Home Blog

RV Daily Tips. Thursday, July 2, 2026

Newsletter Editor
-
0
RV Daily Tips. Thursday, July 2, 2026

America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2939 • New issue every weekday

Today’s thought

“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” ―Dr. Seuss

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Wildland Firefighter Day! We mourn the loss of three wildland firefighters who gave their lives battling the Knowles and Gore fires on the Colorado-Utah border earlier this week, and we keep the two injured firefighters and all those affected in our thoughts.

On this day in history: 1962 – The first Walmart store, then known as Wal-Mart, opens for business in Rogers, Arkansas. By 1990, Walmart had become the nation’s number one retailer.

Tip of the day
Plug your RV into a generator? Watch out for this!

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Do you plug your RV into a generator for boondocking power? Here’s a simple but important tip. We’re talking about portable generators, not rig-mounted gensets that use a transfer switch.

It’s like a line from Jerry Lee Lewis. With portable generators, “There’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.” It doesn’t matter if your generator is sitting out on the ground, or stuck on your pickup truck bed, your generator is a hunk of vibrating steel.

Plug your RV into a generator and that not-so-good vibration can take a toll on your shore power connector. Continue reading.

Article and video
See the African Jungle Yachts—RVs that disappeared in Africa in the 1930s

By Cheri Sicard
In 1938, two of the most ambitious vehicles ever to roll through the world’s wild places made their way into the heart of the African jungle. Known as the Jungle Yachts, these massive luxury RVs offered a travel experience few could imagine at the time. With air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, a tiled bathroom, twin bedrooms, a living space, a library, and a well-stocked bar, they brought a slice of modern convenience to the untamed wilderness. In today’s video, Calum Raasay shares historical footage and recreates what they might have looked like inside. This is an amazing story!

MultimeterThe one tool every RVer should carry for troubleshooting
When something in your RV stops working, guessing won’t fix it—you need real numbers. A good multimeter like this one lets you quickly check campground power, test batteries, confirm 12-volt and 120-volt voltage, and diagnose wiring or fuse issues before they turn into expensive repairs. Learn more about it in Dave’s article here.

Featured article
One RV flood prevention mistake I’ve been making

By Nanci Dixon
Yesterday, as I was casually sifting through a mass of emails, I glanced at one from Geico Insurance and almost deleted it. Good thing I read through it first. What caught my eye in it was the list of things that could cause a water disaster. Are you making this mistake?

Ask Dave
How can RV’s gray water be backflowing into black water tank?

Read Dave’s answer.

Reader poll
Who will decide when to hang up your RV keys?

Respond here.

Quick tip
Don’t let your tire pressure get low

Tire load ratings are great—provided you keep the tire at the recommended inflation rate. If the tire pressure is low, forget the weight ratings—you’re playing with fire in the form of excessive tire heat that can blow your tire in flight.
Read more on tire pressure from tire expert Roger Marble. 

Funny t-shirt of the day

Campingbacon
Us, too! Order your own shirt here.

Website of the day

10 best drive-in movie theaters in 2026
Drive-in theaters have made a comeback! And, hey, who says you can’t park your RV in the back row. (Well, maybe some theaters have rules against it… but not all of them!) Check out this list of the 10 best, as voted by USA Today readers.

Bears On Picnic Tables
Photo: NPS in Yosemite National Park

REMINDER: Don’t leave your picnic (or what’s left of it) on your picnic table. Walk around your picnic area before leaving to check for any leftover trash. Even small crumbs or bits of food can attract wildlife.

And the survey says…

We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 5,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:

• 10 percent have never seen the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
• 31 percent perform volunteer work on a regular basis.
• 92 percent will not ski next winter.

Recent poll: Would you rather… Have a cool, shady campsite with no hookups, or a hot, sunny campsite with full hookups?

Trivia

The tarmac is the paved area where planes take off, land, and taxi. The word “tarmac” is a shortened version of “tarmacadam,” which refers to a type of pavement made out of crushed stone, covered in tar. Any airport area surfaced with this material can be called the tarmac. The material was named after Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam, who invented “macadam” (the earliest form of this pavement) in the 18th century.

? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Forget the view out the front dash, you’re going to want to sit in the back with this! This is great! (And we’re so happy to be learning about it now instead of later!)

Readers’ pet of the day

Img 7728 2c5417629f741549ca3da7a133d2e1f6“Stella (Golden Retriever, age 4) loves to go camping, but she says it wears her out and enjoys the couch on the way home!” —Michael Longanecker

Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!

• Pet Food and all pet products at Amazon
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.

Dq Misty Slush Rvdt 2939GOOD DEAL! To honor America’s 250th birthday, Dairy Queen® is launching the NEW Stars & Stripes Misty® Slush Float. Available in size small, for $2.50 from now through July 5, the float includes layers of DQ Cherry MISTY Slush, world-famous soft serve, and blue raspberry Misty Slush with festive star sprinkles. YUM!

Leave here with a laugh

Eggs

Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY

Visit Current National Radar Weather Map

Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.

If you shop at Amazon.com we’d appreciate you using this link. We get an itty bitty commission if you buy something, but they add up and help us pay our bills (most importantly our hard-working writers!). 

RVtravel.com All-Star Staff

Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.

WHY WE ASK FOR DONATIONS INSTEAD OF SELLING SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Our policy on using artificial intelligence.

How can RV’s gray water be backflowing into black water tank?

Dave Solberg
-
0
How can RV’s gray water be backflowing into black water tank?

Dear Dave,
Every time my friend goes camping with us, his trailer has plumbing issues. He seems to believe that when his galley gray tank becomes full it then begins to empty into his black tank (two days of camping). Every time we camp, he needs to empty his black tank into a tote to take for disposal and then his galley works well.

My question is this: Does this sound normal that his gray tank would begin to drain into his black tank? —Robert, A friend’s 2022 Springdale

Dear Robert,
You did not provide the floorplan model so we can’t get the specifications of holding tank sizes and the quantity. However, you did state the “galley gray tank,” so does he have a separate holding tank for the kitchen?

As I have stated many times, I have learned to never say never when it comes to how RV manufacturers design, or, sometimes more accurately, throw together RV systems.

Black and gray tanks are usually completely separate

Typically the black and gray water tanks are completely separate even if there is more than one gray holding tank due to floorplan configurations. The gray holds the cleaner water from the shower and some sinks, again, depending on the floorplan and location of the sink. The black water tank is predominately toilet water.

There should be no “overflow,” as the tanks are separate. However, if you leave the dump valves open in both and have either a cover on the main dump bayonet or separate dump valve, the water level will backflow from underneath due to gravity to the lowest point or holding tank.

It could also be just a valve or valves that look closed, but are not seating properly and allowing a slight escape of fluid.

If the vent pipes of each tank are connected going up to the roof and have just one vent at the top, when the black tank gets full, it could be rising up the vent and causing a vacuum.

These would be the only two points that I could see any type of connection or similarity.

 You might also enjoy these posts from Dave 

DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,200 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!

Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

HAVE A QUESTION FOR DAVE?

Send your inquiries to him using the form below.

Name
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

RVDT2939

What to do if driving toward a dust storm

RV Travel
-
0
What to do if driving toward a dust storm

In Arizona and other Southwest states, dust storms can pop up at any time of the year, but most frequently occur during the monsoon season of June to September.

If you’re driving a vehicle and see a dust storm ahead, the most important thing to do is to not drive into it. That’s because visibility can drop to zero, leaving you and others driving blind, making for a dangerous situation.

If you encounter a dust storm and don’t have time to exit the highway, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has developed this “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” video below to help you know what to do to get home safely.

Watch the short video.

Follow this advice:
• Immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
• Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway—do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
• Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
• Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers: You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide, possibly crashing into your parked vehicle.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
• Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

Drivers of high-profile vehicles, and that includes RVs, should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

MORE SAFE DRIVING TIPS

RVDT2940

Plug your RV into a generator? Watch out for this!

RV Travel
-
0
Plug your RV into a generator? Watch out for this!

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Do you plug your RV into a generator for boondocking power? Here’s a simple but important tip. We’re talking about portable generators, not rig-mounted gensets that use a transfer switch.

Jerry Lee Lewis kinda problem

It’s like a line from Jerry Lee Lewis. With portable generators, “There’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.” It doesn’t matter if your generator is sitting out on the ground, or stuck on your pickup truck bed, your generator is a hunk of vibrating steel.

Plug your RV into a generator and that not-so-good vibration can take a toll on your shore power connector. The real concern is not for a factory-issue molded RV plug but, rather, a shore power cord equipped with a replacement plug. We found this out—almost the hard way.

Our generator gyration experience

Pulling the shore power cord to our pickup-mounted generator, we heard an unusual rattle. Thankfully, we were in a location that was quiet enough that we could actually hear a fairly quiet sound. No snakes, but land’s sakes! The screws which held the clamshell-design power plug together were loose and ready to fall right out.

Too many loose screws! R&T De Maris photo.

Recollecting when we’d put that replacement plug in place, it was hard to imagine that we’d not torqued those screws down tight. But maybe. Getting older, and perhaps stupider. Anyway, we retorqued the screws down, plugged it in the generator, and set off for a few hours of gen time. What had caused the problem? Could it be the generator vibration?

Before our next gen session, we checked the clamshell screws. Coming loose! OK, that settled it. The vibration set up by the generator was decidedly the culprit. If you plug your RV into a generator, how can you prevent this “got a loose screw” issue from happening? DON’T grab your bottle of thread locker. Typical thread lockers can cause the plastic to become brittle and break.

Outside of constant retorques, here’s one fix

There are thread lockers that are designed for use on plastics. Permatex makes one, called Permatex Plastic Threadlocker. It’s specifically designed for situations like these. We were able to find a few different and more affordable varieties of the product.

RELATED

RVDT2939

See the African Jungle Yachts—RVs that disappeared in Africa in the 1930s

Video Editor
-
0
See the African Jungle Yachts—RVs that disappeared in Africa in the 1930s

By Cheri Sicard
In 1938, two of the most ambitious vehicles ever to roll through the world’s wild places made their way into the heart of the African jungle. Known as the Jungle Yachts, these massive luxury RVs offered a travel experience few could imagine at the time. With air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, a tiled bathroom, twin bedrooms, a living space, a library, and a well-stocked bar, they brought a slice of modern convenience to the untamed wilderness.

In today’s video, Calum Raasay shares historical footage and recreates what they might have looked like inside.

Meet Attilio Gatti: Explorer and storyteller

Attilio Gatti was born in 1896 in Voghera, Italy. Although his early years are a bit mysterious, by the 1930s he had earned a reputation as a determined explorer, a skilled photographer, and a talented publicist. Gatti thrived in front of a camera as much as behind it, focusing more on capturing Africa’s beauty with film and photos rather than hunting. He stood out from other European adventurers by “stalking with a camera instead of a gun,” documenting wildlife and cultures across the continent.

For his tenth African expedition, Gatti landed major backing from International Harvester, an American manufacturer famous for its rugged vehicles. They supplied a fleet that included the showpiece Jungle Yachts—two streamlined trailers designed for supreme comfort. The man behind their look was Count Alexi de Sakhnoffsky, a Russian-American designer well-known for stylish vehicles. Early sketches and magazine advertisements reveal just how futuristic these vehicles were for their time.

The Jungle Yachts were built from stainless steel, a rare choice in the late 1930s, making them both durable and modern. Each one boasted:

  • Hot and cold air conditioning
  • A compact kitchen where the cook could reach every appliance without leaving the seat
  • A spacious, tiled bathroom with a full-length tub
  • A radio control, letting travelers listen to music while relaxing in the bath
  • Dining area, bar, lounge, and library in the sitting trailer
  • Two bedrooms and full bath in the sleeping trailer

Each trailer cost about $115,000, equivalent to several million today. With electric lighting, strong generators, a phone line connecting the trailers, and sturdy Fleet Wheels Co. manufacturing, they were high-tech travel machines few could equal.

Public debut and journey to Africa

Before heading to Africa, the Jungle Yachts created a sensation at an exhibition in Manhattan. Crowds and dignitaries marveled at their size and style. Finally, the vehicles were loaded onto the freighter West Lashway and shipped across the Atlantic to the Belgian Congo.

The 1930s Belgian Congo had a troubled history, but, by then, the Belgian government wanted to showcase it as a “Model Colony.” Gatti’s dramatic adventure, with its science-focused public image, fit their goals. Supported by officials, the expedition planned an 18-month journey, starting from Matadi port and heading deep into the interior.

Traveling from paved roads to rugged dirt tracks, the convoy pressed into remote areas with the Jungle Yachts performing impressively. The juxtaposition between the air-conditioned comfort and sophisticated technology inside and the wild, humid African jungle outside was striking. As Gatti later recalled, “giant trailers… their overall length was 42 feet,” with a weight of more than 10 tons each—their size alone made them stand out.

By late 1939, World War II brought everything to a halt. Tensions made supplies and communications tricky, forcing Gatti and his wife to call off the trip months early. Shipping the huge trailers home from Matadi turned out to be impossible, so they stayed behind in the Congo—abandoned, at least for the moment.

When Italy entered the war, Gatti’s Italian citizenship made things complicated. Officials in the Belgian Congo seized the Jungle Yachts, quickly converting them into a mobile hospital for use in the East African Campaign. Fitted with operating theaters, dental clinics, and X-ray machines, and staffed by medical teams, these luxury vehicles became part of the war effort—a sharp contrast to their original purpose.

The disappearance of the Jungle Yachts

What really became of the Jungle Yachts? After 1942, their trail fades. Most likely, they broke down or were scrapped as spare parts ran out. Somewhere, perhaps in an archive or a dusty ledger, the final records might yet be hiding. Their story remains an enticing historical riddle.

The Jungle Yachts lived on through Gatti’s film “Jungle Yachts of the Belgian Congo” and widespread coverage in magazines. Publications like Esquire, Popular Mechanics, and Picture Post helped build their legend. The designer, Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, also influenced similar luxury vehicles, including streamlined buses of the same era.

Even compared to today’s RVs, the 1930s Jungle Yachts stand out. With their advanced features and comfort, they truly were “trailers of tomorrow”—technological marvels rolling through another era.

RELATED

RVDT2939

Who will decide when to hang up your RV keys?

RV Travel
-
0
Who will decide when to hang up your RV keys?

By Gail Marsh
“It’s time.” That’s what dear RVing friends recently told us. My first thoughts, I’ll admit, were selfish ones. “Who will play cards with us on rainy days? Spontaneously join in a last-minute motorcycle ride? Or take my husband fishing?”

Recovering from the unexpected announcement, I wondered how our friends arrived at the decision to stop RVing. I thought about our own eventuality. Who will determine when it’s time to hang up the RV keys?

Travel buddy

Sometimes a spouse is the first to recognize that the days of RVing are over. This was the case when we bought our very first RV. The couple who sold us their previously loved rig logged many happy miles from Indiana to New York to Louisiana to Alaska and a gazillion places in between.

As my husband looked over the RV, Doris pulled me aside. She admitted, “We just don’t enjoy it like we used to. I notice that my husband gets so tense while driving. Then I get nervous. It’s time to do other things.”

The DMV

Who will determine when it’s time to hang up the RV keys? Perhaps the Department of Motor Vehicles. Depending on where you live, you may have to take a written knowledge test as well as a vision test to successfully renew your driver’s license.

There are, thankfully, many opportunities to keep your driving skills strong. Free, online programs like this one can strengthen your reaction time along with other skills necessary for driving.

Insurance providers may offer in-person classes that can keep you sharp behind the wheel. Ask your agent about it.

CarFit, an educational program, offers seniors an opportunity to see how well their personal vehicle “fits” them. The program focuses on a driver’s safety and comfort. Experts will check to see if your vehicle “fits” you. Then they make recommendations (move closer to the steering wheel, adjust mirrors in a better way, etc.) to help you. This program is free.

Age

Another RVing friend, currently in his late 50s, has already decided. He will hang up the RV keys when he hits 70. Why 70? That’s when his dad stopped driving. He admits, “It’s an arbitrary number, I know. But it was so difficult to take the keys away from my dad, and I don’t wish that experience on my wife or kids.”

The doctors

As the years pile up, our reaction times and range of flexibility decrease. Our eyesight, hearing, and other skills may also diminish. Who will determine when it’s time to hang up the RV keys? Perhaps your physician. After all, she knows your health condition better than anyone.

Currently, I’m not much of a threat to any Olympic athlete. However, I recently read that building muscle is possible at any age. Any. Age. It’s never too late to begin exercising and eating healthier foods. Join a gym. Exercise in your RV or take a daily walk. Do something, anything, to keep your muscles strong and mind alert.

Myself

“I’ll just know.” That’s my husband’s theory. “I’ll just know when it’s time to hang up the RV keys. Won’t you?” I’m not so sure. I recently read that many adults drive seven to ten years longer than they should! Seven to ten years is a long time. Couple that statistic with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s finding that older adults (65 years and older) have the second-highest accident rates in the nation. (Teen drivers rank first.) Will I know when it’s time to hang up the RV keys? I just don’t know.

How about you?

Who will determine when it’s time to hang up the RV keys? Vote in the poll and then please leave a comment.

MORE POLLS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

RVDT2939

Tiffin motorhomes recalled due to fire danger

RV Travel
-
2
Tiffin motorhomes recalled due to fire danger

Tiffin Motorhomes is recalling certain 2026-2027 Zephyr, Wayfarer, Phaeton, Open Trail, GT1, Allegro Red, Allegro Open Road, Allegro Bus, Allegro Bay, 2026 Midas, Byway, and Allegro Breeze recreational vehicles equipped with certain MaxxAir N-Series Maxxfan rooftop ventilation fans.

The printed circuit board may fail during certain operations and overheat. An overheated printed circuit board increases the risk of a fire and injury. The recall was issued June 29 and involves as many as 425 vehicles.

The recall population includes all Tiffin RVs equipped with a MaxxAir fan that were built between January 12, 2026 and June 19, 2026.

Indicators of a problem with an RV would be the presence of smoke if the PC board is experiencing a thermal event.

The makes and models of RVs recall are:

• TIFFIN/ALLEGRO OPEN ROAD/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/MIDAS/2026
• TIFFIN/OPEN TRAIL/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/ALLEGRO BAY/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/ALLEGRO BUS/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/GT1/2026-202
• TIFFIN/WAYFARER/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/ZEPHYR/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/PHAETON/2026-2027
• TIFFIN/BYWAY/2026
• TIFFIN/ALLEGRO RED/2026-2027

Remedy

Dealers will replace the circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 28. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661. Tiffin’s number for this recall is TIF-149. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 28, 2026.

RELATED

RVT1268b

Glacier National Park campground, other areas, closed due to flooding

RV Travel
-
3
Glacier National Park campground, other areas, closed due to flooding

Heavy rainfall has caused significant flooding across Glacier National Park, prompting multiple temporary closures. Rising water levels and unstable ground conditions are affecting roads, trails, and infrastructure.

The entire Many Glacier Valley, including Many Glacier Hotel, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and the Many Glacier Campground, is closed to the public to ensure visitor safety during ongoing flooding in the area. The Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Motor Inn have been evacuated due to flooding. All trails in the Many Glacier Valley are closed until further notice.

Heavy rainfall has also impacted access along Going-to‑the-Sun Road. A temporary closure was implemented on June 28 from Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook.

With the increase in water and debris along the road, closure points have been adjusted, the west side closure remains at Avalanche, and the east side closure has moved to Rising Sun. Visitors should expect detours, delays, and limited access while crews respond to hazardous conditions created by fast‑moving water, debris, and saturated soils.

Glacier National Park is working closely with the Federal Highway Administration about when it’s time to reopen the Many Glacier Valley to ensure that access is restored safely.

There is no hiker/biker access past any road closures, and all closure points should be avoided.

The park urges visitors to practice responsible visitation during this weather event. Flooded areas should never be crossed, and all posted closures must be followed. Travelers should check current conditions before arriving and remain flexible with plans as weather and access may change quickly.

Visitors are reminded that weather conditions can change quickly, and park travelers should always be prepared for inclement weather. Check the park website for the most up to date information. Visitors can also sign up for GNP notifications to receive road status updates by texting GNPROADS to 333111.

SOURCE: Glacier National Park news release

RELATED

RVT1268b

RV Daily Tips. Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Newsletter Editor
-
8
RV Daily Tips. Wednesday, July 1, 2026

America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2938 • New issue every weekday

Today’s thought

“A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.” ―Kurt Vonnegut

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Canada Day! Happy Canada Day (158 years!) to our readers and friends up north, as well as the almost-one million Canadians living in the U.S.!

On this day in history: 1874 – The Sholes and Glidden typewriter, the first commercially successful typewriter, goes on sale.

Tip of the day
RV gray tank smells worse than black tank? What to do

By Nanci Dixon
Who knew I could get so excited about flushing the gray and black water tanks? Okay, I know it is a bit odd, but as the designated tank flusher I am happy when the “gunk” comes out. While I am diligent about flushing out the black water with the built-in flush system, there was no built-in system for the gray water. When I complained to our RV tech about the smell when driving, he said that the gray water can smell worse than the black. Why? Well, continue reading.

hiatus camper hard sided pop up campersRV review
Hiatus campers: Hard-sided pop-up campers for off-roading

Most truck campers ask owners to give up bed space, cold-weather comfort, or easy setup, but Hiatus Campers tries to keep all three. Tyler and Aaron built a lightweight hard-sided pop-up camper that goes up in under 15 seconds and still keeps the truck useful. That balance shapes the whole design. The camper is built for rough roads, four-season travel, and custom layouts that match how each truck gets used. Check them out.

In the RV shop with Dustin
RV air conditioners: Maintenance tips and what to inspect

There are several steps for inspecting RV air conditioners, some of which are best undertaken by a technician. You (or that technician) always want to make sure to inspect the RV roof air conditioner unit for debris and damage, wash inner coils (including the condenser and evaporator), clean drain tubes, replace gaskets and filters, perform amp-draw tests and so much more! Watch the video, and I’ll walk you through it all.

MagneticgrabberTelescoping magnetic grabber saves money and my day
Drop a screw where your fingers can’t reach? A magnetic grabber tool can pull it out in seconds. It’s a simple, inexpensive tool you’ll be thankful you have. I (Emily) dropped a screw deep into my car’s engine bay while changing the battery, and this little magnetic grabber tool saved the day. It pulled the screw right out. Keep one of these handy. Trust me.

Article and video
Check out 30 incredible teardrops from the 2026 DIY Teardrop Campers Community meetup

More than 30 home-built campers showed up at David Crockett State Park, and that alone says a lot about this corner of camping. The 2026 DIY Teardrop Campers Community meetup felt equal parts campground, workshop, and reunion. Camp and Camera spent the weekend walking the loop, meeting builders, and finding the small ideas that make these tiny trailers work so well on real trips. These are so fun (and cute!).

Smokey Bear Ad
Don’t let your campfire, fireworks, or cigarette become tomorrow’s wildfire. Fire season is already off to a frightening start—help prevent it from getting worse.

Featured article
An important guide to getting medical help while on the road

By Gail Marsh
One thing many RVers don’t plan for is getting sick while traveling and/or needing medical help on the road. So, what happens if you or a travel buddy need medical care while on the road? How can you find a good doctor or get the quality medical help you need? Check out these potentially lifesaving tips.

Ask Dave
I was attacked by a caterpillar. Beware!

Read about Dave’s uncomfortable encounter with a caterpillar here.

Reader poll
Do you ever use your RV as a “guest room” for visitors to your home?

Respond here.

FACTOID: In 1930, the Galvin Corporation introduced one of the first commercial car radios, the Motorola model 5T71, which sold for between $110 and $130 and could be installed in most popular automobiles.

Rvdigestit

What’s the best black tank treatment? This!
Recently, Dave Solberg was asked what he thinks the best black tank treatment on the market is. His answer? “RV Digest-It Plus is the best product, as the proteins help the aerobic bacteria break down the sewage.” You can read more in Dave’s article here, and find RV Digest-It Plus on Amazon here.

Quick tip
Drafty motorhome? Check this

Motorhome got a cold draft you can’t account for? After eliminating an open window or roof vent, check your dashboard environmental controls. Vacuum-operated intakes left in the open position when the engine is shut down may well stay open, allowing cold air to infiltrate. Turn the engine on, close the vents, shut the engine off. No more cold draft.

On this day last year…

Website of the day

Mesa Verde National Park Itinerary
We love Mesa Verde, so we liked the idea of featuring this perfect 3-day itinerary for the park and surrounding areas. Even if you don’t follow it exactly, it still has great info and not-to-miss sights. If you’ve never been, plan a visit!

Trivia

Americans drove an average of 13,482 miles in 2022. The annual average over the previous decade was 13,930 miles, and the average annual mileage has been between 13,000 and 15,000 since 1993. The pandemic caused a dip in 2020 to 12,397 average annual miles—the lowest since 1987—as Americans switched to remote work and limited travel. —Federal Highway Administration

? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
The future is here. We repeat: The future IS HERE! This is way cool. Make sure you read the description so you understand all this can do! Amazing!

Readers’ pet of the day

Img 4374 F122965e569b0ba4f1796f3411e6da46“Chancy (a “Tortie” with extra toes, age 3) loves camping. So much to explore! So many things to sniff! Exhausting, requiring long naps. Rides well, too, if she has one of her two humans close.” —Emily Thomas

Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!

Freeairbagtest
Yeah, ain’t that the truth! You can order this sticker here.

Leave here with a laugh

Have you ever noticed that bread is a lot like the sun? It rises in the yeast and sets in the waist.

Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY

Visit Current National Radar Weather Map

Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Oh, and if you missed the Latest News for RVers, make sure to catch up here.

RVtravel.com All-Star Staff

Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.

I was attacked by a caterpillar. Beware!

Dave Solberg
-
4
I was attacked by a caterpillar. Beware!

Over the weekend, we had a garage sale. As I sat under the tree slowing foot traffic with my uncanny ability to communicate, I felt something crawling on my neck. It was a fairly cool morning and there were no mosquitos in sight, so I thought it might just be some other type of bug and reached up to pull it off.

Caterpillar

What I found was a fury caterpillar that was about two inches long and, unfortunately, I squished it somewhat with my fingers. As I looked at it, I noticed some liquid on my fingers and felt an itch on my neck but didn’t think too much of it. The poor guy did wiggle around and seemed to be OK, so I placed him on a nearby Hosta plant.

The next day, my neck started to itch and, of course, I could not leave it alone. That night, my neck broke out into a rash and the itch was even worse. It is ironic because I had just gotten a post from Birds & Blooms that listed several caterpillars to be aware of. I did not take a picture of the fuzzy beast as it did not seem to be an issue at the time. However, this is what it turned out to be.

Dave Neck
Rash on Dave’s neck

My best guess is that the caterpillar was a white-marked tussock moth caterpillar, that looks similar to this one listed on Birds & Blooms.

White Caterpillar
White-marked tussock moth caterpillar

Some caterpillars have barbed bristles

According to my research, the hairs of the white-marked tussock moth caterpillar are actually barbs or spines that are used for defense and will penetrate the skin. They are not poisonous but do create an irritating effect such as fiberglass, and, thus, the rash. I do go into a highly reactive rash state when I come in contact with fiberglass and even some plants such as poison oak and ivy.

The treatment is to use a large piece of tape placed on the area and pull it off to get the barbs out of your skin, wash the area thoroughly, and apply ice for a short period of time. Then treat the area with a rash cream like hydrocortisone.

So, I went back to the article to see what else we should be aware of. There are several caterpillars that can cause irritation.

Saddleback caterpillar

Saddleback Caterpillar Courtesy Nps
Saddleback caterpillar. Courtesy Nps

This caterpillar has a green “saddle like” middle, which gives it its name. The spikes are actually poisonous; however, they mostly cause irritation and swelling in humans. The caterpillar turns into a moth called the saddleback moth.

Milkweed tussock moth caterpillar

Milkweed Tussock Moth. Wikimedia Commons
Milkweed tussock moth caterpillar. Wikimedia Commons

When I was younger, I walked beans for my grandparents and the fields were full of mustard and milkweed. Although this plant is essential for monarch butterfly caterpillars, it also is host to other caterpillars such as the milkweed tussock moth. This caterpillar also has fuzzy hairs that can break off in the skin and cause the same irritating rash symptoms. These barbed bristles are called urticating setae.

There many more caterpillars and bugs that you should be aware of. Therefore, it is important to research the area of the country you will be RVing in and educate yourself on what to look for.

 You might also enjoy these posts from Dave 

DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,200 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!

Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

HAVE A QUESTION FOR DAVE?

Send your inquiries to him using the form below.

Name
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

RVDT2938

RV gray tank smells worse than black tank? What to do

RV Travel
-
8
RV gray tank smells worse than black tank? What to do

By Nanci Dixon
Who knew I could get so excited about flushing the gray and black water tanks? Okay, I know it is a bit odd, but as the designated tank flusher I am happy when the “gunk” comes out. While I am diligent about flushing out the black water with the built-in flush system, there was no built-in system for the gray water. When I complained to our RV tech about the smell when driving, he said that the gray water can smell worse than the black.

Why?

Mold in the gray water tank

I recently attended a rally seminar about “All things black and gray” and, boy, did I learn a lot! The presenter from Kleen Tank passed around glass bottles of “stuff” that had come out of holding tanks. He did advise, “Don’t open, don’t drop,” while handing it off.

I recognized the black discs that had been coming out of the gray water holding tank and was disgusted when he said it was a massive amount of mold. He also had some discs as hard as metal that he passed around that had “mineralized” with the urine in the black tanks. He said that he finds the gray tank is usually worse than the black, particularly if people have built-in flush systems and had been keeping up with the black tank.

Flush rinser with gate valve and water meter

Best of all, he passed around this flush attachment and water meter. I knew the flush rinser existed, but our hose goes straight down through the bay and there was no way the flush attachment was going to fit. But wait! He showed how the gray and black dump pipe rotates outward and allows the flush rinser to attach! This is what he showed me.

Combined with a water meter, the flush rinser can easily clean out both gray and black water tanks.

The water meter measures how much water is going through a garden hose. It is usually used when watering a garden but it is an exceptional tool for measuring how much water in gallons or liters is going into RV tanks, particularly when flushing. (You can read more about this handy water meter here.)

Warning and Disclaimer:

THE FOLLOWING METHOD IS GENERALLY NOT RECOMMENDED BY RV MANUFACTURERS.

It is not recommended because there can be disastrous results if one walks away from the RV or gets distracted while filling a closed gray water tank or closed black tank with water. Think black water eruption through the toilet into the bathroom and beyond…

With that disclaimer noted, this was the method taught at the seminar to thoroughly flush out the black water and gray water tanks. This was also the method Kleen Tank used when flushing out our tanks. They had the additional step of a hose inserted into the tanks to pressure wash them along with flushing them out. That pressure wash is what a professional is for!

Flush steps

1. IMPORTANT! Double-check the gallon capacity of the holding tanks in the RV specs. If you are like me, it is a good idea to write them down!

2. Attach water meter to a garden hose. Do NOT ever use a fresh water hose to flush! Use a backflow preventer to prevent contaminated water going into fresh water faucet. Kleen Tank adds the backflow preventer and water meter at the flush rinser. Others put the preventer and meter at the faucet.

3. Attach the flush valve rinser to the sewer pipe opening and sewer hose.

4. Pull gray water valve open for a few seconds and close to “lubricate” the sewer hose.

5. Dump black water.

6. When black tank is empty, follow directions on the flush valve rinser, close the rinser gate valve and fill the tank with water.

7. Watching the water meter, fill UNDER the capacity of the tank. I went under by 20 gallons just to be safe.

8. Turn off water and pull gate valve. If you can stand to watch, see how much more gunk was in there.

9. Repeat with the gray water tank. If your tank was like ours, it was not a pretty sight!

10. This flush rinser has a hose rinse setting, too, but I found it rather ineffective and figured the gray water going through the sewer hose was rinse enough.

11. Add at least two gallons of water to the black tank through the toilet and then treat as normal. A number of people are so happy with this type of flush they don’t add any chemicals, organic or otherwise, to the tanks.

And that’s what you call a royal flush! Happy flushing!

RELATED

RVDT2938

Check out 30 incredible teardrops from the 2026 DIY Teardrop Campers Community meetup

Video Editor
-
1
Check out 30 incredible teardrops from the 2026 DIY Teardrop Campers Community meetup

By Cheri Sicard
More than 30 home-built campers showed up at David Crockett State Park, and that alone says a lot about this corner of camping. The 2026 DIY Teardrop Campers Community meetup felt equal parts campground, workshop, and reunion.

Camp and Camera spent the weekend walking the loop, meeting builders, and finding the small ideas that make these tiny trailers work so well on real trips. Check out the video at the end of this post.

A campground full of home-built ideas

The June gathering took place just outside Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and Jay Poor said 32 campers rotated in and out during the week. That made it one of the largest meetups the group has had since he started it in 2017. Most of the trailers were home-built, which gave the whole event a relaxed, hands-on feel. People swapped ideas, checked out details, and picked up a few bragging rights along the way.

Jay has built 17 campers, and he said number 17 is staying with him. That detail fit the mood of the event. These trailers are not one-size-fits-all projects. They are personal builds, shaped by how each owner likes to camp.

A creek behind the campsites kept people and dogs cool, while the food kept everybody close by. Shrimp and chicken stir-fry on a Blackstone griddle looked like the kind of meal that makes a campground stop feel complete.

James built for off-grid travel, and it shows

One of the most memorable trailers belonged to James from Louisiana. His second build is a 5-by-10 teardrop with a galvanized tubing frame, a galvanized steel skeleton, aluminum skin, and 35-inch tires that match his Jeep. Because the spare fits both, he avoids carrying an extra 100 pounds of dead weight.

Inside, James kept it practical. The camper has a queen-size memory foam mattress, a 5,000 BTU window A/C unit, reading lights, charging ports, a folding mirror, key hooks, and slide-out storage boxes for clothes. Outside, homemade fenders and a protective bar help keep trail damage away from the body.

His galley stole the show. A clever overhang helps keep rain away from the hinge area. An 8-inch dead space hides a 12-gallon water tank, a 12-volt pump, and a diesel heater. The swing-out cooktop, drop-in shelf, cutting board, and magnet-held griddle were built for serious camp cooking. He also split the electrical system into separate 110-volt and 12-volt setups, then added portable solar and a 75-liter ICECO fridge-freezer for long off-grid stays.

A first-trip 4×8 that already felt proven

Mark and Dee Bond brought a freshly finished 4-by-8 build from Greenville, South Carolina. It was their first trip, and the camper already looked settled in. Mark, who has also built his own cabin, said YouTube and the DIY teardrop community pushed him to start. He worried most about the hatch, but it came together fine.

He kept the trailer simple, with outdoor cooking, a rear A/C, and enough room for two people to sleep comfortably. For skin, he used .050 aluminum from a trucking company rather than a sign shop. Underneath, he started with a Harbor Freight frame, then added bolts, lock nuts, front reinforcement, and 13-inch tires.

Why this meetup still matters

The strongest takeaway was not one perfect trailer. It was the range of answers to the same small problem: How to build a better box on wheels.

By the Saturday night potluck, that point was hard to miss. Some builders were on their first trip, one camper had 51,000 miles behind it, and another had already landed in a magazine. The DIY teardrop scene is still active because the builds keep changing, and the people keep showing up.

RELATED

RVDT2938

123...2,234Page 1 of 2,234