Issue 1220
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” —Alan Alda
FREE IS GOOD: In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), all National Park Service (NPS) entrance fees will be waved tomorrow, Monday, August 4.
Your help requested
Should we change how readers can comment on articles?
We just celebrated this website’s 300,000th reader comment (imagine three Rose Bowl crowds)! That’s for only 8 of the last 25 years since we started counting. Wow!
Alas, our staff has been increasingly challenged to keep the discussion civil and constructive. The problem: Too many angry readers want to start fights, usually attacking other commenters. It offends many of you (and us, of course). So what can we do? Would you please help us by answering a quick poll? What if we banned comments altogether? Would you still read RVtravel.com? What if we moderated all comments before they appeared? That could mean waiting between leaving a comment and it showing up.
We have some ideas, but would very much like your thoughts. —Chuck Woodbury, publisher
Finding a good service department is one of the most important parts of RVing
By Gail Marsh
We all have our “must-have” lists when purchasing a big-ticket item. The lists help narrow down our choices when, say, buying an RV. You may not want the same features on your RV that I do. That’s okay. Everyone is different. But one feature that all RV owners will undoubtedly want (and eventually need) is a good service department. Here’s how to find one.
RV internet choices from Calix to Starlink
By Cheri Sicard
When it comes to staying connected on the road, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Jared Gillis from All About RVs has tested a range of internet options, and he’s open about what has or hasn’t worked. Here, he shares how his setup has evolved, including why he still relies on Calix for everyday use but now keeps Starlink as a crucial backup. Continue reading.
Three easy DIY RV tips from smart RVers
Gail Marsh found these three unique DIY tips from smart RVers on Facebook. She says she’s never seen or thought of these before, and had to share them with you. If you need more storage space, these are pretty brilliant!
RVers prefer own toilet even when a clean restroom is close
One of the perks of RV life is having your own bathroom wherever you go. But does that mean most RVers actually use it, even when a clean public restroom is nearby? We recently posed that question to RVtravel.com readers in a poll that drew more than 2,500 responses. Read how readers responded and some of their comments.
Today’s RV review…
World debut: 2026 Forest River Sunseeker 2030RP—a first-class B+
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is the forthcoming Forest River Sunseeker PM 2030RP, a B+ motorhome based on the Ram ProMaster chassis. This new floor plan offers a lot of flexibility in cargo use and interior space. Another feature that the company prioritized was the bathroom. I was pleased when Forest River shared the MSRP of this rig with me, and we’ll get to that. But first, let’s look at how this is equipped.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- Starlink still leads, but Project Kuiper’s rapid expansion is closing the gap
- Camping World closes stores but sells more RVs
- U.S. Forest Service offices slated to close in sweeping USDA shift
- Burning candle sparks fatal propane explosion at campground
- RV shipments rise nearly 16 percent as 2026 models roll onto dealer lots
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: The more “stuff” you carry in your RV, the more fuel your motorhome or tow vehicle needs to haul it. Once a year, go through your drawers, cupboards and storage compartments and remove things you haven’t used in the last year.
Why RV mattresses are an odd size, plus mattress tips
By Andrew Herrick
I recently purchased a mattress for my master bedroom, and it reminded me of the pain (pun intended) of many RV owners wishing to replace their RV mattresses. It’s no secret that most RV mattresses are inspired by long-forgotten torture racks from the medieval era. They are thin, creaky, lumpy, too hard, or too soft. And why are they never a standard size?
This fire danger is hiding inside your RV’s dryer
By Nanci Dixon
Yuck! Ugh! Eww! I dutifully clean the lint filter in my RV dryer EVERY time I use it without fail, but this time saw more lint clinging to the bottom of the filter when I pulled it out. A thin string was connected to the filter, so I pulled it out. I decided to stick my hand down where the filter fits and…
Why are there black stripes on some electric (telephone) poles?
By Gail Marsh
We were on our way to a family reunion in Iowa. That’s when I first saw the mysterious black stripe on a few electric poles. As we traveled down the backroads, the pole stripe piqued my curiosity. What is it? What does the black stripe mean? Why is the stripe on some poles but not on others? This became curiouser and curiouser. Here’s what I learned.
National Park Service ordered to erase “negative history”
In accordance with the President’s executive order, the National Park Service staff is being ordered to inventory its signage and remove whatever “is too negative about Americans past or present, or fails to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features at these national park sites.” Read more.
NATURE NOTE: The average lifespan of a gray wolf in the Rocky Mountains is 3-4 years. Female gray wolves can give birth to an average litter of four to six pups. Rough estimates place survival rates for the first year at between 50 and 60 percent. So says Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Reader poll
How many RVs have you owned in your life?
TAKE A GUESS: If given the chance, would RVtravel.com readers clone their pets? Yes or no? Find out here.
Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win a set of these wine glass holders?
These strong holders clip onto your camping chair or picnic table and allow you to have a place to put your wine or cocktail glass.
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.
EVER WONDER? Can you use Drano in your RV for plumbing issues? Find out here.
Travel destinations
Cold War history on display at South Dakota missile site
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
If you’re a Baby Boomer, you may recall (perhaps with trepidation) those infamous drills back in school. The alarm sounds, and everyone hides under their desk. The Cold War fear was palpable. Those days are behind us, but you can get a glimpse back in history with this Delta‑09 Missile Silo RV travel stop.
Exploring Eastern U.S. state capitols and where to camp nearby
By Gail Marsh
I love exploring state capitols. Smaller state capitols offer easy‑going charm, shorter lines on guided tours, and the kind of hometown hospitality that makes you feel like part of the neighborhood. Many of these capitols are surrounded by scenic byways and family‑friendly campgrounds. Visit these!
IT’S WILDFIRE SEASON! Don’t let your RV accidentally start a brush fire! Here’s how you can help prevent that from happening.
Brain teaser
Your sock drawer only contains 18 white socks and 18 blue socks. How many times do you need to reach inside the drawer and take out a sock to guarantee a matching pair?
(Answer below.)
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV wheel bearing pitting and why it can be the silent killer of your RV trip
Your RV’s wheel bearings may be out of sight, but ignoring them could bring your adventure to a grinding halt. Wheel bearing pitting is a common but often overlooked issue that can lead to dangerous failures on the road.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Glowing gadget with many uses you’ll want for your RV
- A simple fix to stop fighting with your fifth wheel front storage door
- What is the best place to connect an RV water filter?
- RV detailers explain how to keep your RV looking good-as-new
- Yes, you can do laundry in the RV without a sewer hookup
Inflatable rafts are boring. This inflatable motorhome is much better!
We told you about this in yesterday’s newsletter. Imagine how much fun it would be to inflate this at the beach and then climb on for a leisurely float on the lake? Well, don’t get too excited — except about learning more about this.
RV tire safety
Back to basics: “What tires do I need for my RV?”
By Roger Marble
There seems to be some confusion on tire selection for RV applications. As a Tire Design Engineer with more than 45 years of experience, I would like to offer some basic advice on choosing RV tires, as not everyone has worked with tires or RVs. Continue reading.
FACTOID: From the book, Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson: Garage. “A garage originally was a place to moor a boat, not park a car. Garage is an early-19th-century French word meaning ‘a place where one docks.’ The French began to use garage for ‘a place to keep a vehicle in’ when the automobile became popular early in the 20th century, and the English soon borrowed the word from them.”
RV gadgets and gizmos
Are Yeti insulated products worth their expensive price tag?
By Cheri Sicard
I used to roll my eyes at Yeti products. To me, they seemed like overpriced status symbols for the van life crowd. Sure, they worked—but were they really that much better than the cheaper alternatives? I couldn’t see how the steep price tags could be justified… until I saw one in action.
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
- Potential hazard: RV’s roof vent cutout found on fridge’s coils when replacing roof
- RV’s dining area floor is damp. Could it be the drain? What to do?
- Why doesn’t RV’s bathroom sink have hot water, but all other faucets do?
- Why don’t RV exteriors stay shiny, like cars?
- What is the proper exterior maintenance for a fiberglass RV?
Video of the day
How to get maximum power out of your solar panels
By Cheri Sicard
Solar panels make off-grid life easier, but sometimes even a bright, sunny day doesn’t provide the power you expect. There’s one often-overlooked solar panel mistake that can cut solar output by a third or more, and fixing it is simple. Here’s what you should know.
Readers’ pets of the day
“Kato the cat (age 10) and Solo the dog (Cavalier/Shih Tzu/Poodle, age 3) chillin’ on the RV settee. The cat was definitely dominant and deigned to let the dog near his magnificence once in a while.” —Pat Larson
HELP! WE’RE VERY 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.
Trivia
Much like trees, you can determine the age of a bear by counting the rings in its teeth. That is, if you can get close enough to a bear’s tooth… If you take a cross-section of a bear’s tooth and examine it under a microscope, you’ll find layers. Each year, a new layer is formed. First it’s light in color, then, during hibernation, it turns dark. By examining the spacing between rings, you can also tell if a bear has given birth. The growth layers are thinner during the years they have cubs because much of the calcium and other nutrients that make up a tooth go towards nursing their cubs.
Sunday funny
Q: Why do they call them “heated seats”?
A: Because “rear defroster” was already taken.
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
Three times. With two colors, the third sock pulled means you have at least one matching pair.
Vintage postcard of the week
Postcards owned by Colleen and Ed Weum, Pacific Northwest Postcard Club. Read more about their 90,000 postcard collection here.
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
And finally… A song from the past
There weren’t too many hits in the 1960s as big or enduring as this chart topper by Petula Clark. Enjoy “Downtown”!
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Great tip from Dustin on wheel bearing pitting. I typically don’t do my own bearing repacking, but have it done annually. Since I suspect many mechanics don’t inspect the bearings as well as Dustin’s team, would I be smart to just proactively replace bearings periodically? And if so, what might be a good interval for doing this?
jim, thanks for the kind words. As far as an interval there not really a suggested time. It typically depends on use and age, I would suggest that an owner should replace every 5 years just as a precaution. By that time they should have been cleaned and packed at least 4 times.
As cheap as they are it would just be a good piece of mind. Don’t forget to change out the races as well.
Thanks again for asking.
When buying bearings make sure you get a brand name like Timken, either made in Japan or USA. Forget the Chinese bearings and get good seals as well.
On the brain teaser I had guessed one time. But I match socks together as I put them in the drawer.
Yeti not only keeps drinks cold, it also does a great job keeping coffee hot.
We have found that although they are great for keeping things cold, the real thing about them is how hot they keep things, and how long it stays hot.
Thanks for sharing Kato and Solo’s relationship of tolerance 😊 We’ve also trailered with a cat and dog that were happy to tolerate each other in order to be with us.
On Article comments predicament. That is the same problem the US went through in the late 1700’s, the balance of individual freedom, rights and the institutional rules, protection. RVtravel has defined the who, what, where, when, why and how. The readers are the guests, users, consumers. not the Owners, Hosts, or Producers. we are granted a privilege, not a right, to participate in something greater than ourselves. The solution is clear, stay on topic, play by the rules or get warned, then blocked.
Wanted to read the article about NPS erasing “negative history” and got this message …
‘Well, this is embarrassing…
Our web server could not find the page or image you wanted to see.
Here are our latest stories or click here to go to our home page.‘
Just letting you know I couldn’t read the article. First time that has happened.
I use my laptop, not my phone, for computer stuff.
Thanks and keep up the great RVTravel news tips and info every day!
Thanks, Linda. It’s been fixed. (Danged gremlins!) Have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
What am I missing on the brain teaser? Assuming I can’t see the socks and I’m randomly selecting one, the first time I reach into the drawer, it is a 50/50 chance which color I get. Lets say it’s white. The second time, I have a slightly reduced chance, but I can still select a white sock. The odds are greatly against it, but I could select 18 white socks in a row. Which means I have to pull 19 socks to 100% guarantee I have a matched pair.
Hi Gary. As an example: First sock – white. Second sock – black. Third sock has to be either white or black, giving you a pair.
This publication has commenting rules like any other does. RV Travel’s rules come down to “be civil and respectful.” I’m all for freedom of speech. But Any freedom has boundaries. Writing in language that is demeaning to authors of articles or to other commenters should result in a warning of loss of privileges. A second time is one too many. Three strikes and you’re out! If it’s too hard for a writer to be respectful and civil, they need to take their comments to some other more appropriate place; a political debate, for instance.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Interesting to see no comments available for the national park story. I suppose it easier to just remove the history rather than go to the time and effort of rewriting it. Reminds me of my Grandmother. When she came across an offensive word while reading something, she put her finger over it so she wouldn’t see it. 😉 Thank you for Petula Clark and “Downtown!” I watched many of those variety shows when they were broadcast and often done “live.” It never occurred to me how expensive it must have been to employ a band, dancers, and other staff, in addtion to paying the host and guests. “Reality” television must be at the opposite end of the spectrum. It makes me ..
.. sad. Have a great week and safe travels!
Neal is the best!
Hi, Neal. On the national parks story, Chuck set up a separate commenting page, which is linked in the post, rather at the bottom. He and Emily are receiving those comments, and Chuck is compiling some of them into a post. Have a great day, and safe travels. 😀 –Diane
The bad thing is our present president and past president removed/removing past history which they shouldn’t. We were not in the shoes of past Americans and some things were acceptable then, but not now. But it’s still history and cannot be erased. It happened.
Well well Chuck W, seems like those were some very intelligent responses. Don’t know what you’re screening for besides milquetoast answers. Kinda like Mike Sokol’s arguments getting slaughtered by the opposition to EV’s. His feelings were so hurt he quit writing for RVTravel. RV’ers are an opinionated bunch. If everyone is so offended, just eliminate the comments! Personally, I’d still like to read them, but I’m bored with this drama.
One more thing, if I am banned for that opinion and you consider a “meanie”..well so be it.
Peace an love to all 🙂
Hi, Matt. You don’t have a clue why Mike Sokol left, but it had absolutely nothing to do with EVs. (That’s hilarious, actually.🤣) Have a good evening/night. 🙂 –Diane
well it stands to reason… all the flak he got after that whole issue, in which he was defeated. Miserably. And shortly after that time frame, he was gone. nothing.
So please forgive me for assuming. I’m glad I gave you a good laugh.
👍 Trust me, Matt. It was totally unrelated to EVs or anything our readers said. (Mike is very thick-skinned, BTW.) Take care. 🙂 –Diane
I guess , on the NPS signage , my disput with it is the liberal left descriptions used. You can explain without making Washington a criminal or MLK a saint. Of course with you guys being part of the liberals you will disagree. Part of the reason I rarely respond.