Issue 1228
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Today’s thought
“Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.” —Brian Tracy
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Singles Day AND National Public Lands Day, so we suggest you head out to meet someone on our beautiful public lands!
On this day in history: 1998 – The Google internet search engine retroactively claims this date as its birthday. Two years later, RVtravel.com would be established, initially as RVtraveler.com which was started as a way to promote books from our e-commerce site RVbookstore.com, established in 2000.
Featured news
RV MAKER NEWMAR BATTLING ACCUSATIONS FROM OWNERS WHO ARE TOLD THEIR RIGS ARE NOT LEGAL
A Canadian couple, Brian and Jennifer, bought their brand-new motorcoach, a Newmar King Aire, in 2022. When they attempted to sell their ultra-luxury coach three years later, their rig was seized at the U.S. border! The couple was also slapped with a $660,000 penalty notice, and now there’s talk of a potential federal inquiry into Newmar motorhomes. Why? Because of the RV’s VIN number (or lack of).
BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE! Newmar has responded to the issue contained in the above story. You can read its response here.
WEATHER ALERT: If you are in or planning to travel in or to the southern Mid-Atlantic through coastal Georgia in the days ahead, pay careful attention to the weather forecast. A tropical storm with heavy rainfall may be headed your way which could cause flash floods, urban floods, river flooding and life-threatening surf and rip currents along the coast.
For 12-year-old Dante Reynolds, life looks very different now. Just months ago, he lived in a four-bedroom home near Salem, Oregon. Today, he and his family share a 22-foot travel trailer, navigating the challenges of life on the road. With rising housing costs putting traditional homes out of reach, many Americans are turning to RV living as a practical RV housing alternative. But for too many, the “glamour” of RV living soon hits a hard reality, as Dante and his family have found.
Texas has approved one of the largest RV parks in the U.S. The park will feature 2,313 RV sites across 148 acres off Elmdale Road North and Mesquite Lane near Abilene. Planned amenities feature a playground, dog park, sand volleyball area, office, and clubhouse. Each lot will measure 24 by 55 feet with a pad size of 12 by 47 feet, and the park will meet all ADA requirements. But the real question: Will snowbirds come? Check this out.
SpaceX is preparing to expand its Starlink satellite network dramatically, bringing 5G cellular service directly to smartphones. The company plans to launch up to 15,000 new satellites, which would greatly increase the network’s capacity and speed. For RVers, this could mean dependable high-speed internet in national parks, campgrounds, and other off-grid locations where traditional cell service is weak or nonexistent. This could be a game-changer.
Marcus Lemonis’ estate near Santa Barbara, Calif., is on the market for $27 million. The Camping World CEO and TV personality behind The Profit and The Fixer is selling this single-story home located within Ennisbrook, one of California’s most private and exclusive gated communities. … We bring this to your attention in case you are perhaps considering giving up your RV in favor of a more permanent living situation.
Thor has promised a 450-mile range on its new Embark electric motorhome. It can travel up to 105 miles using only electric power. For longer trips, a gasoline range extender provides a total driving range of about 450 miles. Here are all the details.
If it feels like every driver on the highway has lost their cool, you’re not imagining it. A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study shows that 96% of drivers admitted to aggressive driving in the past year. For RVers, this surge in road rage while RVing can turn every trip into a tense experience, especially on busy highways where large rigs have slower acceleration. Here’s what the study found.
BIIIIIIG FORD RECALL: If you have a Ford F-250, F-350, or F-450, this is a heads-up. Ford has issued a safety recall on more than 115,000 trucks that could directly affect your towing plans and safety on the road. Read on to learn what happened, which trucks are included, and what Ford and regulators say will be done about it.
For RVers who spend long stretches on the road, taking a break for outdoor exercise can do more than stretch your legs—it can lift your mood, too. New research shows that workouts in natural settings—like forests, beaches, or parks—beat indoor gyms or city streets when it comes to reducing stress and boosting happiness. Here’s the proof.
Remember the “Gronk,” Rob Gronkowski, who was NFL quarterback Tom Brady’s go-to tight end receiver in Boston and then later in Tampa Bay? He’s no longer playing football, but he’s still around, perhaps more visible than ever, doing TV commercials. Well, now, he’s taken on a new role as a pitchman and influencer for the RV Cheerleader Association… er, oops, we mean the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
Filmmakers Robert Forney and his daughter, Emma Forney, have sued Burning Man and several public agencies. They say they were blocked from filming the post-event cleanup and issued a trespass warning. The Forneys posted a video titled “What Burning Man Doesn’t Want You to See.” This is messy (literally)…
The news from Chain Store Age Magazine that Target is closing nine of its stores in response to theft and organized retail crime is sad and disturbing. The action, Target says, is more than just about declining profits, but to protect the safety of its employees and customers. Here’s the story and the stores that are closing.
[UPDATE Sept. 25: DNA testing has confirmed that the body found is that of Travis Decker.] The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Travis Decker, accused of murdering his three daughters at a campground in Washington state, is believed to be dead after finding a body matching his description less than one mile away from the crime scene. Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss the charges and quash his arrest warrant. Meanwhile, Chelan County, Washington, investigators await DNA confirmation on Travis Decker. More here.
It’s beginning to feel like fall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Autumn is a beautiful but busy time in these parts. Visitors should plan ahead and be prepared for incredible fall colors, but also crowds, traffic congestion and limited parking throughout the park. Here is some advice from the Park Service to improve your visit.
On Saturday, September 13, a family from Cookson, Okla., visited Crater of Diamonds State Park and unearthed a brown diamond weighing nearly three carats. The proud family took it home at no charge, a valuable prize for their efforts. That’s one big diamond!
A dramatic rescue unfolded this week after a bull moose became trapped in a well on private land in northern Maine. Landowner Cole Brown first heard noises in the brush and thought it might be turkeys. A closer look revealed antlers poking out of the ground. Wait until you see the video!
Would you like to earn money reviewing new model RVs? You must have a good working knowledge of RVs and with good writing skills. Contact Chuck Woodbury at chuck (at) RVtravel.com if interested.
RV review
Why does this teardrop-type trailer need a big screen TV and fireplace?
Come on, RV manufacturers. Do you really believe that a tiny, teardrop-sized travel trailer needs a big screen TV and a fake fireplace? Whatever happened to using such a mini-rig for sleeping, while spending your time in the great outdoors, maybe even by a real campfire? Read more and see pics.
More RV reviews from this week:
• Cougar fifth wheel trailer gets nice improvements for 2026
• RV review: Updates to the Lance 2075—better is better
• Click here for even more RV reviews
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
Reservations feel like a ‘crap shoot’ for RVers these days
This week, Nanci Dixon shares comments from our readers who are still experiencing difficulties making campsite reservations around the country. One reader expresses their frustration making reservations at the previously private campground where they have had a membership for 20 years, but there is a new corporate owner. Also, one RVer agrees with many that camping etiquette is a thing of the past. Read more.
News briefs
If you spend much of your time traveling in your rig, staying on top of vaccinations while on the road is essential, for those who want them. Keeping up with seasonal COVID-19 shots and yearly flu vaccines can help you avoid health setbacks that could interrupt your adventures. Here’s how to get vaccinated while on the road.
Fourth-quarter revenue for Thor Industries was down 0.4% year-over-year for the RV maker, to $2.52 billion. Sales in the North American Towable RVs segment fell 4.6% to $888.7 million, while sales in the North American Motorized RVs segment rose 7.8% to $557.4 million. The European RVs segment saw a 2.2% decline in revenue to $923K.
A new term, townsizing, is growing. It’s about more than just traveling; it’s about how you feel when you’re there. (That’s new??) The buzz is about the increasingly popular notion that townsizing getaways are the quiet ones, such as visiting laid-back small towns with walkable main streets, idyllic countrysides, and unhurried afternoons.
The House Energy & Commerce Committee has voted 50 to 1 to pass The AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act. It’s legislation aimed at stopping automakers from removing free AM radio receivers from cars. Supporters say AM radio is the backbone of the Emergency Alert System, and a critical line of defense against weather and other disasters.
Don’t be concerned if you see smoke while visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial on or around October. 1. A prescribed 95-acre fire at Starling Basin may send smoke along Highway 244 and into nearby communities. The project is expected to take about seven days to complete, depending on the weather.
More than three dozen former national park superintendents want the National Park system closed if the federal government shuts down October 1. “Past shutdowns in which gates remained open with limited staff have hurt our parks: Iconic symbols cut down and vandalized, trash piled up, habitats destroyed, and visitor safety jeopardized. If you don’t act now, history is not just doomed to repeat itself, the damage could in fact be much worse,” reads a letter the 40 superintendents sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Thursday.
Speaking of National Parks, you can enter all national parks today for free that normally charge an entrance fee. That includes all 63 national parks in the country, as well as other sites run by the National Park Service.
Here’s a welcome bit of news for RVers who love Big Sur: The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is open again! This short redwood hike is one of the park’s most photographed spots. Now it’s back open after crews rebuilt the trail’s damaged bridge and repaired the trail’s storm-battered sections. It’s a great detour if you want to stretch your legs away from Highway 1.
Occupancy at Alaska campgrounds has dropped this year compared to last year in part because of fewer Canadian visitors, according to park operators and industry officials.
PLAY BALL! And that’s exactly what 2,358 people did! The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in New Jersey gathered 2,358 people to play catch and break a Guinness World Record. The Sunday event officially broke the record for the largest game of catch, with 2,358 people splitting off into pairs to throw baseballs back and forth.
Campers Inn RV is said to be considering buying more than the five stores from Lazydays that it initially announced last week. If all goes well, a closing date on the sale will be no later than December 1.
The family of a man who died in the July 4 floods in Kerrville, Texas, has joined six others in a lawsuit against the Hill Country RV park claiming the resort continued to use the premises despite knowing the flood risk. It also states the resort failed to timely evacuate the guests and, if it was attempted, did not perform the evacuations safely and effectively.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, Grand Canyon National Park will partially reopen select areas of the North Rim to public access day use following the Dragon Bravo Fire.
Costco is removing its Kirkland Signature Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke from its shelves. Green onions in the product could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause fatal infections in young children, the frail or elderly, and others with weakened immune systems.
FREE IS GOOD! Free coffee and doughnut at Krispy Kreme, National Coffee Day, Sept. 29.
Reader poll
Will you plan a special drive to view fall colors this year?
More polls from the past week:
- Do you grease your trailer hitch ball?
- Do you change the oil in your RV or tow vehicle yourself?
- Which of these countries would you like to explore by RV?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
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 in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
The title of the Paul Simon song “Mother and Child Reunion” was inspired by a chicken and egg dish on a food menu in New York City.
Laugh of the week
Three guys are stranded on a desert island. One day, they find a magic lantern containing a genie. The genie grants them each one wish. The first guy wishes he was off the island and back home. The genie grants his wish and poof, he’s back home. The second guy wishes the same thing and, poof, he’s gone, too. The third guy says, “I’m lonely. I wish my friends were back here.”
The perfect scam
Job seekers all over the country answer ads for sales positions at a water filtration company. The offer is promising, and the contracts look professional. The only catch is the initial $5000 investment in a water purification unit. However, when the prepaid units never arrive, people begin to realize they are victims of a scam. Will they get justice?
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Darn it, I was all set to buy Marcus Lemonis’ $27 million property in California until I found out it didn’t have an RV pad!!
Our parks belong to the people. The government is only the caretaker. When government shuts down, they can’t shut down access to our parks. Certainly many of us have paid for passes to visit and are entitled to visit regardless of congress’s squabbling.
Entitled, America’s favorite word? 🙂
Here’s a word for you…”Birthright”.
I do agree however, entitled and entitlement is problem.
Happy trails 😎 ✌️
Then I suppose some people are entitled to go in and trash the place with no one to stop them in site.
Happy 25th Birthday RV Travel !!
Thanks, Bill! Have a good night. 😀 –Diane