America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1243
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.” —Napoleon Hill
RVs and WD-40: Unusual combinations that work
Seems like every RV has at least a can or two of WD-40 for lubricating various parts. But there’s more use for WD-40 than just the occasional thread loosening. Here are a few tips that may make for slicker RV trips.
Who is Tony Barthel, the RV expert behind the reviews? (Plus, his new tips column)
“Hello. My name is Tony Barthel. Some of you know me—I write a number of things for a number of people and places, but here at RV Travel, I write RV reviews. For more background, I worked at an RV dealership. Now, I’m taking what I’ve learned over the last several years and sharing it with you.” Continue reading for Tony’s first new column.
Do you really need 4×4 on a Super C motorhome?
As more 4×4 Super C motorhomes show up at RV shows and dealer lots—including new models expected from Thor Motor Coach—RVers are being nudged to rethink what a big motorhome can realistically handle. The real question isn’t whether four-wheel drive sounds impressive, but what it actually changes for RVers who occasionally leave the pavement.
Today’s RV review…
New 2026 r-pod Un•Mapped 25FK—that’s a biggun!
Today’s RV review is the new-for-2026 Forest River r-pod Un•Mapped 25FK travel trailer. Aside from the name r-pod, there is nothing that is similar between what you might already assume from the brand and what this is. So what is it? This r-pod model line is a series of relatively traditional travel trailers that include popular features of the r-pod line but are larger than more traditional trailer offerings.
Towing gone wild: Extreme towing, stacked rigs, and insane RV setups
RVs Gone Wild takes the idea of a “turducken” and applies it to RV towing, where rigs are stacked inside, on, and behind each other in the wildest ways. The result is part comedy, part horror, and part “OMG!” You won’t believe these!
Are we becoming non-nomad RVers? Settling into a stationary RV lifestyle
By Nanci Dixon
A few weeks ago, I wrote that I was semi-retiring from writing for RVtravel.com, but I guess “semi” is the keyword as I ponder our new life as non-nomad RVers. We are still working on the remodel of our house gone awry, although the status is improving, slowly. So in this time of transition, we are hunkering down in our RV on our property. But this hunkering down is different than the years of being full-time RVers… Continue reading.
RVtravel.com readers not slowing down in 2026
Last week, we asked our readers a simple question with big implications for the RV lifestyle: “Will you spend more or less time in your RV in 2026 than you did in 2025?” The results were pretty much what we anticipated. What about you? Find out.
Are you yielding wrong?
By Gail Marsh
Yield signs are placed wherever traffic streams meet without a full stop. On a recent RV trip, we approached a roundabout yield sign, slowed briefly, and immediately heard angry honking coming from the car behind us. I wondered, “This is a yield sign. What are we doing wrong?” Continue reading.
We could use your help!
For 25 years, RVtravel.com has been part of your RVing life, and we’re deeply grateful. Over the years, a small number of readers (including you) — about 6% — have chosen to support our work financially, often with a modest $5 or $10 gift. Every one of those contributions has mattered to us.
Today, we’re asking for your help again. Changes at Google have sharply reduced search traffic to small, independent websites like ours, making it harder for us to reach new readers the way we once did.
If you find value in what we do, any contribution you’re able to make is sincerely appreciated. Even a small monthly pledge helps us continue publishing honest, helpful newsletters every day of the week — written by real people who just happen to be real RVers. Here’s where to chip in. Thank you! Chuck/publisher
Reader poll
Have you ever visited America’s #1 tourist attraction?
POLLS FROM THIS PAST WEEK
- Do you have a favorite place to camp that you return to often?
- Do you worry about paying your bills every month?
- Do you wash your dishes immediately or let them pile up in the sink?
- How often do you go for a walk?
- The history of the glove compartment: What’s in yours?
Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win a 2-pack Energizer LED headlamp?
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.
WOW! Last weekend, more than 1,000 readers entered our giveaway. You really wanted that dash cam! Here’s the one we listed—it’s under $30.
RV electricity
Can a solar panel overcharge your battery?
Dear Mike,
I saw a post on “Will solar panels overcharge my batteries?” I have a slightly different scenario, but I understand now why so many RVs have these small solar panel battery chargers. I read from another RVer that he traced his loss of newer chassis batteries to a continuous overcharge by the OEM solar panel wired directly to his chassis battery bank. Continue reading…
Travel destinations
Are blue highways best for RVers?
If you’re an RVer, blue highways may be best for you. Most of these mostly two-lane roads are well-maintained and experience much lower traffic volumes than interstate highways, which were built for speed, commonly at the expense of scenery. Continue reading.
Brain teaser
Nate finds that by wearing different combinations of the jackets, shirts, and pairs of pants that he owns, he can create ninety different outfits. If he owns five jackets and three pairs of pants, how many shirts does he own?
(Answer below.)
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Water pressure regulators keep geysers out of your RV
- Tips for finding free (or nearly free) overnight RV spots
- Don’t make these 7 RVing mistakes like other RVers have
- Cables in a tangle? Use this quick tip to tame them
- Can I camp in an ADA site?
In the RV shop with Dustin
RV silicone vs. residential silicone. What’s the difference?
RV owners hear this phrase constantly: “Don’t use silicone on your RV”—and they assume it means NEVER use silicone anywhere. This is where the confusion starts. When manufacturers warn against silicone, they are almost always referring to RV roofs. Continue reading.
RV tire safety
Is high PSI in tires bad?
By Roger Marble
Most posts about tires and inflation warn about the problems of inflation being too low, but I recently received a question about high tire pressure and felt it deserved a few lines. Continue reading.
From the “for fun” archives…
19 dumb complaints from clueless tourists
Get ready to laugh, or at least shake your head in wonder at these actual complaints tourists made to Thomas Cook Vacations about their trip. While these are not related to RV travel, they illustrate a couple of things: 1. You cannot please everybody, and 2. Some people are stupid or, at the very least, clueless. Here are the complaints.
RVer health
What matters most to senior citizens? Not what you think
You might expect that senior citizens would say what matters most to them is their health. But you’d be wrong. This new study asks older customers at walk-in care clinics about their priorities, and here’s how they answered.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- Zion National Park to prohibit large RVs from traveling through park
- Workcampers getting younger, challenging older RVers for jobs
- Putting a sticker on your national park pass could invalidate it
- New futuristic, power-generating RV debuts; recharges the truck towing it
- National parks avoid major funding cuts, a key concern for RV travelers
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
AMAZING! Fleas are incredible jumpers, capable of leaping vertically about 150 times their body length. A six-foot human jumping that many times its height could leap 900 feet, about as high as a 75-story skyscraper. A flea’s explosive power comes from a spring-like protein called resilin in its legs, which allows it to store and release massive energy.
RV gadgets and gizmos
The best electric heaters under $25 for small RVs
Drew from Playing with Sticks talks about the best electric heaters for teardrop trailers, as that’s what this YouTube channel specializes in. However, these small electric heaters would also work well in any tiny space, such as a van, truck camper, or small trailer, or even a bedroom or an office.
Live webcam
Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson is a spectacularly scenic, trendy, and popular resort town of about 11,000, famous for its area ski resorts and as the gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. This live video of its town square includes its famous archway, which is made of antlers shed by one of the nation’s largest elk herds. One of the community’s best-known events is held each spring, the Jackson Hole Antler Auction. Boy Scouts help sell antlers collected on the nearby National Elk Refuge. Profits benefit the scouts and the refuge.
FACTOID: “Grand Teton” comes from French fur trappers who called the three main peaks of the mountain range Les Trois Tetons, meaning “The Three Breasts” or “The Three Teats,” because their shape resembled the female anatomy. “Grand Teton” specifically refers to the tallest peak, meaning “the big breast” or “large nipple” in French.
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
Your smoke alarm: Meet new code? Maintained properly? Critical info • What are white streaks running down side of RV; how do I prevent them? • Where to find replacement thermistor for old RV refrigerator • OK to run generator with rig plugged in during storage? • Can different type and age RV batteries be mixed? Can I add a lithium battery?
Video of the day
Vancouver to Calgary: Canadian RV road trip on a budget
In the video at the end of this post from Day Hiker from the Six, we go along on an 8-day RV run from Vancouver to Calgary, which can feel like three trips in one. This route crosses the Coast Mountains, the Cascade Mountains, and ends in the Rocky Mountains. The budget target was tight, too: $2,700 CAD (about $2,000 USD), including renting an RV! This is impressive!
RVing with dogs
The best dog car seat and dog booster seat for RVers
By Cheri Sicard
I recently (and unexpectedly) adopted a puppy from an amazing rescue organization. Our first RV adventures are coming up soon, and in preparing for them, I came across a problem that some of you might also have. Bodie LOVES looking out the window as we drive, but I have a big Ram truck, and he is a small dog. Where could he safely sit and still be able to enjoy the scenery? I needed a dog car seat that was also a booster seat.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Georgia Moonpie (Golden Retriever, age 10) travels with us in our RV. Here she is at our home in FL. She lives swimming in lakes as well. This summer, we are visiting the UP in Michigan, and I know she will hit the lakes.” —Don Reynolds
• 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
Red hair is the least common hair color in the world, as the recessive gene is rare. It is prominently found in the UK and Scotland, where about 6 percent carry the gene.
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
Six. For every pair of pants, Nate can wear five different jackets, giving five different combinations for each pair of pants, or 3 × 5 = 15 different combinations of pants and jackets. With each of these combinations, he can wear any of his different shirts. 15 x 6 = 90.
FREE IS GOOD! Planning to visit Sweet Home Alabama this year? Download their guides online or request they be mailed to you.
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
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
And finally… Songs from the past to tickle your funny bone
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Georgia Moonpie looks like she is having a great time at the pool. She will enjoy the swimming opportunities on your Michigan trip.
Lake Superior- No salt, no sharks, no feeling in your feet. You can’t keep our golden out of the waves. Georgia Moonpie will have a great time!
I liked “Today’s Thought,” but what Edison is supposed to have said is even better! He is credited with saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
How can 3×15=15? I get 45, I’m of course speaking of the Brain Teaser. If someone knows the correct formula for the right answer please explain. Thanks
3x5x6 =90
The Brain Teaser feature routinely has mistakes and typos. As per the title, they are teasing you.
Sorry, Vicki and others. I obviously didn’t pay close enough attention when I proofed that (was looking for misspelled words🙄). I think it’s been fixed now. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
3×5=15 90/15=6
should be 3 (pants) x 5 (jackets) = 15 variations then 6 shirts 3x5x6=90
Moonpie looks great for age 10, I have a 15yr old golden still travelling with me.
I tried to “chip in” some money but, as before, I get “reCaptcha check failed.”
Exactly the kind of thing a robot would say!
System refused my payment because it said I had the wrong zip code. Except it never asked for zip code.
I got the same
Recently many of the videos come up as unavailable Error Code 152-4. Is it my computer or is there a problem that you can resolve?
Hi, m. When I proof the posts, I also check to make sure the videos work. If you let me know (in the comments is fine) what doesn’t work for you, I can check into it. Thanks. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Diane, thanks for your reply. The “Songs from the past to tickle your funny bone” video is an example that says video is unavailable error code 152-4. Also most of the articles that require to “open read more” that have videos have the same error code. Maybe it is my laptop? I did not have this problem a week or two in the past, just recently this is happening. Thanks for checking
Thank you for responding so promptly, m. I just checked the “Songs from the past” again, and it still works for me. I am not tech savvy at all, but it sounds to me like it might be settings on your laptop. I’ll check with others that know more and see if they have an answer for you. Take care. 😀 –Diane
It works for me so it’s probably a settings issue.
Thanks, Keith. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Try opening it in a “private” window. Some browsers and ISP’s will see it as a security risk.
It may also may be being blocked by some security software.
Thanks, Bob. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
YT error code 152-4 often relates to browser issues, like blocked content from extensions (ad blockers), or temporary glitches, and is commonly fixed by clearing browser cache/cookies, disabling extensions, using an Incognito/Private window, or ensuring the app/browser is updated. Make sure your browser is updated.
Thank you for the excellent info, MrDisaster!👍 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
…along those same lines – try turning off the VPN. It frequently hangs up my internet inquiries.