Subscribers RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, September 7, 2025

Issue 1225
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.

Today’s thought 

“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” ―M. Scott Peck

RV expert names top 10 travel trailers for 2025

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Every year, RVers wait for Josh the RV Nerd’s list of favorite travel trailers, and in 2025, the lineup is larger than ever. Instead of picking just five trailers, as he normally does, this year Josh, of Bish’s RV, couldn’t limit his selection to so few, so he named 10. He didn’t rank the trailers, just commented on the variety, size and creativity across the market. Check these out.

Cheap RV invites mice to enter to pee, poop, chew wires, raise family

By Chuck Woodbury
These mice are happy because an RV manufacturer has left a big hole in the floor of an RV for them to climb into. They can then find wires and bedding to chew, food to eat, and they can leave their little mouse poop droppings all over the place, and they can pee on everything, too. And what better place to raise a family? All because the RV’s manufacturer was too cheap and uncaring to seal an opening in the floor.

How to get rid of fruit flies while RVing

By Gail Marsh
I learned the song “Shoofly, Don’t Bother Me” as a child. Lately, I’ve been singing it like this: “Fruit flies, don’t bother me!” Fruit flies are the uninvited guests that seem to appear out of nowhere, particularly when you’re enjoying the great outdoors in your RV. These tiny pests are more than just a nuisance—they can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation if not dealt with promptly.

Today’s RV review…
Forest River Grand Surveyor 290RLDS—a polarizing plus-size trailer

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2026 Forest River Grand Surveyor 290RLDS. I got to see this trailer at a recent RV rally, and there was a lot that I really liked in here, with a few head scratchers. This is a couple’s very large model travel trailer with a number of features that are new for 2026 and could be rather polarizing. This trailer is also pretty well-equipped, and there are some things I really like about it. What are those? Let’s talk.

EVER WONDER… How the Bigfoot legend began? The History Channel tells you everything you need to know (and you don’t have to search for it!).

Yesterday’s top news for RVers

• Staff at three national parks have voted to unionize for first time in history
• Slow left-lane drivers beware: New law could land you in jail
• Mark your calendar for America’s largest free RV show in Quartzsite
• Love’s Travel Stops opens new Texas location with RV hookups
• Starlink offers free month to win back RVers

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

The tip that might save your life

By Gail Marsh
This idea just may save your life one day. First responders insist that the File of Life can quickly relay important medical facts in an emergency situation when every second counts! The File of Life is not the same as I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) cards. An I.C.E. card usually only lists contact numbers of people for police or emergency services to contact in an emergency. The File of Life concept provides more in-depth information like…

Should our reader buy this campground, or is the dirt road a dealbreaker?

Last summer, we ran a poll that asked: “How likely will you stay in a campground that involves a 3-mile drive on a dirt road?” The majority of respondents said not at all likely, while about one-third of you said you would happily stay at a campground that was three miles down a dirt road. So if we ran this poll a year ago, why are we talking about it now? Well, earlier this week, we received the following email from Liz K… (Help Liz out!)

Readers share their most memorable RV trips

A few weeks ago, we asked you to submit the story of your most memorable RV trip. Some were good, some were bad, some were funny, some were sad… Last week, we kicked off this series with Dave Solberg’s most memorable RV trip. Today, we look at some of yours. The good trips, the bad trips, the funny trips, and the sad trips… It’s all here.

RV Service Centers & Repairs Report
Yes! RV Service Centers & Repairs Report is back: The horror stories keep rolling in

By Nanci Dixon
We stopped publishing this RV Service Center and Repairs Report column a couple of months ago because it seemed interest had sagged. However, I am still receiving emails on RV service centers on a regular basis. Yesterday, I met an RVtravel.com reader in the campground who said she missed the column. Jan has had so many issues with her RV that it made her feel not so bad when reading what others were going through, too. Here’s my first column back.

EVER WONDER… What’s it like to own an RV lot and use it as your home base? Well, after seven years of living full-time on the road, the crew from Today is Someday finally has a place to call their own again. The purchase of an RV lot in Crystal River, Florida, changed everything about their travel routine. Their story is in tomorrow’s newsletter. (Make sure you’re signed up for our RV Daily Tips to read it.)

Reader poll
For your next RV, will you most likely “downsize” or “upsize”?

Respond here.

Oops! Yesterday’s poll
We had a technical glitch and it didn’t work properly. So again:
What’s the biggest bill you’ve ever received for repair work on your RV?

Respond here.

TAKE A GUESS: Do more RVtravel.com readers tend to post campground reviews after positive or negative experiences? Find out here.

RV gadgets and gizmos
The best autumn 2025 Costco RV gear deals

By Cheri Sicard
Each year, RV Miles shares a Costco camping gear roundup for spring, but this fall lineup is packed with new deals and handy finds that work for campers, road trippers, tailgaters, and RVers alike. This year, the game plan was simple: Highlight top finds for any outdoor enthusiast, then wrap up with RV essentials. See all of RV Miles’ top Costco gadgets here.

Sunday giveaway 

How would you like to win one of our best-selling Amazon products, Thetford Tank Blaster Holding Tank Treatment?

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.

Travel destinations

The best beaches to camp at in the Midwest (yes, beaches!)

By Gail Marsh
I’ve tightened my grip on summer and I’m not letting go! The Midwest’s summer temperatures have moderated a bit, but I still crave one last RV beach trip. If you, too, wonder where to find a great beach in the Midwest, I’m here for you! Any one of the following Midwest beaches and campgrounds will supply beach vibes.

What most people don’t know about Mount Rushmore

By Gail Marsh
Have you parked your RV in the Keystone or Custer area and walked up to the Mount Rushmore viewpoint? Over the years, millions of RVers and road-trippers have made this one of the most visited stops in the Black Hills. Here are some little-known facts about Mount Rushmore that just might impress tonight’s group around the campfire.

BUMPER SNICKER: “If I can’t be a good example, I can at least be a horrible warning.”

Our top 5 best-selling Amazon products in August:

1. Thetford Tank Blaster – Level Sensor Cleaner
2. Protect All Slide-Out Dry Lube Protectant
3. RESTMO Water Flow Meter
4. Frienda RV Underbelly Repair Tape
5. The Original Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker

Brain teaser

An elevator is on the ground floor. There are four people in the elevator including me. When the elevator reaches the first floor, one person gets out and three people get in. It goes up to the second floor, 2 people get out and 6 people get in. It then goes up to the next floor, no one gets out but 12 people get in. Halfway up to the next floor the elevator cable snaps, and it crashes to the floor. Everyone else dies in the elevator. How did I survive?

(Answer below.)

In the RV shop with Dustin
The RV electrical adapters all RVers need

RV electrical adapters are essential accessories that allow you to connect your RV to different power sources, ensuring you can safely and efficiently power your appliances and devices. Here are some common RV electrical adapters you might need.

Rerun: In case you missed this
Gadget prevents RV catalytic converter thefts

By Dustin Simpson
Catalytic converter theft from vehicles is a big problem. So let us tell you about CatStrap™. It might prevent your vehicle’s catalytic converter from being stolen. Learn more.

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• 3 easy ways to eliminate RV holding tank odors and fix sensor issues
• Don’t use a jack to change your tire; do this instead
• The best tool to diagnose your RV’s air conditioner health
• Why it’s so important to take photos of your RV components and systems
• Simple steps to clean and maintain your RV patio mat

RV tire safety
Do your tires say “MAX PSI 80 psi” or something similar? Don’t take it literally

By Roger Marble
Do your tires say “MAX PSI 80 psi” or something similar? While those words may be on the sidewall, those words are NOT to be taken literally as an instruction because those words are in reality only part of an important phrase. In reality, your tires more likely say something like “Max Load 2,500 pounds at 80 PSI Max Inflation“. Of course, different vehicles will have different sizes and types of tires, but we are looking at some general guidelines here. Continue reading.

Video of the day
The secret to making an RV bed—even a difficult, boxed-in, east-west one!

By Cheri Sicard
This RV shorts video solved an issue I have long had—making an RV bed. Getting the fitted sheets on is such a chore that I have been known to procrastinate on changing the sheets until I absolutely have to in order to not have to deal with the struggle involved in making the RV bed. The video short from RV America has changed that. It’s so simple I had myself saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Ask Dave

This past week’s questions that Dave answered:

• RV decal dilemma: How to replace faded or cracked graphics
• Campground water has sulfur smell. What to do?
• RV refrigerator does not work, but there are no error codes
• Sealant coming out from around RV slide out. Time to replace seal?
• Should RV decals be waxed or not?

Readers’ pets of the day

“Piper never had puppies, but took to Trigger from the first moment we brought him home. They are a Standard Poodle and a Miniature American Shepherd and are 6 and 2 years old. They love camping and will run to the coach as soon as you say the words ‘Let’s go camping!'” —Julie Bolduc

• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.

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

The busiest airport in the world (yup, the entire world) is Atlanta, Georgia. You’d think it would be another airport in a large city, such as New York or London, but nope. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is, passenger-for-passenger, the busiest airport in the world and has been since 1998. In 2024, the airport processed more than 108 million passengers. Direct flights from the seven-million-square-foot airport reach all of North America, all of Central America, most of South America, most of Western Europe, and parts of Africa, South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

Sunday funny

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

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

I got off on the second floor.

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.

Search Google for the latest RV news from RVtravel.com.

And finally… A song from the past to tickle your funny bone

Our singing cowboy pal from yesteryear, Gene Autry, sings Mexicali Rose in his 1939 Republic Pictures film “Mexicali Rose” (1939). Movies were a lot simpler then, weren’t they?

GENE AUTRY TRIVIA: After Gene’s death, the Orange County Register reported that he was discovered by Will Rogers singing in a telegraph office in Oklahoma. Rogers told Autry that he had a pretty good voice, and suggested he go to Hollywood and make some money singing in the movies. Gene followed Rogers’ advice and became “The Singing Cowboy.” He later said that the next time he saw Rogers was in Hollywood where Rogers just nodded and said, “I see you made it, kid.”

RVtravel.com All Star Team

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