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RVelectricity – What is a GFCI nuisance trip?

Mike Sokol
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9
RVelectricity – What is a GFCI nuisance trip?

I need your assistance
If you didn’t participate in this poll (from last Saturday) previously, would you please vote now to help me gather information for a research project I’m working on (possible correlation between the GFCI and potential hot-skin condition) aimed at RVers’ safety. It may take a moment for the poll to load. Thank you!

By Mike Sokol

Dear Readers,
I’ve been posting a number of short articles on my RVelectricity Facebook Group about GFCI “nuisance” tripping when your RV’s shore power cord is plugged into a 20-amp outlet at your house. And one astute reader asked the most basic of questions: “What is a nuisance trip?”

Of course, there are all kinds of possible jokes about using myself as an example of what a nuisance really is, but it is a real thing in GFCI circuits. However, to understand what a nuisance trip is, you first need a short lesson on what a nuisance ground fault current is. And it’s not that complicated (even though it even confuses electrical engineers at times).

Stop being such a nuisance (trip)…

As I’ve often noted in my technical papers, everything you plug into an electrical outlet leaks a little AC current to its chassis. It really does…. Now, it’s not necessarily a dangerous amount of leakage current, but it is real and it is measurable. For example, if you plug in your iPhone to a wall charger and measure the metal case of the phone with respect to ground you will find it hovering between 60 and 80 volts AC.

WHAT???? Yes, with a high-impedance meter you can measure that it really does measure that kind of voltage when plugged into a 5-volt DC charger. That’s because there’s a small amount of line-to-chassis leakage current inside of your wall charger.

Is that dangerous?

The vast majority of these ground leakage currents are very small, on the order of 0.0001 amperes (that’s a few hundred microamps or a fraction of a milliamp). So they are not dangerous at all. In fact, you’ll never even feel the slightest tingle from a 100-microamp shock. But it is measurable, and it is a real thing.

Note that there are specific tests run by Underwriters Laboratories setting the maximum leakage current of most appliances in the USA to less than 0.8 mA (that’s 0.0008 amperes of current).

However, if that leakage current exceeds 10mA or so, it can be very dangerous to your heart. So the job of the GFCI circuit is to monitor a branch circuit for any leakage currents that exceed 5mA, and shut off the power if it reaches that threshold. Pretty simple, isn’t it?

What’s a GFCI nuisance trip?

Well, let’s define a “nuisance trip” first. Note that a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is there to monitor ground fault currents, and will trip off the power if the leakage exceeds 5mA (that’s 5 milliamps or 0.005 amps) of current. And, of course, that’s what shuts off the power. But most people don’t understand that the leakage currents of ALL of the appliances in your RV add together.

So a fraction of an mA leakage current here, a couple of mA leakage current there, can quickly add up to around 5mA when several appliances are all on. Yes, these leakages are all additive, so you may never have a GFCI trip until two high-leakage things are turned on at the same time.

Note that one of the more leaky gadgets in your RV is the humble surge protector strip. Another one is the battery charger/converter on your RV’s incoming power. Both are allowed to leak up to 3mA of fault current and still pass UL testing. Yikes!!!

So is that 5mA leakage actually dangerous?

Not really, especially if your shore power cord (and RV) is properly grounded through the pedestal. That 5 or 10 or even a few hundred mA of leakage currents will be harmlessly drained away by your safety ground (specifically called your EGC for Equipment Grounding Conductor). That means it can never create a hot-skin voltage on your RV, nor can it shock you.

Then why does it trip if it’s not dangerous?

Well, the GFCI circuit doesn’t know the difference between a human being getting shocked, and the safety ground wire getting rid of these leakage currents. It just knows that more than 5mA of leakage currents are occurring, so it shuts down the power to save you from getting seriously shocked, and possibly even killed. That’s why it’s a bad idea (and a code violation) to replace any GFCI outlet with a non-GFCI outlet.

Why is this a nuisance for your RV?

Because the GFCI often seems to trip when you’re not around to know it even happened, you can come back to your RV after a long day away and find that your residential refrigerator is off and the contents have melted. Or your battery charger/maintainer that you plugged in for the winter isn’t keeping your battery charged over the winter months, or the air conditioner you had running for your pets is no longer keeping it cool. And that’s a real nuisance that can be expensive and/or heartbreaking when it happens.

What to do about a GFCI nuisance trip?

That’s too much to cover in this column, but I’ll be writing about this phenomenon more in my RVelectricity Facebook group in the next few weeks. I’ll also be posting videos here about how to measure RV leakage currents that are too small to trip your shore power GFCI but which can lead to nuisance tripping. Stay tuned, because this is going to be a LOT of fun.

Let’s play safe out there….

Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 50+ years in the industry. His excellent book RV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com. For more info on Mike’s qualifications as an electrical expert, click here.

For information on how to support RVelectricity and No~Shock~Zone articles, seminars and videos, please click the I Like Mike Campaign.

##RVT982

Would you buy an RV made in China if the quality was equal to one made in the USA, but priced significantly less?

Emily Woodbury
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144
Would you buy an RV made in China if the quality was equal to one made in the USA, but priced significantly less?

Say a new RV company came onto the market. The RVs they’re making are absolutely gorgeous! They have a great floorplan, unique design, high-end appliances, and the interior is classy yet modern. The quality is the same as U.S.-made RVs. It’s exactly what you’ve been looking for and it’s even a bit cheaper! The catch? It’s made in China. Would you still want to buy it?

Or, another scenario: Say Winnebago (or insert your favorite RV manufacturer here) shuts down their U.S. factories and begins making their RVs in China. Nothing is different except the pricetag is lower. Would you still want to buy a Winnebago?

Please answer in the poll below, and leave a comment, too, explaining your answer. We’re curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

More wacky, creative mailboxes along the road

Chuck Woodbury
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1
More wacky, creative mailboxes along the road

Here is another installment of Mailboxes along the Road – unique, funny, outrageous and/or otherwise creative mailboxes the readers of RVtravel.com have spotted while traveling North America in their RVs (and sometimes without their RVs).

Keep the photos coming! Submit them at the bottom of this page.

Marie Beschen took this in Beverly Hills, California, while she was walking around the neighborhood with friends. “I love taking pictures of unusual mailboxes and this one struck my fancy,” she wrote. Thanks for sending, Marie! Now send us some more mailbox photos!

Barry Haitt spotted this unusual creation – a motorcycle gas tank recycled as a mailbox. “I saw it while bicycling in a neighborhood in Marathon,” he wrote. Thanks for sharing this with us, Barry!

We don’t know who sent this, but we have a good idea the mailbox is owned by Airstream fans!

Frank Niehus sent us this photo. “We live in an air park so this is with the theme of the air park,” he wrote. “If you’re not familiar with an air park it’s like a golf community but we have a community runway with our small airplanes in a hanger attached to or next to our house.”

Rick Davidson snapped this photo in Brenland(?), Indiana – “corn country,” he said. Well, that makes sense!

This mailbox arrived without any information. We can only guess that the person who lives here owns a Winnebago.

If you sent a mailbox photo but don’t see it here, stay tuned. We couldn’t fit them all in this issue.

Please send us your photo!

Don’t be shy! Share!

Name
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Are all RV ovens created equal? Do you use yours?

Tony
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50
Are all RV ovens created equal? Do you use yours?

By Tony Barthel
We recently posted a question on our RV Advice Facebook Group. I asked, “Some of you have been reading my RV reviews over on RV Travel, and one of the things I’ve kvetched about are the small 17″ ovens in so many RVs. But I wonder – if you do have an RV with this small oven, do you use it at all and what do you use it for?”

Your responses to the questions were enlightening so I thought I’d share.

In most RVs, you’ll find them equipped with either a Suburban, Atwood or Furrion range, typically with three burners on top and potentially an oven down below. While some premium RVs come with much larger ovens, the typical RV generally comes with one of these smaller ones. 

Do you use the oven?

Many of the respondents on the post indicated that they do, in fact, use the ovens in their RVs… for storage. 

For example, Facebook user Nancy S. wrote, “I use my oven for storage now. Bought a good countertop oven which I use daily. Miss the counter space but enjoy cooking again.”

Roy B. wrote, “I removed my oven (because) we never used it. We installed a cooktop. We use the convection part of the microwave oven. Had (drawers) installed where the oven used to be.”
Editor’s Note: This is what RVtravel.com staff member Gail did to her and Chuck’s motorhome too! 

Lauren B. E. added, “We have one of those silly too-small-to-bake-anything-in-it ovens. We use it to store our induction hot plate, which we use more than the gas burners.”

It seems that a good number of the respondents paid for something they’re not using and would prefer the additional drawer or storage space. 

But those who do use the oven almost invariably talk about a pizza stone in the oven to even out the heat. And many of the respondents said that they make pizza, cookies or cakes in their ovens. But that’s about it. 

More complaints about typical RV ovens

The other complaints about the typical RV oven were well put by Vicki L. C., who wrote, “My oven has been used once. It was so hard to light, never again. I had to twist like a pretzel and my old knees had a heck of a time getting up off the floor. Now it’s full of breads and snacks.”

To light most RV ovens you have to get down where you can see the pilot light and then, while holding in the knob on the range, use a lighter to light the pilot light. While it might be bad for your back, it’s certainly entertaining to take a photo of someone doing that. I want to stay married so I won’t share my photos with you. 

Oh. And then you have to get back up from this odd position on the floor of your RV. 

RV oven tricks

Meet my friend Manya. I met Manya when I worked at Redwood Empire RVs. Manya may be one of the most well-suited RV enthusiasts I know. Not only does she go RVing every chance she gets, but she also builds campfires that astound and uses both pie irons and her RV’s oven to prepare some wonderful meals. You won’t starve if you’re camping with Manya. 

Incidentally, she also is a whiz with RV finance, which is her primary job at the dealership to this day. 

Manya showed my wife and me that you can actually roast pork in the RV oven by buying a small oven thermometer. She discovered that her 21” oven will maintain 225°F temperature, but since that number is not written on the dial, that’s where having that thermometer comes in handy. 

The pulled pork she made, as well as a Christmas ham just a couple of weeks ago, were as good as any I’ve had in a restaurant and better than some. The real secret is even heating and knowing the actual temperature your oven is delivering. 

What we use our oven for

My wife and I also use our 21” RV oven to make breakfast casseroles, and my wife often will bake cookies to invite other campers in to tell their camping stories – when it’s not COVID times, of course.

RV OvenI like to make drop biscuits in the oven as a component of biscuits and gravy, and we’ve also used our former bed and breakfast ownership experience to use our oven for quiches.

An essential component of using these is also an oven thermometer. You can go very simple and inexpensive such as this one and that’s plenty. I also carry a wireless laser thermometer so you can measure the hot spots in the oven. Note that I also use this for measuring the wheel temperatures outside the trailer. 

Evening out the heat in the oven is another important aspect of using them successfully. Almost invariably everybody who said that they do use their oven also mentions putting a pizza stone or other baking stone in the oven. This helps to even out the heat for sure, though you’ll want to protect it from breaking as your RV rattles down the highway. 

Some of the newer RV ovens feature a simpler lighting procedure where your past life as a gymnast doesn’t come into play. In fact, some of the newer ones can be lit while you’re standing up in front of the oven!

In my RV reviews, I have often complained about the smaller RV oven as being worthless – which prompted my question on the RV Advice Facebook Group. It turns out that I’m not just a complainer, but the smaller oven really is considered worthless – at least to the respondents of the post.

##RVT982

Campground Crowding: Which state has highest cancellation fees?

Nanci Dixon
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Campground Crowding: Which state has highest cancellation fees?

Updated weekly

More people than ever are taking up RVing. These newbies have determined that RVing is the safest way to travel in our pandemic times. The result is campground crowding like never before. In this weekly blog, RV Travel readers discuss their experiences. Maybe we can make some sense of this and find ways to work around the problem.

Here are a few observations from our readers.

NO-SHOWS… NO GO?

This has been a common complaint amongst our readers. Reservation systems show a site is booked, but nobody shows up to stay. This is especially frustrating at a time when campgrounds are already so crowded that it is almost impossible to book a site, months, sometimes even a year in advance. We know we’ve discussed this a lot in previous installments of this column, but week after week we receive more complaints. Here are a few of those:

Mark writes, “I hate it when I show up to find most sites are vacant and I had to take a less than nice site when on Reserve America it shows all sites full. If people book a site for a week and don’t show for half they should be put back on the site as open.”

And Tom C. says, “All of the campgrounds that we have used (state, federal, and private) require full payment in advance for the duration of the stay. If a person doesn’t cancel and doesn’t show up, there is no incentive for the campground to rent the reserved space, as it is already paid for, and there is really no maintenance cost to an empty site, so there is clearly more profit. I guess if they went ahead and rented the reserved site to another party, and the original party eventually showed up, it could create problems that the park would have to deal with, so it is just simpler not to re-rent a reserved site. I like the first-come, first-served approach covers all the bases.”

“There have been many complaints about empty sites in Florida state parks. Sites that have been reserved but not used. The Florida park service is 75-80% self-funding and many want it to be fully self-funding. The revenue from campgrounds helps fund the non-camping parks which generally don’t generate enough revenue to cover their expenses. Florida reservations require payment in full at the time of the reservation. The result is that there is no incentive for the park service to institute a system to free up these unused sites. The sites have been paid for and the park service has the revenue. That is what is important to them,” writes James D. 

Jack P. has a bold suggestion to penalize no-shows. “The individual state park does not have the ability to change or modify reservations, if, for example, the rangers see an empty spot that has been reserved. To correct this the park rangers should have access to the reservation system for their park and cancel any spots unoccupied or without a person occupying the site. Also perhaps a fix would be to prevent anyone from using the reservation system for a month or so if they reserve a spot and don’t cancel.”

Michael G. likes the way things are and as an RVer knows that things can come up. “In response to those concerned about empty sites. Anyone who has owned an RV for any amount of time knows that things can happen. If I am delayed due to bad weather, mechanical issues or a traffic accident, I don’t want to arrive only to find that my camping spot for which I fully paid for months in advance is occupied by someone else. If I fully pay for a site it should be mine even if I arrive a day or two days late. I prefer the system the way it is. Reservations are the best way to afford equal access for all. Leave the system the way it currently exists.”

CANCELLATION FEES BY STATE

One reason many people don’t cancel their site reservations is because of high cancellation fees (another thing we’ve continually discussed). There is little incentive to cancel and that can result in the number of no-shows and empty spots even when listing full online.

We looked at a small sampling of cancellation fees across the country and found that, yikes, the fees are HIGH! People may need to cancel out of the goodness of their heart for their fellow RVers rather than any monetary refund. Below are the state’s policies on cancellations:

Arizona

Arizona was clearest on its cancellation policy: “If the reservation is cancelled less than 24 hours in advance one night’s fees are forfeited. Campers who do not show up by 12 noon the day following the first night’s reservation will forfeit all payments and campsite will become available for first-come, first-served.”

California

“Customers will be charged a $7.99 cancellation fee if cancelled before 6:00 p.m. the day before arrival and forfeit the $7.99 reservation fee. Your original $7.50 reservation fee is nonrefundable. If you cancel your reservation after 5 p.m. the day before your arrival date, the first night’s campsite fee is forfeited. A campsite will be held for you until 12 p.m. the day after your arrival date. If you do not call the park before that time, you will be considered a ‘no-show,’ and the park will cancel your reservation. You will be refunded the amount paid for the campsite, less the non-refundable $7.50 reservation fee, the $7.00 cancellation fee, and one night’s camping use fee.”

Kansas

“Campsites may be reserved anytime during the current calendar year up to two days in advance of a planned stay. Transaction fees are non-refundable. Cancellation 15 days or more prior to arrival date results in a refund minus the transaction fee. Cancellation 14 to three days prior to arrival results in a refund minus one camping night and transaction fee. Cancellation less than three days prior to arrival results in a forfeiture of all fees. Cancellation within the minimum window of stay results in a forfeiture of all fees. If you notify the park office to shorten your stay within 14 to three days of arrival, this will result in a forfeiture of fees for one-night camping.”

New York

“If you cancel your reservation you will be assessed the following fees. It’s important to know the closer to your arrival date you cancel, the less money you will receive back as a refund. Cancelling 8 days or more prior to arrival – $7.25 Reservation Fee + $7.25 Cancellation Fee. Cancelling 7 days or less prior to arrival – $7.25 Reservation Fee + $7.25 Cancellation Fee + the cost of the first night’s stay. All fees are retained if you fail to arrive and do not inform the park of a cancellation in advance.”

Florida

 “A $17.75 cancellation fee will be assessed for each reservation being cancelled. Visitors canceling on the day of arrival will be assessed a $17.75 cancellation fee and the first night’s use fee.” 

Washington state

Washington wants you to plan carefully and well ahead of time. “If you cancel your reservation 29 or more days before your scheduled arrival date, the cancel fee is $8 online or $10 by calling the Reservation Center. If you cancel 28 or fewer days before your scheduled arrival date, you must pay for up to two nights or days regardless of when the reservation was made.”

SOME ADVICE FOR YOU…

Eric R. has some helpful tips and advice to snag a campsite. He writes, “A few tips for finding campgrounds that aren’t crowded. 1. Go local and avoid the big national chains. 2. When searching for sites near a particular destination look past the 1st or 2nd option that pops up. 3. Look at the reviews… if a place has a 1 star rating because it’s near a railroad track and you actually enjoy the sound of trains…then you are golden. One of the many lessons learned from the surge in RVers and the dwindling supply of places to stay is that I need to be more agile and expand my travel destination wish list.”

AND ON A POSITIVE NOTE…

Michael C. points out the positive about full campgrounds, particularly State and Federal ones: “It’s nice seeing full campgrounds. The money goes back into the state and federal parks. Better than being less than half full with a chance to be closed. Just my two cents.”

Now, some questions for you:

• Are you finding more and more campgrounds booked up? Or are you having no problem finding places to stay?

• If campgrounds continue to be crowded and RVing continues to become more popular, will it affect how or when you RV?

• Do you have any tips or secrets you’d like to share about finding campgrounds that aren’t as crowded?

Please use the form below to answer one or more of these questions, or tell us what you’ve experienced with campground crowding in general.

Name
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Read last week’s Crowded Campgrounds column here. 

##RVT982

New coast-to-coast trail lets you bike or walk across the U.S.

Emily Woodbury
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13
New coast-to-coast trail lets you bike or walk across the U.S.

Forget RVing across the country – what about biking or walking cross-country? If that sounds like something you’d want to do, you’re in luck. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy began working on the Great American Rail-Trail™ in 2019. Once completed, the trail will stretch more than 3,700 miles from Washington, D.C. to the state of Washington. Now that’s one way to sightsee!

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is currently working to connect gaps on more than 125 existing trails in 12 states across the country. So far, they’ve secured more than 18 million dollars in funding. The Conservancy believes now is a critical time to be part of a project like this, with more and more people exercising outside because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trail is mostly built atop or near old railway lines, which account for more than 24,000 miles of multi-use trails in the U.S. The trail will be smooth asphalt in some parts, and gravel in others.

You can visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website here to learn more about the trail and follow along with its completion. Watch the video below to see the route (and some of the beautiful scenery along the way).

If you want to find beautiful biking trails to add to your bucket list, check out this Lonely Planet book, Epic Bike Rides of the Americas. And if you’re in the mood for a good biking story, 50 Shades of The USA: One woman’s 11,000-mile cycling adventure through every state of America is the one.

##RVT982

Cars to flat tow: Buick Encore GX AWD review

Nanci Dixon
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26
Cars to flat tow: Buick Encore GX AWD review

By Nanci Dixon
Last week I wrote that I am still looking for a tow car to “Wow!” me. If you’ve been following along, you know my requirements and what I’m looking for. This week, I decided to take a look at the Buick Encore GX AWD.

First, I made a mistake and thought one Buick Encore was the same as any other Buick Encore, and so test drove the Buick Encore. Whoops, my bad. That one is not flat towable. The 2020 Buick Encore GX AWD is entirely separate from the original Encore. Glad I didn’t fall in love. But I actually didn’t like that Encore. It was smaller than I wanted, didn’t have many bells and whistles, and the ride was rough. It was zippy though. No issues up the on-ramp or merging on the interstate.

Encore with Kayak
2020 Buick Encore GX

The Buick Encore GX AWD is flat towable. It must be an all-wheel-drive (AWD), not a front-wheel-drive (FWD), vehicle to be flat towable. Page 375 of the owner’s manual confirms that, and gives seven easy steps to flat tow behind an RV. Great! After following the steps to put the car in neutral, the only other thing to do is disconnect the negative battery cable and insulate the cable. I am thinking that there must be a switch that would do the same disconnect…

The AWD Encore has two engines available. The standard engine is a 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder, providing 137 hp. The larger AWD 1.3L turbo comes in at 155 hp @ 5600 rpm. It goes from 0 to 60 in 9.4 seconds and should zip up any interstate on-ramp. That is one of my criteria, along with good passing ability. Curb weight is 4,409 pounds.

I did test drive the Chevrolet Trailblazer and was disappointed in the power and shifting on the 1.2L engine. The Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX both come standard with the 1.2L 3-cylinder engine. There is an optional 1.3L turbo available on the Buick Encore GX and that should have more power.

The Encore GX AWD starts at $27,195 MSRP; but after adding the trim level and all the options I could possibly want, it came in at $34,690 MSRP. Gas mileage comes in at 26 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The options included GPS, sunroof (another must for me), adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, collision alert, following distance indicator, surround vision, rear camera mirror, rear camera mirror washer, automatic Rainsense™ wipers, body-colored rocker panels, sport numbers, power lift gate, lane detection – and, yes, it parks itself!

Buick Encore GX sun roof

I actually like a boxier, more unique look than the Encore, but I’m willing to make some compromises. I do like the interior though. I used the build-it tool on the website and was actually getting pretty excited about it until I found that not one vehicle with my choices exists in the United States. I did find one that has 12 of my 18 choices and is only 500 miles away, though…

Buick Encore GX interior

Guess I won’t be test driving that one anytime soon. Actually, being in Arizona with the most positive COVID cases in the world, I will wait for a vaccine or numbers to go down dramatically before I test drive another car. My goal for a new car is my birthday in March, but I am pretty picky…

Update: I just learned about a current recall on some Buick Encore GX vehicles. You can read about it here.

Does anyone flat tow the Buick Encore GX AWD? If so, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.

##RVT982

RV Tire Safety: Can a “sealant” to prevent flat tires cause problems?

Roger Marble
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16
RV Tire Safety: Can a “sealant” to prevent flat tires cause problems?

By Roger Marble
I just read a tale of woe from a motorhome owner who appears to have been sold a tire sealant that caused nothing but problems. Names have been changed to protect the “innocent.”

We purchased “anti-flat” tire sealant for the 6 tires on our motorhome, to provide some protection from tire leaks on trips. Our RV has had vibrations running at highway speeds, and based on forum feedback, it was recommended we try a “road force balance” on the tires.

We took our RV to “Billy-Bob-Jo’s Tire Emporium,” which has road force balance machines. They were unable to balance the tires – the machines got a different reading after each spin. They assumed their machines couldn’t handle the motorhome rims.

Then we took the motorhome to the nearby dealer for the company that made the RV chassis (since the front two tires were no longer properly balanced), and they called us about the “goo” they found inside the tires – because they were also unable to balance the tires.

Once they removed the tire sealant (about 45 minutes per tire), they were able to get all 6 tires balanced. It cost us around $1000 for the “anti-flat” treatment and another $500 to get the treatment removed and the tires balanced.

Then the RV owner asked: “Has anyone encountered balance issues when using tire sealant?” They then added: “If we don’t have any vibrations on the next road trip, we probably won’t put any sealant back inside the tires.”

What caused the tire sealant problems?

Clearly the material used either was inappropriate or improperly applied, if the tire sealant caused problems. Also, I do not understand why the owner felt it was necessary to even use such a product rather than use a TPMS and sign up for road service. They would have saved some money, not to mention avoid the aggravation of a bad ride and lost time from tire sealant problems.

Have you ever tried a “sealant” or “flat-proof” or other stuff to prevent a flat tire? Do you think it worked? Did the sealant cause problems such as balance issues? Please leave a comment below.

Read more from Roger Marble on his blog at RVtiresafety.net or on RVtravel.com.

Need a tire question answered? Sign up for Roger Marble’s new Facebook Group: RV tire news, information and discussion, moderated by Roger. He’ll be happy to help you.

 ##RVT982

RV Short Stops – ‘Ma’ Rainey House & Blues Museum

Julianne G. Crane
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3
RV Short Stops – ‘Ma’ Rainey House & Blues Museum

By Julianne G. Crane

With the recent premiere of the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” the legendary blues singer Ma Rainey is introduced to a new generation.

Often referred to as the “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey was a musical revolutionary. She incorporated various styles of blues, jazz, and her own personal flair.

“Ma” Rainey Home in Columbus, Ga. (ExploreGeorgia)

People can learn more about her life and career at the Ma Rainey House & Blues Museum in Columbus, Ga. The restored “shotgun” style house features exhibits honoring Ma Rainey’s extraordinary life. The Blues part of the Museum traces the history and influences of the blues tradition of the lower Chattahoochee River Valley of Georgia.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the museum is observing safety protocols. These include limiting the number of people being admitted and requiring the wearing of masks, according to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.

Some of Ma Rainey’s accomplishments

Born as Gertrude Pridgett on April 26, 1886, she passed at age 53 in 1939 of heart failure. During her almost 40-year career, “she tutored, sponsored, performed with, and recorded with many of the foremost pioneers of American blues and jazz. These included Louis Armstrong, Thomas A. Dorsey, ‘Blind Blake’ and Bessie Smith,” according to ExploreGeorgia.org.

Ma Rainey and her band helped popularize the Blues genre. (ExploreGeorgia)

Rainey recorded more than 100 records and inspired generations of musicians. For example, her deep, raspy vocals were said to have influenced Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Big Mama Thornton, and Janis Joplin.

Rainey was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 She was also inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Georgia Women of Achievement in 1993. Rainey was commemorated by the U.S. Postal Service for her achievements in 1994 with a stamp in her honor.

If you go

Bedroom in Ma Rainey’s museum. (ExploreGeorgia)

Ma Rainey House & Blues Museum
805 Fifth Ave., Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 641-5933.
Free: Admission, Parking, Self-guided Tours
Family friendly, Suitable for all ages, Partially accessible
Open Year ‘Round, Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ma Rainey’s museum is about an hour southwest of Warm Springs, home to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Little White House”. It’s an hour northwest of President Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains. (Read more about Plains and nearby Americus and Koinonia Farms by clicking here.)

For camping and RV parks in Georgia, click here.

Writer’s Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I am highlighting places that can be safely experienced from the road or in an outdoor public space such as a park or college campus. Therefore, if you know of cities with outstanding public art collections, or unique places, please let me know so I can feature them.  

— Julianne G. Crane
Read more of Julianne’s RV Short Stops posts here.
Read more about the RV Lifestyle by clicking on RVWheelLife.com

 ##RVT982

RV Daily Tips. Friday, January 8, 2021

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Friday, January 8, 2021

Issue 1510
Welcome to another edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and living tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, tips on our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.

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Today’s thought

“If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly.” ―Steve Maraboli

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Bubble Bath Day!

On this day in history: 1790 – George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address in New York City.

Tip of the Day

Beware of RV bumper junk

By Jim Twamley
In my RV travels I have seen all kinds of “bumper junk” attached to both the front and rear of RVs. It’s understandable RVers want to take along things that make RVing more fun. Some don’t have the extra storage capacity required to stow things like ladders, BBQs and bikes. The only places left are the roof, ladder and bumpers. But beware of all the RV bumper junk. Find out why here.

Do you have a tip? Submit it here.

Today’s RV review…

In today’s column, industry insider Tony Barthel reviews changes to the 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G. As he reports, “Winnebago has made some upgrades based on their passionate and enthusiastic following of Travato owners.” See what those upgrades are here.

Did you read Tony’s review yesterday of the 2021 Four Wheel Campers Flatbed Camper? If you missed it, you can read it here.

For previous RV reviews, click here.

Is this your RV?

If it’s yours and you can prove it to us (send a photo for comparison), tell us here by 9 p.m. Pacific Standard time today, Jan. 8, 2021. If it’s yours you’ll win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

If this isn’t your RV, send us a photo of your RV here (if you haven’t already) for a chance to win in future issues.

In this past week two readers claimed their $25 gift card: Karen K. of Richfield, MN, and Frank H. of California.

We’ll have another photo in tomorrow’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter (sign up to receive an email alert so you don’t miss the issue or those that follow). Some of these photos are submitted by readers while others were taken by our editors and writers on their travels around the USA.

How robots build cars, but not RVs

On each stop of an RV assembly line, workers with power drills and staple guns piece together one part or section of an RV. Considering that so many people — including those with minimal skills — touch each RV in the production process, it’s no wonder that the level of quality of the RVs they turn out is all over the place. Now, contrast that process with the fascinating scene in this video in a German Mercedes-Benz factory, where robots perform all but the final detail work. Watch the video.

Yesterday’s featured article: Two NYC millennials see an RV up close and personal

Hanging out with mops and brooms
Most RVs aren’t equipped with broom closets. Got a basement storage compartment long or wide enough to stick those long-handled tools? Stick ’em up to the ceiling by attaching spring-loaded broom clips to the lid of the compartment. Here’s the ever-RV-popular Command Strips version.

You may have missed these recent popular stories…

Reader poll

How frequently do you drink a soft drink?

Take a sip then tell us here.

Quick Tip

Use cordless drill for rear stabilizer jacks

My Keystone Cougar fifth wheel trailer has manual crank rear stabilizer jacks. By using my cordless drill with a special socket sized for the jack, deploying and retracting the jacks is a breeze. No more being stooped over and cranking like crazy with the manual wrench. Thanks to Ray Burr at loveyourrv.com.

??????  MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY  ??????
Think you’re having a bad day? You won’t after you take a look at this…

Website of the day

Quick Draw
This will keep you busy for a few minutes! See if Google can guess what you’re drawing (make sure your volume is up).

Clubs and useful organizations
PLEASE NOTE: We may receive an affiliate commission if you join any of these.

• Harvest Hosts: Stay free at farms, wineries and other scenic and peaceful locations for free. Save 15% on membership.
• AllStays: The best website for RVers! Your membership will become your RV-bible.
• Overnight RV parking. Directory of more than 14,000 locations where you can stay for free or nearly free with your RV. Modest membership fee.
• Boondockers Welcome. Stay at homes of RVers who welcome you in their driveways, yards, farmland or other space on their private property. Modest membership fee.
• Escapees. Best Club for RVers: All RVers welcome, no matter what type of RV, make or model.

Protect your RV “pigtail”
That 7-way connector on your travel trailer or fifth wheel is a critical component. When not plugged into your tow rig, the thing is susceptible to the onslaught of dirt, rain and even bugs. Here’s a plug cover that slips right over your precious plug and keeps out the crud. One user says, “This works perfectly to keep the plug on my RV clear. I remove it when not in use and place it in my ‘RV emergency tool kit.’ This way, it’s not knocked around when driving.” Learn more or order.

Trivia

Fortune cookies are not from China. They were invented in the early 1900s in San Fransisco by Makoto Hagiwara, who served them at his tea garden.

*Why is it illegal to own a hamster in Hawaii? It’s fascinating, really… We told you yesterday.

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“Our Shih Tzu getting ready to light up her cigar.” —Alan Householder

Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Saturday RV Travel newsletter.

Leave here with a laugh

Do they allow laughing in Hawaii or is it just a low ha?

Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!

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

Become a Member!

This newsletter is brought to you Monday through Friday by RVtravel.com and is funded primarily through voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you! IF YOU APPRECIATE THIS NEWSLETTER and others from RVtravel.com, will you please consider pledging your support?  Learn more or contribute.

Join us: Facebook • Twitter • YouTube

See all of our many Facebook groups here.

Need help? Contact us.

RV Daily Tips Staff

Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editor: Diane McGovern. Social media and special projects director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.

This website utilizes some advertising services. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.

Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.

Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.

This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com

RV Review: Changes to 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G

Tony
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RV Review: Changes to 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G

This review looks at the changes and upgrades to the 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G, the best-selling Class B RV. What’s new and changed for the 2022 model year. 

By Tony Barthel
There is a huge market for Class B RVs, and Winnebago has the tiger by the tail with their popular Travato model. So what do you do when you’re number one in a field – keep going the same or make changes? 

Winnebago has made some upgrades based on their passionate and enthusiastic following of Travato owners. The 2022 Travatos will have a number of things that can make a big difference to owners. 

But first, the Travato is a line of Class B RVs based on the Ram Promaster chassis. Those of you who have been to Europe might recognize this van’s origins as the Fiat Ducato. Since Fiat owns Chrysler, you get Chrysler’s Ram branding on their Fiat vans – hence, Ram Promaster. 

Advantages of a Class B RV

One of the advantages with these is that they can serve both as a recreational vehicle and a regular daily driver. There are both the front individual seats in the cab of the Promaster as well as two second-row seats which incorporate three-point seat belts. 

The back of the Travato also leaves enough of the original van’s functionality in place that you can also use it for those runs to the hardware store and that sort of thing. The bed in the Travato flips up to the side of the coach. That leaves a long hallway down the middle of the vehicle. A bunch of 2 X 4s? No problem. ¡Nessen problema!

What’s new and improved in the 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G

One of the most common complaints about Class B’s is the bathroom, which is invariably a wet bath. The confined spaces of a cargo van turned RV means some things just have to go. Unfortunately, bathroom space is often the first thing. But the Travato has a rear bath that actually works well. 

Yes, it’s a wet bath, but there is actually a decent amount of room around the toilet such that you can actually have full function in there. And that’s as far as I’ll go. 

For the new version, Winnebago angled the bathroom wall back towards the rear of the coach. That provides less space in the bathroom but gives up to four additional inches in the sleeping area – which is a welcome upgrade. 

How else has the bathroom changed?

There are going to be people who cheer when they hear that that bathroom has been changed in other ways, too. The floor has been raised slightly and uses a gravity-fed drain. Previous models have a drain system that require you to turn on a sump pump. The faucet handle for the small stainless steel sink is much improved. Winnebago has included an Oxygenics showerhead – the same one we all use to replace the horrible factory-sourced model. This should earn them some sort of award. 

On the bathroom wall is a new pocket system that looks like a shoe pocket because, well, it is. But it also has another deep pocket as well.

What’s new in the sleeping area in the 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G

The sleeping area has been looked at and the Froli™ system is gone. Instead there is a slatted base mounted on an aluminum frame. This is much lighter and easier to switch between day use and night use. Furthermore, Winnebago included a step in the frame making it easier to get into the bed. 

This is the first place we’ll see RAM® Tough-Track™ mounting hardware and, in this case, it’s above the bed. The RAM Tough-Track is a rail-based standardized mounting system. Users can mount all sorts of shelves, racks and other things on it. In the case of the mount over the bed, you could mount a device to hold tablets and phones. Or use it to help secure cargo with the bed up. 

The big bench that was a block in the sliding door is now gone, replaced by a pedestal at the door. On the pedestal is a grab handle that incorporates more of the RAM Tough-Track and a mount for a Lagun table. Those Lagun tables are nifty in that they can be moved about and also taken on and off. 

As before, the two front seats in the cab of the Travato swivel around so they face the second-row seats. This creates a nice lounge/gathering spot. The pedestal comes into play one more time as it has a pop-up power system on its top. 

System controls easier to access

Winnebago moved all the controls for the various systems in the Travato to a single row above the sliding door. This is much easier to access while also not requiring you to tell someone seated in the second row to move their heads so you can see the level of your tanks. 

I was surprised to see that Winnebago put a square stainless steel sink in this but with a residential drain plug. Usually you get those cheap RV-specific drain plugs in RV sinks. But this was a little thing that just seemed to make a lot of sense – like using that Oxygenics showerhead. 

The door handles on the upper cabinet require just a single pull to open the positive latches, sort of like a car door. Again, it’s a small thing, but the attention to detail doesn’t go unnoticed.

More attention to details in the 2022 Winnebago Travato 59G

That attention to detail extends to the rear doors, where Winnebago attached a strap to the inner door handle. This makes it easier to open the back doors of the van from the inside since the bathroom wall extends so close to the inner door handle. Apparently, a lot of Travato owners had done this and Winnebago listened. 

Winnebago also put the Nautilus water system to work inside the driver side rear door. All fill and flush water functions are in a single spot inside the coach’s heated interior. 

Handy outdoor shower/changing room

The dual rear doors can still be opened to 90° with a rod that goes across them. Winnebago includes a curtain that can easily hang from this rod. There’s a shower built into that Nautilus system. This big open space can also double as a shower or changing room or whatever you choose. 

The new screens for the sliding door and rear doors are made in-house by Winnebago and essentially roll up when not in use. Then you just untie the screen and they drop down. There’s a zipper to complete the seal so you can keep the bugs out but the breeze flowing. 

The Travato also has optional swing-out windows in the back that have a screen for day use when the window’s open or a privacy shade for night use. 

The last notable change is the floor – which is now a honeycomb floor that incorporates insulation. There’s also an optional runner for on top of the flooring.

What’s not to like

Class B RVs have absolute advantages and absolute disadvantages, and both owe to the configuration of the vehicle itself. 

The clear advantages include the fact that this could easily be a daily driver and even serve as the family’s stuff-getter, including hardware store runs. That means no separate vehicle needed for daily use. But that same convenient size for driving also means limitations and, to me, one of the biggest is in water tank size with only 21 gallons of fresh water aboard. 

Considering that you can get the Travato 59GL model (as opposed to the non-“L” model) with 9,600 watt-hours of lithium batteries aboard and 215 watts of solar on the roof, you could really stay off the grid for a significant amount of time, with the only limitations being small holding tanks.

One thing to note that I’ve heard from more than one Travato owner is complaints about the AC unit being right over the bed. Yep, this is good for cooling but this non-ducted AC unit isn’t going to win any “quiet” awards – so you’re better off finding camping where you don’t have to sleep under this thing. Lastly, a few owners have also reported that the effective privacy screens for the front windshield reduce how closely you can see the nose of the van. 

Still, overall it’s easy to see why Winnebago sells so many of these and will likely continue to do so by listening so carefully to their fan base and making some small but very significant changes to the usability of this model. 

The video focuses on the 59GL which has the same floor plan as the “L” model but also features a lithium battery system.

These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.

Got an RV we need to look at? Contact us today and let us know – thank you!

How frequently do you drink a soft drink?

Emily Woodbury
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How frequently do you drink a soft drink?

According to a poll by Gallup, 48 percent of adults in the U.S. say they drink at least one soda a day. Among those drinkers, the average amount of soda consumed each day is 2.6 glasses. Young adults drink the most soda while older adults tend to drink slightly less.

How frequently do you drink a soft drink? Every day? A few times a week? Seldom? Never? Please tell us by voting in the poll below. Thanks!

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