Issue 1234
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for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” —Will Rogers
Why you should never carry LP cylinders lying on their side
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
The propane attendant readied to sling our seven-gallon cylinder in the back of the car. “Would you mind setting it upright, please?” we asked. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “You know, it really doesn’t matter. It’s safe whether it’s standing up or lying down.” But is that true? Is it safe to carry LP cylinders lying down? For that matter, is it legal? Find out here.
RV antifreeze myths busted and the mistakes to avoid
By Cheri Sicard
Winterizing your RV doesn’t have to be confusing—or messy. Learn why RV antifreeze is safe, non-toxic, and designed to protect your plumbing, and why vodka definitely doesn’t belong in your pipes. Click through for expert tips, formulas, and winterizing tricks.
Today’s RV review…
2026 r-pod Un•Mapped 26ML—a big deal from the r-pod team
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV review is an invitation to forget what you know about Forest River’s r-pod division… sorta kinda. What we have here is a new series from the brand that isn’t the small teardrop-style camper that r-pod has been known for for years. Instead, we have a full-blown trailer with a few twists. Welcome to r-pod Un•Mapped.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- Major Google Maps update could doom trip planner apps
- RVers stunned as ‘lifetime’ campground memberships are canceled overnight
- California installing cameras to catch speeders in construction zones
- Camping World’s $43 million error sparks legal investigations as stock nosedives
- New RV versions of truck stops planned
- Why RVers won’t ever visit these U.S. cities again
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
CAN YOU HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS? If you’re able, please consider donating to your local food bank. Whether you donate money, food or your time, everything helps, especially now with millions of people uncertain about their SNAP benefits. And if you are in need of food assistance, here is a list of food banks near you.
Tips for maintaining RV storage compartment hinges, locks and seals
By Gail Marsh
We put almost anything and everything inside our RV’s basement cargo compartment. Hoses, tools, lawn chairs, and more are safely stored inside. In order to keep this area dry and easily accessible, you need to perform some basic maintenance from time to time. Here are some tips for maintaining RV storage compartment hinges, locks, and seals.
Life after the ‘shoulds’: Discovering what I truly want to do
By Nanci Dixon
I am always thinking of what I need to do, making lists, and happily checking them off. But as I am sitting here in the very early morning in my husband’s recliner, drinking coffee and reading the Sunday issue of RVtravel.com, the could-haves, would-haves, and should-haves are disturbing my peace. Continue reading.
Why do we sit around a campfire?
By Sandi Sturm
I must be reminded to sit around a campfire. The campfire is a great place to release things you no longer want in your life, such as worry and stress. But around our recent campfire, I started to wonder why people like this tradition. It is obviously not convenient most of the time, especially for full-timers. So what is it?
FUN FACT: From the book Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson: Toyota. “The very popular Japanese car would be called a Toyoda if its manufacturers in the early 1930s hadn’t been superstitious. The Toyoda family wanted to name their car after the family, but Toyoda needs 10 characters in Japanese writing, while Toyota needs only eight. As eight is a lucky number in Japan, the family actually changed its name to Toyota, and the car’s lucky name was born.”
RV Service Centers & Repairs Report
Service center wired RV wrong; almost blows up 5th wheel
Nanci Dixon reports that, as usual, our RVtravel.com readers came through with recommendations of several RV service centers you should go to and a couple you should avoid (especially if you don’t want your RV to blow up!). Read them here.
SAD NEWS! The Farmer’s Almanac, founded 1818, when Napoleon was still alive and well before any American could even buy a typewriter, let alone a computer, says it’s going out of business. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a rival publication that started in 1792, plans to continue operating.
Reader poll
Do you usually winterize your RV yourself or hire a service?
TAKE A GUESS: Do most RVtravel.com readers eat their meals at… A) Their dinette, B) On their couch/chair with a tray table, or C) at a picnic table? See if you’re right.
From the archives…
You can do way more with leaf blowers than you think
By Gail Marsh
If you think leaf blowers are just for blowing leaves into piles to easily pick up, you’re wrong! We originally packed our leaf blower into our RV’s basement for a work-camping job. It didn’t take long to discover many other handy ways that the leaf blower helped us as we traveled in our RV. This is helpful!
Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win this “Happy Camp-Giving” shirt?
For men, women, or youth. If you win, we’ll ask your gender and size preference.
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.
FREE IS GOOD! Tennessee Vacation Guide. Get it instantly online or by mail.
Travel destinations
Driving America’s first coast-to-coast road: the Lincoln Highway
By Gail Marsh
It is the route that helped invent cross-country driving. Launched as a marked transcontinental route in 1913, the highway originally ran from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. It was promoted as the first improved, coast-to-coast motor route in the U.S. Continue reading.
The ultimate history stop for RVers in Michigan
The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village are fantastic stops for RVers. They sit on the same campus in Dearborn, Michigan. Together, they tell big-picture stories about American invention, industry, and everyday life. You’ll love these stops!
RV gadgets and gizmos
A sewer hose that withstands cold weather
By Chris Dougherty
RVing in winter has its challenges as well as rewards. One major challenge is trying to keep liquids liquid, whether that be fresh water or waste. Most RV sewer hoses are designed for warm-weather use only. Once the temperature falls below freezing, the plastics crack, and the hose is done. Not this one!
INTERESTED IN MORE RV GADGETS? Check this out. Warning: You’ll enjoy it…
Brain puzzle
Can you find the pear in this photo? Bonus points if you can find the hamster, too! Click to enlarge.
(Answer below.)
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Backroad or offroad RVing: Don’t get stuck!
- Foam gap filler is a quick fix for cracks and holes in the RV
- How to balance RVing and frequent healthcare visits
- Alternatives to hitch ball grease
- How to unclog a motorhome’s gutter
YOU CAN’T CALL YOURSELF A REAL FAN of RVtravel.com if you’re not signed up for our RV Daily Tips Newsletter! It’s one of the best newsletters in the entire galaxy! Read a few issues here, and if you like what you see, become a real fan and sign up!
In the RV shop with Dustin
Strengthen your suspension: Install V brackets on your RV’s spring hangers
Your RV’s suspension system quietly does the heavy lifting every time you hit the road. It absorbs bumps, manages weight distribution, and keeps your trailer stable over thousands of miles. But one component that often goes unnoticed—until it fails—is the spring hanger. Continue reading.
RV tire safety
Is a tire sidewall “bulge” a sign of a “defect”?
By Roger Marble
I have inspected tens of thousands of tires. These tires included almost every size or type, from 8″ wheelbarrow tires to 30″ tractor tires. One constant that I can remember is that tires with manufacturing “defects” failed or displayed some evidence of the problem in the first couple of hundred miles. Continue reading.
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
What is your opinion of these new lithium batteries? • How do I keep my RV’s on-demand water heater from freezing? • Will I ruin my water heater by running it with no water? • How to insulate RV’s exposed drain pipes • What is the ‘cheapest’ lithium setup to replace 6-volt batteries in RV?
Video of the day
The 7 most common problem areas with used RVs
By Cheri Sicard
If you are thinking of buying a used RV, be sure to check out this video from Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV. In it, Josh covers the seven most common problems you will likely encounter in used RVs.
RVing with dogs
Is your dog breaking the law?
By Gail Marsh
Would it surprise you to learn that not every state treats pet travel the same? It’s true! A handful of states have explicit statutes about restraining animals in passenger vehicles. What this means for RVers who travel with pets is that the chances your furry friend is breaking the law depends on the state you’re driving through. It also depends on how officers interpret what they see. Continue reading.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Faraday (age 16) loves to go camping, although he isn’t always fond of GETTING to the camping. He can make himself comfortable anywhere, and enjoy the views (not the lake so much as the chipmunks and squirrels).” —Jim Thomas
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
Wearing a wedding ring on the fourth digit of the left hand dates back to ancient Rome, where it was believed that the “Vena Amoris” or “Vein of Love” ran directly from this finger to the heart. Modern science has debunked this belief, but romantic symbolism remains a cherished tradition around the world.
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
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
And finally… A song from the past
Ready to be happy?
You cannot help but smile as Kermit the Frog and Debbie Harry sing a duet of “Rainbow Connection.” This is so sweet!
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Referernce “Tips for maintaining RV storage compartment hinges, locks and seals”, if you have the bus type “slam to close” compartment doors, don’t slam them. Most are made of plastic or have plastic parts and those parts will eventually break from constant slamming.
My husband & I sit around a fire most weekend nights. If it’s not around the firepit, it’s around the propane fire. We frequently have neighbors show up & visit. It’s a great stress reliever & to reconnect.
Wonderful pic of Faraday. We also travel with a cat and he settles right in once we arrive and have him setup as king of the dinette. Tnx for sharing.
Thanks for the earworm! 🙂