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 1432
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 the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way.” ― Terry Goodkind
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National New York Day!
On this day in history: 1937 – J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is published.
Did you miss this big news? Airstream just killed off new trailer after only a few years! Click here to read all about it.
Tip of the Day
Tuck some drawers under your dinette for small-item organization
By Greg Illes Every once in a while you run across a really handy little accessory that makes RV life just a little bit better. Every RV always seems to have a long list of small items — pens, hair clips, Post-it notes, a screwdriver, you name it. The standard large drawers and cabinets in RV furniture just aren’t right for these tiny items, which always seem to roll to the bottom and the back of any large space. Here’s a great tip from Greg to solve this problem.
• Join Mike’s Facebook group, RV Electricity.
• Read more of Mike’s articles here.
Sagging slideout topper – What’s an RVer to do?
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received this question from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor: “The awning over my slideout is sagging on one end, but the other end is tight as both ends should be. Is there a way to adjust the tension on the end of the awning?” Read Chris’ response.
Try this easy DIY trick to trap fruit flies (watch the video, it really works!)
Reader poll
Do you think you’re addicted to your cell phone?
If you can part from it for a moment, please vote here.
Maintain those slide seals! If you’ve heard a cracking or popping sound when extending your slides, it means its seals are sticking and/or drying out. Applying a seal conditioner about every 8-12 weeks can extend a seal’s life. We recommend using Thetford Premium RV Slide Out Rubber Seal Conditioner.
Quick Tip
Springs worn out on RV entry step covers?
When Bernie T.’s springs on the RV’s carpeted entry step covers gave up the ghost, Bernie didn’t sweat it. “I found that zip-ties will work to hold them on when put through the holes that the springs hooked to.” Thanks for the clever idea, Bernie!
Website of the day
Safe Travel USA
This handy website from Iteris, Inc. puts together DOT and other state travel information to help you see road, traffic and weather conditions ahead. A good one to consult before long drives.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
Armadillos almost always give birth to identical quadruplets. Thank goodness it’s not the same for humans…
Affordable tire tool will save you tons of troubleWhat 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.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“After sleeping together for a year, they finally tied the knot.” —Rob
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 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.
Welcome to my J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session, a weekly column where I answer your basic electrical questions. If you’re a newbie who’s never plugged in a shore power cord (or ask – what’s a shore power cord?), or wonder why your daughter’s hair dryer keeps tripping the circuit breaker, this column is for you. Send your questions to Mike Sokol at mike (at) noshockzone.org with the subject line – JAM.
Dear Mike, How is your solar panel air conditioner experiment coming along? Lots of us want to know if it’s possible and how much it will cost. —Andy
Dear Andy, Like all technologies, there’s a point when the timing comes together with the price taking a nosedive and availability ramping up, but there are also technologies that are still in their infancy state which could take decades to become commonplace.
Take, for example, the now universal computer hard drive. We’re now used to slipping a tiny box the size of a pack of cigarettes in our pocket that weighs only a few ounces, draws just a couple watts of power, and yet holds terabytes (TB) (that’s more than a thousand-billion or 1,000,000,000,000) characters of information. Yes, and the cost of a modern 3-terabyte hard drive can be less than $100.
For a real eye opener, take a look at a 5-megabyte (that’s only 5 million or 5,000,000 characters of information) hard drive from 1956. This baby weighed over a ton and cost around $10,000 per megabyte (that’s $50,000 in 1956 dollars, which would be around $500,000 in 2020 dollars).
Haven’t air conditioners and refrigerators advanced?
Sadly, not by a lot since they were first invented and put into residential use some 100 years ago. Refrigeration technology still uses the same compressor/condenser/evaporator cycle first patented in the late 1800s and introduced for residential use in 1913.
Even though residential refrigerators made their debut more than 100 years ago, until electricity became widely distributed and cheap after the Depression-era building boom, the ice box still ruled many kitchens.
But once America (and the rest of the world) became electrified in the 1930s and ’40s, refrigeration became a staple in every household, with air conditioning following shortly thereafter. In fact, the world energy consumption of electricity for climate control (air conditioning) is currently around 12%. But because electricity has historically been so cheap there’s been little incentive to come up with a more energy-efficient air conditioner.
What about those batteries?
Well, batteries have come a long way since the invention of lead-acid batteries in 1859. But it’s only been in the last several decades that advanced battery chemistry like AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) and Lithium (specifically Lithium Iron-Phosphate) for vehicles and RVs has become affordable. Even though the venerable lead-acid battery is 160 years old, it’s still the most popular battery chemistry for vehicles, simply due to cost and familiarity. But the times they are a-changin’, just not as fast as we might like.
What is my experiment?
I’m putting together a lab bench of an RV electrical system to test my mathematical model of solar/battery powering an RV air conditioner using the following components:
SoftStartRV controller
Dometic Penguin II 15kBTU air conditioner
CarGenerator SP2000 2 kW hybrid inverter
Briter Products BP12V100AH-S Lithium Battery
Xantrex 110W solar panel
REDARC BCDC 40-amp DC-DC Battery Charger and solar controller
Using this gear I’ll be able to create a test system that will power an RV air conditioner for perhaps 90 minutes or so from a single 100-amp-hr Lithium battery. With only a single 110-watt solar panel it will take upwards of 3 days of sunlight to recharge it. And, sadly, the cost of this type of upgrade will be a bit more than many of you are willing to pay.
So why do I do this sort of demonstration?
Well, I’m trying to create a scalable test model that will show just how many Lithium batteries, solar panels, and other tricks like the SoftStartRV, CarGenerator Hybrid Inverter, and Briter Products Lithium batteries are needed to run an air conditioner in your RV overnight without the benefit of shore power or a generator. That 8-hour window of sleeping in coolness is the holy grail right now.
Take a look at this vintage Fedders air conditioner ad bragging about sleeping inside of an ice cube on hot nights. I’m sure that looks pretty appealing when the air temperature is 100+ degrees inside of your RV and you desperately want to get some sleep. Yes, nothing ruins a night’s rest like trying to sleep in the heat.
When will I get an electric engine in my RV so I don’t have to fill it up with diesel or gasoline?
Well, I”m still waiting for my flying car like George Jetson had, and 2015 has come and gone without a Hoverboard like Marty used in “Back to the Future.” So an all-electric-powered car and RV may not happen in your lifetime.
Even if some exceptionally bright inventor comes up with a 1,000-amp-hr battery the size of a 3-TB hard drive that can fit in your pocket and only cost $100, we still would need to bump up the capacity of the electrical grid to recharge millions of these things at the same time. And I’m afraid that our current electrical distribution system isn’t up to that task until it’s completely replaced. So give the future another 20 to 30 years to happen at the current electrical grid replacement rate and maybe it will be ready in time for the $100 pocket RV battery debut.
Why am I such a naysayer?
I’m not. I’m just an engineer/scientist who understands physics and market forces. Until someone is willing to pay for the development of new technologies for batteries and upgrade the electrical grid, affordable all-electric vehicles (and Class A RVs) that have a 600-mile range that can be recharged in the time it takes to fill a gas tank are still a long way off, perhaps a few decades.
But the time is indeed coming, and I’m willing to help push the technology along as best as I can by educating the public on just what is real science, and what is a scam to separate you from your hard-earned money (like the EcoWatt). So when I hear about it, you’ll be the next to know about these new technologies from me. That’s a promise.
Learn more at the FROG Virtual Rally – Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, 2020
If you’re a member of FROG (the Forest River Owners’ Group), I’ll be teaching several RVelectricity virtual seminars during the TechnoRV FROG Virtual Rally from September 30 through October 4. I’ll be presenting a virtual JAM Session (Just Ask Mike) about what it takes to run an air conditioner from solar and battery power.
If you’re not already a member of the Forest River Owners’ Group and own a Forest River RV, you can sign up for free to become a member of FROGHERE.
This is a FROG members only rally
For more information on how you can attend this virtual rally along with lots of other seminars including the JAM Sessions that “yours truly” will be teaching online beginning September 30, please sign up for the TechnoRV FROG Virtual RallyHERE.
But if you’re not a FROG member don’t worry about missing out on these videos, as I’ll repost them the week after the rally on my own RVelectricity Youtube channel. So stay tuned.
That’s a wrap…
OK, everyone. Remember that electricity is a useful and powerful force, so we all need to pay attention to safety precautions while using it.
Let’s play safe out there….
Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 50+ years in the industry. His excellent bookRV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com. For more info on Mike’s qualifications as an electrical expert, click here. Join Mike’s popular and informative Facebook group.
And you don’t want to miss Mike’s webcasts on his YouTube channel.
For information on how to support RVelectricity and No~Shock~Zone articles, seminars and videos, please click the I Like Mike Campaign
If you own a smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc.) there’s a good chance you’re probably addicted to it. Most people these days are, so don’t worry, you’re not alone. Do you think you have a cell phone addiction?
According to PsychGuides.com, you’re addicted to your cell phone if you:
• Have tried to limit your cell phone usage but failed
• Use your phone excessively to the point where you lose track of time
• If you feel the need to always have the newest cell phone, the newest updates or applications, etc.
• If you experience withdrawal when your network or service is unreachable. Or if you experience withdrawal when you simply cannot use your phone for other reasons.
Do any or all of those apply to you?
Please vote in our poll below and tell us if you think you’re addicted to your phone (and be honest!).
By Greg Illes Every once in a while you run across a really handy little accessory that makes RV life just a little bit better. Every RV always seems to have a long list of small items — pens, hair clips, Post-it notes, a screwdriver, you name it. The standard large drawers and cabinets in RV furniture just aren’t right for these tiny items, which always seem to roll to the bottom and the back of any large space.
Enter the Add-a-Drawer (Camping World and other retailers, or on Amazon), an excellent solution to small-item organization. These little drawers mount simply and easily to the underside of a typical dinette table. On a normal-sized table, there’s room for two drawers. They take up only about two inches of vertical space, so unless you are really long-legged they won’t impact your knee room.
Installation requires only basic handyman skills. The drawers have side rails which must be screwed to the dinette underside, and you’ll want to be careful not to drive the screw holes through the top of the table. It’s best to use a drill stop, or at least a piece of tape, to make sure you don’t go too far.
The drawers have a pretty good retention system (I’ve never had one jostle loose even on rough roads). But they don’t have any “stop” when you pull the drawer out and it can be a little too easy to pull the drawer all the way out and dump the contents on your feet. So it’s advisable, once the drawers are installed, to mark with tape or marking pen on the top edge of each drawer where to stop opening it.
Depending on what you’re keeping stored in your new drawers, you might hear some new rattles from the new plastic while going down the road. These can be quieted down with some thin foam drawer liner, available in hardware stores.
Happy organizing!
Greg Illes is a retired systems engineer who loves thinking up RV upgrades and modifications. When he’s not working on his motorhome, he’s traveling in it. You can follow his blog at www.divver-city.com/blog.
Welcome to RVtravel.com, the newsletter 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. Please tell your friends about us!
Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter, now in its 20th year of continuous publication, is funded primarily through advertising and voluntary subscription contributions from our readers, plus the generous financial support of SoftStartRV, an inexpensive device every RV with an air conditioner should have.
If you shop at Amazon, please visit through our affiliate site (we get a little commission that way – and you don’t pay any extra). Thank you!
Sunday, September 20, 2020 Non-Members (advertising supported) edition
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Airstream kills off new trailer after only a few years
Airstream has decided that it doesn’t like fiberglass RVs after all, killing production on its Airstream Nest travel trailer after just a few years. Airstream is known globally for its shiny aluminum RVs, which are admired for their snappy looks and easy towing capabilities. The first Nests hit the market in April 2018, and got a lot of media coverage due to their attractive exterior and fiberglass construction. But there were issues… Learn more.
That was the RV week that was
September 13–19, 2020
Folks staying at the Red River Adventure Campground in Menifee County, Kentucky, got a rude awakening last Sunday (September 13). At two in the morning, a camper was roused from his sleep when water came rolling into his tent. While waters from an adjacent river had apparently been expected, the river had its own ideas as to how fast to rise. Campground staff waded through waist-deep water to help evacuate the 30 guests. Red River Adventure indeed.
An unidentified firefighter is being credited with saving the lives of two campground hosts in Oregon. Richard and Josie Jensen host at Fishermen’s Bend Campground in Marion County, and recall a terrific scare last week. Wildfire crews were staying in the campground, and one came banging on their rig, warning of oncoming blaze. They quickly began to break camp, but before Richard could hitch the rig, the fireman returned – this time pointing to a fast-approaching 20-foot wall of flame. The Jensens made a quick grab for paperwork, jumped in their pickup, and drove – as flames rained down on their trailer. The couple want to thank the man, but have no idea which agency he works with. Richard is a former search-and-rescue team member, and says that the man “may have been doing his job” but needs recognition. The couple, who are full-time RVers, lost everything. Their daughter has set up a GoFundMe page to help them recover.
Got a 2021 model year motorhome built on a Ford F-53 chassis with a 7.3 liter gas engine? Has your engine gone and left you stuck when it refused to run? It could be the problem is a spark plug wiring harness glitch that connects the plug to the ignition coil. It’s a frustrating issue that can leave you stranded, but there appears to be a fix on the horizon. Ford has acknowledged the issue, and says owners of both motorhomes and 2020 Ford Super Duty trucks which are also afflicted may see relief under warranty. Only problem – harnesses with the fix are in short supply. It could take a while for supply to catch up with demand. Check with your dealer if you’re in a bind.
California is slowly relaxing COVID-19 restrictions in some areas. As a result, three state parks are reopening some of their campgrounds. Morro Bay State Park, Hearst San Simeon State Park and Morro Strand State Beach are opening, with health guidelines. Camping restarted yesterday, but all comers had to have reservations – walk-ups are not allowed. Up to eight people from the same household are allowed at any given site. Face masks will be required where a six-foot distance can’t be maintained from folks outside the immediate household.
rvtravel.com photo
Planning an RV trip for sometime this year? According to an RV vacation planning company, Tracks & Trails, you’d better get cracking. In a story released by a travel agency business publication, Travel Weekly, a Tracks & Trails spokesman says the company has found “U.S. state park and campsite reservations are largely booked up through the end of 2020.” What about next year? “There’s now so much pent-up demand for next summer, because all the people who didn’t get to go this summer are booking for next year. People are reserving and booking up campsites months earlier than ever in the past.”
pikist.com
Maine’s fall foliage season is off to a start and “the most accurate fall foliage news source” has taken to the podium. Gale Ross will update color-chasers every Wednesday afternoon through October. She’s been pointing toward the best colors on the legendary Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Maine Fall Foliage Report since 2002. Ironically, a media release from the state officially touts, “Ross is dedicated to helping residents and nonresidents navigate Maine’s foliage friendly scenic byways.” However, with Maine’s tight restrictions on out-of-state visitors, leaf-chasing may just be limited to Mainers. You can sign up for e-mail updates here.
Quit struggling with hose and cable hookups at the campsite
Are you tired of struggling to hook up your coax cables, water hoses and other connections when you arrive at your campsite? It’s a snap with Cable and Hose Grips from J Wright Concepts. Save time and frustration! Life is too short to hassle with the little stuff! Learn more or order.
Here’s a switch: We often report on how RV-dealing giant Lazydays has bought up yet another dealership. It ain’t so in Johnstown, Colorado. Instead, Lazydays RV is selling its dealership to Trailer Source, an area RV dealership. The nearly 28-acre site is going for $11 million for what the buyer calls “future expansion.” And future it is, as Lazydays has five years to stay on a lease agreement, and has a renewal option. Still, a Trailer Source representative described Lazydays as “Our chief competitor,” and said the firm will be ready to take over the property when Lazydays packs up and leaves.
rrstar.com
Another sad “new” RV story, this time out of Roscoe, Illinois. Couple buys new motorhome. Takes rig out for a trip. Transmission acts up, refrigerator, levelers, air conditioner, electrical system all on the blink. Motorhome towed back to dealership. Dealership has motorhome for 98 days for repairs, while couple has possession for only 21 days. This time, the couple, Joseph and Sherry Chavez, don’t take it lying down. The Chavez family hired an attorney and is suing Camping World of Rockford, the dealer, and Jayco, the manufacturer of their 2020 Jayco Greyhawk 30X. They want their money back, all $94,758, plus they want restitution for loss of their RV, and punitive damages. The day following the suit filing, a Camping World spokesman announced the company is “Absolutely working on their issue to resolve it.”
Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come. Back in 2002, Colorado suffered its worst-to-date wildfire. The Hayman Fire broke out northwest of Colorado Springs, taking out 18 square miles of dense forests. Today, the forest has not come back. Instead of hiking through “forest primeval,” it’s more like crunching on dry ground. Tree scientists say the forest may never come back. Even if a seed falls on the ground, there’s not enough protection from the desiccating heat many blame on global warming. At best, grass may eventually take over the bare ground, but grass can’t store up carbon like trees can. That means more carbon released in the atmosphere – leading to even drier days ahead.
sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com
If ever there was an encouragement for frequent tire inspections and the use of tire pressure monitoring systems, this picture says it all. An RVer’s travel trailer tire blew on California’s I-680 near Danville. The resulting backlash tossed the rig into the center divider, effectively ruining the whole day. The crash, last Monday, ended up tossing the trailer into the northbound lanes, creating hours-long backups on both sides of the freeway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
East Coasters will have a broader range of winter camping options this season. Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials say they’ll be keeping their Ocracoke Campground open there in North Carolina. In years past, the campground would shut down right after Thanksgiving weekend, but the Park Service will keep it open year-round on a trial basis. The service strongly recommends reservations, which can be made through recreation.gov.
stgeorgeutah.com
If you’ve passed from Utah to Arizona on Interstate 15, you’ll likely recall the curvy grade at the Virgin River Gorge, south of St. George. Last Sunday a messy accident shut down the skinny southbound lanes at the narrowest point of the gorge. Just after 11:00 a.m., a semi-driver hit the brakes as traffic ahead of him had stopped. Another semi, immediately following, ran up the first truck’s rear-end. What followed was a classic chain reaction accident, ending with the fourth rig, an SUV towing a travel trailer, making the “caboose” in the accident. The bottleneck of mashed rigs caused such a backup it took troopers a half hour just to make it from the end of the traffic jam to the scene itself. Meanwhile, three more cars back in line also jammed together. In all, five drivers, including the RVer, were cited for following too closely.
September typically marks the point where gasoline prices drop. As refineries switch over to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce, the price is typically reflected at the pump. But don’t expect it to happen this year, at least not as significantly as in years past. What’s up? Seems the demand for gasoline is way down, presently at 8.3 million barrels per day, the lowest demand since mid-June. Supply has likewise dropped, which usually translates to higher prices, but in a strange scenario, as the supply has dropped, the demand has dropped. Result? Lower pump prices. Since the prices are already so low, motorists’ club AAA says don’t expect to see the usual dip in prices as winter-blend fuel comes on line. Oil companies evidently want to keep their profits up.
Virginians who are hankering to get out again will soon have another place to go. Bark Camp Recreation Area in the Washington and Jefferson National Forest system will be back on-line for visitors in 2021. The campground, near Coeburn, Virginia, is hugely popular, but has been shut down for nearly two years because of a water supply failure. Rangers say the system had to be replaced to the tune of $215,000, but the cost has been met with park fees from the forest system.
upnorthlive.com
Irate locals crowded an Antrim County, Michigan, zoning hearing in Milton Township. Estimates are that about 100 people turned up, most of them there to voice their objections to a proposed 80-site RV park. The usual arguments were made: too many RVs in such a small space, too much road traffic, suggestions that the park could have the largest septic system ever built in the area with a potential to pollute ground water. The local planning commission says they’ll entertain public comments until October 13. After that, a decision will be made. If it’s favorable toward the developer, permits can be pulled and work can move ahead.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has killed off many RV rallies and shows, apparently one group figures the show must go on. The 4th Annual Vintage Forester Travel Trailer Rally celebrates Winnebago-built Forester Travel Trailers. This weekend up to 40 of the vintage units were expected to turn up at Crystal Lake Park in Forest City, Iowa, and organizers said the public would be welcome to poke their noses inside for a look. It’s presumed the noses will be suitably covered with a face mask.
bc.ctvnews.ca
Mix a stick-built home at the bottom of a hill, a couple of parked vans in the driveway, and a Class A motorhome that’s lost its brakes and what do you get? A real mess for the tow truck guy. On Saturday, September 12, a woman piloting a motorhome lost her brakes on a downhill street in Surrey, B.C. Barricades at the bottom of the street didn’t stop the rig, nor did trees in the yard. A couple of parked vans in front of the house were no match for the hurtling motorhome. Firemen pulled the injured driver from the wreckage with the use of a “Jaws of Life” tool. The woman’s injuries were relatively minor, and nobody was in the house at the time. But it took plenty of planning and a crew of a dozen to finally pull the motorhome from the house – nearly a week after the crash.
Coronavirus is like the proverbial “ill wind that blows nobody good.” Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resorts says reservations at some of its locations are up 11% over 2019, despite the fact that many parks weren’t able to open until June. The company is expecting to see “a record fall,” not only in the numbers of reservations but also in increased knick-knack and “activities” sales. Many campers are locals, who feel safer camping close to home. With extra cash available due to lower fuel costs, families are renting golf carts and other equipment, and going on souvenir shopping sprees. But not only are family groups on Yogi’s radar: The company reports increased interest from real estate ventures looking to cash in by becoming franchisees.
What’s the future for motor fuel prices? It’s a murky crystal ball, but the OPEC oil cartel isn’t doing handsprings. OPEC says oil demand will drop off 400,000 barrels per day through 2021. Demand is way off because of problems in developing countries, and the U.S. and many European countries still can’t seem to get a grip on COVID-19. Oil giant BP sees a gloomy outlook for demand, expecting a peak demand of crude oil early in this decade, and says if governments get more serious about reducing carbon emissions that the demand for oil “might never” come back from the current slump. Not good news if you’re invested in oil stocks, but likely a better picture when it’s time to fill up the RV.
A proposal for a 374-site RV park is taking fire from opposing locals in Gilchrist County, Florida. If approved, the park on 120 acres would include a “gopher tortoise theater,” which must be a first for any RV park. Gopher tortoises are a threatened species in Florida. They are known as real diggers, and their work provides support for at least 100 other animal species. Developers say they want to focus on the turtles, running film showings in the theater. They’re also buying up an additional 80 acres that could be used as a refuge for the shelled critters. While neighbors may like turtles, they don’t like the soup they say would come from the RV park. Noise, traffic, and a possible depletion of water supplies. County commissioners will consider a permit request on Monday.
Run two air conditioners on 30 amps – Wow! When the temperature really gets sizzling and your 50-amp rig is stuck with a 30-amp hookup, you’re out of luck if you want to run two air conditioners. That is, unless you have a state-of-the-art SoftStartRV. It’s inexpensive, simple to install, and works just as promised. Don’t miss watching the short video by RV electricity expert Mike Sokol. Learn more or order at a special discount.
Somebody tossed a rock in an otherwise quiet “pond” inWaynesville, North Carolina. Someone slipped flyers into local mailboxes with a map and a title, “Proposed RV Park.” The flyer suggested a 38-site motorcoach resort was heading in next to a fairway at the local golf course. Visions of plummeting property values galvanized locals into action. Attorneys were contacted. Monetary pledges to fight the project were made. A clutch of concerned citizens popped up at the town’s board meeting. But officials shrugged their shoulders – they’d never heard of the project, and certainly no permits had been drawn. Finally, golf course managers issued a statement. COVID-19 had chilled weddings and social functions, the golf course was having financial trouble. They’d kicked around the idea but, no, never did formalize a plan. Just who lit the fire with the anonymous flyers is still a mystery.
Vickie Larson and her husband are happy to be alive – and to have an RV. Earlier this month their home in Gates, Oregon, went up in smoke and ash when a wildfire blasted through. Trying to pick up the pieces, Vickie called her utility companies to tell them their home was no more, and to make needed arrangements. Dealing with the trauma of her losses, Vickie got insult added to injury when her broadband provider sent her a bill for $603 for company equipment destroyed along with the house. Other customers got similar bills. One told news media, “I didn’t think to run back into the fire to save my Wave equipment, that was not on my mind.” Vickie Larson and others complained to a local TV station, KGW. After reporters started asking questions, Wave Broadband did a back-step, apologized, and dropped the bills.
Boondockers Welcome — Stay at homes of RVers who welcome you in their driveways, yards, farmland or other space on their private property. Great alternative to crowded RV parks. Modest membership fee. Learn more.
Patent Depending: Vehicles
A FEATURE IN EACH SUNDAY’S RVTRAVEL.COM NEWSLETTER By Steven M. Johnson
COPYRIGHT STEVEN M. JOHNSON
Above: The FlyHome: The FlyHome has been the subject of criticism for its irrational, poorly placed, and ungainly turboprop engines. Whenever the owner of the FlyHome travels, he or she can expect to be the subject of attention, and to be called to answer many questions.
An alternative to RV parks: Stay at farms, wineries and other scenic and peaceful locations for free. Save 15% on a membership to Harvest Hosts. Learn more.
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HAVE YOU SEEN THIS STOLEN RV?
Someone stole this 2000 Fleetwood Jamboree Class C in Portland, Oregon, on September 12 around 8:45 a.m. While it’s an older rig, the owners report it’s in good shape. At the time of the theft, there was a small piece of blue tape on the passenger side of the hood with a logo reading “Franz.” The yellow Oregon tags were expired, but read HC52688, and there was a trip permit in the rear window numbered 0262165. Know something? Call the Portland Police at (503) 823-3333.
Monocular telescope connects to phone, wow! This is one of the neatest gadgets we’ve seen in a while! This waterproof monocular telescope connects right to your phone, so you can take photos of that bird waaaaaaay over there. You can now photograph anything up to 10x closer than before. Great for birdwatching, concerts or any sporting event. We already bought one! Learn more or order.
Pickup truck news
According to our recent survey, about 80 percent of RVtravel.com readers own at least one pickup truck. Recognizing that, we’ll provide the latest news highlights about the vehicles here each week.
Ford announces two new F-150 pickup trucks
Production of the next generation of the popular Ford F-150 pickup trucks series has started. The trucks will be made in the company’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant. They’re expected to go on sale in November. The launch of the country’s top-selling vehicle is “on time and on track,” said new company CEO Jim Farley. It’s a top choice for RVers. Ford also announced it will join the electric truck market in mid-2022. Read more.
This is a necessity for your slides! If you’ve heard a cracking or popping sound when extending your slide outs, it means your seals are sticking and/or drying out! Using a seal conditioner about every 8-12 weeks is recommended to avoid drying and cracking. Once they begin to wear and show damage, they are no longer working to their fullest capacity. We recommend using Thetford Premium RV Slide Out Rubber Seal Conditioner– it works like a charm.
Reader poll
For snowbirds: Will you head south this winter as normal?
Be like Mike: Don’t forget the fuse!
Mike Sokol says: Your RV has both 120-volt AC electrical systems (like your house), plus 12-volt DC battery systems (like your car). If the power goes out, it could be a circuit breaker (like in your house) or a blown fuse (like in your car). Always carry spare fuses that fit your RV’s battery system. Confirm the exact type and size of fuses your RV needs, then get a set of replacements. Here’s one pack, but be sure to check what your RV actually uses before ordering it.
News briefs
The United States and Canada have confirmed that they will keep the border between the countries closed until at least Oct. 21.
Yosemite and Kings Canyon national park officials closed their parks Thursday evening because of hazardous air quality due to wildfires. “With air quality projected to be in the unhealthy to hazardous range over the next several days, the park anticipates the closure to be in effect at least throughout the weekend,” a Yosemite news release said.
The RV Industry Association (RVIA) has permanently terminated the 68-year-old California RV Show, the country’s third largest RV show. RVIA had already announced the cancellation of this year’s event in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Last year’s show drew about 45,000 attendees to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.
Idaho RV parks are packing the campers in. People displaced from their homes in Oregon and California have headed to the state to find refuge. The Idaho Transportation Department says traffic on I-84 has increased coming from Oregon, but decreased going to the state.
Glacier National Park could lose its glaciers completely within decades. Officials at the Montana park are asking the public about its future on Twitter with the hashtag #GlacierMovingForward. The park had more than 100 glaciers when it was founded in 1910. Between 1966 and 2015, all of the 26 named glaciers in the park got smaller. Some lost as much as 80% of their area, but the average loss was 40%.
Next Saturday is National Public Lands Day. It’s normally the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. But not this year due to COVID concerns. But for visitors, admission is free.
New Mexico’s State Parks officials announced Friday the reopening of overnight camping in most state parks beginning October 1 to New Mexico residents only. Overnight camping will be available by online reservation only and a valid New Mexico license plate will be required to complete the transaction. Visitor centers and shower facilities remain closed.
Campground chatter
Developments at RV parks and campgrounds across the USA
Janet Groene reports each week on developments at RV parks and campgrounds across the USA and Canada. There’s a lot of good information here that you can use to plan your travels. Read the current installment of “Campground Chatter” here.
Save your teeth, get that corn off the cob!
Nobody likes eating corn on the cob with a group of people, only to find out later they’ve got half the corn still stuck in their teeth. Not to mention, for some of us it’s hard to hold the whole cob, and it hurts our teeth! This easy-to-use corn stripper takes all the corn off the cob in one easy gesture – your hands and teeth will thank you! Easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Order here for a great price.
3-in-1 NOAA radio, flashlight and charger must-have for RVers This emergency hand-crank radio is a necessity for RVers. Keep it somewhere safe, you never know when it will come in handy. The 3-in-1 radio is also a bright LED flashlight and a smartphone charger. The radio can be charged via solar charging, hand cranking or a USB plug. You’ll want to buy one here.
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of September 14, 2020: Regular unleaded gasoline: $2.18 [Calif.: $3.10]
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 37 cents. Diesel: $2.42 [Calif.: $3.27]
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 57 cents.
Upcoming RV shows
Most if not all RV shows for the remainder of the year are cancelled. We will restart this feature as RV shows begin again.
JUST PUBLISHED Two new guides to free campgrounds
Discover thousands of designated camping areas in the West and in America’s Heartland – real places – not big box store parking lots. Included are areas managed by various agencies – federal, state, local, etc. Learn more about West edition or Heartland edition.
Free and bargain camping
From Overnight RV Parking
Click here to view this week’s free and bargain camping spots.
Directory of RV parks with storm shelters
Where do you camp when a tornado is headed your direction? Hopefully in a park with a storm shelter. Here’s RVtravel.com’s ever-expanding directory of such places.
RV Travel staff
CONTACT US at editor@RVtravel.com
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury.Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Emily Woodbury, Russ and Tiña De Maris.
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.
The latest news about camping and developments in North American campgrounds and RV parks from Janet Groene.
DISCLAIMER: This blog covers timely news for RV travelers. Information is believed current at press time but conditions are still changing quickly. Check ahead by phone directly with the campground. Don’t rely on websites or Facebook. Full facilities and activities may not be open. Get specifics about rates, campground facilities, reservation policies, campsite specifications and the condition of access roads including tolls. No endorsement of any campground or product is implied by this reporter nor this website.
FULL ALERT: Schedules of openings, partial openings, re-closings and cancellations are still in flux and are fixed by state, county and city authorities. They may apply differently to private and public campgrounds and to residents versus non-residents of that state or county. Check ahead.
DATELINE: September 19, 2020
ARKANSAS FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
Work off all those pumpkin pie calories with the Gobble Grinder bike ride, a moderately difficult 12-mile, three-hour jaunt at Lake Fort Smith State Park, Mountainburg. The ride is on November 27. Make separate reservations early for the group event and for RV camping, which is available with full or partial hookups. (479) 369-2469.
CALIFORNIA DERELICT PARK TO BE BORN AGAIN
A ghostly relic of a waterpark that closed in 2004, then was vandalized and finally burned in 2018, the former Lake Dolores Waterpark in San Bernardino County will begin construction of an RV park next year. By 2023 it’s expected to have an all-new waterpark. Another 90,000 square feet will become office space, a library and amphitheater by 2024. The original parking lot will become an electrical grid to service the complex.
FLORIDA GEORGIA BORDER IS THE PLACE TO BE
Labor Day, 2021, will be celebrated with a kicky carnival on Saturday, August 31[sic] [Editor: We’re assuming they mean Sept. 4, but can’t find correct date on their website], at the Kingsland KOA north of Jacksonville, Florida, in St. Marys, Georgia. Be there for vendors, food trucks, live music and carnival games from noon to 8 p.m. and a glow pool party after that. This KOA is famous for its complimentary waffle breakfasts. Amenities include 50-amp power, tiki bar, general store, pizza, year-round swimming pool, dog park, mini-golf and other family resort fun. Reserve early, especially for holiday weekends, at koa.com.
ILLINOIS GAINS NEW CAMPGROUND
Hartford Five Diamonds Campground will open with 49 campsites on the Confluence Trail, next to the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower. Starting with 4.2 acres, owners have an option on an additional eight acres. The park will offer full hookups and a small convenience store. Owners operate Coleman Country Campers nearby and plan to cater to transient workers as well as leisure travelers. For now call the camper dealership at (618) 254-1180.
LOUISIANA COMBINES CYCLING, CAMPING, CAJUNS
Cycle Zydeco, starting March 14, 2021, is a four-day casual touring bicycle ride in South Louisiana. The annual ride takes place the week after Easter and includes great Cajun food, live music, and the finest flat roads the Pelican State can offer. Cycle Zydeco is a festival on two wheels with four-wheel (and more) RV campers welcome. A variety of campsites are available from dry camping to water and electric hookups. Check it out at cyclezydeco.com
MAINE DOES BLUEGRASS
The Maine Bluegrass Festival at Thomas Point Beach Campground near Brunswick is a family reunion as well as a whale of a music concert. It’s scheduled for Labor Day weekend, 2021. Campsites are available with or without electric hookup. Call (207) 725-6009 to learn when tickets and camping reservations will be available.
NORTH DAKOTA SCHEDULES SCANDIMONIUM
Get your lutefisk recipe ready for Norsk Hostfest in Minot, scheduled for September 30 – October 2, 2021, and September 28 – October 1, 2022. The concert hall is a former hockey arena with 5,000 seats, all well positioned to enjoy music, dancing, a pageant and more. The cultural, food and song fest honors Sondre Norheim, known in Norway as the father of modern skiing. He emigrated to the United States in 1825. At this time parking for 1,000 rigs at the RV Hospitality Center on the festival grounds is priced at $25 nightly. Reserve early at (701) 852-2368 or at hostfest.com
OHIO COUNTRYFEST LOOKS AHEAD
Dates for Ohio’s own CountryFest in Fort Laramie are July 9, 10, 11, 2021, and July 8, 9, 10, 2022. A-list performers take the stage and the big screens in an event that has been featured on TV. The family friendly music extravaganza is also a camping experience, with ticket holders allowed in-out entry between the concert and campground during the day, allowing campers to leave temporarily to tend to kids or pets.
A Camping Permit includes one Camping Unit Pass for a tent or RV, one Vehicle Pass, and two Campground Wristbands. Purchase up to 6 more Campground Wristbands at a nominal cost for a total of 8 people per campsite. Everyone in the campgrounds must also have both a Concert Entrance Wristband and a Campground Wristband. Mobile showers will be available for a fee. Water and electric are available but no dump station or sewer. See videos of past concerts at vimeo.com. Connect at (937) 295-3000.
RHODE ISLAND CAMPGROUND WILL BE STATE OWNED
Echo Lake Campground, Burrillville, has been family owned since the 1950s. Now closed for virus concerns, it has been purchased by the state. Expectations are that it will continue as a family campground, second in size to the family owned George Washington State Campground in Chepachet. Located on the west side of the lake, the campground has RV sites with electric and water. (401) 568-7109
VERMONT CAMPGROUND HAS NEW OWNERS, NEW PLANS
New owners of Pine Hollow Campground in Pownal plan to build a pavilion for events and a small game room, and will expand the camp store. The campground is pet- and big-rig friendly with full hook-ups, many pull-through campsites and free wi-fi. Under Vermont’s famous canopies of fall color there will be activities including a chili cook-off on October 10. Seasonal camp reservations are now being taken for next year. (802) 823-5569
Stay Tuned
East of Gainesville, Florida, Elite Resorts at Little Orange Lake plan a 2021 opening for a big-rig-friendly, 600-site, full-service resort on 200 acres. The lakefront resort will offer boating facilities, secure storage and a large clubhouse. (800) 356-2460; email : info@ liteResorts.com. Website: www.eliteresorts.com/littleorangelake/index.html
Janet Groene is the author of more than 25 books including Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, available at Amazon.com. Her new Farley Halladay book, “May Misfire,a Yacht Yenta Mystery,” is available at Amazon.com. See Janet Groene’s weekly Solo Woman posts at SoloWomanRV.
Please send us your campground news. Just fill out the form.
Free and inexpensive places to stay with your RV in the U.S. and Canada!
Updated weekly
When it comes to free places to stay a night in an RV, Walmart is the best bet. We estimate that about 60 percent of all its stores in the USA allow stays in self-contained RVs.
Other businesses that allow free overnight stays include Flying J Travel Centers, Cabela’s, Cracker Barrel restaurants (official policy is overnight stays are NOT permitted although most stores allow the practice), Costco and Kmart. Many RVers routinely stay in shopping center or factory outlet parking lots. Many casinos allow or even encourage overnight stays in RVs.
Recent reports of free and inexpensive places to stay with an RV:
From OvernightRVParking.com
Royal Farms Truck Stop, Hartly, DE FREE! Overnight parking is allowed but please obtain permission from staff on duty. Park in SW part of lot with 18-wheelers. RV may not be left unattended. Fuel, convenience store and limited fast food, but no dump station or bulk propane are on-site. Large paved lot, easy in and out. Fairly quiet, as this is a small truck stop. Click here for details.
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, Williston, ND FREE! Overnight parking is allowed for visitors with a paid admission to the center. Obtain permission from the staff. Maximum stay generally one night, may possibly be extended with permission. Park in one of 5 marked long-vehicle spaces in the asphalt lot. Level, quiet, and appears safe. 2020 rate: Center Admission $5/adult, $2.50/child. Click here for details.
Overnight RV Parking, with more than 14,000 locations listed, is the largest and best resource for locating free and inexpensive places to spend a night in an RV. For membership information and a demo of the site, click here. A modest membership fee required, but try the free demo. Watch a video about OvernightRVparking.com.
Two excellent guides to free campgrounds
Roundabout Publications has teamed up with the Ultimate Public Campground Project on these two new guides. Discover thousands of designated camping areas in the West and in America’s Heartland – real places – not big box store parking lots. Included are areas managed by various governmental agencies. Learn more about the West edition or Heartland edition.
Here’s a tip from Facebook user Jeanne McKenzie on our new Facebook group, Outstanding but affordable RV parks. Jeanne writes, “Texas state parks; we have stayed at many and they were all nice. We get an annual parks pass which saves on entrance fees and camping. … Falcon Lake county park, which is free has water and dump but no electric hook ups.”
See last week’s free (or almost free) locations here.
Resources • Walmart Directory: Best printed directory of Walmart locations • Overnight RV Parking: More than 14,000 location listings. Inexpensive membership required.
• Harvest Hosts: Members can stay free overnight at farms & wineries.
Do you typically head south with your RV each winter – down to Arizona, Florida, Texas or the Gulf Coast? If so, will you pick right up where you left off last winter season and set off to your favorite warm-weather haunts in the next few months?
Or has the pandemic made you a little skittish about heading off and exposing yourself unnecessarily to that nasty coronavirus that can make you sick or even do you in?
If you’re Canadian, maybe you won’t even have a choice about heading south into the United States. Who knows when the border will reopen again?
So what’s your plan? Will you head out as usual, or stick close to where you are up north and just deal with the dreaded snow? Remember, it can take a few moments for the poll to load, so stand by.
By James Raia Production of the next generation of the popular Ford F-150 pickup trucks series has started. The trucks will be made in the company’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant. They’re expected to go on sale in November.
The launch of the country’s top-selling vehicle is “on time and on track,” said new company CEO Jim Farley. It’s a top choice for RVers.
The 2022 Ford F-150 pickup truck..
Ford also simultaneously announced it will join the highly competitive electric truck market in mid-2022. It’s when a battery-electric version is expected to debut.
According to the manufacturer, the battery-electric version of the Ford F-150 pickup trucks will have a lifetime cost of ownership roughly half of the current gas-powered model. It also will include a large front trunk in place of an engine.
Ford’s entry into the EV truck market with its 2022 model will occur after the pending debuts of the anticipated trucks. The 2021 GMC Hummer EV electric pickup, 2021 Rivian R1T electric truck and 2021 Tesla are pending.
Ford sells almost 900,000 F-Series pickup trucks a year. Its segment-leading status generated about $42 billion in revenue last year.
Few additional details of the new Ford F-150 were announced, nor was there further information about Ford’s pending EV truck.
The current Ford F-150 pickup truck has a towing capacity of 5,000 to 8,000 pounds.
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.
By Keith Ward Airstream has decided that it doesn’t like fiberglass RVs after all, killing production on their Airstream Nest travel trailer after just a few years.
Airstream pulled the plug on the Nest, as the below screenshot from its website shows clearly. Airstream is known globally for its shiny aluminum RVs, which are admired for their snappy looks and easy towing capabilities.
The Airstream Nest was a somewhat daring departure for the Jackson, Ohio-based manufacturer. There are numerous fiberglass RV manufacturers, and it’s seen as more of a niche market. Some of the leading companies in the space include Casita, Scamp, Escape, Oliver and Bigfoot. They tend to produce RVs in smaller volume and have specialized expertise in fiberglass manufacturing techniques.
High price, small space for Airstream Nest
The Airstream Nest is a 16-foot trailer, with the large windows that are a hallmark of the Airstream line. The base sticker price for the 2020 model was $45,900, which is high for such a small travel trailer. Of course, high prices are another signature feature of Airstreams.
The first Nests hit the market in April 2018, and got a lot of media coverage due to their attractive exterior and fiberglass construction. There were issues with them from the beginning, including poor gel-coating, according to some owners.
This isn’t unusual, of course – most RVs, including brand-new ones, have problems almost from the start. But given the high cost and small interiors of the units, it may have been too much for Airstream to overcome. The company has several other 16-foot RVs in their lineup as well, including the Bambi, Basecamp and Caravel, so competition from their own models may have also been a factor.
Whatever the ultimate reason, the bottom line is the same: When it comes to the Nest, Airstream has flown the coop.
Keith is a journalist with more than 30 years of writing and editing experience. He was bitten by the RV bug in 2020, and takes delivery of his very own rig in May 2021. In addition to non-fiction, he also writes fiction, including fantasy, thriller, and drama. Find his books here.
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September 19, 2020 Non-Members (advertising supported) edition
Editor’s corner
With Chuck Woodbury
F
or the past decade I have spent more time in RV parks than public campgrounds. It wasn’t always so. In recent times it’s mostly been because of convenience. But I must confess, commercial RV parks are my least favorite places to stay with my RV. More often than not, they are crowded with little or no scenic beauty. Increasingly, they are called resorts, which don’t interest me because I don’t play pickleball.
I have always enjoyed camping in public campgrounds far more than in RV parks. I like Forest Service campgrounds the best, followed by those in national and state parks and on other government lands. Any campsite with space around it and a healthy dose of scenic beauty has always been and will always be my ideal place to stay.
When I think of the thousand or so public campgrounds where I’ve stayed through the years, I often think about the sounds of those places as much as the sights.
On many of those stays and even those rare ones today, I start my day by making a pot of coffee. When ready, I pour a cup and then step outside. Often, I will sit at the picnic table and simply “open” my ears. I love the sounds of birds greeting each other, singing their songs. Sometimes a gentle wind passing through the treetops will be pleasing and soothing. On a drizzly or foggy morning, the sound of the day may instead be near-stillness, a rare moment to a city person.
This is my kind of place, always has been.
One morning, in Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas (but seemingly a thousand miles away), the morning was so totally still that I could hear the “swish, swish” of a raven’s wings as the magnificent bird flew past. I was in awe. (By the way, did you know that ravens mate for life and can be together more than 50 years? It’s true).
IF I AM CAMPED BY A STREAM, I savor the magnificent sound of the gurgling water. Camped by a lake, the rhythm of tiny waves gently lapping the shoreline is hypnotic. The sound of breaking waves at the ocean is calming (Oregon State Parks are wonderful places to hear such sounds).
I am angry at myself these days for being addicted to my electronic devices — which usually means I need Internet access. For that reason, I often stay in commercial parks rather in government campgrounds, trading scenery for connectivity.
When, one day, I am able to rid myself of the day-to-day operations of this newsletter and website I will return to these beautiful, quiet places. Gail and I will make campfires, and drink a little wine under dark, star-filled skies, and hike on trails or along dirt roads through beautiful forest or in the desert. The modern world can do its thing out of sight and out of mind. Lucky for us, we have a portable home that can easily transport us to such places.
Be safe!
P.S. Gail and I are headed out to the woods this coming week for five days in one of our favorite Northwest campgrounds. Our plans are to leave again in early December to spend Christmas with my aunt in central California. We’ll likely do a little exploring for a month after that (a trip to Death Valley is long overdue), and then head back to Rainyville for the spring.
MEET YOUR FELLOW READERS
In our search to know our readers better, we’ve asked that they tell us about themselves. We know that thousands of them have followed us for a decade or more. We’ve met a few hundred of them through the years, which has been very nice. But who else, we wonder, reads what we write week after week? So, please, tell us about yourself! Here’s our third installment of Meet our Readers.
Are we worth two cents to you? RVtravel.com, and the 650 newsletters about RVing we publish every year, would not be possible without the financial support of our members, those 3 percent of all readers who voluntarily subscribe. Now, in the most challenging time of our lives, your support is needed more than ever for us to be your #1 source of news, information and advice about RVing. Every contribution makes a difference. A donation of only $12 a year comes out to less than 2 cents for each issue we publish! And when you become a member, you receive a special member-only ad-free version of this newsletter. Learn more or donate.
Campground crowding. Discussion for September 19, 2020
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.
Accurate RV tank gauges? This could be the real answer!
Ask anyone who has an RV, “Are your holding tank gauges accurate?” The nearly universal reply, “Are you kidding?” Accurate RV tank gauges are the stuff that dreams are made of. … But someone may have come up with an answer. Enter John Van Horst … Learn more.
Casino RV camping, September 19, 2020
Casino RV camping is on the rise. As RV parks are ever-more crowded, finding a place to stay overnight or longer has become increasingly difficult. Casino camping is a great alternative to a standard RV park. They offer anything from a well-lit secure parking lot to a full-hookup resort-like RV park. We asked our readers about the casinos that they like and recommend. Here are some of the responses and some great tips too.
Hot, hotter, too hot… The snowbird migration is changing
By Barry Zander
With temperatures in the Southern Belt of America rising rapidly, the effect on snowbirds is already a fact. It’s a sign of lifestyle changes for thousands of RV owners, as well as businesses that rely on the migration of RVers for survival. According to a study at the University of California in Irvine, we can expect cataclysmic economic consequences for Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, and other snowbird-favorite states in the South. Learn more, then please participate in the snowbird poll.
Recipe: Instant Pot Spicy Chicken Curry Soup (Warning: This WILL make you hungry)
By Nanci Dixon I should title this “Bad Cook – Good Instant Pot” – because almost everything I make in the Instant Pot™ comes out great. Keeping my Instant Pot on my RV counter is actually working – I’m using it a lot more and it’s encouraging my husband and me to try new things and eat healthier. Read more and try this recipe.
Check the specs before buying an RV
Unfortunately the decision to buy an RV is often based on looks rather than function. Many buyers fail to take a close look at specifications until after the sale – often discovering the unit doesn’t fit their planned uses for it. Here is a list of some items to check out before buying an RV.
Last year at this time, these were the most popular articles
(Shhh. Don’t give it away. Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday News newsletter.)
Reader Poll
For couples: Do you get along better at home or on the road in your RV?
Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment. CLICK HERE.
The most popular poll in this past week’s RV Daily Tips newsletters: How many TVs are permanently installed in your RV? See how more than 2,200 other RVers responded, and give us an answer here.
Have an electric fireplace? Here’s a simple trick to get more heat
By Nanci Dixon When we bought our motorhome it came with an electric fireplace. I thought, “What a ridiculous thing to put in an RV!” It was so fake-looking and why would we use it when we could sit around a real campfire, with real wood, outside? That was before I discovered its heating potential! Learn more about how to heat more of your RV from the fireplace.
RV mistakes. They’re part of the lifestyle
By Russ and Tiña De Maris Got a nice email the other day from a reader who couldn’t believe we tore up a landing gear mechanism in our fifth-wheel through lack of lubrication and thought it was just a “story.” It’s nice to have a friend in your corner, but RV mistakes are more than stories – they’re a part of the lifestyle. Read some doozies from Russ and Tiña, then add your own in the comments so others might learn from them.
Is your RV out of balance? This might be the cause
By Barry Zander When your chassis arrived at the RV manufacturer, the assemblers probably didn’t take into account the weight distribution of the rig. Is it important? A definite “Yes!” says Jonathan Elkins, who has been making and installing leaf springs for 18 years and whose family has been in the business for four generations. Read how this installation greatly improved Barry’s RV ride here.
You never know who you’ll meet at the campground…
By Nanci Dixon I love how many interesting people we meet camping! We just met our new campsite neighbors, The Border Hookups. Dave and Jacqueline Hudson are professional singers, health coaches, and full-time RVers. Dave is from Minnesota and Jacqueline from Canada, hence the name The Border Hookups. Read the interesting story of how they became full-time RVers.
Million-dollar motorhome will “eat” your Mercedes-Benz AMG
If you’re in the market for a motorhome and have at least a million dollars to spend, consider the Perfect 1200 Platinum. The newest VARIOmobil features a massive living space with three electro-hydraulic slide-outs. It also doesn’t need towing capacity because it can “swallow” a vehicle as large as a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. Learn more.
Newsreel from 1954: Pint-sized trailer is towed by scooter and sidecar
What a hoot! This black-and-white newsreel film from 1954 shows a British couple on a camping adventure, their tow vehicle a scooter with side car. The trailer is seven feet long, weighs about 200 pounds and is easily towed behind the pint-sized two-wheeler. Watch as they stop by the side of the road to set up camp.
How would you like to win these Emergency Road Flares? Well, this might be your lucky day! In one of this past week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletters we published a secret phrase. Simply email the phrase to us at RVcontests@gmail.com . We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (September 19, 2020) by 11 a.m. Pacific time. Remember, you can only enter once and after we notify you by email that you won, you have 24 hours to respond or we’ll give the prize to someone else.
LAST WEEK’S WINNER of the George Foreman Grill was Jack Sanders of Lake Placid, Florida. The previous week’s winner of the Open Fire Popcorn Set was Henry Knight of Fairfield Heights, Illinois.
Resources
Where to complain about bad RVs, dealers, service, RV parks. This is an ever-expanding list of resources where you can report, share or discuss your problems with RV manufacturers or dealers.
Directory of RV parks with storm shelters
In case you’re on the road with your RV and the weather report is showing a tornado headed your way, have this list handy.
Tony,
I often wonder if an extended warranty is worth the initial expense. Can I count on the provider to honor the contract? I’ve read many stories about claim denial issues and so forth. Very concerned and confused. I travel about 3-4 months a year in a Newmar Bay Star. —Rick Read Tony’s response.
Make your phone screen quadruple in size!
This phone screen magnifier amplifies your phone screen 3 to 4 times its size. Using HD zoom optical technology, this lightweight projector is perfect for when you don’t have access to a TV and want to watch videos on your phone. It doesn’t need a power supply, so you never have to charge it. Check it out here.
Dear Readers, I see more and more of you changing batteries in your RV. Perhaps you’re adding a second battery for more boondocking capacity, upgrading to Lithium chemistry, or simply replacing worn out batteries that no longer hold a charge. In any event, there are a lot of untrained consumers handling RV batteries without proper safety precautions.
Is 12-volts DC dangerous? You bet your sweet bippy it is, but probably not for the reasons you’re thinking about. Read more from Mike and learn from a reader’s extremely painful lesson.
This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session
Driving over wires is a bad idea
Dear Mike, While watching the news here in Northern California they were showing an RVer using his RV generator to power his and neighbors’ homes. There were power cords laying across the street and I’m not sure this happens but I would expect cars drive across the cords. … But it would seem to me to be a bad idea to have cords unprotected from car tires like that. Shouldn’t a cord cover of some sort be used? —Tom Hart
Read Part 3 of Mike’s series on Boondocking Power Requirements, sponsored by CarGenerator™, here. NOTE: CarGenerator will keep your household essentials running for up to 70 hours when your power is out due to any blackout, natural or otherwise.
By Roger Marble Don’t get your shorts in a bunch about tire inflation – BUT you still should consult the inflation tables. I talked about this a number of years ago but it seems it’s time to cover this again for those new to RV living. I have covered what I felt is the “best” inflation for tire life in my posts where we discuss “4 corner weights” – which means learning the actual load on each tire position by getting the RV on a set of individual tire scales. Continue reading.
RV Fire Safety
Why one fire extinguisher is not enough
When using an extinguisher to put out the surface flames, make sure to totally penetrate the fuel so that it’s cooled. Otherwise, the fire can flare up again. This is when having an additional fire extinguisher is important. If you use your only fire extinguisher to stop the fire and don’t have another one to cool the area down, the fire could restart and you won’t have anything to fight it with. Courtesy: Mac “The Fire Guy” McCoy
Run your RV air conditioner with only a small portable generator. Yes, it’s true!
Museum of the Week
Photo by wilsonwhirligigpark.org
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
Wilson, North Carolina
To clarify, this is a park, but it might as well be a museum. Vollis Simpson, a farm machinery repairman, began making these incredible kinetic sculptures on his family farm just outside Wilson, North Carolina. His largest whirligig weighs almost seven tons, and others soar over 60 feet in the sky. Of course, these amazing giant sculptures began drawing local crowds and quickly became a top tourism destination in the area. Now, years after Simpson’s death, you can visit the Vollis Simpson Whirligig park in Historic Downtown Wilson, where you can walk around and admire more than 30 whirligigs. You can see some of Simpson’s art around the country too, like at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD, or at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan, NY. Learn more on the official whirligig website here.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Our camping traveler Suzie loves to take the wheel.” —Arthur Davidson
This is a must-have for state park campers!
This newly published book, “50 States: 500 State Parks,” is a must-have for all state park campers and explorers. The beautiful book takes you on a journey through America’s best state parks. Whether you’re looking for stunning vistas, rare wildlife, a dose of history or an enjoyable hike, state parks offer an array of experiences. Learnmore or order.
Trivia
Arizona just experienced the hottest summer ever recorded! Not far away, at the Furnace Creek oasis in Death Valley, Calif., the temperature reached 128 degrees on August 16, the hottest day there in at least 107 years.
Joke of the Week
My skydiving instructor would always take the time to answer stupid first-timer questions. One guy asked, “If our chute doesn’t open, and the reserve doesn’t open, how long do we have until we hit the ground?” The instructor looked at him and in perfect deadpan replied, “The rest of your life.”
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury.Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Emily Woodbury, Russ and Tiña De Maris. Contributing writers: Mike Sokol, Roger Marble, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, Julianne Crane, Chris Guld, Machelle James, Nanci Dixon, Barry and Monique Zander, J.M. Montigel, Tony Barthel, Clint Norrell, and Andrew Robinson. Social media and special projects director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
FOREVER IN OUR MEMORIES — OUR STAFF MEMBER IN HEAVEN, Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, who was taken from us by the coronavirus.
Honorary Correspondents: Loyal readers who regularly email us leads about news stories and other information and resources that aid our own news-gathering efforts. • Mike Sherman • George Bliss • Tom and Lois Speirs • Steve Barnes + others who we will add later.
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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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If you’ve heard a cracking or popping sound when extending your slides, it means its seals are sticking and/or drying out. Applying a seal conditioner about every 8-12 weeks can extend a seal’s life. We recommend using Thetford Premium RV Slide Out Rubber Seal Conditioner.
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.
Enter the Add-a-Drawer (Camping World and other retailers, or on 
Airstream has decided that it doesn’t like fiberglass RVs after all, killing production on its Airstream Nest travel trailer after just a few years. Airstream is known globally for its shiny aluminum RVs, which are admired for their snappy looks and easy towing capabilities. The first Nests hit the market in April 2018, and got a lot of media coverage due to their attractive exterior and fiberglass construction. But there were issues… 
That was the RV week that was
I have always enjoyed camping in public campgrounds far more than in RV parks. I like Forest Service campgrounds the best, followed by those in national and state parks and on other government lands. Any campsite with space around it and a healthy dose of scenic beauty has always been and will always be my ideal place to stay.
In our search to know our readers better, we’ve asked that they tell us about themselves. We know that thousands of them have followed us for a decade or more. We’ve met a few hundred of them through the years, which has been very nice. But who else, we wonder, reads what we write week after week? So, please, tell us about yourself! Here’s our third installment of 
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