Subscribers RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, February 23, 2025

Issue 1197 • Ads have been removed in this newsletter for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.

You caused a freak accident at the campground. Are you insured?

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
A peaceful night at the campground takes a fiery turn when a flaming marshmallow mishap leads to a lawsuit. You have insurance—but are you actually covered? Many RVers assume their homeowner’s or vehicle liability insurance has them protected at the campsite, but the reality might shock you. From tripping hazards to unexpected pet behavior, one small incident could cost you big.

RV electricity: Generator grounding and bonding

Thinking about grounding your portable generator for your RV? You might be making an unnecessary—and potentially problematic—mistake. Many inverter generators don’t have a built-in Ground/Neutral bond, which can trigger surge protectors and cause confusion. Should you use a grounding rod? Should you tie the ground and neutral together? RV electrical expert Mike Sokol clears up the myths.

Make your RV door(s) so much better

By Gail Marsh
It’s one of the most often used parts on your RV. Your entry door(s), that is. There are many ways to make your RV door work better for you. Check out these RV entry/exit door tips.

BREAKING NEWS 
U.S. National Parks are cutting services due to federal job cuts. Yosemite National Park has halted reservations for 577 coveted camping spots this summer. Online calendars for reservable tours in some parks show zero availability because of the loss of rangers who led them. Carlsbad Caverns National Park has canceled its guided tours and in March will end self-guided tours. Staff cuts at Grand Canyon National Park have already led to long lines at entrance stations.

RV review
2025 Jayco Eagle SLE 24MLE: An affordable fifth wheel trailer

Are you looking for a fifth wheel trailer that’s compact, reasonably priced, and roomy enough for a couple? The 2025 Jayco Eagle SLE 24MLE might be the answer. This newly launched member of the Eagle lineup provides a lighter, more affordable option for weekend getaways or long-term adventures. Check out this article and walk-through video by Josh the RV Nerd, who outlines the pros and cons of this interesting new RV.

RV service centers and repairs report
Service center’s critical mistake left propane tanks at risk of explosion

This week, Nanci Dixon has some doozies from our readers to pass along. They include an example where the reader sums up his unbelievable experience by stating: “This type of carelessness is unforgivable but also indicative of the lack of quality control leaving the RV factories.” Another reader related a couple of major things he has learned in his first four years of RVing. (Hint: One major lesson involves Camping World and an instance of their dangerous incompetence.) There’s another report on the “service” from Camping World, including being rudely told that if they didn’t like the timing on the needed service, they could “take it or leave it.” But there are a couple of recommendations for RV service. Read those stories and more 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

• Court confirms Camping World unlawful practices. RV buyers to get big refunds
• Canadian RV dealers threaten to cancel orders from U.S.
• Trump administration backs down on cutting National Parks jobs
• Fewer no-shows and cancellations at campgrounds in 2024
• Driver ticketed for towing RV with slide-outs extended

Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.

RV crash test shows horror of head-on collision

*We posted this as news last week, but wanted to make sure you saw it!

We’ve shown you RV crash tests before, but here’s yet another one that reveals, once again, that recreational vehicles are not made to survive serious accidents. If it were you in this motorhome when it crashed—not crash dummies—we doubt you’d be reading this right now. This footage is especially horrifying because it was captured from about a dozen camera angles.

How to add an instant bathtub to your shower

By Chuck Woodbury
Some people are just plain creative. They see opportunities where others see obstacles (or more likely don’t see anything special at all). If you have a shower in your RV that doesn’t double as a bathtub and you crave a bath, then here’s a quick, simple way to allow your shower to do double-duty.

The history behind Wall Drug – America’s favorite roadside attraction

By Cheri Sicard
If your RV travels have ever taken you anywhere even remotely (really remotely) near the town of Wall, South Dakota, you have no doubt seen roadside signs—LOTS of roadside signs—for Wall Drug. Dubbed America’s favorite roadside attraction, it’s a must-stop. But did you ever wonder how it came to be?

DISASTER STRIKES! “Before leaving the campground, I decided to flush the black tank with the built-in tank flusher. I closed the black tank valve so I could get a good flush (mistake #1). I monitored the progress on the idiot lights inside (mistake #2). It seemed to be taking forever. My wife’s screams got my attention. My weathervane-type sewer vent was spinning madly on the roof providing a brown rainbow across the campsite. Amazing how fast this 70+ old body can move to shut the water off! Hosed off the residue running down the sides and sprayed down the campsite as best I could. Didn’t check the toilet bowl before driving off (mistake #3). It had filled to the rim and when we stopped for lunch found it had splashed over everything. Ahhh, RV life! Regards, Jim S.”

Alaska RV travel

By Cheri Sicard

Preparing for an Alaska RV trip on a budget

The sisters behind the Two Tired Teachers YouTube channel are gearing up for their Alaska RV trip on a budget. RVing to Alaska tops the bucket lists of many U.S. and Canadian RVers, so the sisters decided to share their budget-friendly Alaska RV trip planning tips.

20 things we wish we knew before RVing to Alaska

In this article and video, the Happily Ever Hanks honestly share 20 things they wish they had known before undertaking this massive RV trip that tops many RVers’ bucket lists. It covers a lot of common questions about RVing to Alaska including what the roads are like, what kind of upgrades you should do to your rig, do you need campground reservations, and much more.

Reader poll
What size bed do you have in your RV?

Respond here.

POPULAR POLL FROM THIS PAST WEEK
We asked: For long-time RVers: Is RVing today as enjoyable to you as it was 15 years ago?

Brain teaser

Using only addition, add eight 8s to get the number 1,000.

(Answer below.)

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• DIY resealing an EPDM roof on your RV. If I can do it, so can you!
• Believe it or not, tennis balls come in very handy for daily tasks around the RV
• Know Your RV: Take care of your stabilizer jacks
• Tips to clean a gunky gray water tank. Yes, yours is gunky too
• RV lithium battery upgrades for beginners

In the RV shop with Dustin
Protect your RV appliances with RV vent screens

By Dustin Simpson
In this article and video, we’re diving into the importance of bug screens for your RV appliances. From your fridge to your furnace, pests can wreak havoc on your RV’s internal systems, leading to costly repairs and maintenance. We’ll explain how simple, durable stainless steel bug screens can help prevent these issues and keep your RV in top condition.

WORTH PONDERING: “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” —Mark Twain

RV gadgets and gizmos
Miss your sewing machine? This one was practically made for an RV

By Nanci Dixon
When we became full-time RVers we got rid of a five-bedroom house and 40 years’ worth of stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. I liked to sew and had two sewing machines. Within the first year in the RV, I missed them. I needed a sewing machine. I started looking for a lightweight, very small option. Here’s the perfect one I found.

Video of the day
Understanding RV screws, RV screwdrivers, and specialty bits

By Cheri Sicard
If you have ever gone to your RV toolbox in search of screws for a repair or found a repair needed a special screwdriver or driver bit that you didn’t have, you need to watch this video. RV expert Mark Polk of RV Education 101 does a terrific job of breaking down some of the most common replaceable hardware RV owners should keep on hand along with the tools needed to use them.

RV tire safety
Can an infrared thermometer warn of a hot tire?

By Roger Marble
A friend asked about the value of using an infrared (IR) thermometer gun to warn of an over-heating tire. As a tire engineer, I can advise that IR guns are OK for checking the temperature of metal items such as wheels, hubs or brake drums that conduct heat. However, rubber is an insulator and very poor conductor of heat. Therefore, no IR gun that I know of can detect the temperature of a “hot spot” on a tire if you try to check the temperature of the tire at a rest stop, for instance. Continue reading.

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:

• Are there covers to protect RV roof vents and skylights from hail?
• Dealer says I can’t use my RV slide room unless it is fully extended?
• Why does RV slide room “jump” like the gears are stripped?
• Is it OK to walk on the slideout roof like on the RV roof?
• Can I use a small battery jumper to extend and retract RV jacks?

If you’re in the area, be sure to attend Dave’s seminars at the Pennsylvania RV Supershow today (last day). You’ll be educated and entertained, guaranteed!

Recipes of the day
Delicious recipes for Meatless Mondays

If you think a meatless recipe can’t be as delicious as a meat-filled one, boy are you wrong! Most of these are Italian, and who doesn’t love Italian food? Like spinach artichoke lasagna, broccoli cheddar soup, eggplant parm, caprese pasta… See? Delicious! Check these out and make one tomorrow.

Readers’ pets of the day

“Ricky (Doxie) and Yoda can fight like ‘cats and dogs’ but really like each other. Here they are relaxing in the motorhome. Probably waiting for dinner.” —Kim Chong

HELP! WE’RE RUNNING LOW ON PET PHOTOS! 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.

SPEAKING OF DOGS! Today is National Dog Biscuit Day! Toss Fido a treat from us, won’t you?

Trivia

We’re lucky to have the convenience of Google Maps or other mapping software built into our phones. But what did we do before satellite GPS? In the early 20th century there weren’t any satellites or such things as in-dash car computers. If you were a wealthy and fashionable driver, you may have had the Iter Avto. This was a black TV-like device that was mounted on the dash. The Iter Avto would hook up to gears in the odometer and would hold paper scroll-style maps that would advance (scroll) as you drove. If you made a wrong turn there was no “RECALCULATING” scream, as we all know well, but instead, you’d have to manually reload all the scrolls. Yikes.

Sunday funny

Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000

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.

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.

RVtravel.com All Star Team

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Our policy on using artificial intelligence.