Issue 1222
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Today’s thought
“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” —Henry David Thoreau
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bratwurst Day!
On this day in history: 1930 – The first color sound cartoon, “Fiddlesticks,” is released by Ub Iwerks.
Featured news
Even top RV brands have hit-or-miss years, and corporate takeovers or production shifts can change everything. Liz Amazing’s survey of 200,000 RV owners breaks down which model years of several popular RV brands are worth buying, and which could cost you big headaches down the road. The results reveal patterns and insights that you might not want to miss.
Three very different fiscal year 2026 budget proposals could shape the future of America’s National Parks—impacting campground hours, staffing, maintenance, and even which parks stay under federal control. From deep cuts to near-level funding, each plan has big implications for RVers. Here’s a summary and brief description of each proposal, along with what each plan could mean for RVers.
Google Maps receives bazillions, if not more, requests for directions each day. Have you ever wondered which state park is researched the most? Or what state park in your home state is most mentioned in Google Maps requests? Here are Google’s top ten most-requested directions for state parks across the U.S.
A nationwide shortage of qualified diesel technicians is making waves. RVers who travel in diesel-powered rigs could feel the pinch. A new report warns that trucking, which relies heavily on diesel service professionals, is already struggling to keep up with repair demand. In 2025, 65.5% of repair shops were short-staffed, with nearly one in five technician positions unfilled. Diesel-powered RVers, listen up.
Speaking of diesel… The EPA is making changes that will affect anyone who drives a diesel-powered pickup, motorhome, or tow vehicle. New guidance for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems aims to stop trucks from suddenly losing power when DEF runs low—a problem that has frustrated RVers, farmers, and truckers for years. Read the story here.
RVers who count on Starlink for internet on the road will soon have to pay to “pause” their service. SpaceX is dropping the free pause feature for Starlink Roam and Priority subscribers, replacing it with a $5-per-month “standby mode.” Some users are upset, describing the Starlink $5 standby fee for RVers as nothing more than a rate increase. Here’s more info.
SCAM ALERT! Speaking of Starlink… If you’re an RV traveler dreaming of internet anywhere, you might have seen Facebook ads promising a “Starlink chip” SIM card for just $14.90 a month. It sounds perfect for boondocking, tailgating, or escaping to remote campgrounds, but it’s really just a scam. Here’s what to look for (and avoid).
RV sales finally showed a year-over-year gain in June—but don’t break out the champagne just yet. According to Statistical Surveys Inc., which tracks retail registrations for the RV industry, it’s only the second time since 2023 that a single month has beaten its numbers from the same month a year earlier. Here are the stats.
If a Class C motorhome weighing 12,000 pounds, traveling at 15 miles per hour, is struck by a loaded freight train (the locomotive of which alone weighs 400,000 pounds) traveling at 15 miles per hour, who do you think would win? From the looks of this terrifying video, you’ve guessed right.
Greenville, North Carolina, officials have already spent nearly $20,000 in their case asking a court to order Camping World to remove an oversized flag and flagpole from its dealership. Now, officials are up against Camping World animus allegations. Attorneys for Camping World say Greenville’s battle over the giant flag at its RV dealership has little to do with safety or zoning and everything to do with bias against the company. Will this ever end?
A Florida couple’s recently purchased Class C motorhome ended up in a high-speed chase straight out of an action movie, complete with wrong-way driving, sudden U-turns, and even ramming into a sheriff’s SUV. Here’s how the thieves pulled it off, how police caught them, and what you can do to keep your RV from becoming the star of the next viral crime video.
HERE’S A NEW ONE: REMOTE-CONTROLLED CATTLE HELP CONTROL WILDFIRES! In a high-tech twist on wildfire prevention, about 100 Angus cattle in California are now guided by remote-controlled smart collars instead of cowhands. The collars use geofencing, sound, vibration, and gentle pulses to direct cattle toward vegetation that needs grazing—and away from sensitive areas. Just two weeks after installation, the system helped keep a wildfire near Davenport, Calif., to less than two acres. Could cattle change land management in fire-prone regions?
Wyoming health officials are contacting more than 230 parties after a bat colony was found in the attic of a Grand Teton lodge, potentially exposing guests to rabies. While the risk is low, there have been eight reports of guests coming into contact with bats.
Due to the King Fire in Gorman, Calif., an evacuation warning has been issued for the Paradise RV Park, and residents of the Pyramid Lake RV Park are being advised to shelter in place, the Angeles National Forest reported.
BIIIIIIG RECALL: Ford is recalling more than 100,000 2023-2025 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy-duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines. Learn more.
How old is the world’s oldest chicken? 9, 11, 14, or 18? Scroll down to find out.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
Camping has gone to the dogs! Plus, your input wanted: Is RVing still fun?
By Nanci Dixon
Thanks to all you wonderful readers who wrote in after I started up Campground Crowding again! (Read last week’s “we’re back!” edition here.) I received a number of emails about campground etiquette or, rather, the lack of campground etiquette. Let’s have another go-round at airing folks’ grievances about campground etiquette. About 90 percent of those comments were about dogs, and a couple were about protecting their dogs. Continue reading. Then let us know how you feel about RVing for an upcoming article.
RV review
Creative floor plan of 21-foot Ibex travel trailer is strikingly different
Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV walks you through a single-axle travel trailer with a floor plan that is far different from what you would normally expect. The 2026 Forest River Ibex 16MBJ, with no slide out, is targeted at couples who don’t mind bumping into each other while moving about, solo travelers, and midsize truck or SUV owners. Click here to read.
Reader poll
Would you ever consider renting out your RV through a peer-to-peer rental company (like RVshare or Outdoorsy)?
HEADING TO ALASKA? Send for the official Alaska Vacation Planner (or read it instantly online). Either way, it’s free (and free is good!).
News briefs
Gas prices stayed on track this past week, with the national average returning to $3.16 after a few dips. Peak hurricane season is ahead, which could change things. But right now, with crude oil prices remaining steady, there’s no indication of big changes looming. —AAA
Update late Sat. morning: Hurricane Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm with sustained 160 mph winds. As of yesterday afternoon (August 15) [confirmed Aug. 16], it does not appear that Hurricane Erin will severely impact the U.S. East Coast. As of today, Saturday, it was expected to be north of the Leeward Islands moving west-northwestward, then northerly. It will likely spread to the Western Atlantic early next week, where it could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
America’s newest national monument, the Cotoni-Coast Dairies, just north of Santa Cruz, California, opens to the public on August 16 with nine miles of multi-use trails and sweeping coastal views. For now, the area is day use only, with no overnight camping or campfires, but there are plenty of places to camp nearby. Oh, and they have some of those remote-controlled cows, also, like mentioned above.
It’s now easier to find and book a campsite at a California State Park. Previously, campground availability and reservations were only accessible on ReserveCalifornia.com. Now, visitors can check near-real-time campsite availability directly at Parks.ca.gov, along with other helpful information.
Widespread heavy rain and damaging winds hit southeastern Wisconsin this week. In the wake of these punishing storms, state parks, trails, and some private campgrounds were damaged by downed trees, washed-out roads, broken power lines, and temporary closures. If you’re traveling to or through Wisconsin, read this first.
An aggressive wildfire erupted Monday night near Port Alberni, British Columbia, forcing up to 300 people to evacuate the China Creek Campground and Marina—a well-known stop for RVers and boaters exploring Vancouver Island. Learn more.
The National Park Service may be short on staff due to budget cuts. Fortunately, that doesn’t translate to a shortage in the sense-of-humor department. A big buttes joke has made it onto the Park Service Facebook page.
Remember when “You’ve Got Mail!” announced a new email to AOL customers? Apparently, AOL still offers dial-up service… but not for long. The internet provider just announced that it will discontinue the service by the end of September.
THINK YOU LIKE COCA-COLA? Think again! A Coke superfan from North Carolina recaptured a Guinness World Records title this week when her collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia was tallied at 5,623 unique items.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will reopen three campgrounds at Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake. Susquehannock and Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campgrounds opened yesterday. The more RV-welcoming Seven Points Campground will follow September 5. The campgrounds were closed due to a federal government hiring freeze.
Yellowstone National Park hosted 975,109 recreation visits in July 2025, down 2% from July 2024’s 992,352 visitors. So far in 2025, the park has hosted 2,666,031 recreation visits, up 1.5% from 2024 (2,626,091), and down 0.1% from record-breaking 2021 with 2,668,765 visits.
Nevada’s Great Basin National Park has implemented Stage II Fire Restrictions, including a ban on all campfires, charcoal grills, and smoking outdoors within park boundaries.
Swimming and wading at Cleghorn Beach and Sawpit Beach are now prohibited at Southern California’s Silverwood Lake due to a harmful algae bloom. Fishing is allowed with precautions. Day use, hiking, picnicking, camping and boating are okay, but don’t drink or cook with lake water.
Do you like to fish? Then good news if you’re in Michigan! So far in 2025, the state has stocked 18,958,000 fish of 10 different species and one hybrid, totaling more than 331.5 tons. Michigan is home to 155 different kinds of fish.
New Yorkers are being warned about the newest efforts to steal their personal information by crooks pretending to be the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles or tolling agencies. The culprits design phony websites and phishing text messages to look legitimate, all to trick people into providing personal information that can be used to commit identity theft and fraud.
… Speaking of New York: You might want to ease up on your gas pedal. State Police and local law enforcement began cracking down yesterday on impaired and reckless driving by increasing patrols and checkpoints during the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign that runs through Labor Day.
So far in August, 124 forest fires in Maine have burned 70.8 acres. The number one cause was “campfire-related incidents.”
The South Rim of Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has partially reopened after a wildfire forced its closure for more than a month, but campfires and other burning are prohibited. East Portal and South Rim campgrounds remain closed.
Peninsula State Park’s Tennison Bay Campground, the largest in Wisconsin’s Door County with 188 sites, will soon have two renovated toilet/shower buildings and three flush toilet facilities. The current facilities, built in 1967, badly need a makeover.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park’s campground section 4 has undergone extensive renovations including new sites with water, sewer and 50-amp electrical services. On Thursday, campsites 103-110, 112-120 and 160-167 became available for reservations.
Lazydays Holdings, Inc. reported a 44.2 percent revenue decline in the second quarter after selling several RV dealerships to improve profitability. The net loss narrowed to $24.6 million from $44.2 million in the same period in 2024.
Loved ones of Jayda Floyd of Odessa, TX, who died last month in the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country, have filed a lawsuit against the HTR TX Hill Country Resort, a luxury RV park and campground on the Guadalupe River in Kerrville where the 22-year-old juvenile probation officer was staying.
BUMPER SNICKER: “If you can read this… I’m about to hit my brakes.”
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Brain teaser
What starts with a P, ends with an E and has thousands of letters?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
In the U.S., theater popcorn costs more per ounce than filet mignon.
A Texas woman’s pet chicken was officially named the oldest in the world by Guinness World Records at the age of 14 years and 69 days old. Little Elm resident Sonya Hull said she hatched the chicken, Pearl, in her personal incubator on March 13, 2011. Here’s the video.
Laugh of the week
THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT US? Tell other RVers about RVtravel.com! If you love us and our newsletters, chances are other RVers will too! Spread the word—help us out! THANK YOU!
The perfect scam
Scam Survivors Use Experience to Help Others
In this bonus episode, Bob talks with two of the nearly 150 trained volunteers who answer calls on the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Dee and Mike, both scam survivors, draw upon their experiences to offer emotional support and guidance to people who have recently been targeted. The helpline is a free resource available 5 days a week.
Today in history
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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“Laugh of the Week” That’s a good one!
That’s what I say every time I fasten my belt around my belly.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Yes, trip planner is one of many free resources for planning a trip to Alaska. My favorite is Alaska.org . From there one can order free information from many of the different destinations in Alaska. I must use ratchet straps too little because I have not advanced to declaring that whatever I have tied will go nowhere until the strap is released. 😉 Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Here again I see,(THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT US? ) I’ve asked a couple of times if you could create a business size card ad that I could print and hand out to campers when I talk to them and have never heard of you. I always spread the word of your website but if they had something in print, I think it would stay with them longer than a conversation.
So sad that the “Loved ones of Jayda Floyd” are suing the RV park she was staying at in the Texas floods. Isn’t it enough tragedy and heartbreak already? On a personal note: my husband & I stayed at that park last year. By the grace of god!