America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1256
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Today’s thought
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” —Robert Frost
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Pet Day!
On this day in history: 1970 – Apollo Program: Apollo 13 is launched.
Featured news
If you were hoping the U.S.–Iran ceasefire would bring relief at the fuel pump, you’re not alone. On paper, easing tensions should mean lower oil prices—and eventually cheaper gas and diesel. But that’s not what’s happening. Reports of a possible truce or pause in hostilities did move markets—but only briefly. The drop was real—but short-lived.
Speaking of fuel prices… If it feels like diesel prices versus gas prices are moving at different speeds, you’re not imagining it. Gasoline is going up, but diesel is climbing faster. The difference is starting to show up in dollars at the pump. Right now, national averages from AAA put gasoline at about $4.11 a gallon. Diesel sits closer to $5.62. That spread is now well over a dollar and growing. Continue reading.
For RVers using Starlink standby mode, the idea is simple: Pause your home internet while you’re on the road, then turn it back on when you return. On paper, it fits the RV lifestyle like a glove, especially for snowbirds or anyone splitting time between home base and the highway. But there’s a catch—and it’s not the one most folks expect. You’re probably not going to lose your service slot when you go on standby. Instead, you may come back to a higher price than you left.
Speaking of Starlink… For travelers juggling a phone plan, a hotspot, and a satellite dish just to stay online, the appeal is obvious. A single service that handles everything could finally simplify staying connected on the road. That’s what US Mobile is proposing with a bundled cellular and Starlink offering, starting at under $50 a month. The concept is straightforward: combine cellular and satellite so your connection doesn’t drop when cell towers disappear. Learn more.
If you’ve ever rolled into a travel stop with a soft tire or a fading battery, you already know the drill. Fuel up, grab a coffee… and then go hunting somewhere else for the actual fix. Now, Love’s RV tire and battery service is starting to change that. The company says RV tires and batteries are now available—with installation—at 76 locations across 27 states, with more sites expected to come. Nice!
BIIIIG RECALL: Ford is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail. Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. As many as 422,613 vehicles may be involved in the recall. Learn more here. (More RV recalls below.)
The Honda camper trailer idea didn’t fade away when the company hit the brakes on parts of its electric vehicle rollout. If anything, the latest reporting suggests the opposite—that Honda is still serious about the concept, even if the original plan around it has shifted. You might remember our earlier look at this idea. Back then, it felt like Honda was dipping a toe into the RV space. Now, it looks more like they’ve kept that toe in the water and may be wading a little deeper.
A national plaintiffs’ law firm has filed a class-action lawsuit against Camping World Holdings Inc., alleging the company misled investors about its inventory management and demand forecasting. According to the complaint, the company overstated retail demand and its ability to manage inventory using data analytics. The suit alleges Camping World failed to disclose that it would need stricter inventory controls that would hurt profit margins. Yikes…
More RVers are finding familiar overnight stops suddenly off-limits, with new “no parking” signs forcing last-minute scrambles for a place to stay. The trend is already further along in the United Kingdom, where some areas have added barriers, bans, and fines—pushing RVers to go elsewhere. In the U.S., changes are happening quietly, town by town, as local complaints lead to tighter rules and increased enforcement. What’s behind the shift—and where it’s headed—may surprise you.
California officials are cracking down on a popular tax-avoidance strategy used by some RV owners. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles are investigating dealers and buyers tied to the so-called “Montana loophole,” where vehicles are registered out of state to avoid California taxes and fees. In states with sales tax rates ranging from 6-10%, the purchase of an RV using the loophole could result in tens of thousands of dollars in tax obligations. Continue reading.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently announced that a Texas man was sentenced after pleading guilty to walking off the designated boardwalk in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. According to court documents, Eric Bedient, 50, of Frisco, Texas, left the boardwalk and walked directly on several fragile and dangerous hydrothermal features in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Please do not do this!
Now this is bizarre… An RV park domestic dispute in Ocean Park, Washington, is drawing attention for one unusual detail. Police were called to an RV park after a reported argument between two people living there. According to a local blotter report, the situation escalated when the woman allegedly used pepper spray on her partner. Despite police involvement and an alleged pepper-spray attack, the couple at the center of it say they’re still in love. Wait, what?
THAT’S THE TRUTH… RV plan: Go somewhere relaxing. Reality: Fix things somewhere relaxing.
RV review
2026 Winnebago Navion 24T—on our “downsize RV” list of options
By Gail Marsh
My husband and I have been thinking about “downsizing” our RV. So, I was excited to see the 2026 Winnebago Navion 24T for myself. This is a Class C diesel motorhome with one slide-out. Changing to this RV would mean downsizing from our current 40-foot fifth wheel with three slides. Could we make this work? (Gulp!) Here’s what I like and don’t like about this model.
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
New TPMS standard, smart trailer concerns, Battle Born update
A new TPMS standard is coming to RVs, but that’s just one of several shifts worth watching. From questions about high-tech “smart” trailers to the latest on Battle Born batteries, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes in the RV world right now. From the brilliant mind of our friend Tony Barthel, here’s what it all means—and what you should be paying attention to.
News briefs
Beginning next Friday (April 17) at 8 a.m., select entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will open for the summer season, weather permitting, as part of the annual spring opening. Here are the details.
Federal safety regulators are considering a permanent U.S. ban on certain Chinese-made air bag inflators after linking them to at least 10 deaths and two serious injuries in a dozen crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the parts, likely imported illegally, can explode instead of inflate, sending metal fragments into drivers.
Good news for Buc-ee’s fans in the Southwest: The popular travel center will open its first location in Arizona in late June along I-10 in Goodyear.
Grand Canyon National Park will implement additional water conservation measures on the South Rim starting Saturday, April 11, due to a series of significant breaks in the 12½-mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the inner canyon for use in the park. Since mid-March, the park has faced challenges with water supply and, currently, no water is being pumped to the South Rim.
Hurricane Ridge Road in Washington state’s Olympic National Park may either open or close through April 30, depending on road conditions and weather. Check 360-565-3131 for updates.
Hikers, bicyclists, and other park-goers can expect to see restrictions at Washington State Park trails and campgrounds as the Department of Natural Resources reviews where it will reduce recreation access across the state. The upcoming restrictions are because of state budget cuts combined with an ongoing lack of funding for maintenance and staff.
Love’s has opened yet another travel stop with RV amenities—five full-hookup sites, three sites without hookups and an RV dump. It’s off I-122 at exit 70 in Quinton, Alabama,
The Dyrt, a campsite-finder app, has found that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) persons were 53% more likely than the overall population to have camped for the first time in 2025.
Kuwohi Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened April 1 for the summer season, restoring access to one of the park’s most popular scenic drives. The road leads visitors to the Kuwohi Visitor Center and the trailhead for the half-mile hike to the park’s highest peak.
British Columbia introduced a new surcharge for foreign and out-of-province campers at dozens of its most popular parks this season, citing surging demand and rising maintenance challenges. The fee applies at 59 front-country campgrounds and several high-traffic backcountry parks through Labor Day, affecting reservations and on-site stays. The move is aimed at managing crowding and the growing impact of extreme weather on park infrastructure.
Three Rhode Island State Park campgrounds opened for the season yesterday: Charlestown Breachway, Fishermen’s Memorial, and George Washington Memorial.
CAN YOU GUESS?
What year is the Ford F-1 pickup pictured above? Take your best guess and then look for the answer near the bottom of this newsletter below “Trivia.”
Tanner Toons
From Tanner Woods
FACTOID: The U.S. Forest Service, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, plants an average of 5 million trees annually.
RV and RV-related recalls
• Keystone RV is recalling certain 2026 Montana fifth wheel trailers. Under certain conditions during travel, the underbelly may come loose or detach from the vehicle, leading to an increased risk of a vehicle crash. Learn more.
• Forest River is recalling certain 2026 Westbrook and Avenger travel trailers. The federal placard label may list an incorrect dry weight. Dealers will replace the label for free. The recall number: 452-2045. Info: 260-499-2100.
Reader poll
Would you support surcharges for out-of-state or foreign campers at busy parks?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Brain teaser
You are standing on the top one of two solid metal pillars. They are both exactly one kilometer apart from each other and they both stand one kilometer high. There is absolutely nothing around these pillars, but you have one small twig, one small rock and an unlimited supply of rope. Using only the materials named, how can you get from the top of the pillar that you are on to the top of the other pillar?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
The word “taco” traces to 18th-century Mexican silver miners, who used “taco” to describe paper-wrapped gunpowder charges placed into rocks before blasting. Tacos later became associated with working-class food—soft corn tortillas called tacos de minero (miner’s tacos) that were filled with spicy, affordable ingredients. Americans encountered tacos in about 1905 from Los Angeles street vendors, including “chili queens,” whose soft, spicy tacos seemed exotic to unfamiliar palates.
FORD TRUCK? It’s a 1951 Ford F-1.
Laugh of the week
The perfect scam
Avoiding Tax Scams With Michelle Singletary
It’s tax time, and that means it’s also tax scam season. The Federal Trade Commission warns about a recent surge in fake IRS calls to taxpayers. Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary joins host Bob Sullivan to discuss how AI might be supercharging these age-old scams, how recent changes in the way the federal government issues refunds could create new opportunities for scammers, and some practical tips for protecting yourself against these and other scams.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Speaking of Starlink (2 articles), congratulations to NASA. The relaunch of a manned space travel program starting in 2018 has just given us multiple new records to celebrate as a nation for America’s 250th. Much pride 🇺🇲🚀🇺🇲🚀🇺🇲🚀.
Wow, wow! That flight and especially re-entry and landing were indeed spectacular! Coming in at near 25,000 mph – slowing a bit and then the three chutes come out – and they hit the water, on target, at 19 mph! And this says nothing about the 5,000 degrees of heat on the front end! Talk about design integrity and professionalism – Pride in our NASA and GO USA! I remember when the USSR “Sputnik” entered space in the 50’s – we’ve come a long way baby!
NASA has always had smart engineers. When I was in the Air Force they took the space shuttle up without any engines in the air atop the 747. Everyone was trying to figure out how the space shuttle was going to get off the 747. What the space shuttle did was take over gliding and dropped the 747 separating them. Another engineer on the runway said the shuttle was going to land here and it landed close to where he said. I was working in a building with a wall and windows feet away from the space shuttle and was able to look at it.
Wow: That would have been, and would be, an exciting thing to watch! I have always been in awe with how they could fly a 747 with the weight of the shuttle on top – but I guess the answer lies in the fact that the shuttle has wings and therefor generated its own lift to lessen the weight once sufficient speed was attained. Prior flights into space proved they could land – with no power and with superior crew skill and coordination. Thanks for your service mrpavet! (I spent 42 yrs 7 mos and 28 days in the ANG in ND, Calif and AK and the USAF Reserve).
Regarding the lack of water in South rim of the Grand Canyon, does anyone know where to get water outside of the park prior to arrival? We’re headed there in June. Don’t look like they will have it fixed by then!
We overnight in Flagstaff on our way to GC, which we visit at least once a year, so we make sure our fresh tank is full when we leave the campground. We have a small TT (19′, 28 gallons fresh water), so also carry water in Reliance totes in the truck. Until the new pipeline is finished, we’ll make sure to carry enough water for our visit, as we do other places here in the SW. (We always have some water in the truck, many years of desert travel mean we’re not comfortable without it.)
Williams, AZ is near the turnoff to the South Rim and well worth a day of sight seeing.
✌️😎
Once you see the Grand Canyon, you will have “seen the Grand Canyon.” Go to William’s, AZ. Stay at one of the Grand Canyon Railway RV PARK and take the Train Ride up to the GC. You will have about 4 hrs to “See the GC.” Then the train ride back. If you have a dog, they have a day kennel. Just make a reservation ahead of time.
The view from the North Rim is even more spectacular. If you are old enough to remember the opening shots of the “Wonderful World of Disney” in the late 50’s when color TV was new, the North Rim was where those scenes were shot.
At Disneyland when the train slows to go through the diorama the music is Death Vally Suite by Ferde Grofe. If you remember the early days of Disney and color television, you would have seen shows written by my dad including Davy Crocket who wrote the story and script for each of the five episodes plus other Disney shows. Due to the director obtaining insufficient footage on location and time was running out, in an afternoon dad wrote The Ballad of Davy Crockett and George Bruns the music to fill in some time.
That’s really cool! Thanks, Gary. (And now I have the Ballad of Davy Crockett running through my head.🙄) Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
There are several campgrounds in Williams. They would probably allow you to fill your fresh water tank. They will know the water status in the park so there might be a modest fee.
To roads diverged in a Yellow wood….
Comment on the subscription based newsletter: I can see fewer ads on the main pages, which is great! But when I opened the Winnebago review I was bombarded with ads. One add (google ) accross the bottom covered up the floor plan of the coach. The other ads were so distracting, I could not finish the article. Call me old, old fashioned or overly critical, but that is my on this article/issue
I don’t get ads. I’m on a laptop, have an ad blocker and I’m a paid subscriber to this newsletter. Perhaps you’re on a phone?
Look into the DuckDuckGo browser. If you use it to open the newsletter (weekend or daily) you won’t get ads on the main page or on other articles you open. You can keep your regular browser also. I use Edge, DuckDuckGo, and Safari with DDG being my default on my phone.
Give DDG a try. I think you will be pleased because it will solve your complaint.
Reading here was miserable on my iPhone – until I installed an ad blocker. Now it’s great.
Talking about extra charges for out of country visitors like BC is implementing. I was very surprised in February when we visited the Grand Canyon. Normally was $35 per vehicle and now there was a surcharge starting in January of $100 per person on top of the 35 for out of country visitors. If i would have known i would have avoided going there for a couple of hours because i had visited there previously. Quite expensive for a couple of hours.
The F1 picture is similar to my first vehicle, a 1950 Ford F3 with a flathead 6 and four speed. Great memories and a fairly indestructible truck!
Re out of state visitor camping fees. Apparently Oregon didn’t get the message. There’s a surcharge for out of state campers at Oregon State Parks.