America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1248
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Today’s thought
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” —Maya Angelou
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Valentine’s Day, of course! But if you’re not in the mood to celebrate Valentine’s Day, maybe you can celebrate National Ferris Wheel Day instead? Hmmm…
On this day in history: 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone, as does Elisha Gray, who some historians believe developed a telephone prototype before Bell. Bell won a patent battle.
Featured news
A popular free RV boondocking area at Nevada’s Lake Mead has reopened after an 18-month closure due to years of accumulated trash, long-term encampments, and environmental damage. Officials cleared debris, improved access, and restored the site to safer conditions. Here’s the story.
A leadership change at Tiffin raises questions for luxury RV buyers. When you buy a high-end motorhome, you’re not only buying a vehicle but a reputation. So when there’s a change at the top, it catches people’s attention. That’s what is happening now at Tiffin Motorhomes. where Leigh Tiffin has stepped aside as president. Continue reading.
Truck weigh station changes could benefit RVers. If you’ve spent any time on interstates out West, you already know the drill. The sign flashes “All trucks must enter,” semis line up, and RVers roll past on the bypass lane without a second thought. But weigh stations may be changing, which could make highway travel a little smoother for everyone.
A recent poll of the readers of RVtravel.com challenges common perceptions about RV build quality. RVs often get a bad rap when it comes to their quality. In the poll, which drew more than 1,200 responses, roughly three-quarters of the respondents were happy with their RV’s construction. Read more.
Quartzsite’s secret weapon? It’s affordable, unconventional, and proud of it. When Travel + Leisure named Quartzsite, Arizona, the nation’s top snowbird destination, longtime winter regulars probably smiled and shrugged. “Of course it did.” Quartzsite didn’t win because it’s polished or picturesque. It won because it’s inexpensive, wide open, and happily odd. Snowbirds are deciding that matters more than palm-lined boulevards and amenities. Continue reading.
Alliance RV has been a towables company since day one. Now it’s stepping into motorhomes. The Elkhart builder is making its move by buying a Class B van specialist instead of starting from scratch. Learn more.
An Oregon man’s crime spree took a bizarre turn when deputies say he crashed a stolen SUV into a power pole in Redmond—knocking out electricity—then later broke into a nearby property and fell asleep inside a parked motorhome. If this sounds like the setup to a joke, well… it’s not.
A sudden Fourth of July flash flood on Texas’s Guadalupe River destroyed Blue Oak RV Park near Kerrville, Texas, sweeping away RVs and killing several people. Owners Lorena Guillén and Bob Canales rushed through rising waters to warn campers, helping many escape. The park—their primary livelihood—was wiped out, and rebuilding still remains uncertain.
A Texas-based pet microchip registry called Save This Life unexpectedly stopped operating this week. Subsequently, the company was removed from the American Animal Hospital Association’s lookup tool. This means scans of affected microchips will still show the chip number, but the owner contact information that used to be linked to that number may no longer be accessible through that registry. Here’s what you need to do.
PLUS! Some biiiiiiig recalls below—don’t miss them!
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
RV news analysis of the week
I’m so grateful for all the kind words about this take on the RV news of the week when I announced this new column last week. Apparently, some of you may believe that I know something, or are just dazzled by my beard. I don’t know. But, seriously, thank you. This week, we’re going to look at some of the interesting goings on in the RV space, and there have been some interesting goings on for sure. So first, let’s head to Alabama.
RV review
2027 Luxe Elegante 33EFS: A true five-star fifth wheel
By Gail Marsh
The 2027 Luxe Elegante 33EFS is a compact, full-time fifth wheel RV designed for RVers who want residential comfort and four-season capability in a towable package. After seeing this RV in person at the Florida RV SuperShow, I’ve concluded while it’s small on length, it’s large on comfort, premium finishes and cost. Check it out.
News briefs
Admission to U.S. National Parks sites is free Monday, President’s Day. The next free admission opportunity is Memorial Day, May 25.
Gas prices are up slightly ahead of the Presidents Day holiday weekend. The national average for a gallon of regular is up a couple of cents from last week to $2.94. Current prices remain below what they were this time last year, when the average was $3.14.
Reservations for the 2026 camping season at Saskatchewan Provincial Parks will begin on April 13 for seasonal campsites and April 14 to 17 for nightly, Camp-Easy yurts, and group campsites. Reservations launch each day at 7 a.m. CST.
… Speaking of Saskatchewan, you can fish for free in any of its provincial parks today through Monday. No license is required. If ice-fishing, be aware of ice thickness.
Kunes Auto & RV Group has acquired new dealerships: the Twin Cities metro area and Chicago’s prestigious North Shore. In Minnesota, the company acquired two dealerships, now named Kunes Apple Valley and Kunes Valley GMC in Hastings. In Illinois, the company acquired Kunes Lakes Chevrolet in Lake Bluff.
The National Park Service has launched a special resource study of the Los Angeles coastline—from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach—to assess whether parts of the area should become a new unit of the National Park System.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is inviting patrons at more than 120 state libraries to check out free day passes to state parks, forests and recreation areas.
Oregon lawmakers met this week in Salem to discuss proposed legislation that would hike the state’s lodging tax at places like campgrounds, hotels and Airbnbs from 1.5% to 2.75%.
Full-size pickup trucks remained as popular as ever in January, with the average transaction price for a new one exceeding $70,000 for the fifth consecutive month.
Changes are coming at two North Dakota state parks. Pembina Gorge State Park is getting a new campground with 50 RV sites and Rough Rider State Park is doubling its campsites. Both projects should wrap in late spring or early summer.
A hospitality company has proposed a seasonal staff “work camp” near West Glacier, Montana, that could include dorms, cabins and RV camping. If approved, it may help businesses house workers but could increase development, traffic and demand for campsites near Glacier National Park.
The National Park Service is looking for campground hosts for 2026 in Washington state. Dozens of host positions are currently open, offering RVers the chance to camp for free in exchange for light volunteer duties. Info here.
Spotted! Er, striped? A couple traveling on a Reno, Nevada, road was forced to stop by an unusual traffic hazard: an escaped zebra. The zebra, named Ziggy, had indeed escaped and was on the loose for about 10-15 minutes before being safely returned home.
Maryland Park Service will launch a new reservations system on Feb. 24 that will provide visitors a faster, more intuitive way to reserve campsites and other amenities at 37 Maryland state parks. It will introduce text message notifications and a simplified checkout. Read more.
Ford reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter results Tuesday due to higher tariff costs and lower vehicle production tied to a supplier outage. The company posted an $11.1 billion loss on $45.9 billion in revenue, down 5% from a year earlier. Tariffs added about $2 billion in 2025 costs, while fires at an aluminum plant also hurt production.
Colorado Springs City Council has approved expanded recreation at Rosemont Reservoir State Wildlife Area on Pikes Peak, to be managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The plans include a new campground. The area could be up and running for campers by July.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), as of February 10, U.S. 2 Tumwater Canyon (mileposts 90-99) near Leavenworth has reopened to normal traffic. The Tumwater Canyon section had been closed since mid-December due to washouts. All sections of U.S. 2 that were closed are now open.
A new AAA/Bread Financial survey finds 61% of Americans plan to travel in 2026, with 76% of the trips tied to milestone events like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and reunions. Younger travelers are leading the trend.
The U.S. House of Representatives has advanced a bill that would roll back President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, a signal of growing willingness among Republicans to break with his administration. Wednesday’s vote saw several Republicans cross party lines to vote with Democrats.
Oregon State Parks welcomed an estimated 51.46 million day-use visits in 2025, a slight decrease from the record-breaking 53.85 million visits in 2024. Overnight campers logged 2.6 million nightly stays in 2025, down from 2.83 million in 2024.
Zion National Park’s shuttle service begins on Saturday, March 7. Shuttles will run from March 7 to November 28, then briefly from December 26 to January 2.
California officials are expected this week to declare that the state’s mountain lions are threatened under the state’s endangered species law. Their populations have become so beleaguered in part because of the highways built in their habitat.
Alaska State Parks is looking for camp hosts for Rosehip Campground, Twin Bears Camp, Olnes Pond and Harding Lake Campground. Receive a monthly $500 subsistence payment. RV required.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will waive day-use fees at its more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of Presidents Day, February 16. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services.
Death Valley National Park has reopened the Salt Creek Boardwalk, three-and-a-half years after it was destroyed by flooding. This wheelchair-accessible trail provides easy access to view small Salt Creek Pupfish.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Those iconic little candy hearts emblazoned with Valentine’s Day messages so popular these days were created to make lozenges for sore throats.
RV and RV-related recalls
Chrysler is recalling certain 2024-2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, Ram 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The trailer lights may fail to illuminate and the trailer brakes may fail. More.
Stellantis has issued an immediate recall of certain vehicles in its lineup, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. Defective air bag inflators made by Takata have been the subject of the largest and most complex recall in recent memory. If you own one of the 225,000 affected older vehicles with an unrepaired air bag, this is not a “wait-and-see” situation. It’s critical for safety. Learn more.
Ember Recreational Vehicles is recalling certain 2026 E-Series and Overland Series travel trailers. Incorrect Unloaded Vehicle Weight and Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) information may be listed on the Federal Certification Label. Ember will mail free corrected labels. Info? 1-844-732-4204.
Ford is recalling certain 2023-2024 Transit vans. The engine crossmember may not be secured properly, which can cause the engine to shift, leading to power loss or brake failure. Learn more.
BUMPER SNICKER: “Our emergency fund is duct tape.”
Reader poll
Will you do anything today to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
More polls from this week:
- How well-built is your RV?
- Have you ever continuously stayed 3 months or more in an RV park or campground?
- Does your RV have a spare tire?
- In good weather, do you sleep with your RV’s window(s) open or closed?
- Have you performed any volunteer work in the last 12 months?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Brain teaser
Find a number less than 100 that is increased by one-fifth of its value when its digits are reversed.
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
In 1415, Charles, the Duke of Orléans, was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. While there, he wrote a heartfelt letter to his wife, including a poem that referred to her as his “Valentine.” The opening line, “My very gentle Valentine,” is often considered the first recorded Valentine in history.
Laugh of the week
Saturday sillies
Mystery town
In yesterday’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter, we showed you an aerial view of an American city as seen from Google Maps. We asked you to name it and tell us why it’s unusual. The answer: It’s Barr Nunn, Wyo., which was constructed around the runways of Wardwell Field, Casper’s original airport. Look closely and easily spot the runways and taxiways, now lined with homes.
The perfect scam
Author Entangled in Recovery Scam After a Crypto-Dating Scam
Josh loves being a novelist, but working from home gets lonely. So he tries a dating site where he connects with Hannah. After a while, she tells Josh about her cryptocurrency investments and encourages him to invest. After putting in more than $100,000 he tries to make a withdrawal, but it’s a no-go, and Hannah disappears.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Charles, Duke of Orléans, spent 25 years imprisoned by the English after the Battle of Agincourt. He lived in relative comfort befitting his rank and was eventually ransomed back to France. Sadly his wife, Bonne, died of illness during his confinement.
Just want to remind people to clean snow off their RV and vehicles. Wednesday I was driving down Interstate 81 and as was passing a TT I noticed the truck had a 6” pile of snow on the front roof of the truck and loaded on the TT which previously blew at me. On the return trip I noticed a Truck camper on the truck loaded with snow. Seen another RV the next day. In Pa it’s illegal to not clean the snow off your vehicles. We Just had a young woman driving in Pa who had a chunk of ice fall off a truck and smash thru her front windshield hurting her badly. Luckily she was able to shield her child away from the ice.
♥️Happy Valentine’s Day♥️
The list of camp hosts positions in Alaska brought back a fond memory of us hosting at Rosehip SP (our first hosting gig). Small park at MM 27 on Chena Hot Springs Rd. Most use during weekend when local folks show up around 11 PM. Some campers during the week as it is/was a dry camping. Chena River runs adjacent so got a lot of floaters coming off the river. At time we were there (ages ago) Two Rivers had most mushing dogs around so you got serenaded at night. Down the road from good hiking trails as well as Chena Hot Springs. Cool part was the number of moose and black bears we got to see and then get to share that with visitors. Hung up keys last summer..thanks for the memory.
I have a subject I would love to see addressed…older adults who want to travel together in a single RV. Is there a fifth wheel or toy hauler with min 1 1/2 bath and 2 separate living spaces no longer than 36’? We don’t want bunk beds or a bed requiring a ladder. Brinkley comes close with their toy hauler but we won’t use the toy hauler for toys. We want a permanent living space for 2 separate groups and fairly large area between where we can come together to eat, visit, play games, etc. so far we have no luck finding this.
I can’t think of anything like this – that’s a lot of things you want in a relatively short 5er. The bathroom factor, in particular, is going to be an issue.
Hope today is a little special for the Rv Travel staff. Diane will you be my Valentine? (Just for the day or…). HA!
I’d be honored, Doug.💖 Thank you! I’m sorry your true Valentine isn’t there to share it with you.😢 But I hope you have a great day, nonetheless. 🤗 –Diane