Issue 1228
Ads have been removed in this newsletter for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, a mild season, through a pleasant country, in easy stages.” —James Madison
From publisher Chuck Woodbury: Was I out of line last Sunday?
By Chuck Woodbury
Last Sunday, I posted a message asking for readers to please consider pledging their support to RVtravel.com. Some readers were offended by the tone of the message. I responded to one such comment from a loyal reader where I explained what I was thinking when I wrote the message.
Insurance companies rate “high-risk” trucks. Is yours included?
By Gail Marsh
If you tow a travel trailer or fifth wheel, the truck you drive matters. It matters for towing capacity and hitch setup, of course. It also affects how insurers price your coverage. Insurers “flag” models because their calculations say certain models are more expensive to insure. Here are the main reasons the cost of insuring a vehicle may be elevated. Is your truck on the list?
What RV buyers and teenagers have in common
RVtravel.com publisher Chuck Woodbury explains what many RV buyers share in common with teenagers. He speaks from experience. The behavior is not necessarily always good or bad, but it’s real. It can affect not only how RVers purchase a particular RV, but also the long-term consequences, which may not be welcomed. Read Chuck’s story.
How to prevent RV problems that would cost thousands to fix
By Cheri Sicard
For many RV owners, costly repairs can come out of nowhere. The good news is that simple maintenance tasks often stop these big problems before they start. Here, Deb with Deb’s RV Services shares what she recently saw some unfortunate RV owners dealing with, and how a bit of attention can prevent huge bills later on. Follow this advice.
Today’s RV review…
RV review: Flagstaff Micro Lite 25MBR—Hot off the press
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is of the 2026 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25MBR. This front-kitchen floor plan is one of those that seemingly packs more space into the size of a trailer than you might have thought possible. It’s also a new floor plan for 2026 and has absolutely taken off like a rocket. Continue reading for Tony’s thoughts.
We bet you do not know what 60-year-old company made this RV
Do you know the name of the company that manufactures the 2025-model travel trailer pictured above? We’ll give you a hint: The company has been around for more than 60 years. Here’s the answer (that will likely surprise you).
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- RV maker Newmar battling accusations from owners who are told their rigs are not legal
- More families trade houses for RVs, only to face tough realities
- Starlink to bring 5G cell service to RVers anywhere
- Thor promises 450-mile range on new Embark electric motorhome
- Texas approves one of the largest RV parks in the U.S. Will snowbirds come?
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: Most state and regional tourism bureaus offer free annual vacation and camping guides, often both printed and online. Many, if you ask, will also send you a free state roadmap. Always send for these freebies before you leave on your trip to the area. The guides may also have money-saving coupons. (Everybody likes to save money!)
A simple RV parking trick to avoid getting boxed in
Whether you drive a long Class A or even a larger Class C motorhome, or pull a travel trailer, parking lots can be challenging. Recently, parked at Walmart, Russ and Tiña De Maris returned from the store to find a car parked neatly behind their trailer with no room to back up and another car parked just ahead, blocking them in both directions. So what will they do to avoid this in the future?
Downsizing for a 19-foot trailer and the adventure of a lifetime
By Sandi Sturm
We were operating on adrenaline and caffeine. It was hot in western Colorado, and our to-do list was so long that we had to put “shorten the to-do list” on the to-do list! Just a couple of months earlier, we decided to sell most of the belongings in our 3-bedroom house, including the house, because we were moving into our new 19-foot travel trailer and driving to Alaska.
How blinking their eyes can help RV drivers older than 55
By Gail Marsh
If you’re an RVer over 55 and tow a trailer or operate a motorhome, you already know how important sharp, reliable vision is on the road. What you may not know is that eye blinking does more than keep your eyes from drying out. New research suggests blink behavior actually plays a role in how your brain processes visual information, which directly impacts your driving. Continue reading.
RV Service Centers & Repairs Report
More great reviews of service centers around the U.S.
This week Nanci Dixon includes more rave reviews received from our RVtravel.com readers for RV service centers and mobile techs around the country, including Florida, Alabama, Washington, and Iowa. Need some quality, timely work done on your RV? Check these out.
Quick tip
Don’t trust A.I. for medical advice
By Nanci Dixon
This week, I relearned a very valuable lesson: Don’t trust A.I. (artificial intelligence)! I have already read numerous RV articles “written” by A.I. and knew that when it said to find a grassy hill to dump RV black water tanks, it was wrong, wrong, wrong! However, I immediately forgot that lesson this week. It told me I was about to die!
Reader poll
Have you ever been on a group-guided RV tour?
TAKE A GUESS: Do the majority of RVtravel.com readers grease or not grease their trailer’s hitch ball? See if you’re right by clicking here.
Sunday giveaway
No giveaway this week. We’ll be back with prizes on October 12th! (We’ll make up for the lost time with even better prizes!)
RV gadgets and gizmos
The best product for cleaning and polishing RV woodwork
By Nanci Dixon
I will admit I have been remiss in cleaning and polishing the overabundance of wood cabinets, walls, and moldings in our RV. I had tried numerous products in the past that polished and shone, but they just became a dust magnet, so I basically gave up and just dusted. That was okay most of the time, but I noticed the cabinet doors were becoming a bit grimy, and wiping with a damp cloth was not working well. Here’s what I found.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- What size RV generator do you need?
- Best RV length works best for national park camping trips?
- The ABCs of free and low-cost camping on federal land
- Tips for overcoming RVing obstacles as we age
- The best way to back up a trailer
ALL THESE TIPS AND SO MUCH MORE in our readers’ favorite RV Daily Tips Newsletter. If you’re not subscribed, you’re missing out! Learn more or sign up here.
From the archives
All RVers will relate to this catchy song. You’ll love it!
With Emily Woodbury
This song, “I Need to Go Somewhere,” by a wonderful artist, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, recently came on my Spotify radio as I was driving. I know and love Drew Holcomb, but hadn’t heard this song before. As soon as it came on, I found myself cranking up the volume. Not only is it catchy, but I think it’s something we can all relate to as RVers. Watch the video and listen here.
Travel essays
Trains were my father’s gift—and now they’re mine
By Sandi Sturm
I love trains. Well, I love train rides. This love came to me via my dad. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service, and his office was located across from Union Station in St. Louis. His job was to pay the railroad to carry the mail. But he was also a very creative person. Amtrak bestowed upon him the title of Honorary Trainmaster… Continue reading.
Travel destinations
Walk the streets of Western TV history at Old Tucson
By Gail Marsh
Growing up, I always wanted a horse. My wish probably stemmed from the popular television shows of the 1950s and ’60s: Westerns. My sisters and I sat transfixed while watching Roy Rogers, Zorro, The Lone Ranger, and Bonanza. If the same is true for you, it’s time to saddle up! Old Tucson awaits your visit.
Clayton Lake State Park: A New Mexico gem for camping and exploring
By Gail Marsh
Clayton Lake State Park combines lakeside camping, one of North America’s best dinosaur trackways, and an International Dark-Sky designation with an on-site observatory. This rare gem is a perfect overnight (or week-long) stop for folks traveling through the Four-Corners-meets-Plains country. Learn more.
Brain teaser
The 22nd and 24th presidents of the United States had the same parents, but were not brothers. How can this be possible?
(Answer below.)
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV scissor jack tools make leveling, stabilizing easier
Adding attachments to your RV scissor jacks can make leveling and stabilizing your RV easier and more efficient. Here are some popular drill attachments that you can use with RV scissor jacks.
RV tire safety
Most important consideration when selecting travel trailer tires
By Roger Marble
I recently read a series of posts on an RV forum that focuses on trailers rather than motorhomes. The focus was on “what brand” tires to get when replacing the current tires. … As a Tire Design and Forensic Engineer, I felt that all the posts were missing the point, as none were focused on “tire durability.” Continue reading.
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
How to get rid of mold in and around RV toilet • How to condition your RV’s fuel for winter storage • Where can I get an owner’s manual for my RV? • I heard I could clean my RV with rhubarb. Really? • Should RV be stored on jack stands to help preserve tires?
TODAY IS NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY! Here’s why you should be kind to your neighbors.
Video of the day
RV water pump troubleshooting and repair
By Cheri Sicard
Having trouble with your RV water pump? Chris from the Why Wait YouTube channel is here to help with RV water pump troubleshooting tips. Chris will take you through things to check for if your pump runs but has no pressure. Read and watch here.
RVing with dogs
Dogs at risk when black walnuts fall in campgrounds and parks
By Gail Marsh
I love fall! However, the fall season brings more than leaf piles and pumpkins. Black walnuts fall from the trees, and those walnuts (actually, the mold that grows on them) can make dogs very sick. Black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) drop heavy, round nuts inside a green husk. When those husks rot or become moldy, they can develop tremor-causing mycotoxins that affect dogs’ nervous systems. Learn more—and be careful!
Readers’ pet of the day
“Samson (Boxer, age 4) is the best travel companion. Once in the truck, he falls right asleep. After the camper is set up, he looks forward to exploring. This picture was taken after one of those fun adventures. Keep exploring, my friend.” —Michelle Hanley
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. Now 92,000 members. 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.
FREE IS GOOD! Free movies and TV on YouTube.
Trivia
Before he entered the RV business and became the CEO of Camping World, Marcus Lemonis gave politics a try. In a 1996 Florida House campaign, running as a Democrat, Lemonis lost to two-term Republican incumbent Bruno Barreiro, 42.44 percent to 57.56 percent. The Miami Herald called Lemonis a “political neophyte” but endorsed him because, the newspaper wrote, “he exudes energy and ideas.” —Wikipedia
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
They were the same man. Grover Cleveland served two terms as president, but the terms were not consecutive.
FINISHED READING THIS NEWSLETTER? Don’t leave without reading Thursday’s brand-new Great RV Accessories Newsletter! Lots of good RVin’ gadgets inside!
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
Sixty-four years ago: Johnny Angel
For the older readers in the crowd, here’s a trip down Memory Lane as Shelly Fabares performs her first big hit, Johnny Angel. Mama (Donna Reed) watches proudly in this scene from the Donna Reed Show.
If you have a skill/talent that could help make RVtravel.com better than it already is, please contact publisher Chuck Woodbury at chuck (at) RVtravel.com to explain. All ideas welcome and appreciated. Volunteer or be paid.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
FUNNY! The free movies and TV link on You Tube shows no movies or tv shows!
Huh? Why do I see lots of movies and TV shows listed on it?🤔 There are tons of movies listed, as you scroll down, then at the bottom, where it says “Primetime shows for you,” click on “View all” at the right and there are tons of TV programs listed. Have a great day, Ran. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
“I wanna go somewhere” is so me, except I call it “Road Itch” and it usually starts a few weeks after I return from an RV trip.
Your website is a “labor of love”, so you’re giving it away for free. Time to see if readers are willing to get what they pay for, by offering annual subscriptions, perhaps $25 a year. Subscribers will be reminded the year is up, when the email renewal bill is received. Did they really think by donating twenty bucks five years ago get them a lifetime membership?
Consider premium articles, allowing non-subcribers to read a paragraph or two or three before the rest fade away and remind the reader this is a “premium article” for subscribers, allowing them to design in or try a monthly for a couple of bucks. Other websites, like The New York Times do this successfully.
I have been giving myself a birthday present every year of $25 to RV Travel ever since I bought my motorhome in 2017. Best present I could get.
My camping itch starts the day the kids go back to school. Nothing better than Fall camping without screaming kids and barking dogs!
I found no offense in Chuck Woodbury’s request that readers donate to keep this newsletter afloat. It was reasonable and to the point. Donate what you can and help him to keep this wealth of information going.
Samson is a great looking dog.
thanks for sharing
Wow, two great songs in one newsletter! I already had Johnny Angel in my collection, fun to see it sung on the Donna Reed Show though. But Drew Holcomb I hadn’t heard of, thanks for the tip Emily! I’ve already downloaded the song, will explore albums next!
We were camping a few years back during black walnut season. Our dog got ahold of one with the green husk, and chewed it up pretty good. It didn’t make her sick, BUT- it stained her teeth brown. And we’ve never been able to get them clean. After 5 years, her teeth are finally starting to whiten up a little.
There’s a parable in the Bible about people who were hired later to do the same field labor job as earlier hires. But, the pay was considerably more for the new hires. Disgruntled, older hires complained about the pay difference, but we’re reminded they agreed to the terms of their hire. Some might align, using a fairness argument. The lesson was more about honoring what you agree to. Point here being, you set the terms for which people who love RVing can get good info. You are doing that, thank you. If fewer people are donating than you anticipated in your original plan, that is not something we readers should feel responsible for. You set the terms. You can also change them.