and vote in today’s poll.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of December 9, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.01
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 13 cents.
Diesel: $3.46
Change from week before: Down 8 cents; Change from year before: Down 53 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain teaser
What word has 10 letters and starts with gas?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Recipes of the day
Delicious one-pot meals made easy
Take the stress out of dinner tonight or this week with these one pot meals that are as easy as they are delicious. We’ve listed something for everyone here: soups, sheet pan salmon and veggies, mac and cheese, and a delicious sausage dish. Click here to get hungry.
Trivia
The term “motel” originated from a lodging establishment called “Milestone Mo-Tel” in San Luis Obispo, California, which was constructed in 1925 by Arthur Heineman. In conceiving the name, Heineman combined the two words motor hotel into one word, mo-tel, because he could not fit the words “Milestone Motor Hotel” on the rooftop.
The perfect scam
We use our smartphones for just about everything these days, and that makes them a prime target for scammers. Online banking often relies on a code sent in a text message to verify the account holder’s identity, but criminals have figured out a way to impersonate the phone and intercept these messages. This is exactly what happens when Jeff receives an SOS message on his phone, and before the day is over, thieves steal tens of thousands of dollars from him. The good news is, there’s a simple thing we can all do to safeguard our phones and our accounts today.
Laugh of the week
A couple of RVers who’d recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary were sitting on the sofa in their Airstream trailer, when the wife said, “Dear, do you remember how you used to sit close to me?” He moved over and sat close to her. “Dear,” she continued, “do you remember how you used to hold me tight?” He reached over and held her tight. “And,” she went on, “do you remember how you used to hug me and kiss me and nibble on my ear?” With that, her husband got up walked toward the back of the motorhome. “Where are you going?” she asked. “Well,” he answered, “I have to get my teeth.”
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.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
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I got teased a lot when I was younger due to my first name. I love my first name even more today. It brings smiles to faces young and old.
Awesome name! Love the alliteration!
So where’s your picture?
As per the perfect scam alert. I usually don’t pay attention to this segmant. I listened to the whole thing (thank for the time lost). Keep promising a solution, but you have to listen to all the hand wringing prior to the fix. Probably won’t tune in next time.
I promise you that I felt the same way about some episodes, and at the beginning of the series.
Now I’ve finished 208 episodes and have a proverb for you:
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”.
One way or another, they’re going to find you, they’re going to get you get you get you get you
And the motto of the NSA “You don’t know what you don’t know”
I’m a positive guy, but it seems Forest River RV Manufacturing is in the recall section every week. Sure hope they get it together soon for the buyers sake. Everyone have safe travel holidays!
What’s the sign-in to see Today in History
Hi, Robert. I’m not sure what you’re talking about. In our newsletter you just click on it for it to play. If you mean where we get it from, just go to YouTube and search for Today in History then put in whatever date you’re looking for. (We use the one from Associated Press.) I hope that helps. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you for the scam alert. I’ll listen to each one from now on.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Ha! I think I know the answer to the brain teaser. I guess we’ll see. Happy new year and safe travels! 🙂