America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1267
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Foodie Day!
On this day in history: 1870 – The U.S. Congress establishes the first federal holidays (New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).
¯¯¯ Song of the week
“To My Love, My RV Co-Pilot”
DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT
This new weekly musical series from the RV Travel Virtual Recording Studio features songs about RVing. These catchy tunes appear in every Sunday donor’s newsletter. Click below to play.
Our experience staying at an “upscale” Love’s RV Stop
By Nanci Dixon
Ever wonder what an upscale Love’s RV Stop is like? We did! When we are just traveling through, I very seldom make reservations, particularly in the middle of the week. Campgrounds and RV parks were few and far between on our route through Illinois, so when the one we wanted called and said their campground was flooded, we decided it was time to try a Love’s RV Stop.
RVing this summer? Here are our top summer RVing tips and articles for you
We’ve published about 25,000 articles over the years—and no, that’s not a typo. 25,000 and counting! That means we’ve covered many topics more than once, so we like to gather related articles in one place to make them easier for you to find and enjoy. So, with that said, here are our (RVtravel.com’s) top articles about summer RVing.
3-part camping mosquito control that works
Mosquitoes can wreck a camping trip fast. One calm evening at the campsite can turn into nonstop swatting, itching, and retreating indoors. Here, Randi of Randi’s Adventures shares her camping mosquito control solutions. Randi’s mosquito routine is simple because it relies on layers, not one miracle fix. For camping near water, in the woods, or around a buggy RV site, that layered setup makes a clear difference.
FACTOID: According to the latest annual estimates from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, at the end of 2025 slightly more than 200 million Americans shopped using Amazon Prime.
You have voted about advertising on this website
By Chuck Woodbury
FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER
For many months now, I have been perplexed about the advertising in this newsletter and on the website. Too often, we have received complaints from readers who say the advertising is so intrusive that they will unsubscribe. So, last week we asked our Saturday readers who see the most ads—those who read for free—for their thoughts. I was surprised, and I suspect you will be, too. It was not what I expected. Read more and see the poll results.
Yesterday’s top news for RVers
- The campground was “full.” So why were half the sites empty?
- Are algorithms replacing competition at the gas pump? A lawsuit says yes
- He dropped his sunglasses in a campground toilet. His rescue wasn’t funny
- Pilot, Flying J offering Fourth of July fuel discount: 25 cents off every gallon July 1–5
- The campground was open. The water wasn’t. A lesson for every RVer
Read the rest of the news in yesterday’s newsletter here.
RV review
2027 Ember RV Touring Edition 2400RKL—standout features and a party trick
Today’s RV review is of the 2027 Ember RV Touring Edition 2400RKL travel trailer. This is a couple’s mid-sized camper that has a lot of features that really stand out in this realm. So what kinds of things does this bring about? Details, and many common-sense features. There are a lot of little things that will make this trailer more usable. Check it out.
Tony’s tips
The customer service lesson the RV industry needs to learn
If you have nothing better to do than follow my adventures, you might know that I’ve been in Elkhart and the surrounding communities for two weeks by the time you read this. I rode in on a rail and have been looking at dozens of 2027 RVs that I’ll be sharing with you over the next few weeks. But here’s the thing I’ve concluded about customer service…
Tanner Toons
With Tanner Woods
The RV bathroom upgrade that saves aging knees
Here’s something many RVers discover as the years go by: That RV toilet seems to get lower every year. Or maybe gravity is simply getting more aggressive. Of course, the toilet isn’t really shrinking. But knees, hips and backs have a way of reminding us that getting up from a low seat isn’t as easy as it used to be. Fortunately, there are a few ways to make life easier…
What’s the second-best thing you can do for your RV air conditioner?
Your RV is a solar oven. You may consider it your adorable home-on-wheels, but to the 10,000-degree star burning 93 million miles away from our planet, it’s a heat box. That bothers your air conditioner. Your air conditioner has one job: to move heat from inside to outside. But how can your hardworking, loyal air conditioner remove heat if you keep adding it back in? Continue reading.
ShadeMap helps RVers find sun and shade at any time of day—anywhere!
Stop guessing. Summer heat and sun can be brutal, but ShadeMap takes the guesswork out of finding some shady relief. ShadeMap simulates shadows from mountains, buildings, and trees for any date and time. It calculates sunshine and shade in real time and displays them on a map. This is so cool! Check it out.
Reader poll
Would you rather… Have a cool, shady campsite with no hookups, or a hot, sunny campsite with full hookups?
POLLS FROM THIS PAST WEEK
- Which of these campsite utility hookups is normally the most important to you?
- Have you ever experienced food poisoning when RVing?
- Do you like pineapple on your pizza?
- Do you enjoy visiting “haunted” or spooky locations?
- When was the last time you ate at McDonald’s?
What about you?
You see a “service charge” at a restaurant. Should you still leave a tip?
After a long day on the road, you pull into a restaurant, enjoy a decent meal, and ask for the check. The bill arrives with a service charge already added. Then the payment screen asks whether you’d like to leave a 20%, 25%, or 30% tip. Wait a minute. Didn’t I already do that? Well, not necessarily…
Sunday giveaway
How would you like to win this custom “Happy Camper” flag?
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. Click here to enter or see last week’s winner.
REMEMBER: You do not need to receive an email alert from us to read our newsletters. Just visit our homepage, www.rvtravel.com, at any time of day, and the latest issues and articles will be there.
Photo of the week
Travel destinations
Celebrate 150th anniversary of Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer”
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Mark Twain’s timeless masterpiece, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. To celebrate, the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site in Florida, Missouri, invites the public to view its most prized artifact: the original, handwritten manuscript. Learn more.
The beautiful, brand-new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is about to open
The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is set to open July 4, 2026, in Medora, North Dakota. Located on the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the library connects Roosevelt’s presidential legacy with the Badlands landscape that shaped his views on conservation and citizenship. Learn more and plan your visit.
Brain teaser
Take away the whole and some still remains. What is it?
(Answer below.)
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
- Hot sleeper? These tips are for you
- How to wash and wax an RV, plus pro detailing tips
- The best two-minute tidy tip
- Using ketchup to clean your RV’s BBQ grill, plus other tips to keep it like new
- Will suction cups damage your RV sidewall? RVers are divided
BORED?? Well, there is no excuse! Read back issues of our RV Daily Tips Newsletters! More than 2,000 to choose from! Maybe you’ll even want to subscribe!
In the RV shop with Dustin
Crazy RV shower faucet placement—Turn it on with your toes?!
Today, we’re sharing the story of a project involving a third replacement of the shower pan, RV shower faucet, and the surround wall in a 2022 Northwood Arctic Fox. One of the critical problems was the impractical placement of the RV shower faucet, which was installed too low to the base pan. This made using the shower inconvenient, to say the least.
RV tire safety
Why and how to photograph tires
Tire expert Roger Marble explains why you should photograph the info on tire sidewalls and the best way to do it, here.
Ask Dave
This past week’s questions that Dave answered:
Why does our ceiling A/C unit spit out black Styrofoam pieces? • There’s water on the RV floor, but I can’t find a leak. Can you help? • How do I get rid of musty smell from RV’s roof A/C so I can use it? • Replacing RV roof vent; screws are just in every other hole. Is this normal? • What is Bar Keepers Friend and where on my RV can I use it?
Video of the day
RV made from a watermelon? Carve one yourself!
By Cheri Sicard
Here, we learn how to carve a watermelon RV from the team at TheRVKeys. This watermelon RV sculpture fruit salad bowl is sure to be a hit at your next potluck party. Hollowed-out watermelons have always been popular containers for fruit salad, and this one is RV-shaped, and what’s better than that?!
THE MORE YOU KNOW: Each day, we breathe about 20,000 times.
Live cam
Sea otters at the Seattle Aquarium
Readers’ pet of the day
“Maverick (Golden Retriever, age 6) is the best and smartest dog I’ve ever had. Loves everybody, especially small kids, and thinks everybody should love and pet him. Photo caption: ‘Dad’s tired, so it’s my turn—hang on!'” —Terry Prokes
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.
RVing with dogs
Long-lasting, healthy Himalayan yak cheese chews for dogs
By Cheri Sicard
I may be a little late to this party. Before adopting my current canine companion, Bodie, last Christmas, I had been dogless for nearly three years. Until then, I had never even heard of Himalayan yak cheese chews. But if you have a dog that loves to chew, these things are a huge game-changer.
Trivia
Why do we say “Bless you” after a sneeze? The tradition goes back to the sixth century, when Pope Gregory I is said to have encouraged people to say “God bless you” during a devastating plague, since sneezing was considered a symptom of the disease. The German response “gesundheit” literally means “health” and became common in the United States thanks to German immigrants in the early 1900s. Over the centuries, people also believed sneezing could let the soul escape, allow evil spirits to enter the body, or even make the heart stop for a moment—none of which is true. Still, the custom of saying “Bless you” has survived for centuries.
Sunday funny
Did you miss last week’s RVtravel.com newsletter?
Brain teaser answer:
Wholesome
FREE IS GOOD! Heading to Rhode Island? Learn all about places to go, things to do, special events, places for delicious food, family fun, and much more, including special offers. By mail or online.
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
And finally… A song from the past
RVtravel.com All Star Staff
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Love the “To My Love, My RV Co-Pilot” song! Is there any way to share? TY!