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Issue 775 • Week of Jan. 7–13, 2017
Editor’s corner
With Chuck Woodbury
Chuck (at) RVtravel.com
First, Happy New Year! I hope it’s a great one for you!
If you are a long-time reader of this newsletter you’re likely among the most educated RVers in the USA and Canada. Alas, most of North America’s 30 million RVers have never even heard of RVtravel.com and are not privy to all the great, helpful information we’ve published each week for the last 16 years. Sadly, many are poorly informed on the finer points of buying and then using an RV.
Did you watch the video we showed you last month about Jon Henderson, who guided you through his defective Thor A.C.E. motorhome? Please watch it. No RVer should have to go through what he did — dealing with one defect after another on his new RV, with basically a brush-off from both Thor and Camping World when he sought help. A few years ago, RVer David Bott wrote about a similar experience with a defective Winnebago Tour motorhome he had ordered (but rejected after Winnebago brass said they could not fix the many defects to his satisfaction).
Let me pause to say that most new RVs, while they may come with design or workmanship issues, are most often easily fixed. But there are far too many poorly built RVs being sold today that are not easily fixed and, in fact, may never be fixed to the owner’s satisfaction.
Alas, much of the blame for that poor quality goes to RV buyers themselves, who purchase RVs based almost entirely on their appearance — “the bling.” After seeing beautiful commercials by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) glorifying the RVing experience, they head out to a dealer or RV show and buy a rig with only a cursory examination and little or no research beforehand. If it looks good, that’s what matters. Wrong!
RV makers know this. Too often it’s “the heck with quality or workmanship that doesn’t show.” Quality costs too much: If an RV maker charges more than his competitors for a similar coach, then impulsive, uninformed buyers, with stars in their eyes, will opt for the cheapest. Manufacturer honchos — the number of which these days can be counted on one hand — don’t care as long as their products sell. Yes, there are RV makers that do care, but not enough.
Incredibly, there is no national organization watching out for the interests of RVers. The Good Sam Club once cared, but under its present ownership it’s little more than a marketing tool for Camping World and its CEO Marcus Lemonis. The RVIA, which represents RV manufacturers, fights all proposed lemon laws. Its loyalty is to manufacturers, not you and me. It does a good job for those manufacturers. By that I mean a good job creating demand for their rigs — showing pretty images on TV and in magazines of RVs that, in 2016, fueled the wanderlust of 420,000 new buyers.
IN 2017 AND BEYOND, I vow to do my best to point out what I believe are flaws in the system that permit RV makers to crank out defective RVs with little recourse for consumers should they buy a lemon. And I’ll also do my best to educate brand-new RVers to look closely when buying a rig to determine how well it’s built. I’ll point you to articles, blogs and videos of RVers who got burned with lousy rigs and/or bad service.
But to be fair, if you are thrilled with your RV and service after the sale, then please let me know — a good place is in the comments section below.
Would you please tell your friends about this newsletter — anyone who owns an RV or is thinking of buying one — and suggest they subscribe? If you belong to an RV club, talk us up to your fellow members. There are very few RV journalists these days, online or in print, who do more than just paint a rosy picture of RVing — nothing too negative that might cost them an advertiser. My voice is tiny in the big picture, but perhaps with your assistance it can be a bit larger and maybe even help influence RV makers to pay better attention to the quality of their products, not just the quantity.
I’m sorry to be so negative in this first issue of the year, but as the line in the movie goes, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
MY NEW AUTOMATED DUMPING SYSTEM
Remember last issue I told you about my new handy, dandy automated RV dumping system, where I can empty my holding tanks by pushing a button inside my RV? Well, here’s an explanation of how it works.
My Roadside Journal
(about whatever is on my mind, not necessarily RV-related)
• Really? Amazon warehouses in the sky?
Roadside Journal Index: Click here.
•Did you miss the last RV Travel? Read it here.
•Directory of ALL back issues.
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Comprehensive list of RV-related recalls for December
The list of latest recalls on RVs and other vehicles and/or products of interest to RVers has been released by the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The list includes models from Cruiser RV, Entegra, Forest River, Heartland, Keystone, Newmar, Thor and others — plus other vehicles commonly used by RVers. Is your RV or other vehicle on the list? Read more.
Reader RVs
What RV do you drive or tow?
Send us a photo of your RV (and tow vehicle) with a 150-200 word description of where and how often you travel with it, and what you like or don’t like about it. Include your name(s) and hometown. We’ll post them to RVtravel.com. Send to assistant editor Diane McGovern at Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
CLICK HERE to see the current issue of RV Travel Reader RVs.
Reduce air drag and boost fuel efficiency — Airtab® your RV!
Just peel and stick Airtabs™ to the rear sides and the rear roof of your RV coach or trailer to create swirls of air that reduce aerodynamic drag, save fuel and improve stability. Airtabs™ dramatically reduce trailer ‘fish tailing’ and crosswinds pressure to RVs from passing trucks, while improving fuel efficiency 2% – 5%! Click on the video.
While the final tally isn’t in, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association says its projections for 2016 movement of new RVs from factories to dealers was wrong. Instead of the expected 395,000 units, it appears at least 420,000 new RVs made the trip. And 2017 looks to be a banner year, with the group suggesting as many as 438,000 new RVs will be rolled out to sellers.
Grand Canyon National Park got plenty of visits this year – 6 million, in fact – making it the second year in a row for record visitation. More than 5.5 million descended on the Arizona landmark in 2015.
No more bargain rates for seniors at national parks. A new law has been passed and signed that, in part, raises the rates for the Lifetime Senior Pass from $10 to $80. It is unknown when the price increase will go into effect. “I can tell you that it is not immediately,” Tom Crosson, the National Park Service’s chief spokesman, said Monday when asked how soon the new price might take effect. But for now you can still purchase it for $10. Learn more about the increase. To obtain a pass, click here and scroll down to Senior Pass. (You’ll note that they are $20 when ordered online or by mail, but are $10 when obtained in person.)
The National Park Service (NPS) has proposed revisions to regulations that address smoking in national parks. The proposed revisions would change the regulation that defines smoking to include the use of electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
Call it volunteer vigor. Florida has 174 state parks, trails and historic sites, and all of them use volunteer power to keep them going. How much? In the 2015-2016 fiscal year, nearly 1.3 million hours of work came from 29,275 volunteers. According to a state spokesman, that labor was worth nearly $30 million. Source: Northwest Florida Daily News.
When is a non-Camping World RV dealership really a Camping World dealership? When it’s part of Camping World’s new sneaky strategy called “side by side.” The first is in Wheat Ridge, Colo., where Camping World is buying out Ketelsen Campers of Colorado. In the new move, the giant will buy up RV dealers in close proximity to existing Camping World stores, and operate the newly acquired outfit under its existing name. In the case in Wheat Ridge, Ketelsen Campers is a mere 2.5 miles away from the existing CW store. They also signed a deal on January 3 to acquire RV World of Georgia in this “side by side” business strategy.
Georgia State Parks are offering an off-season peach-of-a-deal to RVers: half-off camping rates Sunday through Thursday at select state parks. Use the promo code “WinterPromo16” to make reservations through January 31. You’ll need to stay a minimum of two nights, and the offer isn’t good at Crooked River, Skidaway Island, Reed Bingham, Fort McAllister and Laura S. Walker parks.
Stanley Black & Decker Inc., has purchased the 90-year-old Craftsman brand from Sears Holdings Inc. The $900 million acquisition will add Sears’ famous wrenches, tool chests and signature lifetime warranty to its sprawling portfolio that already includes Stanley’s familiar black-and-yellow tools, Mac Tools for auto mechanics, and the Black & Decker, DeWalt, Lenox and Irwin brands.
Another independent RV manufacturer, Renegade RV – named such, because in 1997 the builders were refused entry at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association annual convention because they weren’t members – is apparently no longer renegade nor independent. Renegade RV has been taken over by REV Group, which now adds the firm to other “trophies” including names like Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler and Monaco.
RV Parts
and Accessories
Give Dyers a try on your next purchase of RV parts or accessories. Large selection, great service, low prices and fast shipping. Visit our website.
More News
Ivins, Utah, will soon have a new RV park on Highway 91 – but it wasn’t easy getting it. The city council approved a zoning change to allow for the park but only after a couple of obstacles were resolved. One was a feud between the property owner/developer and the next-door neighbor, finally settled with an agreed 180-foot buffer zone. The other, arguments from locals that cyclists would be at risk from “potentially dangerous RV traffic,” should the park be allowed. A review of accidents of that stretch of the highway showed RVs had never been involved.
British Columbia provincial park officials say reservation system changes are now in place. To “enhance fair access for everyone,” the old mid-March opening reservation day is gone – now sites can only be reserved up to four months in advance. Restrictions are in place to prevent people from overbooking days around long holiday weekends by making a reservation, then changing arrival dates to their favor. Some popular campgrounds will see a new cap of seven-day stays.
Across America, national wildlife refuges offer unparalleled opportunities to experience the great outdoors amid scenic beauty. From Hawaii to Texas and Indiana to Delaware, 31 refuges that normally charge entrance fees will offer free admission on these days in 2017: January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; February 20 – Presidents’ Day; September 30 – National Public Lands Day; October 8 – First Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week; November 11-12 – Veterans Day weekend. The 31 refuges charge admission ranging from $3 to $8 per vehicle to help fund their recreation-related projects. The 2017 entrance fee waiver does not cover concessionaire or permit fees for some activities such as hunting, fishing or special tours.
Indiana wildlife fanciers are rejoicing: Bald eagle C43, the oldest known wild bald eagle in the state, has been spotted at Lake Monroe, near Bloomington. C43 came to the state in 1988 from Alaska and was released with hopes she would nest there. At 28 years, she may be one of the top-10 oldest wild bald eagles in the U.S.
Sales Pad, a software company that provides programs to improve business efficiency, filed suit Dec. 19 alleging fraud against Marcus Lemonis, CEO and chairman of Camping World and the Good Sam Club. Meanwhile, attorneys for RV dealer Gigi Stetler apparently have had enough in waiting for Lemonis to present himself for a deposition in an ongoing lawsuit that claims that Camping World and several other firms conspired against her and her Florida dealership.
How many of us would dream of an RV tour taking us from coast to coast across Canada? Free of charge? Well, no lucky stiff will have the chance, but a red couch will soon do it in honor of Canada’s 150th anniversary. Yep, the Canada 150 Red Couch Tour will chauffeur a red, weather-resistant couch from St. John’s, Newfoundland, west to Victoria, British Columbia. The purpose of said Red Couch Tour is to build a Canadian history prospective, wherein photos and videos of folks sitting on the couch will be built into a sort of living history. Not everyone thinks the expense, $155,000 (Canadian), is a great use of taxpayer money, but the show goes on.
throughout the week at RVbusiness.com.
A Camping World store in Kissimmee, Fla., has garnered some negative Christmas publicity after a couple were treated to what they describe as a nasty, humiliating prank. The couple were shopping in the store Christmas Eve and say a store employee approached them, telling them he would pay for their cart full of items – several hundred dollars’ worth. When the woman went into the store office to thank her benefactor, several employees guffawed and told her it was just a joke. A general manager disputes the matter, suggesting it was simply a misunderstanding, but says an employee was reprimanded. The manager also told local media that he had video surveillance recordings to back him up – but refused to show them. Source: fox25boston.com
One photo explains why the old truckers’ admonition applies to RVs: “Snow? Go slow. Ice? No go!” The woman towing this travel trailer on ice on Interstate 69 near Tekonsha, Mich., had the misfortune of having a semi-truck breeze past her. That’s all it took to cause a loss of control on the slick pavement, with the results involving her being extricated from her tow vehicle after the roll-over tossed her pickup in front of the passing semi-truck. Details here.
Here’s some advice: If you’re wanted by police and need an RV, steal one that’s a little less conspicuous. Luna County, N.M., police arrested Shane Amel Lynn, 37, after reports came in about “suspicious vehicles” on ranch land there. It’s not every day you spot a Winnebago Vectra Freightliner motorhome in the middle of nowhere. Now Lynn is charged with stealing the spendy coach, on top of outstanding warrants for kidnapping and aggravated assault. Turns out he was also wanted on escape charges from Washington state.
How an automated RV dumping system works
Doug Swarts, the inventor of the Drain Master electric sewer valve, explains how the system permits an RVer to dump his or her holding tanks remotely from inside the RV. This is the same system that RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury installed in his motorhome. Watch the video.
Automatic transfer switch warning
As RVs come out of the “dark ages” and flow with the use of modern technology, it gets easier for us, including the use of an automatic transfer switch (ATS). But beware: Even with an ATS to make living with your RV generator oh-so-much easier, there are issues that you need to take care with – some that can cost you loads of money. Learn more.
Why you should close your RV’s gray tank when hooked up
RV waste management expert Doug Swarts of Drainmaster.com explains why RVers should not only keep their black (sewer) tanks closed when hooked up to utilities, but their gray water tanks as well. Watch the video.
Use an inexpensive inverter to minimize generator runs
Not very many of us like the sound of a generator — it’s regarded by most as a necessary evil. In some areas, there are significant restrictions on generator-use times. But if you have to have 110 volts, what else can you do? Fortunately, for those brief “I just need a little” times, there’s a relatively easy and affordable answer. Find out here.
The sticky slideout
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received a letter from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor regarding a sticky slideout. The reader complained that the slideout moaned and had a hard time retracting. He wondered what he could do in case the slide didn’t come in at all. Read Chris’ response.
RV fridge door pop open? Here’s a “quick and dirty” fix
If you’re the proud owner of a well-loved older RV, you’ll have run across the old “orphan parts” issue because the part isn’t stocked anymore or the company doesn’t exist anymore. Here’s an easy and inexpensive fix if your fridge door has a tendency to pop open and spill its contents and you can’t find the original replacement part. Read more.
Unique RV overnight stops at wineries and farms
With membership in Harvest Hosts® you can stay overnight at 500 wineries, farms and attractions across North America. Harvest Hosts offers an exciting alternative to traditional overnight stops where you can meet interesting people and learn about their lifestyle. Learn more at the Harvest Hosts website, or watch an interview with the founders by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury.
March FMCA rally to include “RV Basics” program
The Family Motor Coach Association gathering March 7 through 10 in Chandler, Ariz., will be preceded by its inaugural RV Basics course, March 5 and 6, at Rawhide Western Town and Event Center. Led by several well-known RV experts, including Gary Bunzer, Mac McCoy and Walter Cannon, the sessions will help to get beginning RVers off to a great start or serve as a refresher course for current RVers. Learn more.
Cool flat, portable, LED light
Rich “The Wanderman,” our resident flashlight addict, has found a new gizmo which makes him very happy! It’s a flat, clear, LED light with an attached black handle. It was so unusual (and 90 percent off/$1.49) that he couldn’t resist buying it at Target, and now he wishes he had purchased a few more. Find out why.
Best kept secret in RV camping: Elks Lodges
Did you know you can stay overnight at approximately 1,000 Elk Lodge RV parks across the USA and Canada? Sometimes it’s dry camping, but other times it can be partial or full hookups. In this short video, Elks member Jim O’Briant of OvernightRVparking.com explains how Elks camping works. Watch the video.
Boondocking Arizona’s Harquahalas
As winter digs in, snowbirds in the Southwest are reveling in 60-, even 70-degree days. It’s time for adventuring – and you’ll find some of the most interesting “mountain ranges” in the southwest corner of Arizona in the form of the Harquahalas. The whole area is prime territory for adventurous boondockers, offering much to see and do. Read more.
How to blast away crud
from your holding tanks
Ever thought of having your gray and black holding tanks power flushed? “Why?” To get out all the nasty crud that accumulates over time! All that crud can cause a lot of problems including faulty sensor readings, not to mention producing foul odors that enter your RV! In this video, see what happens when RVer David Bott’s tanks are flushed out with a whopping force of 4,000 PSI of water pressure. Watch the video.
Keystone recalls 5th wheels for door hinge issue
Keystone RV Company is recalling 1,582 model year 2017 Keystone Carbon and Raptor fifth wheel trailers, and 2016-2017 Fuzion and Dutchmen Voltage fifth wheel trailers. The affected vehicles have rear cargo door hinges with welds on the hinge pin and hinge plate that may be insufficient, and as a result, the top of the door may swing down with more force than normal. If the door does not open as expected, there would be an increased risk of injury to those in the door’s path. Read more.
Thor recalling some 2016 Outlaw motorhomes
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling 209 model year 2016-2017 Outlaw motorhomes, models 37BG, 37LS, 37RB, 38RE and 38RF, manufactured January 13, 2016, to December 8, 2016. The affected vehicles have rear cargo door hinges with welds that may be inadequate for securing the hinge pin to the hinge plate. Learn more.
The New TireTraker™ TT-500 with a Lifetime Warranty
The new TireTraker™ TT-500 is the most innovative & user friendly TPMS on the market with an unprecedented “Lifetime Warranty,” the only TPMS company in the industry to do so. The TT-500 features a larger, easier to read display, continuous pressure & temperature monitoring, automatic update, & monitoring up to 22 tires on your motorhome, trailer & tow vehicle from 0-232 psi ! Seven day per week sales & technical support & over 12 years of experience. List price (4 tires) $389. Our price only $289. SAVE $100! (Additional Sensors $35 each). Learn more or order. Read testimonials.
This week in history
Week of Jan. 7–13
Compiled by Dell Bert
1904 — Henry Ford sets speed record (91.37 mph).
1908 — Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument.
1927 — Harlem Globetrotters play their first game.
1946 — Elvis Presley receives his first guitar (at age 11).
1946 — First meeting of the United Nations.
1962 — Comedian Ernie Kovacs dies in car crash.
1976 — “Convoy,” by C.W. McCall, is #1 on the U.S. pop charts.
2007 — Steve Jobs debuts the iPhone.
Microwave cover collapses for easy storage
When heating your food you don’t want to spend 10 minutes later cleaning the splatters inside the microwave. Here’s the solution — and perfect for RVers: it pops down flat for easy storage. Lid perforations allow steam to escape to keep food moist. Doubles as a strainer, too! Learn more or order at Amazon.com
Bumper sticker of the week
Life would be really funny if it weren’t happening to me.
Funny/clever business slogan
Seen on a billboard for a restaurant outside Nazareth, Pa.: “Wine and Steak. Because nobody celebrates anything with tofu.” Thanks to Al Aslakson for sending this in (awhile ago).
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker or business slogan? Send it to Diane(at)RVtravel.com
No overnight parking at these Walmarts
See which Walmarts in the USA do NOT allow overnight RV stays.
Lightweight vacuum perfect for RVs
This Dirt Devil Simpli-Stick Lightweight Bagless Stick Vacuum is compact and it works great. Plus it converts to a hand vacuum in a snap! It’s the vacuum of choice in the RV Travel motorhome. Weighs less than 4 pounds. Learn more or order for about $20.
Websites of the Week
Here are three we like:
Hit the highway: Best road trips of 2017
Here are a few ideas for road trips for this year, in case you’re still in the planning stages. These include national parks, historic places and culinary destinations. How about the Blackhawk Chocolate Trail in Illinois, or retrace the path of Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones in “Field of Dreams” from Boston to Dyersville, Iowa. Some interesting ideas here. From Cheapism.com and msn.com.
Well-stocked RV kitchen. Equipment and pantry staples for the well-stocked galley kitchen, tips and advice, and, of course, lots of recipes. From allrecipes.com.
The best of Florida on a budget
Here are more than 30 of the best things in Florida to experience and explore on a budget. Included are the best city for retirees, best RV park, best flea market, best dog-friendly vacation, spookiest graveyard, and lots more. Even if you’ve visited Florida many times or maybe live there, we’ll bet you’ll find some new places to visit on this list. From Cheapism.com and msn.com.
Here is our “master list” of more than 700 websites we like, which we have compiled over the years.
Space heater uses only 200 watts!
It’s hard to believe that an electric space heater could use a mere 200 watts — the same as a couple of light bulbs —a fraction of other space heaters. And this one really works! It’s meant to heat a nearby person, not a room. Put it on your desk or at your feet. It’s perfect for the RVer who’s “always cold.” For about $19, this is a winner. Click the video by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. Or order at Amazon.com.
Good reading from RV123.com 
• Texas Lakeside RV Resort in Port Lavaca, Texas is a man-made tropical paradise.
• Watch this video to see what’s new in camping technology.
• Protecting your tires from harmful UV rays can significantly extend their longevity.
Protect yourself and others from sharp edges of RV slideouts!
Cut your head just once on the corner of a sharp RV slideout and you’ll race out to buy a set of these so it never happens again! Camco’s Black RV Slide-Out Corner Guards offer a simple solution to the danger posed by sharp corners on RV slideouts. Simply place them on each exterior corner of the slide to provide a cushion zone. They’re made of advanced UV-stabilized resin for long life. Easy to install and no tools are required. Learn more or order.
Ask the RV Shrink
Wife wants to go to Quartzsite; Hubby just “vants to be alone”
Dear RV Shrink:
My wife wants to go to Quartzsite, Arizona, for the big gathering that takes place in January. It looks like way too many people for me. I hate crowds. We started RVing to get away from the maddening crowd. She is insisting we go. Am I being unreasonable? Should I keep dragging my feet or give in and deal with it? I want our travels to include the things she wants to do, but this is really something that does not appeal to me. —Garboish in Glendale
Read the RV Shrink’s response.
Can’t get enough of the Shrink? Read his new eBook: Dr. R.V. Shrink: Everything you ever wanted to know about the RV Lifestyle but were afraid to ask or check out his other e-books.
VERY HANDY!
No-touch dispenser automatically dispenses soap
Just put your hands beneath the dispenser, and presto, just the right amount of soap is dispensed. Never pump again! Hayden’s soap dispenser uses Infrared Technology to automatically and quickly detect your hand. Uses 3 AAA batteries. Learn more or order.
RV Tech Tips
from Mark Polk
Pay attention to brake laws to stay safe and legal
Most U.S. states and Canadian provinces have their own laws on the requirement for brakes on a towed trailer. The word “trailer” also applies to a vehicle being towed behind a motorhome. These laws are normally based on the amount of weight being towed. One problem with this is that it might be legal to tow a 2,000-pound trailer with no brakes in the state where you live, but as soon as you cross the state line of a bordering state it is illegal to tow the same trailer without brakes. Add to this your insurance company may not cover you in the event of an accident involving a trailer with no braking system. Again, the most important reason is for your safety and the safety of others.
Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101, the premiere source of educational DVDs about buying, maintaining and using an RV. Learn more.
Keep rodents out of your RV!
The overwhelmingly positive reviews on this make it a best bet for keeping your RV rodent-free. This is the only plant-based rodent repellent registered for inside use by the EPA. It effectively repels rodents up to 100 days with a “woodsy” scent that’s pleasant to humans but offensive to rodents. It’s safe around kids and pets so no safety warning is required. 98% biodegradable. Tested and endorsed by the Good Sam Club. Learn more or order.
Other rodent repellent products at Amazon.
Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $2.31 (on Dec. 26). Change from week before: Up 5 cents; Change from year before: Up 28 cents.
$2.38 (on Jan. 2). Change from week before: Up 7 cents; Change from year before: Up 35 cents.
Diesel: $2.54 (on Dec. 26). Change from week before: Up 1 cent; Change from year before: Up 31 cents.
$2.59 (on Jan. 2). Change from week before: Up 5 cents; Change from year before: Up 38 cents.
Endorsed by Roger Marble of RVtireSafety.com!
An excellent tire pressure gauge
The Accutire MS-4021B digital tire pressure gauge has an easy-to-read LCD display that provides pressure readings from 5-150 PSI. It’s ergonomically designed with an angled head and a rubber-coated easy-grip handle. If you forget to turn off the gauge, don’t worry, it will automatically shut off. The included lithium battery never needs to be recharged or replaced. And all this for less than $13! Learn more or order.
The RV Kitchen
with Janet Groene
Big Dipper Party Dip
It’s party time, so take a dip.
Entertain in the campground the easy way by putting out a hot dip and rafts of dippers. Do a little chopping and mashing and this dip is ready to heat. It’s just the ticket for potlucks, tailgating and infield camping parties. Get the recipe.
Check out hundreds of other recipes by Janet . . . and her many books at Amazon.com, including the brand-new “The Survival Food Handbook.”
BEST-SELLERS IN KITCHEN AND DINING AT AMAZON.COM
Which state is best
for a full-time home base?
The full-time lifestyle gives you the unique opportunity to choose any state to call “home.” But there are many factors to consider; a state with the lowest state income tax is not always the best option. This guide provides a wealth of valuable information to help you select the state where you will benefit the most. Learn more or order.
RV Fire Safety Tip
Keep your RV’s engine clean
Grease, oil and road dust build up on the engine and transmission, making them run hotter. The grime itself usually doesn’t burn, but if combined with a fuel leak or short-circuited wire, a fire could start. Keep your coach’s underpinnings clean, and it will run cooler, more economically and longer.
Editor’s note: Choose from a wide selection of fire extinguishers at Amazon.
CONTEST
ANSWER:
Barney and Betty’s adopted son was named Bamm-Bamm.
Keep your food cool with this RV fridge fan
Every RV refrigerator should have one of these!
This small refrigerator fan from Valterra Products will help keep the food in your RV fridge cool and from spoiling. It cuts down initial cool-down time by 50 percent. Runs for more than 30 days on 2 D batteries. Don’t leave home without this! Learn more or order from Amazon.com.
RV Quick Tips
Keep your powder-type fire extinguisher contents loose
Every month turn your RV “powder-type” fire extinguisher upside down and shake it hard, even tap the bottom of it with a screwdriver handle. The constant shaking and rattling of going down the road can compact the dry chemical in the device, and you need to loosen it up to ensure it comes out when you need it.
Easy windshield cleaning
Keep a can or bottle of good-quality window cleaner within easy reach when you stop to fuel up. Before starting to pump fuel, spray your windshield liberally with the window cleaner. Let it sit while fueling and then use the “usually” available squeegee to easily remove the bug guts. The cleaner virtually dissolves and releases the bug guts from the glass and it saves a whole lot of scrubbing. Our thanks to George Bliss!
Keep your sink drain clean to avoid “stink”
Working in the RV galley generates all kinds of small waste particles. If they go down the sink drain, they can form a “stink generator,” and they can foul up your tank level probes. Get the appropriately sized stainless steel sink drain screen at the hardware store. Clean it out frequently — by tossing the contents in the trash, not down the drain.
Do you have a Quick Tip? Send it to Diane (at) RVtravel.com and you just might see it here!
Protect your RV’s slideout with this rubber seal lubricant
If you don’t take care of your slideout you’re asking for problems including dangerous, costly water damage. This rubber seal lubricant from Thetford prevents fading, cracking and deterioration. It cleans, conditions and shines, keeping seals flexible and protected from sunlight destruction. It is also useful on door seals and window seals. It’s a mineral oil product and also acts as a lubricant. Learn more or order.
Ask the RV Doctor
The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions
Okay to store RV antifreeze in unused fresh water tank?
Dear Gary,
We have a Fleetwood Regal Prowler. It is a seasonal unit, set up at a campground year around. We are hooked up to city water and so do not use the fresh water holding tank. Can I pour 12 or more gallons of RV antifreeze into the tank and use what I need to winterize the trailer each year from what I have stored in the fresh water tank? And an important question: Does the stored antifreeze remain stable or does it deteriorate? —Richard
Read more from Gary Bunzer at the RVdoctor.com. See Gary’s videos about RV repair and maintenance.
Keep your fridge in order when you travel
Tired of stuff moving around in your RV fridge after a day of driving? Maybe a carton of milk has fallen out on the floor one too many times? Here’s the solution. Camco’s RV Double Refrigerator Bar is designed to keep order in your RV fridge during travel. It’s spring loaded to keep items in place. The bar extends from 16″ to 28″. And the good part is the price tag: about $5! (The RVtravel.com staff uses a pair of these in its RV!) Learn more or order.
RV Waste Management
With Doug Swarts, Drainmaster.com
From reader S.M. Jenkins:
“I read once again in this newsletter the admonition to not put anything down the RV toilet other than RV toilet paper and organic matter. My question: What about those who of necessity must occasionally use Tucks for medicinal reasons? Surely with all the baby boomers out there RVing someone can address this issue.” Read Doug’s response.
Essential equipment for many RVers!
Camco TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector
This best-selling product reduces bad taste, odor, chlorine and sediment in drinking water with a 100-micron fiber filter. Its durable in-line, exterior mount filter has a wider body to increase flow. Use it at your campsite to keep sediment out of your RV water tank and to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water for a whole season. Many RVers consider this essential equipment. Learn more or order at a big discount.
Gizmos and Gadgets
RV Stabilizer: The easy way to stop the sway
Rock and roll is here to stay — but those song lyrics shouldn’t define how your 5th wheel or travel trailer behaves in your campsite. The Valterra RV Stabilizer is your stabilization solution. This simple and effective stabilizer creates a rock-solid foundation for your fifth wheel, class “C” motorhome, toy hauler or travel trailer. It’s durable, simple and convenient — and sets up in minutes with no tools required. Read more.
Kenyon introduces compact, SilKEN Grill for RVs
Kenyon International introduced its new SilKEN® Grill, ideal for use in RVs with limited storage area. The SilKEN Grill features a collapsible silicone lid that stays cool to the touch.The lid and other parts of the grill detach for quick and easy cleaning. The grill is smokeless and flameless, an important safety feature for consumers looking to use the grill indoors. Learn more.
Good Sam Campground Guide
JUST PUBLISHED. With more than 12,500 locations listed across the USA and Canada, the Good Sam RV Travel & Savings Guide is the only print directory of RV parks and campgrounds. The 2017 edition features an expert rating system with all evaluations. Park listings include amenities, services, restrictions, rates, contact info, Good Sam discount locations, hundreds of dollars’ worth of Camping World savings and pages of helpful information. Learn more or order.
Upcoming RV Shows
• Houston Boat, Sport & Travel Show, January 6-15, Houston, TX
• Indy RV Expo, January 7-15, Indianapolis, IN
• Pittsburgh RV Show, January 7-15, Pittsburgh, PA
• Chicago Boat, RV & Strictly Sail Show, January 11-15, Chicago, IL
• Grand Rapids Camper, Travel & RV Show, January 12-15, Grand Rapids, MI
• Mid-America RV Show, January 12-15, Kansas City, MO
• 56th Annual RV & Campgrounds Show, January 13-15, Allentown, PA
• Greater Chicago RV Show, January 13-15, Schaumburg, IL
• Valley RV & Camping Show, January 13-15, South Bend, IN
• Washington RV Show, January 13-15, Chantilly, VA
• Boston RV & Camping Expo, January 13-16, Boston, MA
• Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show, January 21-29, Quartzsite, AZ
• Seattle RV Show, February 9-12, Seattle, WA
See the list of all upcoming RV shows.
Improve performance
of your diesel engine
Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost is a highly rated, technologically advanced, diesel engine performance improver that cleans injectors, boosts cetane and lubricates fuel injection components. The maximum horsepower formula restores lost power, smooths rough-running engines and improves fuel economy up to 8 percent. Learn more or order.
RV Short Stop
Vintage Richfield Gas Station
Coalinga, California
In 1934, a gallon of gasoline cost 14.9 cents. That’s the price displayed today in front of the beautifully restored Richfield gas station at 5th and Glenn in Coalinga, Calif. It was built in 1934 and later restored and moved in 2004 to its present location. A fence surrounds it. A block away, at the R.C. Baker Museum, ask to have the gate opened: If someone’s available, they’ll oblige you. And, no, you can’t fill up for 14.9 cents a gallon. Google Street View.
NEW FOR 2017! Essential for big RVs!
2017 Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas
If you drive a big RV — extra long or extra tall — then this truck driver’s road atlas will be a huge help in knowing where you can drive without encountering a low bridge or getting stuck hanging over a cliff. This is an essential aid even if you have a GPS! Coverage: United States, Canada, and Mexico. Learn more or order.
Stupid Statements of Yesteryear
“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” —Western Union internal memo, 1876.
Avoid moisture damage to your RV
DampRid FG50T Hi-Capacity Moisture Absorber, 4-Pound Tub eliminates musty odors in RVs and other spaces, protecting them from moisture damage for up to 60 days in areas up to 1000 square feet, and up to 6 months in a 250-square-foot area. Don’t let your rig get damaged from moisture this winter. Learn more or order.
Videos you’ll like
• Adjusting the flame of an RV water heater
Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, shows you how to adjust the flame on your RV water heater so that it runs with maximum efficiency. Watch the video.
• How to fish around the USA without a license
RV Travel editor explains how an RVer can fish without a state license across the country. Watch the video.
• The basics of an RV’s fresh water system
Here, in about three minutes, is a terrific explanation of your fresh water system, both when hooked up or when using your holding tank and a water pump. Watch the video.
HOW TO WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS USING VERY LITTLE BANDWIDTH.
Visit our YouTube Channel.
More than 500 great videos about RVing!
Random RV Thought
Prepare more complicated meals when you have full hookups. It’s easy to clean up afterward because you have plenty of water and no worry about holding tank limits. Consider making a double portion and freeze half for a future meal. When boondocking, keep recipes simple and use paper plates which you can burn later to start your campfire.
Trivia
The sum of all the numbers on a roulette wheel is 666. (Just sayin’. 😉 )
Don’t toss away good batteries!
Most RVers rely on battery-powered devices while on the road, whether flashlights, radios or cameras. But sometimes you just can’t tell how much life a battery has remaining so you toss it to “be sure.” This small, inexpensive tester will alert you in an instant to the condition of a battery, saving you money from needlessly tossing ones with plenty of remaining life! Works on AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and button-type batteries. Learn more or order.
Worth Pondering
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
TODAY’S DEALS AT AMAZON.COM. Click.
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Assistant editor: Diane McGovern. Contributing editor: Russ De Maris. Contributing writers: Greg Illes, Bob Difley, Richard Miller, Richard Mallery, Janet Groene, Doug Swarts, Roger Marble, Julianne Crane and Chris Guld.
ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Chuck Woodbury at Chuck(at)RVtravel.com. 
About the RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury has explored America by RV for three decades. In the ’90s he published the quirky travel newspaper Out West, and was an “on the road” writer for the New York Times Syndicate. His book, “The Best from Out West” is available at Amazon.com. Woodbury’s RVing adventures have been profiled on ABC News, CNN, NBC’s Today Show, and in People Magazine, USA Today and in hundreds of newspapers. He is the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD “Buying a Recreational Vehicle,” the definitive guide to purchasing an RV the right way.
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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(January 5, 2017) — Staff members and officers at Family Motor Coach Association, a Cincinnati-based organization for owners of motorhomes, are busily preparing for the group’s 
A great way to sample the area is an excursion across Harquahala Road between Salome and Exit 53 on Interstate 10. This well-graded dirt road traverses through a low saddle in the Harquahala Mountains, passing by historic mines and the ghosted site of Harquahala while offering great scenery.
This is our eighth RV in our lifetime. We began our semi-retirement/full-time living in June 2015 with a 30-foot non-slide class C motorhome. In our first year, we traveled to Yukon/Alaska then to Baja, Mexico, which we found to be too much travel and also found the motorhome a bit too cramped for full-time living.
“I read once again in this newsletter the admonition to not put anything down the RV toilet other than RV toilet paper and organic matter. My question: What about those who of necessity must occasionally use 
I see no reason not to attempt what you are suggesting. As long as you never need on-board, self-contained fresh water, why not use the fresh water storage tank as an antifreeze holding container? RV antifreeze will have a shelf life, but I do not know how long it will actually stay viable, so check with the suppler to be sure of its life expectancy. I’m sure the producer of that brand will have what’s called an MSDS sheet that should help shed some light on its lifespan.