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This may look like an RV, but it’s far from it!

Chuck Woodbury
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This may look like an RV, but it’s far from it!

So what is this? No, it’s not an RV. And, no it’s not a boat!

The sleepers in these king-sized big rig trucks are anything but modest.

It’s a truck, a big truck, the kind you see rolling down the interstate. Most long haul truckers have a sleeper behind the cab, and some can be very nice — compact versions of RVs. But this one is way bigger and fancier than what most truckers have onboard.

ARI Legacy Sleepers builds spacious, feature-packed sleeper cabs complete with toilets, showers, kitchens, TVs, and other amenities like those found in luxury RVs to make a trucker’s off-duty hours more comfortable. The company has built sleepers since 2001. A typical sleeper may cost a trucker $50,000 or so. But these super-sized versions can cost three times that or more!

As you can tell, the company does nice work.

The trucker that you see parked for the night at a rest area in a rig like the ones pictured above is hardly suffering for creature comforts.

##RVT967

Casino RV camping, September 26, 2020

Nanci Dixon
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Casino RV camping, September 26, 2020

By Nanci Dixon
The great fall migration of RVers has started and casino camping is a valuable resource for the journey. Just like birds, RVers flock to warmer climates so they can winter without snow, cold, or a shovel in hand.  

A lot of campgrounds are full and getting a site means planning well in advance. When we are traveling but not sightseeing, we prefer to not make definite stopping plans but just be able to park when tired or when weather conditions force us to. Casino camping is the perfect solution, particularly when the “campground” is an open parking lot that seldom fills. 

In this week’s column, I am sharing some of our reader’s submissions that may help others with their own fall migration plans.

Have a backup plan

Knowing that campgrounds and even parking lots can be full, reader Craig D. has some sound advice to keep in mind as you are planning your trip: ”Have a backup plan! My wife and I left Brownsville, TX, on the last day of February 2020 heading for Big Bend National Park and planned to stop for the night at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle RV Park that adjoins the casino there. When we got to the casino, late in the evening, the RV park was filled to capacity and we ended up driving another hour to the nearest available park in Del Rio, TX. So have a backup plan if you don’t have a reservation!”

That certainly goes for parking lot casino camping too. In the times of COVID, it is advisable to call the casino ahead to double-check that they are open and have availability.Casino Camping at Diamond Jo Casino Iowa

Midwest casino camping

We migrate from Minnesota to Arizona in the fall and generally stay for free at Diamond Jo’s Casino in Dubuque, Iowa, off I35. It is parking lot camping at its best! There is always enough room to put out our slides. Some highway noise but not too bad.

Chris C. writes about a casino in Iowa: “Wild Rose Casino in Clinton, Iowa, has an RV area in their parking lot and allowed us to overnight park. Plenty of lights and a quiet area and some grass areas for our dogs. (As always, all dog owners need to please pick up after their dogs.) Also, need to throw kudos for how many Cracker Barrel restaurants allow overnight parking for RVers too.” 

Eastern casino camping

For you East Coast travelers, Marica L. says: “Presque Isle Downs and Casino, in Erie, PA, exit 27 off I 90. Large level parking lot to the right after you enter the driveway in. Well lit and usually several RVs as well as trucks parked for the night. Their shuttle runs every few minutes for those who want to visit the casino or a restaurant.”

Christy C. wrote: “A few years ago, I stayed two days at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. I was impressed. They had spots for even the big rigs. They also had a separate lot for truckers. They had security and a bus came every 30 min. or so to take you to the casino. There are no hookups or dump stations.”

Southern casino camping

Roy B. says: “We try to stop in Tunica, Mississippi, on our way to and from our snowbird home. Both Hollywood Casino and Sam’s Town Casino have very good RV parks with full hook-ups, level concrete pads, free Wi-Fi and cable. Both have security patrols and are kept neat and clean. Maintenance is prompt for any problems. I recommend them both.” Note: Hollywood and Sam’s Town have free overnight parking too. Tunica and Robinsonville, Mississippi, have several more casinos – Gold Strike, Horseshoe, and Tunica Roadhouse – that also have free overnight parking.

Western casino camping

Headed west? Nickon T. mentioned these casinos: “We have enjoyed our many visits and overnight stays at the Rolling Hills Casino (RV park only) on I-5 near Corning, California. The Blue Water Casino in Parker, AZ, (free overnight parking) plus the 7 Feathers Casino, on I-5 at exit 99 in Canyonville, Oregon. Another of our favorites is the Tulalip Resort Casino (free overnight parking) in Tulalip, Washington. We do not hesitate to recommend ALL of these since we have had pleasant overnight stays over several years of travel.”

Show your appreciation

Lindy M. mentioned being a good guest and remembering to support the casino, particularly when camping free: “We have stopped over at a couple of casinos here in California. No hookups, but since it was only for a night it was fine. What I really like is that they usually have a gas station attached (with pretty cheap prices) and excellent security. Since parking is free we make sure we go inside and eat at one of their restaurants and lose a few dollars in a dollar machine.”

Stopping at a casino, or a casino newbie?

American Casino Guide provides not only information on casinos, it has a gambling primer on slots, video poker, blackjack, craps and other popular casino games and RV, hotel, restaurant information.

Casino Camping Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos is also a great guide.

Join our Facebook Group Casino Camping for more casino information. Post your favorite spots too.

Read last week’s Casino Camping here.

Tell us about casinos you like that other RVers might like. If you have any tips or secrets about casino “camping,” tell us those too, please!

##RVT967

Pleasure Way recalls some motorhomes for fire risk

Chuck Woodbury
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Pleasure Way recalls some motorhomes for fire risk

Remedy
Pleasure Way has notified owners, and dealers will install an over voltage protection device that cuts off voltage to the circuit board. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Pleasure Way customer service at 1-800-364-0189.

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.

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

##RVT967b

RV Tire Safety: What does RV “weight creep” have to do with tire safety?

Roger Marble
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RV Tire Safety: What does RV “weight creep” have to do with tire safety?

By Roger Marble
I have covered the importance of knowing your actual RV weight, as that has a direct impact on your tire loading, which then affects your tire life. The idea of “4-corner weight” is that you get on scales that can measure the load on each end of each axle because very few RVs have an exact 50/50, end-to-end load split for every axle.

Now, I know that finding a location that can measure each tire position is not easy. Large RV gatherings such as FMCA conventions and Escapees meetups sometimes have vendors offering that service. HERE is some information from another tire engineer on where and how individual weights can be measured.

Others have learned that their state scales, as in Oregon and I believe Washington state, are left “on” and they can, many times, get the weight of each end of each axle on the scale so they can calculate the actual loading.

This is my RV on a scale in Oregon. The red circle is the weight sign.

Some folks have contacted their state police and found them more than willing to provide the service. HERE is a work sheet you can use when you get the scale readings..

One other consideration for every RV owner, even those that have not yet learned their corner weights, is WEIGHT CREEP. This slow increase in overall weight occurs as we travel and add small items to our RV. This might be another tool or book or knick-knack. Individually they only may be a pound or two, but over time the total weight can become significant.

Now, I am not saying you have to search out a company to redo your 4-corner weights every year, but you can get a handle on your weight creep with a quick visit to a regular truck scale where you can learn your individual axle weight. With that new information you can compare the total for each individual axle of your 4-corner weight with the new truck scale weight. Hopefully you will not see any significant weight gain that would require you to get new corner weights, BUT you will at least know the facts and know if the extra “stuff” is adding up to a significant weight gain – which suggests that you put the RV on a “diet.”

 

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

 ##RVT967

Device keeps your fresh water tank clean. So simple, yet effective!

Tony
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Device keeps your fresh water tank clean. So simple, yet effective!

By Tony Barthel
Using bleach to sanitize a fresh water tank in an RV is something that has become customary for many. But the process of bleaching a fresh water tank has consequences, such as unusually white shoes and clothes. It’s not as easy to sanitize a fresh water tank when you’re worrying about getting bleach all over you or your RV. Here’s where the RV Inline Sanitizer comes in handy. 

RV inline sanitizer
The RV Inline Sanitizer with bleach tank cap open.

Recently Tom Hoepfner reached out to us to give his device a try and I have to admit my first thought was this was definitely a first-world problem solver. But after using it, I realized he had really saved me a lot of time. And, with fewer bleached articles of clothing, potentially a lot of money as well. 

Essentially the RV Inline Sanitizer is the simplest of solutions. It’s essentially a reservoir in which you put bleach and then use a source hose and a delivery hose to fill your fresh water tank. The sanitizer effectively adds the bleach as you fill the tank. It truly is that simple. 

The recommendation is to use the sanitizer before you head out on a trip so that the bleach can slosh around in the tank while you navigate the highways and byways of this majestic land. Then, once at your destination, flush the tank with fresh water until all evidence of bleach is gone. 

The mixture recommended is 8 ounces of household bleach for every 40 gallons of fresh water. There are some who might argue that household bleach is not really meant as a food-grade product, but when I owned a bed and breakfast, bleach was a part of everyday use in the kitchen, since we used it to sanitize sinks and prep tables. It’s just what we use ‘round here. 

Anyway, once your fresh tank is full of the bleach/water solution the recommendation is to disconnect from city water, turn on your water pump and run each faucet in the RV until you smell the bleach. Then do the slosh and drive. 

Once you arrive at your destination flush out the system with fresh water until you no longer smell the bleach. Simple. And the RV Inline Sanitizer really does simplify the process – it’s a much more useful gadget than I had anticipated, honestly. 

Surprisingly, I do know someone who got pretty sick from the water in their RV and it turns out they never sanitized the tanks in the five years they owned it. For those who don’t drink the water in their RV, remember that your skin is the largest organ on the human body and you likely do use that water to take a shower and even brush your teeth. 

It is recommended by many manufacturers to sanitize the tank twice a year. 

So is the RV Inline Sanitizer worth the money? That’s your decision, but I have to admit that having it has made me more likely to sanitize the tank in my own RV. It’s a simple solution that makes something we all should be doing a little easier and that’s what RVing is all about, really. 

Learn more on the official product website, or check it out on Amazon.

##RVT967

RV Daily Tips. Friday, September 25, 2020

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Friday, September 25, 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 1436
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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Coming in Sunday’s newsletter…

We have a nice surprise for you in Sunday’s newsletter —  information where you can download a free “2021 RV Model Year Guide.” If you’re in the market for a new RV, or simply curious about the latest developments in recreational vehicles, then this will provide lots of good reading. The fact that this is free, with no strings attached, makes it an especially outstanding (and rare) offer. Be sure and keep an eye oust for it on Sunday.

Today’s thought

“Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.” ― Donald Miller

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Quesadilla Day!

On this day in history: 1890 – The United States Congress establishes Sequoia National Park.

Tip of the Day

Bad weather RV driving tips

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
A big motorhome may look invincible, and being up above the road-hugging level of a four-cylinder coupe, the view is great. But don’t let the view from the rig make you cocky. Weather is no respecter of height or size. A sudden blast of sheer wind can move your motorhome right off the road or whip your trailer into a frenzy of unexpected motion. Read how to be as safe as possible here.

Do you have a tip? Submit it here.

For a good sleep – don’t camp here!

You want a peaceful night’s rest? Then don’t camp by railroad tracks. If you’ve been RVing for long, you know that’s no joke. Many RV parks are located right along the rails – it’s cheap land. Read about RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury’s worst RV “train” experience and watch his short (but illustrative) video.

Yesterday’s featured article: Heading “out West”? Don’t miss these BLM gems!

You may have missed these recent popular stories…

Reader poll

Do you bring bicycles with you on your RV trips?
Pedal over here and respond.

Quick Tip

Get that gunk off your rig!

“A tip for getting those nasty bug guts, bird droppings, or tree sap off your rig – try dampened Bounce dryer sheets! They work great, and won’t hurt your paint; you DON’T have to immediately go rinse or wash your rig after using them.
My DH keeps a box with his rig & window washing stuff; we use them quite often. Simply take a small bucket of water with you as you walk around your rig, dipping the dryer sheets in water as you go; you don’t need to scrub very hard (you’ll know when to start a new sheet, when the “gunk” doesn’t come off as easily)!” Thanks for the tip, Erinn Mayer!

flameless candlesAdd a romantic mood to your RV with these flameless candles
There’s nothing like a candle to add a romantic glow to your home or RV. This set of three flameless candles fits the bill perfectly. And, boy, do they look real! They’re made of genuine paraffin wax with realistic dancing LED flames that add a festive or romantic mood to any room safely, even in the presence of small children and pets. Learn more or order.

Website of the day

The most unique U.S. camping destinations
Camp while you look for diamonds? Sure! Camp in a tree house? Yup. Even if you’re not the most adventurous camper, this list is worth a peek; there’s some pretty neat stuff here.

SECRET PHRASE: The USA has the longest cave system in the world.

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

Do you have foods that you enjoy eating now but hated as a kid? Each human is born with about 10,000 taste buds. Those taste buds are replaced every two weeks, so if you didn’t like broccoli one week, chances are you wouldn’t like it if you tried it again two weeks later. However, as we grow older, taste buds stop being replaced. Now, every time you eat broccoli, your taste buds like it more and more.

*Speaking of human senses… How many scents can your nose detect? We told you yesterday. 

Hang up the heavy stuff!RV Travel Newsletter Issue 880
RV walls aren’t exactly designed for having screws or nails driven into them. Enter acrylic mounting tape. This is a clear, double-sided tape that is sturdy enough to hang heavy objects and can easily be removed without doing damage to the walls. Get some on Amazon here.

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“This is Rascal, the “semi wonder dog.” He is 17 going on 18. We are cherishing every moment we have left with him and spoiling and pampering him. Unfortunately, he’s mostly blind and deaf but he still loves to play with his squirrel and his Frisbee. Believe it or not, he can tell time. He gets a string cheese every night at 9:00. By 8:45 he is sitting on the floor staring at us waiting for his treat.” —Greg Thompson

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

“As we waited for a bus in the frosty weather, the woman next to me mentioned that she makes a lot of mistakes when texting in the cold. I nodded knowingly. ‘It’s the early signs of typothermia.'” —Phil Noyes

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

Join us: Facebook • Twitter • YouTube

See all of our many Facebook groups here.

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.

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 bring bicycles with you on your RV trips?

Emily Woodbury
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Do you bring bicycles with you on your RV trips?

Bikes are a great form of exercise, and they’re usually pretty popular with RVers. It’s fun to plan trips around which campgrounds or RV parks are easiest or nicest to bike around, and which ones are closest to great biking trails.

When you travel in your RV, do you bring your bike or bikes along with you? If you don’t own a bike, do you have any desire in getting one?

Thanks for voting in our poll below. If you have any questions about RVing with a bike, feel free to leave a comment. Maybe an RVing bicycle expert will get back to you.

Bad weather RV driving tips

Russ and Tiña De Maris
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Bad weather RV driving tips

By Russ and Tiña De Maris
A big motorhome may look invincible, and being up above the road-hugging level of a four-cylinder coupe, the view is great. But don’t let the view from the rig make you cocky. Weather is no respecter of height or size. A sudden blast of sheer wind can move your motorhome right off the road or whip your trailer into a frenzy of unexpected motion.

The best defense against weather-related RV accidents is keeping a weather-eye open. If you see a cloud that looks a bit ominous, it’s time to get more information. Tune in the local AM radio. Local stations — especially those that don’t play a “canned” imported format — can warn of impending problems. This is particularly true in areas where tornadoes frequent. There are also several very good, and free, weather apps. Please let us know in the comments below what your favorite is.

If you actually see a twister heading your way, your best “out” isn’t likely to try and outrun it. Storm safety experts agree: Get out of the vehicle and take shelter in a building. If there isn’t one in reach, things are a little less clear. We used to say, get out of your vehicle and lie down in a ditch. The American Red Cross says they don’t support that advice anymore unless the ditch is “noticeably lower than the level of the roadway.” Not a deep ditch nearby? “Stay in the [vehicle] with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.” But beware, the agency says this is a “last resort.” Don’t climb under an overpass. Tornado winds can funnel debris right under such constructs, and if you get in the way of the debris the outcome isn’t pretty.

In any event, if your rig is parked somewhere and there’s a danger of a tornado, do your best to take shelter elsewhere. While your rig can provide a measure of protection, even if you’re seat-belted in, being tossed around inside a rolling coach can have fatal consequences.

Tornadoes aren’t the only game. Sudden rainstorms are more likely, and your rig isn’t Noah’s ark. Slow down, get out of the fast lane, and illuminate your rig by turning on your lights. Too tough to see? Pull off the roadway as far as possible and TURN OFF your lights. That way, the guy behind you won’t see your taillights, think you know where you’re going, and plow right into your rig while you’re parked. The same holds true in a dust storm: Don’t try and punch through one of these devils — if you can’t see, you can’t drive. Pull off the roadway, douse the lights, and wait it out.

Driving in desert country, beware the danger of flooded washes. In rain country, streams and rivers run all the time. In the desert, a “wash” runs only when there’s rain so bridges over gullies are few. With water over a desert road, DON’T drive through it. Six inches of water can float any vehicle off the road. Every year dozens die in vehicles caught in flash floods. Drive through a “posted” wash in Arizona and need a rescue? The “Arizona Stupid Motorist Law” ensures you’ll pay for the cost of your rescue — or your estate will.

Lightning storms? The old saw that the rubber tires of your car will insulate you against damage is an old wives’ tale. Automobiles, by their metallic construction, act as an electrical cage, causing lightning strikes to roll off the car in a generally harmless fashion. BUT many RVs are fiberglass constructs, and lightning may blast a hole right through it. If you’re on the road and lightning threatens, pull over and park, avoiding the tallest trees and utility poles. Close windows and sit with hands in laps. [Editor: Read more in this article from electrical expert Mike Sokol: Think rubber tires will protect your RV from lightning? Think again! (includes video)]

Common sense may be your first line of defense in dealing with what Mother Nature can dish out. Just because your rig is big doesn’t mean a whit compared to the forces that weather can generate. 

Editor: Check out our ever-expanding directory of RV Parks (and other locations) with storm shelters, and join our Facebook group RV Parks with Storm Shelters.

##RVDT1436

Building an RV park: Vendors and more vendors! Plus paperwork progress

RV Staff
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5
Building an RV park: Vendors and more vendors! Plus paperwork progress

By Machelle James
When you shop in a store, it probably doesn’t occur to you who the parent company is for that product. As in, “Hey, who makes and owns these delicious Twinkies”? I never thought of it myself until today.

I think I know what we are going to sell in our camp store, but that can change based on our guests’ needs and requests. I am thinking milk, eggs, bacon, hot dogs, creamer, hot coffee, water bottles, snacks, chips, soda, juice, ice cream, ice, candy, condiments, s’mores items and, possibly, frozen food items. We also are going to sell non-food items such as paper plates, TP, solo cups, RV supplies, local vendor items and, of course, our AJ’s Getaway swag items.

I have been on the phone with several different vendors this week to see which ones are a good fit for us and that will deliver the various items we will need to stock in our store. I have had one vendor that wants to meet us and to sit down and decide what would be best for us. Now, I really like that personal touch and I hope it works out for the both of us.

We do know we can buy certain things ourselves and resell the items with our Business License. The thing is, will we really have the time to go into town, buy all the items, bring them home, and set them up in the store? But it’s OK to figure out this part of our business as we go and to make the necessary changes along the way.

Another good piece of this puzzle is we almost have our Check-in/Store design completed. We figured out a good layout, with our storage and office connected to the building. We made decisions on what way the floor plan should flow and which side the covered porch will be on and where the outdoor seating will go. We decided where the doors will go, and the window placement to optimize the morning sun and not the warm afternoon sun in the store. We chose a nice, easy ramp for wheelchair accessibility and where the outdoor ice freezer will go.

This is getting me super-excited as I can finally “see” what this building should look like! We decided this area should have a little more WOW factor as it will be the first thing you see when you enter the campground. As soon as it gets approved through the Building Permit Department, I’ll post the final drawings for you to see.

We are in constant work mode most days – with either cleaning up downed limbs or working on paperwork for our SBA Loan. Lately, the days and nights are running long as we figure out how to build our campground.

There is a TON more work to do with getting our SBA fully funded as you have to be pretty precise in your cost analysis – each subcontractor has to put together pricing for their work and we have to submit it to the bank. This takes time, as we JUST got our revised site plan back today. Now we can forward it to our General Contractor and he can bid out the plumbing and the rest of the work that we did not get bids for yet.

I am thankful I have a cousin who owns his own commercial electrical company. He came out this week to walk the property and give us a price on digging trenches, putting utilities underground (they are on overhead power poles now), pulling wire, connecting them to the RV pedestals, and overall getting electricity to each location in the campground that needs light. He then gets to meet with our Navajo County electric company (Navopache Electric Cooperative) and, together, they can come up with a plan on how to light up our campground.

Of course we pay the fees to each party involved and I pray it won’t take months to get it all figured out. The snow is coming and one thing I do know is water and electricity don’t work well together. We already had our first 24-degree morning and, boy, were we NOT ready for that! Luckily we warmed right back up and those temperatures can stay away for another couple of months as far as we’re concerned.

One good thing we were able to do was to sneak away for a weekend to the valley with Jenna and our grandbabies! It was so nice to get out and relax and swim and spend time with them. We miss seeing them like we used to before we moved, and this definitely was a much-needed reconnection for all of us.

Thank you for following our campground journey and, as always, See you in the Trees!

And please leave a comment!

AJ, Machelle and Jenna

Read previous articles here.

Machelle James and her husband, AJ, are building, from the ground up, a 15-acre RV park in Heber-Overgaard, Arizona, in the beautiful White Mountains 140 miles from Phoenix. Follow them on Facebook @ AJ’s Getaway RV Park or on Instagram at ajsgetawayrvpark.

##RVT967

Instant Pot Cookin’: Super-Yummy Meatballs

Nanci Dixon
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1
Instant Pot Cookin’: Super-Yummy Meatballs

Ingredients

By Nanci Dixon
These super-yummy meatballs are easy and quick to make in the Instant Pot™. I have been keeping the Instant Pot on the RV countertop and the curry jar close. I love curry and this is the third recipe in a row I have done with curry in it. In this dish, the curry is rather mild and just adds to the overall flavor. That said, I will probably lay off curry for a while now…

What I love about this recipe is that I usually have all the ingredients on hand. It can be served with rice, noodles, on a hoagie bun or just by itself.

Tip: Wearing gloves makes mixing and forming the meatballs so much easier.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
• 2 Tbsp oil (I use olive oil)
• 1 lb ground turkey or extra lean ground beef (I use turkey)
• 1 slice bread, crumbled (I microwaved some of the moisture out of it before crumbling)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic (about two cloves)
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp salt

Sauce:
• 1 24 oz jar spaghetti or marinara sauce, any flavor you prefer (I like the Italian sausage — adds some meat in the sauce)
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 Tbsp curry powder
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp fresh ginger (New, wonderful find – jarred, grated fresh ginger in the produce section      next to the jarred minced garlic – no more shriveled ginger root in the fridge!)
• 1/4 tsp salt (I usually don’t add salt but the meatballs need it – increase to 1/2 tsp if desired)
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

1.) Add oil to Instant Pot
2.) Crumble bread (I microwaved some of the moisture out of the bread to crumble easily)

Meatball ingredients

3.) Combine meatball ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.
4.) Form 1 1/2-inch meatballs (gloves are so helpful!)

Form meatballs Gloves help

5.) Set Instant Pot to sauté
6.) Add meatballs and sauté until slightly brown
7.) Turn off Instant Pot

Sauté meatballs until slightly brown

8.) Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl
9.) Pour over meat, do not stir

Pour sauce over meatballs

10.) Set Instant Pot to manual high for 6 minutes
11.) Quick release
12.) Stir

Stir finished meatballs13.) Serve over rice, pasta, hoagie bun or as is

Finished Meatballs and sauce

Here are a few more Instant Pot recipes you might enjoy:

Spicy Chicken Curry Soup

RV ready: Easy Peasy Instant Pot Spaghetti

Sweet Potato Coconut Soup

##RVT967

RV Warranty Questions: Should I buy an extended warranty for my RV?

Tony
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RV Warranty Questions: Should I buy an extended warranty for my RV?

By Tony Barthel
Should you buy an extended warranty? It’s one of the most frequently asked questions and something, again, for which there isn’t just one answer. So, should you? 

That depends. 

As we shared in our previous column, an RV extended warranty is basically legalized gambling. You’re gambling that something big will go wrong; the warranty company is gambling that it won’t. As with all forms of legalized gambling, the house generally wins – which is how warranty companies stay in business. If they paid more than they took in, they’d go broke. 

Knowing that your chances of fully recouping your investment are less than 100%, why would you buy an extended warranty? There are many logical reasons to do so, actually. 

Your finances play a role

One of the factors to absolutely consider is your own finances. While some folks might find that a big expense is nothing more than an inconvenience, others could be significantly set back by something like a refrigerator or air conditioner failure. Not everybody has the reserves available to cover the cost of a big repair, so an extended warranty can represent a lot of peace of mind. 

If you have an RV with a big commercial diesel engine, the cost of fixing something that breaks in an inconvenient spot can be in the many thousands of dollars.

Spreading out the cost of a warranty in the payment plan of an RV can also make it more doable for some. You could either look at it as $2,000 right now or just a few dollars a month. It’s still that same money spent, plus interest, but including a warranty in the RV payment can make it much more doable. And motorhome extended warranties are significantly more money but so is the cost of engine work, particularly on anything with a diesel engine. 

Of course, you’re not limited to buying the warranty only from a dealer at the time of purchase. Depending on the warranty company, you often have a full year to decide if it’s right for you, although you wouldn’t be able to roll this into the payment of the RV. 

There are also dealership plans where you could buy the plan and then choose to cancel before a time specified in the warranty. So you could buy the warranty at the dealership, look around to make sure you bought the best plan for you, and then cancel if you didn’t. One thing I will caution you if you choose this method – I would take any refund issued by the warranty company and apply it directly to the amount you’ve financed. There’s no reason to pay interest on a refund.

There are people who seriously make out with an extended warranty. The cost of one big repair can sometimes almost completely make the warranty worth having. Adding a second big repair and you’ve made out like a bandit. 

I have a friend who broke even when the first of two turbochargers went out on their diesel pusher. By the third turbo, it was clear that they had invested wisely, though they also realized there was a much bigger problem with the motorhome. 

There is no one answer to why you’d want to consider, or avoid, an RV extended warranty.

#RVT967

RV Daily Tips. Thursday, September 24, 2020

Newsletter Editor
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RV Daily Tips. Thursday, September 24, 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 1435
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

“Everything I was I carry with me, everything I will be lies waiting on the road ahead.”―Ma Jian

Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Cherries Jubilee Day!

On this day in history: 1906 – U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaims Devils Tower in Wyoming as the nation’s first National Monument.

Tip of the Day

How do you clean your RV’s roof?

By Dicor Products
RV owners should get their roofs cleaned at least twice a year to prevent damaging substances from getting too embedded and creating permanent stains. This also will help avoid mold and mildew that grow on organic matter attached to your roof. Especially if your RV is parked under trees for extended periods of time, your roof can be a ripe target for bird droppings, mulberry stains, tree sap, mold, mildew, fungus and the like. Is there a preferred cleaning technique? Find out here.

Do you have a tip? Submit it here.

Heading “Out West”? Don’t miss these BLM gems!

The Weather Channel once published a photo-heavy feature called “Most Amazing Hidden Gems in Every State.” Included in the lot were four “gems” under the watch-care of the Bureau of Land Management, all of them Out West – in California, Colorado and New Mexico. You don’t want to miss these!

Yesterday’s featured article: Avoid black tank “pyramid” problems.

Reader poll

Do you have a current passport? 
Fly on over here and tell us.

Quick Tip

Use window foil for heat/cold and light/dark control

Use bubble foil, like in the car front windows, in your rig windows to reduce heat in summer and keep heat inside in the cold. You can buy it by the roll and cut to fit each window. Also works well in the bedroom to block out early daylight, or for nice darkness during afternoon naps. (Editor’s note: This would also block out late-night car lights through the bedroom window in a campground.) Thanks to Ray Burr at Love Your RV!

Website of the day

Best smartphone apps for RV living
Before clicking this link, make sure you have some free time because you’re going to want to download all these to your phone right away. They’ll make your life a lot easier.

And the Survey Says…

We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 1,500 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:

• 20 percent travel with their roof vents open
• 67 percent have never boondocked for more than a week at a time
• 47 percent would not remove someone else’s laundry from the machine, even if the cycle was done

Recent poll: For snowbirds: Will you head south this winter as usual? 

Trivia

The human nose can detect more than 1 trillion scents. Wow!

How much does the average cloud weigh?
A.) 48 pounds
B.) 2,200 pounds
C.) 1.1 million pounds
We told you yesterday.

Readers’ Pet of the Day

“The most lovable weirdo we know. Our Stella (Vizsla) loves to comfort herself to sleep with her paw.” —Tony Gotelli

Yup, her foot is in her mouth.

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.

This lint-roller works like a vacuum
Used by the RVtravel.com staff!
We can’t recommend this lint-roller enough. This eco-friendly, reusable (no wasteful sticky tape!) lint-roller sucks up lint and pet hair like a vacuum. Simply roll back and forth over your clothing, on your furniture, or even on carpets or rugs. The lint and pet hair collects inside a small compartment that you empty once full. It works like a charm and it will save you money in the long run! Learn more or order here.

Leave here with a laugh

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See all of our many Facebook groups here.

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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