Subscribers RV Travel Newsletter for Sunday, September 14, 2025

Issue 1226
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.

Today’s thought 

“Travel makes one modest: You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” —Gustave Flaubert

How vehicle wheelbase decides safe towing length

By Cheri Sicard
Most people ask, “What’s your tow rating?” when shopping for an RV and, on the surface, it seems like the smartest question in the world. The reality is, knowing that single number doesn’t guarantee you’ll be safe on the road. There’s much more at play when it comes to towing, and ignoring the other details, such as the vehicle wheelbase, can mean putting yourself or your family in danger.

Sleep for free at RV hookup ‘campgrounds’ you didn’t know existed

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Your RV travels can get expensive when you factor in campground fees, especially if you want hookups for electricity, water, and sewer. Happily, a handful of small towns, casinos, and even city parks across the country welcome RVers with free campsites that include hookups. These hidden gems let travelers save money while still enjoying the comforts of modern camping. Where can you find free RV camping with hookups?

Tankless RV water heaters aren’t what you think. Here’s why

Ah, tankless RV water heaters! They’ve been hyped in a big way in recent times. But, as someone very wise once said, “All that glitters is not gold.” And so it goes with tankless water heaters. An example: Do you travel a lot in the Rocky Mountains with your RV? If so, then you may be taking some cold showers: The heaters may not work dependably above an elevation of 4,500 feet. Do we all agree that’s not a good thing? Continue reading.

Today’s RV review…
The Coachmen Prism 24FS Class C is mostly nice

By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the Coachmen Prism 24FS Class C motorhome. I had a chance to walk through this Class C RV at an RV show, and all was well until… well, read on. The Coachmen Prism 24FS is a smaller Class C motorhome based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cutaway chassis, and that means it’s motivated by Mercedes-Benz’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine. Continue reading.

Yesterday’s top news for RVers

• USDA moves to roll back protections on 59 million acres of National Forest land
• Government plans to repeal land protections on public lands
• RV disaster at Burning Man shows risks of renting out your RV
• GM technology aims to identify older motorists no longer fit to drive
• Help the NPS enhance RV-friendly park services
• BLM camping: Good news now, but massive fee hike looms

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

RANDOM RV THOUGHT: In our society, where virtually everything we eat is purchased from a supermarket, a campsite by a stream may provide a child with the realization that what we eat needn’t always come from a store. It can be a great thrill for Junior, when fishing with Dad, to land a small trout, clean it, and then eat it for dinner. To a child, such an occasion can be an eye-opener that the food that nourishes us was actually once alive, and not just manufactured to be sold at the market.

Stupid is stupid is stupid… is stupid! And that includes this RVer

This RVer attempted to get some cash by driving up to a bank’s drive-through ATM machine. Or maybe he just cut a corner after leaving a bank. I feel sorry for the RVer. Whatever the intent, you can see that it didn’t work out! What a crummy way to ruin an RV trip.

How RV life changed my definition of success

By Sandi Sturm (After a few years, she’s back!)
Thinking of success, I realized that my definition might be influenced by others’ expectations, which made me question if I truly understood what it meant for myself. Thirty years ago, my goals were to have a good-paying job, good credit, and a mortgage. That is what my parents and my teachers taught me, and what I saw as examples in the world. I also noticed how unhappy my parents were. Continue reading.

7 ways to accidentally die in your RV

By Nanci Dixon
We all know it can be a dangerous world out there and we know that driving or towing an RV can be fraught with mortal accidents. This isn’t about the driving hazards of low bridges, wrong turns, road construction, tire blowouts or errant drivers. There are other ways to accidentally die in an RV. Here they are.

RV Service Centers & Repairs Report
Outstanding RV service and repair centers. Did your favorite make the list?

By Nanci Dixon
Thank you so much for your RV Service Centers emails this week! I am so glad that you are welcoming back the RV Service Centers column. Please keep your emails coming with both the good and the bad experiences. … This week, there were several emails with recommendations for great service and repair centers. A few we knew about already, but it is always good to get more opinions. Read about them here.

Reader poll
Has your GPS ever misled you?

Respond here.

More polls from this week:

• Do you usually fall asleep in the same position every night?
• Do you enjoy visiting caves?
• Are you eating something right NOW as you read this?
• Do you set an alarm to wake up in the morning?

Quick tip
A problem with ‘stocking up’ in an RV

By Nanci Dixon
We have stocked up on our favorite French vanilla/mocha coffee flavoring for several years when we travel north for the summer. This year was no different. We ordered our standard six-month supply, they got delivered, and we hefted all six rather large containers into the RV’s overhead bin, then promptly forgot about them. Here’s why that was bad.

FUNNY: Hang on to your husband, he may come back in fashion.

Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win The New York Times Crosswords for a Long Weekend: 200 Easy to Hard Crossword Puzzles?

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

Quirky fall festivals worth an RV trip

By Gail Marsh
Fall is festival season. When you think about typical fall festivals, you likely picture pumpkin celebrations or Oktoberfests. Perhaps you think about corn mazes or apple picking. Well, forget about the typical fall festivities! I’ve found five unlikely festivals that are very different from the ones we usually visit. They might be quirky, but you can still expect great food, friendly people, and fantastic fall fun all around!

The coolest summer destination for people who are always hot

By Gail Marsh
Tucked away in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle is a ridge with a curious secret—it blows out air so cold that you might want a jacket even in midsummer. A short, rocky hike leads you there, where rare plants thrive and history whispers of locals who once gathered ice from its slopes. This natural wonder is unlike anywhere else in the region, and if your body runs hot, this might be your new favorite destination.

Brain teaser

A special offer allows you to get a free Popsicle if you exchange two Popsicle sticks for one Popsicle. Peter has 20 sticks. How many times can Peter get a free Popsicle?

(Answer below.)

Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter

• Spare tire carrier hack gives your RV tons of extra storage space
• Why all RVers need a picnic table cover
• RV mods: Protect your headlights
• A story to touch your heart that came out of the 9/11 tragedy
• How to make boondocking fun for the partner who hates it

Yes, we have other newsletters! And our RV Daily Tips newsletter is one of our readers’ favorites! Learn more or sign up here.

In the RV shop with Dustin
The best product to protect your RV toilet seals

Join me in the video and article below as I explain more about Thetford RV Toilet Seal Lubricant and Conditioner, a specially formulated solution designed to penetrate and coat seals for smooth, problem-free operation. Here’s what makes it so great.

RV tire safety
Why do radial tires fail when overloaded or underinflated?

By Roger Marble
I have a number of posts here on RVtravel.com on the topic of why tires fail. There are also more than 16 posts on my RVTireSafty.net blog that mention “separation” as a reason or contributor to a tire failing, but maybe some want a more scientific explanation. Continue reading.

Ask Dave

This past week’s questions that Dave answered:

• What is the best product to restore sun-faded RV fiberglass?
• Does using tape to repair an RV awning cause retraction problems?
• Mold is throughout RV. Help!
• What is the ’60/40 rule’ for towing a trailer? Should I use it? How?
• I love the FlexArmor on the RV roof. Can I apply Henry Tropi-Cool to the slideout?

RV gadgets and gizmos

No new gadget articles this week, but Friday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories Newsletter is hot off the press and ready for your reading pleasure! Read it here. (Oh, and make sure you’re signed up for it here.)

BUMPER SNICKER: “Give me ambiguity or give me something else.”

Video of the day
9 tips for better RV travel days

By Cheri Sicard
Travel days in your RV can be hectic and stress-filled. The team from Today is Someday produced a video of practical, actionable tips to make RV travel days easier. In their video, the team had a 1,200-mile trip ahead of them, so what better time to focus on RV travel-day tips? In addition to the tips in the video, they recommend working off a checklist so you don’t forget things. Here’s what they recommend.

Readers’ pet of the day

“This is Belle (Border Collie, age 6), who loves to hike. This picture was taken while hiking in Moab.” —Mike Parker

• 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

In the 18th century, human alarm clocks were known as “knocker-uppers.” Clocks were expensive back then, so workers across the British Isles relied on human alarm clocks called knocker-uppers. The knocker-uppers would work in the early hours of the morning, knocking on doors and windows to wake up their sleepy clients. The role was usually filled by people already up that early, such as police constables and lamp lighters, or early-rising elderly people who wanted a little extra income.

Sunday funny

Oh, this is surely guaranteed to make you smile!

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

Read it here | Back issues

Brain teaser answer:

19 times. Remember that he gets one Popsicle each time he exchanges two sticks.

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

Johnny Cash’s final performance

This was recorded in Virginia in 2003, just a couple of months before the legendary singer died. It’s sad to watch, but it’s a historic moment and inspiring. Johnny struggled through the performance and could not even stand to do it. You have to love him for giving his all to the adoring crowd.

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RVtravel.com All Star Team

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Our policy on using artificial intelligence.