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Top 10 complaints RV park managers have about campers

Nanci Dixon
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54
Top 10 complaints RV park managers have about campers

By Nanci Dixon
In last week’s issue, I told you about the top 5 complaints campers voice at the RV park office. This week I thought it would only be fair to write about the top ten complaints RV parks have about campers. Now you’re in the hot seat! The office staff were a vocal group, hence 10 this time instead of 5! My husband and I are park hosts and deal with a lot of these issues, so I can verify that these points are all valid.

1. Loud parties and gatherings

This is the number one complaint of the campers to the office too. Some groups have no idea how loud they have become and quiet down immediately when asked. Others can get hostile, lower the sound a decibel or two when told and then resume immediately when the host or park official leaves.

dog poop sign at rv park
At an RV park in Tucson.

2. Dog poop

Again, dogs can be a problem for campers and park staff. While campers complained more about barking dogs and dogs off-leash, dog poop is a problem for the park staff that needs to pick it up or has inadvertently stepped in it while taking care of a campsite, trail or walkway. Note to dog owners: Please pick up after your pooch. 

3. Dogs off-leash

Looks like we’re seeing similar complaints, aren’t we? Dogs off-leash was a concern for the campers last week too. Campers can go to the office to let staff know, but it is the park staff that needs to approach the people to have them leash or tie up their sometimes very unfriendly, territorial dog. It’s not a fun task!

4. Non-burnable trash in the fire pit

Burning plastic? You can always tell by the acrid smoke and smell. The staff that clean out the fire pits and grills know that plastics do melt but seldom burn completely, that aluminum cans don’t melt, and that bottles don’t burn (and can even explode). And you’d think campers would know to not throw rocks in the fire pit… but that happens more often than you probably think.

5. Trash left on-site

The next complaint is the amount of garbage that is left on the site. There are dumpsters all over the park for garbage. The hard-working staff just wishes more people would use them!

6. Parking on the grass

Cars, trailers, trucks driving over grass leave deep ruts and kill the grass. Some parks have sprinkler equipment in their landscaping that is harmed when driven over. Even in the desert, where the hard-packed desert may look barren, fragile struggling plants or topsoil that took decades to build can be destroyed.

7. Not checking out on time

Overstaying the checkout time usually leaves two sets of campers upset. There are those that don’t read the checkout times and those that intentionally stay too long. Either way, slowly packing up while someone is waiting causes a domino effect of unhappy campers and staff waiting to clean the site. Please know your checkout time, and leave on time.

8. Setting up camp at the wrong site

Just like some campers don’t know the campground’s checkout time, some don’t know their own site number either. Setting up camp on the wrong site is a major hassle for the campers that already set up, and a hassle for those people that are actually assigned to that site. Most people are apologetic when they are on the wrong site and hasten to pack everything up and move.

9. Stealth camping

One of our jobs is to double-check that everyone in the park has a reservation, particularly now when campers are registering online and going directly to their site. As the weekend warriors clear out, more stealth campers come in late and leave early before the office opens.

10. Staying an extra day

Staying an extra day or two without paying is also a form of stealth camping. This usually involves campers that have paid and registered, then try and stay an extra day without paying or registering again. This happens more often as the weekenders leave and toward the end of the season. I am always very polite when I let them know that they are not on the park list and that I am just taking down their RV and car license number so the office can expect them when they go to pay in the morning…

Have any of you worked as park hosts or in the office? If so, what are some of your biggest complaints about campers?

If you missed it, be sure to read the top 5 complaints of other campers too, that we published last week.

Related:
• Dealing with a nosy campground neighbor
• Boondocking gone badly wrong!

##RVT969

Campground crowding. RVers would rather quit than fight!

Emily Woodbury
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15
Campground crowding. RVers would rather quit than fight!

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.

IF THIS IS THE NEW NORM, I QUIT!

“If parks stay as crowded as they are now, will you continue RVing? Here are Marty Koch’s thoughts on the matter: “Just got back from a two-month trip in the West. Driving north from West Yellowstone, Montana, I stopped at 6 Forest Service sites, all of which have gone to 100% advance reservations. Talked to the host in each spot and all said 30% of the sites went unused each night – all the while turning away upwards of 100 campers each night.

“I am a wanderer and cannot make plans 8 to 12 months in advance. It is my opinion that at least 40% of Forest Service spaces should be first-come first-served. There must be hundreds of thousands of us nomadic travelers that are being impacted by this.

“I was traveling in areas I am very familiar with and even dispersed camping areas 20-40 miles down rough gravel roads were full. I finally left the area and headed home because I could not deal with the lack of camping facilities, crowds and fire smoke. I stopped in the Moab, Utah area on the way home and once again areas down long rough desert roads were full. Trying to get out of Moab, which is not a very big town, I became caught in a 1-and-1/2-hour-long traffic jam.

“When I left my 400-plus site campground in Grand Teton, I counted 111 campers in line at 5:30 in the morning hoping to snag a site. If this is the new norm I doubt I will enjoy traveling for much longer.”

😦 😦 😦

Reader Montgomery Bonner might throw in the towel too. He wrote, “Have looked at campgrounds at Corps of Engineers (COE) parks, booked out till they close. Oh, a few 3 to 4 day openings, but for the distance I have to travel I want at least 5 days or more. We have several parks near home, but since the busy season is now, don’t want to pay $95 a night either. Think this is only going to get worse, not better. And with the economy in a mess, not sure it’s going to be feasible to afford to use the RV and camp next year. So we are talking about putting it up for sale. It’s the last one, if we do, we are done.”

HEY, RV MANUFACTURERS, GET OFF YOUR GREEDY REARS!

Of course, by now we all know that the solution to more RV sales is more RV parks and campgrounds. Easier said than done, of course, but perhaps it’s something the RV manufacturers should consider.

Here’s what Mark Generales wrote: “RVing is supposed to be relaxing and less stressful. Greedy RV manufacturers and their sales companies are too busy ringing up sales to care that they are destroying RV life. This WILL come home to roost. So Thor, Winnebago, and the rest – keep on cranking them out and know you are about to hit a wall – a very big one.

“If the RV manufacturers do not see the writing – the TOTAL LACK OF SITES – a crash is coming. If spending $20k on a travel trailer for a young couple can’t be used – or $399k for a DP – time will come the interest will die. Dozens upon dozens of used units at deep, deep discounts – and no buyers. Doubt me? Let’s go back to ’08 and ’09.

“Someone needs to capitalize, create a ‘Marriott’-type branded RV park and place it everywhere. Quality, predictable, and reasonable. I challenge the manufacturers to get off their greedy rears and wake up. Your demise is coming if you do not address this. Join together and create the RV Park brand. Give us someplace to go.”

This is a fairly typical view of the “neighbors” at an RV park. But even getting a less that ideal space like this can be coveted when little else is available.

😦 😦 😦

SO HERE’S WHAT YA GOTTA DO…

Alan Wolfe offers some advice on ways to find a campsite. He writes: “We have not been overwhelmed by crowded campgrounds or by not being able to get reservations yet. I suspect it is because of our current approach. We choose a couple of days, mid-week every other week or so. Our RV is equipped for almost any type of campsite, from hookups to boondocking (still adding new ways). The campgrounds have been fuller than the past, but our flexibility in date, type of site, and which campground have allowed us to find a way so far.”

MORE NEIGHBORS, MORE COMPLAINTS

Crowded campgrounds, we’re guessing, go hand-in-hand with more complaints. Wouldn’t you agree? Here’s an example from reader Dosinda Linden. “Arrived in Paso Robles: much more crowded this trip (late September) than our previous trips. We intend to do a lot more off-season traveling: fall and winter, rather than our previous, spring and summer schedule.

“Crowded campgrounds lead to a more guarded attitude amongst the transient population: folks, whether staff or neighbors, are not as friendly or helpful as they were during our pre-COVID-19 days. Still, we are having a good time being “away,” despite the complaint received by the office staff that we were playing our indoor music too loud. Such an activity never bothered anyone else before, but with most narrow spaces filled, we must closely regulate our activities, so as not to disturb our stand-offish neighbors.”

SO, IS ALL THIS TEMPORARY?

As Mark mentioned up above, maybe this boom in RV sales and crowded RV parks is temporary. What will happen if everyone, like Marty and Montgomery, throw in the towel and sell their RVs? Reader Joseph Weinstein thinks it is temporary. Here’s what he wrote, “We are not finding it more difficult to book because we plan early. We do see more campgrounds full. I don’t think this will last. I think the boom in RV sales is going to provide a significant ‘used’ market in about 2 years as many of the people who are now purchasing RVs are going to find they need continual maintenance, they break down, and there is a continuing expense to own one.”

Read last week’s column on Crowded Campgrounds.

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
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Trucks with no drivers coming soon to a road near you?

James Raia
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10
Trucks with no drivers coming soon to a road near you?

By James Raia
The massive trucks likely won’t pass you on the freeway. But don’t be surprised when two new driverless vehicles soon appear on the horizon.

Sweden-based Einride recently released renderings of an autonomous truck it hopes to have on the roads as early as 2021.

Sweden-based Einride recently released renderings of an autonomous trucks it hopes to have on the roads as early as 2021.
Sweden-based Einride recently released renderings of its autonomous trucks it hopes to have on the roads as early as 2021.

The futuristic white vehicle is called the Autonomous Electric Transport. It will be available in four variants – all with the same aerodynamic silhouette.

Four trucks, no drivers

Similar to the company’s previous designs, this model is cabless and allows for greater storage capacity. The first two of four variations — called AET 1 and AET 2 — both weigh 26 tons. They can support payloads of up to 16 tons and have a peak speed of 18 mph.

The larger of the two trucks and the AET 3 and AET 4 have similar configurations and specifications. But the latter two siblings accelerate to 45 mph. The AET 1 and 2 are designed for deliveries in rural areas; the AET 3 and 4 are designed for highway transport.

Einride claims its vehicles have the potential to reduce transportation costs by over half and CO2 emissions by as much as 90 percent.

While all of the vehicles can be controlled remotely, the startup will use software from artificial intelligence specialist Nvidia to achieve Level 4 autonomy. It means the vehicles can be truly driverless within a specific context.

RELATED CONTENT

Going Postal: New USPS trucks delayed again

New Ford F-150: Bigger, faster EV, far less cost

Trucks with stick shifts? Only Toyota, Jeep remain

James Raia, a syndicated columnist in Sacramento, California, publishes a free weekly automotive podcast and electronic newsletter. Sign-ups are available on his website, www.theweeklydriver.com. He can be reached via email: james@jamesraia.com.

##RVT969b

Easy almost-Homemade Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Nanci Dixon
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0
Easy almost-Homemade Chicken Wild Rice Soup

By Nanci Dixon
We love soups, particularly as the weather starts to cool in the fall. I have been making a lot of soups in my Instant Pot™ lately but today decided to cook on the stove, making a chicken and wild rice soup. I used a packaged mix as a starter, so I kind of cheated, but I added additional ingredients so it’s almost homemade! I hadn’t tried this packaged soup before and it turned out great. This recipe could easily become one of our go-to favorites. It was easy, quick and delicious.

I sort of followed the package directions using 8 cups of water, whisking in the mix, and simmering for 10 minutes, but that is about all. Here is my own twist on the rest of the recipe:

Ingredients 

• 1 package family-sized Creamy Wild Rice soup mix (I used the Bear Creek brand)
• 2 Tbsp oil (I used olive oil)
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 3/4 cup baby carrots, sliced
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp chicken bullion paste or one cube bullion (or use 1 cup of chicken broth and reduce water to 7 cups) 
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups diced precooked chicken (I used frozen Tyson diced chicken)
• 8 cups water 

Directions

1. Add oil to a large pot
2. Sauté onion, celery, green pepper, carrots until onion is soft
3. Add garlic and sauté for a few more minutes
4. Add water
5. Add bullion or chicken broth
6. Bring to a rolling boil
7. Boil 5 minutes (to cook veggies, particularly the carrots)
8. Whisk in soup mix
9. Add precooked chicken
10. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes

Storage

We have lots of leftover soup! I love our rectangular collapsible rectangular storage containers and the collapsible round storage ones too. We have had ours for over four years and use them all the time. They take up practically no room and go from the refrigerator or freezer directly into the microwave.

Storage Container Chicken Wild Rice Soup

##RVT969

What’s a Super Bugger? A VW camper conversion, of course!

James Raia
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4
What’s a Super Bugger? A VW camper conversion, of course!

By James Raia
The Super Bugger was the result of a wacky idea of an entrepreneurial company in Costa Mesa, California. In the mid-1970s, the outfit converted a 1970 VW Beetle into a hybrid camper it called the Super Bugger. It cost $6,000.

The rage for the strange little machine conversion didn’t last long, and not many of the hybrids in decent shape remain.

The Super Bugger is a VW camper conversion made is the 1970s and increasingly rare.
The Super Bugger is a VW camper conversion made in the 1970s and is increasingly rare.

Beyond car shows and parades, the unique machines show up for sale on vintage automotive sites, including this option on eBay. The asking price is $39,900, just shy of five times what it cost new.

Super Bugger: Simple is good

Minimalism is defined. The conversion features a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, rear-mounted engine with a four-speed manual transmission and 60 horsepower.

An advertising poster for the VW Super Bugger conversion camper.
An advertising poster for the VW Super Bugger conversion camper.

There’s seating for four, a small sink, a two-burner stove and a dinette table. The table lowers and creates a two-person bed. A toilet and shower are missing.

The little wonder’s safety or lack of safety has been discussed since the vehicle debuted. Internet images show couples in campgrounds enjoying the outdoors with their rig in the background.

But many detractors abound. How can the vehicle find its way in any amount of inclement weather? Can it advance satisfactorily when mountain driving is required?

One keen idea for potential buyers is a similar approach to others who work on the road in their RVs.

With its simplicity, the mini camper conversion could make an ideal mobile office, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Here’s the eBay listing: 1973 Super Bugger

RELATED CONTENT

Volkswagen’s new mini-camper expands like a Slinky

VW, Ford meet head-on as vans, trucks, EVs thrive

Best 2020 SUV for families? VW Atlas

James Raia, a syndicated columnist in Sacramento, California, publishes a free weekly automotive podcast and electronic newsletter. Sign-ups are available on his website, www.theweeklydriver.com. He can be reached via email: james@jamesraia.com.

##RVT969

Use a little solar battery to charge your phone

Chris Guld
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1
Use a little solar battery to charge your phone

By Chris Guld, GeeksOnTour.com
You may be boondocking in the desert, or maybe you live in an area prone to hurricanes and power outages. In either case, your cellphone is an important piece of safety equipment and it needs to stay charged. The key is to use a little solar battery to charge your phone.

We found this simple, small solar battery that does the trick. It’s just a bit larger than a deck of cards and it has several features.

One side is the solar panels – just leave it on your dashboard with this side up and it will always be charged and ready. Or, you can plug it into electricity when available and charge the battery that way.

In addition to the wireless charger, it has 2 USB ports and a USB C for connecting to the newer phones. You can charge multiple devices at the same time. It also has a nice bright light. We got this one at Amazon for about $50. If you want to research others, just search for Solar Power Banks. It could save your life!

More on cell phones:

How to boost your cellphone Internet speeds

Chris Guld is President and Teacher-in-Chief at GeeksOnTour.com. She and her husband, Jim, produce a free weekly YouTube show called What Does This Button Do?  They have been Fulltime RVers, popular seminar presenters at RV Rallies, and regular contributors to RVTravel.com, for many years. 

##RVT969

Meet your fellow RVtravel.com readers, October 10, 2020

Emily Woodbury
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1
Meet your fellow RVtravel.com readers, October 10, 2020

We asked RVtravel.com readers to tell us about themselves. Here are a few responses.

We are the Nilsons of the Midwest and have been full-timers for 2 1/2 years. So far we have traveled the Midwest states meeting and exploring different “Glamping” campgrounds. The winter months will find us down on the Mississippi Coast staying away from the snow and cold weather. We’re also chapter leaders of Illinois for the Heartland Owners Club in which we enjoy meeting people from all across the country. The irony of it all is we never thought that retirement would be in a 5er, but we’re enjoying it!

Hi to all. Mark and Peggy Baker here. We met 30+ years ago in Seattle. We both knew we wanted to travel and see the world so this couldn’t have been a better fit. As a Singer/Songwriter and now Ukulele Instructor I had traveled most of my young adult life. Peggy had been to Europe several times and shared stories that sounded amazing.

We bought our first RV when we were building our beach house on Whidbey Island. It was a 5 meter Argosy. We stayed in it until our house was complete. Our two children had a ball. That was 30 years ago. Then it wasn’t until 2010 we bought a 17’ Casita TT. We had so much fun traveling the entire USA, and for 4 years putting around 37K miles on it. Then we upgraded to an Escape 5.0 TA 5th wheel and again loved every minute of another 4 years. It was then while living in Sun City, AZ, we decided to travel full time. So after many months of due diligence we found our new (to us) 2004 Monaco Dynasty 38 Tag, sold our home in March, and have been on Sanibel Island, FL, since July. We are here through October. We hope to meet many of you down the road. If you want to check out my website, click here. Here you can listen to a song I wrote while riding Solo and unsupported Cross-Country on my bicycle. It’s called “Till The Highway Turns To Sea.” [Editor: Please listen to this. Mark’s great!]

Hi, I’m Vicky! Number one on my bucket list was to travel the U.S. in an RV until I didn’t want to do it any longer. Fast forward 8 years and I’m still traveling the U.S., but at 72 now, I limit most of my time to Vegas during the winter, and 4 months on the coast of Oregon during summer with a couple of spare months to visit my family in San Diego County. It’s just been me and my pups. I belong to Thousand Trails, the Elks and resorts of distinction. It’s been one of the best almost nine years of my life. So many wonderful memories and friendships to carry with me for the rest of my life. I just upgraded from a 33-foot class A to a 38-foot class A, and always tow my car.

We are Brad and Martha Boyer from Camillus, NY, at the edge of the Finger Lakes. Brad is a retired Director from the old NY Telephone and I’m a Travel Advisor. After many years of research (and life finally allowing us to), we purchased a new Grand Design 303RLS, 32′ 5th wheel. We weren’t planning on it so soon, as we’d planned on continuing our travels around the world then RVing when it just became too hard. (Nothing worse than international flights!) COVID flipped those plans on its head, so here we are! In less than 5 weeks we’ve stayed at 4 great campgrounds (private and NYS) and one Harvest Host. Have several more lined up and find ourselves getting so antsy when we’re home for a few days! Traveling with our two remaining pups – Tank (“Bouncy Boy”), a Jack Russell mix, and Gunner, a chihuahua – who seem to enjoy it.

Hi, we are Brian and Elonora Barrett, (retired) and we live in Western Australia, a new subscriber to RVtravel but familiar with your country. My wife and I returned from the U.S. last December after a 3-month stay, visiting our daughter who lives just east of Seattle. Whilst in the states this visit we completed a 57-day road trip around your wonderful country, passing through 44 of the lower and edging into Canada but having visited California, Nevada and Alaska on previous trips. Leaves us North Dakota and Michigan to investigate. Our intention was to take in the scenery during the fall and we were not disappointed. Would still like a look at Yosemite National Park, maybe when travel restrictions are lifted. Meanwhile, we are about to undertake a 14-day “wildflower tour” in our caravan (travel trailer), around 500 km north of here. There are 12,000 varieties of wildflowers here to discover. We live in a small town, a 2-hour drive south of Perth, our state capital, (did I mention that Texas fits into my state 3.69 times?). We have a lot to look at here. Next visit to the states we will seriously consider hiring a camper for more flexibility when touring and to camp in your parks.

Hi, I am Rayne (rain) and I have 2 four-legged co-pilots, Timmy and Miki! We have lived in our truck camper (TC) full time for the last two years and had planned to travel the country and see all of the beautiful sites last seen as a kid with my parents in their TC back in 1971. However, as a widow, I have discovered it is not much fun traveling alone with no one to share the sights with. So, I have instead ended up using Boondockers Welcome and stayed with hosts from Virginia to Georgia, and in family and friends’ driveways and quite a few state parks in between. I have also experienced a large learning curve even though I have been part of an RVing family my entire life. I have now purchased a 2012 Bighorn 40 ft. 5th wheel and have it parked in a beautiful campground in NC long term while I see where this COVID-19 is going to affect the full-timers like me that want to be on the road. It is a welcome change to have lots more space for me and the boys for a change in case we end up back in lock-down again in NC too. Still keeping the TC for times when I want to go exploring or hit the road and head back up to beautiful Central NYS, where I originally hailed from too!

From Jay and Leslie Pederson. We have been full-time traveling for 4.5 years after a cancer diagnosis that caused us to realize life is too short to be anchored to “stuff”. Jay is retired after 36 years in the oil business. Leslie is a retired firefighter and EMT. We travel in our fifth wheel with our deaf boxer, Sunny. We also have discovered volunteering as camp hosts once in a while.

Meet our readers from last week’s issue.

We’ll introduce you to more RVtravel.com readers next week!

* * *
Please tell us about yourself by using the form below. Include a photo, too (of you, preferably, but your RV will do).

I flooded my RV with poop! Will my warranty cover me?

Tony
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11
I flooded my RV with poop! Will my warranty cover me?

With Tony Barthel
From the editor: Tony Barthel is a warranty expert, and he’s here to answer your questions. Check out these two articles if you have any questions or thoughts on extended warranties: Should I buy an extended warranty for my RV? And, What kind of extended warranty should I get?

Here’s one question from a reader:

Hi, Tony,
I was flushing the black tank on my RV and got called away. Unfortunately I left the flush on and it flooded my brand-new fifth wheel with sewage. Now the dealer is telling me this isn’t covered by the warranty, and I think the entire rig is ruined as it smells terrible. Who should I call? —Someone in a crappy situation 

Hi there Someone Crappy,
Unfortunately, this is neither uncommon nor is it covered by your warranty. You might contact the insurance carrier that covers your RV instead to see if it might provide some coverage for this, but it is something caused by your actions rather than any defect by the manufacturer. The warranty is there to cover manufacturing defects and it seems as if all the systems built into the RV were working as intended. 

I spoke with Doug Swarts of Drain Master, whose experience in the RV space includes having invented a remote-controlled electric gate valve for RVs as well as having worked in RV tank systems for some time. 

Doug has seen this kind of thing and some of the bad things that can result. Sadly, it’s very easy to get distracted while running water into the black tank flush valve and he has a terrific idea for preventing this kind of failure: a simple sprinkler timer. 

If you have an idea of how long it takes for the black tank flush system to fill your black tank to about 2/3 full, you can buy a simple sprinkler timer and set it to shut off the water after that period of time. That way you won’t have to worry about the black tank flush overfilling your black tank in the event that you get distracted. Some RVers have reported talking a phone call wile flushing the tank, then forgetting what they were doing.

I still recommend doing everything you can to stay and monitor that process but, as the common expression goes, “stuff” happens. 

Depending on how your RV is plumbed, the black tank venting system can be attached to the gray tank venting system in your RV and overfilling your black tank would result in the contents coming up through the path of least resistance. This could be the shower drain, the kitchen sink or even the toilet. 

None of these circumstances is good in any way, so your best piece of advice is to always be there to monitor your black tank flush. 

“I’ve seen RVs ruined by people getting distracted while flushing their black tanks,” said Doug. 

Unfortunately, this can lead to an RV being pretty unlivable until it is professionally cleaned and, even then, there is a chance for long-term damage as the lovely wood used in the interior wasn’t designed to resist a flood of human waste. 

I hope your insurance company has some provision to assist with this clean up as it’s a wholly unpleasant job and not one anybody is willing to do inexpensively. 

##RVT969

RV Tire Safety: How to avoid potential valve stem problems

Roger Marble
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4
RV Tire Safety: How to avoid potential valve stem problems

By Roger Marble
Sometimes my wife accuses me of being too negative because I seem to always come up with something negative about almost any topic. I really don’t consider it negative when I see there might be a way to make something or a situation better.

I guess it’s in my DNA to never be satisfied and always want things to be better, easier, safer or more durable. The simple act of checking tire air pressure is an example.

Pushing on valve stems can damage them

Each time you use a hand gauge to check air (morning of every travel day) you are pushing on the valve stem. If you have a standard short (less than 2″) valve stem, no problem. BUT for dual tire positions as seen on almost all Class A and Class C motorhomes there are either valve stems that have a bend in them or there are extenders of some type. Pushing on a bent or angled stem will place a torque on the stem mount in the wheel. This can lead to eventual degradation of the rubber seal between the wheel and the stem.

Here is what happened a few years ago to the tire of a friend of mine. He was not running a TPMS so got no warning that the valve stem developed a leak at the rubber gasket between the wheel and the stem.

Courtesy GypsyJournal.com

The tire lost air and the steel body cords fatigued due to over-flexing of the sidewall, which resulted in the sidewall “blowing out.” Initially he thought it might be a “defective tire,” but when inflating the new tire it was discovered that the valve stem no longer had a solid rubber gasket at the wheel. So obviously this was not a “defective tire” – as any tire can fail if you do not keep the air in it. Soon after this he installed a TPMS.

If you have some type of extenders, flexible hose or hard line, you might end up moving or bending or even loosening the extender if it isn’t supported when you push a gauge or air chuck on the outer end.

An advantage to using a TPMS you may not have thought about

One advantage of running a TPMS that few people consider is that the TPMS gives you a pressure check each morning, as well as a continuous check while you drive down the road – so this eliminates the need to push on the stem or extender.

TPMS eliminates this torque force on the valve stem mount along with saving you the time needed to go out, get down on your knees, remove the metal valve cap, push on the stem and get a reading. Lots of fun if it is cold or raining. (Not.)

I prefer to just turn on my TPMS in the morning and, after my cup of coffee, look at the monitor on the TPMS and in a minute or two know the state of inflation for every tire.

No muss or fuss – plus the additional benefit of no torquing the valve stem mount.

Here’s more information on valve stems: Valve stems, cores and caps, “Oh my!” – And how tight is “tight enough”?

 

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

 ##RVT969

Some Newmar motorhomes recalled: Leveling jacks may fail

Chuck Woodbury
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0
Some Newmar motorhomes recalled: Leveling jacks may fail

If the front jacks fail, an unexpected drop can occur, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy
Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the leveling jacks as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 28, 2020. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

* * *
While you may not own one of these RVs, if you know someone who does be sure to tell them. RVtravel.com posts recall notices like this as they are issued. Read all recent ones by clicking here.

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RV Daily Tips. Friday, October 9, 2020

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Friday, October 9, 2020

This newsletter is for intelligent, open-minded RVers. If you comment on an article, do it with respect for others. If not, you will be denied posting privileges.

Issue 1446
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.

If you shop on Amazon, please click here to visit through our affiliate site (we get a little commission that way – and you don’t pay any extra). Thank you!

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Today’s thought

“You see things; you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?” ―George Bernard Shaw

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Moldy Cheese Day!

On this day in history: 1936 – Boulder Dam (later Hoover Dam) begins to generate electricity and transmit it to Los Angeles.

Tip of the Day

Keep this bug out of your RV to help prevent food poisoning

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Few things will ruin an RV trip faster than a case of food poisoning. Grandma’s dire warnings about keeping the potato salad cold notwithstanding, getting sick with a bug called Listeria could not only make you sick, it could put you in the hospital – and if you’re vulnerable, maybe into the morgue. Happily, there are things you can do to keep your risks down. Learn about them here.

Do you have a tip? Submit it here.

If you live in an RV, can you still be “homeless”?

What makes an “RV community”? Ten years ago, you might have said meeting fellow RVers, impromptu happy hour get-togethers with the new neighbors, maybe potlucks and outside games. Really, it seems like an RV community evolves anywhere a group of RVers share the same general space and common interests. These days, an “RV community” is no longer comprised of just one group of people; but the group getting the most media coverage is the homeless, which begs the question: If you live in an RV, are you really homeless? Learn more.

Yesterday’s featured article: Is your RV overweight? Weigh it and be safe

You may have missed these recent popular stories…

Reader poll

What model year is your RV?
Please tell us here.

Quick Tip

Boondock part-time for quick savings

Many RVers on the road driving a few days to get to a destination will often use a campground for one night and boondock – park overnight without any utility hookups – for two nights. You can maintain this schedule with virtually no water conservation. This will, however, reduce your camping costs by approximately two-thirds, or 66% – a significant savings. Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com

Don’t let winter keep you in the dark!RV Travel Newsletter Issue 913
This 6-pack of tiny, battery-powered LED “Button Lamps” is just what you need for your RV’s closets and storage spaces. The tiny lamp is ultra-bright and has all the power of a normal-sized lamp. Backed with a strong adhesive, these little lamps will stick to any surface. They’re waterproof and good to have in case of an emergency. Learn more or order.

Website of the day

Scribble Maps
On the same note as Drive the Nation, Scribble Maps allows you to draw or write on maps, then save and share them! Very handy when planning a road trip, or trying to give directions to someone who isn’t, well, so good at directions. You could also use it to remind yourself of your favorite restaurants, hiking trails, campgrounds or stops you made on your trip.

SECRET PHRASE: Harvard was the first university in the United States

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.

Trivia

Every time you shuffle a deck of cards, you get a combination that has never existed. The probability of getting the exact same order as anyone else has a probability of 52 factorial or 52! (52 x 51 x 50 … x 2 x 1). If you ever want to feel unique, just go shuffle a deck of cards!

*What would American’s choose dogs over? We told you this funny fact yesterday.

Soap and water won’t work!
RV Travel Newsletter Issue 812Easily remove bugs, tar, sap and grease
Tarminator Tar & Sap Remover breaks down the complex molecules found in tar and other sticky materials. The unique MicroActive cleaning technology gives Tarminator unequaled ability to remove even baked-on tar, grease, sap and asphalt. Soap and water just won’t do it! Learn more or order.

Readers’ Pets of the Day

“Mother and daughter rescues, Sissy and Bailey. They are bonded like no other dogs we’ve ever had.” —Jeff Jarrett

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

What’s the difference between a cat and a complex sentence?
A cat has claws at the end of its paws and a complex sentence has a pause at the end of its clause.

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.

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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.

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This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com

What model year is your RV?

Emily Woodbury
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What model year is your RV?

What model year RV do you own? Maybe you own an old vintage trailer, or maybe you just bought a brand new 2021 model motorhome, or maybe you’re somewhere in between. Whatever you own, we want to know!

We’re also curious to know the answers to questions like these: Do you think your older RV is made better than newer RVs? Or vice versa? Do you think older RVs are lasting longer on the road than newer RVs, or, again, vice versa? If you have an answer to either of those questions, please leave a comment below. Additional thoughts are welcome too, of course.

Thanks for voting in the poll below. Remember, it may take a few moments to load.

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