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New Orleans: So much to see and do – even during pandemic

Julianne G. Crane
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New Orleans: So much to see and do – even during pandemic

By Julianne G. Crane

The Helis Foundation Enique Alferez Sculpture Garden (THF)

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

New Orleans is more than just Bourbon Street. There is so much to see and do in New Orleans, even during the pandemic, that it makes one’s head spin. New Orleans City Park is one of the country’s oldest and most beautiful urban parks in the United States. It covers 1,300 acres of gardens, walking paths, cultural venues, sculpture gardens and lagoons.

Although access is limited in City Park during the pandemic,  the New Orleans Museum of Arts is now open for 50% capacity, Wed. to Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The five-acre outdoor Besthoff Sculpture Garden features 90 sculptural works by international artists and is open Wed. to Sun., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Click here for admission and guidelines.)

‘Spider’ by Louise Bourgeois and ‘Restrained’ (rear) by Deborah Butterfield on the grounds of the New Orleans Museum of Art’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden (NOMA)

Another special attraction in City Park is the New Orleans Botanical Garden, which has developed since the 1930s. The garden holds 12 acres of colorful flowers, greenery and art. Within the Botanical Garden is the Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden, which celebrates the history, influence and work of Mexican-American New Orleans artist Enrique Alférez (1901-1999) in the 8,000-sq.-foot sculpture garden. (Click here for admission and times.)

Walk through the largest grove of ancient live oaks in the world.(CityPark.com)

The 150-year-old City Park has the largest grove of mature live oaks in the world – the oldest trees are estimated to be between 600-800 years old. New Orleans oak trees are deeply historic and breathtaking fixtures with some roots dating back to long before the city’s founding.

Corridor Pin, Blue – Corridor Pin by Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg, with Untitled bronze (NOMA)

If you go:

New Orleans City Park:
5 Victory Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70124 (Directions)
(504) 488-2896
URL: neworleanscitypark.com
For the latest information on City Park COVID-19 information, click here.

Hours: City Park is “open to the public daily from 30 minutes prior to official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset, at which time all persons must vacate City Park premises.”

Free parking lot near Botanic Garden

A free parking lot is conveniently located near the Botanical Garden and just across the street (Turner Lane) from the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. It is large enough to hold hundreds of vehicles including buses, RVs and vehicles.

Located at: 53 Dreyfous Dr., New Orleans, LA 70119

According to the New Orleans Tourism Website, “[F]or those of you who are currently admiring New Orleans from afar, we encourage you to explore all the ways that you can bring New Orleans into your own homes, from streaming concerts to one-of-a-kind recipes that will transport you to all of the places you’ve missed the most. And when it comes time for you to return, whether that’s next weekend or six months from now, we’ll welcome you with the same excitement and warmth that we always have.”

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

 ##RVT968

RV Tire Safety: What tire inflation should I run? It depends…

Roger Marble
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RV Tire Safety: What tire inflation should I run? It depends…

By Roger Marble
The question as asked is simple but, of course, I have to make the answer complex.

Not really. However, there are two different answers. One is for “motorized vehicles”: Class A, Class B, Class C and tow vehicles. The answer for trailers, be they teardrop or triple-axle 5th wheel trailers, has some minor but important differences. This post will address the motorized vehicles so I don’t have to keep switching back and forth.

Step 1: Learn the ACTUAL load on each end of each axle. This should be done when the motorhome or truck is loaded to the heaviest you would ever load it.

Step 2: Using the heavier end load number for each axle, consult the Load & Inflation tables for your size and load range tire, to learn the MINIMUM inflation required.

Step 3: Add 10% to the number in step 2. This is so you are not chasing inflation every time the ambient temperature changes.

Step 4: Set your LOW pressure warning level on your TPMS to the pressure in #2 minus 2 to 4 psi. (Note this variation is to account for gauge and TPMS pressure reading variation.) We want the warning to sound as soon as we might be overloading any tire.

Step 5: Using your hand gauge – that you have checked against your personal digital “Master Gauge” – set the “Cold Inflation” pressure for all tires on an axle to the same pressure, which would be the pressure in Step #3. NOTE “Cold” only means the tire has not been driven on or been in direct sunlight for the previous two hours. This means the tire is at “air temperature” or the “temperature in the shade.”

Step #6: Get in your vehicle and you can now drive.

Information: The +10% is to give you “wiggle room” for day-to-day changes in air temperature. We want to “protect” the “minimum” inflation number we learned in Step #2 while at the same time not have to get out and fiddle with tire pressure every morning. Each morning when you get up, you can turn on your TPMS and make your coffee. After a few minutes you can then read the TPMS monitor and as long as there is no unexpected pressure change (drop), you can be satisfied that all tires are sufficiently inflated.

You may see a slow drop in pressure over time even when there is no change in temperature. A drop of 1 to 2% per month is normal for all tires, but once you follow this guide you can probably expect to only need to add air once every two to three months. For folks needing High Pressure (80 to 130 psi) this means you can plan to “top off” your tires at the next truck stop, where they should have plenty of air at the pressure needed. I will cover adding pressure to a hot tire in a separate post.

Example: Following the above over my travels from Ohio to Oregon to Calgary to Glacier and home over a two- month period, I only needed to add air one time – at Yellowstone – and I only needed to add about 3-5 psi to my LR-E tires to get back to my +10% number in Step #3.

Comment: After a while you will learn that the inflation numbers in your tires are reported as slightly different than seen with your hand gauge. This is normal as most TPMS are rated at +/- 2% for pressure accuracy. The primary job of a TPMS is to report a pressure drop – not to report extremely accurate pressure. I would feel that if your hand gauge reads +/- 2 psi from a reference gauge that is good enough. If your gauge is off by 5% of your tire pressure goals you might want to get a better gauge.

Please do not forget the above is specific for “motorized vehicles” and not for trailers or dollies you pull. If you pull a dolly I might treat it more like a trailer with higher inflation than Minimum +10% – but that is a separate topic.

 

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

 ##RVT968

The trashing of our public lands. Case in point

Chuck Woodbury
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The trashing of our public lands. Case in point

The message below was posted September 10 in our Facebook group Crowded Campgrounds by a representative of New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest. I doubt very much the readers of this newsletter would contribute to this sort of trashing of our public lands. I suggest that if you have any place to pass along this story – on your social media page, for example – please do so; perhaps it will help spread the word that this sort of behavior is unacceptable. —C Woodbury, editor

This past weekend, the National Forest was met with significant feedback on the state of the forest in areas such as Bluff Springs outside of Cloudcroft. Many people were upset and angry about what they saw and, to be frank, so were we.

Over the last several months, we have tried a number of things to keep these areas pristine for you to enjoy, but we are running out of options.

As we’ve all experienced, 2020 has been an abnormal year and has impacted the National Forest significantly. With state parks closed to non-residents, the racetrack closed, and all of the fishing areas at capacity, visitation has exploded in the Lincoln National Forest. Over Labor Day weekend, we estimated 30,000 visitors came to the forest and nearby towns, many of which did not follow the Leave No Trace principles, which means leaving this shared space free of garbage and properly picking camping spots so as to not harm the forest. 

To put this number in perspective, our entire forest recreation staff is 14 people and we have 2 law enforcement officers to cover 1.1 million acres. Our crews work hard to protect your public land, but we can’t keep up any longer given the sheer amount of trash, abandoned campfires and vandalism we are seeing.  

What We’ve Tried
The Forest Service’s mission is first and foremost to protect the health of the forest, not to pick up trash. Like all of our forest, Bluff Springs has always been a “Pack It In – Pack It Out” area and until just a few months ago, there were no trash services there at all because people respected the land and cleaned up after themselves.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first began back in March and the country knew little about the disease, Bluff Springs was closed via an official forest closure order. We locked the restrooms to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as instructed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We experienced people breaking into restrooms and stuffing their trash inside and into the toilets. Our crew was tasked with cleaning it up.

More and More Dumpsters
To avoid any more vandalism, we reopened sites across the forest and had “animal resistant” dumpsters placed at various sites. A few days later, the dumpsters were overflowing, so we doubled up on the dumpsters. The same thing occurred: overflowing trash almost immediately. Once again, we increased the size of the dumpsters to full-size roll-offs, which costs $400 per week, per dumpster, to maintain at these No-Fee locations. Every dollar spent on removing trash takes away from other projects. The forest has paid to haul away multiple full-sized couches, loveseats, chairs, stoves, tools and other outlandish items in addition to the literal tons of trash removed each week.

 ‘We have never before seen this level of complete disregard for nature by people who come to enjoy it and we, as a whole, are disheartened by it.’ 

Our crews still continue to dedicate their time to clean these areas, taking away precious time to help improve other areas of the forest. At Bluff Springs and nearby camp spots it took our crews 8 hours to pick up the trash on the ground by hand, which equated to three dump truck loads, four pickup loads, and two flatbed trailers in addition to the roll-off dumpster… and that was just from the post-Labor Day weekend clean up. We hoped that people would do the right thing and not leave their trash on the ground for wildlife to eat and become sick; but that has not been the case.

We have also increased patrols and enlisted the help of our county sheriff offices to help police highly recreated areas, but they cannot be everywhere all the time.

New Considerations
The overuse and extensive trash are damaging the forest and putting wildlife at risk. The more dumpsters we put out, the more the trash seems to grow. Therefore, a task force has been established to come up with options on how best to manage these sites in these unprecedented times. We are reviewing several options but are also considering closing these areas in an effort to address these ongoing challenges. The areas have once again been cleaned up, but we know it’s only a matter time before we will need to go back out unless something changes. 

What You Can Do
It is up to all of us to take care of the forest. With that being said, we are asking you to do one simple thing: Take your trash with you. Please help us spread the word to Pack It In – Pack It Out. Do not leave trash in the forest, even if it’s next to a dumpster. Trash bags break easily, and animals will get into them. If you wish to do more, the public can help by volunteering at National Public Lands Day clean-up projects taking place later this month. The forest is not a dumping ground; it is a beautiful place filled with wildlife, flowers, streams, and trees that rely on you to do your part and LEAVE NO TRACE.

##RVT968

RV Daily Tips. Friday, October 2, 2020

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Friday, October 2, 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 1441
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 must have a place to which you can go in your heart, your mind, or your house, almost every day, where you do not owe anyone and where no one owes you – a place that simply allows for the blossoming of something new and promising.” —Joseph Campbell

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Produce Misting Day!

On this day in history: 1535 – Jacques Cartier discovers the present site of Montreal.

Tip of the Day

Preventing roof leaks – in a way you may not have considered

Just about everyone who owns any type of RV has been told that they must periodically reseal all the areas on or near their roof to protect against potential leaks. There’s another potential leak source that is just as likely to cause problem leaks as those seams and vents. What is it? Find out here.

Do you have a tip? Submit it here.

Eight tips for taking great cell phone photos!

Today’s cell phone cameras are amazing. With large file sizes and editing tools, you can take impressive pictures and preserve great memories. Here are some tips from a retired professional food and architectural photographer (and now full-time RVer) to make your photos even better. Learn how.

Yesterday’s featured article: Free public lands resources, great for planning

You may have missed these recent popular stories…

Reader poll

Do you have a current extended warranty on your RV?
Please tell us here.

Quick Tip

Water-saving tips when washing dishes

When you wash dishes, use two containers (such as plastic tubs) – one for washing and one for the rinse water. When finished, don’t empty these down the sink drain into the gray water tank. Flush the dishwater down the toilet. Don’t forget to turn off your water pump while flushing so you don’t waste more water while you dump the dishwater. Dump the dishwater only. Save the rinse water and use it as the wash water the next time. After all, your rinse is now slightly soapy water from rinsing the dishes. Thanks to Ron Jones at AboutRVing.com.

Removes black streaks, cleans tires, degreases and more!
It’s almost as easy to say what this doesn’t do than what it does do. It works great on engines, wheels, tires, diesel exhaust and for removing ugly black streaks. Spray on, wipe dry – it’s that easy. It’s water based, biodegradable and ammonia free. It’s so good it meets the standards of Boeing and Airbus. Learn more or order at a really great price.

Website of the day

A global heatmap of your last name
This article on Motherboard links to a website, Forebears, that maps out mentions of 11 million surnames around the world. Want to know who else has your last name (or versions of it) and where they’re living? Spend some time exploring here to find out.

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

Humans have enough iron in their body that if it were extracted and melted down, the iron could form a 3-inch long nail.

*How many questions a day do kids ask? We told you yesterday and the answer is a whole lot!

‘Earthquake Putty’ keeps stuff in place
Do you have items in your RV you like to keep in place — on a table, bedstand or counter? You need this. Collectors Hold Museum Putty is designed to keep items secure in earthquakes! Hey, a moving RV is a constant earthquake! To use this, pull off what you need, roll until soft, apply to the base of the object then lightly press it to the surface. Later, it comes off clean. RVers love it! Cheap, too! Learn more or order.

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“Karma loves looking out the window!” —Donna Dixon

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

A week after Mozart died, a drunk walking by his grave heard faint, strange music. Terrified, he summoned a priest who heard the same thing. The priest summoned a local orchestra director. “Ah, yes,” the man said, recognizing that it was Mozart’s Ninth Symphony, but being played backwards. By now, a crowd had formed. “Ah, that’s the Eighth Symphony, and it’s backwards, too,” he said. Then it was the Seventh … the Sixth … the Fifth …. Suddenly the music director realized what was happening and gleefully proclaimed to the crowd, “My fellow citizens, there is nothing to worry about. It’s just Mozart decomposing.”

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 • RVillage

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

Do you have a current extended warranty on your RV?

Emily Woodbury
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Do you have a current extended warranty on your RV?

Do you have a current extended warranty on your RV? If so, are you happy you have it? If not, do you wish you had one?

If you haven’t been following along, we’ve recently added a new column to our Saturday newsletter called, “RV Warranty Questions.” 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?

We’ve clearly got warranties on our mind, so won’t you vote in the poll below and tell us if you have one for your RV or not? Thanks!

I just spent $106 on a $3 shower replacement part…

Nanci Dixon
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I just spent $106 on a $3 shower replacement part…

By Nanci Dixon
It can be hard to find a part for your RV these days. With brick-and-mortar stores carrying a lot fewer items and online sales the new normal, finding a simple replacement part for an RV has gotten much harder.

I just spent $106 to get a $3 plastic bracket that broke on the shower spray bar in my RV’s shower. What the heck?! The little plastic bracket was shattered. No amount of gorilla glue would have put it back together.

What are you doing about finding small, but important replacement parts?

Here’s the frustrating, time-consuming process I went through for this plastic bracket.

Looked for the shower bar name

With a magnifying glass, I checked the shower for a brand name. The name is evidently “Made in China”. That obviously didn’t help.

Called the RV manufacturer

I contacted the motorhome manufacturer and was told that they don’t sell the bracket, but I could buy a whole new shower replacement kit for $106. After a long conversation, they finally told me the name of the distributor.

Called the distributor

I called the distributor of the shower bar. I was told they don’t deal directly with the consumer.

Emailed the distributor

I did find the email contact info for the distributor. I emailed them and got a response almost immediately! They didn’t have individual parts and didn’t know who made it. Well, at least I got a response…

Called local stores

That was an exercise in futility. Glad I have unlimited minutes…

Should have…

Here is where the sleuthing process totally fell apart. I should have asked the manufacturer to open the shower replacement kit box and tell me the maker of the shower bar. But instead…

Bit the proverbial bullet

After trying to shower with the wand on the floor for several days (not great), I bit the bullet and bought the entire replacement kit: new shower bar, brackets, sprayer and wall mount.

Lesson learned

I opened the box of my brand-new, expensive replacement kit and, low and behold, right on top was an instruction manual from the shower bar manufacturer, installation procedures, part names and place to order. Hmm … that was a little late.

Could I have returned the whole thing, called the shower manufacturer and probably saved lots of $$$? Maybe, but at that point, after a few unpublishable words, the allure of a good shower was just too tempting.

How are you finding simple replacement parts for your RV? Do you think parts are harder to find during the pandemic than before, or do you think it’s about the same? Has something like my experience ever happened to you? Please leave a comment below.

##RVT968

Bumper grill means grilling where no one has grilled before

James Raia
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Bumper grill means grilling where no one has grilled before

By James Raia
Startup company HitchFire has introduced the Forge 15. It’s a hitch-mounted grill touted as “grilling where no one has grilled before.”

A swing-away truck grill, the Forge 15 features a powder-coated steel body built atop a tubular frame. It attaches to standard 2-inch receivers. The swing-away function makes for more comfortable grilling. It sets up to 90- and 180-degree angles.

The HitchFire Forge 15 grill goes anywhere.
The HitchFire Forge 15 grill goes anywhere.

The grill has 355 square inches of cooking surface over top dual 7,500-BTU propane burners. It’s designed to serve up to 10 people and can fit 14 burgers at once. It runs on 16-oz propane bottles.

HitchFire hopes surfers, bikers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy accessible grilling.

It’s built to travel rugged backroads smoothly. The grill ensures wheel-based travelers can begin cooking as soon as they arrive.

The HitchFire Forge 15 grill defines efficiency in travel grilling.
The HitchFire Forge 15 grill defines efficiency in travel grilling.

HitchFire’s grill moves the bulk and mess of the grill out of the truck or SUV bed. More space is available for other gear. Starting to grill is also easier.

The grill removes easily for table use. The grill’s two side worktops fold out to provide prep or storage space. The worktops fold under the lid during travel. Chefs can also place the grill on a table.

The Forge 15 ($449) will be shipped beginning in mid-October.

RELATED CONTENT

New lightweight, dishwasher-safe grill perfect for RVers
A warning about outdoor grilling: danger lurks
Traveling burger grilling done safely

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

##RVT967b

Ford showcases towing dominance in 2021 truck lineup

James Raia
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1
Ford showcases towing dominance in 2021 truck lineup

By James Raia
Lightweight trucks already reign in the automotive industry. But increased interest in RVs has further boosted competition among truck makers. Bigger towing and payload capacities are an integral part of the rivalry among top sellers, and Ford has taken a sizable lead for 2021.

The new Ford F-150 is available in six engine configurations. It’s now rated with a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds when equipped with Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost, or turbocharged, V6, and the automaker’s Max Trailer Tow Package. It’s 800 pounds more than the 2020 model.

The 2021 Ford F 150 Series will have the industry's top towing capacity.
The 2021 Ford F-150 Series will have the industry’s top towing capacity

The flagship 3.5-liter offering has the largest towing capacity among its mainstream competitors. The Chevrolet Silverado (13,300) and Ram 1500 (12,750) are top rivals. The Ford F Series sells about 900,000 units a year, combining F-150, F-250 and F-350 models.

Ford has varied truck lineup

As the most popular truck in the industry for decades, here’s the breakdown of Ford’s F-150 Series offerings. The 2021 Ford F-Series will debut in late 2020.

F-150 3.3-LITER V6
3.3-liter V6 engine, 290 horsepower, 265 pound-feet of torque, maximum towing capacity, 8,200 pounds, maximum payload, 1,985 pounds.

F-150 2.7-LITER ECOBOOST V6
2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, 325 horsepower, 400 pound-feet of torque, maximum towing capacity, 10,100 pounds, maximum payload, 2,480 pounds.

F-150 5-LITER V8
5-liter V8, 400 horsepower, 410 pound-feet of torque. maximum towing capacity, 13,000 pounds, maximum payload, 3,325 pounds.

F-150 3-LITER DIESEL POWER STROKE V6
3-liter diesel power stroke V6, 250 horsepower, 440 pound-feet of torque, maximum towing capacity, 12,100 pounds, maximum payload, 1,840 pounds.

F-150 3.5-LITER POWERBOOST V6 (HYBRID)
3.5-liter PowerBoost V6 (hybrid), 430 horsepower, 570 pound-feet of torque, maximum towing, 12,700 pounds, maximum payload, 2,120 pounds.

RELATED ARTICLES

Ford debuts two new trucks

Ford dominates lists top trucks for less than 10K

Sculptor unveils new stone truck ‘Built Ford tough’

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.

##RVT968

Video: Acrobatic elk somersaults on cue

Russ and Tiña De Maris
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Video: Acrobatic elk somersaults on cue

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
When the hormones are strong, seems like guys of every species sometimes forget common sense. Acrobatic elk are no exception.

Fall is here, and the elk mating season is up and running in Utah. For one hapless bull, intent on chasing his lady friend, a fence was not about to stand in his way of conquest. He managed the leap over the fence, but hung up, hitting the downhill slant on the other side of the fence a bit wrong.

The resulting somersault would have been too much for most of us, but the bull was undaunted. Off went the acrobatic elk, neatly vaulting the fence across the street and continuing on in pursuit. Happily for us, a Utah game official was in the right place and time, catching the momentary mishap on film.

Related:

Photos: Cougar attacks two people in Colorado RV park

Chased by bison, woman successfully “plays dead” – Video

Video: Good noos for moose! Troopers help new family clear the road

Video: Dueling elk trash warning sign

Photo credit: UtahDWR

##RVT968

Hundreds of thousands of Ford pickups recalled

Chuck Woodbury
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1
Hundreds of thousands of Ford pickups recalled

Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 7, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 20C19.

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 vehicles, 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.

Not signed up for the free RVtravel.com weekend newsletters? Published online since 2001. Sign up here.

##RVT968b

RV Daily Tips. Thursday, October 1, 2020

Newsletter Editor
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8
RV Daily Tips. Thursday, October 1, 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 1440
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

“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.”  —Jo Walton

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Homemade Cookies Day!

On this day in history: 1908 – Ford Model T automobiles are offered for sale at a price of $825.

Tip of the Day

Leaving home – A checklist for successful domicile abandonment

By Greg Illes
Every RVer’s dream is to wander off, leaving home and hearth behind, on a weeks- or months-long meander through far unknown lands. Usually, a lot more attention is paid to RV preparation and where the trip will lead than to how well the old homestead might fare without daily supervision.

After years of business and personal travel, including unpleasant surprises upon arriving back home, we have a departure checklist to help avoid the avoidable. Continue reading.

Do you have a tip? Submit it here.

Free public lands resources, great for planning

You’ve probably read about camping and boondocking on public lands. Bob Difley has long been an advocate of using the millions of acres of public lands that are available to everybody for many forms of outdoor recreation, including camping and boondocking, most of it free or inexpensive. Learn about some great resources here.

Yesterday’s featured article: Need a step up when hitching up your fifth wheel?

Reader poll

When in your RV, how often do you buy groceries at Walmart?
Give it a thought, then tell us here.

Quick Tip

Tilt electric mirrors for better parking visibility

When preparing to back up your RV, tilt the electric mirrors down to see the lower rear corner of your coach. To practice, use rubber cones in an empty parking lot. Try to align the rear of the rig with the cone, using only your mirrors. When backing up, your concern is no longer with traffic approaching from the rear but with carefully guiding the rear of your coach into a site and avoiding any obstacles. Thanks to Ron Jones at AboutRVing.com.

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Fifteen best photo-editing apps
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Affordable tire tool will save you tons of troubleRV Travel Newsletter Issue 912
What gives when you think your tires are “good to go” but down on air again the next day? Your valve stem valve probably isn’t tight enough. A loose, leaking valve stem can cause a tire failure due to low pressure under load at highway speeds. So do yourself and your vehicles a favor – pick up one of these very inexpensive tools and make sure your valve cores are snugly seated in the valve stem. Click here to order.

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Best-selling small-space organizers
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When in your RV, how often do you buy groceries at Walmart?

Emily Woodbury
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When in your RV, how often do you buy groceries at Walmart?

As of January 1, 2020, there are 4,756 Walmart stores across the United States. That makes it pretty easy to find one near you, which means it’s an easy place to buy your groceries from. And if you’re staying overnight in their parking lot, as many RVers do, it’s even easier.

When you’re out on the road in your RV, how often do you buy your groceries at Walmart? All the time? Sometimes, but only if it’s convenient? Never?

Please answer in the poll below. We’re curious to see how the majority of you answer. Thanks for voting!

P.S. Do you know what Walmart’s best-selling item is? Hint: It’s a grocery item. We told you in the Tuesday issue of our RV Daily Tips newsletter. Find the answer here.

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